On the other side of the Duchy of Krovian, Keeran walked down a corridor adorned with lavish decorations. The floor was graced with an intricately designed expensive rug, while the walls boasted a collection of ornate paintings and softly glowing orbs that cast a warm light upon the scene.As he reached a mahogany door, its surface intricately etched with delicate designs, Keeran's hand moved slowly to open it. The door swung open to reveal Velrian and another elderly figure seated within the room. "Lord William," Keeran greeted the old man with a respectful bow. The old man sat regally behind a table of gleaming gold, his attire mirroring the richness of his surroundings. His eyes emanated an air of calm wisdom as his gray hair was neatly combed."Please, take a seat," William replied, gesturing towards a chair beside Velrian."Is everything in order for the upcoming funeral?" William inquired, his gaze attentive."Theo's family is en route to Krovian. The funeral is scheduled for t
Under the moon's light, Xander and Atheria rode atop Crazy Jack, their journey illuminated by the silvery glow. The dirt path stretched out before them, bordered by swaying silver grass that added an enchanting quality to the scenery.Suddenly, their focus shifted as they spotted a carriage approaching from a distance. The driver seemed oblivious to their presence due to the darkness and distance."Quick, into the grass," Xander whispered urgently, swiftly dismounting and disappearing into the tall blades. "Sit boy," Atheria gently said. Crazy Jack seemed to comprehend Atheria's whispered command and obediently settled down in the grass."She is good with animals I see," Bloodhound commented within Xander's thoughts."That's why you like her I guess, because you are an animal too," Xander replied in a whispering tone.The carriage drew nearer, its pace leisurely as torches cast dancing shadows around it. The driver, hidden beneath a bamboo hat and nondescript brown robes, seemed unaw
Inside the carriage, Xander's heart raced as he felt it come to a halt. He strained his ears to catch snippets of conversation happening outside. He could hear Toya's voice and the excited chatter of the goblins who accompanied him."They say it's the finest ale they've ever tasted," Toya's voice carried a mix of confidence and anticipation."About time we got a decent shipment," a goblin at the gate responded, his excitement palpable."Open it, open it!" another goblin chimed in eagerly."Hold on, Is that really necessery?" Toya's voice took on a cautious tone. "We just have to make sure it's all there. Chief's orders." a goblin said.Xander clenched his fists inside the carriage, his anxiety rising. The goblins' voices echoed around him, making him feel like time was running out. He glanced at the barrels around him, hoping they would be convincing enough."Damn it," Bloodhound hissed within Xander's mind. Xander's heart skipped a beat as the goblins continued their conversation.
With Bloodhound unresponsive and encircled by a swarm of goblins, Xander gripped his dagger in desperation. The horde's menacing advances left him with no alternative but to fight his way through, hoping against hope for an escape from their clutches."Dead meat, human!""Bones for the feast!"The goblins' taunts echoed in the air as they closed in on him. Their prior witness of Xander's brutal efficiency under Bloodhound's control had them wary, unwilling to charge at him recklessly. Instead, they formed a cautious perimeter, biding their time.As the goblins circled him, Xander's gaze caught a glimpse of Toya stealthily slipping away from the scene. Suddenly, two goblins surged at him, one from the front and another from behind."Come and get me, you ugly shits!" Xander's voice resounded with defiance as he planted his feet firmly. With calculated precision, he sidestepped, delivering a powerful kick to the chest of the goblin attacking from behind."Bastard!!" The kicked goblin cra
Upon learning that he had been consuming Toya's blood, a startled expression overtook Xander's features. Atheria couldn't help but roll her eyes in response to his reaction."You practically guzzled down goblin blood before, so this is definitely an upgrade. Ugh, it sounds pretty disgusting when I say it out loud," Atheria commented, her own words seemingly unsettling her."Drink it and heal your wounds, fool," Bloodhound's voice intruded forcefully into Xander's thoughts.With no better option for healing at hand, Xander drew a deep breath and swallowed the entirety of the blood within the leather pouch. A wave of warmth coursed through his body, swiftly knitting his wounds, easing the pain, and reinvigorating his body.Curious and determined, Xander inquired, "Where's Toya?""Follow me," Atheria gestured, her movements beckoning Xander to join her. With his wounds healed, he stood and moved without the previous discomfort.Guided by Atheria, Xander and Jack made their way toward a s
"Look, I believe you," Atheria's voice broke the silence that had settled between them. "But life isn't fair, and we don't always get what we want. We have to make do with what we have and help others. Your curse can be those villagers' gift."Xander looked at her, his expression a mix of contemplation and gratitude."I'm not saying don't look for a cure," Atheria continued, her tone earnest. "But until you find one, use your powers to help people in need. Turn your curse into something good. We only have one life, Xander, and we should live it in a way that leaves a positive mark."“I will save those villagers. I just hope my powers and Bloodhound don't disappear in the middle of the fight,” Xander sighed, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.“You're a foolish one, aren't you? Want me to vanish, yet you require my assistance in battle. Admit it, you're nothing without me, and you need me more than I need you,” Bloodhound's voice echoed within Xander's mind, causing him to wince in pai
As night fell, the heavens opened up, releasing a torrential downpour upon the goblin camp and its surroundings. The heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, provided the perfect cloak of darkness and concealment for Xander and Atheria to execute their plan and rescue the captive villagers.Perched atop the watchtower, Atheria's voice cut through the rain's steady drumming. "Look at that rat." At her feet lay the lifeless body of a goblin.Xander stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the figure of Toya as he ventured into the heart of the goblin camp. The rain had the desired effect, keeping most of the goblins huddled inside their tents instead of patrolling the area."We're fortunate for this rain," Atheria remarked, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction.Xander nodded in agreement. "And even more fortunate that goblins have a taste for stew."His lips curled in a sardonic grin as he observed the scene below. Despite the rain's deluge, the fire beneath a large copper cauldron burn
Xander watched as the goblins struggled to maintain their balance, their legs buckling beneath them. "This... this isn't right," a goblin managed to mutter, his words slurred.Atheria's lips curled into a triumphant smile as she saw her plan unfolding perfectly. "Poisoned stew tends to have that effect," she remarked, satisfaction evident in her tone.The goblins continued to writhe in discomfort, their roars of anger and confusion mingling with the sound of raindrops pelting the ground. "I can't... I can't move," one goblin muttered, his body trembling."They're dropping like flies," Xander murmured, a mixture of awe and horror in his voice.Atheria's gaze remained fixed on the goblin camp. "They brought this upon themselves," she said, her tone unapologetic.As the last of the goblins collapsed, the camp descended into chaos, their groans and cries mingling with the thunderstorm's fury.As the last goblin fell down, Atheria turned her gaze back to Xander, who was already taking a de
Three grueling days after their harrowing encounter with the yetis, the trio finally saw their destination looming on the horizon: the dark forest. The sight of it was enough to dampen the spirits of even the most stalwart adventurer. Towering trees, so dense and tall that they seemed to swallow the light, stood as silent sentinels guarding secrets untold. A mist clung to the forest floor, giving the entire landscape an ethereal, yet ominous, quality."Ah, the dark forest. Just the sort of place you'd expect to find in a cheerful tale of adventure and heroism," Xander quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm as they approached. "I bet it's filled with sunshine, rainbows, and friendly woodland creatures just dying to invite us over for tea."Atheria rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, definitely. I hear the dark, soul-sucking void at its heart is particularly inviting this time of year. We should definitely RSVP."Erik, who had been quiet, his gaze fixed on the forest's
As the trio braced themselves for the yetis' counterattack, the creatures proved their cunning once more. Rather than engaging directly in their weakened state, the yetis used the storm to their advantage, disappearing into the swirling snow to regroup and launch a more strategic assault."We can't let them regroup!" Atheria shouted, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. She continued to fire arrows into the storm, hoping to disrupt the yetis' movements.Xander, breathing heavily from the exertion and the effects of Erik's spell beginning to wane, scanned the edges of their makeshift battleground for any sign of the yetis. "These bastards are smarter than they look. We need to stick together, watch each other's backs."Erik, his energy drained, nodded in agreement, trying to muster what little magic he had left for another protective barrier. "They're using the storm as cover. We need to be ready for anything."Suddenly, from the depths of the blizzard, a large ice boulder,
As Xander engaged the yeti in a fierce melee, his determination and vampiric strength driving him forward, the battle took a sudden turn. From the shadows of the storm, more yetis emerged, joining the fray with a coordinated assault. These new adversaries didn't engage directly in the close combat but instead launched a barrage of ice boulders and sharp icicles from a distance, adding a new layer of danger to the already chaotic battle."Damn it, there's more of them!" Xander cursed, narrowly dodging a large icicle that whistled past his ear, his focus split between the towering yeti before him and the incoming projectiles. "Erik, Atheria, we've got company!"Atheria, her eyes wide at the sight of additional yetis, quickly shifted her focus to the new threats. "Xander, keep on the big one! We'll handle the others!" She loosed arrow after arrow with precision, each one aimed at the shadows from which the ice attacks originated.Erik, recognizing the need for a defensive strategy, began
Forced back into the merciless embrace of the storm, the trio navigated the blizzard's fury with renewed caution. The failure of Erik's plan had not dampened their spirits, but it had certainly underscored the power and cunning of their yeti adversaries. The yetis, sensing their momentary advantage, intensified their barrage, the size and frequency of the ice boulders growing as if to crush any hope the trio had of escaping unscathed."This is insane!" Xander shouted, barely dodging another massive ice boulder that crashed into the snow beside them, sending a shower of icy fragments into the air. "They're not just throwing ice anymore; they're aiming to kill!"Atheria, her eyes scanning the swirling chaos for any sign of their attackers, nodded grimly. "Yetis are known for their strength, but this...this is something else. It's like they're toying with us, testing our defenses."Erik, his energy reserves slowly recovering, added, "And they're using the storm as cover, striking from th
As the trio prepared themselves inside the cave, the onslaught of ice balls intensified, each one larger and thrown with more force than the last. The situation quickly escalated from a mere annoyance to a dire threat. Xander, dodging another icy projectile, couldn't contain his frustration. "Bloody hell! These yetis have one hell of an arm. What's their plan, turn us into an ice sculpture exhibition?"Erik, his gaze fixed on the cave entrance, where the ice balls seemed to be targeting with alarming accuracy, had a grim realization. "They're not just attacking us. They're trying to seal us in. If they manage to block the entrance with enough ice, we'll be trapped here."Atheria, understanding the gravity of their predicament, quickly assessed their options. "We can't let that happen. We need to make a move before we're completely buried. It's clear they want us either trapped or dead."The notion of being trapped by a deliberate strategy employed by the yetis only added to Xander's g
Huddled in the cave as the storm unleashed its fury outside, the trio tried to make the best of their situation, sharing stories and attempting to keep their spirits high despite the ominous atmosphere. The howling of the wind and the relentless barrage of snow against the cave entrance created a cacophony that drowned out all other sounds. It was during a brief lull in the storm's roar that Xander, his senses always on alert, tensed up, his head tilting slightly as if trying to catch a sound far off in the distance."Did you guys hear that?" he asked, his voice cutting through the relative quiet of the cave.Atheria and Erik paused, listening intently. "Hear what? Just the storm, isn't it?" Atheria replied, a hint of concern creeping into her voice."No, there was something else...a roar. Not like any animal I've heard before," Xander insisted, his eyes narrowing as he tried to peer out into the swirling snow.Erik stood up, moving closer to the cave entrance, his magical senses exte
Several hours had passed since their conversation about Erik joining them on their journey, the landscape gradually shifting as they approached a vast, frozen lake. The air grew colder, the chill biting through their cloaks. Erik, scanning the area with a practiced eye, suggested they make camp. "This looks like a good spot," Erik announced, gesturing towards a clearing near the frozen lake. "We should rest here for the night. The lake will provide us with fresh water, and we can use the open space to our advantage should we need to defend ourselves." Xander and Atheria nodded in agreement, dismounting their horses and beginning to set up camp. Erik, taking a few steps away from the setup, concentrated for a moment before extending his hands. With a few whispered words, a spell ignited from his fingertips, creating a campfire that crackled to life, its warmth a welcome respite from the encroaching cold. "Show-off," Xander teased, but his tone was light, appreciative of the warmth Er
As the trio reached the outskirts of the monastery, preparing to venture towards the source of the corruption, Erik, with his usual blend of humor and practicality, suggested a recon mission."Maybe we three should scout ahead before we bring the whole monk brigade," Erik joked, casting a sideways glance at Xander and Atheria. "No offense to our robed friends, but I'm not sure they're cut out for dragon corpse duty. Plus, it's not exactly a field trip."Laylan, who had joined them to provide final instructions, nodded in agreement. "Erik has a point. It's wise to assess the situation first. And Erik, you're familiar with the forest, aren't you?"Erik shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "Familiar enough to know it's not exactly a stroll through the park even on a good day. But yeah, I know the way."Laylan's expression grew serious, his eyes reflecting the gravity of their task. "Be cautious. The corruption from the dragon's corpse may have... unintended side effects. The forest could
Meanwhile, in the silence of his quarters, Xander sat bolt upright in his bed, a sheen of sweat covering his brow, his breathing heavy and erratic. The darkness of the monk's quarters seemed to press in on him, the echoes of his dream still vivid in his mind. It was then that Erik and Atheria, having noticed the light under his door, walked into the room, concern etched on their faces."Erik, Atheria," Xander gasped, trying to regain his composure. "I... I had a dream. It was so vivid, so real."Atheria moved closer, her brow furrowed in worry. "You're sweating buckets. What did you dream about?"Leaning against the doorframe, Erik added, "Yeah, mate, you look like you've just run a marathon. Must have been some dream."Xander wiped his forehead, the images from his dream still swirling in his head. "It was more like a nightmare. I saw a giant golden statue, towering over a crowd of people. There was... there was so much tension, fear. The statue was about to fall, and everyone was pa