The Rise of Queen Lilith vol.1

Chapter 18: The Journey (IV)

I don't know how long we remained in the catacomb, but Fenrir soon recovered, thanks to my support, his own capabilities and the Golden Tears I constantly fed him.

But now our supplies were running dangerously low. We only had half of our food left and the Golden Tears were entirely gone.

I even learned something from the Grimoire. I would try it out as soon as we leave this place. The time was right but,

*Will this old Hag wait for us out there?...if not I will hunt her down for what she did!*

We needed to be extra careful. I didn't want to risk losing Fenrir again, so I made my plans.

*I will pull the leaver, probably be transported to the tree's passage. Then I will use my new technique to cloak myself in the shadows. While Fenrir stays in the back, I will unleash an ice arrow straight at the creature as soon as I am in arms reach. Then I will punch it with strengthened fists. But I must be absolutely careful that I don't swallow or inhale her poison...*

And so it was. I grabbed Fenrir by his fur and pulled the leaver. But instead of teleporting me, the wall next to it just went upwards, giving way for the dark passage. I used my Mana to create a layer around my body, I then commanded this layer to use the surrounding darkness to create it's own shadow.

*With enough training, I'll hopefully be able to create my own shadows without needing an example.*

"Fenrir stay here!"

As I whispered to him, I started moving towards the entrance.

The creature indeed was still there. It stood before the entrance, as if guarding it now that it had opened.

*Time to put my plan into action.*

I crept closer and closer, moving slowly, so I wouldn't break the layer of shadows around me. When I was directly behind the creature I slowly raised my bow, spun it, created an ice arrow and let loose. The arrow hit her right in the Head. I immediately threw the bow away, gathered Mana into my fists, jumped at the creature and hit it over and over again.

"Die you fucking hag, die...die...die!"

With the continued hitting it started to ooze it's liquid again, so I closed my mouth and continued, not even realizing that it was dead the moment my arrow hit it. Some of the liquid splashed on my face, but it had luckily no effect. After maybe 5 minutes of punching, my Mana was nearly depleted and I stopped.

*That's it...*

I took out the water bottle from my backpack and washed my face with it.

"Come Fenrir...let us get back to the river..."

As soon as we reached the river, I undressed myself, jumped into it, washed myself and then washed the clothes. Fenrir gathered some small branches, a few small logs and dry leaves.

*My sweet puppy is so intelligent and strong...*

We then made a fire, so I could dry my clothes and my body.

After one more day of rest, we continued our journey. We stocked up on Golden Tears and after some time we even found animals again, so I used their skin to repair my backpack. My spirit was really high after all these successes.

4 months later...

There it was, the river started flowing out of Yggdrasil. It wouldn't be long anymore until I would reach the road, inevitably meeting humans. I took out the cloak I had with me and put it on, I then put a mask, carved out of wood, on.

*I don't know if anyone knows about me...but I am not willing to take the risk...if anyone asks why I wear this mask, I just say that my face is disfigured and I don't want anyone to see it...*

I couldn't hide Fenrir, but Griselda told me that there are other people with monsters by their side, it is uncommon but generally accepted and even envied.

As we left the forest only one thought crossed my mind.

*Beautiful...*

As I left Yggdrasil I saw a massive plain all around me. The grass was light green, with a few beautiful flowers sprinkled in between. I saw some sheep grazing in the surrounding area.

*Maybe there is a shepard in the near vicinity...*

"Fenrir NO!"

He slowly sneaked up to one of the sheep, but, as soon as he heard my voice, he stopped and came back to me.

"Don't even think about it...we are not in the forest anymore, these sheep could belong to someone!"

He made himself as small as possible and began to whimper.

"Awwww...I can't be mad at you, but still, wait for my permission before attacking something, ok?"

He barked one time, as if to tell me:

"Ok"

"Good boy!"

I stroked his head and we continued along the river.

After one day we reached the road and a small bridge.

Near the bridge was a small tower, it wasn't occupied so I decided to climb it. Fenrir followed by clawing up his way. It was about 3 meters high. When I reached the top a breathtaking sight came before my eyes. The point, where the Suebi flows into the Veil of Sakarien, lay a little bit downwards. The Veil was a huge river, from what I knew it was about 300 meters wide and made its way through the whole of Grimveil, flowing into the ocean at its end. It even flowed through Sarien, splitting the continent we lived on into two halves. Fog stretched across the whole of the river, but it wasn't very thick. All around it grew plants and a few trees, animals could be seen drinking its water, a little bit further downstream lay a small camp.

"Isn't it quite the view?"

A woman stood below the tower. She had dirty clothing, blonde hair and a rather plain face. In her hands she had a jug with which she carried water.

I jumped down the tower, with Fenrir following suit.

"Wow!"

The woman looked at us with admiration in her eyes.

*She seems to be just a ordinary woman, so let's be nice to her...*

"Hello..."

"Are you a warrior?...I mean the way you just jumped down...I mean...wow!"

*Maybe I should have just climbed down the ladder...*

"So...you are?"

"Right, I'm sorry. My name is Kara...is this a wolf at your side?"

"No it's a warg. His name is Fenrir, I am..."

...

...

"Yes?"

*Should I tell her my real name? Better not, but what should I call myself?...Luana or Loti?...no definitely not...let's go with...Lena!*

"I am Lena, it is nice to meet you, Kara."

I held my hand out and she shook it.

"Nice to meet you too."