Met By Moonlight:

Chapter 6 : Re-balancing nature

As I exit the cave, life outside has come back. There are small insects buzzing around, saplings starting to grow, small creatures like fox, rabbits, goats roamed about and nature seemed to be at peace once again. The paths were more clear, as if it's been used regularly and all was right, nature was right.

First place I was heading was to the library. I'm sure Yuric would be extremely trilled by the journal I've found in the cave and would love to add all these books and journals together. Afterwards I'll head directly to the High-King, whom I'm sure would be extremely grateful to hear that the contract has been completed.

I was injured quite badly, but luckily I have a pretty decent healing factor, not the most amazing, but it was great enough to heal all the wounds up in about two to three hours. I still was bloodstained and decided to quickly swing by the waterfall just a couple of miles away from the castle, so I don't accidentally stain any of Yuric's books. He'd be quite furious.

I arrive at the gate of the castle and High-King Dagon greats me instantly, and told me that he's received word that the land seems more cleansed in that part of the province. I guess word spreads fast if you're the High-King, spies everywhere, always ready to protect or inform their High-King.

"So I'm taking it that the treat has been eliminated?" and I nod my head, confirming his question. He seemed very impressed and told me to follow him to his planning room. Here is where all the plans are made, where he showed me all the forts on the map that were attacked and he started off by saying, "To be honest, I didn't think I'd see you back here, didn't believe that a single Werewolf would be enough to take down this creature, but here you are, and I believe I told you that you'll receive a great reward." 

He opened the drawer under the map and gave a ring to me. "This ring has been enchanted to give the wearer the ability to turn entirely invisible for 180 seconds once a day and make your movement entirely muffled. I am also making you Thane of Vallenrock and giving you your own house in the city, on the eastern side of the Castle, where you won't have to worry about any disturbances. I am also assigning you to work directly for me, and you'll get paid weekly, even if there isn't any contract given by me. Of course, you'll be free to adventure and do as you please. You'll receive my contracts by couriers I have all over the continent. You have done a great service for us, and I'll notify the guards and people of your newest title."

When I was told I'd be rewarded greatly, this is not what I pictured, but there's no way I'm complaining, this is far greater than what I have imagined. I exit the castle and on my way to my house, Yuric stopped me and thanked me for the journal I got him and told me that business has been going much greater since he announced the full collection of the books and journals about this creatures and their curses. He also gave me a Mammoth tusk, his priced possession and told me that it's the only thing worth in value for what I've done for him, and knowing the story behind this tusk, it was an amazing honor.

Yuric might only seem like a Librarian, but before he opened up the Arch-Collective, he used to be our archery and ranged weapons trainer at the Werewolf School when I was just a little boy. Extremely skilled in ranged combat, the best I know and the tusk is from a mammoth that randomly attacked his village and almost killed his wife and daughter. Said to be a glorious battle and that you wouldn't believe how much damage and how big of a fight a single mammoth can cause.

The house High-King Dagon granted me, wasn't your ordinary house. Definitely in the high end side of the spectrum and definitely one of a kind. It has a Werewolf sculpture standing over the front door and is built into the side of the mountain, but inside, it feels much like a house for kings. It's all set up, nice and cozy, no noise from the city and stocked up with fresh food and drink, that gets replaced and stocked up daily.  

Of course, my favorite part of the house would be the meditation room. A dark room, filled with plants and flowers, giving it a natural feel, with a shrine for The Lord of The Hunt where I can spend time alone, heal up, meditate, rest up and continue fresh. I guess you can say that I've hit the jackpot with this contract and life has gotten a whole lot better.