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
Mrs. Blackwood chimed in, her tone resolute. "It's like an instinct, Aiden. Something deep inside of me knew that something wasn't right, even if I couldn't put my finger on it. I didn't want to believe it, but now that Nicklaus has confirmed it, I know it's true."Aiden was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say or think. He felt like his whole world had been turned upside down. He looked at Nicklaus and Mrs. Blackwood, their expressions serious and sincere. Could they really be telling the truth?Two guards approached Aiden, holding Josef and Remi by the arms. The men's faces were bruised and bloodied, and their clothes were torn. They looked defeated and ashamed. The guards explained that they had been caught trying to break into Aiden's vault, and that Valor, the griffin, had stopped them."I can't believe this," Aiden said.Josef and Remi remained silent, their heads hung low. Nicklaus felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He hadn't just betrayed his father - he had also
"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.
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
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
"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, I'm warning you!" Nicklaus said, growing more and more agitated. "If you don't move aside this instant, I'll..." His voice trailed off, unsure of how to finish the threat."Nicklaus, what's gotten into you?" Roman asked, a note of concern in his voice. "You know that Valor is just looking out for you. Why are you trying to force it to let you bond with the dragons?""Because I can!" Nicklaus snapped, frustration evident in his tone. "I don't need Valor's permission to do anything. I'm the one who chose to bond with it, not the other way around."Roman shook his head. "That's not how it works, Nicklaus. Valor is your companion, not just some pet you can order around."Roman looked over at Laureline, relief flooding through him at the sight of her. He'd been worried that things might escalate if Nicklaus kept pushing Valor. But now that she was here, he hoped she could help diffuse the situation."What's going on here?" Laureline asked, frowning at the tense scene before her. "W
Ugochukwu wanted answers about the confrontation between Nicklaus and Roman, but Roman was nonchalant, as if it were no big deal. Instead of dwelling on the drama, he shifted the focus to the truth, implying that Nicklaus was acting on false assumptions. Roman didn't need to justify himself, but he made it clear that he would take action when necessary. And Ugochukwu seemed to understand and respect that. They bonded over their mutual understanding of the situation. "You were right Roman, about the non-violence thing but I'm still going to fight when necessary."Ugochukwu acknowledged that Roman was right about avoiding violence whenever possible. But he also made it clear that he would not hesitate to fight if it was absolutely necessary. And Roman showed his understanding and respect for Ugochukwu's position. It was like they were two warriors, bonding over their shared code of honor. ... Ginger, sat on the bed, Pebbles perched on her head. It was a strange sight to behold, the sm
He watched as the Pegasus and its rider disappeared into the distance, and a feeling of hopelessness washed over him. But he couldn't give up on her, not now, not ever. He would find a way to make things right, no matter what it took.Leo felt torn. He knew that Fiona was his wife and the love of his life, but he also had a deep bond with Ginger. He didn't want to choose between them, but it seemed like he was being forced to. With a heavy heart, he headed back to the castle, Ginger following close behind him. He hoped that Fiona would come around, but he wasn't sure what the future held.As the imp continued to grow, Ginger's body began to sag under the weight. The cat let out a yowl of discomfort, and the imp jumped down from its perch, landing lightly on the ground. It stood there, looking up at the two of them with a sinister smile.As the imp spoke, his body began to stretch and expand, growing larger and larger with each passing second. His robes billowed around him, and he bega
As Fiona lifted the cat, it let out a loud yowl and struggled in her arms. Undeterred, she carried it to the door, determined to find a new home for the animal. But just as she reached for the doorknob, a voice behind her stopped her in her tracks."Fiona." The voice said. She turned to see Leo standing in the doorway, looking concerned. The cat, sensing an opportunity, leapt from her arms and ran to Leo, winding itself around his ankle."Leo, I'm sorry, but this cat is causing nothing but trouble. Just look at what it's doing to the furniture, not to mention the way it's been hissing at me." Fiona said, trying to stay calm. "I just think we would all be better off if we found it a new home."Leo's eyes narrowed. "I can't believe you would even suggest such a thing. Ginger is a part of this family, and I won't just give him away like some piece of furniture."Fiona was taken aback by Leo's words. "I'm not trying to "...be heartless, but I just don't think it's safe to have this cat ar
Roman lunged for Ugo, grabbing him by the shoulders and trying to pull him back. But Ugo was too enraged to be reasoned with. He shoved Roman away, his eyes blazing with fury.Roman stumbled back, shocked and hurt. He had never been attacked by a friend before. But Ugo wasn't acting like a friend now - he was acting like a stranger, consumed by hatred and rage.Roman felt his own anger rising, as if a fire had been lit inside him. Before he knew it, he was charging towards Ugo, fists raised.Time seemed to slow down as the two friends faced off, ready to fight. In that moment, everything hinged on a single choice: would they allow their anger to consume them, or would they find a way to break through to each other?Aviva saw them fighting and she approached. "No, you both are friends, and nothing is going to change that. We have bigger problems, please!"Aviva's voice cut through the tension like a knife, freezing both men in their tracks. She was right - they were supposed to be fri