Gulbob led the way, the two soldiers just behind him with Liyandra walking beside them.
Liyandra: "How far is the tribe, sir?"
Soldier1: "By our pace… one more night."
Liyandra:"where is it exactly? Are you guys from the hills buer's or low land buer's?"
Soldier2:"sira-khon"
Liyandra:"oh sira-kho– wait like the favored mountain!!?"
Soldier2:"yup"
Liyandra:"your serious? (Soldier2 nods) Wow I mean I'll never thought I'll set foot on one of the holy mountains"
A few seconds of awkward silence passed between Liyandra and the two soldiers.
Liyandra: "So… how long have you guys known Sir Gulbob?"
The soldiers glanced at each other.
Soldier2: "So that's what you wanted to ask."
Liyandra, slightly, stammered: "N-no."
Soldier2:"we're just kidding~"
Soldier1: "Hahaha, stop teasing her. Actually, we don't know much about Sir… just that he's a warrior gifted by the heavens."
Liyandra: "Why?"
Soldier2: "There's a story about him. And I know it's true because someone here saw it happen."
Soldier1: "Yeah. When we were young, we trained together. Gulbob was called a genius—stronger than the rest of us, with a rare affinity for Aura. One day, during training in one of the sacred hills, a loud roar came from the nearby woods. Two buer kids came running out, chased by a troll. The trainers told us to run, but I heard Gulbob talking to one of them…"
Gulbob: "Sir, please help the kids!"
Trainer: "We don't have time! There's nothing we can do!"
The troll lunged for a child. Without hesitation, Gulbob grabbed a dull training sword and ran.
Trainer: "NO, GULBOB! STOP!"
Gulbob sliced to through the troll's hand and yelled:
Gulbob: "RUN!!"
The kids ran, but the troll regrew it's hand faster than Gulbob could react. The ogre charged. Gulbob blocked, but the force of the troll threw him, leaving him severely injured it is the first time he drew blood but he didn't have time to worry. The troll grabbed a kid that tripped. Something inside Gulbob snapped. He felt power coursing through him—his sword and armor felt like part of his body.
Gulbob (thinking): "Is this… Aura?"
He leapt, slicing the troll in half, but something is not usual, blood spilled… but it wasn't red. It gleamed gold, the color of crown that fits kings and it wasn't the trolls blood. He collapsed, standing despite his wounds. Everyone who saw it froze, awestruck.
Soldier1: "We didn't see him for a long time after that… only again when we were assigned as his soldiers."
Liyandra: "So where were you during all that?"
Soldier2: "Hiding, of course."
Soldier1: "Oh, shut up."
Liyandra: "Sorry… but what are your names?"
Soldier1: "No, it's fine… my name is—"
Gulbob (interrupting): "MEN ON GUARD!"
Soldier2: "Sir, are you sure there's—"
He caught something—a thorn as big as a fist.
Gulbob: "hmmm, Most likely a dryad. Griffin, we need your expertise. Aegis, be Griffin's backup."
Griffin: "What would you do if I weren't here?"
Aegis: "Finish faster."
Griffin unsheathed his dual swords, flames licking the edges. Aegis readied his shield and war hammer. They charged. The dryad lashed vines like whips; Griffin slashed through them effortlessly while Aegis brushed the rest off with his shield. The dryad fired spiked thorns underneath their feets. Griffin was midair, vulnerable—but Aegis shielded him just in time.
Griffin: "Thanks, Iron Head."
Aegis: "No problem, Sparky."
They nodded to signal the end of the fight. Aegis struck the ground; the earth shook, fog rolled in, blinding the dryad. She screamed as the air cleared—only to be struck by Aegis's flying shield and flung backward. Griffin landed atop her, smirking.
Griffin: (smirking) "Boo."
As he sliced the dryad in half.
Aegis: "Good work, Sparky."
Griffin: "What did you expect from me?"
Gulbob: "Good work, men."
Both: "Thank you, sir."
Aegis: "Sir, dryads are supposed to protect the forest. Aren't they… loving, benevolent?"
Gulbob: "Normally, yes. But this one's corrupted."
Griffin: "Corrupted?"
Gulbob: "Failed curse magic. Someone tried to twist her heart, but it only filled her with rage."
Aegis: "Are you sure, sir?"
Gulbob: "Look there," he pointed to another battleground. "Too far for your doing."
Aegis: "How did I miss that?"
Griffin: "That's what happens when you talk first, or your just that short."
They bickered about height:
Griffin: 5'10"
Aegis: 7'1"
Liyandra: 6'8"
Gulbob: 9'2"
Garron:"you heard that aeg, that was for you"
Aegis: "what? Shut up shorty."
Griffin: "How am I short?"
Aegis: "Miss Liyandra is literally taller than you."
Griffin: "But not taller than Sir Gulbob!"
Aegis (thinking): "Sir Gulbob is literally taller than everyone… he makes wolves look like puppies."
They continued to argue until Gulbob gently pushes Griffin away, like a father breaking up a fight between kids.
Gulbob: "Kid, don't talk to your elders like that."
Griffin: "Sir… don't… please… we're the same age!"
Gulbob: "Shh. Say sorry."
Griffin: "WHY ME?"
Gulbob smirked, aegis and liyandra laughed—except Griffin.
—End of Chapter 3