A few days passed without incident, and the wolves multiplied until the pack looked like a pale flood.
Two hundred of them now, all hovering at Breath Tempering, all lean muscle and bright ferocious eyes.
Spice Cure, Good Chip, and Gauge Point sat near Radeon's tent whenever the road allowed.
Their robes were pure white now. They spoke with the fever of new believers, trading their own aspirations.
"When I'm strong, I'll do it like Master did," Good Chip said, voice quick. "My sword shall sunder the heavens."
Spice Cure shook her head, fingers already stained with crushed leaves.
"Meh. You go ahead. I'll just make pills and potions."
Gauge Point kept glancing at the horizon as if he could read the future in the slope of a hill.
"Heaven, earth, and man. One should not reveal heaven's secret," he said, pretending to be profound.
Then they laughed, faces bright with joy. For Radeon, it was enough. For now.
