CHAPTER 205

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CHAPTER 205

294 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

As Aermir swiftly issued the command to Poe, he wasted no time in leaving his laboratory. With purposeful determination, he took flight, soaring through the skies toward the Temple. Simultaneously, he instructed Erebus to gather a sizable group of individuals from the Temple.

Aermir had harnessed his unique experiments and extensive training to teach other wargs a vital skill: the ability to establish connections with animals without the need for traditional warging. Although these newly trained wargs couldn't communicate as comprehensively as Aermir could, their connections enabled them to share rudimentary images and brief messages. While the technique was far from perfect, it served its purpose admirably for the time being.

Jorah Glover had always been an ambitious warg, pushing the boundaries of his abilities in the hope of attaining greater power. His talent had allowed him to form deep bonds with multiple animals, currently maintaining connections with a wolf, an eagle, and his most recent addition, a formidable brown bear.

The wolf, named Fer, was his first companion on this extraordinary journey. Fer was swift, cunning, and a keen hunter, embodying the essence of the North's untamed wilderness. With Fer by his side, Jorah had learned the nuances of the wild, refining his instincts and tracking skills.

Then came Talon, the majestic eagle. Talon soared high above the Northern skies, providing Jorah with a bird's-eye view of the world below. Through their connection, Jorah had experienced the exhilaration of flight and gained a broader perspective of the land he called home.

But it was his most recent bond, a brown bear named Grizzleclaw, that filled him with both pride and challenge. Grizzleclaw was a symbol of strength and resilience, a force of nature in his own right. The massive bear's power and endurance were unmatched, making him a formidable ally. However, forming a bond with such a creature had not been easy. It had required immense patience and understanding of a bear's nature. Many wargs north of the wall had died while trying to tame a bear. Yet, through unwavering determination, Jorah had achieved what many failed.

Jorah Glover felt a sense of accomplishment in his heart, knowing that he had achieved a level of warging mastery that few could match. Yet, deep within, a sliver of envy lingered. In the presence of their Lord Aermir, his abilities felt like mere party tricks, dwarfed by the incredible power and magical creatures that Aermir commanded.

Aermir's familiars were a testament to his unique connection with the animal kingdom. They were not just ordinary animals; they had been transformed into magical beings, possessing intelligence akin to humans and endowed with mystical abilities. The bonds between Aermir and his familiars ran deep, transcending the natural world.

As Jorah gazed at Fer, Talon, and Grizzleclaw, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever reach the same heights as his Lord. He yearned for the day when he might unlock the secret to transforming one of his bonded animals into a magical creature, bridging the gap between their world and the realm of magic. The desire burned within him, driving him to strive for greater mastery and hoping to unlock the hidden potential of his familiars.

In deep thought, Jorah Glover found his contemplations interrupted as Erebus entered his room. Recognizing Erebus as a messenger, Jorah concentrated, utilizing the new technique Lord Aermir had imparted to them. Gradually, images and words began to form in his mind. Rising from his seat, Jorah sought confirmation.

"Lord Aermir wants me to gather a significant group at the forest's edge for combat, is it?" 

Erebus, growing increasingly frustrated, emitted an irate caw and displayed the message once more. Jorah, feeling embarrassed, scratched the back of his head.

Jorah, realizing his mistake, corrected himself. "Sorry, it is not for fighting."

Erebus, nodding in acknowledgment, continued to communicate through images and words to convey the intended direction.

"So, it's to the southwest?" Jorah asked, seeking confirmation once more.

Erebus nodded once more before flying out of the window. Without any hesitation, Jorah swiftly assembled a group of about 50-60 individuals and led them in the direction indicated. As a warg of the Temple, he possessed the ability to navigate through the forest without the need for roads, ensuring they wouldn't lose their way or face any threats along the misty forest.

As they traversed through the dense forest, the chilling screams of people and the haunting howls of the beasts echoed through the trees. The ordinary individuals following Jorah couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, yet they held unwavering trust in the wargs of the Temple. 

Upon finally emerging from the forest, they were met with a grim sight. About ten people, just a hundred meters away, were desperately fleeing the woodland. However, a horde of wolves and bears burst forth from the forest behind them, seizing most of the unfortunate souls who screamed in terror and got dragged back into the sinister depths of the woods. Only a handful of men were able to leave the woods alive.

...

Aermir's eagle form, with its wings, outstretched, landed gracefully before Gerion, talons clicking softly against the ground. In an instant, he transformed back into his human shape, and the eerie metamorphosis sent a chill down Gerion's spine.

Fear overwhelmed him, and in a panic, Gerion began to crawl backward on the ground, his heart pounding with terror. His initial reaction was one of sheer horror at the sudden appearance of this mysterious figure. He was driven by a primal instinct to escape the presence of someone so otherworldly, but he froze when he realized who was in front of him.

As Druid Emrys, Aermir's presence was enigmatic, and his aura was steeped in nature's mystique. Druid Emrys stood before Gerion in his magnificent, ethereal form. The wooden mask on his face, crafted to resemble an old man, moved as if it were alive, its texture resembling the bark of ancient trees. It shifted and creaked, giving Emrys an otherworldly appearance.

His robes were a testament to his connection with nature. Moss adorned his shoulders, and branches intertwined with the fabric, making him appear as if he were an embodiment of the forest itself. The cloak that trailed behind him was a breathtaking display of colors, crafted from leaves of every hue imaginable, fluttering and rustling as if they whispered secrets of the woods. Green luminescent wisps were flying around him.

Emrys' body was encased in the skin of tree bark, giving him an aura of ancient look. Despite this seemingly rigid exterior, he radiated an ethereal quality, making him both awe-inspiring and mysterious. As he stood there, an enigmatic guardian of the forest, Gerion couldn't help but feel a deep sense of reverence and wonder in the presence of this extraordinary druid.

Aermir observed the survivors with an eerie sense of satisfaction. His plan had unfolded nearly perfectly, with most of Gerion's men meeting a gruesome end in the jaws of the forest's beasts. However, four of them had managed to evade the brutal fate that befell their comrades. Aermir couldn't help but find a curious twist of fate in their survival, as if some divine force were favoring them.

He watched these survivors closely, their faces etched with terror and disbelief. While his original intention had been for them to perish along with the others, their survival was a small deviation that Aermir found strangely satisfying, forever marked by the horrors they had witnessed. Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, it was for the better that they have lived. There would be more mouths that would tell the tale of what happened in the forest, and it would be a better warning for others.