Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Vahn sat atop Fafnir's back with his eyes closed, doing his best to pick up any signs of life as Fafnir 'slowly' ambled through the sky around 3,500km/h. Because they needed to comb the area, Fafnir had to its speed so that Vahn could process the information passing through his mind like a blur. Fortunately, Sis's processing capabilities were much higher than his own so she was helping pick up the mass amount of slack on Vahn's behalf. Since the Griffin shouldn't be too far away from its hunting grounds and should have made its nest at a high elevation, Fafnir primarily focused on areas that were high above the ground. There were several rocky outcrops in the Western Forests but few should host a creature as territorial as a Griffin.Terra watched Vahn from the side with a bit of concern on her face before wrapping her wing around him in an attempt to comfort him. She didn't like seeing the 'cold' Vahn very much because it didn't seem to suit him very well. Though she understood his reasons for being upset, she couldn't comprehend why he was so angry at the potential loss of people he had never met before. Just as the various surface races domesticated animals and grew crops to survive, Terra felt like the Griffin was simply doing what it could to avoid starving. Yes, they had to kill it to prevent further loss of life, but that didn't justify Vahn's reaction in her opinion. It was the nature of the world that the strong preyed on the weak, something she had experienced herself in the past...Feeling the strangely comforting sensation coming from Terra's wing, Vahn looked toward the gentle looking woman and saw the concern in her eyes. He released a small sight and focused his mind, doing his best to calm down by making use of her comforting aura and the fragrance emanating from her body. His anger didn't benefit the situation at all, so Vahn could somewhat understand why Terra was worried since his mentality had even affected Fenrir. She was sitting in his lap with her hairs on-end as she flexed her paws open and closed, almost as if she were ready to pounce at a moments notice. Though he didn't know how he would be able to manage it, Vahn knew he would have to learn how to remain calm so that he didn't make as many mistakes in the future. He would avoid becoming like the 'Emperor', who seemed detached from everything, but the maturation of his mind was necessary if he wanted to be a good father and capable leader...Fafnir came to a near-instantaneous stop as a pulse of wind spread out from its body, dispersing the force of its rapid deceleration. A powerful aura spread through the area that was only a few magnitudes weaker than his own [Will of the Emperor] as Fafnir opened its mouth and released a powerful roar that shook the void. A short ways away, atop a small cliff leading into the side of a larger plateau, there was a young griffin that had just been about to take flight. It released a shrill whine before shrinking away and retreating back into its nest as Vahn exhaled a chilly sigh and jumped off of Fafnir's back. If it had made the 'mistake' of taking flight, the Griffin likely would have immediately died after Fafnir tore its body apart. The average flight speed of an adult Griffon was only around 650-700km/h, so it would have been completely dominated by Fafnir in an aerial battle.Vahn crashed into the Cliff without making any effort to disperse the force of his fall, causing cracks to spread under his feet as he walked into the cave's entrance. Fenrir had been in his arms when he leaped down while Terra had followed behind shortly after his descent. Even if she was a [Pacifist], it didn't mean she would sit idly by if Vahn was in danger. All of his subordinates, Lefiya and Anubis included, had an instinctive desire to try and protect him. She was also curious about how Vahn would deal with the situation since his mentality worried her much more than the nature of the Griffin and the fate of its victims.The cave only stretched into the plateau for around twenty meters so the three had quickly arrived at the Griffin's nest as it shrieked loudly, aggressively fronting in an effort to scare them away. However, it was still 'spooked' by Fafnir's earlier roar and couldn't muster up the courage to fight back even though it was cornered. It instinctually felt that all three of the invaders before it were much stronger than it so a sense of impending doom had started to settle in its mind. It scratched away at the ground and continued to retreat until its back reached the wall, causing it to jump and flap its wings aggressively.Vahn looked around the area and saw no signs of life which made his mind numb slightly as he released a sad sigh and asked, "Fenrir...do you smell the scent of blood from earlier?" Her eyes were already glowing fiercely as she glared at the Griffin and nodded her head. With her confirmation, Vahn felt momentary anguish before bringing his hands together, almost as if he were going to pray. The truth of the matter wasn't too different, as Vahn truly lamented the minor injustice while also mourning the loss of the various children and livestock. Over the course of nine days, the Griffin had claimed four victims and nearly twenty smaller livestock. While it may be true that they often kept 'live' prey for late consumption, it was also a sad fact that young Griffins often hunted for 'sport' without intending to eat their prey at all...After bringing his hands together for several seconds, Vahn opened his eyes and 'collapsed' his domain, converging the entirety of his pressure against the body of the Griffin. As a Level 2 monster, he could have easily stunned it but Vahn wasn't content with such a roundabout way of dealing with this issue. Though it was typically invisible, the space within the cave became dense with energy as the Griffin's body was squeezed tightly before it fell to the ground. Vahn spoke out in a low tone as he continually increased the pressure, saying, "Hunting for sport is wasteful..."Though it had temporarily tried to resist, the Griffin ended up uttering a weak and pitiable cry as it completely gave up any form of resistance. It couldn't even raise its head to 'plead' for its life as the budding intelligence contained within its mind collapsed. Even though it was still alive, its eyes had glazed over with a blank look as Vahn's began to emit a 'divine' light. The atmosphere of the cave became very solemn and neither Fenrir or Terra could move a single muscle in their body as they waited for what was to come. His voice took on a powerful reverberation as he said, "Though I resent what you have done...I will still show you one last mercy..." Vahn had nearly uttered the word 'Vanish' but remembered his promise to Graft and said, "Rest in peace..."A pulse of energy spread through Vahn's domain along with his words and the Griffin immediately turned statuesque before becoming completely limp. The light had already faded from its eyes previously, but now it seemed like a shell of its former self as even its body heat had completely faded. Other than the minimal amount of mana used to keep its body from turning to dust, everything else had dispersed into the air as the pulse passed through its body. The previously vibrant colors in its plumage had now dimmed greatly and took on a grey and ashen tone.Vahn stowed the Griffin into his Inventory before looking at the still-stunned Terra and Fenrir as he said, "Let's bury the bodies...this will no longer be a cavern, but a mausoleum to honor the dead." Terra showed a sad smile on her face as she flapped her wings to breath life into the stagnant cavern that had become eerily silent. Moss because to spread from her bare feet as Fenrir lead the way for Vahn by following the scent from earlier. The cave hadn't been uniform and there was a natural division that split it in to along the right side. Though he had 'prepared' himself, Vahn still shuddered when he saw what was left of the victims. When they hunted for sport, young Griffins would bring back 'trophies' to adorn their nests and it was a sickening sight that made Vahn feel nauseous.After averting his eyes, Vahn swept his hand toward the remains and cremated them using the 'eternal flame'. Since it was a divine flame, Vahn felt like it was the best way he could honor them while also serving to 'purify' the area of any negative energy and resentment. He brought his hands together again as he prayed toward the crimson-golden flames, hoping that the children would find happiness in their next incarnation. Long before his prayer came to an end, the remains had been completely broken down into fine ash so Vahn washed over them with water before pulling them all together and dispersing the water elemental energy in the orb he had formed. As if they had never been soaked, a small sphere of ashes had formed in the air and was kept solid by Vahn's domain.Vahn took the orb over to where Terra was standing like a goddess of nature since the cavern around her feet had already started to sprout small shrubbery and vibrant plant life. Vahn spread the ashes over the ground before covering them with a layer of fertile soil that quickly converged with Terra's energy and sprouted new life. Since this sight marked a grave, Vahn spread out a handful of lily seeds as he watched them quickly grow before blooming less than a minute later. He then pulled out a marble slab and carved the names Benny, Sully, Julia, and Keil into the surface and setting it on the floor. After releasing a heavy sigh, Vahn looked around the area before saying, "Let's return..."On the way out, Vahn took a large boulder from his inventory and sealed off the gave before having Terra cover it with moss and vines. This place was around 219km away from the nearby village, so Vahn didn't expect anyone to make a pilgrimage to pay respects. It was a sad truth that the bodies were likely located elsewhere, so it would be better to allow them to mourn with their community...Turning his head up, Vahn looked to Fafnir and said, "Fafnir, I want you to destroy any visible monster nests in the area before rendezvousing with us when I call you. Make sure you stay high and away from any potential dangers..." Fafnir released a light roar and said, ("Leave it to me, Vahn~!") before taking off toward some of the areas they had previously passed. Before it had even gone more than five kilometers, Fafnir released a small burst of energy that shot like a laser toward the ground. An explosion rumbled through the forest as a nest of goblins was annihilated before Fafnir moved on without paying special attention to the result. Vahn sent it an order advising it to stay away from the deeper forest so it wouldn't unnecessarily provoke any Elven scouts.Terra had already turned back into her dragon form and was waiting so Vahn jumped up onto her back and immediately plopped down on the 'grassy' area. Fenrir had jumped up shortly after and immediately cuddled up to him, saying, "Master, don't be sad...we came out to play, remember?" Clever as she might be, Fenrir couldn't easily empathize with what Vahn was going through and only understood that he was sad from his actions and the emotions shared through their bond. Vahn smiled before hugging her tightly and saying, "We'll go play in a bit..." as he stroked her hair. As she was already used to 'comforting' Vahn, Fenrir turned quiet as she closed her eyes and nuzzled against him so that he could relax...With the therapeutic Fenrir and the calming fragrance of Terra, Vahn was able to relax much faster than he expected. They reached the village after twenty minutes, as Terra had been flying slowly to let him relax more easily, and Vahn had resumed his calm demeanor before jumping down to the awaiting crowd. Graft had come out with a hopeful looking woman but she immediately broke down in her husband's arms after seeing that Vahn was only accompanied by Fenrir and Terra. Graft stepped forward with an understanding look in his eyes as he observed Vahn and asked, "Did you get that bastard?"Vahn nodded his head before waving his hand and leaving the corpse of the Griffin in the open town center for all to see. Though it would likely only bring them a small comfort, Vahn said in a gentle tone, "I cremated the remains and sanctified the area before erecting a marker to honor the deceased...this time, don't worry about the reward. I can't accept a reward for a mission like this..." Since his presence wouldn't make things easier for those present, Vahn stroked Terra's snout before climbing back on her body and taking to the sky once again. Graft followed his figure with his eyes, shaking his head and remarking, "He is still a young boy..." before turning to go comfort Martha and Barnes.After being in the air for a few minutes, Fenrir tilted her head up toward Vahn and asked, "Master, were those people important to you?" For Fenrir, failing to protect the people important to her Master was a big 'failure' so she was beginning to feel very worried. Vahn, however, shook his head and said, "I had never known them...but you must always remember that all life is precious. Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of other people, is important for mental and spiritual maturity...never forget this, Fenrir, and always do your best to preserve life...unless it is someone trying to bring harm to you and the people you care about..."Though she didn't understand it completely, Fenrir nodded her head and ruminated over Vahn's words as she enjoyed his caress. She decided to ask some of the other girls in the Manor about 'empathy' and how they believed it was important so that she could understand it better. Seeing that her Master had placed so much importance on it, Fenrir felt compelled to understand it so that she could also 'empathize' with him. The lonely look in his eyes made her own heart feel strange as her tummy felt anxious and 'empty'. It would also allow her to 'mature' faster, so Fenrir wanted to do her best to make Vahn happier however she could.Vahn had Terra land in a small clearing within the Western Forest as a pressure began to bear down on them from above. Fafnir appeared moments later and landing in the clearing next to Terra before it strangely 'sized' her up. Out of nowhere, Fafnir suddenly said, ("Sis is a very beautiful dragon~!") before turning to Vahn and saying, ("Vahn, I destroyed eleven nests~! Praise me, praise me~!") Vahn held out his hand and rubbed Fafnir's snout before it plopped down on the ground and rolled over onto its back. As for Terra, she had 'smiling' eyes but didn't comment on Fafnir's words as she laid on the ground in a strangely elegant manner, still in her dragon form. She spread her massive 20m wide wings and created a large canopy as she absorbed sunlight.After spending some time pampering and praising Fafnir, Vahn was sitting on its stomach stroking the 'scar' on its chest as he said, "Fenrir and I will 'walk' back to the City, so I want you to take Terra back to the Manor and wait for us." Fafnir had been laying with its mouth open and tongue dangling out before it snapped to alertness and said, ("Okay, Vahn, leave it to me~!") Terra, however, didn't seem too fond of the idea as she remarked, "If possible, I would like to stay with Master. I am worried about your safety and well-being..." Vahn smiled in return and said, "I'll be fine, Terra, so just wait for me patiently at the Manor. I'm going to play with Fenrir for a bit and there isn't any real danger within the forest to either of our lives." Since both he and Fenrir were now Level 4, there were few things in the entire region that could actually threaten them. Those that might be able to would never be able to match his speed if he focused on fleeing, so Vahn wasn't concerned at all, especially with a [Hero's Reprieve] available if he needed to 'teleport' away.Terra seemed like she wanted to issue a rebuttal but eventually just let out a sigh before turning back into her human form and flittering up to Fafnir's back. She looked down at Vahn, still in his Vanargandr form alongside Fenrir, and said, "Master, please take care of yourself...Big Sis, please look after our Master well." Fenrir raised her head pridefully and thumped her chest as she said, "Leave it to Fenrir~! Fenrir will protect Master properly!" Even at the cost of her own life, Fenrir wouldn't allow any harm to befall Vahn as long as she could prevent it. Of course, Vahn would never let such a thing come to pass and it was generally his job to look after her.After watching Fafnir fly off into the distance, Vahn placed his hand atop Fenrir's head and ruffled her hair as he said, "Here, I'll give you ride on my shoulders and we'll look for something fun to do. For now, let's just walk through the forest and enjoy the scenery for a bit..." Without even waiting for the full explanation, Fenrir had already climbed up Vahn's back, leaving a few holes in his tunic as a result before sitting atop his shoulders happily. Since she knew there was no danger of accidentally cutting him with her claws, she set her paws on top of his head as he held her legs and started to walk forward. Vahn knew that Fenrir had been jealous of Shirohime riding on his head, so he decided to balance things out a bit. He had come out here today to help her relax so he wanted to make good on his promise even if he felt a little melancholic. After all, it was far more important to care for the living than it was to mourn the death of those you had never known...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Terra is a monster (UwU)','Empathy...','What is important...')https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Before the girls made their way to the bath, as they were prone to do after morning training, Vahn explained his intentions while politely declining the participation of others. Since it was a mission outside of the City, it likely wouldn't be that difficult and Vahn could easily return with Fafnir if things became troublesome. He also wanted to give Fenrir the opportunity to vent while also doing a good deed for the people in The Plains region. There were dozens of small villages located about the region with thousands of farmers belonging to the Demeter, and a few other agricultural Familias, in the area. As the region was of paramount importance to the livelihood of the City, the Guild had posted the mission to every major Familia, including the Hestia Familia as a result of its relationship with the Alliance.After returning Shirohime to Haruhime, Terra transformed into her dragon form and Vahn climbed up on her somewhat narrow back. He noticed it was much more comfortable than sitting on Fafnir and there was also a very pleasant aroma rising from her body that was very calming. However, since it would potentially demoralize Fafnir if he showed any preference for Terra, Vahn simply smiled as he held onto Fenrir and said, "Okay, let's go 'play' for a bit..." As Fafnir didn't like flying too slowly, it ended up temporarily returning to the shadows for the time being and attached itself to Vahn's shadow before taking a nap.Terra's wings spread after hearing Vahn's words and she said, "This is very exciting~." before taking off into the sky. Vahn immediately noticed that Terra couldn't easily regulate the flow of air around her body so the wind battered against his face and hair as Fenrir's somewhat wild hair chaotically fluttered. Strangely, even though her hair was always unkempt, it managed to hold its shape in clumps instead of flying around in individual strands. Vahn thought was pretty interesting and wondered what kind of mechanic or law made it act in such a manner.The Plains were located nearly 1,700km to the west of the City so it would take them nearly two hours even if Terra flew at her maximum speed. As they weren't in a particular hurry, she flew through the sky around 650km/h and it was a pleasant and refreshing experience for both Vahn and Fenrir. Terra couldn't reshape her scales to make a hold, so Fenrir got to be embraced by Vahn throughout the journey and enjoyed the feeling of the wind passing through her hair and ears. As for Vahn, he looked out over the horizon and saw the signs of spring beginning to appear in the surrounding regions as the world slowly came to life after the passing of winter.Terra had felt like it would be 'fulfilling' to have Vahn riding on her back and, after managing to convince Fafnir to give her the opportunity, she was able to confirm this was indeed the case. She didn't know exactly why, but a part of her felt the need to try and please him and there was a strange 'link' that she could sense binding them. Just like Fafnir and Fenrir, she was very aware that she would continue to exist indefinitely, unless she died as a result of battle, so she was interested to see what kind of things she would get to experience at his side. After her first death, she had longed for the surface once again and wanted to see and experience many things she had been unable to previously. Vahn was a kind boy that was very considerate of others, so she felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him.As he hadn't done so previously, Vahn placed his palm against Terra's back and began replenishing her energy as a gentle laughter cut through the wind. He could tell that Terra was enjoying this experience and it made him happy to see her in high spirits. She couldn't really speak during flight since she didn't have the 'telekinetic' abilities of Fafnir, but her laughter would occasionally reach his ears. Vahn had been worried that she would have been the type to never leave the Manor, but it seemed like this was an unnecessary concern and she appeared to be very curious and fond of traveling.After topping off Terra's energy, Vahn was feeling especially tired and decided it would be a good opportunity to take a nap since it would take them around three hours to reach their destination. Though her back wasn't that wide, only around 3m, her overall length reached 14m and there was a nice and plush area between her wings that made for a comfortable bed. He might fall off if she performed any aerial maneuvers, but it wouldn't be a problem to rest during casual flight. Vahn stroked Terra's back and said, "I'm going to take a nap...I'll leave it to you, Terra." Though she couldn't hear him either, Terra was able to understand Vahn's words through their connection so she tilted her head to the side. Vahn could see an understanding contained in her sky-blue eyes as well as a glimmer he didn't quite understand before she turned back to the front.Vahn laid back in the 'grass-like' feathers on Terra's back and snuggled up with Fenrir who used his body as her own bedding. She seemed to enjoy the feeling of the air through her fur, so Vahn had laid with his head toward Terra's so that he wouldn't get air running up his nose unexpectedly. To make things easier for Fenrir, since she was holding him somewhat awkwardly, Vahn transformed into a Vanargandr. As she had done so many times in the past, Fenrir seemed to get very happy in an instant as she began rubbing her head and face against him in an affectionate manner while digging her claws into his sides. As he had grown accustomed to 'small' pains, Vahn didn't mind it too much and quickly relaxed his mind to enjoy a nice rest. The fragrance from Terra's body helped him calm down a great deal and it wasn't long before he had drifted off into unconsciousness.---By the time Vahn had awoken, it had been around three hours and twenty minutes, slightly longer than he expected by not really a cause for concern. HIs body felt incredibly refreshed and there was a warm and numb sensation in his body that made him want to stretch out and continue sleeping. Resisting the urge, Vahn sat up and stirred Fenrir who had surprisingly continued sleeping even though she didn't actually require rest. There was a massive wet stain on his tunic and Vahn was very grateful that her saliva was inert when it was outside of her mouth. If it had the same 'dissolving' effect as it did after passing the barrier of her teeth, Vahn would have had a hole in his chest the size of a large crystal ball.Fenrir opened her sleepy eyes and released a long yawn that caused her mouth to stretch a little too far compared to normal. Vahn always felt a little 'nervous' seeing how her jaw could 'magically' contort like that since it defied logic quite a bit. Looking around, he could see that Terra had flown into the center of a small village and there were a few farmers with pitchforks and spears surrounding them as the majority of the other residents had hidden within their homes. Terra didn't seem too concerned and simply laughed as she said, "It seems like I'm not very welcome here, Master~." Vahn chuckled and stroked Terra's back as he said, "People have an instinctual fear of things they don't understand, so don't let it bother you."Vahn could tell that the strongest person within his domain was only Level 2 and he was nothing more than a middle-aged human that seemed to be entering his twilight years relatively soon. This was the main reason Terra wasn't concerned since there was no way anyone in this area would be able to damage her at all, unless they managed to get lucky and hit her eyes, and Vahn himself would surely protect her. Her trust in him was already quite high and she was curious to see how he would deal with the hatred between the people on the surface and the monsters that roamed the world. After all, not every monster was a mindless creature and there was a number, like her past self, that simply wished to live in peace.So that things didn't escalate too far, Vahn jumped off Terra's back and had her return to her human form while also equipping her robe at the same time. Since she always produced a radiant light during her transformation, she was able to change her clothing at the same time without exposing herself. Seeing the sudden appearance of a beautiful girl confused the relatively simple farmers, but her wings undoubtedly showed that she was still a 'monster'. The only thing that had been preventing them from trying to fight her off was the 'aura' she had as a True Dragon and the calming aroma that had strangely permeated through the air making them somewhat absentminded.Vahn looked toward the middle-aged man with a receding hairline, thick eyebrows, and a greying beard and said, "My name is Vahn Mason, Sage Aldrnari and Captain of the Hestia Familia. I have come at the request of the Guild to investigate the monster attacks in this region. Are you the Village Chief of this village?" As he had spoken in a loud and firm tone, many people calmed down greatly including the middle-aged man who released a sigh of relief. Even in the countryside, many people had heard of the famous Sage Aldrnari and seeing how youthful Vahn was affirmed the rumors many people had heard. It was well known that he had tamed a dragon, but many people thought it was a giant black dragon and not a green one that was able to turn into a beautiful woman. The Village Chief wanted to make a comment about this but decided against it since it was much better to see a beauty than it was to be suppressed by a giant black dragon.Stepping forward, the man nodded his head and said, "Names Graft Reisfeld, Village Chief of Luka Village. Your reputation precedes you, Sage Aldrnari, and its a great relief knowing that someone of such fame has come to our aide during these trying times..." Vahn smiled politely and said, "Please, just call me Vahn. Though I have no aversion toward being called Sage Aldrnari, it's a bit of a mouthful...ahahaha." Because he was a young boy who wielded great power and authority, it was surprising to many how amiable Vahn acted. He seemed more like a normal boy than someone that was rumored to be one of the strongest up-and-coming Adventurers in the entire continent.After introductions were carried out, Vahn was invited by Graft into his residence where he was briefed more about the situation in the surrounding areas. There had been several incidents of livestock disappearing recently while many small children had gone missing. Thus far, there haven't been any signs of actual monster attacks and they had already dispatched search parties into the forest with skilled hunters in search of the missing children. The earliest incident was eight days ago while the most recent had taken place just a single day prior. There was still hope that the children would still be alive, but it wasn't that likely.When Vahn learned that children had been going missing, a cold sensation passed through his mind and he had an urge to begin his search immediately. Unfortunately, even after several people had gone to investigate, there had been no signs of monster nests in the area and even skilled trackers had failed to find tracks. It was almost like the animals and children were simply disappearing spontaneously and without reason. However, there 'had' to be a reason behind the disappearances and they needed to discover what was going on before things got even more out of hand. The official commission was just to investigate, but there were extra rewards arranged if a solution could be found. Though unlikely, there would be additional rewards for the safe return of the missing children as well.Vahn listened to all the details before asking in a plain tone, "The most recent child, where were they last seen? If I can inspect the area, I may be able to discover something..." Graft nodded his head and said, "It was Martha and Jakob's kid, Benny. Poor lass already lost 'er eldest to pox and now 'er little one has gone missing...I'll show you the area, Vahn, so please find that kid 'n bring 'im back home." After seeing how amicable Vahn was, Graft had dropped his polite pretense and had opened up a bit after 'venting' his frustrations by explaining the situation. He was actually a member of the Demeter Familia, so he had a lot of expectations that Vahn would be able to find a solution. It was rumored he had been able to track down two women that got kidnapped in a very short period of time, so his hope had been rekindled a fair amount.Graft showed Vahn to a large apple tree that had small leaves and tiny buds beginning to grow, a sure sign that spring was approaching. When they reached the area, Graft palmed against the tree and said, "Martha said Benny was playin' around this tree before 'e suddenly up 'n vanished. We sent Barnes, the village huntsman, to try 'n track 'em but even his old dog wasn' able to pick up the trail." Vahn nodded his head and began to inspect the area with his [Eyes of Truth], paying attention to small marks and any signs of struggle and violence. It was very obvious that this area was played in very often since the ground had been scuffed about and displaced over a long period of time. However, other than some fresh initials carved into the tree that seemed to be a few days old, Vahn couldn't see anything that pointed toward how Benny had disappeared.Fortunately, Vahn had a reliable little tracker with him as Fenrir scrunched up her nose and said, "Fenrir can smell blood..." Vahn felt like sighing, since blood wasn't a good sign, but kept his calm as he asked, "Can you track it?" Graft had been very surprised by the small 'werewolf' girl's claim but he was even more surprised when she said, "Fenrir can track it...but it isn't normal? All over the place, mixed with other scents..." Fenrir tilted her head up and sniffed the air several times before pointing toward the sky. Though Graft seemed to be confused, Vahn immediately understood what Fenrir was trying to convey and several missing pieces of the puzzle fell into place. He really did release a sigh this time before saying, "The other smell...is it like a bird?"Graft seemed to understand Vahn's implication and a serious and solemn expression appeared on his face as he looked toward one of the nearby huts. When he saw Fenrir nod, any hope he had for Benny's survival vanished entirely as feelings of indignation welled up inside of him. Vahn was also angered by the situation but remained focused as he turned to Graft and asked, "The animals that went missing, what was the largest?" Graft released a sigh and said, "Other than a few goats, the largest was a small calf that'd been born about a month ago..." A calf could weigh between 35-50kg after about a month which meant that whatever was snatching them up should be a medium-sized predator since it only targetted small livestock and children. The fact that incidents had been happening in multiple areas, without any sign of the attacks, showed that it had a wide flight path and was potentially just a singular creature...Vahn pulled out a series of feathers from his inventory after consulting the compendium and purchasing materials from the shop. Fenrir didn't even go through all of them before she reached out to a light brown feather with dark speckles and white stripes. A small amount of hope rose up in Vahn's body, though not much, as he held up the feather and said, "Fenrir picked up the scent of a Griffin. Considering the size and weight of the victims, it's probably around two years old, likely still a juvenile. I imagine it migrated here from the mountains to escape the chill of winter and recently started hunting in the area..." Graft rubbed his temples in frustration because even a young Griffin was at the very least a Level 2 monster. Unlike the monsters in the Dungeon, there were a few creatures on the surface that reproduced normally, Griffins included, and they were well known in the northern regions.Seeing the frustration on Graff's face, Vahn rolled the feather between his fingers before a sense of urgency welled up inside of him as he said, "Griffins don't always hunt just when they are hungry. They like to capture prey and take it back to their nest, so there is a chance that we'll be able to at least save the recent victims. I should be able to track it back to its nest and...at the very least, bring back its head for a bit of closure." Graft nodded his head with a firm expression as he said, "Aye, I'll trust it to you, Vahn. String that bastard up fer us..." As a natural born monster, hatched from an egg, Griffins wouldn't vanish after being killed and they didn't even have a 'normal' magic core in their body. They were closer to 'animals' than actual monsters, so Vahn could even bring back the entire body and turn it over to the village if he chose.Vahn somewhat regretted his leisurely pace flying out to the village but he didn't have time to think about things like that as he called Fafnir. Graft fell onto his butt when Fafnir's head peeked up out of the ground before emerging completely from the shadows. He realized that the rumors of Vahn having a giant black dragon weren't exaggerated at all and he could tell it was much stronger than the 'elegant' green dragon that had turned into a beautiful woman. Graft couldn't rationalize how a young boy was able to have so many powerful creatures at his command when most people, at least amongst the rare few that had the [Tamer] Development Ability, were fortunate to have just one.Terra showed a small smile on her face before climbing onto the back of Fafnir with Vahn and Fenrir. She would have liked to have Vahn ride her, but understood now wasn't the time to harbor selfish intentions as speed was important. At least she had the opportunity to experience something new as she took the opportunity to sit next to Vahn since Fenrir was always close to him. She rationalized that it was fine for her to do so as well since she was also one of Vahn's subordinates. Vahn had given her a curious look at first but shook his head slightly moments later before saying, "Fafnir, we need to find the nest of a Griffin in the area. Look for any large rocky outcrops or flat plateaus in the region. It shouldn't be more than 500km away, and it's likely within the forests..."Fafnir spread its somewhat small wing, at least proportional to its body, as it shot up into the air with a terrifying momentum that caused Graft to roll back several meters. Even so, he didn't offer up any sound of a complaint as he watched Fafnir disappear toward the horizon and become a small dot mere seconds after departing. He then stood up on his feet and dusted himself off before looking back toward the hut from earlier with a solemn expression and shaking his head. He could tell Vahn was being truthful, but he also noticed that the boy himself didn't seem to truly believe his words. Even if Benny had survived being captured, the fact there were traces of blood in the air showed that he had sustained injuries. It had been more than twenty hours since they disappeared, so the boy would have likely bled out long ago...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Calming Aroma','Fenrir's nose &gt; Doggo's nose','RIP Benny...')https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 516: Griffin