Chapter 87: Chapter 87 - Wolf And The Girl ( Part 3 )
First rays of morning sun shone through the small opening in the rocky cave.
There was no fire left there.
Only few sparks remained in the ashes.
Jennie slowly opened her eyes.
"... Morning already?"
She wiped off the sleepy feeling from her eyes and stretched her arms upward.
The warmth of the blanket was still there.
She smiled slightly.
For the first time in ages...
She slept peacefully.
No nightmares.
No battles memories.
No dreams of goodbyes.
Only the sound of falling snow.
Jennie looked towards the place where the white wolf had been sleeping.
Her smile gradually disappeared.
The blanket was neatly folded right there.
But there was nobody.
She silently watched the spot.
A slight ache appeared in her chest.
"So... he went?"
Jennie lowered her gaze for a moment and then smiled to herself.
"It’s okay."
"He wasn’t trapped anymore."
"He was free."
Having risen and put her blanket carefully into her travel backpack, Jennie looked at the snowy forest outside the cave.
And then said quietly.
"I hope you are okay."
Her words disappeared in the cold morning air.
After refreshing her face with fresh water from the bamboo bottle which she made herself, Jennie prepared herself a breakfast.
She heated water on the embers and brewed herself a cup of tea.
The nice smell filled the whole small cave.
She held the warm cup in her hands.
"I guess it’s just me again."
The sword answered with gentle words in Jennie’s head.
"You seem disappointed."
Jennie smiled faintly.
"Me?"
She looked at the empty entrance.
"He was... nice company."
Silence followed for some time.
Then she laughed quietly.
"And unexpectedly cute."
The sword gave her an amused hum.
"The famous swordswoman who defeated Demon Generals..."
"... is beaten by the fluffy fur?"
Jennie puffed her cheeks.
"I was not defeated."
Pause.
"... Maybe a little."
She drank the rest of tea and then rose.
"Okay."
"We still have a lot to walk."
She put her backpack onto her shoulder and left the endless snow covered landscape.
Air was crisp.
The sky was clear.
Everything looked peaceful.
However...
Jennie stopped walking. She heard steps.
Someone was leaving the steps.
She slowly turned around.
At first...
There was nothing.
Just the endless snow covered trees.
Then...
Bright blue eyes peeked out from behind the pine.
Jennie blinked.
"... Are you playing hide and seek?"
The white wolf stepped out of the bush.
Except...
He was not alone.
Behind him...
There was something large being dragged through the snow.
Jennie looked.
The wolf was dragging an enormous mountain deer almost twice as big as the regular one.
Its glorious horns were sparkling with the frost.
And then he brought it all the way to Jennie and put the deer at her feet.
Snow went flying everywhere.
Jennie looked at the deer.
Then at the wolf.
And at the deer again.
"... For me?"
The wolf nodded confidently.
His fluffy tail started to wag.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Halfway through...
He realized what he was doing.
The tail immediately stopped.
He raised his head and pretended nothing happened.
Jennie couldn’t help but smiled.
"I guess it’s a yes."
She gently tapped his shoulder.
"Thank you."
The wolf looked surprisingly pleased.
A few minutes later...
Jennie made another small campfire beside the trail.
Fresh venison was roasting on the fire.
Nice smell of the meat spread through the snowy forest.
Jennie sprinkled the meat with a little salt from her travel pouch.
"Mmm..."
"This smells yummy."
She glanced sideways.
The white wolf was sitting about several meters away.
Perfect posture.
Chest proud.
Absolutely like a majestic mountain guardian.
However...
His eyes didn’t leave the meat.
Not even for a second.
Jennie hid a smile.
"He tries so hard."
Slowly picking up the roast from the fire, Jennie saw how the wolf’s ears twitched.
She moved it a little to the left.
His eyes followed it.
To the right.
His eyes followed it too.
Higher.
Lower.
His gaze tracked each of her movements perfectly.
Finally Jennie burst into laughter.
"You really are a big puppy."
The wolf looked instantly offended.
Turning away with the extreme dignity, he looked anywhere but at her.
Jennie giggled.
"Okay."
"I’m sorry."
"I’m sorry."
She showed the piece of meat to the wolf.
"Here."
The wolf hesitated for exactly three seconds.
Then...
Nom!
The meat instantly disappeared in his mouth.
Jennie stared.
"... You didn’t even chew it."
The wolf blinked innocently.
As if asking,
"Was I supposed to?"
Jennie almost dropped her breakfast laughing.
After eating...
Jennie packed everything away.
Snow brushed from her cloak.
"Well."
"I should be going."
The wolf quietly rose.
Jennie took one step.
Crunch.
The wolf took one step.
Crunch.
She stopped.
He stopped.
Jennie slowly turned around.
"... Are you following me?"
The wolf blinked.
And nodded once.
Jennie pointed to the mountains behind him.
"Your home is behind you?"
The wolf looked behind himself.
And then at Jennie.
Quietly sat down.
Not answering.
Jennie sighed.
"... That was not the question."
The wolf only waved his tail once.
Jennie rubbed her forehead.
"You know..."
"You are surprisingly stubborn."
Getting no response, Jennie continued to walk.
Five seconds later...
The steps appeared behind her again.
Jennie looked back.
The wolf was following her at a respectful distance.
She smiled helplessly.
"So that’s your choice?"
The wolf nodded happily.
"... You are impossible."
However...
She did not ask him to go away.
For some reason...
The mountain path no longer felt so lonely.
They walked for about an hour.
The silence between them was comfortable.
Sometimes Jennie sang an old song which her mother used to sing while cooking.
The wolf quietly listened.
Every time when she sang, his ears twitched.
Suddenly...
Excalibur sharply intervened.
"Jennie."
Her smile disappeared instantly.
"Enemy?"
"Ahead."
"Powerful mana."
The wolf stopped as well.
Raised his nose into the air.
Gave a low growl.
Not from the fear.
From the warning.
Ground began to tremble.
Snow fell from the nearby cliffs.
Heavy steps echoed through the valley.
Boom.
Jennie calmly put her hand on the hilt of Excalibur.
Her silver eyes narrowed.
"Something huge."
And then...
A giant hand broke through the snow.
A creature about eight meters high pulled itself out from the frozen ground.
It looked like a giant troll made of the ice.
Jagged crystals of the black color stuck out from his shoulders and arms.
His glowing red eyes radiated the madness.
He was completely corrupted.
The monster roared loudly making the whole mountain shake.
ROOOOOOAR!!
Jennie instantly recognized him.
"... Corrupted Ice Troll."
Excalibur confirmed her suspicion.
"A-rank."
Jennie slowly drew one inch of her sword.
"One hit should be enough."
However...
The white wolf stepped right in front of her.
Jennie blinked in shock.
"... Move."
The wolf did not even turn back.
Instead...
His brilliant blue eyes began to shine like two stars.
Ancient runes slowly appeared under his paws.
Snow rose from the ground around him.
Huge amount of the icy mana concentrated around the quiet wolf.
Jennie looked with widened eyes.
"This mana..."
"Who are you?"
The valley was completely silent.
Only the enraged scream of the Corrupted Ice Troll echoed among the ice rocks.
The colossal creature lifted its large black ice mace.
The fiery eyes of the troll were mad.
Each step of the monster was breaking up the icy ground under its paws.
Jennie carefully put her hand on Excalibur.
"If I draw now... one strike will be enough."
Before she had done anything...
The white wolf made a single step forward.
He had blocked the way for Jennie.
Jennie blinked.
"...Move."
Her voice sounded calm, but authoritative.
"I can manage."
The wolf did not move.
Instead his bright blue eyes started glowing brighter and brighter.
The ancient silver symbols were covering his white fur like silver streams.
The snow around was floating in the air.
The temperature dropped so drastically that even the falling snow crystals started freezing.
Jennie’s silver eyes widened.
"This mana..."
"It is ancient."
The ancient runic circles slowly started appearing under paws of the wolf.
Not one.
Not two.
Many.
Each circle was bigger than the previous.
Excalibur spoke in clear surprise.
"Divine magic..."
The wolf lifted his head upward.
A calm breath was escaped from his mouth.
The whole mountain answered.
The snow from the surrounding cliffs started rising like waves.
The wind had obeyed him.
The Corrupted Ice Troll screamed and rushed forward.
It swung its huge mace down.
The wolf calmly opened his mouth.
An icy breath escaped from there.
Not a violent one.
Not a beam.
Just...
One single breath.
The world was frozen.
The ocean of white started expanding throughout the valley.
The troll stopped.
Its raised arm was frozen in the place.
Its fiery eyes were stuck under the layer of crystal-clear ice.
Within a couple of seconds...
The whole monster had turned into the huge frozen statue.
Silence.
The mountain wind had returned.
The tiny snowflakes were landing on the immobile troll.
Crack...
A small crack appeared.
Another crack.
The frozen body started shattering into thousands of sparkling pieces that were shining in the morning sunlight before disappearing into the snow.
Nothing left.
Jennie was staring at the empty valley.
"...Amazing."
The wolf slowly turned back.
For the first time...
His proud look vanished.
Instead...
He awkwardly raised one of his huge paws and scratched the back of his neck.
Almost shy.
Jennie couldn’t help smiling.
"So..."
"You become embarrassed when people compliment you."
The wolf looked away.
His ears slightly twitched.
Then...
The golden light enveloped him.
Jennie stopped smiling.
She instinctively stepped back.
Not from fear.
But from precaution.
"A transformation?"
Excalibur murmured.
"Stay calm."
"He does not carry any hostile aura."
The light became brighter.
The ancient runes were floating around his body.
His size was exactly the same.
His white fur still was shining in the sunlight.
He did not turn human.
He stayed a wolf.
Only...
Something was changed.
He started feeling older and wiser.
As if the mountains were recognizing him.
The golden light disappeared.
Then...
The deep and kind voice was echoing through the valley.
"It has..."
A little pause followed.
"...been a thousand years."
Jennie’s eyes widened.
She looked around.
"...Who said that?"
The wolf smiled.
"I did."
Jennie froze.
Several seconds passed.
Then she slowly pointed at him.
"...You..."
"...can speak?"
The wolf tilted his head.
"Of course."
Jennie blinked several times.
"...Why haven’t you told me yesterday?"
The wolf was strangely silent.
His ears lowered slowly.
After an awkward pause, he answered in a sincere tone.
"...I was unconscious."
Silence.
Jennie was staring at him.
Then...
She burst out laughing.
Bright.
Warm.
Entirely sincere.
The laughter resounded through the snowy mountains.
Even Excalibur was chuckling.
"I suppose this is an acceptable excuse."
Jennie wiped the tears of laughter.
"I..."
"I cannot argue with this."
The wolf looked strangely pleased.
For some reason hearing her laughter made him happier than beating the Ice Troll.
When Jennie calmed down...
The wolf slowly approached her.
His heavy paws were leaving deep prints in the fresh snow.
When he stopped at the distance of a couple of steps...
He knelt.
Not because he was hurt.
Not because he was tired.
He deliberately knelt.
His enormous head bent in respect.
But despite all his efforts...
His fluffy tail was moving slightly side-to-side.
Jennie blinked.
"...What are you doing?"
The wolf slightly raised his head.
His blue eyes had kindness instead of pride in them.
"Allow me..."
"...to introduce myself properly."
"My name..."
"...is Snow."
He smiled.
"I am the last Divine Wolf."
Jennie awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"...Nice to meet you?"
Snow’s smile widened.
"It is an honor."
Snow slowly raised again.
His gaze was still fixed on Jennie.
"I have been looking for you..."
"...for one thousand years."
Jennie’s smile vanished.
"One thousand years?"
Her heart made a little jump.
Snow continued speaking softly.
"I believed..."
"I would never see you again."
Jennie let out a long sigh.
"Oh no..."
Snow tilted his head.
"What is wrong?"
She touched her forehead.
"...Not another one."
Snow looked really confused.
"Another one?"
Jennie gave him a helpless smile.
"Since the battle..."
"People have been mistaken me for somebody important."
Snow chuckled.
The sound was surprisingly gentle.
"No."
"I know exactly who you are."
Jennie pointed at herself.
"I’m Jennie."
Snow nodded immediately.
"I know."
"And that..."
He smiled kindly.
"...will be the name I use."
Jennie looked puzzled.
"You... believe me?"
Snow nodded again.
"My king has long since buried the name Leonis."
"The one who is standing before me..."
"...is Jennie."
"So this is the name carved in my heart."
Jennie was speechless.
For the first time...
Someone recognized her as who she was...
Now.
Without trying to erase her past.
The gentle smile slowly appeared on her face.
"...Thank you."
Snow bowed his head again.
"My Lady Jennie..."
"If you will permit an old wolf to ask for something selfish..."
"I want to accompany you."
"I have sworn loyalty one thousand years ago."
"My heart has not changed."
Jennie was looking at the enormous wolf.
Then at the carcass of the giant deer.
Then at the small bag of dried meat hanging from her backpack.
She sighed dramatically.
"...You eat a lot, don’t you?"
The ears of Snow immediately went straight.
He carefully answered after a deep thought.
"...Probably."
Jennie burst out laughing again.
"I knew it."
She folded her arms.
"Do you understand how expensive it is to feed someone of your size?"
Snow lowered his ears.
"...I have not thought about that."
"I’m sorry."
Jennie approached him.
She gently patted the side of his fluffy head.
"It’s okay."
"I will just accept more hunting requests."
Snow blinked.
"You will do this..."
"...for me?"
Jennie smiled.
"Of course."
"Family should eat together."
These words escaped before she had realized what she was saying.
Snow froze.
His blue eyes widened.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
His tail started wagging.
He tried to stop it right away.
But it started wagging faster.
Jennie covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"You know..."
"For someone who constantly acts majestic..."
"...your tail shows the truth."
Snow looked away embarrassed.
"...Forget about it, please."
"I don’t think I can."
Jennie laughed.
The sound echoed through the silent mountains again.
And as they continued their path northwards under the endless white sky...
The lonely journey of the White Hunter ended.
For the first time since the departure from the Kingdom of Seraiya...
Jennie was no longer walking alone.
Beside her was walking an ancient Divine Wolf called Snow.
One carried the legendary story of the Sword King.
The other carried the loyalty that lasted for a thousand years.
Together...
They moved to the unknown future.
