Chapter 20: Aftermath (2)
Dark memories of other chains flickered in the Fenrir's memory. Askeladd's face quickly darkened with a fierce expression of pain and anguish. His hard, masculine lips curled into a nasty grin. Dangerous and evil fangs were exposed. A low, vicious growl flooded the claustrophobic confines of the stifling cave.
However, the wolf's hardships had not ended, they had only begun.
"I apologize beforehand." The witch's words of apology traveled to him. The Fenrir's ears twitched, but it was the only sign that he had heard the old woman's words.
Askeladd nodded stiffly and I look forward to the next events. It was the fenrir's first time to take such punishment, but he had been the dictator of hundreds of other orders and trials. As Lord of Kanan, one of the seven Forest Inherits, it was the Fenrir's job to enforce the laws of his domain, as well as those of the Emperor of the Forest.
The witch approached him, a strange serious and grim expression straining the old woman's features, so strange in the old unlined face that, for a second, the wolf's thoughts stopped and watched the old woman intently. It was the first display of weakness that he had obtained from the old woman.
"I just hope this doesn't make you freak out," Melida grunted through her teeth.
"Worried about me? How commendable of you, witch. " The corners of the wolf's lips rose in derision.
"The world is not prepared to contain you."
"I'm not going to lose my mind, Witch." And lose yourself dancing around the strange human that fate threw on her lap? Not in this life. "So activate the curse at once."
"You seem certain of it, Fenrir." The witch's eyebrows rose, but her hands began to move as she bent over the cursed sigil carved into the rocky bed of the little cave. "Any specific reason?"
A mysterious smile full of hidden meanings curved the Fenrir's lips into a smile. However, he did not reply. The witch narrowed her eyes, but she obediently deflected a pulse of mana in the direction of the magic construction. The cursed sigil burned with a brilliant purple light and the smile quickly died.
Powerful muscles tensed like hemp ropes under the monster's coppery skin as a swirl of darkness sucked into Askeladd's psyche and the worst moment of his entire life danced before his blank eyes.
"Hold it tight. Even restrained the Destroyer is dangerous." The Oracle guards screamed and even if Askeladd's heart was strong and fierce at that time and place, he was just a newborn cub.
Askeladd growled, but his growl despite his ferocity did not impress his captors. Thick chains were tied to the young limbs, his puppy-like body jerking to free himself from the bundle.
However, it was of no use to him. Against the strength of Spirits as ancient as the guardians of the Oracle, his power was still too poor. Chains enchanted with Suppressor spells limited and restricted his power.
"Hmph. That should be enough, now bring him." The newborn Fenrir cub was dragged away by tethering him. His claws cut deep grooves in the stone. The cub's pair of eyes glittered with liquid fury. He then was thrown into the cold and gloomy depths of an abyss. From his frozen prison, Askeladd could only curse the world and plunge into cold, destructive fury.
The witch watched the monster calmly. Her voice was soft and low when she spoke. "I hope you are right, Askeladd." Melida exhaled a heavy sigh seeing the monster's blank eyes. "I hope so."
Neither she nor the Emperor of the Forest wanted to have to deal with the consequences of the awakening of the Herald of Destruction, of the being that will break the balance and tear the world apart.
Melida stayed for a few more heartbeats, then turned on her heel and walked outside.
While the witch stood guard at the roots of the great Millennial Oak. Askeladd was dealing with the effects of the curse. Lightning bolts of pain erupted, causing goosebumps and cold sweats to soak through his skin. Askeladd growled viciously in reality, the forest animals storming away from the oak tree under the watchful eye of the witch.
"You weren't supposed to give yourself away, you idiot wolf." Melida looked inside, how many idiots would challenge Fenrir for the position of Lord of Cannan once news of the punishment spread? How many would survive? The old woman sighed again, while she complained inside her that she was too old for this.
Askeladd, Lord of Cannan and one of the main powers of the Forest, pulled on both the mental and physical chains that bound him to that eternal prison, completely unaware of having been branded an idiot.
Chills of dread and rage rose from his feet to his ears, but his rigid body didn't move. The monster's fierce eyes stared blindly at the ceiling of the cave. Lips drew in a savage grin and fangs threatening a faceless foe. The past and the meanings of him smothering him with the weight of it.
At some point in the repetitive vision, he began to lose control, he could feel the chains that held the madness of his inheritance snap open one by one. Had he overestimated himself? Overestimating the influence and equanimity that the appearance of his mate had brought to his mind? Maybe. He wasn't entirely sure.
Just when he thought he would go mad, soft, delicate touch with the fragrance of life, he swept through his mind like a deluge over a forest fire. Instantly the pressure eased, a ray of clarity tore through the wolf's mind, knocking the darkness away. And Askeladd remembered that he was free and that he had been free for millennia, from the moment a witch girl had set him free.