The shocked expressions froze on Craig's and Maeli's faces as if time had suddenly stopped. Did that wolf really just... speak? Of course it did, after all, its mouth moved together with the words and even the voice came from its face.
'A talking wolf?' Craig had a whole bunch of questions running through his mind right now. He was surprised, but at the same time he wasn't. It was the kind of thing you couldn't understand yet you still found it acceptable.
Why was it acceptable?
Because nothing in this world was too strange to be real. Also, races such as fairies, trolls and sprigans could speak, so why not wolves. Still, it wasn't everyday a regular animal would just up and speak the common tongue. Of course, this wolf didn't seem to be regular at all.
"Heh. These are my prey, even if they've entered your territory they still belong to me. What are you trying to say Greymont, just because I entered here I now belong to your pack?" The Red-fang Slaughter Wolf also spoke out.
What in the hell was going on?
Craig and Maeli looked at each other with the most dumbfounded expressions a person's face could make.
"Your sophistry is useless against me. Turn tail and leave my territory before you force my paw." Greymont replied.
Apparently both these wolves had names.
"Force your paw? Hahaha, Do you think I'm afraid of you just because we're both Transcendents. Don't get cocky just because I let you have this territory. This entire forest is my domain." Rakan remarked with in a smug tone of voice.
'Transcendents?' Craig thought as he seemed to recall reading something about it before but couldn't quite place the memory. Nonetheless, it piqued his interest so much that he felt like questioning the wolves. However he only felt like it and didn't dare to do it, after all, they were currently distracted which was why Maeli and himself were temporarily safe.
"Are you really not going to leave?" Greymont asked for verification. He didn't bother paying attention to Rakan's boastful words.
"Enough. You've noticed it too haven't you. The special power flowing through this elf's body. It would be a great boost towards our next transcendence." Rakan stated, followed by a mysterious pause as a cunning smile bloomed on his face. It was truly a strange sight to see such a wicked and cunning smile on a wolf's face. "First bite first serve!" He yelled as he leaped towards Maeli.
At the same time Greymont also leapt toward her but before either one could hurt her, Craig had saved her yet again.
Bang!
The two wolves collided head on and a battle broke out instantly. It was a dog fight, but just a more badass one. With claws and bites they tackled each other and separated constantly before attacking again and again.
As they fought Rakan tried to get closer to Maeli but was being blocked and tackled by Greymont repeatedly. Greymont had also entered a similar berserk state as well with his eyes turning red and his fur spiking out.
"I can dodge for myself you know?" Maeli said as she pushed Craig off of her. "It seems you like to take advantage of women." She accused with a frown.
"I was truly trying to help. I know magic can be draining on the user so I figured you wouldn't be able to react in time." He replied whilst standing up.
Maeli also stood up and rolled her eyes at him. "I'm fine thank you. The next time you climb on top of me I'll gouge out your eyeballs, and not the ones on your face." She stated coldly.
Were there eyeballs in other places though?
"Then let's hope I won't have to save you again." He said as he gazed around. He looked at the ruthless battle between Rakan and Greymont and noticed there were many injuries on both wolves. Then looking around, he realised that the other Dual-stripped wolves were forming an encirclement to prevent them from escaping, yet they did not attack. 'Why aren't they attacking us?' He thought. 'It must've been an order from their alpha.' He then looked at Maeli and said, "We need to get out of here. This talking wolf thing is creeping me out."
Maeli nodded and readied her daggers.
Craig spun his sword and extended it outward at his side.
The encirclement of Dual-stripped Wolves also tightened their stances and began growling threateningly.
The entire atmosphere had suddenly become much more intense. Adding on the intense battle between Greymont and Rakan and it was as if a war was about take place.
Craig and Maeli were just about to commit a slaughter when Greymont cried out amidst battle, "Don't hurt my people, I mean you no harm. Give me a moment." He had been observing their movements whilst battling. At that moment Rakan and himself separated and stood a few meters apart.
Craig and Maeli were confused as to what was going on.
"What is the meaning of this Greymont?" Rakan asked in a hoarse and breathless voice. "Are you truly planning to spare them?"
Greymont scoffed. "What I plan to do is none of your concern. All you need to do is leave my territory before one of us dies and it certainly won't be me." He said in a deep resounding tone. It was clear that although he had sustained injuries, he was in a much better condition than the other.
Rakan growled furiously as blood flowed from his mouth. "I admit you're quite powerful indeed. I won't deny that if we keep going you'll end up taking my life." He was very displeased with this outcome. "But where did such power come from?" He asked mockingly as he shifted his gaze over to Maeli and said to her. "He won't be protecting you, that much I'm certain of. Transcendents need to absorb special power to evolve." He warned. "Since I'm no match for him I'll be taking my leave. Watch yourself little elf."
With that last sentence Rakan dashed into the forest and disappeared. His warning was rather pointless and hypocritical since he himself wanted to kill her.
Craig and Maeli kept standing in place and staring at Greymont with looks of curiosity. When he called out to them earlier, they both held back their intention to attack. They were both wondering the same thing: Did he really not mean them harm? But also, why?
Greymont slowly walked over till he was standing just two meters away from them. The fur on his body was slowly softening and returning to normal. His eyes also turned from red back to emerald green. The wounds on his body however, were still present. "You're probably wondering why I'm not acting like that other fool. Well, to tell you the truth, it's because of you." He said as he looked at Maeli.
"Me?" Maeli asked in a puzzled manner.
Craig also looked at Greymont in confusion.
Greymont laughed. "Well not you directly, some other elf. She was the reason why I became a transcendent and she also saved my life. For that reason I don't fancy causing harm to elves." Then he looked at Craig with a sharp gaze. "Count yourself lucky that you seem to be her companion human. If not for the fact that you protected her from Rakan I might have still killed you."
Craig was dumbfounded. This wolf's behaviour was strange indeed, aside from the talking that is? "So you'd have killed me even if she opposed?" He asked and pointed at Maeli.
"She wouldn't have gotten the chance to oppose before you died. Plus, I'm a bit knowledgeable regarding the affairs of the races. Elves and humans don't usually get along... especially men and women." Greymont moved his gaze back and forth between the two. "You couldn't be a couple could you? As they say, forbidden fruit is truly more tantalising."
Maeli's face reddened. "We aren't a couple okay! We're just working together to save someone!" She replied loudly with slight annoyance to her tone.
Craig simply smiled and said nothing about Greymont's statement. Instead, he asked, "You said that you became a transcendent? Is that why you can speak? Do you mind explaining?"
"Don't push your luck human." Greymont replied coldly. He truly despised humans deep down. His memories from before his transcendence didn't leave a good impression of them. He only answered Craig's previous question to prove a point.
Craig could only awkwardly shoot Maeli a glance to edge her on.
"I also want to know what a transcendent is and how you're able to speak." Maeli said with a look filled with anticipation. She wasn't really that interested, but she was putting on a performance to be more convincing.
Greymont looked at the two of them, sighed helplessly and muttered. "Definitely a couple. Whatever, I'll tell you what little I know." He then began explaining. "A Transcendent is an animal, like myself, or any other subpar species that evolves and gains intelligence. By gaining intelligence I mean we become able to communicate at a higher level or gain access to magical prowess. It can be either one or both. Rakan and myself are both upper tier Transcendents, meaning we obtained both. Lower tiers either only gain communicative intellect or magical prowess, one or the other. Did that quench your curiosity, little lady?"
Maeli nodded but didn't say anything.
Craig was about to ask a question but after opening his mouth to speak, he suddenly closed it shut. Then he was about to whisper something into Maeli's ear.
Greymont noticed his action and actually started to laugh. "Hahaha, You're an interesting human that's for sure? Since you're her lover I'll just consider you a half elf then, go on you may speak."
"He isn't—" Maeli was about to rebuke Greymont's statement but was cut short by Craig.
"In that case what was the Red-fang... the other wolf talking about when he mentioned a special power inside of her?" He asked pointing at Maeli.
"Hmmmm." Greymont hummed thoughtfully. "I don't know much about it either." He said as he shook his head. "But if I focus my vision hard enough, I can see a mysterious spiralling cluster of energy at the centre of her chest. Not just her, but all elves and orcs as well as several others." Then he looked at Craig. "You humans however, don't have it. It should be because you all are unable to use magic."
To Craig that made a lot of sense. Whatever it was had to have something to do with magic, so it was natural that humans didn't possess it. Thus what had him confused was that, if it was so common in other races why did Rakan act as if Maeli was so special?
"What is your name girl?" Greymont suddenly asked Maeli.
"It's Maeli." She replied.
"Nice name." Greymont nodded. "Your cluster of energy is strangely different from the others I've seen before. It seems to contain much more power within it, but also, there's this strange sensation coming from it that is... how do I put this... attractive." He explained.
"Special? Attractive?" Maeli muttered questioningly as she lowered her head in thought, but she couldn't think of anything special about herself. As for attractive... she did look good enough to die for, but that was only external, she didn't know she was attractive on the inside as well.
What made her so special? She wasn't even truly from a noble elven family. It was just that she became friends with the princess at a young age and after the princess turned eighteen she had personally selected her to be her personal attendant. She had been taken into the Royal family ever since.
"Rakan's warning, although it was hypocritical, he wasn't wrong." Greymont stated, snapping Maeli out of her thoughts. "We Transcendents are able to see those clusters of energy in people once we focus our vision. That means that most likely all Transcendents will notice how special you are. You must be very careful."
Neither Maeli nor Craig needed to ask. Since they just met two Transcendents, it was highly likely that there were more out there.
Although Maeli didn't have an answer or a solution to the problem, she understood the situation. She nodded and looked at Craig. "What do we do now? Should we rest here for the night?"
It was a reasonable suggestion, after all Rakan was still out there. Though he was injured who knew what tricks he had up his... fur.
"Is that alright with you, uh... Greymont?" Craig asked.
Greymont began walking toward the big rock at the centre. "Just for tonight. Tomorrow you should be leaving to save that person you mentioned?" He asked.
"That's right." Craig replied. "Can I ask a favour." He asked afterward.
Greymont stopped and turned his head, looking at him without replying, yet his gaze said 'ask away'.
"Can you have a few of your men...err, I mean, wolves, scout for me while I fetch our horses? I'd hate for your friend to ambush me along the way." Craig made his request.
"awooo."
Greymont stared at Craig for a moment then made a low howl. In response four wolves walked over to stand beside Craig. They were looking at him and even wagging their tails.
'Damn, I wish I could speak wolf.' Craig thought. Then he told Maeli he'd be returning shortly and left to fetch the horses.
Was it really a good idea to leave 'Transcendent food' alone with a transcendent one just met?
After Craig left, Greymont looked at Maeli and said something rather interesting. "This human companion of yours is very strange. He doesn't have a cluster of energy like you, but when I focus my vision on him I get lightheaded. This has never happened with any other human before, and it's never happened with any other race. Normally humans seem ordinary and other races such as yours have that thing in your chest. It seems, just like you he's also special." After his explanation he asked rhetorically. "I wonder... who is he?"