Penumbral

Chapter 47: The Calm

Aurora stretched before putting on her armor and sneaking out of the bedroom along her pet.

Alimur sat in the dark room but couldn't make out anything, a winged grey creature approached, its horns sharing in the sickly grey and its two tails swung softly from side to side, the Human tried to unsheath his sword but couldn't do anything, the creature shaped itself into a white wolf and spoke in raspy slow growly voice.

—Death and destruction—

—LEAVE ME ALONE! I KILLED YOU!—

—DEATH AND DESTRUCTION! DEATH AND DESTRUCTION—

Alimur awoke in a cold sweat and raspy breathing... he was alone "A nightmare?!... an omen..."

—The Icon—

Aurora opened the door with her tail and surprised her husband with breakfast in bed to which he smiled widely masking his slight uneasiness, they ate together and Aurora noted her desire to explore the continent of Raito a little as they've essentially been holed up in Salokir's temple, Alimur suggested that they take some contracts on the guild and Aurora was hesitant at first before ultimately agreeing with a nod, the Human felt at ease with the woman by his side.

Salokir sat in the middle of her temple with Alexander by her side, the Dragon spoke with him about her sister and he mentioned the Guncitus' eyes, Salokir sighed and stopped their conversation as the young couple approached, the four exchanged a few words and the elder woman incentivised the young ones to go around and have fun with the contracts, Alexander thought they needed to know who they were fighting against but Salokir reinforced the idea that if she was right in what Nemea wanted these two were far from harm's way.

Tasiuyon was the usual, odd stares, friendly Humans, even friendlier Demi-Humans and a single friendly High Scaleborn in fact they had already met, the old one smiled and loved interacting with the "younglings", next was the Adventurer's Guild where the couple took a job in slaying a new creature that stirred the nearby village of Unkibo, short hours of walking and the duo arrived, the village was mostly inhabited by Humans and one of them guides the couple to where the beast last attacked.

Blood painted the trees around in a scintillating crimson, a boar fled from something but it was unfortunately caught, a large beast covered in fur spewed some glowing red into the poor animal and immobilized it while searing its flesh forcing a pained screech, eight red eyes, crocked horns, four thin sharp legs, and a maw that unhinged to eat the boar whole.

The couple took upon their arms and were ready for combat, Aurora blocked the creature's searing web with her shield and charged into the air, Alimur followed closely behind and sliced at its legs with a blackned blade cutting them in half, Velka distracted the beast with pecks as she flew by, Aurora rained down spears from above turning the beast into a pincushion, together the couple attacked, the man from below with a slice and the woman from above with a pierce, Alimur cut its head off and Aurora pierced the creature's torso locking it to the ground.

The villagers thanked the duo and paid them, they returned to Raito for yet another contract, this time into the titanite mines.

Alexander laid his head onto Salokir's lap as she looked down on her lover, he spoke of the finding in the destroyed Cobra encampment and described the signature, she sighed as it matched the Helis' and reassured she would deal with it herself, the Human's lips quivered as he asked for permission to talk about something that has been bothering him, the Dragon smiled softly and told him to feel free, was her love true? She laughed and dragged him to her bedroom, a Dragon's love is both mental and physical and she would show everything to her precious Human.