(Eleanor) - Watch out!

Eleanor pushed Ryuji aside. He lost his balance and almost fell off the cliff. Zeka pulled Ryuji's hand and grabbed a rock.

*Sigh*

(Ryuji) - Thanks!

They quickly searched for shelter from the falling rocks, and Eleanor spotted a cave. They entered the cave and waited for the rocks to fall. When they got out the griffin flew away from the mountain.

(Eleanor) - We need to find his nest. It should be somewhere on this mountain.

(Ryuji) - This cave looks very deep.

*Threw a rock*

*Echo*

(Eleanor) - Let's not get distracted, we are not equipped for cave exploring right now.

*Sigh*

(Ryuji) - I know.

They started climbing once again in search of the griffin nest. After they reached the peak of the mountain Ryuji started hearing some growls. They were coming from a place flattened out not far from the peak. They went down there and looked around, they watched three griffin babies fighting with each other over a piece of meat.

*Whisper*

(Eleanor) - Don't make any sound. Let's get back to the town for now.

Ryuji nodded and they started descending the mountain. When they arrived at the base of the mountain and got back on the path, the griffin returned to the mountain.

(Ryuji) - What should we do now?

(Eleanor) - The griffin might be this aggressive because of the newborns.

(Ryuji) - Is that a thing?

(Eleanor) - I can't think of any other cause right now. The griffin is hunting for them as well now, and the food might be scarce around these parts due to the mountain habitat.

(Ryuji) - And what should we tell the villagers?

(Eleanor) - For now, let's keep thinking of a way to please both parties.

They arrived back in the town and some villagers came running towards them.

(Villager) - Have you killed it?

(Woman) - Are we saved?

(Eleanor) - We are still working on that.

*Step*

*Step*

They returned to the tavern and discussed. Ryuji proposed to tell the villagers about the babies and for the time being to get used to it. But then Eleanor said that when the babies grow there will be 4 griffins roaming around. When Ryuji heard what Eleanor said he tucked his hand between his palms and started worrying.

(Ryuji) - What is there to do? I don't want to kill him.

(Eleanor) - Don't worry, that will be the last thing we are going to do.

*Sigh*

(Ryuji) - Wasn't there a forest nearby? Can't the griffin hunt there?

(Eleanor) - Now that you mention it.

Eleanor got up and headed towards the forest with Ryuji. They arrived somewhere close to the forest and Ryuji felt something ominous coming from it. Eleanor did not feel anything. Ryuji was able to feel it because of his powers.

(Ryuji) - There is something in this forest.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

(Eleanor) - How can you tell?

(Ryuji) - I can feel it.

(Eleanor) - Can you tell me what it is?

(Ryuji) - It somewhat resembles the cursed tome back at the capital. But if faint.

(Eleanor) - We should hurry.

Ryuji started running into the forest and Eleanor followed him closely. After a good amount of running the trees started to turn one by one into stone. They stopped running and walked around more carefully, knowing they were getting close. There was a river flowing through the stone trees, but the water was dirty.

Eleanor saw something moving from the corner of her eye. But it was just the wind blowing into some bushes moving them around. They reached a place with no tree, and the ground was of a dark-ish color.

(Ryuji) - It is somewhere around here.

(Eleanor) - Let's split up.

After a couple of minutes of searching, covering the whole area, they found nothing.

(Ryuji) - Have you found anything?

(Eleanor) - No. What about you?

(Ryuji) - No luck either.

(Eleanor) - Where can it be?

(Ryuji) - What if it's this place?

(Eleanor) - You mean that a cursed tome is not causing this?

(Ryuji) - I'm saying that it could be the same power, not the same source.

(Eleanor) - And how can we remove it?

(Ryuji) - I don't know.

*Whisper*

(Zeka) - Use your power to draw it out.

(Ryuji) - I still don't know how to use it.

*Whisper*

(Zeka) - Then let me try something.

Ryuji called up Zeka, and Zeka asked him to slash the ground. After a couple of slashes, the air started to change, clouds started forming and there was a mist forming around.

(Zeka) - It's working. Keep on going.

The ground lost its color and a dirty old book emerged from it.

(Eleanor) - There it is.

Eleanor went to grab the cursed tome, but before she was able to touch the book a powerful gust of air pushed her and Ryuji away. Ryuji dropped Zeka to the ground. The stone trees started to crumble and the pieces flew towards the cursed tome. In a couple of seconds, the cursed tome took the form of a golem, with the book placed on the top of its head.

*Roar*

(Golem) - Who dares to wake me up?

Ryuji picked Zeka and was ready for the golem attack and Eleanor was right beside Ryuji keeping a fair distance from the golem. The golem sat down and dug a hole, not too deep, around him.

(Golem) - Who are you?

(Ryuji) - I am Ryuji, Who are you?

(Golem) - That is not important.

(Eleanor) - What did you do to this forest?

*Laughing*

(Golem) - Forest? This is my home, there is no forest.

(Ryuji) - Home?

(Golem) - You dare to wake me from my slumber and defy my home?

(Ryuji) - We just came here because of the cursed tome.

(Golem) - Cursed tome? What is that?

(Eleanor) - The book on your head.

(Golem) - That's how you call us now? Funny.

*Stand up*

(Golem) - And for what reason did you come after me?

Eleanor saw that the golem was not particularly aggressive and sat down. She started explaining to him what happened and asked the golem if he knew anything about it. But at every question he just shrugged. Zeka told Ryuji that animals might not live in the forest anymore because of the cursed tome. Ryuji considered what Zeka told him and pieced that together with the unusual behavior of the griffin.

(Ryuji) - Is there any way for you to leave this place?

(Golem) - You are asking me to leave my home?

(Ryuji) - The griffin Eleanor told you about is plundering the town nearby and other travelers on the road for food because your humble home is preventing any wildlife from living here.

*Scratches his head*

(Golem) - And where am I to move?

(Eleanor) - What about inside the mountain?

(Ryuji) - That would not be a bad idea, you are turning things to stone anyway.

(Golem) - Inside a mountain?

(Eleanor) - There is a large cave not too far from here, how about you come with us and see for yourself.

(Golem) - What about the sun, I like the sun.

(Ryuji) - You can transform now and then and sit on the cliff.

(Eleanor) - And no one will disturb your home anymore.

The golem scratched his head once more and nodded. They went back to the cave they found when searching for the griffin nest. Showed the golem around, and the golem was pleased.

(Golem) - What was your name again?

(Ryuji) - I am Ryuji and she is Eleanor.

(Golem) - You are the first human beings that were not aggressive towards me.

(Eleanor) - Why would we be?

*Pointed towards the cursed tome*

(Golem) - Because of this.

(Ryuji) - You are the first cursed tome capable of reason we found.

(Golem) - You found others as well?

(Ryuji) - Yes, one that was taking the shape of shadows and one that was stuck in a Rock Elemental.

*Sigh*

(Golem) - Many of my brothers and sisters are capable of reason. But be careful out there, there are more devious ones as well.

(Eleanor) - We will keep that in mind.

(Ryuji) - Thank you for your help.

(Golem) - I hope that your problem will be solved now.

*Step*

*Sit*

(Golem) - Now if you will excuse me, I will go back to sleep.