Chapter 116: A Creature Of Fire And Stone
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Hearing this thunderous roar that shook the ground they have been standing on, Sangfroid immediately drew his arrows. He had also made a new sword, though hastily crafted for Prince Leron. Vladstin prepared his army of corpses....
But then, all these corpses fell in one clean swipe, and so did Vladstin, holding on to his chest.
"Grahh..."
Leron quickly went by his side. "What's wrong?"
"My heart..... Ahaa....." Vladstin still managed to chuckle even through the pain. "It feels like it's burning....from the inside itself....."
As he said so, smoke billowed out of his lips, and soon did embers.
"Your Highness, get back and take Vladstin and Ofelia with you!" Sangfroid warned.
The trees and the vines cleared, showing the creature in its full glory. It was terrible.
This creature is made of fire and stone.
It stood at about fifteen feet, its hind legs clawing at the ground as it aimed to pounce. Its body is made of pitch-black obsidian, virtually impenetrable. It has jagged teeth also made of the dark volcanic stone, and when it opens its mouth, only a core made of magma could be seen. The gaps all around its large body were also made of lava, as well as its glowing firey eyes.
What animal it was fashioned to resemble is unknown. All you could tell is it has four legs, large teeth, and a long snout.
"A volcanic golem." Leron said. "But how....? There are no volcanoes nearby here!"
The once peaceful clouds that swirled atop the mountain suddenly turned turbulent, winds howling in all four directions, and somehow, only this has made them realize how different the peak of the mountain looked like to other mountains. It looked charred, dark as coal. That darkness was covered by plant life for many years, but as smoke came out, they realized that the top has a hole and it is hollow.
"No..... This can't be....." Leron's mouth was agape. "Nobody had records of the Libitinous Mountains being a volcano, even the most ancient of historians always referred to it as a mountain."
But there's no time to ponder about it now. What matters is this just confirms that the creature is indeed a volcanic golem, coming from the territory of the Hermit himself. Which means.....
He truly does not want them to come forward with the vampire lord.
"ROAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!" The golem roared again, rushing towards them.
Sangfroid did not hesitate to shoot an arrow on its eye. It pierced perfectly, but did nothing. The metal of the tip was just burned.
"Do you know what's the volcanic golem's weakness, Your Highness?" He yelled, aiming another arrow as he took a few steps back due to the golem going nearer.
"I don't know! I'm so sorry, there's not much recorded among them!"
Vladstin vomited blood. "I always knew reading too many books is useless...."
Ofelia looked so scared, and had gone transformation into her bestial shark form, baring her teeth. "Bad creature! Scary creature, don't come closer!"
The golem could not understand, and went on to slash a tree with burning claws to hit Sangfroid. As it roared again, Sangfroid decided to shoot directly into its mouth and see what happens.
Nothing.
"Run!!!! Run back!!!!" He yelled to them.
The golem followed pursuit even when they have all run out of the symbol's area. Without the undead wolves, and with their fastest experiencing a heart burn, they soon found that they are no match for this creature even if they run.
"We should scatter!" Leron suggested. "We need to hide!"
They did so, trying to avoid the golem, but they have encountered a different problem. A forest fire had ensued in some parts of the mountain, and their hiding spots are limited. Vladstin covered the siren's mouth as she yelped, and used his agility to vault himself using different leverages like tree trunks and branches until he had climbed up high in a tall tree, hiding there for the moment.
Leron decided to play the distraction, yelling. "Over here!" as he hid behind a group of boulders.
Sangfroid also copied him, unknown whether it was strategic or he sincerely doesn't want the prince to be followed by this monster. "No, over here!"
He shot another arrow in between the seams filled with lava. It was useless, but he kept trying all the locations he could find. What matters is that the volcanic golem has its eyes on him.
Yet all these efforts in misdirecting the creature were in vain. It was not just some dumb beast. It was intelligent, and it was trained for a single purpose.
Get the hearts of all the undead.
It looked up and sniffed, trying to gauge the location of the vampire and the siren girl. Vladstin shushed Ofelia who is anxious to just open up her large mouth and bite this golem's head off that was threatening her daddies.
It managed to be at the foot of the tall pine tree they were hiding in, and Leron and Sangfroid watched in bated breath. Sangfroid drew another arrow, this time, one attached with a rope that he could pull and wrap around a nearby tree so the volcanic golem could not move any further...
When the siren girl began to wriggle out of her bucket, causing water to fall over the golem below!
"GRAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The stone monster bellowed, slashing at the pine tree!
Vladstin's reflexes managed to get him and the siren child to the next tree n time as the one they were once in fell with a thud! He felt his heart burn even harder whenever the golem comes near, to the point that it is unbearable.
Meanwhile, Leron noticed something from the golem's reaction. He watched as steam rose from its eye.
"Sangfroid!" He went closer in a hushed tone. "I think he was hurt by the water!"
Sangfroid's eyes widened. Of course! A creature made of fire would be aversed to water, as it would be doused by it.
Using the Amulet of the Dracon, he called upon a large storm with strong pouring rain....
"GRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
It staggered and hit many things, but it seems to be getting affected by the rain. More and more steam and smoke came out of its body, and the light of the fire in its seams, eyes, and mouth seem to weaken...
But the pouring rain also died down soon!
Sangfroid narrowed his eyes. "Could the Hermit be countering the owers of the Amulet?"
"Conjure a river then! Strong enough to wash over him!" Leron suggested.
Sangfroid did so, and a large stream did come up out of nowhere, gushing on the volcanic golem's legs and toppling it down. It howled and howled, As parts of it collapsed now that the lava had been washed out and turned into muddy lahar, and it was soon dying.
Even when the effects of the river were countered, it was already too late. The golem is now dying even when the river disappeared and turning into dry soil, where the monster is stuck up to its waist.
"You did it!" Leron was so happy that he tackled Sangfroid into a hug, crying with joy. The pressure and adrenaline had died down and made him feel so relieved.....
That he forgot all manners and just continued to kiss Sangfroid on the cheeks and the forehead!
The hunter could only blink, its ears so red it felt like they would pop and release lava themselves.
Leron soon realized what he did, and became flustered. But his happiness overpowered it and he just smiled, patting Sangfroid's head with a flushed face. "Thank you. Without you, we never could have defeated it."
Sangfroid looked away, but the happiness was now a little more evident on his face. "It is all thanks to the Amulet. And to you, Your Highness."
"To me? I didn't do anything but run. I wasn't even able to use my sword." Leron said.
"If it weren't for you observing the golem during that moment, I would not have realized its weakness at all. It is in error on my part as a seasoned hunter, I should have been mindful of these things."
"Hey, no need to worry about things in the past." Leron smiled. "Let's go look for Vladstin and Ofelia!"
"Right here!" They saw the Vampire Lord with a siren girl attached on its back hanging off a branch of a pine tree from an incredible height, then watch as Vladstin dropped down on his feet like no one's business. "That was more than interesting. That was intense."
Ofelia changed back to her human form. "Is Daddy Vladstin alright now? He looked like he was hurt earlier."
"I am recuperating a little bit. the literal fire on my heart hasn't died down yet." He said, holding his chest. "I think once the golem is truly dead, I'll be right as rain."
"Speaking of rain, thank you for the pour, Sangfroid." Vladstin said. "But don't you realize something?"
"Realize what?" The humans asked at the same time.
"You could have just let me die."
This struck Sangfroid like a thunderbolt.
"The thing..... golem.... whatever it was. It was after me. It killed ALL my corpses." Vladstin grinned. "A truly outstanding feat! I would not mind dying in the hands of such an amazing creature!"
"Yet, you did not let it."
Sangfroid tried to grasp for a reason, and came up with. "It could have hurt Ofelia too, since she's with you."
"True." Vladstin nodded. "But I feel that it would not harm Ofelia, only me. Besides, you could have taken her from me to keep her safe, or ordered Leron to do so. Yet you didn't."
"Can't you see? The Hermit is already doing what you have long wanted, to dispose of me. Yet you chose to try your best and resist him. Why?"
Sangfroid shook his head. "The New Ilvedians want your head. We made a treaty with them already. I am simply fulfilling my task, what they need is to have you turn to human so that they can get their justice, and they would not want that justice to be taken from them."
Leron felt uneasy with this bickering, and played mediator again. "Uh... Sangfroid..... Vladstin..... What's important is that we're safe and could continue to travel. Even when we are all dirty and covered in soot."
Only then did they all notice it. Vladstin and Ofelia weren't as much affected, but Sangfroid and Leron's clothes were tattered by the strong winds and black ashes were all over their faces and bodies.
"We don't even know if we can continue to travel." The stubborn Vladstin persisted. "Who knows how many more golems await us the farther we go up the mountain? Or even worse creatures?"
"I'll..." Sangfroid gritted his teeth, unable to believe that he was about to say this. "I'll protect you. Then I will find the Hermit and convince him."
"And if you didn't manage to convince him?" Vladstin asked.
Sangfroid did not answer, merely taking new clothes and handing it to Prince Leron. "I'll give you water to bathe, Your Highness."
"Oh.... alright. You should bathe too."
Sangfroid nodded. He turned to Vladstin. "You stay here and watch over Ofelia. Fed her some of the food we prepared. We'll be back quickly."
"You still haven't answered my question. What if you don't convince him----"
"Then." Sangfroid turned to him, with full honesty. He was also aware that this very moment might be watched by the Noble Huntsmen on the Looking Glass....
"I will forfeit my life."
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Hearing this thunderous roar that shook the ground they have been standing on, Sangfroid immediately drew his arrows. He had also made a new sword, though hastily crafted for Prince Leron. Vladstin prepared his army of corpses....
But then, all these corpses fell in one clean swipe, and so did Vladstin, holding on to his chest.
"Grahh..."
Leron quickly went by his side. "What's wrong?"
"My heart..... Ahaa....." Vladstin still managed to chuckle even through the pain. "It feels like it's burning....from the inside itself....."
As he said so, smoke billowed out of his lips, and soon did embers.
"Your Highness, get back and take Vladstin and Ofelia with you!" Sangfroid warned.
The trees and the vines cleared, showing the creature in its full glory. It was terrible.
This creature is made of fire and stone.
It stood at about fifteen feet, its hind legs clawing at the ground as it aimed to pounce. Its body is made of pitch-black obsidian, virtually impenetrable. It has jagged teeth also made of the dark volcanic stone, and when it opens its mouth, only a core made of magma could be seen. The gaps all around its large body were also made of lava, as well as its glowing firey eyes.
What animal it was fashioned to resemble is unknown. All you could tell is it has four legs, large teeth, and a long snout.
"A volcanic golem." Leron said. "But how....? There are no volcanoes nearby here!"
The once peaceful clouds that swirled atop the mountain suddenly turned turbulent, winds howling in all four directions, and somehow, only this has made them realize how different the peak of the mountain looked like to other mountains. It looked charred, dark as coal. That darkness was covered by plant life for many years, but as smoke came out, they realized that the top has a hole and it is hollow.
"No..... This can't be....." Leron's mouth was agape. "Nobody had records of the Libitinous Mountains being a volcano, even the most ancient of historians always referred to it as a mountain."
But there's no time to ponder about it now. What matters is this just confirms that the creature is indeed a volcanic golem, coming from the territory of the Hermit himself. Which means.....
He truly does not want them to come forward with the vampire lord.
"ROAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!" The golem roared again, rushing towards them.
Sangfroid did not hesitate to shoot an arrow on its eye. It pierced perfectly, but did nothing. The metal of the tip was just burned.
"Do you know what's the volcanic golem's weakness, Your Highness?" He yelled, aiming another arrow as he took a few steps back due to the golem going nearer.
"I don't know! I'm so sorry, there's not much recorded among them!"
Vladstin vomited blood. "I always knew reading too many books is useless...."
Ofelia looked so scared, and had gone transformation into her bestial shark form, baring her teeth. "Bad creature! Scary creature, don't come closer!"
The golem could not understand, and went on to slash a tree with burning claws to hit Sangfroid. As it roared again, Sangfroid decided to shoot directly into its mouth and see what happens.
Nothing.
"Run!!!! Run back!!!!" He yelled to them.
The golem followed pursuit even when they have all run out of the symbol's area. Without the undead wolves, and with their fastest experiencing a heart burn, they soon found that they are no match for this creature even if they run.
"We should scatter!" Leron suggested. "We need to hide!"
They did so, trying to avoid the golem, but they have encountered a different problem. A forest fire had ensued in some parts of the mountain, and their hiding spots are limited. Vladstin covered the siren's mouth as she yelped, and used his agility to vault himself using different leverages like tree trunks and branches until he had climbed up high in a tall tree, hiding there for the moment.
Leron decided to play the distraction, yelling. "Over here!" as he hid behind a group of boulders.
Sangfroid also copied him, unknown whether it was strategic or he sincerely doesn't want the prince to be followed by this monster. "No, over here!"
He shot another arrow in between the seams filled with lava. It was useless, but he kept trying all the locations he could find. What matters is that the volcanic golem has its eyes on him.
Yet all these efforts in misdirecting the creature were in vain. It was not just some dumb beast. It was intelligent, and it was trained for a single purpose.
Get the hearts of all the undead.
It looked up and sniffed, trying to gauge the location of the vampire and the siren girl. Vladstin shushed Ofelia who is anxious to just open up her large mouth and bite this golem's head off that was threatening her daddies.
It managed to be at the foot of the tall pine tree they were hiding in, and Leron and Sangfroid watched in bated breath. Sangfroid drew another arrow, this time, one attached with a rope that he could pull and wrap around a nearby tree so the volcanic golem could not move any further...
When the siren girl began to wriggle out of her bucket, causing water to fall over the golem below!
"GRAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The stone monster bellowed, slashing at the pine tree!
Vladstin's reflexes managed to get him and the siren child to the next tree n time as the one they were once in fell with a thud! He felt his heart burn even harder whenever the golem comes near, to the point that it is unbearable.
Meanwhile, Leron noticed something from the golem's reaction. He watched as steam rose from its eye.
"Sangfroid!" He went closer in a hushed tone. "I think he was hurt by the water!"
Sangfroid's eyes widened. Of course! A creature made of fire would be aversed to water, as it would be doused by it.
Using the Amulet of the Dracon, he called upon a large storm with strong pouring rain....
"GRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
It staggered and hit many things, but it seems to be getting affected by the rain. More and more steam and smoke came out of its body, and the light of the fire in its seams, eyes, and mouth seem to weaken...
But the pouring rain also died down soon!
Sangfroid narrowed his eyes. "Could the Hermit be countering the owers of the Amulet?"
"Conjure a river then! Strong enough to wash over him!" Leron suggested.
Sangfroid did so, and a large stream did come up out of nowhere, gushing on the volcanic golem's legs and toppling it down. It howled and howled, As parts of it collapsed now that the lava had been washed out and turned into muddy lahar, and it was soon dying.
Even when the effects of the river were countered, it was already too late. The golem is now dying even when the river disappeared and turning into dry soil, where the monster is stuck up to its waist.
"You did it!" Leron was so happy that he tackled Sangfroid into a hug, crying with joy. The pressure and adrenaline had died down and made him feel so relieved.....
That he forgot all manners and just continued to kiss Sangfroid on the cheeks and the forehead!
The hunter could only blink, its ears so red it felt like they would pop and release lava themselves.
Leron soon realized what he did, and became flustered. But his happiness overpowered it and he just smiled, patting Sangfroid's head with a flushed face. "Thank you. Without you, we never could have defeated it."
Sangfroid looked away, but the happiness was now a little more evident on his face. "It is all thanks to the Amulet. And to you, Your Highness."
"To me? I didn't do anything but run. I wasn't even able to use my sword." Leron said.
"If it weren't for you observing the golem during that moment, I would not have realized its weakness at all. It is in error on my part as a seasoned hunter, I should have been mindful of these things."
"Hey, no need to worry about things in the past." Leron smiled. "Let's go look for Vladstin and Ofelia!"
"Right here!" They saw the Vampire Lord with a siren girl attached on its back hanging off a branch of a pine tree from an incredible height, then watch as Vladstin dropped down on his feet like no one's business. "That was more than interesting. That was intense."
Ofelia changed back to her human form. "Is Daddy Vladstin alright now? He looked like he was hurt earlier."
"I am recuperating a little bit. the literal fire on my heart hasn't died down yet." He said, holding his chest. "I think once the golem is truly dead, I'll be right as rain."
"Speaking of rain, thank you for the pour, Sangfroid." Vladstin said. "But don't you realize something?"
"Realize what?" The humans asked at the same time.
"You could have just let me die."
This struck Sangfroid like a thunderbolt.
"The thing..... golem.... whatever it was. It was after me. It killed ALL my corpses." Vladstin grinned. "A truly outstanding feat! I would not mind dying in the hands of such an amazing creature!"
"Yet, you did not let it."
Sangfroid tried to grasp for a reason, and came up with. "It could have hurt Ofelia too, since she's with you."
"True." Vladstin nodded. "But I feel that it would not harm Ofelia, only me. Besides, you could have taken her from me to keep her safe, or ordered Leron to do so. Yet you didn't."
"Can't you see? The Hermit is already doing what you have long wanted, to dispose of me. Yet you chose to try your best and resist him. Why?"
Sangfroid shook his head. "The New Ilvedians want your head. We made a treaty with them already. I am simply fulfilling my task, what they need is to have you turn to human so that they can get their justice, and they would not want that justice to be taken from them."
Leron felt uneasy with this bickering, and played mediator again. "Uh... Sangfroid..... Vladstin..... What's important is that we're safe and could continue to travel. Even when we are all dirty and covered in soot."
Only then did they all notice it. Vladstin and Ofelia weren't as much affected, but Sangfroid and Leron's clothes were tattered by the strong winds and black ashes were all over their faces and bodies.
"We don't even know if we can continue to travel." The stubborn Vladstin persisted. "Who knows how many more golems await us the farther we go up the mountain? Or even worse creatures?"
"I'll..." Sangfroid gritted his teeth, unable to believe that he was about to say this. "I'll protect you. Then I will find the Hermit and convince him."
"And if you didn't manage to convince him?" Vladstin asked.
Sangfroid did not answer, merely taking new clothes and handing it to Prince Leron. "I'll give you water to bathe, Your Highness."
"Oh.... alright. You should bathe too."
Sangfroid nodded. He turned to Vladstin. "You stay here and watch over Ofelia. Fed her some of the food we prepared. We'll be back quickly."
"You still haven't answered my question. What if you don't convince him----"
"Then." Sangfroid turned to him, with full honesty. He was also aware that this very moment might be watched by the Noble Huntsmen on the Looking Glass....
"I will forfeit my life."
Hearing this thunderous roar that shook the ground they have been standing on, Sangfroid immediately drew his arrows. He had also made a new sword, though hastily crafted for Prince Leron. Vladstin prepared his army of corpses....But then, all these corpses fell in one clean swipe, and so did Vladstin, holding on to his chest."Grahh..." Leron quickly went by his side. "What's wrong?""My heart..... Ahaa....." Vladstin still managed to chuckle even through the pain. "It feels like it's burning....from the inside itself....."As he said so, smoke billowed out of his lips, and soon did embers."Your Highness, get back and take Vladstin and Ofelia with you!" Sangfroid warned.The trees and the vines cleared, showing the creature in its full glory. It was terrible.This creature is made of fire and stone.It stood at about fifteen feet, its hind legs clawing at the ground as it aimed to pounce. Its body is made of pitch-black obsidian, virtually impenetrable. It has jagged teeth also made of the dark volcanic stone, and when it opens its mouth, only a core made of magma could be seen. The gaps all around its large body were also made of lava, as well as its glowing firey eyes.What animal it was fashioned to resemble is unknown. All you could tell is it has four legs, large teeth, and a long snout."A volcanic golem." Leron said. "But how....? There are no volcanoes nearby here!"The once peaceful clouds that swirled atop the mountain suddenly turned turbulent, winds howling in all four directions, and somehow, only this has made them realize how different the peak of the mountain looked like to other mountains. It looked charred, dark as coal. That darkness was covered by plant life for many years, but as smoke came out, they realized that the top has a hole and it is hollow."No..... This can't be....." Leron's mouth was agape. "Nobody had records of the Libitinous Mountains being a volcano, even the most ancient of historians always referred to it as a mountain."But there's no time to ponder about it now. What matters is this just confirms that the creature is indeed a volcanic golem, coming from the territory of the Hermit himself. Which means.....He truly does not want them to come forward with the vampire lord."ROAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!" The golem roared again, rushing towards them.Sangfroid did not hesitate to shoot an arrow on its eye. It pierced perfectly, but did nothing. The metal of the tip was just burned."Do you know what's the volcanic golem's weakness, Your Highness?" He yelled, aiming another arrow as he took a few steps back due to the golem going nearer."I don't know! I'm so sorry, there's not much recorded among them!"Vladstin vomited blood. "I always knew reading too many books is useless...."Ofelia looked so scared, and had gone transformation into her bestial shark form, baring her teeth. "Bad creature! Scary creature, don't come closer!"The golem could not understand, and went on to slash a tree with burning claws to hit Sangfroid. As it roared again, Sangfroid decided to shoot directly into its mouth and see what happens. Nothing."Run!!!! Run back!!!!" He yelled to them.The golem followed pursuit even when they have all run out of the symbol's area. Without the undead wolves, and with their fastest experiencing a heart burn, they soon found that they are no match for this creature even if they run."We should scatter!" Leron suggested. "We need to hide!"They did so, trying to avoid the golem, but they have encountered a different problem. A forest fire had ensued in some parts of the mountain, and their hiding spots are limited. Vladstin covered the siren's mouth as she yelped, and used his agility to vault himself using different leverages like tree trunks and branches until he had climbed up high in a tall tree, hiding there for the moment.Leron decided to play the distraction, yelling. "Over here!" as he hid behind a group of boulders.Sangfroid also copied him, unknown whether it was strategic or he sincerely doesn't want the prince to be followed by this monster. "No, over here!"He shot another arrow in between the seams filled with lava. It was useless, but he kept trying all the locations he could find. What matters is that the volcanic golem has its eyes on him.Yet all these efforts in misdirecting the creature were in vain. It was not just some dumb beast. It was intelligent, and it was trained for a single purpose.Get the hearts of all the undead.It looked up and sniffed, trying to gauge the location of the vampire and the siren girl. Vladstin shushed Ofelia who is anxious to just open up her large mouth and bite this golem's head off that was threatening her daddies.It managed to be at the foot of the tall pine tree they were hiding in, and Leron and Sangfroid watched in bated breath. Sangfroid drew another arrow, this time, one attached with a rope that he could pull and wrap around a nearby tree so the volcanic golem could not move any further...When the siren girl began to wriggle out of her bucket, causing water to fall over the golem below!"GRAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The stone monster bellowed, slashing at the pine tree!Vladstin's reflexes managed to get him and the siren child to the next tree n time as the one they were once in fell with a thud! He felt his heart burn even harder whenever the golem comes near, to the point that it is unbearable.Meanwhile, Leron noticed something from the golem's reaction. He watched as steam rose from its eye."Sangfroid!" He went closer in a hushed tone. "I think he was hurt by the water!"Sangfroid's eyes widened. Of course! A creature made of fire would be aversed to water, as it would be doused by it.Using the Amulet of the Dracon, he called upon a large storm with strong pouring rain...."GRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"It staggered and hit many things, but it seems to be getting affected by the rain. More and more steam and smoke came out of its body, and the light of the fire in its seams, eyes, and mouth seem to weaken...But the pouring rain also died down soon!Sangfroid narrowed his eyes. "Could the Hermit be countering the owers of the Amulet?""Conjure a river then! Strong enough to wash over him!" Leron suggested.Sangfroid did so, and a large stream did come up out of nowhere, gushing on the volcanic golem's legs and toppling it down. It howled and howled, As parts of it collapsed now that the lava had been washed out and turned into muddy lahar, and it was soon dying.Even when the effects of the river were countered, it was already too late. The golem is now dying even when the river disappeared and turning into dry soil, where the monster is stuck up to its waist."You did it!" Leron was so happy that he tackled Sangfroid into a hug, crying with joy. The pressure and adrenaline had died down and made him feel so relieved.....That he forgot all manners and just continued to kiss Sangfroid on the cheeks and the forehead!The hunter could only blink, its ears so red it felt like they would pop and release lava themselves.Leron soon realized what he did, and became flustered. But his happiness overpowered it and he just smiled, patting Sangfroid's head with a flushed face. "Thank you. Without you, we never could have defeated it."Sangfroid looked away, but the happiness was now a little more evident on his face. "It is all thanks to the Amulet. And to you, Your Highness.""To me? I didn't do anything but run. I wasn't even able to use my sword." Leron said."If it weren't for you observing the golem during that moment, I would not have realized its weakness at all. It is in error on my part as a seasoned hunter, I should have been mindful of these things.""Hey, no need to worry about things in the past." Leron smiled. "Let's go look for Vladstin and Ofelia!""Right here!" They saw the Vampire Lord with a siren girl attached on its back hanging off a branch of a pine tree from an incredible height, then watch as Vladstin dropped down on his feet like no one's business. "That was more than interesting. That was intense."Ofelia changed back to her human form. "Is Daddy Vladstin alright now? He looked like he was hurt earlier.""I am recuperating a little bit. the literal fire on my heart hasn't died down yet." He said, holding his chest. "I think once the golem is truly dead, I'll be right as rain.""Speaking of rain, thank you for the pour, Sangfroid." Vladstin said. "But don't you realize something?""Realize what?" The humans asked at the same time."You could have just let me die."This struck Sangfroid like a thunderbolt."The thing..... golem.... whatever it was. It was after me. It killed ALL my corpses." Vladstin grinned. "A truly outstanding feat! I would not mind dying in the hands of such an amazing creature!""Yet, you did not let it."Sangfroid tried to grasp for a reason, and came up with. "It could have hurt Ofelia too, since she's with you.""True." Vladstin nodded. "But I feel that it would not harm Ofelia, only me. Besides, you could have taken her from me to keep her safe, or ordered Leron to do so. Yet you didn't.""Can't you see? The Hermit is already doing what you have long wanted, to dispose of me. Yet you chose to try your best and resist him. Why?"Sangfroid shook his head. "The New Ilvedians want your head. We made a treaty with them already. I am simply fulfilling my task, what they need is to have you turn to human so that they can get their justice, and they would not want that justice to be taken from them."Leron felt uneasy with this bickering, and played mediator again. "Uh... Sangfroid..... Vladstin..... What's important is that we're safe and could continue to travel. Even when we are all dirty and covered in soot."Only then did they all notice it. Vladstin and Ofelia weren't as much affected, but Sangfroid and Leron's clothes were tattered by the strong winds and black ashes were all over their faces and bodies."We don't even know if we can continue to travel." The stubborn Vladstin persisted. "Who knows how many more golems await us the farther we go up the mountain? Or even worse creatures?""I'll..." Sangfroid gritted his teeth, unable to believe that he was about to say this. "I'll protect you. Then I will find the Hermit and convince him.""And if you didn't manage to convince him?" Vladstin asked. Sangfroid did not answer, merely taking new clothes and handing it to Prince Leron. "I'll give you water to bathe, Your Highness.""Oh.... alright. You should bathe too."Sangfroid nodded. He turned to Vladstin. "You stay here and watch over Ofelia. Fed her some of the food we prepared. We'll be back quickly.""You still haven't answered my question. What if you don't convince him----""Then." Sangfroid turned to him, with full honesty. He was also aware that this very moment might be watched by the Noble Huntsmen on the Looking Glass...."I will forfeit my life."
