Chapter 116

Lykan

The Pilgrimage

Sometimes, but not often can one man make an impact on a person’s life. Sometimes something so small as a gentle smile, a quick gesture of pleasantry is enough to change a person’s day for the better. But to change a person’s entire life takes more, it takes a moment that will forever be etched into the mind of the person experiencing the event. Often, the events that change someone’s outlook on life are developed from terrible moments and memories. The invading of Clevarall by the orcish horde was one such event.

For Lykan the town was just a momentary distraction, something to help him reconnect with the people of the world. Something to give him a reason to continue in his self-appointed journey. Yet, he had grown tired. So tired of constantly hunting for new holes in the ground to lock himself away in for months. Only to return months later tired and alone.

He realized that now. It took him rescuing fifty-five people, fifty children and their five caretakers to realize he was lonely. He had seven years to contemplate his future. Seven years to figure out who he wanted to be. Now he was stuck with acting out his convictions. These children were but the first step.

The kids and their care takers walked for the rest of the night and through most of the day. They walked until they were well outside of view of the orcish army and their scouts. They walked until the little ones felt comfortable enough to complain. Then they walked until they found a small stream flowing.

Once they got to the stream Lykan was able to show off his new skills that lent to his being a healer, at least by trade if nothing else. He creates lotions and ointments for blisters. Helped to bandage wounds. When the other caretakers tried to wave him off, he just smiled reassuringly at them letting them know he was fine with his task.

Lykan had taken ownership of these people. He had placed himself as the savior of these people, as such healing their injuries was the least, he could offer.

“So where to?” Brenna asked, she was the oldest of the care takers at thirty-three. One of the oldest, but barely more than a teenager by dwarf standards. Yet she took it upon herself to act, as she was the only one brave enough to speak to their savior. Even the children that he tended to only cowered in fear at the sight of him. Many remembering the unbridled power he wielded while fighting.

Hearing that Lykan smiled an awkward smile. “Honestly I was hoping you all would know where to go. I just wanted to get you out to safety. I apologize if I didn’t think this out much further than that.”

Hearing that Brenna took an involuntary half step back. She had been prepared for many things from her savior. She had half been expecting that he was to shepherd them to the promised land, letting them know they had survived the judgment and were now going to Valhalla. But no, this divine blessing that she had prayed for had nothing for her. They had asked and prayed for protection, which they got in the form of one messenger of the gods. Yet, they did not come up with a plan to do once they were saved.

Fortunately, Brenna was quick, and had herself been coming up with contingencies. In her mind while they walked she wondered what would happen if the miracle that they had summoned suddenly disappeared, as if the faith they had used to summon him suddenly ran out. With that she prepared to take the kids to the Obsidian Fist Clan.

“We can go to the Obsidian Fist Clan and seek refuge there. Since we are all young we should be accepted in no problem.”

Hearing that Lykan instantly relaxed a little. He was well outside the loop of human politics, let alone dwarven politics. This was also new land for him. Every step was a new discovery, but also made him realize how limited his view of the world truly was. He had read tales about the sister continent, but had never seen the continent himself.

“Do you know the way?” Lykan asked.

Hearing this Brenna’s confidence slightly wavered. “I know the general direction, but the exact way is lost to me. Though there should be plenty of roads along the way that can lead us to the lands.”

Brenna got more confident as she mentioned the roads. After hearing that Lykan remembered something he saw while flying about.

“I think I might have seen one of their roads. Can I show you?” Lykan asked as he took off his orcish war bow, quiver, and even lay down his handy walking staff as he then reached his hand out to Brenna.

Brenna looked shocked at first, not quite understanding what he was asking. “Wh..what?” Was all she eloquently stammered out as she saw his outstretched hand.

The being before her was the personification of perfection and beauty. What else could one expect from the heavens, even their messengers were beautiful, Brenna thought to herself as she stared at the savior before her. Then as quickly as she had the thought, she dismissed it, and reach out her hand to grab Lykan’s.

He then pulled her tight, and with a quick motion scooped her up so she was cradled to his chest. Then before she could say anything the two were off the ground and flying high into the air. A sickening feeling filled Brenna, as she was felt instantly nauseous from the movement.

“Stop. I’m going to be…” was as far as Brenna got before she started vomiting. Fortunately Lykan had noticed the distress and had moved her head away so she could vomit below. After a few embarrassing moments her stomach released all of its contents and while still nauseous, she at least could no longer ruin her reputation with the divine being. Yet, rather than getting angry the savior just smiled warmly and did something she didn’t think the gods were capable of. He apologized.

“Sorry about that. I should have warned you first.” Lykan said, then he drew his face close to hers. Their mouths were so close they could kiss. For a moment Brenna imagined doing just that. She opened her mouth wide, but before she could do anything Lykan moved and jabbed the side of her neck, just under her ear canal. Then he did the same thing on the other side of her head.

“What?” Brenna asked, as she tried to understand what had just happened.

“That should help with your vertigo.” Lykan answered.

Brenna paused for a moment, but then realized he was right. They were flying in the air and she no longer felt sick by the sudden movements. Awe filled her as she looked into his red-tinged eyes with amazement. “That was amazing. What did you do?”

Hearing that she was okay, Lykan began moving again while answering. “Acupuncture, it is an old method of identifying pressure points on the body and relieving the stress. In your case your ears, which allow for balance, were being thrown off by our flight. I corrected that, at least temporarily.”

The flight was silent for the next part. Lykan for his part was trying to remember where he saw the clear path carved into the woods. While Brenna felt lost in amazement at what was happening. Just when she was going to think of something meaningful to say, he spoke.

“There it is. Is that a road you were talking about?”

Hearing the words, Brenna turned her head to look where Lykan was pointing. He used the arm that was supporting her legs to point out in the distance. Following the finger Brenna didn’t see anything at first, well anything other than woodlands. A feeling of calm filled her as she could spend more time flying with her savior if they didn’t find it. But then off in the distance she saw the unmistakable black lines of dwarven roads. They were faint from the distance, but their patterns were unmistakable. With a simultaneously relieved and heavy heart she answered “yes.”

“Good then. We should return to tell the others.”

Before Brenna could protest, they were already turned around and heading back to the group. A sigh left Brenna as she realized this moment would come to an end all too soon. They landed, and a plan was quickly made. Then before they knew it, renewed by hope and a quick rest the party began trudging south by south-west.

The kids, complained at first, at least until they got close enough to see the black lines themselves. Then by the time they got to the first road the kids who had been on deaths door moments ago, if their complaining was to be believed, were running forward. Their little legs following the path that acted as a beacon of hope for everyone.

Lykan for his part flew overhead, their guardian angel from the sky.

The only time trouble came was when a small flock of birds came. At least they appeared to be birds from a distance. Lykan, their guardian instantly rose to meet them.

“Here guard this please.” Lykan asked Brenna to hold his walking staff. A staff that looked incredibly awkward in her hands as it was clearly more than twice her size. Still she held the staff proudly, but then looked up to see Lykan pull his war bow and pull back an arrow that glowed with energy.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

Three arrows were fired in quick succession. Each glowing with their own energy before being released at the birds that were clearly larger than birds.

“Scree!” One of the birds cried out, before they all crashed to the ground with a thud off in the distance.

Nodding to himself, he flew off into the distance, towards the fallen birds. Only to return a short time later with three bloody arrows and a dragon corpse draped over his shoulder as if it was some form of formal wear.

Brenna looked at him dumbstruck for a moment before he explained. “Dinner. I don’t know how long we will have to travel on the roads to get to this settlement that you spoke of.”

Hearing that Brenna felt lightened by the prospect. It seems that her savior would stay with her for a little while longer. Then a thought filled her that she had to have answered. “Will you have to go back once we are delivered to safety?”

He was after all a summoned being, one who the gods had provided likely on loan. As such it was only fitting to find out how long he would be able to stay and help them on their plight.

“I can stay for a bit.” Lykan began, before adding “honestly I was hoping I could ask you all for my next locations to go to. I have been doing it by myself for so long, but that is clearly an ineffective way of going about this task.”

Hearing that Brenna was completely lost. “What? What locations are you talking about?”

As soon as she spoke the savior looked at her for a moment, then smiled a bright awkward smile. “Sorry. I guess I have gotten worse at communication. See I am looking for the tunnels left by the Titans. I need to go into as many tunnels as I can and close them off. And while I didn’t save you all because you were dwarfs. I figured that you all would be able to likely tell me about locations to the old labyrinths left by the Titans.”

Brenna looked confused for a second as she tried to dissect everything he said. Until finally something clicked in her head. “Wait you mean the ancient dungeons?”

Hearing the word, Lykan paused for a moment before shrugging. “I guess that is as good of a description as any. These would be structures that go deep underground.”

Hearing that a smile lit Brenna’s face. “Yes, we have mapped out all types of dungeons. Some of our largest settlements are built on the ancient ruins. In fact, Clevarall…the place you rescued us from was one such place.” She saw the look of confusion in Lykan’s eyes when she mentioned her home village. After she explained the name his face lit up with recognition.

“Oh, I was so close then…” He muttered to himself.

Hearing this, caused a pain to fill Brenna’s chest. “Wait, you weren’t summoned to protect us?”

“Summoned? No, I saw you all in need and decided to help. Why would you think I was summoned?” Lykan asked. Then locked eyes with Brenna. After seeing something in her confused gaze he answered “I am human. Well I guess I do have a few bonuses that make me a bit more than human, but still mortal. No, wait, I was…” After this Lykan looked utterly confused. Finally after a few moments he calmed himself and began again.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to mislead you. I am mortal. I was not summoned, but I saw that you all were in need so I decided to help where and when I could.”

Hearing that Brenna felt several emotions go through her, everything from embarrassment, to relief, to excitement. “Wait, so you are human?”

“Yes.” Lykan answered slowly, as if trying to make sure he got a thick concept across to a particularly dense student. Still Brenna would not be stopped with this line of thinking.

“So you won’t be summoned back to the heavens once you drop us off?”

“No. I have never been to the heavens and have far too many things to do down here as it is.”

Hearing this Brenna went for broke. “So what will you do?”

Lykan paused for only a second before answering, “I will go to the dungeons of yours and destroy them. Surely you have noticed some of the dangerous monsters that dwell within these dungeons?”

Hearing that, Brenna couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Each dungeon did have their own set of monsters. Fortunately most didn’t leave the dungeon proper, but they were always dangerous places to frequent, especially for the younger of her kind.

“Yes, they are dangerous. But if you are going to hunt dungeons, then let me go with you.” Brenna asked, her hands trembled after she asked, as she realized she had put herself out there. No hesitation she had just gone with her heart and spoke before she thought about her words. She trembled for a moment.

“Can you even enter the dungeons without facing rot?”

Brenna paused at the question, but then quickly understood what he meant. “You mean the rot that generally affects your kind? No, we dwarfs are immune to the rot, as you call it.”

Hearing that Lykan nodded to himself. He did need help if he was going to do this. Also showing someone else how to clear a dungeon to its core room would help this process. Also it gave a contingency in case he died during one of his runs. The more he thought about it, the more he realized an assistant is just what he needed. But still he didn’t want to force her to such a harsh life.

“This will be a harsh life that we live. Also know that it might change you in ways that you aren’t exactly prepared for… I tell you what. Give it a moment, take some time to think about this and we will discuss this once the rest of your people are safe. How does that sound?”

Smiling.

A bright smile broke out on Brenna’s face as she realized she finally found her future. She had always been terrible at crafting metals and the like, or building. But exploring new tunnels and paths, like the ones under Clevarall, that was what made her feel truly alive. Now to be able to help her savior by doing the same, that was a second gift from the heavens, one she would not forgo under any circumstance.