We spent the night in the cave that day, before embarking on a journey to Jarie City the next day. We got there by nightfall, having to trek the whole distance.
Lucky for us, the nobles in Jarie City were kind enough to lend us fast horses that could get us to the Capital by midday the next day, which was quite fast even for us. The only thing was, we would have to journey non stop, even through the night.
We sped out of Jarie City that same night, headed for the Capital. The faster we got there, the better for us. We managed to get to the Capital by midday the next day, as predicted. Now, we would have a little bit of time to rest before the party.
I was currently in a luxurious room in an inn, more precisely in a bath, resting and at the same time preparing for the birthday party on this eve. Eron had said there was no way he would take his eyes off me when I still had the sword, so he was off to the side somewhere.
There was a knock on the door after some time.
"Come in." I said lazily.
A female servant made her way into the large room. "Young master, your father requests that you begin to get prepared. He says the party is in a few hours." She said, rather timidly.
"Is it now?" I asked. She did not reply to my question. I got out of the bath and walked towards where I had left my clothes.
"Young master..." She covered her face, even though I could already notice it get beet red. I mean, I was just naked, why did people have to be so sensitive and stuff, right? I put on the clothes I had taken off before and was about to make my way back to the quarters assigned me, when I saw she still stood there this whole time.
"Is there a problem, perhaps? Or a reason why you should remain here?" I asked.
"Well, your father said I should make sure you are ready in time. He also says he has something to say to , but only after you are ready. This is why I am still here." She replied in a low voice.
"I am a grown man, I do not need someone to dress me up, can you convey that to my father?" I said, in more of a command manner than a questioning one. She bowed lightly and exited the large hall, while I followed suit as I exited and went in search of my assigned room.
You know, human, you are not like the others.
"What do you mean?"
You are different from other humans, I'm sure you know this too.
"Maybe. But underneath it all, I am still just a human." I replied.
Shall I tell you a secret?
"Sure, what is it?"
Well, it's not really much if a secret, it's just a fact that everyone has become ignorant of and forgotten. See, I've been alive over a thousand years. That makes me pretty old.
"Over a thousand..." I muttered. "Do you know exactly how old you are now?"
No, I stopped counting when I got to seven hundred summers. But, that's not the point. The point is, I've seen a lot of things. Things that most people nowadays would call bull.
"A lot of absurd things, you mean?"
Exactly. I hate to say this but humans can be even more powerful than all other species I have ever encountered. But, they can be very stupid and ignorant too.
"What do you mean by 'more powerful'?" I asked, uncertainty filling my heart.
Now relax. I said they can be, not that they are. He paused for a moment, lifted himself off my head and flew to the terrace where he nested on the beautiful, well decorated railing. The gods were never always immortal, you know. And over the course of time, other humans have risen to become gods. Some demi-gods, but could not make it as far as godhood. Just halfway through.
What I am trying to say is this... I had a friend once, weak and feeble, see. This little human fought so hard, he managed to become a demi god all on his own.
"Is that even possible?" I asked, stars shining from my eyes as they conveyed my excitement.
Have you been listening to anything I just said?
"Every bit." I walked forward and stood next to the railing on the terrace so that I would be right next to Eron.
This little bugger tried all he could but never became a god, until he went and caused some trouble. After this, the gods noticed him.
"What kind of trouble?" I asked.
Will you let me tell the story?
"Sorry."
When the gods finally noticed him, he asked that he wanted to become one of them. A god. The gods have him a condition, as they always do in such a situation. They would give him twelve tasks, and if he could complete them, he would join them. Overjoyed by this, he readily agreed and set off to complete these quests.
At the time, I was still a young Wyvern, say about a few decades old. I'm not really sure anymore. But, I had seen my fair share of human deaths to not get too close, so I wasn't really much of a close one to him; though he did confide in me every once in a while.
As a demi god, his lifespan was a lot longer than a human's so he became someone I took as a friend, mostly because of the loneliness but also because he was powerful enough to go toe to toe with me with just his fists.
Ha ha. That little bugger never used anything but his fists, always complained that weapons were too much of a distraction. I agreed with that, of course.
Anyway, he completed all twelve tasks that were requested of him and was ready to ascend, but the gods stopped him again. That time I was there, I'd come to watch the only human friend I ever had achieve godhood. I was truly proud that day, but the gods soiled those feelings.
They said to him 'To become a god, you must take the place of another god. This means you must defeat a god and take his soul, along with all his power.
And being who he was, he wouldn't shy away from a fight. He did as the gods asked, fought with one of them. But... I never saw him again. Till today, I don't know he survived. I think it's not a long stretch to say he didn't. Eron sighed outwardly after he said this. Then he continued.
I guess human, what I am trying to say is, you should be very careful. Being a human and all, you will certainly be greedy, especially for power. Being too greedy for it can cost you everything.
After saying this, Eron flew lightly in the air and went back into the chamber, landing on the large bed and cuddling himself. I stood outside for a while thinking about what he said. Then, I took a look at something I had been ignoring for quite a while now.
Mission success.
Claim your rewards.