Simon didn't care about anything for a while, for the only thing he had in mind was to find Delphine of Moria.
Simon lived a life of which he received nothing in return, and he has always been a hunter who hunted both beasts and demons. Then, he started to believe that Delphine was standing before him as he could never forget such a person who proved to be a warrior worthy of being feared.
Don't be afraid of me. Simon noticed her voice.
As he continued walking, Simon could feel like he was hearing her soothing voice and could never forget what she said to him.
Delphine. My name is Delphine. But many people seem to forget what my name is. He heard her voice again.
Delphine's very presence could not leave the sight of the young hunter; even though they just met, Simon could not let himself forget anything about her.
I'm just a lone wanderer on the face of the earth, and I hunt the creatures of darkness. He noticed her voice yet again.
For the first time in his whole life, he met someone who seemed essential to him, and he believes that she could be the one who will free humanity from tyranny.
A specific villager walked behind Simon and was wanting to speak to him about Delphine and where her location is.
"You there, hunter. You're the one who was carried into town yesterday. A warrior dressed in black was looking for you," The villager said. Simon turns himself around and looks at the villager, and he wanted to know more from that person.
"What? Where? Where is she now?" Simon asked.
"Well, she left town and headed for the woods nearby," the villager answered.
"Thank you!" Simon said. And so, he ran towards the forest that the Villager mentioned without stopping for anything or anyone.
The forest was quiet, and there were hardly any animals that roamed around; they must've been scattered or driven away by some unrecognizable force. Simon began to slow down his breath after the countless minutes of continuous running on the road. He allows his hand to rest upon the bark of a nearby tree, and he looks down at himself as if he started to regret finding Delphine. Then, someone began to stroll from the shadows and stopped moving as the person saw Simon standing next to the tree.
"Delphine!" Simon said. Unfortunately, it wasn't Delphine of Moria, the Ebony Warrior; it was somebody else entirely who seemed to take Delphine's appearance.
This woman had fur armor, fur boots, fur gauntlets, and wore a large black cloak around her body; she wielded a greatsword made entirely of what seems to be the bones of a werewolf. Her name is Lagertha, and she is known by many to be the queen of the wolves; she had gold thick slit vertical eyes and pale skin.
It's... it's not her. Simon thought.
"Are you alone?" Lagertha asked.
"Yes. Are you the one who saved me?" Simon asked.
"Oh, that. No need to thank me." She answered. Then, she started to walk towards Simon with her sharp eyes staring back at his face as the afternoon began to start.
"But why did you do it. You don't even know me. And you even paid for my food and lodging," Simon said.
"You come to this village because you need the one who hunts demons," Lagertha said.
"Don't mistake me for some stalker. Everyone out there already does that. I believe in horrors, but I need to know more. I've exhausted my other options, and all the stories say the woman who walks in the night has secret knowledge."
Then, Lagertha placed her left hand onto Simon's right cheek and continued to have a bold look on her face.
"I am Lagertha of Stockholm. I rule all the wolves, I have wolf-blood inside me, and no blade can pierce my heart. I do not get many visitors. What have you to trade for my power and wisdom, seeker of the Ebony Warrior?" Lagertha asked. Her voice sounded threatening, and it seemed as if the heavens themselves were starting to tremble and be separated.
Then, Simon shoves Lagertha away from him, and he backs away to the tall tree that he laid his hand upon.
"Go away, woman! I don't need the likes of you! I will not be your pet, and your pagan magic shall not touch me!" Simon shouted. Then, Lagertha simply stood there and remained speechless for a short while as she was stunned by the way Simon reacted.
"Oh, is that so? I didn't know. I'll have to remember that," Lagertha said. A split second later, she uses the biceps of her arm, and she pins Simon to the tree and keeps her arm onto his throat.
Simon began to gasp for breath, and it was not possible to do it so quickly from the brutal strength that the Wolf Queen had. Lagertha's powers were beyond comprehension, and the strength of her sword arm was magnificent. Then, she grabs Simon by his hair and drags him in front of her, and she kept him locked into her right arm.
Then Lagertha's eyes gazed at the shadows, and she shouted, "You're pretty smart. But you followed me here, just as I planned. Enough skulking in the shadows! I know you've been following me! Step out from the darkness, Ebony Warrior!"
"What are you gonna do to me?" Simon asked. Before Lagertha could answer, Delphine began to stroll from the darkness and started to walk towards the Wolf Queen.
Delphine stood before Lagertha and had eyes that were full of hatred towards the queen of the wolves, and she refused to waste her time with her. Ten years ago, Lagertha was the one who carried Delphine away from her burning village as the demons started to gain control over the world. Lagertha was the one who offered her blood to the young girl as she lay dying from the wounds caused by the demons. The Wolf queen knew that she also had demonic blood inside of her, which allowed her to cut through many opponents with her bare hands. Simon was utterly defenseless, and he had nowhere to run as Lagertha held onto him; he didn't even know whether he was going to die or not.
"You just don't get it, do you? No matter how far I run or where I hide, you stick to me like a shadow. I'm sick of it," Lagertha said. Then, Delphine continued to walk towards Simon and Lagertha as she held onto the handle of her greatsword.
"Let that man go, Lagertha. You don't know what you're doing. If you put so much as a scratch on him, I'll give you a few more scars than you already received," Delphine said.
"You know I can't do that. And you know that it's tough for me to be convinced by the likes of you. Now, don't make another move," Lagertha said. Then, Delphine listened and didn't walk another step; she realized that the Wolf Queen had something up her sleeve while holding Simon captive.
"I know you, Delphine of Moria. Your feelings will betray you. You may have fought hundreds of demons, but even you will never defeat an immortal creature such as myself. Now, drop your sword and don't pull any tricks," Lagertha said. Delphine could sense no peace or tranquility towards the Wolf Queen as she spoke with her, and she also lived a life of hate and deceit.
Without hesitation, Delphine kept holding onto the handle of her greatsword, and her blood pressure started rising.
"What makes you think a hostage will stop me?" Delphine asked. Fearfully, Simon kept staring at Delphine, and he found it deep inside of his heart that she cared for him.
Lagertha started to sense some sort of bond between Delphine and Simon as she stood with them, and she began to notice a pattern take shape. It wasn't jealousy that entered into Lagertha's mind, but it was confused as she stared at the Ebony Warrior.
"I never thought it would... at least, not until yesterday. But when I saw you carry him into town with such care, I changed my mind. That's when I knew he would be useful," Lagertha said. Delphine had no idea what Lagertha was talking about, and she was already bitter towards her.
"I will not allow you to stand in my way, Lagertha. You will tell me why you're even here, to begin with," Delphine said.
Then Lagertha said to her, "Very well. You think by taking this man with you, you believe you can do anything you wish to him? Do you not know of the danger that will be brought upon him if he follows you? You may be a part monster and a ruthless killer, but you used to be human. Even if you can keep your emotions in check, a warrior of darkness can never forget the memories of your past life. For instance, when darkness never clouded your soul, you might have had a little brother. Maybe this man reminds you of him."