Marching through the humid forest, Aetos soon reached his breaking point as the sun loomed above tauntingly.
Collapsing forward, Grohl could barely catch them both in time, letting out a sharp exhale in shock.
As they lay on the forest floor light filtered through the canopy and shone like radiant beams.
Grohl let out a wince of pain as he raised himself to his knees, quickly saying, "You did good man, I'll take it from here..."
With one big exhale, Grohl hoisted Aetos onto his shoulder, carefully maneuvering through the forest once again.
Hobbling with his haggard body, after several hours Grohl happened upon a peculiarity. A quaint cottage nestled between two large trees, its form overtaken by nature.
Slowly he approached the cottage, eventually reaching its dilapidated front porch. Sitting Aetos carefully into a rickety rocking chair, Grohl could barely stay standing for even a moment longer after, collapsing onto the porch and finally being able to catch his breath.
Hardly any time had passed until distant footsteps snapped Grohl awake, his head jerking off into the forest.
"Are they coming?" Aetos asked suddenly.
Flinching against the sudden question, Grohl's gaze shifted to Aetos, "You woke up..." He said, slowly rising to his feet.
Grohl sharpened his senses and prepared himself by grabbing his chains and setting his gaze back to the approaching footsteps.
Suddenly, an old man rounded a large tree, spotting our duo.
"Oh, guests..." The old man mused.
With little care for the two, the old man fearlessly walked past them both, opening the door to the cottage and walking in.
A shared silence was had between the two before the old man spoke from inside the cottage, "You both seem worn out, come rest a little."
Aetos slowly rose from the chair, holding his side as he shuffled inside. Grohl dropped his guard, shifting into his humanoid form, making his injuries all that apparent once more.
As the two made their way inside, they were welcomed to the sight of books, paper, and trinkets scattered throughout the home. The old man sunk deeply into a chair, letting out a long exhale of relaxation.
Glancing over at the two of them, the old man remarked, "My dear Beastkin, you've seen battle."
Trying to hide some of his wounds, Grohl retorted, "It's fine, I heal fast."
Groaning, the old man gradually climbed his way back out of his seat, shakily walking to a table with books skew about. Deftly grabbing hold of a book from this pile several others came tumbling down without hesitation.
Flipping through its many pages, the old man eventually landed on a page, reading it over once before shooting his gaze toward the dead fireplace.
Closing the book and holding it under his arm, the old man snapped his fingers, bringing a single bright ember into existence. Slowly the ember drifted toward the fireplace, drawing nearer until its slightest touch sent the fire into a roaring existence.
Turning to face his visitors, the old man asked, "Would it be alright if I helped patch those wounds up, they look quite painful."
Aetos quickly retorted, "You're a magic user?"
Chuckling to himself, the old man said, "I've dabbled in the craft."
Flipping open the book once more, the old man glanced down at it, seemingly lost in thought. Soon looking back to Aetos, the old man adjusted his glasses, his eyes widening and a grin stretching across his face.
Closing the book carefully, the old man held it with both hands and reached forward in an offer, "Would you like to have it?"
Shaking his head vehemently, Aetos responded forcefully, "Certainly not, I don't even know how to use magic!"
"I've already memorized most of the spells in this book, I only keep it around cause I'm a little lazy from time to time," the old man said with a wink.
Grohl looks to Aetos, reprimanding him, "My mother always taught me that it is rude to deny a gift, you should accept it."
Hesitant, Aetos eventually let out a long sigh, begrudgingly taking the book.
"Thank you very much..." His expression dulled, before soon asking, "Umm, what is your name sir?"
Jerking at this question, the old man responded shortly, "Citro."
Continuing in earnest, Aetos took the book, "Thank you very much, Citro, is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Looking at Aetos, he soon asked, "Do you paint?"
A bit shellshocked at the question, Aetos responded slowly, "I was considered pretty good in my hometown. Why do you ask?"
"I've been wanting to breathe a bit of life aside from plants into my home if you're willing," Citro mused.
Looking around once more, Aetos retorts soon after, "I don't have my brush or anything though."
Shaking his head, Citro held his hand in front of him, a blueish energy coated it, and suddenly a brush and loaded palette sat comfortably in his hand.
"I keep my easel out back, I'll bring a canvas to you," Citro explained.
In shock and awe, Aetos said in bewilderment, "Yeah, sure thing..."
Accepting the items, Aetos stepped outside, where Grohl watched him make his way to the back until he soon dropped into a wooden chair as if he were holding in the urge all along.
Letting his gaze rest on the floor, he spots a medium-sized canvas inching across the floor, being carried by several small wispy creatures.
Entering the room, Citro spots Grohl in the chair, "You're more than welcome to sit in my chair, don't hurt yourself sitting in such a hard one."
The door forcefully swings open as the creatures march onward, startling Grohl, "I think I'll take you up on your offer."
Citro helps Grohl up, bringing him over to his own chair, where Grohl quickly melts into it.
"Comfortable?" Citro asked.
Nodding his head, Citro left the room, soon returning with a bottle in hand.
Reaching forward, Citro offered the bottle to Grohl, who sat still looking on, "It's water, you look like you need it," Citro explained.
Hesitantly, Grohl accepted the gift, "How about we handle those wounds," Citro said as he rubbed his hands together.
Grohl melted further into the chair as he drank, being refreshed by the icy chill of the water.
Entering the room with a handful of dull white bandages, Citro sat down, saying, "It's been quite some time since I've tended to the injuries of battle."
Interest piqued, Grohl hesitated for a moment before asking, "You've fought?"
Chuckling to himself, Citro slowly wrapped a bandage around Grohl's forearm as he explained, "Many years ago," as he finished wrapping the bandage, Citro remarked, "Things were different back then."
With a wince Grohl balls his fist in pain, Citro quickly remarking, "Don't tense up, makes it hurt more."
Unfurling his fist, he takes a deep breath, before asking, "History aside, what's an old guy like you doing out in the forest?"
As he finished tending to Grohl, Citro stood up with a groan and stretched, "Just an old man wanting to live out his final years in a familiar place."
Chuckling to himself, Grohl closes his eyes and leans back into the comfortable chair, saying, "I knew a guy like you, he was a good man."
Grohl slowly drifted to sleep, with heavy fatigue amassing within him, gradually lulling him into a sort of serenity.
Suddenly awaking, Grohl found himself submerged in a void-like sea. Raising upward, his wounds were nowhere to be found, hardly a scar remained, yet the exhaustion still racks his body.
Anxiously he spun around, finding himself fully immersed in this domain. Safe for a single distant being, bearing a red mask of indescribable appearance, cloaked in a swirling robe that seems to whir with life.
"Oh, it's just you," Grohl remarked, his anxiousness fading near instantly.
Trying to approach them, Grohl can never seem to get any closer, with it always being out of reach.
Clicking his tongue, he ruffles his hair, "Same shit as always."
Letting out a puff of air, Grohl looks up into a seemingly infinite abyss, "I got shit to do, let's hurry it up."
A sudden snap of the fingers wakes Grohl, Aetos stood loosely in front of him, "You are a deep sleeper."
"Yeah..." Grohl says with a groan, tinged by a slight ache.
Slowly standing, Grohl groans, asking, "How long was I out?"
Pondering for a moment, Citro responds, "About 10 hours."
"What!" Glancing outside Grohl sees the sun rising, quickly looking back, "I'm so sorry for intruding."
Shaking his head and hand, Citro remarks, "It's quite alright, I've enjoyed your little visit."
"We'll be on our way now..." Grohl quickly said, walking outside.
Aetos followed suit, stopping at the door to ask, "Citro, I meant to ask, which was do we go to reach the nearest town."
Pausing breakfast, he finished swallowing his food before responding, "Head directly east from here, then you'll find yourself in the city of Ancelot."
A shared noise of shock is shared between both of them, Grohl saying, "Ancelot, the capital?"
Nodding, Citro continues, "The very same."
Aetos waves at Citro as he departs with Grohl, "Thank you, Citro, I'll try to visit sometime again."
As Grohl and Aetos began to make their trek, Citro finished his breakfast, walking outside and taking a deep breath of air.
A blinding flash of light shined from him, illuminating the morning, revealing a middle-aged man with a rustic appearance.
"Aetos huh? Let's see what the future holds for you..."