Chapter 613

Ajax P.O.V.

As I stepped through the arch to exit the dungeon I didn’t feel the smooth transition I was used to as I moved from inside the dungeon to the outside. Instead for a moment I felt myself suspended, in an ocean of Mana that was pulling at me. The feeling didn’t last and just as soon as it came it went away and I was outside the dungeon, more disoriented than anything else.

My lack of awareness came into play right away as my field of vision was filled with the large head of a bird. “Are you… an Ascended human?” The powerful aura gave away that the question came from the elemental hawk I was already planning to seek out.

“I am.” I had nothing to hide there, it was obvious to pretty much everyone who felt my Aura what I was and it wasn’t like I was keeping it contained.

Looking around however I picked up on the presence of a few more people. Veyra was still here which I found odd since I fully expected her to leave quickly, but her presence was explained by the others with her, Elduin I recognized and the other two sidhe had to be his parents. 

Judging by Aura alone I would put the elemental hawk as the strongest of them all but the difference between him and Elduin’s parents wasn’t large enough that I thought he would stand a good chance in a two versus one. That didn’t bode well for me if things were to go wrong. 

“It has been so long since a human has ventured far enough outside your lands to come across us elemental hawks, even more so for an Ascended human.” I was surprised at the giddiness I felt coming from the elemental hawk. 

“Why do you sound pleased at my presence?” The skeptical part of me can’t help but ask as I warily look towards the sidhe. “So far every other Ascended race seemed guarded or outright aggressive towards me.” 

“A natural reaction unfortunately.” The hawk seemed sad. “Humanoid nature has generally been selfish and greedy. Most of your ancestors have not done your reputation much good.” 

“But you do?” I ask. 

“I would ask that we get a moment with the human.” I didn’t get a chance to receive an answer to my question as Elduin’s mother spoke. “He cost my son quite the opportunity and we are hoping to speak to him about it.” 

“No.” the elemental hawk moved, one of its wings moving protectively in front of me. “He is in no state to be questioned by you, he’s missing a limb.” 

“He also destabilized a dungeon.” Elduin’s father’s words didn’t just catch me by surprise but they also silenced the hawk. I could feel a powerful inspect Skill hit me, it was looking for only one thing, my level. [Enigma] tried its best to oppose it but it was futile. “A level sixty four should have no business destabilizing a dungeon. I insist that we get to speak to him.” 

“The dungeon seems fine now.” The hawk argued but even I could tell it didn’t really believe in its own words. 

“That is all the more reason why the questions are needed.” The sidhe pushed. “He also delved the dungeon close to our own lands. What if he did something that could have long lasting effects on the dungeons? We all know humanoids approach dungeons much differently than the rest of us.” 

The silence stretched and I could feel both of the elder sidhe and the elemental hawk gathering Mana the longer the silence stretched until the elemental hawk seemed to deflate a little. “You’d have to wait, he just came out of a dungeon. He needs time to rest, as you rightly pointed out he is only level sixty four.” 

“No more than an hour.” the words seemed to end the discussion as the hawk turned to back to me. 

“Is your arm alright, unfortunately I am unable to cast healing magic.” He asked. “How are you feeling…, oh I haven’t even introduced myself, some ambassador I am, my name is Ruinflare.” 

“I’m Ajax.” I answer as I process the onslaught of words. “I think I should be fine for now, but you still haven’t told me why you care.” 

“Because of your ancestor.” Ruinflare explained. “While most humans are remembered as greedy and selfish there is one that is always remembered for his power. The strongest human in history.” 

“I would have thought he’d be disliked considering the protection he forced from all the other races.” I said, there was no point in hiding that I knew about the protection agreement I’d admitted to that much beforehand to others.  

“Most might, but he did more than just help humans rise.” Ruinflare preens. “Us elemental hawks were in a very similar position to humans back then.” 

“What?” I can’t help but exclaim. “But you’re Ascended.” 

“We are.” Ruinflare admitted. “But whenever an elemental hawk chooses to add another element they become extremely weak. Back then there were few of us with three elements. The reaper helped our race place its foundations, he protected five of us until they had gained nine elements. He built the foundations on which our own race flourished."

That was shocking. I didn’t know why it was so dangerous for elemental hawks to add more elements but it was now clear why they were so protective of humans. They saw it as a debt they owed, one they would always owe. It clearly wouldn’t extend if I chose to act against the elemental hawk in any way but as a starting point they would look favorably towards humans. 

With a better understanding of Ruinflare's stance towards me I felt more safe to ask a question that worried me. “You mentioned how I was feeling. I’m feeling fine but I do have a question. Do you know how to deal with werewolf venom?” 

That was clearly the wrong question to ask as it instantly attracted the attention of the sidhe. “He’s infected?!” Eduin’s mother glared at me. “We need to question him and then put him down before he turns.” 

“The venom moves quickly and causes excruciating pain.” Ruinflare argued. “It’s clearly been neutralized.” 

“And how would he be able to neutralize werewolf venom?” Elduin’s father asked.

“He has Life Mana.” For the first time, Verya joins the conversation drawing the attention of the three powerful Ascended. 

“Life Mana could stop the spread but it wouldn’t reverse the effect.” Elduin’s father argued. 

“Which might be why he’s missing an arm.” Ruinflare didn’t have lips but I could hear the scowl in his tone. “Is that why you cut off your arm?” 

“Did it work to get rid of it?” I make sure not to answer that question while letting them assume the answer.

“Yes and no.” Ruinflare sighed. “It stopped the spread, you are in no danger but you have to be extremely careful when healing the arm. You could regrow the converted part which could always restart the spread on contact with poison or venom.” 

“Would Life Mana work to regrow my arm normally?” There is no point in hiding my Life Mana Verya already told them I have it.

“No.” Ruinflare shakes his head which looks odd to me as he is always keeping one eye on me so he makes sweeping motions turning his head from one side to the other. “The only thing that would work would be Light Mana healing. Even that has to be done by a healer very familiar with human bodies. You see the venom has fundamentally changed a part of you.” 

“You mean they can’t let the spells follow my body’s directions when regrowing my arm?” The studying I did with Kate helping me now. “They have to force the correct growth based on their knowledge. Won’t that make my arm weaker?” 

“Initially yes.” Ruinflare agrees. “In fact, using Life Mana at all too soon after the procedure could undo all that work since your body will be looking to revert any portion of the arm that was turned back to werewolf flesh. But your arm should regain its strength in about a month as your body gets used to it once again and accepts it as what it should be.” 

There’s good news and there’s bad news. Since humanoids are so isolated it means none of the Ascended races are going to know human bodies well enough to help me but at least I now have an answer for how to heal my arm without risking the werewolf venom spreading. I’m sure one or more of the royal healers back in Gryndor should be able to help me regrow my arm once I get back. The only problem is that I would have to go back, I came out to the Wild Lands to get a bond and I still haven’t found one yet. 

My thought process doesn’t get a chance to go much further than that as an Aura much stronger descends on the surroundings. One that I don’t recognize but feels oddly familiar.

“Ruinflare, pardon my intrusion in your domain.” I recognize the voice, it has been more than a decade since I last heard it yet I remember that meeting perfectly. 

“Lady Khalysstra!” I can hear a slight hint of panic in Ruinflare’s voice as I look up and see Shifty’s mother descend with her son sitting on her head and another dragon flying beside her.