POV Rygar Adoldia
Somehow, Aisha convinced me that the best option available to test her magic was for me to cut off a finger from my hand so she could regenerate it and demonstrate her magic.
And it ended up being done that way.
I still don't understand how I ended up agreeing to that, but it was a warning that I should be more careful about what Aisha asked me...
She was becoming more and more cunning as she grew.
Anyway, it was truly impressive. Aisha would turn eight in a month, and she was already able to use Saint-level Healing Magic.
Of course, she had the advantage of my knowing all these spells and teaching her in the fastest and most efficient way, but that was also due to her talent and constant effort.
She was progressing nonstop.
Aisha seemed to get along very well with Verdia, which was great.
And Eris had also become more comfortable talking with her, with Aisha leading and bringing up topics naturally.
But... I didn't really understand how Ghislaine and Verdia were. Honestly, on the surface, they seemed to have gotten along, but... I don't know.
They didn't exchange many words, nor did they talk in depth. Most of their interactions were quick, direct questions and answers. Well, it wasn't bad, though.
Actually, speaking with them, I found out why Skoll and Ezkalor weren't here.
It turns out that Rufus's wolf, Geri, smelled Skoll when he entered the city and ran over to greet him.
Apparently, there were other Legion members who also raised monsters, and Skoll seemed to recognize Rufus, so he suggested introducing Skoll and Ezkalor to the other monsters.
That way, Ezkalor and Skoll ended up going along with Rufus.
I also found out that my master had learned Saint-level Healing Magic while I was away, which wasn't very surprising.
There were a few other people who also learned it, since I left the enchantment, the books, and instructions on how to use the magic with Taes before leaving.
And also, at some point, Ghislaine's Demon Eye was mentioned, and the method I developed to make her control her Magic Eye seemed to interest Verdia.
After all, controlling other people's mana wasn't a widespread or normal method, nor common knowledge.
Apparently, my master had heard of this kind of thing before, but had never seen anyone put such a theory into practice.
Well, her idea was something I had already thought of before, but my tests weren't very effective. That was: using that mana control to teach Chantless Magic.
I tried that method with Ghislaine, but it didn't seem to work very well.
Verdia suggested that perhaps it was because Ghislaine wasn't so familiar with using multiple magics or high-level magics.
So, after that topic, another project reopened. When the opportunity arose, I would test that hypothesis with her again.
The conversation progressed in high spirits.
Although it was wartime, meeting with my master, seeing old friends, and introducing the new people who had entered my life gave me some peace of mind.
A comforting feeling that I couldn't quite explain.
Anyway, it was pleasant.
After we talked, I started to head to where Ezkalor and Skoll were, with only Eris accompanying me.
Ghislaine heard that there was a place where the Legion kept baby monsters for adoption and got excited. She tried to hide it, but I could tell she was excited because her tail was wagging energetically.
So, she and Aisha ended up following Verdia there.
Meanwhile, Eris and I were going to Rufus, who was with Ezkalor and Skoll.
---
A few moments later, Eris and I were walking hand in hand through the streets of Tinaver, following Skoll's presence and the sounds of combat echoing from one of the training arenas.
The city was alive. Eris watched everything with shining eyes, enthusiastically pointing at every detail that caught her attention.
The buildings looked different since the last time she had seen them.
"Did this statue exist before?" she asked, pointing to a sculpted figure of a warrior holding a hammer with the Iron Legion symbol engraved on its base.
I shook my head with a smile.
"I don't think so..."
Many dwarves arrived after we set out on our journey. They changed a lot around here.
The small modifications were many, but altogether they gave the city a new spirit.
Carvings etched into the stone walls, arches reinforced with ornamental metals, small fountains with magic circles around them.
The atmosphere of dwarven fortresses, mixed with the organization of the fields and roads, gave Tinaver an air of a civilization on the rise.
Rufus had also left his mark.
The training areas had been expanded, with stone portals and minerals where warriors practiced maneuvers with domesticated monsters.
There were new forges, crafting workshops, greenhouses with irrigation systems reminiscent of modern technology adapted to magic, small terraced fields, taking advantage of the terrain.
Wherever we went, people recognized us. Despite all that, Eris didn't seem to care about the stares.
Some stopped to watch with curiosity, others whispered quietly.
Those who didn't know who I was were soon informed by some other resident or Legion member. Even so, she stayed by my side, as if nothing could affect that moment.
"Rygar, who is the strongest in the Legion, aside from you?" she asked suddenly.
Her eyes shone with an intensity I knew well: challenge.
Ever since we arrived in Hobbit territory, Eris had been looking to test her strength. She challenged several warriors, some with power levels near that of a Saint.
She wanted to show that she was powerful, not only to others but to herself.
Perhaps it was because he knew that Ghislaine had immense fame within the Legion.
In fact, even before I created the Legion, the name "Black Wolf" was already known in the Central Continent.
A legendary Sword King, a warrior who inspired respect.
And in the Milis Continent, she built some fame as well.
During the attack on the Joylore house, she was by my side, and her reputation only grew. Many probably thought it natural that she would be my wife. Perhaps they even expected it back then.
But Eris was different. When she left Tinaver with me and Ghislaine back then, she was just a child and an Advanced-level swordswoman.
Many probably would have had some opinions about her being my wife.
I personally didn't care about others' expectations.
To me, she was important, irreplaceable.
Still, I didn't stop her from challenging whoever she wanted. I knew there would be judging eyes and questioning; that might not bother me, but maybe it would bother her.
But I also knew she wouldn't back down.
"I can't say for sure," I replied thoughtfully. "But it's probably Ornthorn or Ghislaine. Aside from them... maybe Taes or Kilian. Although, to be honest, I'm still not certain of Verdia's true combat power."
Eris reflected in silence. I took the moment to gently stroke her hair and then I remembered the way she acted when she met Verdia.
"Eris..." I said, in a low but firm voice. "You know that, even if I take other wives, I will never stop loving you. No way. You know that, right?"
She blushed at once.
"I know that!" she replied quickly, almost reflexively, trying to disguise her embarrassment.
I couldn't help but smile. I drew her closer, putting my arm around her waist. I felt her warmth, and a few more glances turned to us.
I didn't mind.
We continued walking along the stone road, the sound of our footsteps echoing among the buildings.
But for now... I just wanted to enjoy that moment with her.
---
It turns out that, even with the war in Milis unfolding and the heavy atmosphere hanging over the continent, the city of Tinaver still managed to maintain a lively and welcoming atmosphere.
It was a warm environment full of life. Still, it was evident that most of the inhabitants were ready to take up arms at the slightest sign of danger.
The expressions were friendly, but the eyes alert and the bodies well-prepared betrayed the martial spirit present in every citizen.
As we walked, Eris and I decided to stop at one of the many stalls decorating the streets.
We grabbed some skewers of roasted monster meat; the smell was strong, spicy, but incredibly appetizing.
Eris took a bite, smiling with a sparkle in her eyes – she seemed genuinely happy, walking hand in hand with me through the city that had once been only a Stone Fortress and that now vibrated with culture, movement, and living history.
Then a tiger-tribe beastman appeared, blocking our path in the middle of the street. He was tall and muscular.
His eyes burned with intensity, and as soon as he saw us, he began to speak. His voice was strong, laden with resentment and wounded pride.
He began to tell a long story – that he had been one of the many tribal leaders of the Great Forest, someone with pride and strength.
He seemed to be one of the leaders who had refused to submit to Kilian when he took control of the Great Forest.
Instead, he fled, defeated, humiliated... but determined.
Since then, he devoted himself to intense training, feeding his anger, shaping his body and strength for the moment when he could return and take his revenge.
And here he was now, finally before me. Upon discovering that I was the leader of the Iron Legion, his eyes shone with what he certainly believed to be destiny.
He decided that he could skip all the steps of the hierarchy and challenge me directly. He spoke of tearing my head off, taking leadership of the Great Forest, and "freeing his people".
Empty words, full of tribal bravado, ignorance, and misdirected pride. He was the typical warrior who had never set foot outside the Great Forest and thought his strength was truly incredible even outside the Great Forest.
I didn't wait much longer. Before I could even respond to his challenge, he moved to attack me with murderous intent.
His movements were undeniably very fast – he certainly was at the Saint level, there was no doubt about his strength.
However, before I could even move, Eris took a step forward.
With a single clean, swift, and brutal blow, she cut him in half. Her blade flashed briefly in the sunlight before the warrior's bisected body fell to the ground, lifeless.
Everyone around froze, shocked by the speed and coldness of the act, as well as the strength demonstrated by the young woman.
Eris, on the other hand, simply sheathed her sword and wiped the blood from the blade. Her face was serious but serene.
I could feel that she had been impatient since that man's speech – wanting to kill him ever since he started insulting the Iron Legion, and he had put his head on a platter when he attacked me.
I did not stop her. In fact, if she hadn't done it, I would have eliminated that fool myself.
A warrior like him, full of blind pride, would never be a good addition to the Legion.
Even after having been defeated once by Kilian, he fled instead of accepting his defeat and reflecting on it. What he did now was more than suicide – it was a terrible example.
His death would serve as a warning to all tribes, whether demonic or bestial: the Iron Legion did not tolerate insubordination or betrayal masquerading as honor.
After telling someone to clean up the mess, we continued on our way. There was no reason for us to stay there. The stares followed us, but no one dared to speak.
Soon we reached the place where Ezkalor and Skoll were.
The red dragon, to my surprise, was simply lying on the grass under the shade of a tree, its huge wings folded and eyes half-closed as it let the sunlight filter through the leaves above it.
Skoll, the ebony wolf, was engaged in a fierce battle with another wolf – practically identical to him.
Their bodies collided, bites exchanged, the movements too fast for common eyes. It was a violent dance but a controlled one. A training session, perhaps? Or a test of dominance?
In any case, it was impossible not to be impressed by the scene.
I stood there, watching the two face off, while Eris had a puzzled expression beside me. It wasn't every day that one saw a battle between Rank A wolves.
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