When Darius and Brennan arrived near the shore, their hearts sunk. Well mostly Darius, because he knew what he did, and oh boy does he know that Clara is beyond furious.
It was a no-brainer, especially with the glare on her face as she stood near the shore.
When they jumped off the boat, Clara quickly run towards them. Tackling Brennan into a tight hug.
"Thank the gods you're safe!" She exclaimed as tears pour out of her eyes.
"I-I'm so sorry for making you worry." Brennan rubbed circles on her back.
While Darius tried to sneak away while Clara was still distracted. He doesn't really want to face the consequences of his actions right at this point. His body hurt and his mind is still a mess after what Cliodhna had told him.
"And where do you think you're going?" Clara said angrily.
When he turned, he came face to face with the very angry woman. With a death glare and a scowl.
"I…" he tried to explain. But as soon as he opened his mouth, her hand flashed before his eyes.
His face turned to the side because of the impact, his cheek was red and stinging. But he couldn't do a single thing, because he knew that what he did was wrong.
"Do you think that what you did can be easily forgiven?!" She shouted while Darius remained silent as he shook his head sadly.
"I was worried as hell!" Clara went in and hugged Darius. "You two could've died and I won't be able to do anything but blame myself…" she said as she buried her face in his chest, muffling her cries.
"I'm sorry," Darius patted her head.
"I really am… I promise not to do it again."
"You better not," Clara mumbled, her hands holding onto Darius ever so tightly.
After a good amount of rest, the travelers immediately when back to their initial business.
"Here you go! A box of gunpowder!" The merchant chimed as they finished their purchase.
"Thank you!" Clara chimed as they exited the store.
Luckily everything was quickly resolved, the fisherman got back his boat, and the locals… well… they said, they did what they had to but apologized nonetheless. They even offered free meals to apologize, which of course the travelers gladly accepted.
Who even refuses free food?
"Let's go back, Feli must be bored," Darius said hurrying to return to the inn.
"H-Hey don't run too fast," Brennan shouted but Darius was already too far.
When he opened the door, he saw Feli's tail from under the bed. Darius smiled at the young griffin's silly way of hiding but was glad that he was listening to his words.
"I'm back." He said and immediately Feli sprung out from under the bed and flew into his arms.
"Mama!" he chirped.
"Did you miss me?" Darius asked.
"Yes! Very much, but it's okay because I didn't cry this time!"
Darius held him closer, a smile gracing his lips.
Suddenly, Feli's stomach growled.
"Want some bread?" Darius asked, causing the young griffin to vigorously nod his head.
"Alright, I'll ask if the meal was ready if it is. Then we can eat together."
"Okay!" Feli chimed.
They requested the meal to be inside Darius's room, to make that not a single soul can see Feli.
Now sitting around the small table that was placed inside their room, the travelers ate happily.
Well… most of them.
Brennan was eating happily and so was Clara, Feli was enjoying the bread and soup just like the day before.
But Darius was… well…
Darius stabbed the fish with the fork, his eyes held a little glare and his mouth was etched in a scowl.
Clara and Brennan couldn't help but gulp nervously each time he stabs the fork.
"D-Darius…" Brennan called his attention.
"Is everything alright?" He asked worriedly.
"Huh? Oh, of course." Darius looked at him with a small frown present on his lips.
"It's just you've been stabbing the fish with your fork…"
"Oh… that…" Darius bit his lower lip as he avoided eye contact.
"I just do this sometimes when I get annoyed. The fight with the sirens upset me… so I want to eat this fish like this."
"It… makes me feel better. Like to make it even. I suppose." Darius cringed as the others laughed.
"That's so cute," Clara snorted.
"It's kind of childish, to be frank," Brennan laughed lightly.
Darius squinted his eyes, before sighing.
'I shouldn't have told them.'
"Oh, before I forget. Can you tell me more about what happened out there?" Clara said.
Brennan's eyes sparkled, "Oh, you're in for a great story!" He exclaimed before he started narrating the previous battle.
Before they left Orienta, Darius had a chat with the familiar bearded old man.
"It is true? You killed those monsters?" He asked, his tired eyes looking straight into Darius's purple ones.
"I think they all died, but I still suggest that all of you remain cautious. There is no telling that for sure." Darius admitted.
"How on earth did you do that?" The old man asked curiously.
"It was a long story and I'd rather not get into that," Darius was not certain if those were the right words to say, but he can't just go around telling people his story.
"I understand, we all have stories that are difficult to retell." The old man nodded before stepping away.
"Make sure to visit Orienta when you have time, you and your friend will be more than welcome."
"That will be wonderful," Darius smiled.
"I should get going," the old man said before turning away to leave, much to Darius' relief.
Because Feli had been wriggling inside the bag and Darius is certain that he will pop out of the bag at any given second.
In the past few days, Feli grew bigger. Almost double his previous size, which was a little alarming due to the quick phase.
"We should get going," Darius said as he mounted his horse.
"Let's go," Brennan replied.
As the horses galloped away, Darius opened the bag and set Feli free.
"Let's gooo!" He screamed while flying alongside them.
The sound of galloping horse called the attention of Oraculi, it had been thirteen days and his apprentices haven't returned.
While it is given that the oneway travel towards the coastal area was a week at best, he still couldn't help but worry.
Opening the door, he saw a different yet familiar face.
"Alexander, I haven't seen you in a very long time." He greeted as they shook hands.
"I do apologize for that, I had been busy for the last few months. But it good to see you again." Alexander replied with a smile.
"Come in," Oraculi stepped aside to let the blonde inside his abode.
"Would you like something to drink?" He offered.
"Oh no, I don't want to be a bother." Alexander kindly refused.
"Alright, then what had brought you here?" Oraculi asked.
"Straight to the point as always," Alexander smiled.
"Well, I do know that neither of us likes to beat around the bush."
"While we haven't seen each other in a very long time, I would try my luck to ask you a favor." Alexander begun.
"I want to ask if you could lend me your strength." He added.
"Oh, Alexander I am but an old man. Whatever it is, I may end up as a hindrance." Oraculi looked down, placing a hand in his bad knee.
"I'm no longer the same man thirty years ago." Oraculi shook his head.
"But pray tell, what is the problem? Maybe I can do something to help even just a little."
Alexander looked disappointed yet he kept his smile, "I received word from a friend. He said that they had been terrorized by a giant."
"A giant?" Oraculi repeated.
"Yes, he said that it was a giant with a third eye in its forehead. And it only leads to one conclusion."
"Balor…" Oraculi uttered.
Alexander nodded to confirm his suspicion.
"The knights guarding the town already abandoned the place after evacuating a fraction of the population. With that said, some of the locals are still trapped inside the town. At this point the people had been completely on their own, living on a game of cat and mouse with the giant" The blonde explained.
Of course, it is no big secret that the knights will not be able to do much against the giant.
It's not their forte, I suppose one could say.
"As much as I want to help, Balor is not an easy prey. Have you asked someone else for help?"
Alexander nodded, "I have and the twins agreed. They will help me but they wanted to have a few more helping hands because they know that it will not be easy."
"Well, they are right." Oraculi sighed.
"But we can't just leave those people be." Alexander reasoned.
Oraculi is on his last steps, what help can he provide at this point? Unlike Alexander time has taken its toll on him.
While the immortal man remained the same, Oraculi aged terribly in the past thirty years.
"Then we'll go," Darius said from the open door.
After dropping Clara off in her workshop, they went straight home.
Alexander was shocked upon seeing Darius. The last time they talked, Darius said that he has no intention of remaining on this path.
Yet here he is…
'What could have possibly changed his mind?' He asked himself.
"Darius. Brennan. It's has been quite some time." Alexander greeted and shook hands with them.
"But the two of you just returned." Oraculi knitted his brows worried for their well-being.
"Don't worry we had enough rest," Brennan said with a smile.
"Well then, I will let you decide." Oraculi nodded, a part of him still want to stop his students.
"I still owe Alexander a great favor, it's about time I pay my debt," Darius said.
"So do I, he's the one that led me to this path. This is the least I could do." Brennan nodded.
"Feli will go where mama go!" Feli chirped although the others did not understand. Flying towards Darius's arms.
"A griffin? I haven't seen one in ages, they tend to live in high mountains and are quite elusive." Alexander stared at the young griffin with wonder.
"May I?" he asked, a hand hovering over Feli.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt." Darius shrugged.
Allowing Alexander to pet the young griffin.
"The two of you must have developed a strong bond for him to call you with such a nickname," Alexander chuckled.
"You can understand him?" Darius asked.
"I do."
"After living for so long, I've been deeply connected with nature," Alexander replied with a smile.
"I believe it will be for the best if the three of you catch up before proceeding onto talking about the mission," Oraculi suggested.
"Yes, that is a good idea." Alexander agreed. Finally drawing his hand away from Feli, much to the young griffin's disappointment.