"Father, I know what you're going to say," Nicklaus said, bracing himself for the lecture he knew was coming. "But Valor is more than just a protector. He's like a member of the family to me. I know he has an important job to do, but he's also my friend." Darius looked at his son with a mixture of exasperation and affection. "Nicklaus, I understand how you feel," he said, "but you must remember that Valor is not a human. He is a griffin, with his own needs and desires. You cannot expect him to be like a brother."Valor is not just some plaything for you to amuse yourself with," Darius said sternly. "He is a powerful creature with an important job to do. You need to take this seriously." Nicklaus looked down at his feet, feeling ashamed of himself. He knew that his father was right, but he also couldn't help feeling a deep connection with Valor. The griffin had become more than just a protector to him; it was like a true friend. "I'm sorry, Father," he said, his voice barely above a w
Valor fought with all his might, but Kel's grip was like a vice. The giant's fingers dug into Valor's feathers, holding him fast. Nicklaus watched in horror as Kel's hand closed around Valor's neck, ready to snap it like a twig. Nicklaus could hear Valor's cries of pain, could see the fear in his eyes. He had to do something, anything, to save his friend. But he was powerless, trapped in the trench. He could only watch as Kel prepared to end Valor's life. Nicklaus picked up. "Valor!"He lifted a boulder shaking and Kel looked at him and laughed hard."Look the so-called half-god can't even lift a rock."The brothers laughed and in their merriment Nicklaus saw a large figure coming hard and fast. Roman roared in his giant form and he shrunk but his momentum made all the difference. Kel fell flat on his face with a loud BOOM! and the terrain cratered leaving a cloud of dust.Grendel protected his eyes from the dust and he saw that the griffin had escaped from Kel's grasp! He beat his
Roman shook his head, his face grim. "I don't know. But we have to find him, before he does something we'll all regret." And with that, they set off in search of Nicklaus, not knowing what they would find. As Laureline and Roman searched for Nicklaus, they realized that they would need help if they were to find him. So they turned to Biscuit, Roman's dragon companion. With Biscuit's help, they were able to track Nicklaus' trail, following the path of destruction he left in his wake. They flew high above the trees, searching for any sign of Nicklaus. And then, finally, they spotted him in the distance. The Titan brothers sat with Nicklaus tied to a stake and placed over a fire set up."You guys don't want to eat me? I haven't even showered."Grendel and Kel laughed at Nicklaus' feeble attempt at humor. "You're not funny, little man," Grendel sneered. "You're about to become a burnt offering to the gods." Nicklaus struggled against his bonds, but it was no use. He was completely at th
"Roman, you have to kill them for good this time." Nicklaus said."Not if we kill you first!" Kel roared.Roman's eyes flew around calculating. "I can't, it's against my code. I've spent my time watching people die_"Nicklaus pushed him out of the way before Kel stomped on him."Nicklaus, you saved my life, I thought you hated me." Roman said with a tone of slight there.Nicklaus didn't respond to his mockery and he held up a dagger."Remember, love, love." Laureline sprayed glowing blossom and rose petals in the air.The brothers averted their eyes. "Resist the temptation brother!" Grendel groaned.Kel's eyes watered and he gazed at Nicklaus with teary eyes. "Your life is worth more than all the gold and the accolades, Nicklaus, run wild and free, my friend."Nicklaus didn't know if Kel meant it or if he was under Laureline's compulsion.Suddenly he punched his brother Grendel."What are you doing?!" Grendel instead was driven by anger and he couldn't resist."Saving a damsel's life.
(Refer to Vol 1 on my profile)Markus was standing by the carriages, waiting for Celeste. He saw her approaching, and his heart leapt in his chest. When she reached him, he took her hands in his, and they stood there, just looking at each other, lost in the moment. But then, the sound of hooves on cobblestones broke the spell, and they turned to see Mrs. Blackwood riding towards them.Mrs. Blackwood was not happy to see them. "What are you doing, standing around like that?" she snapped. "We have things to do. We don't have time for this." The words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the moment between Celeste and Markus. They released each other's hands, and Celeste's face fell. She knew that Mrs. Blackwood would never approve of her feelings for Markus. But in that moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to be with him, even if it meant defying Mrs. Blackwood.As Mrs. Blackwood's words hung in the air, the moment was shattered. The warmth between Celeste and Markus faded,
With a sudden burst of courage, he ran towards Nicklaus and leapt onto Valor's back."Valor, ascend!" Nicklaus called, and the griffin spread its wings and soared into the sky.Celeste stood there, watching the scene unfold with a small smile on her face. She was glad to see that Markus wasn't letting her mother's demands get the best of him. But then she noticed something odd - Mr. Blackwood was smiling back at her, but there was a strange glint in his eye. It was almost as if he was planning something, something that she couldn't quite put her finger on. What was he up to? And why did it make her feel a little uneasy?"Mother, our carriage is a little too slow.""Let's not get ahead of ourselves," said Mr. Blackwood, his voice a little too cheerful for the situation. "Valor may be leading the way, but it's still a long journey ahead of us."Markus nodded, his thoughts drifting back to Nicklaus's friend, Josef. He wondered what had happened between them, and why it had caused Nicklau
Mrs. Blackwood shot her daughter a look that could have frozen fire. "Celeste, do not speak out of turn," she hissed. "This is not a topic for you to be involved in."Celeste's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment it looked like she might say something she would regret. But then she took a deep breath and said, "As you wish, Mother."Mrs Blackwood had carefully selected the mode of transportation for the journey, choosing the royal carriages over the more practical, but less refined, dragons. She was determined to maintain a level of dignity and grace throughout the journey, and she would not allow something as trivial as the wind or feathers to ruin her carefully coiffed hair. The carriages, with their opulent designs and luxurious interiors, would make a far better impression than the scaly, fire-breathing dragons.Mr. Blackwood cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand," he said. "The last thing we need is to be distracted b
As Mrs. Blackwood rushed toward the gate, Aiden and Celeste followed close behind. Markus, too, was drawn to the commotion, and he stood near Nicklaus, who seemed frozen in place.The group came to a stop as they spotted a man standing near the gate. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his hair slicked back and his expression unreadable.Mrs. Blackwood's eyes widened as she recognized the man, her hands trembling with rage.Mrs. Blackwood's eyes narrowed as she took in the man standing before her. She knew that face, and she couldn't believe that he had the nerve to show himself here. Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face.The crowd gasped, their eyes wide with shock. Even Nicklaus, who had been silent until now, looked surprised.Darius stood there, a red handprint on his cheek, his expression still inscrutable.Darius stood motionless, absorbing the impact of the slap. He looked up at Mrs. Blackwood, his expression unreadable. The crowd fell silent, stunne