013: Old Fang

"Wow! This is amazing! I can feel the Arcane Energy surging from inside me!" Darius exclaimed inwardly, he didn't want to scare Bjorn and Skallgard.

He was so excited upon seeing a thin layer of Arcane Energy enveloping his body from head to toe.

"Chief? Are you okay?" Asked the bald and thick-bearded man after he sensed a surge of energy coming from the shelter.

As a mere mortal, Bjorn couldn't see the Arcane Shield Aura that surrounded Darius. However, he was able to sense such an oppressing aura was being emitted from Darius's body.

"Yes. I am fine. How about you?"

"I am good."

Suddenly, Skallgard, who was once sleeping like a log, was awakened by something else. He then gestured to the two that there was a Snow Wolf nearby.

Skallgard's near-superhuman hearing ability was not just empty talk; a few moments after he warned the two, the ground was trembling, accompanied by an eerie low growling sound that could be heard from hundreds of feet away.

"Bring the horses into safety. We can't afford to lose them." Darius whispered

"B-But, how about you?"

"Don't worry about me. Do you remember what I said?"

"Yes, sir!"

Wasting no time, Bjorn and Skallgard took the horses to safety.

'I hope you know what you're doing, Darius!' Skallgard thought.

Once he was convinced that the two Warriors were far enough, Darius proceeded to confront the Snow Wolf who dared to get so close with humans.

A big blood-red eye was seen in the distance, Darius immediately acknowledged who was the owner of that sinister eye. An old friend that he hadn't met for years.

Thud, thud.

The Snow Wolf finally showed itself, when Darius was alone in the clearings. It stood tall in front of Darius 15 feet tall on its four legs and 20 feet in length from its snout to tail.

This Snow Wolf was an Alpha that had lived for thousands of years. Due to the prolonged lifetime, it had evolved into a magnificent Magical Beast.

"It's been a while, Old Fang," Darius said. "What happened to your left eye?"

The Alpha Wolf snorted, expressing its displeasure.

Old Fang lay down on his belly in front of Darius, exhausted after a brutal battle that occurred recently. Although the Old Fang couldn't speak in a human tongue, he understood how to communicate with humans.

"I'll take it as a yes," Darius said.

He then began to cast [Basic Healing Spell] onto the wolf's left eye. Old Fang growled fiercely, unwilling to be touched at first. However, once the soothing sensation washed the pain away, Old Fang licked Darius' face to express his gratitude.

At this point, Darius didn't need to worry about Old Fang's carnal instinct to prey on him. Darius and Old Fang had known each other for a decade. Old Fang was like an older brother to Darius, who took care of him during his childhood by bringing him some small games so Darius would not die due to being famished.

Darius kept his relationship with Old Fang a secret since he didn't want the villagers to have a weird idea about him.

Although as a human, Darius should keep the forest habitat in check, Old Fang fully understands that it was necessary to teach the young wolves to not get closer to human settlements or they will get hunted and killed.

"Old Fang." Darius finally broke the silence. "My people will need the forest to rebuild our houses. I am afraid you and your pack will need to go further north for several generations until the forest returns."

"Ice Giants would not be happy if we lived too close to them." Old Fang said telepathically which made Darius startled upon hearing the low and manly voice from the wolf.

"Wait, you can speak in my language?!"

"Who do you think I am? A mongrel pup is it?" Old Fang snorted. "Hmph. Thanks to your awakened magic, now I can talk directly to your mind through the Arcane waves."

Darius had the gist of how Old Fang's words could reach his mind through telepathy. Arcane Energy was available everywhere and moved freely in the entire universe and could go through space and time.

If it was the case, it would be practically easy for Old Fang, who had lived for thousands of years, to manipulate the Arcane Energy so Darius could understand his thoughts in human language.

"Ice Giants, huh?" Darius pondered, rubbing his chin. "Those bastards are surely the toughest race in the Northean Kingdom. Even with your strength, it would be a bloody battle. I don't want your kids and wives to be butchered and become their dinner."

"However, if it's only a few weeks, my pack could manage it somehow."

"Alright, here is the deal. Once my people are done rebuilding our houses, we will compensate your pack with food rations!"

"You mean dried meat and fish?" Old Fang leaned his head.

"Yes, and also a protection. Let's end our years of grudge and live in harmony."

"Hmph! Hahaha!" Old Fang laughed cynically. "You might be the only exception for me. But your people are something entirely different!"

"Yeah, I know, you see humans as walking meat. But here's the thing, my people need to survive and so does your pack. If we can't live in harmony, one of our kind must perish from this world."

"Hmph! Arrogant brat! Do you think I am afraid of your bluff?!"

"It's not just a bluff. It's a certainty. Besides, I am stronger now, I can kill you with just a snap of my nails. But, it will bring endless sorrow to my heart for losing the dearest friend of mine."

Old Fang lowered his temper. As a being who had witnessed a literal hell throughout his life, he didn't want to live in constant danger.

Although it was impossible to delete his nature as a top predator, Old Fang was not a fool who would let the greatest ally go against him.

"Fine, we will see how it will turn out. You may cut down the trees to rebuild your house. But be wary, the Northean's Elite Corp is hunting Magical Beast in this area. You don't want them to mistaken your people as my kin."

"Thank you for the early warning…"