Chapter 44: The man who challenged the gods

The hooded man took the little owl, Olcadan, to a clearing in the forest and left it on the ground. He sat beside it and waited.

When it got dark, the moonlight flooded the clearing and something magical happened.

The animal's little paws started growing and it became human legs. Its wings became arms and its feathers turned into strong muscles.

However, its head, despite of growing in size, stayed looking the same way.

The result was a owl-headed man, who had an injured arm, where the owl had the injury on its wing.

- Olcadan, my old friend. – whispered the hooded man.

They hugged, with not much effusiveness.

- What happened to you? – asked the hooded man, pointing at Olcadan's injury.

- A bloody branch. – complained Olcadan, with a voice that sounded quite like a hoot. – I can be a powerful warrior, but I'm an awful bird.

- So the gods' curse hasn't been lifted yet.

- It's not that bad. – said the owl-man. – In the sunlight, I go unnoticed. In the moonlight, I can attack my enemies in the darkness. This is the poorest curse I've ever heard of.

- Anyway, you shouldn't have challenged the gods.

- You know as well as I do that they didn't curse me for challenging them. They did it because I beated them!

Olcadan was a proud warrior. He even thought that he was most powerful than the gods.

People said that a god turned human for a while to fight against Olcadan with swords…and Olcadan won. The god, furious, transformed him into the creature he was now.

- By the way, Olcadan... – said the hooded man. - …what became of the sword you employed to win?

- Do you mean Soul Calibur?

The hooded man nodded.

- I have no idea. – admitted Olcadan. – That's why you picked me up, right? You insist on finding that two swords.

- You know that's the only way I can…

- I know. Even so, I think you are obsessed.

- If you were me, you would be too.

- If you are so much interested in that sword, that damned god surely hid it somewhere. Go and ask him.

- How can I do that?

- Go to the hill where I beated him and summon him. Hurt his pride. Provoke him and he'll show up.

- I'll do that. – agreed the other man.

The two men didn't say anything for a few seconds.

- Well, I must go. – said the hooded man.

- Yeah, and I have to find something decent to eat before I become an animal again.

- Nice to see you.

- Until we meet again.

They shook hands and left the clearing on different ways.