Aytrax & Dahan stood outside the entrance of Gloria city ready to go their separate ways after defeating Enoch when they make their way back towards the entrance they helped the city sentinels & citizens fight back turns out everyone felt Enochs's soul perish, this triggered uprising they managed to push them out of the city slaying a few knights the city was now free as some Knights of Unity were demoralized at the demise of Enoch with some of them surrendering willingly to be prisoners was it out of fear or out of respect, honor? It was a mixture of reasons. Regardless, Aytrtax managed to locate the locations of the people that disgrace him but he was unsure where to start, maybe Lord Griffe would have some advice regarding his predicament, plus he needed to repair his equipment something tells him that Acier would be happy to provide. He turned his attention towards Dahan & put a paw on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Dahan, without your help I wouldn't have to claim what I seek without your help, but I have to ask you did you know that you stood no chance against him?" Aytrax asked him with a small grateful smile which turn into a sympathetic one & in return Dahan gave him a sad smile. What he said next concerned his suspicions.
"Yes my friend, I did … to be honest, I had lost the will to live until I saw you an astray in a mission, a true born warrior someone that could aid me in my time of need, for that I thank you Aytrax you truly are a friend," Dahan said in a soft tone as he made eye contact with the werewolf who could give the former farmer a soft smile.
"Vey well my friend, but I'm afraid this is where we depart. I hope you have found peace in yourself," Aytrax said as he patted Dahan's shoulder, earning a chuckle from the goblin who could only return words of kindness towards him.
"Until we meet again Aytrax, again thank you for everything I truly meant it," Dahon said as he offer his hand, to the young astray who could only nod with his head he grip his hand with his paw then they bump shoulders as a sign of respect for their strength & ambitions. To say the least, they were both happy that they found a friend as they departed with food & supplies that the town citizens offer them.
****
Aytrax found himself back in the middle of the cave having teleported from a nearby dancing flame that had materialized near the gates just when Dahon had departed towards his destination, he didn't say where he was going but told Aytrax not to worry about him, he only wanted to explore more of the world & help wary travelers or anyone fleeing from Knights of Unity. When the fire settled down he heard the two eternal dragons shift towards his direction with Ashfield addressing him with a smirk on his snout, while his sister could only smile with a please hummed at seeing Aytrax return.
"Welcome back young astray, I trust that you have fulfilled your promise?" Ashfield says with his still present smirk towards Ayrax who only could respond by reaching towards one of his pouches & taking out the pendant offering towards its rightful owners. The two eternal hoarding dragons' eyes widened in surprise & Aytrax could swear he saw some tears in their eyes, the pendant must mean a lot to them. Ashfield reached towards it & gently took it in his paw Ashfield then held the pendant close to his chest with small tears it took a while for them to compose themselves before Skyblaze thanked him.
"Thank you young, from the bottom of our hearts this pendant truly means a lot to us, especially to my brother. It serves as a family treasure passed from generation to generation, it's also a relic of happy memories." Skyblaze said as she wiped her tears Aytrax bowed towards them to show his respect.
"I was only doing my duty as a Knight of the Dark Flame in exchange for you letting me rest in your cave, there is nothing more to it," Aytrax said with a kind tone as he bowed to show his respects toward them he was just glad to return the favor.
"Regardless we are thankful & for that, you should be rewarded young astray, someone of your virtue is worthy to wield his legacy." With those words being uttered by Ashfield he shifted to the back a few seconds later he focus his attention back toward Aytrax with a sword in both his paws he then shifted in a comfortable position showing the sword towards Aytrax, the sword itself was beautiful, it's blade was made of pure quality steel, with engravings & serrated edges, its handle wrapped in black bandages at the end of the handle the head of dragon form with red ruby serving as its eyes. Then Skyblaze spoke.
"This sword belonged to a dear old friend of ours, a human Knight of the kingdom of Grace Field by the name Sylvain, Guardian of Or's treasure our father who made the sword when he swear his oath to protect our treasure when our father saved his life. he was slain defending his Kingdom by another human only known as Macabre, Bane of Peace, the Duke of Grace Field deliver us the sword along with the tragic news" Skyblaze explained with a hint of somber in his tone as Aytrax as he took the sword from Ashfield examining the beautiful craftsmanship, then Ashfield explained something that interested the young astray.
"The sword possesses an incredibly terrifying power for its wielder, a power that came to be known as 'Burden of Riches' a spell created by Sylvain a spell that will burden the will of men shackling them with chains of golden that will drain their energy & magic the sword will glow golden towards danger, it can also be cast with any type of pyromancy such as Odrons dark flame." With Ashfield's explanation Aytrax cast the sword in his flames the sight itself was beautiful as he noticed small traces of gold fire instead of red, he admired its beauty, and he decided he will make good use of it to honor its legacy.
"By the way, you never gave us your name young astray, it would be a great honor to know the one that will wield our fallen friend's legacy," Skyblaze said with a motherly worm kind tone in her voice, with her brother-agreeing with her as they stood there waiting for Aytrax's response & Aytrax did give a response with a kind & proud tone with a soft smile in his muzzle.
"Aytrax, my name is Aytrax, Hound of Odron formerly known as Aytrax, The Sword of Light & The disgrace. Once a Knight of Unity & now a Knight of the Dark Flame who will gladly walk the path of pain & suffering to appease the pain of his sins." Aytrax said as he felt the uncomfortable burning sensation that was ever anguished until he seek his revenge the two hoarding eternal dragons could only give him small worm sympathetic smiles, then Ashfield spoke.
"Then it is a pleasure to properly meet you Aytrax, Hound of Odron, we are the Hoarding Eternal Dragons Skyblaze, The Sky Burner & Skyblaze, The Blazing Comet but you already knew that didn't you?" Ashfield said with recognition and amusement as he gave a smile of good amusement to the young astray werewolf.
"I did your holiness," Aytrax said with a small smirk on his muzzle as the three of them chuckled, a small pleasant moment brought some happiness to Aytrax.
****
With a flash of black flames Aytrax teleported back to the barracks, then made his way towards Lords Griffe's tent where he saw Du Sang having a conversation with the griffin, they sense his presence & turn towards him with soft welcoming smiles, and Aytrax could only return a confident smile in return they both gesture for him to approach them. Then the first one to speak was Du Sang.
"Hehehe, look at you that damage armor, tells of a battle worth telling, Lord Griffe & I were just discussing what will be our next course of action should be, but that can wait if you are here then you must be seeking more words of advice & wisdom from Lord Griffe himself." Du Sang said with his arms crossed in a friendly manner.
"That is correct Du Sang, I managed to obtain what I needed from Enoch but now that I have his talisman & have located the ones that disgrace me, I am uncertain about who should I go next," Aytrax said in a thinking position with a frown on his muzzle, then Lord Griffe asked him a question that caught him off guard.
"Young Aytrax, who do you think is the greatest threat? Who do you believe serves as the greatest reliever of your pain & suffering? For who has Disgrace you the most?" Lord Griffe said with a stern expression, his tone firm and full of wisdom, his words sinking in as Aytrax thought about what he was asking him then he remembers the day Bagar & the others drew their swords against him for refusing that order, the order to burn an orphanage that was acting as a refuge that was suspected of hiding supplies & food for the enemy. The enemy was a rebel group who had been questioning The Three Kings' campaign towards the east of conquering the lands of the dwarfs who were nothing but peaceful miners with good trade business with the nation they were at war with at the time, Astroma. That day they took everything he had worked for & disgraced it, he was no longer known as the Sword of Light but Aytrax, The Disgrace locked away, shackled in a prison cell left to rot away for something that he believed was wrong, his belief in Soldrax, The Beckoning Light die that day. So, in conclusion, they were all threats that had disgraced him so what was the answer before he could think of it, Lord Griffe gave him the answer to his problems.
"You see young Aytrax it's not about the biggest threat but choosing your battles wisely, for you to battle the ones that disgrace you & relieve your pain & suffering that the dark flames of Odron provide you must know that each battle will be more difficult than the last one." Lord Griffe explained himself as Aytrax took the information, Du Sang added some words of advice too with Lord Griffe humming in approval at the advice from the vampire.
"We astray grew by experience our pain & suffering are the guiding keys, with each battle we become stronger, relieving ourselves from the burning sensation of Odron's dark flames if we astray don't suffer from our sins then there is no hope of us ever walking the path of righteous & chivalry once again, we cannot simply relief our pain we must experience it due to the pain & suffering we have cause others. As it is Odron's philosophy of justice." Du Sang said with great passion that as a professor teaching students in class.
Aytrax let the information sink in as he considered their words of advice & wisdom he reached for Enoch's amulet & close his eyes seeing the location of the ones that disgrace him and his adversaries for a few minutes no one said anything then he choose to go after a Knight of Unity known as Trox, Alchemist of Tomorrow, something told him that he would possess useful items since he was brilliant yet dangerous Alchemist who also serve as deadly warrior due to his knowledge of various potions Aytrax then open his eyes & smile at Lord Griffe & Du Sang.
"I now know where to go, thank you for your words of wisdom the both of you." Aytrax said as he bowed in front of them showing his respects." This earns him words of encouragement & smiles.
"We would be praying for your success young Aytrax & may Odron's Dark Flame guide you through your pain & suffering, we are filled with joy knowing that your future holds great virtual of righteous & chivalry." Lord Griffe said in a fatherly tone, Aytrax smiled at his words & soon he departed from the tent but not before paying a visit to Acer to repair his armor & Nightshade to see how what he was up to, it didn't hurt to socialize.