As planned Alexander and Brennan left first, while the twins and Darius left moments later. They traveled through Sentry and Twin Lake quite easily. Without facing any sort of trouble in fact.
After passing the two towns, they traveled together and headed to Snares.
"Then tomorrow we will be on the battlefield huh," Darius said while petting Feli. The young griffin had been doing exceptionally well. He had been flying on his own, following Darius and the twins while they are on horseback. During which he had been concealing himself, just like how Alexander taught him.
"Yes," Alexander confirmed. "It will take you a day to go around the forest, once you engage with Balor, Luke will take some of his blood to use in the spell and bring it to our location. On that note, you need to send Feli to me so he can act as a messenger, he will tell you once the spell is ready. Only then can you lead Balor on the southern part of Snares."
"I understand," Darius replied his eyes still fixed on the young griffin.
"He had grown so much." Alexander pointed out.
"Huh," Darius smiled. "The twins were right, I wasn't feeding him what he needed. He just liked bread so much that I thought it was what he should be eating." Darius gently stroked the young griffin's feathers.
Feli is now about the size of a horse. And in all honestly, it was almost terrifying how much he had grown.
"Well, if he liked bread so much then it can't be helped. What matters is that he's happy," Alexander assured him.
"Old people, let's change guards. Luke and I can guard, you should sleep now." Loki said as he started stretching out.
"Loki, Luke, don't do anything stupid while we're asleep," Alexander warned.
But the twins just laughed.
The moon was up in the sky and the sky was clear, yet a sudden storm interrupted Darius's sleep.
The strong wind and pouring rain, soaked them while at the same time extinguishing the fire.
"What the!" Darius gets up.
Alexander also woke up, "It's not a normal rain," he muttered.
"What is it then?" Darius asked thinking of the worst-case scenario.
If she was involved, then...
"Springgans," the blonde told him.
"Ah! I hate those things," Loki complained. "They summon storms and strong winds out of mischief and steal things."
"Sound familiar huh," Alexander retorted.
"Heyyy…" Loki protested.
"Kill…" a slow and deep voice whispered.
"Kill the hero…"
Darius felt his stomach drop, there's just no peace at this point of his life is there?
"You… stole his glory… you… stole… the title… you… stole… the tree's favor…"
There is no denying it, this was about the world tree again.
"Kill…"
Alexander run to Darius as dozens of wood-like creatures sprung from the forest. Like an army of tall men, their bodies made out of pure wood. With long roots like fingers, a small face, and a head with growing branches almost like crowns.
"Have you taken your oath?" He asked Darius.
The ravenette stayed quiet, his tongue as he heavy as led. He didn't want to admit it but he was still too stubborn to take the oath.
"Well start pledging to the world tree now!" Alexander shouted a spark appeared in his hand. The blonde is ready to defend his companion.
"That's the problem, I don't think this is about the world tree itself. I think someone wants me dead, Cliodhna said it. The elves wanted someone else to become the hero, what if this is their assassination attempt. Even if I pledge now, it won't change a thing."
"Either way, you have to do it now. There's still a chance that they will back away if you do," Alexander said.
Darius clicked his tongue, he had no choice. There are too many of them, and great power can only last for so long against an overwhelming number.
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak. A springgan came to attack.
A wave of roots sprung from the ground, but he was quick enough to dodge.
Thinking he was safe, Darius let his guard down. Only to be picked up by another springgan and to be thrown a few meters away.
"MAMA!" Feli shouted, out of pure rage the young griffin attacked the springgan, his sharp claws ripping the spriggan apart. The woodland creature screeched, calling the attention of the others.
They started attacking Feli. Thick roots bounded the young griffin tightly.
"Feli!" Brennan shot a springgan in the eye.
While the twins started fighting as well. With Luke started slashing springgans one after the other using his trusted knife and Loki fighting with his double edge sword.
Alexander on the other hand went straight to Feli, he tried using his fire to burn the roots. But only to fail miserably, the rain poured down even harder. Making it impossible for him to conjure fire.
Darius watched as his friends struggled, all of them are fighting against the springgans. But in the middle of all the chaos, Feli's cry was the worst.
He was in pain.
Purple eyes darkened out of anger, gritting his teeth Darius drew his sword.
He charged in at full speed, swinging his sword with brute force.
He was using so much power that he even managed to cut a springgan in half with a single blow.
SHING!
The sound of the blade as it cut into the air resonated throughout the forest.
Darius moved in lightning speed, leaving only the color of purple electricity visible to the naked eye.
Sword flashed before their eyes, moving from one springggan to another, leaving nothing but a trail of decaying monsters.
I was like something Alexander has read before, about the rage of a hero in Greece. It was so terrible he even killed his family.
When the battle ended only a single springgan remained alive, the tip of Darius' sword pointing at its chest as the creature remained still.
"I fuck pledge my loyalty to the world tree and I shall do it good service and lay my life for its cause." Darius oathed.
"Tell that to fucking Eldric! Tell him that I already claimed the title and I will hold it even after the day he dies. So he could just envy me and my glory!" Darius's eyes burned with pure hate and anger. A dangerous gleam sparking in his purple orbs.
With a slow and terrified nod, the springgan retreated in the shadows of the forest.
Feli came running to Darius after the twins freed him.
"Mama!" he shouted, while Darius gently petted the griffin.
"Are you hurt?" Darius asked worriedly, but Feli only shook his head.
"You shouldn't have said that Darius," Alexander told Darius.
"I already did, besides I meant what I said."
"But that can cause troubles in the future, you don't know what the world tree requires. What if you will need the elves' help?" Alexander was worried, Darius made a hasty decision upon saying those words.
"I'll figure it out once the day comes, but for now I did what I had to." Darius frowned as he turned his attention back to Feli.
He never thought that he will lose control like that, maybe it is true… He cared more than he wanted to admit.
"Brother, remind me never to anger Darius ever again," Loki told his brother as they looked at the ravenette.
"Aye, it was like watching a beast on a rampage. It was terrifying." Luke whispered.
With his excellent hearing, Alexander glared at the twins.
Saying clearly that, 'You two better stop messing around.'
The twins nodded vigorously.
When morning came, their belongings were already dry. Thanks to Alexander's magic that is, using fire to hit up the surroundings well enough to dry everything.
"We will meet you tomorrow," Alexander said as the three went in the other direction.
"Be careful you two," Darius told them as they separated.
"Of course," Brennan smiled cheekily. "I could tell you the same thing."
"Bye Alexander! We will miss you very much!" Loki waved at Alexander while Luke wiped fake tears.
The blonde sighed at the twins' behavior, he just prays that Darius will be able to handle them.
"Should we get going as well?" Brennan asked.
"Sure." Alexander smiled at Brennan.
"So, where are you from Darius?" Luke asked as they traveled along the tight forest path.
The leaves make crunching sounds as the horses' hooves crushed them. The birds chirp atop the trees, while the leaves rustle against the wind. The forest was so peaceful, one would be able to hear a pin drop.
"I don't really feel like talking about that," Darius sighed knowing that it will be a long journey ahead.
"Oh, are you shy?" Loki teased, gaining a smack from Luke.
His eyes widened as if telling him brother, 'We just agreed not to piss him off.' But Loki just stuck his tongue out.
Luke elbowed his brother on the side, making Loki whine. In retaliation, Loki put his arm around Luke's neck and started messing his hair.
"STOP!" Luke shouted before grabbing Loki's hair in return.
"Ah! Let go!" Loki complained.
"No, you let go," Luke replied still holding his brother's hair.
"Let go first," Loki said.
"I don't trust you."
"I don't trust you either."
Darius sighed, "Both of you stop," he said. But the twins didn't even listen.
'So this is what Alexander had to go deal with,' he thought.
"Hey!" Darius shouted, still ignored.
"Tell you what, if you behave, I'll tell you a thing or two." He said.
The fight stopped instantly.
"Deal!" The twins said simultaneously.
Darius scowled and continued walking.
Loki wiggled his brows to Luke as soon as Darius turned his back on them. Little did he know, the same trick had been used on Alexander during his first encounter with the twins.
"I was from Dead Swamp." Darius simply said.
"Yeah, but what do you do before that?" Luke asked.
Darius sighed, "Kill annoying people like you," he said, hoping that the twins will take the hint that he doesn't want to say more and would stop asking questions.
but h was wrong.
"Really?!" Loki sped up his horse.
"Are you some kind of assassin?" He eagerly asked.
Darius frowned, he thought they won't take that seriously.
"Ha! I knew it, based on how you fought last night you are something else." He chimed.
"We are similar in a way then huh," Luke mumbled.
Darius stopped his horse, his brows crossed. "What?" He asked completely dumbfounded.
"Um… we have rotten roots?" Loki said awkwardly, thinking whether they are wrong in assuming that.
Darius bit the insides of his mouth.
'Wonderful, now I'm the one that is curious.'