Chapter 105 - One-Hundred-One

I let out an angry roar as I realize that he had escaped, and not even traces of his magic were left behind.

And even though I know that now is not the best time to track him down and fight him, especially after what he said, I still feel damn frustrated that I had not at least sunk my teeth in him at least once, tasted the blood of my enemy after piercing his flesh.

How dares this devil play with us like mere dolls at the palm of his hands? Come and leave like this, as he pleases… Does he really think karma will leave him be?

Oh but I'll make sure that his retribution comes and hits him like a lightning strike, even if I've to become karma itself for it.

Without realizing I start to pace back and forth like an encaged tiger to vent my anger away, and only after a few moments I'm able to calm down enough to assert my surroundings once more.

And to find out that I had just gained a new title amidst the battle, when I saved the hound if I remember right.

I need a second to find it when many known words pop up in front of my eyes; and what I see makes me frown.

Ding – Title earned – King of Hounds 

Ding – Title change – The Wise Leader

Wait what? How did it change to that, from Wise to Wise Leader? And King of Hounds? How so? I did nothing more than use the hounds to battle for me, and saving their lives means little when I was the one who put them in danger in the first place.

Though putting like that it is exactly what most kings do, so…

I pick the dagger up and hide in my space when I hear people coming closer, but stop close by with the intention of reading the letter very quickly, the curiosity raising, only to be stopped by a voice that resonates behind me.

"Young king…" Says someone beside me, bringing me out of my thoughts and my curiosity as I look over only to see the biggest hound looking at me, while the scaled one; the only female for what I could see; stood beside him with the other two hiding themselves behind her.

Without nothing to say to them we stay in an awkward silence, but only for a few moments as the commotion from this size wouldn't pass unnoticed.

As I turn around to go back and take Isa out of this place; no chance now of getting in the library anymore nor reading any letters; those hounds ears perch up as they look at me with awe and logging.

I simply turn around and walk away, but as I reach the end of the steps I can still hear they tip pawing behind me, their forms back to normal and more hidden in the dark with their black short fur like mine.

I growl back into a half snarl: "What? Stop following me will ya?"

I do not wait for their answer as I keep walking back to Isa, hiding myself in the shadows when guards pass by, all going to see what the confusion was all about, especially after that not-so-discreet explosion.

I keep pawing my way without meeting trouble, the plants plus the night working well to hide my black body in the shadows, mostly without even have to use my shadows.

Better save some magic for later, we may encounter resistance in the way out.

As I look back, however, I can see the hounds shadows quickly going into hiding, with a small delay from the younger ones that tripped on a root for trying to turn too quickly when I turn around, going behind the trees as if I had not just seen both trip and fall.

…

"… Didn't you hear me? Buzz off."

At that the older one comes out of hiding, now with his normal Doberman form, some silver fur growing on his snout and face revealing that he may be older than I thought at first.

"Sorry young king, but we wish to follow you."

"And do what? Stay in my way? I'm not playing around you know, you better off here in the humans care like the pampered dogs you are." After all, I had already checked and none of them were under a contract, so they could easily get out of this place if they wished for it.

The female didn't seem to like my tone as she growls at me, but I don't even give her the satisfaction of turning my gaze towards her.

If she is dissatisfied then prove me wrong; which she wouldn't be able to, of course, we both knew that I was right, they were cared by humans all their lives, how can they compare to us wild hounds who had to hunt and survive on our own?

Is like a wolf gazing down on a pet dog.

"If you keep following me you will only be seeking your own death. Go back to your owners."

The female growled loudly, but a mere gaze from my part lets her know that picking a fight with me will be the last mistake she will do in this life. Unsatisfied she stops, glazing daggers at me.

"We know we are not at par with your strength young king." Put difference on that old hound. " But we still wish to accompany you."

"Old hound, the places I'll travel to are no paradise, I will go face first against danger. Go back while you can." 

"But we want to follow you King!" Says one of the younger ones from behind, saying that only to quickly go back behind a tree. 

"We want to learn." Says the female finally, her gaze steady as she looks at me. "We… indeed have stayed under humans care for our entire lives. We always thought to be strong, they had always feared us you see, but that is…"

"Until you saw me?"

"Yes. We want to get stronger, strong like you." At that her eyes shine with determination, a gaze that could pierce someone's soul. I liked that determinate look in her eyes, but still it wasn't enough to convince me. 

"I understand what you are saying, is just that… the path I walk will be full of hardsh.i.p.s, I don't want any of you risking your lives only to stay by my side, and if you think of that as a form of gratitude stop because having you free and well is more than I can ask for."

"But King…" Says the older one. "Danger will meet us anywhere we go, we are magical creatures, we are bound to danger, and we will only be safer by your side, learning from you."

"Yes, and I would rather risk dying than letting my life be determinate by others any longer." Says the female, making me frown.

"I thought the humans treated you well?" I ask. If they were mistreated here than that's another story; one were some heads will roll and places will burn; but they weren't even under a contract, they could leave if they truly wished for it.

"Well they do, but…" At that the older one intervened:

"They chose when we feed, when we sleep, were we go, how we train, who and when we must mate…"

Oh, I see… I get it now.

"But why didn't you leave before if you wanted so much?"

"Well, we may not have any magical barrier like a contract, but there were still chains, gates, guards, and… where would we go? How would we survive? We only escaped because the guards were on a trance or something…" Probably Cain's doing.

Well, I understand that feeling, is the same that I had back in the cave, when my mother didn't come back, having to face a strange and scary world out of nowhere, but the difference is that I did not have a choice as they do.

I sigh. Why do things keep falling on my lap like this? More and more responsibilities.

"Alright, you may come with me, but don't think I'll protect you, you have to protect yourselves, otherwise you will be only dead weight and trouble; that's the first step to become strong alright?"

"Yes King!!" All of them scream, barks and howls resonating in your hound tongue as they celebrate.

"Shhh!" Me and the old hound say, briefly looking at each other with mutual understanding when another Ding resonates at the back of my mind.

Sigh, what is it now? I think I have new skills to check out once more, but this time in a deeper level.