Siderius followed the traces of Damien and Ashe. He expected to catch up to them eventually. Until he saw a big footprint on the ground.
Siderius jumped off the horse and took a closer look. The footprint was almost as big as a dog. Siderius slowly ran his hand over it.
"Deep. Heavy. Sothing big. Three toes. A cyclops. Shit."
Cyclops, a species in the giant family. They dwelled in caves, had very low intelligence, and their favorite al was human flesh.
Damien and Ashe continued to run off with their horses based on the horse prints. Cyclops could be very quick in pursuit and so horses wouldn’t be enough to escape it.
"I need to find them."
Siderius didn’t use the horse as it was too quick. He lowered his center point of gravity and used his abilities.
First was the coating from his willpower, enhancing his speed, durability and stamina. A soft glow enveloped Siderius.
Second was the mutation Explosive Speed and Explosive Impact, enhancing his physical body.
Siderius disappeared and blasted through the snowstorm. A pile of air flew to the air because of the pure shockwave.
Siderius used his Echolocation to find his way in the blinding snowstorm. He turned his head to the side when he heard a familiar noise.
"Get your hand off, you filthy beast."
That was Ashe’s voice. Siderius dashed quickly to the location.
Ashe knew that couldn’t outrun a cyclops so instead of kept running, she led Damien into the nearby cave to hide from the cyclops.
The cyclops was too big to enter the cave but he continuously plunged his hand inside to try and grab Ashe.
Ashe held her Shrieking Swallow and kept the beast at bay. The cave was too small to go even further. She had no other choice than to stand her ground.
Damien stood up, "I will buy you so ti. When it eats , you should run away as quickly as possible."
"Shut up. Master has saved your life. I won’t let anything happen to you."
"It’s the only way..."
"Heh." Ashe smirked, "It’s not. Master will be here soon."
Suddenly, they heard the beast growled in pain. It withdrew its hand. The sound of blood splattered, piercing through the high-pitched howling of wind.
The heavy thud of the body of the cyclops falling onto the snow was heard.
Siderius went inside. His body was soaked in hot red blood of the cyclops.
"You guys okay?" Siderius said. He breathed heavily because of the exertion. He pushed his body too far to reach the highest speed possible.
He must have travelled a dozen miles in the last few minutes.
Ashe rushed at Siderius and ignored his bloody uniform. The girl hugged him tightly.
"I know you will be here to save us, Master." She said in relief.
Siderius widened his eyes a little bit. He didn’t stop her nor did he answer her hug.
Ashe politely detached herself and acted like she didn’t notice Siderius’ reaction.
"You’re good, one-hand man?" Siderius turned to Damien.
"As good as always."
"Let’s get out of here." Siderius said.
Before the group left, Siderius dissected the cyclops and took its valuable body parts away. The cyclops had a good nose that was very suitable for Odora. His internal organs were also good to make many types of Developnt Tonics.
The civil war kept going. Everywhere they went, mountains and plains of bodies were there. It soaked the air with a miserable darkness. The rotten sll was as pungent as ever.
They got out of the North in one piece and returned to the South.
The South was mostly very peaceful because the kingdom of Everia still tried to hide everything. The battles happened only in the border and didn’t reach to the inner lands of the South yet.
Siderius turned to Damien, "We’re here."
Damien nodded, "The warm South."
Damien lifted his head up to see the burning sun and the hot air on him.
"It’s good to feel alive. I hated the cold in the North."
"This is farewell, Damien. You can go anywhere you want. I figure it won’t be that hard for you to return to House Argentius." Siderius said.
"It is indeed..." Damien said.
Siderius and Ashe turned away with their horses.
"Wait!" Damien called back to them.
"Yes?" Siderius said.
"Can I go with you?"
"Why?"
"You told you’re a Baron, right? I can be of use to you. I won’t teach Silver Lock to the others but I can teach them how to use a sword."
"In exchange for?"
"Let stay in your territory. I... I’m not the strongest swordsman in Everia anymore. I should have died in that battle but they only kept alive to trade my life. I’m as good as death. So I figure to find a new place to settle down.
Damianos Argentius died. I will live as soone else."
"Very well. If that’s how you truly wish to live. Co with us."
Damien had his uses. He could train Siderius’ soldiers just like he said. But Siderius only wanted his strength.
Damien lost his right hand and couldn’t use a sword no more. But his willpower was still there. It only went dormant because his will was broken in that battle.
Willpower was the energy, the path to will thing into existence. In Siderius’ mind, an empty wrist should not prevent Damien from becoming a swordsman again. He liked to test that theory with Damien and saw what was the true limitations of this new path of power.
They spent the next few months getting back to Eldoria.
It was an eventful trip and cost Siderius more than a year. He had almost walked all over Everia, except a few sensitive locations like the capital or the Great Houses.
When he returned to Everia, it was already Spring again.
"Eighteen..." Siderius mumbled.
"What do you an 18?" Damien said.
"Master is officially 18 years old now." Ashe smiled and said. "We should have a celebration back in Santa Roberto, Master."
"It isn’t necessary."
Damien widened his eyes, "18 years old? You must be kidding . He is no shorter than the tower."
"She is right. I’m 18 years old now."
And he had co to this world for two years. A lot of things happened. He killed many people. His revenge was almost fulfilled. The only one left was Lyara Starcrow.
"It’s ti to finish my part of the deal. Snow has been waiting long enough."
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