Realm of Monsters - Chapter 635: Blood Fang Part 2

Chapter 635: Blood Fang Part 2

  “Who will you choose to be, Stryga of House Veres? The girl who cannot fight without her precious sword or…?”

  She didn’t know how to respond to that, but before she could make up her mind, Stjerne jumped to his feet with a light touch and grinned. “This time I’m betting on you, Stryga, let’s see if I win.”

  The god of stars left soon after. He dropped into the ravine back-first and disappeared. Had it been anyone else, Stryga might have thought them dead or injured. But she had no doubt the Traveler was just fine.

  She sat on that log for a few hours, contemplating his words, then her stomach began to rumble and she made her way back to the camp. By the time she arrived, the sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the leaves with a heavy red glow.

  As usual, the goblins noted her arrival but said nothing, opting to stay away. She went over to the cook but he simply gestured at the empty pot. She had gotten back too late. Nothing was left. She stared at the pot, lamenting her hours spent pondering. The cook grunted and gestured for her to move on.

  “Right, sorry,” Stryga muttered and walked off. She found an empty spot away from the others, and sat on the grass, feeling defeated.

  A pair of feet entered her vision and Stryga slowly looked up from the grass, expecting Sev or maybe the old priestess, Lenore, but it was neither of them. Myn stood in front of her and offered her a bowl of stew. “I saved some for you.”

  “Thank you, Myn,” she whispered with genuine gratitude and carefully grabbed the bowl as if it were a baby.

  “You remembered my name?” Myn blinked.

  Stryga shrugged. It hadn’t been hard. Myn had visited her while she recovered. The goblin girl had thanked her repeatedly for saving her life from a bear the first time they had met. Come to think of it, that was the first time she had met Sev too.

  “It’s not hot anymore. Sorry,” Myn blurted.

  Stryga sipped the stew and breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s delicious. Thank you, really.”

  Myn smiled warmly and then her expression melted into uncertainty. “Um, can I sit?”

  “…You don’t have to do all this, you know. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the stew, but you don’t have to sit with me just because I’m alone.”

  Myn frowned and sat down in defiance. “It’s not like that.”

  “If this is about how I saved you from the bear, that debt has long since been paid.”

  “A life debt is not so easily paid—”

  “Then I release you from your debt. You don’t have to talk to me, I don’t want you to get in any more trouble with Nalindor or the others.”

  Myn held her chin up high. “I can handle myself. And I’m not here because of my life debt.”

  “Then why—?”

  “I wanted to introduce you to someone.”

  As if on cue, a familiar goblin walked over. It was the hunting party leader from earlier today. Up close, Stryga noticed he was much younger than she thought. Barely out of his teens, she’d wager. He sat down next to Myn and bowed in a simple greeting. “Good evening, I’m Halrin. We, uh, we met earlier. When you—”

  “I remember. I’m sorry about your friends,” Stryga said.

  “Thank you.” He cleared his throat, “I, uh, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Stryga winced. If she had managed to get there sooner his friends would still be alive. She knew it, but it hurt to be faced with it again.

  “If you hadn’t shown up today we’d all be dead. You saved us.”

  Stryga almost dropped her stew. “What?”

  “I mean, I had never seen anything like it. The way you moved. And the way you charged at that monster without any fear. I— You were amazing,” he spoke with awe in his eyes.

  “It was nothing,” Stryga admitted and shifted awkwardly on the grass.

  “Nothing? Are you kidding me?” Halrin said, incredulous. “If that’s nothing, then teach me nothing! I’d love to learn!”

  Myn nodded along.

  “Trust me, kid, you don’t want to learn anything from me.”

  “If it can help me save my people like you can, then I want to,” Halrin said.

  Stryga bowed her head and hid her eyes among her white locks. “Save people? Half of your friends are dead. My army is dead. My friends are dead. I can’t save people. I can’t even cast a spell anymore. I can barely hold a sword.” She scoffed in self-deprecation. “I don’t even have Krikolm.”

  “What is Kree–calm?” he asked.

  “Krikolm,” she corrected off-handedly.

  “Kree–colm?”

  “It means Bloodfang,” Stryga muttered.

   “Blood… Fang? Like your teeth?” He pointed to his canines.

  “Krikolm was my sword. With it, I could have slain that beast with a single strike. I could have easily cleared out the woods around the camp.”

  “This Blood Fang must have been quite the sword,” Harlan said.

  “It was more than just a sword, Krikolm was the symbol of my position as lord and protector of House Veres. And I lost it,” she whispered in a broken voice. “Because the truth is, I can’t protect anything or anyone. I’m weak… If you’re looking for advice on combat tips, I suggest talking to Captain Nalindor. I’m no help to anyone.”

  “I see… I’m sorry to have bothered you—” Harlan mumbled.

  “We’re all weak,” Myn spoke up. “It’s only in each other that we find the strength to survive in this cursed place.”

  Halrin stared at Myn and hardened his expression. “You’re right.” He turned to Stryga, “I don’t know any magic and I can’t bring back your arm. But… I can follow, I can learn. If you teach me how to hunt and fight, then I will be your sword in these woods. I will help you clear this region of monsters. Teach me and I will be your Blood Fang.”

  Stryga looked up at him, eyes wide, brow furrowed. “You’re serious?”

  “I am.”

  Myn nodded along eagerly. “Me too! Teach me how to kill a bear and I will be your Blood Fang.”

  “…O-Okay,” Stryga whispered.

~~~

  Stryg opened his eyes. He was back in his bed, the book of memories lying next to his fingertips. The noon sun’s light was filtering into the room through the half-open curtains. Gale lowered her book from where she was sitting next to his bed and gave him an amused look. “Welcome back, my lord, did you enjoy your visit?”

  “Not exactly.” Stryg groaned, sat up, and rubbed his eyes.

  “Oh, wow. Who could have guessed that the magical forbidden book Uncle Gian and I explicitly warned you not to use wouldn’t have the most pleasant of experiences.”

  “It doesn’t matter if it isn’t pleasant. So long as I get answers.”

  “How very Sylvan of you.”

  “Would you rather I be more Veres-like?”

  “I’d rather you be more intelligent. I can’t protect you while your mind wanders in there,” she pointed at the book.

  A knock on the door distracted Stryg from answering her. “Come in,” he called out.

  Aurelia stepped into the room, dark rings under her eyes.

  “Mother, are you alright?” Stryg jumped to his feet. Gale was already at her side, checking for injuries.

  “I’m fine, just tired. Sit down, the both of you,” Aurelia shooed them away.

  “Did you get any sleep?” Stryg asked.

  “No, but I’m fine, as I said,” Aurelia replied.

  Gale pulled up another chair, “My lady.”

  “Thank you.” Aurelia sat down with a content sigh. “I know last night wasn’t what you expected, Stryg. I had no idea your father was going to be there. I just… I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

  “I’m fine, Mother.”

  “You two really are mother and son.” Gale stared at the two, mildly annoyed.

  “Huh?” Stryg cocked his head to the side.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Aurelia crossed her arms and narrowed her yellow eyes.

  Gale threw her hands up. “Do I have to spell it out for you? Neither of you are fine, obviously. Stjerne literally crashed the party last night and from what I heard, almost killed Melantha and Holo. You never met your father. And you haven’t seen him in over two decades, and there is clearly some bad blood between the both of you. Of course, you’re not fine!”

  “And you deduced all of this how, exactly? You weren’t even there,” said Aurelia.

  “Oh, yeah, just discount my words. It’s not like I have dedicated my whole life to the well-being of your family or anything,” Gale grumbled.

  “I was not aware your Shield had such a sharp tongue, Stryg,” Aurelia said dryly. She slumped her shoulders, “But if I’m being honest, Gale isn’t wrong.”

  “Mother?”

  “Your father is a dangerous person, but he can also be kind and generous, which makes him that much more dangerous. I should have prepared you for this day. I failed you, my son. And for that, I am sorry,” Aurelia hung her head. “I never wanted you to meet him like that. I never wanted you to meet him at all.”

  “Why? Why is he so dangerous? Sure, he seemed brutal, but if I’ve learned anything from Melantha’s training it’s that titan culture is brutal. Melantha, Holo, and you all wanted me to run from him. But Lunae didn’t seem to mind all that much and I don’t think it’s simply because they’re married. What exactly am I missing? What is so wrong about my father? Why shouldn’t I take up his offer and try to learn from him?”

  “Besides him being a literal Calamity?” Gale said under her breath.

  Aurelia seemed conflicted to answer, but then she noticed the book of memories lying beside him. “You found my book.”

  Stryg picked it up. “You told me to find and read it if something ever happened to you. That I’d find answers in here.”

  “And have you?”

  “Some. They’re not what I expected. Stryga is not what I expected her to be. I’ve heard stories of the Blue Rose. The Bane of Lunis. I thought she’d be different. I thought I could hate her for what she did to our people, but… I don’t know.”

  “My grandmother was a complicated woman, but she was strong, and she met her adversities without backing down. You would have loved her, as I did.” Aurelia patted Stryg’s shoulder.

  “…Tell me about my father, what happened between you and him?” Stryg asked.

  Aurelia shook her head. “You have the book now. It’ll be easier for you to understand what happened from its pages. I imprinted many of my memories with Stjerne inside its pages.”

  “Can’t you just tell me?”

  “I wouldn’t be a great storyteller. The events that happened between your father and I are too jaded. I wouldn’t give an accurate account. But my memories in that book will. Read it and you’ll see.”

  “Then what about you?” he asked.

  “Hm?”

  “What about only you?”

  Aurelia wrinkled her brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t really know much about your childhood or youth.”

  “I’m still young,” Aurelia said flatly.

  “You know what I mean. Does the book have any memories just about your life? What you were like when you were my age?”

  “Not really. That book was created to show Stryga’s descendants about our family’s encounters with Stjerne and her time in Vulture Woods. My mother and I didn’t waste any of the book’s limited time with needless memories.”

  “Then could you tell me? More about your past? I’d— I’d like to know. If that’s okay with you,” Stryg asked, his voice somewhat timid.

  Aurelia smiled softly. “What would you like to know?”

  “Anything.” He scooted closer to her and gave her his rapt attention.

  Gale pretended to read her own book, but she was listening just as intently.

  Aurelia tapped her fingers on her knee. “Hm. Where to begin? How about the time I first discovered I was a mageborn?” She chuckled. “I accidentally lit Jahn’s pants on fire.”

  “Really?” asked Stryg.

  “Yes, really. The little brat stole my food when he thought I wasn’t looking.”

  “Then he had it coming,” Stryg nodded in agreement.

  “That he did.” Aurelia clenched her hand into a fist and grinned. “I was so angry that I set his ass on fire. You should have seen him flailing about, screaming for Mother to save him.”

  “What did she do?” Stryg asked excitedly.

  “Well, first she smacked me across the head, but then she…”

  Stryg and Gale spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Aurelia’s stories. It was the first time in a long while that Stryg forgot about his responsibilities as the lord of a Ruling House, as a chieftain of a Sylvan Tribe, and as a godling of the Ebon Realm. He was simply a boy, listening to and enjoying the stories of his mother’s antics.

Search the NovelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.