Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 459: Lightning thundered as the dragon roars (1)

His scream stopped when he sees the unbelievable scene in front of him. The big wolf is licking Ana joyfully like a dog seeing its master.

Arial who was ready to attack the big wolf stopped and calm his internal energy back. His forehead is full of sweats, but he realizes something. 

Something resounded inside him….like a droplet of water, dripping from a leaf, dropping itself into a lake and it ripples outward coursing through Arial veins, like a fire, destroying the cold energy inside him almost in an instant before lightning came again and stopped the lake from overflowing.

Tch he inwardly thought. 

This lightning essence is an obstacle.

His internal energy flowed again…rushing again. Slowly…but it's there. Pooling like a lake, a thirst that is beginning to be quenched.

His heart is beating again, the golden light, the ichor blood of the dragons, begin aiding him again.

It is not as strong as before, but it began flowing. Then a voice startled Arial. He looked at the saliva drenched Ana.

'Euu' she said as the saliva drenched her, and then she giggled as she realizes that this wolf means her no harm. She patted the beast in its head.

'What just happened?' Arial ask, dumbfounded by this unexpected turns of events..

'I don't know' Ana reply. She looks as dumbfounded as he is.

Arial look at the beast and then realizes there is something on its collar. A small compartment, lodged in the openings of the collar.

'Look at that' he said, gesturing with his finger. And Ana also realizes it. 

'What is this?' she said as her hand reaches the wolf neck.

She took it and there is a seal a symbol of a fallen star and a man being stabbed by a shining sword.

'My sister' she said. Seeing the seal, the seal of her family, there is no doubt this came from her sister.

'Your sister?' Arial said, incredulous. 

'Yes' she said excitedly and she opens the parchment.

She read it out loud.

'This is a direwolf. It will be your companion since you are travelling alone. I have bought it from some Saranites traders. It will protect you on your journey. Go to Ragran and search for a woman called Zara. She could be found in the White District. I will be going in a journey for a while. I hope you will be safe and keep yourself well in my absence. Zara will help you. Find some job to do in the city and familiarize yourself with the city. I wish you luck and may never the Unseen One find you.'

Then she finished with

'By your sister, Titania Daughter of Belial'

'So….This is a direwolf' Arial said after he has calmed down his heart. He looked at the beast and admired it.

So ferocious, so imposing.

'I guess so' she replies. She didn't know any better. Her knowledge of the Thirteen Tribes is as good as Arial, if they were to compare the two 

'It is big.' Arial remarked

'Hmm' she nodded.

'So this is the sign.' Arial said and it triggered Ana memories of their previous arguments. She smiles, a smile that seems to be saying, I told you so. 

'Yes, what did I tell you?!' 

'Fine, you are right. Satisfied?' Arial said. 

'Yes' Ana said smiling in satisfaction. Arial could not care less at the moment other than looking at this foreign beast in front of him, prowling around the cave.

During his journey at the Dark lands, he meets many beast, but he never met a direwolf. He meet Fire horse, fire lizards, Sharp Teeth Rat and many others but never a direwolf.

'So where is Ragran?' He managed to stay on focus when Ana has begun treating the direwolf like dogs, patting its fur and rubbing its head. 

Ana was startled for a quite bit and then she said.

'There is a map here that my sister left with the parchment.' She brings the parchment and shows it to Arial. 

'It is not that far away from here.' Arial said as he looks at the map.

'Bring me there' he unconsciously said in an ordering tone. After all, he was the Emperor. Most of his words were orders and unconsciously he said it in that tone.

'You mean, please bring me there right?' She said smiling. But one could see, it is a menacing smile.

'Uhh' Arial contemplated. 

'Fine! Please bring me there.'

Arial understand he is injured and could not offer much. Even his gold, all buried under the sea after he drowned.

There is nothing he could offer but his promise. And he could not say that he is the Emperor. 

Not like she would even believe it.

She could say that he is a liar. It seems that she did not even know there are other continents in the world if not for her sister.

And it's not like she ask what is his title. And another reason, it is refreshing to be treated like ….an ordinary person.

He promises that when he is better he could help Ana. 

Ana on the other hand knows that the man could offer nothing to her right now, but she also realizes that this man is an expert. 

It's just that this expert is injured.

How did he get his injuries and who he fight, Ana has no ideas. But softhearted as she is she could not leave him here in these open Plains.

So, she decided to bring him with her to the city. 

'When will we depart?'

'Dawn' she said.josei

'You would ride the direwolf?' Arial asked. 

'Of course.'

'Will it not get angry? Aggressive? Bloodthirsty?'

'No.' Ana said with full confidence.

'And how do you know?' 

'There is an instruction.' Ana said, showing him another part of the parchment which tells of the characteristic of the direwolf and the instruction on how to treat it.

It seems Ana sister is very thoughtful.

Hearing this Arial is relieved. He is worried about her safety that is why he keeps asking these questions.

Arial nodded.

'I'll cook some fish. Wait for me as I make some fire' she said. She walked out from the cave, the large direwolf, follow her from behind, growling, its nose sniffing around, its eyes scans the surrounding for enemies.

She must be looking for some firewood. And with that large direwolf beside her, she looks intimidating. Arial mused.

Before Ana is always afraid to get out from the cave but now she is not afraid. With such a large direwolf she is afraid of nothing. 

She exited the cave, whistling in joy.

Direwolf is like a warhorse. The difference? They could bite; nadthey are ferocious an apex predator. 

A full grown direwolf could fight with a battalion of Army and could inflict massive casualties. The Saranites used it against invaders in the past. 

They were called the Savage Wolf of the War God. That is the reputation of direwolf. 

At least that is what she got from reading her sister explanations. 

Other than the White Shark of the Deep Sea, and the Golden Lion of the Red Jungle the dire wolf could handle most of the beast that roam the plains.

Seeing that Ana is protected by the wolf Arial heaved a sigh of relief. 

Then he takes a deep breath. Now that she is not here, I need to meditate he mused. He has lost a lot of energy.