Rising Fame of the Lycan Kingdom

Twenty years later

" My King the Longship had arrived!"  the dregil ( runner, servant) announces.

Balthar rose from his seat.

" Let them come in!"  he muttered sounding excited.

Who wouldn't get excited about this? In the longship was the visitor he had wanted for a long to visit his kingdom.

" They've got lots of weapons and golds!"  the dregil exclaimed.

But it's not the gold that he wanted, but Rhysher's favor. A friendship and an alliance of both of their kingdoms.

Who would not want to be an ally with the Lycan Blood Kingdom? It is the strongest kingdom in the entire Scandanavia known for its advanced weapons, and most of all, it is feared by all because of its King that was rumored to be an immortal monster who shapeshift under a full moon sky. Well, that's what they heard the old folks say, but he doesn't care. It's a security to be feared up, and he can ride on with him on that fear.

" Balthar!!"  Rhysher greeted him with a fusts bump and a wide smile.

" Thank you for the present!"  Balthar replied.

" Oh, don't mention. Oxidore is a beautiful place. This kingdom needs to be protected,"  Rysher said.

Balthar chuckled.

After some time the food server and some entertainers arrived. Balthar invited him to sit at the table.

" I prepared a feast for you, as my thanksgiving,"  he said.

This is how customs go in Oxidore, a respected guest is usually greeted with a feast, but the difference, unlike with the outside kingdoms, here in the entire Scandanavia, they don't entertain Kings with attractive dancing girls, but with a duel or a sword fight.

Combat has been everyone's norm, even for women and children, even housewives, merchants, and farmers.

After all, this is what Vikings are known for - a warrior.

" Here it goes!"  Balthar cheered with excitement.

" My Friend, we especially prepared this for you!"  he exclaimed pointing to a beautiful woman, with an amazonian figure.

She was cloth in a warrior suit.  But what caught her attention is the unusual scent she have. It's not that alluring but it's stirring his curiosity.

She's not human, nor she's just a wolf! Rhysher thinks.

He gaze at Balthar that was too busy and excited at the moment. His thoughts were drawn to questions about a human like him who had some elemental wolf in his care.

" My friend, we gifted you a combat exhibition as this!"  Balthar called his attention, showing him the show they were preparing for him.

Then, in a moment entered a monstrous, blood-sucking creature. It has two legs like that of human, dried skin, and a face of a beast, a body like a corpse.

Rhysher then knows that it was the monster the other Kingdoms had been hunting.

The primeval vampire! He thinks.

The primeval vampire is those that roam around every kingdom, devouring all bloodlines, may it be humans or wolves. They were the strongest and the craziest kind of vampires who knows no sense of humanity but only their bloodthirst.

But then, the woman was unmoved. She waited for the beast to come near to her like she was ready for it.

And as she wrestled with the beast, Rhysher saw her abilities. And he could not be mistaken, that it was the powers of the air is manifested in her.

Moving swift, and free like air...the color of her blazing eyes, and the force seen in her claws! She's the one born with an air element!  Rhysher thinks.

Okay... now, two of them are to look for, then I can check who among them was the rebirth of Cybele. Rhysher thought to himself.

He couldn't help but recall that one ancient prophesy uttered before he was cast out from Valhalla.

" The elements are said to have created creatures. Rare and enigmatic creatures with strength and powers beyond the Supreme Wolf. A power near to that of the deities.  Each had its own set of abilities in terms of the element they were responsible for. And among them will be reborn a goddess herself, deprived of justice and love, a bride of the Lycan god,"

His eyes sparkled in glee while Odin's voice seemed to reverberate in his thoughts.

At first, he disregarded the thinking that the prophecy doesn't concern him, but after all that happened to him, now he understands that it was he those words were referring to, and the goddess Cybele.

But maybe she too had taken a different name now, and a different face... He thought to himself.

" My friend, meet Astrid!" Balthar's voice had drawn his thoughts back to the moment.

Rhysher smiled at her, and extend out his hand for a handshake.

" I didn't know that you had a daughter?"  he said looking at Balthar.

The King nodded his head and laugh, "  because she grow up with her mother whom I separated!"  he said.

" Oh...I see.."  Rhysher nodded.

Meanwhile

This meadow is where she hides. For her, this hidden spot in Howling Valley is her piece of paradise.

How could it not be? Everything in here gives her a sense of serenity.

The hell hound, orange-molten gold colors of the autumn leaves that fall unto the ground, leaving the trees bare.

She would sometimes wonder if this could possibly be Valhalla or the playground of the gods.

She likes to visit this meadow during autumn. This is especially at this time when she felt most connected to the earth. And most importantly, this is where she could be real with what she feels.

At least I have a home now here in this Valley. Life was even miserable while I was there in Scholaro. She thinks.

The Scholaro is an underground training school where exceptional gifted are orphans are placed in there for some special mission that concerns every kingdom.

She is what she is now because of what she had grown up with in that place.

" The childless King of the Howling Valley wanted to adopt you,"

" Why me?"

" Because he sees you as exceptionally strong, one he could trust his Kingdom's survival once he is gone!"

She could not help but smirk as she recalled that incident about how she was adopted.

" Then, why he does not make an heir of his own blood?"  she scowled.

" He can't. He's sick. And that's the reason why you're put in this school,"

She nearly cussed when she heard the head magister's response.  That's all that they want from them here. They picked them out from the school not because they wanted a family, but sometimes for political or security reasons.

And here, she was viewed as the strongest student of all not because she possessed unique abilities, but because of her heart.

She can't feel a thing.

It's like the emotional part of her brain was shut down or maybe conditioned, the latter is what she wanted to believe.

" I am not impressed by your powers Gaia. Anyone could be born with it once given a chance. I am not even intimidated by your fangs and claws, werewolves are scattered all over the region. They're the usual thing!"  her trainer said sounding like she was lecturing her.

She glared at her.

She smiled back and seemed purposely piss her more.

" You know that I can command the earth to swallow this entire school, or rip your throat with my fangs," she replied showing off her sharp teeth and yellow-gold eyes.

Her trainer burst a laugh, " Oh...that's not what I'm asking! Not a show-off of powers,"  she said.

Then she walk slowly towards her and slammed her chest.

" But!"  her trainer yelled, " the stability of your heart!"  she said with gritted teeth.

Gaia cooled down.

Her face was confused.

" Your powers are useless when you have a weakness. And the only way to get rid of every weakness in your soul was to be emotionless! Discard everything that your heart could possibly, dear...love...anger, joy...anything that's fleshly human!"  her trainer said to her.

Until now, she couldn't forget those words, even her face, and the way she look at her that time while she was speaking.

That was awakening, and it change her.