Aytrax found himself walking towards the Lord Grifes tent, after being told by Acier to pay a visit to the griffin who had some words of wisdom for him along with some advice to start his journey towards revenge against those who had disgraced him. The tent came to view, it was decorated with beautiful silver linings decorating a black tent, he saw that the tent was open, with a table and griffon sitting in a chair drinking some tea, he noticed that the griffon was wearing some light armor with a small cape, he noticed that his armor had some dragon scales into it with some back & silver feathers attached to the leather of armor. The griffon then sensed Aytrax & looked up from his table, giving the young werewolf a small smile then he spoke.
"Greetings you must be young Aytrax, I'm sure some of you fellow ashtrays have told you who I am, but allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Lord Griffe, The Caring Flame, once of Odron's champions." Lord Griffe introduces himself as he smiles gently at Aytrax, who kneels in front of the griffon out of respect.
"It is an honor to be in your presence, Lord Griffe." Aytrax said as he bowed down to the mighty griffon that stood in front of him with an aura of calmness & authority, it was warm like a parent's embrace yet somehow Aytrax knew that being in his presence left him feeling at ease, he was safe around the griffon.
"Arise my young Aytrax there is no need to kneel though I respect your manners, Lord Odron has informed me of your arrival & of your new purpose to walk the path of nobility & righteousness once again, I am here as one of your elders to aid you. Now I have some words of advice that you will find very much helpful. Your journey will start at Gloria City…" Lord Griffe said in a warm caring tone as Aytrax stood from his kneeling position upon hearing that there was no need to kneel. So he listened to the griffon's words.
After hearing the words of advice & wisdom of Lord Griffe, the young knight was ready to depart on this journey to Gloria City to seek one of the Knights of Unity, that went by the name of Enoch, The King's Eyes one of the knights that have disgraced him upon refusing the order he was giving. Lord Griffe had told him that Enoch was the Three Kings' eyes, a knight that observe all, a scout who reported everything & will communicate directly with the rest of the knights serving as an overseer for the kings, he hold the key to the location of the rest that were responsible since it was likely that Bagar & the other knights were not at the capital, but station somewhere else in the land of Ever hope.
"Remember if you stumble upon your fellow ashtrays & other knights from the neighboring kingdoms, feel free to help them out. There is a possibility some Knights of Unity might be attacking them, along with marauders & mercenaries. If you also stumble upon a dancing flame, remember that it serves as a gateway to other dancing flames in this very barracks. I'm sure you have seen one by now." Lord Griffe said as he shook his claw with Aystrax paw, as he remembered spotting a dark fire dancing on his way towards Lord Griffe tents, it was surrounded by small rocks that were also in fire, he remembered seeing how the fire dance is moving to the side to side like a flower in the wind.
"May you find your way through your pain & suffering, guided by Odron's Dark Flame." Lord Griffe said before he added one more world & gave Anytrax a small crossbow & a medallion & charm "I like you to have this, this crossbow belongs to my father who passed it to my mother upon me, now the 'Medallion of Rallying Fire'' is a special tool used by us astrays it will allow you to summon your follow astrays who carry one to aid in battle. The charm belonged to an old fallen friend of mine, he was a dragon who scales decorative armor. The charm will strengthen your flames & resistance towards any fire."
"Thank you Lord Griffe, you are very generous," Aytrax said as he bowed to him, giving him a thankful smile, receiving a soft smile in return from the griffon.
"It is my duty as a champion of Odron to care for other astrays, now go young Aytrax your journey for revenge awaits you." The Griffon said with a caring tone as Aytrax nodded his head, making his way out towards the tent and then out of the barracks toward Gloria City as Odron's Dark Flame once again guided him.
****
Aytrax had noticed one thing as he followed the Dark flame through the many dirt roads & hills, not once he had grown tired it was as if astrays had more stamina & endurance but he wouldn't lie that he rest in some dancing flames that he had spotted, they serve as small safe heavens he felt at ease near them he also had eaten a few wildlife such as deers, cattle or any other feral animals. Yet the slight discomfort of pain remains, it turns out that the pain will start at the stomach like something was missing not to mention that small burning sensation that comes with it burning where his flame was located. It was strange to say the least, not that he was complaining, when he was just a normal werewolf during his time as Knight of Unity he would often whine that his paws hurt like a small pup to his parents. Just then before he could think of something else he felt a piercing pain through his shoulder & that's when noticed two things an arrow had struck him & that being an astray doubled the pain that someone will feel, yet he snarled in as somehow his dark flame numbed the pain a little. He janks the arrow out just in time to dodge the sword of Knight of Unity, and rolls to the side as he notices that he was surrounded by a few Knights & Mercenaries. Great just what he needed. He thought sarcastically
"Die you filthy heretic!!!" Aytrax heard one of them shout as he charged at him, he dodge to the right & swung his head two times as he heard the knight let out a scream of anguish as he died from his wounds. Aytrax then dodge the ax of a vampire by stepping backward in time but before he could stab the vampire he was hit by an uppercut with the ax he stumble backward in pain, growling as he felt dodged another swing this time Aytrax saw an opening, he stabs the vampire from behind as he had moved behind him as the vampire had swung at the to right. As the vampire felt dead Aytrax felt a piercing pain in his side as he was impaled by a spear courtesy of another human then he felt himself being struck with claws from another werewolf as he stumble to the ground in agony from the pain, his body suffering from the damage they had inflicted, with a yelp he barely dodges out of the way from a sword strike that will decapitate him.
Despite the agonizing pain he was suffering, he felt the need to end his aggressors this was desire was courtesy of his flame burning brighter so Aytrax let out a vicious growl, his enemies stare at him with hate, and the human with the spear charged at him intend to impale him then jump in the air with a burst of wind intending to impale him. Aytrax saw the opportunity then he parry him with the tiny crossbow, the human staggered as the let out a surprised grunt then Aytrax launched himself forward, with a flash of black fire his sword changed to his left side, with enough force he plunge his entire arm towards the vampire's chest, his claws along with the small blades in his gauntlets tore the chest wide open as the vampire was sent flying dead unable to generate due to the of the blades being made out of silver. His companions growl & snarl more, not showing fear blinded by hate. After all, Knights of Unity were warriors too, along with these mercenaries with a howl Aytrax launched himself at the remaining foes.
****
Aytrax found himself panting tiredly filled with wounds & injuries from the foes that he had slain, he whine due to the pain & suffering he was experiencing from his injuries then he kneel in front of one of the corpses and ate to his flames content already his injuries & wounds were healing rapidly, it was amazing how strong he got the more he got injured, Odron's words about pain & suffering being turn into strength & guidance become clearer normal werewolves, vampires & humans will not have the will to fight with the amount of agony he experiences. He then moves to the next corpse, after eating five corpses out of the ten foes that he had slain, Aytrax found ready to move so eating his foes regenerate him faster that was good to know but it didn't stop the burning sensation in his stomach & chest as memories of his sins made him whine a little, he had to consume the ones that disgrace him to stop the burning sensation than his path of nobility & righteous will truly commerce saving the people from Soldronx's tyranny by his fellow Astray's. So he continued towards his destination following his flame.
It was easy to say that Aytax was a little annoyed at how he had to fight more enemies along the way not that he hadn't expected but it was ridiculous at how hard they hit not to mention that he had to rest in a few dancing fires just to relax a little, the night was approaching & he was going to find a nice cave to sleep in not that he needed it but it wouldn't hurt for an hour of sleep just an hour or two. Throughout one of his battles he experience a range of fighters that use sorcery & incantations, he also had to use some of it as he set ablaze his sword with red black flames that give him an edge as he remembered himself moving with grace cutting his enemies while a trial of black flames burn those who were close to him with each swing a bust of fire from his swords will send waves of fire towards them. He also recalled using his mighty jaws on a knight who was also sorcerous she was a pain to deal with using dangerous water spells that deal massive damage she had an aura of malice, he recalled her saying something related to waterboarding. She met her fate when his jaws close on her neck when he teleported behind her in a flash of black flames, her screams of surprise & anguish echoed in his ears she had let her guard down she & the rest of the knights fought bravely he could respect that. Aytrax could only imagine how difficult will be to fight the Knights that had disgraced him, along with Bagar he knew he will be a formidable foe.
As he remembered Aytrax spotted a cave where he could sleep for an hour or two his tail wagged a little, and he smile as he made his way towards the cave, when he got to the cave he find that it was kinda dark but nothing that his flame could illuminate, so here he was exploring the cave he was surprised that it kinda big as he finds himself following his flame who had now traces of blue fire than red fire, strange but he didn't question it any further his flame was his guidance like his pain & suffering after a few turns & spotting a shortcut to get towards the entrance he came across a clearing where his eyes widen as there was a small opening in the ceiling where rain falls into a pond in the small opening of the cave he saw light pouring in with a small waterfall, small grass grew in some spots with flowers, and he saw gold, jewels & lots of riches of value items he snap out of his gaze then continue following his flame that led him to two dragons that were laying in a bed of gold coins they were staring at this flame in curiosity then they felt his presence, as his flame return to the chest cavity where his hear used to be. Needless to say Aystrax was surprised & confused about why his flame led him here the dragons weren't hostile as he remembered who these two dragons were he had read about them. The dragons were also superseded as they stare at the young astray then one of them smiled with a curious look on his face, while the other had an annoyed look. The one with the curious tone then spoke in a worm-like curious voice that represent the wisdom & of a merchant.
"Well this is a surprise, we don't get many visitors much less from an ashtray. Normally those who stumble upon our cave try to steal from us and end up us our dinner, now I trust as an astray you don't come here in ill intents otherwise we might have a problem." The dragon with a smile said with an edge in his voice, yet curiosity remain as he gestured towards a pile of bones of werewolves, humans & vampires.
Well now things got interesting for Aytrax as he didn't expect to stumble upon two of the old eternal dragons however there were not members of the Ever Blessed, regardless these dragons were powerful he just knew it, so he bows in respect towards them he hand no ill intends towards such majestic dragons.