The King's Men

"You can talk?" Rei looked at the white wolf in awe.

The wolf didn't answer and resumed the walking. Rei followed behind.

"Where are we going?"

No answer.

"Why do you save me?"

The wolf pretended to be deaf.

"Do you know who the king is?"

Rei kept on nagging, but was ignored. Rei growing impatient.

"What's your name then?"

"Can you shut it? I'm Delan."

"Delan? Are you a deity?"

The wolf Delan did not answer so many questions afterwards and resumed on walking towards their destination. Rei who already drained with the long track decided to save his energy and shut his mouth. His face flushed and sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Can't I get on your back? This is too much for a warlock."

Delan stopped on his track and turned.

"Sure."

The wolf that was around his thigh before suddenly growing big. Its standing height now reached the trees. Rei gapped in awe and infuriate all at once.

"If you could shifting your size that easy, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Rei complained. He pointed to himself who was drenched in sweats.

"Walking is good for your physique."

Rei couldn't answer to that. The gigantic wolf then sat on its four legs, waiting Rei to amount on his back. Rei calmed his temper and climbed the smooth white fur vigorously. Delan waiting patiently until Rei sat on his back.

"Are you ready?" It asked.

Rei looked like a little bird on the wolf's back. He hugged its neck.

"Let's go!"

Delan jumped into the sky, and a light blue flame was seen on his four legs.

"You can even fly!" Rei shouted exasperatedly.

"I never said I can't."

Again, Rei couldn't retorted back. He decided to shut his mouth. The breeze and the smooth fur lullabied Rei into a deep slumber.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw two people, a teenager and young man, standing face to face. Rei couldn't see the face clearly. They looked like arguing something heatedly. He couldn't catch what they argue about.

The young man suddenly turned his head and directed his gaze towards Rei. Even though Rei couldn't see the expression, the man looked like he was hesitated for a while. Then the man unclenched his fist.

The man left the scene, leaving the teenager bowing his head. Rei approached the boy. He wanted to comforted the boy. But just as his fingers graze his face, the body was broken into million butterflies. Rey fell down. He watched the shimmering butterflies flied around him.

"Wake up!" Rei slowly opened his eyes. He was asleep while hugging the wolf's neck. Its body size already changed into normal.

"We already arrived?" Rei asked groggily.

"What do you mean arrived? You nearly dropped down my back, there!"

"Ah, yes. I fell asleep."

Rei looked around. Sun set glistened from afar. Giving a reddish hues around the cave.

"Tonight we'll have a rest here."

"It would get dark in a while. I should make a fire." Rei then remembered that he was a sorcerer. He focused his mind and creating a black flame on his hand.

"Do you plan to burn this cave? Why the black flame?"

Rei rolled his eyes. He concentrated again and created a small blue flame.

"See, I literally can create anything as long as I focused my mind on!"

The wolf ignored Rei and lied in front of the cave entrance.

"Sleep. Tomorrow we should depart early in the morning."

But Rei cannot sleep.

His gaze on the sleeping wolf. Its body rhythmically move up and down along with its stable breath. He stared at it for awhile.

"What are you looking at?" The wolf slowly opened its light blue eyes. The sharp gaze penetrated through Rei's.

"You are one that don't like talking, I see." Rei approached the wolf. The light blue flame floating near the wall of the cave. It creates shadow of the both creatures within the cave.

"Wolf cannot talk."

"But, you can."

"Then, one question."

Rei thinking for awhile.

"Said it within 5 minutes, or I'll not answering anything."

There were so many questions in his minds, but he could only ask one? Wait, what should he ask first.

"Then, are you a friend or a foe?" Rei hurriedly asked.

"All this time, and you still asking this?"

"Of course! I don't know your motives. And if I remembered correctly, I don't even have any memories about you. You are getting suspicious here."

The wolf shook his head in annoyance.

"I am one of the king's men."

++++

In the depth of the blue see, Rei looked up. Alden smiled his usual sincere smile and mouthing something. But even within the silent ocean, Rei could hear his voice loud and clear.

"I will never leave you."

With that promise said, Rei sighed in relief. He slowly closed his eyes.

"You'd better come back soon and find me, Alden."

*****