Chapter 12 - Convincing

Grim tensed up.

"Think about it, how difficult would it be to live life as a normal citizen in your current situation? You would have to struggle even going around the cities or towns still hiding your dragon."

The Sunstrider said confidently.

Grim turned his back towards the towering elf and turned around with a smirk.

"I humbly decline your offer, Sunstrider."

Grim Fenris rejected the invitation to join the Luna Wolves right in the Sunstrider's face.

He placed both of his hands on his hips and proudly did said so.

"I see. Goodbye, then."

The lack of emotions on the Sunstrider's face disappointed Grim so much.

It was supposed to be an 'aha' moment for him.

But the Sunstrider showed as much emotions as a man who was asleep.

"W-Wait, wait up!" Grim shouted back just as the Sunstrider was starting to walk towards Midgard.

"Hm? Is there anything else you wanted to say?"

The golden armor of the Sunstrider illuminated the sunlight and blinded Grim's eyes.

He covered up the glare with his hands.

"You are not even going to try and convince me even more to join? I might be someone that needs a bit more talking to and ultimately end up changing my decision, you know?"

Grim said to him nervously.

"I am not the type that has to exert more effort in convincing you, however."

The Sunstrider quickly shut him down.

He walked back to the open area where they had talked earlier.

"Prove your worth to me, then."

The Sunstrider said as he took out his bow once again.

"If you win, then I will think of convincing you, if not, then the Luna Wolves have no need for you."

He said with an intense tone.

Grim and Dart leaped back and prepared for combat.

"We are going to have to do what we did back at the cave once again, Dart."

Grim said to his dragon.

"You mean the one where you borrow my claws and stuff?"

Grim nodded his head with a smile.

"Yeah, that one."

"Okie-dokie, then!"

The dragon replied back as it eased itself into a combative stance.

"Do not hold back, there are no guards within the vicinity, I have already made sure of it. Go all out."

The Sunstrider said as he had an arrow pointed at Grim's head.

"I am going to make you eat your own words, Sunstrider!"

Grim shouted out.

He high fived Dart's hands and a bright beam of light emerged from where they were.

The Sunstrider squinted to see more clearly.

"Fascinating, Grim Fenris."

He said.

Grim Fenris emerged from the light with his hands now turned into dragon claws, even his head had two horns reminiscent of that of Dart's.

The Sunstrider shot the arrow and let it fly straight at Grim's face.

With a quick dodge by moving his head to the other direction, Grim avoided getting pierced by the arrow. But it had grazed his cheek, causing it to drip blood.

Instead of feeling scared and stumbling his moves, Grim was now grinning even more.

He had felt the bloodlust of combat slowly creep up to his veins.

"You are going to have to take us more seriously after this!"

The elven boy shouted out while revving up his claws for a wide swing at the Sunstrider.

The latter just stopped Grim's attack by blocking it head one with his hand.

Grim smirked. "Dart! Now!"

He screamed out as Dart was hanging on his back, letting out a wide ball of fire at the Sunstrider.

The leader of the Luna Wolves jumped upwards and stared at the duo in both amazement and anger. His eyes definitely were as serious as they come.

He jumped back down and landed a kick on Grim's face, but as soon as he did, Grim Fenris now held on to his legs and threw him into a tree, followed by another burst of fireball barrage from Dart.

Whenever Grim and Dart were in this state, the baby dragon's combat capabilities were heightened.

"This kid is a bit sloppy, but his instincts are top notch. Definitely a cut above the others."

The Sunstrider thought to himself as he threw his bow onto the floor.

"W-What's the matter? Are you giving up already?!"

Grim shouted out as he saw what he did.

"No. I just realized that I might not even need a weapon for this fight. Having to use mine would be overkill."

The Sunstrider truly believed this. As he said that, he did not mean to diss or anger Grim, he just believed it to be the truth.

"Aren't you confident?" Grim chuckled. "Me and Dart will humble you, then."

The elven boy was confident that he was able to take the Sunstrider down, he sprinted towards him and did the same opening attack with his claws.

A hint of disappointment was written on the Sunstrider's face afterwards. He also ran towards Grim and attempted to meet him in the middle.

"How disappointing, Grim. I thought you were smarter than this. You already knew that move was not going to work earlier, yet you keep using it. How futile." Those were the last words that Grim would hear before being knocked out unconscious, but before that, he saw a glimpse of the Sunstrider's body emanating a red hot aura composed of flames.

The Sunstrider landed a clean jab on the elven boy's face and planted him on the ground. Grim being unconscious turned his 'form' off. His claws had now turned back into his normal human fingers and his horns had vanished into his head.

Dart gritted his teeth and protected Grim's body. The baby dragon placed and raised both of his hands sideward to 'cover' Grim.

The Sunstrider was pleasantly surprised by this and stopped dead on his tracks.

"I am not going to need to convince you two, then. It will be your choice, although it is clear that Grim is not one to work well with other people, I understand."

He said while slowly walking back towards. "Take care of him, Dart."

The baby dragon was in awe. Hastily blinking his dark beady eyes.