A/N : Before you start reading this new chapter, I have some things to tell you beforehand :
-First of all, thank you for favoring and/or following my story so far !
-Secondly, if you don't like my story then don't read it !
-Thirdly, I'm still hesitating on the future pairings but one thing is clear = Salem will not be in a relationship with Summer beyond friendship !
Now that everything was said, I wish you all a good reading everyone !
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The sun slowly rose in the sky as dawn replaced night, its warm rays casting a golden hue upon the village of Malon and bringing a sense of renewal and hope upon everything it touched.
The morning mist was still present in the air, cloaking the elven village in a mystical atmosphere and the charming sound of the birds' melodious songs echoed across the area, adding in the mystical atmosphere. As the morning light bathed the small river near the village, its rays reflected on its smooth and calm surface, creating mesmerizing reflections mirroring the world above.
Speaking of the village, the tree-buildings stood tall and proud and their majestic silhouettes reflected the very first light of the day. The previously empty area was slowly filling with creatures emerging from their slumber, ready to begin their day. The silence of the night transformed into a livelier tumult, awakening the senses with a mix of lively noises and aromas of leaves and plants... as well as morning dew.
The dawn held the promise of a new day along with many endless possibilities.
As the village became more and more lively, on the east side, a few people were standing there. Among these people, we could recognize familiar faces like the village chief himself, Scalanis, but also Salem, the Queen of Grimm and the silver-eyed huntress, Summer Rose.
Our two heroines had received new clothes because theirs were a little... Well, they were in a pitiful state, we'll say.
Salem got a new dress in the same design than the one she usually wore, but made with the famous silk she and Summer had seen the day before. After she tried it, she was delighted by how smooth it felt on her skins and how thanked her host for the gift. She also received a gorgeous looking sword with a beautiful scabbard and jeweled hilt
Summer, her, was given a dark red tunic which is split at the bottom for movement and the bottom resembles giant leaves, black leather bracers, black leather bodices, medium black tights and a pair of knee high boots. As for weapon, she was given a graceful and gently curved sword. Its blade had a sharp edge, as well as well as what looked like a false sharp edge on the other side of the blade, right below the hilt.
Summer and Salem had thanked their host for the gift and promised to take good care of them, which pleased the Elves to no end.
Speaking of Elves…
Scalanis was wearing an emerald colored robe this time as he stood before the figures of Salem and Summer, his face showing a bit of sadness despite how serious he looked at the moment. At his side was a beautiful Elf Maiden, who looked to be around his twenties, with long brown hair, shining blue eyes, and who was wearing a forest green long dress covered with a veil of a lighter color.
Who was she ?
Her name was Shenarah, and she was the daughter of the Chieftain of Malon, Lord Scalanis.
Salem and Summer had met her the previous day after diner and she left a good impression to the two. Shenarah was kind, compassionate, caring and pretty curious… as she hadn't stopped asking them questions about the Surface. The Queen of Grimm and the Silver-Eyed Huntress had answered her to the best of their abilities.
In return, they got to ask their own questions regarding, not only the Hidden Realm, but the famous King, Ancalagon the Black. Ever since Scalanis told them about him, the two women had been curious about him… and shocked about the fact he was still alive !
Scalanis and Shenarah explained to them that the Black Dragon (another shock for them to hear that the King of this Realm was a living Dragon) was one of the only immortal creatures of the Hidden World. Summer and Salem were shocked to hear that there were immortal beings here and wanted to know about them.
Apparently, Ancalagon was the only Immortal Dragon in existence but apart of him, there was another specie possessing natural immortality : Phoenixes.
Intrigued, the two women had listened with admiration as the Elves described these unknown entities: The Phoenixes were birds of fire with scarlet and golden feathers the size of a swan which had the power to be reborn from their ashes. In this world, and during the ancient one, Phoenixes were and are still seen as the symbol of Immortality, Resurrection and Life.
Summer and Salem, when the tale was finished, were totally speechless, unable to say a word as their minds processed what they just learned. This world was even more fascinating that they originally thought. The Hidden World was filled with incredible beings with great power… and one of those power might be able to help them.
Anyway, once dessert was finished, Scalanis declared that it was time for bed while announcing to Salem and Summer that they would be escorted to the elven city of Lelfalion, where they would meet someone who will help them in reaching the Black Dragon. Scalanis's daughter, Shenarah, volunteered to escort the two and at first, the Chieftain of Malon had refused so in the end, it was another elf, of the same age that Shenarah that would accompany them.
Her name was Alenia and she was also stunningly beautiful : long straight red hair, green eyes, fair skin… She was also one of the guards of the village and had humbly accepted to act as an escort guard for our two heroines.
Summer had asked them why they were carrying weapons if they had magic and the answer she got was both troubling and fascinating : apparently, during those millenniums of peace, some creatures had evolved to become more resistant to magic. Some common animals had also turned magical thanks to a large exposure to magic.
But, those creatures were no immune to artifact blessed with magic such as weapons like swords, arrows, axes and the like. Which was why they were given weapons… to defend themselves in case they encountered… dangerous beasts.
Which bring us back to present…
"Lady Salem and Lady Summer are setting out on the quest of Lelfalion and the Black Guardian..." Scalanis said while looking at the three women in front of him. Shenarah still looked a but upset about the fact she wasn't a part of the expedition but managed to hide it behind a mask of calm.
Salem, Summer and Alenia bowed down at the two, showing their respect.
"Lord Scalanis, thank you for everything you did for us…" the Queen of Grimm began to say before her companion took over by adding with gratitude and respect.
"We will never forget your generosity…"
"I thank you for your kind words..." Scalanis said to them with a bow of his head.
"We wish you a safe return home... and that one day our paths may cross again..." Shenarah added with a gentle smile once her father stopped talking.
"We hope so too..." Salem and Summer answered at the same time while smiling at the elf women.
"We should go now… or else we will miss them..." Alenia commented calmly from her place.
Scalanis and Shenarah glanced at her for a moment before nodding in agreement and understanding while Salem and Summer were confused about their escort's words : what will they miss ? However, they didn't have the time to voice what they had in mind as Scalanis spoke.
"Indeed, you should… May your journey go smoothly and your quest be a success !"
Shenarah told them the same while shooting the group a sad smile. Salem and Summer, seeing it, both promised to find a way to come back if their quest is a success. With that said and done, the trio left the village of Malon, waving one last time at the two.
Soon enough, they were no longer near the village's borders and once again, Salem and Summer found themselves walking through the forest… but this time, they had a different guide. Their little Niffler friend had been forced to stay in the village… all because of a female of his own kind, who somehow belonged to one of the village children.
The goodbyes had been sad but it was for the best : if the little one came with them, he would have to face scientists who would stop at nothing to study him… either for science or for less that good things. And neither Salem nor Summer wanted him to suffer like this for the sick pleasure of twisted people.
But let's get back to present, shall we ?
As the two followed their lovely guide, Alenia, they were both curious about where they were going. No one told them of their destination and Alenia's earlier words still echoed in their heads : 'We should go… or else we will miss them'.
"Where do you think we are going ?" Summer asked her companion while speaking in a low tone as to not attract their guide's attention.
"Honestly ? I don't know… At this point, as long as we find a way to return home, I could care less..." the Queen of Grimm answered with a shrug.
"That's true… but aren't you eager ?" the silver eyed Huntress asked her companion with shining eyes.
"Eager for what ?" Salem asked her companion with an eyebrow raised in confusion.
"To meet the King !" Summer answered her with stars in her eyes.
The Queen of Grimm took a moment to think about her companion's words : she would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't a bit excited at the prospect of meeting the Dragon King himself, but it was not the only reason. While meeting a real living dragon was exciting in itself, it was the prospect of meeting another immortal that intrigued her.
Ancalagon the Black had lived for longer than her… he must have seen a lot. Salem, when she first heard of the Black Dragon and his powers, had secretly hoped that he would be able to grant her a simple request : getting rid of her curse. She had told no one but Scalanis about it and the Chieftain of Malon had said that the Black Dragon might be able to cure her from her plague.
She hoped that he could…
"Salem ?" Summer's concerned voice broke the Queen of Grimm from her thoughts and she turned her red eyes to look at her companion before answering calmly
"To be honest with you Summer, I am as excited as you are about meeting such a powerful individual… huh, dragon…"
Summer giggled a bit at her words before retorting "I wonder how he looks like… Lord Scalanis and Shenarah never gave us any details..."
It was true : while the Elves kept praising and speaking greatly of the King of the Hidden World, no one had given any description of him. Shenarah just told them that they will have to 'wait and see by themselves'. Of course, they tried to pressure her for more details but it was fruitless. In the end, they reluctantly accepted to wait before having their curiosity satisfied.
"Soon enough we will know, I suppose..." Salem replied with a deep sigh before looking over at Alenia who was walking a few feet ahead of them… only to suddenly stop dead on the spot.
"Good, they are still there…" the Elf woman said to herself with satisfaction before looking at the two people behind her, adding
"Before you follow me, you need to be warned : we are going to meet proud creatures and to avoid trouble, you must give them the respect they deserves… Understood ?" Alenia's tone was stern and firm as she looked at the two of them.
Salem and Summer, taken aback by the request, merely nodded their heads in understanding even if they were greatly confused by their escort's words.
"Can we know the reason for this ?" The Queen of Grimm asked the Elf with slightly narrowed eyes.
"If we succeed, we won't have to travel on foot all the way to Lelfalion... but if we fail, not only will we have to travel on foot but we could be injured... or worse..." Alenia explained in a dark tone while looking at them with a serious expression on her face.
Salem and Summer both shivered slightly at the used tone, but they both nodded their heads in understanding. Beside, they were both curious of what creatures they were going to meet.
Satisfied with their answer, Alenia then slowly went through some bushes before disappearing from their sight. Sharing a quick glance, Salem and Summer soon followed after her, before freezing in shock and stupor once they passed through the bushes.
In front of them was a fairly large clearing with ground covered in green grass and surrounded by pine trees. Birds could be seen in the branches of the trees, their lovely songs echoing through the air and giving the already beautiful area even greater beauty.
But that's not what caught the attention of our heroines…
No, what caught their attention were the majestic creatures that stood proudly in the middle of the clearing. There were eight of them and despite their strange appearance, Salem and Summer couldn't help but look at them with admiration.
The creatures had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of a horse, but the front legs, wings, and heads clearly were similar to an Eagle. They had mostly cruel, steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes… but some of them had different eyes color like blue and yellow. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly-looking. The two women shivered a bit at the sight of the claws : clearly, they could do serious damages.
However, soon enough, the shock of seeing a hybrid that was half-horse half-eagle, the two women found themselves entranced by their gleaming coats, changing from feathers to hair. The eight creatures had different colors : one was completely black with orange eyes, two were stormy gray, two had a chestnut-like color, two were pinkish roan and the last one was the most beautiful because it was completely white with blue eyes.
"So beautiful..." Summer couldn't help but commenting with shining silver eyes.
Alenia shot the two an amused look before opening her mouth to explain calmly "Those are Hippogriffs… They are proud and majestic creatures, but they can be easily offended… And I don't think I need to tell you what would happen if you disrespect them..."
At those words, one of the Hippogriffs slammed one of its front legs down, showing its claws to them. Summer nervously gulped while nodding her head in understanding while Salem merely nodded her head with an emotionless expression on her face.
"Now, observe..." Alenia said to the two with a tiny smirk on her face before approaching the creatures.
At the sight of her, some of them started screeching loudly while eying her with distrust and a few could be seen readying their claws. However, the Elf ignored it as she went to stand a few feet in front of a gray Hippogriff.
For a few seconds, nothing happened… until Alenia bowed down at the creature ?!
Blinking in confusion and surprise, Salem and Summer watched in silence as the Hippogriff stared at their escort with its orange eyes… before slowly bowing back at the she-elf, folding its wings back. Needless to say that the eyes of our two heroines widened at that.
Then, they watched in stunned silence as Alenia straightened back before slowly extending a hand toward the Hippogriff's beak. Much to their growing shock, the beast leaned into her touch, allowing her to touch it and soon enough, Alenia was petting its head.
Turning her head to stare the dumbfounded duo, the Elf Guard opened her mouth to explain "Try to do the same thing I did but when you bow, you must eye-contact with them… Fair warning, try not to blink because they will see it as a bad thing..."
Salem and Summer looked at one another, turned their heads to look back at Alenia before nodding their heads in understanding. Then, with one last look at one another, they separated to approach an Hippogriff : Salem headed to the Black one while Summer's eyes were solemnly on the White one.
As the silver eyed Huntress approached the beautiful and majestic creature, the Hippogriff's blue eyes suddenly landed on her : its stare was so intense when their gazes that Summer found herself freezing on the spot. The beast seemed to judge her and internally, Summer couldn't help but feeling afraid. The Hippogriff was making her feeling vulnerable the longer she stared into its eyes. However, the silver eyed Huntress remembered her daughters and a feeling of determination passed through her body.
It was not the time to be afraid : her babies needed her !
Her face, previously showing nothing but fear, soon turned into one of fierce determination as her silver eyes looked straight into the eyes of the Hippogriff before her. Then, like Alenia told her, she bowed respectfully at it while making sure to keep eye-contact. The noble creature stared at her for a few seconds before bowing back at her with a tiny screech, its wings folding back as it bowed.
At the sight of it, Summer let a smile appear on her face as she slowly stood up… just as the Hippogriff did the same. The young woman was about to approach it like Alenia did earlier with the gray beast but, much to her surprise, the White Hippogriff approached her while nudging her with its beak, its blue eyes locked on her.
Slowly and carefully, Summer reached out towards the majestic beast, which made no move to back away or bite her, before touching its head. The silver eyed Huntress marveled at how smooth the feathers felt under her fingers and gently she started petting the magnificent creature who leaned into her touch with a little screech of pleasure.
"Well done, Lady Summer !" Alenia's voice broke her out of her little trance and the Huntress turned her head to see the She-Elf looking at her with a smile.
Salem was also staring at her with shining eyes… while petting the head of the Black Hippogriff. Look like she managed to 'tame' it like the other women did.
"Now, I think its time for the second step !" the Elf added with a smirk.
"The second step ?" Salem and Summer asked at the same time with some dread.
Instead of answering, Alenia gently climbed on the gray Hippogriff's back before settling her legs within the crooks of the beast's wings. Under the wide eyes and gaping mouths of the other two women, the Elf opened her mouth to say "Come on ! Try to ride them !"
Salem and Summer shared a hesitant glance before doing what they were told. Slowly, they climbed onto the backs of their respective Hippogriffs before placing their legs in the crook of their wings like Alenia did. The second she was settled on the White Hippogriff's back, Summer swore that she felt a shiver of what could be described as approval from the majestic creature.
"Now that it is settled, let's go ! But first, one last warning : don't pull on their feathers ! They will not thank you for it later !" Alenia said to them before petting her Hippogriff on the head.
The gray beast let out a screech as it rushed forward before taking off from the ground with a few beats of its wings. Summer and Salem watched her for a moment before doing the same with their own Hippogriffs. Like the gray one, they rushed forward before taking off from the ground.
Summer had her arms wrapped around the White Hippogriff's neck as it ascended the sky, her eyes closed with fear, until the beast under her stopped its ascension, causing her to blink a few times in surprise. Opening her eyes, Summer found herself staring at the beautiful landscape beneath them and she couldn't help but smiling in awe.
"We are flying !" she cried out in joy and happiness and the Hippogriff screeched at those words as if saying 'Of course we are !'
"Marvelous, Lady Summer ! You as well, Lady Salem ! Not many people managed to ride an Hippogriff on the first try !" Alenia said from her right while Salem stood on her left, both of them riding their Hippogriffs.
Summer beamed under the praise and, after a quick look at Salem, she could see that her friend also seemed pleased by it.
"How long until we reach our destination ?" the Queen of Grimm asked the Elf while also enjoying the beautiful scenery given to them due to their perspective.
"A few hours at most !" Alenia answered her with seriousness.
"And how long it would have taken if we went on foot ?" Summer asked her with some dread.
"Four days..." was her answer.
Summer and Salem glanced at one another and internally, they were glad to have managed to tame those beasts. Walking for four more days sounded dreadful… especially in an area where everything was possible.
Shaking her head, the silver eyed Huntress looked at the Hippogriff she was riding before looking back at Alenia
"Alenia ? What are their names ?" she asked the elf while glancing at their feathery mounts
"The one I'm riding is Stormfeather… The one Lady Salem is on, is Shadowheart and the one you are riding is Moonwing...she is a female…" Alenia said back while petting Stormfeather on the head.
"Moonwing..." Summer repeated in a soft tone before adding with a smile
"Its a beautiful name..."
The female Hippogriff screeched at her, as if thanking her for her words and the Huntress petted her on the head before focusing on the road ahead.
Just a few more hours and she will be back home… with her family.
(To be continued…)