Chapter 3:The Wind Mage And The Warlord

Her body landed on something hard and rough that dug into the ribs of Lili when the Dire Bear had finally dropped her from its jaws.

Lili finds herself laying on skulls and bones of humans remains that all fell victim of the same large beast that had dragged her all the way here.

In this dark strange cave.

Lili sits up straight her back was hurting her from where she was dropped by the Dire Bear that has left the dark cave leaving Lili on her own in a cave that was hard to see what was in front of her but can see her surroundings where full of humans skulls and bones.

Looking around the dark cave Lili begins to worry not for her life.

But for the Mage she came here to look for.

She starts to wonder what if any of these human bones belonged to the Mage she was looking for.

How could she explain this to his son who is already worried sick for his father.

Poor Terrwyn being told that his father Maxen was eating alive by a Dire Bear.

Another thought pops in her head.

What about Neifion Dacus he is also out there in Y Forest Marwol alone most likely looking for her and with that Dire Bear hunting for him also.

' Madam are you okay '.

Lili jumps out of her skin by sudden someone calling her name in this cave.

She turns to see that Bonheddig was hiding behind a wall that turned and lead to nothing but pure darkness.

His clothes where ripped in tiny holes.

His skin was dirty and even his umbrella was now ruined by having many holes.

Searching for her in this dark human skull infested cave was not nice to Bonheddig at all.

' Bonheddig how did you find me. Is Neifion with you '.

Bonheddig slowly moves away from his hiding spot and slowly approached Lili.

He climbs up the small made mountain made completely out of human skulls and bones and helps Lili down back to the ground of the dark cave.

' He was not too far behind me. When I chased after that Bear to rescue you '.

Bonheddig looks all over around Lili to see if it was any deep cuts on her that's needs medical treatment.

To his relive there was none.

So instead Bonheddig wipes the dirt of Lili's clothes.

With his umbrella over his shoulder Bonheddig starts to look around the cave for hoping to find a quick way out.

' Madam. The best plan for escape. Is to go where I came from. It's long and very dark. But it's safe and away from the Dire Bear. '

Bonheddig points the direction with his ruined umbrella.

Lili turns to see where Bonheddig was pointing at.

And saw the dark opening from where Bonheddig had indeed came from.

She can hear the wind coming from the outside.

So maybe going in that direction was indeed the best idea.

But before moving along with the plan Lili looks at Bonheddig.

Moving her finger towards her belt and slightly touching a open gap on her belt where a card is supposed to be.

Bonheddig card.

' Madam can I ask what you are doing '.

Bonheddig asked calmly.

' Sorry Bonheddig. But I don't want you in anymore danger that you are already in. You could get killed by that Dire Bear. I will never forgive myself. So I am sending you back '.

Bonheddig was about to say something.

But before he could open his lips.

A bright golden light filled the dark cave.

And where he once was. Is now a floating blue Cardiau Gwysio.

It flew towards Lili and she caught it between her fingers and puts it back in her belt.

The sounds of the heavy paws of the Dire Bear echoes through the cave.

When it's heavy feet crushed the skulls of what was once a normal human being.

The beast have returned and it was hungry for Lili Hughes.

The Dire Bear looked at Lili directly into her eyes with its one eye.

The bear licks it's long teeth with its tongue.

Lili takes a careful step back.

Making sure she does not lose any eye contact of the beast because if she does she is dead and will be joining with the rest of the hundreds of skulls.

The Dire Bear was playing with Lili it was just watching not moving but just keeping that one eye on her.

Waiting for her to run for her life.

Another loud echo was heard from inside the cave.

But this time it don't not come from the bears large paws.

But from someone calling Lili's name.

Lili's face had light up the echo she heard was coming from Neifion.

He has found the cave and was now searching for her.

But from the sounds of the echo Neifion was still many ways from her current location.

Neifion's calls did distract the Dire Bear.

The beast turns its massive head away from Lili and towards the echoes.

Lili makes a few more fast steps towards the dark path and was about to make a run for it while the Dire Bear was still distracted from the calls coming from Neifion.

But Lili stays where she was and starts to think to herself.

If she leaves now.

Neifion Dacus will be on his own lost inside this death cave and to fight this Dire Bear.

So Lili had changed her mind and stayed where she was.

She turned towards the Dire Bear coming up with a new plan.

The Dire Bear looked away from the sounds of the echo and turned its attention back towards Lili.

It noticed Lili had moved further away.

So it creeps forward towards her.

One of its paws crushed a human skull to dust.

But Lili remains where she stood and lightly moves her fingers to her belt till he feels one of her Cardiau Gwysio in her finger tips.

' If you think. I will become your lunch without putting up a fight. You have another thing coming'.

Lili shouts towards the beast.

And quickly holds up on of her Cardiau Gwysio.

She slightly moves her hair away from her right eye.

That had started to glow.

Her key shaped eye glow lights up the cave like a torch.

The card she held up was like any other of her Cardiau Gwysio it was blue.

But this one had a golden hammer printed on it.

' Warlord!'.

Lili shouts and throws her Cardiau Gwysio.

A bright golden light shines over the cave blinding both Lili and the Dire Bear.

Once the light was gone.

A new large figure stood between Lili and the Dire Bear.

He was a giant of a man.

He had a wild long dark beard and hair.

He wore all heavy fur clothing to his thick coat boots gloves and trousers.

And his hammer was pure silver down to the handle.

It was thick and wide.

Taller than Lili and Neifion combined.

And he held his hammer with only just one large hand.

' A Dire Bear huh. I haven't seen one of these for many years '.

His voice was deep.

And he swings his mighty warhammer over his large shoulder.

' Warlord. You know what to do '.

Lili called from behind Warlord.

Warlord nods his heads keeping his eyes on the beast.

Seeing the sudden new threat the Dire Bear roared up to its two feet and dashed towards Warlord.

Warlord grins when the beast charged towards him.

The Dire Bear and Warlord collided together.

The Dire Bear went up to its two feet and goes down with its mighty claws.

Warlord blocks the claws with his warhammer.

The beast attacks again with its second claw paw but it only meets the metal handle of the Warlords Warhammer.

A strong gust of wind brushes back Warlords hair and beard.

Warlord looks behind the Dire Bear while making sure it's massive claws don't go past his warhammer and cut him in two.

From behind the Dire Bear Neifion Dacus comes flying in on top of Sky like a surfer who grew its size enough for Neifion to ride the red kite bird.

Neifion and Sky flew between the Dire Bear and Warlord breaking up the short fight.

The beast and Warlord jumps away from each other to safe distance.

While Neifion jumps of from a top of Sky and landed in front of Lili with Sky now in normal size resting on his shoulder.

' Hey there. Sorry if I am late '.

Neifion gives Lili a thumbs up followed by a side grin.

' Neifion you came. I knew the light will guild you here '.

Lili said with a lot of joy in her voice.

' Yeah good call. On summing one of your Cardiau Gwysio. It did really help me find you '.

Neifion turns to look over his shoulder to face the massive Dire Bear.

Warlord was making sure the beast does not charge towards Neifion and Lili.

' And on the look on that Dire Bear. It seemed me and Sky came just in time '.

' Yeah you found me as soon. It was dinner time '.

Lili replied.

Once again the dark heavy scars one eye Dire Bear roared its monstrous war cry.

Stomps its large front feet to the ground smashing many skulls doing so and charged forward.

Catching Warlord by surprise.

When Warlord thought the large beast was coming only for him.

He was shocked when the one eyed beast completely ignored Warlord and ran past him.

Warlord had already had his warhammer up for defence when he noticed the beast was not coming for him.

The Dire Bear charged towards Lili and Neifion.

' Lili watch out!'.

Warlord shouted the warning.

Neifion turns to face Lili after seeing the beast run towards the two.

' Okay stand back '.

Neifion gently pushes Lili to the side with his arm to a safe distance.

And brings up his right knee to his stomach and with both of his hands he began to move them very quickly around his right knee and leg.

His hands moved faster by the second.

And surrounding his knee and legs from Lili's eyes looked like a mini tornado on Neifion's right leg.

The Dire Bear roared once it was up close to Neifion and it was ready to strike the male down with one massive slash with it's claws.

But Neifion had jumped just in time in great height and delivers a strong powerful spinning back kick with his tornado made leg.

Connecting to the jaw of the Dire Bear.

The force of the kick was strong enough to send the beast flying of its feet.

The Dire Bear crashed hard back first to a hard wall then slowly crashed to the floor.

While Neifion lands swiftly back to his feet.

' If you did anything to Maxen ! '.

Neifion Dacus shouted after seeing so many skulls of lost humans surrounding him inside the dark cave.

The Dire Bear slowly gets back up to its four legs and shakes off the last attack.

Seeing that the bear was not ready to give up just yet.

Neifion once again brings up his right knee.

The Dire Bear looks at Neifion with its one eye.

And Neifion stares back focused.

The beast makes a deep growling noise.

And suddenly it's claws and teeth grew ten times it's normal size.

The Dire charged towards Neifion on all fours being now a lot faster then it was moments ago.

The beast was quickly on the offensive.

It stood on two feet and goes down with its dangerous claws that could rip a human in fours.

Neifion Dacus was able to get away from the bears claws by jumping back a second faster.

The bear got close quickly with more of its attacks.

Neifion sidestepped away left and right not wanting to go any where near those claws from the Dire Bear.

Neifion ducked low from another claw delivered by the Dire Bear.

The dark fur of the Dire Bear slightly touching the white hair of Neifion.

Next the beast opens it's wide strong jaws to open it's mouth.

And plans on ripping Neifion Dacus head of his shoulders.

Neifion saw the attack coming and rolls backwards away from the sharp teeth of the Dire Bear.

In the end the beast found nothing but dirt from where Neifion was once standing.

Neifion quickly rolls back to his feet.

' Warlord is there anything you can do to help '.

Lili called seeing that Warlord was just standing there with his large warhammer.

Watching the fight between Neifion Dacus and the Dire Bear.

' I will not join in the fight. Lili. I will just slow your friend down. If I swing my hammer I will hit the both of them and hurt Neifion as well of the Dire Bear. '

Warlord replied.

Lili could do nothing to help but watch in horror when the Dire Bear quickly goes up to its both feet and used two of its claws at the same time.

But what shocked Lili the most was that Neifion Dacus stood where he was.

And blocked the Dire Bears mighty claws with nothing but his bare arms crossways.

Neifion was able to get a firm hold on the paws of the Dire Bear.

With its claws just missing his skin and was inches away from his eyes.

But the strength of the bear kept Neifion down to one knee.

' Close call '.

Neifion kept a firm hold onto the bear making sure it's claws don't rip him in two in front of Lili.

The Beast struggled to break free from the grip of Neifion and rip him to pieces.

Lili could not believe her eyes.

Neifion was actually overpowering the giant bear.

And once seeing a opening Neifion delivers a strong knee to the stomach of the Dire Bear.

Bear cried in pain when it slowly steps back from Neifion.

From under his sleeveless hooded jacket.

Lili saw something glow on Neifion.

With a closer look Lili saw it was his tattoo on his upper body.

His eyes also starts to glow in bright white colour.

And his hair moves slightly back as if a wind was pushing it back.

' I call this. The Aero Power Strike '.

Neifion clenched his right fist tight till his knuckles had turned white.

A small but powerful wind starts to form around Neifion right fist.

Till it formed a mini version of a tornado around Neifion right hand.

Before the beast could heal Neifion dashed towards the Dire Bear.

Delivers a powerful right jab clean to the face of the Dire Bear.

The bear spins multiple times in mid air before it was flown across the floor crashing hard on the bones and skulls being completely out cold.

The force on the rough landing of the Dire bear when it hits the floor was strong.

The whole cave shook.

With many bones and skulls moving out of place.

And hidden in many bones of dead humans.

Was a person all battered full of black and blues bruises and deep cuts.

The person was a bald man with a light beard.

His face was cut badly with many deep cuts.

So his face was mostly covered in his own blood.

He wore a long grey cape that had many rips and holes.

He wore a dark shirt and grey bottoms.

Neifion rushed towards the down person.

Sky was not far behind Neifion when he slid down to the person who needed aid and fast.

' Its Maxen. He's alive '.

Lili runs to Maxens aid. Once Neifion called out Maxen names.

' We need to get him out of here and find help and fast '.

Lili said after seeing the poor condition of Maxen.

' I will carry him '.

It was Warlord who approached Lili and Neifion.

He goes down to knee level and carefully picks up Maxen in both of his large arms.

' Thank you big guy '.

Neifion Dacus said when the three stood back up at the same time.

' Any friend of Lili is a friend of mine '.

In Warlords arms.

Maxen eyes slowly opens when he had the strength to wake up.

' Hey Neifion. How are you buddy. How long was I out? '

Maxen was awake but he was extremely weak.

And he spoke in a nearly a whisper.

' Don't you worry buddy. We will get you home. In no time '.

Neifion replied.

' It was my fault. Terrwyn is most likely scared because of me. I came here chasing after that Dire Bear. Thinking it was the only one. But once I got into this cave. Nine more of these beast where waiting for me. At least I got that bastards eye. '

Maxen smiled weakly before closing his eyes once more.

And began to rest in the arms of Warlord while he carried him.

' There where nine more of those Dire Bears inside this cave '.

Lili said from under her teeth.

While following Neifion and Warlord out of the Cave and back to the forest.

It was night time.

And Terrwyn sat outside of his home.

Waiting for him his father.

A figure seconds later stood before him.

His eyes lights up when he looked up to see the figure was his father.

Maxen smiled at his son.

He had a walking stick to help him stand and he was covered mostly in bandages.

But all he cared about that he was home to his kid.

' Hey kid sorry I was late '.

Terrwyn eyes starts to tear up.

When he was looking at his father who smiled down to him.

Terrwyn jumps up and embraced his father.

Terrwyn cries was heard even though he buried his face in his father's shirt.

' Hey Terrwyn. It's alright. Everything is going to be alright '.

Maxen puts one arm around his son.

And he too hugged his son.

From the distance Neifion and Lili watched the father and son reunion.