Notes:
So I choose to translate it after all. English version of this.

---

(By Koviell Sashermasock)

Zahardi of Arkantas’s family, this is how they call me. A kobold with orange and gold scales, red eyes, a long tail and spines on the head. I am or at least I was a member of the Wakefire clan, before fleeing my lands for a better tomorrow. Altamira, despite being the invading kingdom, received many refugees who wish to expand their arcane knowledge, or simply flee the aftermath of the attack. We weren’t many, only around twenty of us fled.

Wizardry is a very similar art to sorcery. My best friend Koviell of the Sashermasock’s family was one of the refugees between their walls. Since both of us were Arcane Prodiges, we outperformed our class instruction level enough to be granted the right to make our own researches.

Even if most of them refused to acknowledge our talent, it was the good days. Sadly, we were betrayed. An evil being dared to corrupt one of our magical scrolls to open up a portal to the Abyss. Horrible! A student was violently taken to the other world by a foul demonic creature.

The demon was banished from this plane and the portal was closed, but neither Koviell nor me were able to prove that we weren’t  involved in the events. Even the testimony of Ronald Feintell - the adoptive son of Hawke Feintell, the champion of Aleirna Nostra, the Silver Queen and the Queen of Altamira - didn't shift the balance in our favour.

Our spellbooks were burnt and we were banished from those lands. Koviell was deported to the North of the Centra continent. In my case, I was deported to the South of the same continent, but unfortunate events were in my way… Wearing only a white woollen shirt a bit too large for my size, short pants and a bag with a few goods and a book given as a farewell gift, I took the boat to other continents.

We’d just left Maedawara’s port, a metropolis from the North of Centra. This place used to be a stronghold, before being converted into a fortified city. The metropolis was protected by many walls forming concentric circles, making the districts; the public market and the slums were out of the city walls. The wealthiest citizens lived closer to the citadel.

They didn’t let me disembark. I had to say goodbye to my best friend from the ship before we set sail.

The ship is called “The Saint-Helena”. I didn’t know much about ships, but I knew it was in bad condition. There were rats everywhere and unfilled holes in the hull. It was a marvel that this antiquity was still floating!

The crew members were mostly older men, wearing ray jackets, worn out pants with holes in them and shoes in bad conditions. The Captain himself was so old that I wonder why he’s still there. Old, bearded and withered, it’s a miracle that he’s still standing.

I didn’t really talk with the crew members; I made it look like I was reading a book without having much interest in it. Between two discussions of drunken sailors, there was nothing much to learn. I suspect that some of them were actually afraid that I could turn them into toads. Turning people into toads is for witches, not wizards.

And then one day...

“Captain! Captain! There is a ship coming to us from the port side!” Yelled the Lookout, from the top of the ship.

“What the… Where are they from?” Asked the Captain, in an angry tone.

“None that I know. Wait… They’re raising the combat banner. Alert! Alert!”

“Men, to arms! Lock down the captives! Fast!” Barked the Captain, with the tone of a real sea dog.

A few travellers and myself were sent inside the cargo space, to avoid being in the way. I was the sole prisoner, even though I wasn’t chained up, nor escorted by guards. The other passengers were two human ladies who look wealthy, a human guy that didn’t look nice and a draconian.

The two human ladies were twins. They were tan and had the traits of the southern people. Darker skin, black hair, brown and mysterious eyes. Slim but athletic build. They wore very colourful robes. Maybe they were on their way back?

The human guy was clearly a northman. Tough skin, brown air, blue eyes and a very square face. Losing a few kilograms would be good for him; he’s overweight, his belly can prove it. He was wearing a black jacket with some missing buttons and an open coat, woollen pants and a lot of silver and gold rings on his hands.

The Draconian, I couldn’t tell his origins. He was wearing a studded leather armour. He had many weapons on him: a sword on his belt, many knives on his armour and a maul tied on his backpack. He was an adventurer for sure. I do find it strange that he was inside the cargo space instead of being on the deck.

We heard a cannon ball hitting the hull; the ship started to shake violently and one of the twin scream in panic. Two other cannon balls were heard. Then a mix of screams and shooting.

Songs of battle could be heard. The Draconian unsheathed his sword and went on the side of the door. The noise was getting closer to us. The Draconian was stressed, the twins were scared and the man was uneasy.

“They are there…” Whispered the Man.

“If they come, I will take care of them.” Whispered back the Draconian.

Someone knocked on the door multiple times, trying to open it. Knock! Knock! Knock! And nothing. Did they leave?

Suddenly, the door exploded; a dense smoke screen covered our sight and everything went dark.