Leon froze for a moment, his grip on the sword tightening instinctively. The voice of the girl had taken him by surprise, and for the first time since entering the forest, he hesitated. His sword was his only shield, the only thing that kept him feeling secure amidst the dangers that lurked in the shadows. Could he really move forward without it? Bare-handed, exposed, and vulnerable?
"You can't just charge in with weapons drawn," the girl's voice was calm, almost soothing, as if she understood his reluctance. "Griffins aren't mindless creatures. Their intelligence is closer to ours than you think. Lower your weapon, show them you're not a threat."
Leon's brow furrowed. Griffins, intelligent? He glanced at the creature, its piercing eagle eyes locking onto him, sizing him up. It was hard to believe something so primal, so fierce, could possess intelligence akin to humans. Yet, there was no reason for the girl to deceive him, was there?
Taking a deep breath, Leon made his decision. With a slow, deliberate motion, he sheathed his sword. But that wasn't enough. He placed the glowing spirit lamp gently on the ground as well, then raised his hands, palms open, to show the griffin he meant no harm.
Still, the griffin didn't move. It just watched.
Leon's heart pounded. His mind raced, wondering if this was a mistake. He could feel the tension in the air, thick with uncertainty. Then, as if the act wasn't enough, he untied his sword belt entirely, letting the weapon and scabbard drop to the ground with a soft thud. He straightened up, looking into the beast's eyes with determination. "I'm not your enemy," he said, his voice steady but careful. "I only want to help you. Let me help."
For a moment, nothing happened. The griffin remained still, its gaze as sharp as ever. But then, it let out a low, almost pitiful cry, more of a whimper than a roar, and shifted slightly. Its giant talons moved aside, revealing the gruesome wounds in its chest and abdomen. Embedded in its flesh was a crossbow bolt, the shaft still pulsing faintly with an eerie purple light.
Leon's breath caught in his throat. Was that... a response?
He cautiously approached the griffin, each step measured, his hands still raised. It was no small feat to get this close to such a magnificent, deadly creature. His pulse raced, every nerve on edge. The beast could crush him in an instant if it chose to.
Kneeling down beside the griffin's massive body, Leon let out a shaky breath. "Okay," he muttered to himself, trying to keep his voice steady. "It didn't kill me yet. That's a good sign."
The crossbow bolt was unlike anything Leon had ever seen. The craftsmanship was intricate, almost artistic, with delicate feathers at the end and swirling patterns etched into the shaft. But what truly caught his eye was the faint glow of purple magic that danced along its length.
"Enchanted?" Leon murmured in surprise, his fingers hovering just above the bolt.
"Not quite." The girl's voice piped up again, this time with a hint of disdain. "It's a basic magical link. Crude, really. It lets the caster control it, but there's no real finesse to the technique. Whoever made this didn't bother with any real safeguards. Pathetic, really. They're lucky it didn't backfire and hit them instead."
Leon wasn't sure what kind of history the girl had with such things, but he had no desire to get into a debate about magical theory. His focus was on the griffin and the task at hand.
Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his hands around the bolt's shaft, preparing to pull it free. The griffin tensed, its muscles coiling beneath its feathers, eyes narrowing as it sensed what was coming. With a firm tug, Leon pulled the bolt a few inches free.
The griffin's roar of agony shook the ground beneath him, its massive body convulsing in pain. The creature's claws dug into the earth, wings flaring as it fought the urge to lash out.
Brandon and Liam, who stood not far off, gripped their weapons tighter at the griffin's roar, their faces pale with fear. The thunderous sound sent shivers down their spines, making them instinctively prepare for the worst.
Leon hesitated for a moment, glancing over his shoulder to check the situation. Thankfully, the griffin's massive claws were still firmly planted into the ground, showing no signs of attack. Despite the pain it was clearly in, it hadn't lashed out. That alone gave Leon a small surge of confidence.
"Alright, big guy," Leon murmured softly, his voice steadying as he focused on the task at hand. "Better to get this over with quickly than drag it out." With a reassuring tone, he tightened his grip on the arrow and braced himself to pull it free.
To his relief, he felt no barbs on the tip of the bolt as he began to extract it. It slid smoothly enough, which puzzled him for a moment. Was this some sort of special arrow designed to capture rather than kill? Perhaps the attacker had intended to subdue the griffin, not slaughter it. Whatever the reason, Leon pressed on.
The arrow made a sickening, wet sound as it was dragged from the griffin's flesh, the noise of muscle and sinew resisting the foreign object. Blood began to pour from the wound in heavy streams, soaking Leon's hands, staining his fingers red. His heart clenched with fear. Was this going to kill it?
"What if it bleeds out?" he whispered, panic creeping into his voice as he stared at the gushing wound. He stood there, frozen, holding the bloodied arrow in his hands, terrified that his efforts might be in vain.
"Relax," the girl's voice echoed calmly in his mind, unfazed by the gruesome scene. "This griffin bears the mark of the King. It will heal."
As if her words held a hidden command, the gaping wound in the griffin's chest and abdomen began to tighten. Leon watched in amazement as the muscles contracted and the blood flow ceased. The torn flesh seemed to knit itself back together right before his eyes, the wound sealing up as if it had never been there at all.
Leon blinked in disbelief.
Before he could fully grasp what he had just witnessed, a powerful, triumphant cry echoed from the griffin. The beast stirred, and Leon instinctively stepped back as it rolled onto its side with a loud thud. Its massive claws dug into the earth as it slowly rose to its feet, its once-drooping wings unfurling with majestic grace. The creature stretched, its muscles rippling under its lion-like body, its eagle-like head held high.
Leon found himself staring, awestruck by the sheer beauty and strength of the creature now standing before him. Its eyes sparkled with renewed vitality, and its majestic wings flexed as if testing their strength. The griffin was magnificent, elegant, fierce, and regal all at once.
Then, the griffin turned its gaze to Leon, and something remarkable happened. The once-piercing, predatory eyes softened. There was no malice, no anger. Instead, the griffin let out a soft, almost melodic cry, a far gentler sound than before. It stepped forward slowly, lowering its massive head.
Leon barely had time to react before the griffin affectionately nudged its beak against his head, careful not to harm him with its sharp edges. The gesture was unmistakable, gratitude.
Leon stood there, dumbfounded, his heart pounding in his chest, barely able to believe what was happening. He had expected aggression, perhaps even retaliation. But here it was, this majestic beast, offering a show of kindness far beyond what any ordinary animal would ever do.
His earlier skepticism melted away. The girl had been right. Griffins weren't just beasts, they were intelligent, capable of understanding, and perhaps even of feeling something as complex as gratitude. If it had been any other wild creature, it would have lashed out, or at the very least slunk away once freed. But this griffin, against all odds, was showing him something deeper.
Leon reached out hesitantly and touched the griffin's feathered neck, his hand still trembling. He had always thought of griffins as wild, untamable creatures. Now, as the beast stood before him, calm and composed, he realized there was so much more to them than their fearsome reputation.
"I guess we're friends now," Leon whispered, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, still trying to wrap his mind around it all.
No wonder the Serians revered griffins as sacred beasts.
Leon ran his hands gently through the griffin's feathers, marveling at the soft, luxurious texture. It was so much smoother and cleaner than the plump chicks he had raised back on Earth in his past life, with none of the unpleasant smell he had come to expect from most animals. He smiled to himself, enjoying the brief moment of peace with the creature.
Reluctantly, he let go of the griffin's head and took a step back. The contrast between its fierce, powerful appearance and the unexpected gentleness it had shown him was almost... cute. A smile tugged at Leon's lips. How could something so majestic also be so endearing? He found himself growing attached to the massive creature.
His heart sank slightly. He didn't want to leave this "big guy" here, not in this cursed, dangerous land. Even though the griffin was strong and capable, there was little chance it could survive for long. The girl had told him that the undead beasts roaming these lands were tainted with chaotic energy, rendering their flesh inedible for both humans and animals. There was no real food here for the griffin, only death and danger.
Leon glanced around the barren landscape and came to a decision. Slipping the crossbow bolt into his belt, he bent down and picked up the spirit lamp. Turning to the griffin, he gestured towards the path illuminated by the faint light.
"Come on, big guy," Leon said, his voice warm and encouraging. "Let me get you out of here."
The griffin blinked, its large eagle eyes narrowing in confusion as it tilted its head. It seemed to be trying to comprehend what Leon was saying.
Seeing the griffin's hesitation, Leon felt a spark of hope. It was trying to understand. He retrieved his sword, carefully sheathing it at his side before taking a few steps toward his companions, who were still watching from a distance. Leon turned back to the griffin and, almost without thinking, waved at it the way one might beckon a pet.
"Come here, come on," Leon called with a grin. His voice softened as he added, "Big baby~~."
The griffin blinked again, glancing around as though considering its options. Its massive wings gave a small, tentative flap, though they were still too weak to lift it into the air. It hesitated for a moment longer, then finally, with a slightly unsteady step, it followed Leon. Its movements were cautious, as if testing its balance after the pain it had endured.
Excitement surged through Leon. It's following me! he thought, his heart pounding with joy. This creature really was intelligent, far beyond anything he had expected.
Leon hurried back toward Brandon and Liam, his companions who had been watching in tense silence. As he approached, he waved his hands quickly, urging them to lower their weapons.
"Put them away! It's okay, the griffin's not hostile," Leon said breathlessly, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "We've made friends, and I don't want to spook it."
But it seemed there was no need for his warning. Brandon and Liam, natives of the Serian lands, had already lowered their swords. As true children of the Serian legends, they had no desire to draw weapons against a griffin, a creature they had only heard of in ancient tales. They were already wide-eyed with amazement at the sight before them. It was something out of a legend, the honor of walking beside a griffin was the kind of thing they had only dreamed of.
Leon glanced back at the griffin, who followed him with slow, deliberate steps. Even in its injured state, it moved gracefully, and despite its immense size, it managed to keep pace with him easily. Leon realized, with a twinge of awe, that the griffin was deliberately matching his pace, slowing down so as not to overtake him.
With the spirit lamp lighting the path ahead and the majestic beast by his side, Leon couldn't help but feel a surge of safety and confidence. The cursed lands didn't feel so threatening now. The presence of the griffin, a creature revered by legend, filled them all with a sense of protection that was hard to describe. For the first time since they had entered these dark lands, Leon felt secure.
"Let's go," he said softly, glancing at the griffin once more, as the group pressed onward into the night.