Chapter 88: Chapter 88 - Wolf And The Girl ( Part 4 )
The morning sky was painted in a magnificent color of blue.
The fresh snow sparkled in the sunlight, resembling thousands of tiny stars scattered around the mountains.
Jennie and Snow walked side by side through the Frostveil Mountains.
Neither of them rushed.
The silence that surrounded them wasn’t awkward.
It was rather pleasant.
The large paws of Snow made deep tracks in the snow, while the lighter steps of Jennie faded under the new snowfall.
Having walked for some time, Jennie looked at the enormous white wolf.
There was one question that she couldn’t ask anymore.
"So..."
Snow looked at her with one blue eye.
"Yes?"
Jennie awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"You said that you’ve been looking for me..."
"...for a thousand years."
Snow nodded.
"That is correct."
Jennie nervously laughed.
"The problem is..."
"I’ve never met you."
The soft laughter of Snow resonated in the quiet valley.
"Not this life."
Jennie tilted her head.
"Then..."
"When did we meet?"
Snow started slowing his pace.
His eyes looked somewhere to the distant snowy mountains.
For a while, he only observed them.
His eyes reflected memories that were much older than the oldest living kingdom.
Then he smiled.
"It all started..."
"...when I was very young."
- Flash Back -
One thousand years ago...
The Frostveil Mountains were hardly recognizable.
Nowadays...
They are peaceful.
But back then...
They were literally hell itself.
The fire engulfed the ancient forest.
The sky was red due to the continuous fights.
The dark mana poisoned the whole area.
Everyone...
Was screaming.
Roaring.
The Great Demon War had just started.
Deep in the fire...
The small cub of a white wolf wandered in the thick smoke.
His fur was covered with soot.
His breathing was heavy.
He was tired.
Hunger.
Loneliness.
Behind him...
There lied two enormous white wolves.
His parents.
They died protecting their cub from the enemy, the corrupted beasts.
The small wolf whined.
He nudged the face of his mother.
No response.
He nudged the father.
Still nothing.
The cub didn’t know what death was.
He only knew that they weren’t awake.
Tears fell down from his bright blue eyes.
Slowly...
He got up and started running.
Behind him...
Cracking branches.
Thumping steps.
The corrupted beast found him.
It was similar to the giant bear with the black crystals covering the skin.
His eyes were blood-red.
The monster smiled.
Some fresh prey.
The little cub tried to back away.
His legs were trembling.
He opened his mouth.
"Grrrr..."
Instead of being frightening...
It was an adorable growl.
The monster laughed.
Then raised one of his huge claws.
The cub closed his eyes.
"I’m going to die..."
A silver flash crossed the battlefield.
SHING!
The claw stopped.
The monster blinked once.
His body slowly split into two equal halves and fell to the floor.
Silence.
The cub opened his eye.
Someone was standing between him and the fallen monster.
A young man.
His silver hair was moving in the hot air.
Silver armor was reflecting the red sky.
In his right hand, there lied a holy silver sword with the glow of gold.
His face was calm.
As though killing such creatures was the easiest task in the world.
The Sword King.
Leonis.
Leonis slowly put Excalibur in its scabbard.
Then he saw the terrified cub observing him.
"...Oh?"
The stern face of the man immediately softened.
He lowered and bent until he was at eye level with the cub.
"Easy."
His voice was warm.
"I won’t harm you."
The cub didn’t believe him.
"Grrrr..."
Leonis blinked.
Then smiled.
"That was an amazing growl."
The cub collected all his courage and jumped forward.
Trying to bite the fingers of Leonis.
Leonis simply moved his hand at the last moment.
The cub only bit the air.
He fell into the dirt face-first.
Leonis laughed.
"So fierce."
The cub quickly got up.
His ears were lying flat against the head.
He tried acting like nothing happened.
Leonis laughed quietly.
"I will pretend that I didn’t see that."
While sitting under the scorched tree, Leonis noticed something.
The cub was watching the small loaf of bread hanging from the travel pouch of the man.
His stomach made loud sounds.
Leonis looked at the bread and at the cub.
"Hungry?"
The cub proudly looked away.
Leonis shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
Then he tore a piece of the bread and started eating himself.
Five seconds passed.
The cub secretly glanced at it.
Ten seconds.
His stomach was roaring louder.
Twenty seconds.
Leonis acted like he hadn’t heard anything.
Finally...
The cub slowly came closer.
Leonis silently smiled without looking at him.
He quietly offered another piece.
This time...
The little wolf accepted it carefully.
His eyes were widening.
It was delicious.
"There we go."
Leonis smiled.
"You should eat before you can try being scary."
The cub looked away while eating shyly.
The war prevented Leonis from leaving right away.
Enemy patrols surrounded the mountain.
For several days...
The Sword King and the little wolf travelled together.
Leonis was hunting rabbits for food.
He taught the cub how to track scents hidden under the snow.
How to recognize the corrupted mana.
How to avoid dangerous monsters.
All lessons were patient.
All explanations were gentle.
The cub was following Leonis everywhere.
If Leonis stopped...
The cub stopped.
If Leonis sat down...
The cub instantly curled up nearby him.
One afternoon, Leonis looked behind him and sighed.
"I suppose I adopted a wolf."
The cub happily waved his tiny tail.
Leonis immediately noticed.
"Oh?"
"So your tail betrayed you too."
The cub froze.
Then quickly sat on his tail.
Leonis burst out laughing.
"You really are adorable."
Several nights later...
Everything was changed.
Suddenly...
The Demon Commander appeared in their camp.
His enormous spear pierced the earth.
Dark mana exploded in every direction.
Leonis immediately took the cub.
"Stay behind me!"
The Commander laughed.
"A legendary hero..."
"...protecting a mere animal?"
Leonis calmly replied.
"Life is life."
The Commander disappeared.
Too quick.
The black spear aimed at the cub.
Leonis could dodge.
Instead...
He stepped forward.
Slash!
The spear torn through his shoulder.
The blood painted the white snow in crimson color.
The cub desperately cried.
He ran to Leonis, nudging him with his head.
Leonis smiled despite the pain.
"It’s only a scratch."
He got up again.
His silver eyes narrowed.
Excalibur left the scabbard.
One step.
One strike.
The Demon Commander didn’t even realize that he was already defeated.
His body slowly fell down.
Silence.
The cub observed Leonis with admiration.
Not because he was the strongest swordsman in history.
But because...
He willingly got the wound to protect someone who couldn’t give him anything in return.
From that day on...
The little wolf decided one thing.
He would never leave this man’s side.
The following morning...
The cub didn’t want to move.
Leonis laughed.
"You really are stubborn."
He gently rubbed the ears of the cub.
"I suppose you need a name."
The cub tilted his head.
Leonis looked to the sky.
Fresh snow was falling peacefully.
He smiled warmly.
"How about..."
"...Snow?"
The cub barked happily.
"Woo!"
Leonis laughed.
"I’ll take that as approval."
Weeks later...
The war demanded Leonis to return to the battlefield.
Snow had become much stronger and healthier.
He could live on his own.
Leonis knelt one last time.
"You shouldn’t follow me anymore."
"The only thing I can see on my path is war."
Snow fluttered its small head in denial.
This little creature did not want anything to do with war.
Leonis smiled morosely.
He then hugged the little wolf.
"When the war finishes up..."
"I will return," said Leonis.
"I swear it with my life," added his little companion.
At that moment, Snow had not know he was seeing him last time .
So he assumed.
- Present -
The memory started to fade.
The mountains came back.
Jennie was standing next to Snow.
Snow was looking down at a path in the far distance that he had been waiting beside for ages.
"I was waiting."
He said with a sad smile.
"Here."
"Every winter."
"I didn’t want to believe that you were gone."
This made Jennie’s heart ache.
She lowered her head.
"...I am sorry."
Snow shook his head gently.
"There is nothing to excuse."
"You kept it."
Jennie lifted her eyes in astonishment.
"Did I?"
Snow smiled. He smiled the same way Leonis had smiled to him a millennium ago.
"You returned."
"You just had to..."
"...wait for a thousand years."
Jennie’s eyes filled with tears.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Without saying more...
She walked closer.
And hugged Snow with all her might.
His warm white fur felt warm even in the freezing weather.
"I am glad..."
She said in a trembling voice.
"...you waited for me."
Snow was closing his eyes for the very first time for the last thousand years.
Both of them stayed quiet for quite some time.
While the only noise they heard was the soothing flow of the wind, which was blowing fresh snow over the mountain trail.
Jennie gradually pulled away from the embrace but one hand remained petting Snow’s soft fur around his neck.
She smiled through her tears.
"I have remembered everything."
Snow looked at her caringly.
"You have no need to remember anything about that. It all belongs to Leonis."
He bowed down a little.
"However, ...this soul has always been yours."
Jennie stayed calm.
These words struck her so deeply.
She always scared Leonis’s previous life would destroy everything she built when being Jennie.
But after hearing these words from Snow she realized she was wrong.
Regardless of whether she went by Leonis or Jennie...
The woman who was always ready to save others was consistent in her demeanor.
Snow moved another step ahead.
"Shall we resume our walking together, Lady Jennie?"
With a hint of laughter, Jennie wiped the last droplet of her tears away.
"Yes indeed."
"But don’t call me ’Lady.’"
"It looks like I have grown old to you."
Snow remained unruffled by the remark.
"...Understood."
A moment of silence ensued.
"...Lady Jennie."
Jennie cried out dramatically.
"You’re doing it on purpose."
Snow’s fluffy tail waved energetically, giving away her intentions.
"...Probably."
