“A demigryph?” Lanek looked down at the wounded creature. He was about Kazuma’s size and had the head of an eagle and the body of a large cat, much like his mother. However, that is where the similarities ended. Rather than having the pure golden coat of his mother, the demigryph had a gold coat with black stripes, looking more akin to the pelt of a tiger than a lion. Both mother and child had a deep gray feathers on their heads and chest.
In addition to not having any wings, the demigryph also had different forelegs than his mother. Where Idril had the forelegs of an eagle, complete with talons, her offspring’s forelegs were those of a huge cat. Looking at his legs, Lanek could see that this would make the demigryph much more suited to traversing the ground than a gryphon and would likely be able to run much faster. Although, Lanek imagined that a gryphon probably wouldn’t spend much time on the ground, so that comparison was a bit moot.
Lanek turned his attention back to Idril. “Are demigryphs rare? Caelis mentioned that she had never seen one, only heard about wingless gryphons varieties.”
When one is born to a gryphon, yes. This is only the second demigryph child I have given birth to. Because of how closely related gryphons and demigryphs are, not only will a gryphon occasionally have a demigryph child, but a demigryph can also have a gryphon child.
Curious, Lanek identified the demigryph. While he wasn’t planning on keeping the demigryph with him, he did want to know more about it.
Demigryph
lvl 1
Demigryphs are mighty creatures that are closely related to gryphons. While a demigryph is incapable of flight, they make up for this by being stronger and more muscular than their airborne kin. A demigryph is a capable and relentless hunter that can track its prey for days without needing rest and is capable of explosive bursts of speed when the time comes to bring their prey down.
“Does he have a name?”
No, not yet. Would you like to give him one? It’s the least I could allow in exchange for you saving his life.
“It is not my place. Perhaps in the future when we will meet again you can introduce us properly.”
I would like that. Are you ready to begin? Is there anything I need to do?
“I am ready and no, you don’t need to do anything.”
Idril nodded her head and drew her wing further away from her child, allowing Lanek to approach and lay his hand on the demigryph. Immediately, Lanek could feel the little creature’s surprise and fear. He was surprised at feeling the touch of someone other than his mother and afraid because of the pain the last stranger had caused him.
“It’s okay, little one. I’m here to help, I can heal you and bring you back to your mother. Would you like that?”
The little demigryph still didn’t move, but he could feel its interest and its desire to be free to explore the world. However, Lanek felt it withdraw into itself, the demigryph remembering the agony.
“Don’t worry, the pain will not return if you accept my offer and you will be free to go into the forest with your mother.”
With those words, he activated [Soul Contract] and made his offer. Several long moments passed while the demigryph’s fear and painful memories warred with his desire to actually live in the world once more rather than remain sleeping and frozen in this shield. Eventually, a notification chimed as the demigryph faded from view.
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(Unnamed), Demigryph (lvl 1) has accepted your contract.
Lanek whirled around as he felt Idril’s concern build, holding up his hands to calm her. “He’s fine, he simply went into my soul for now. Please release the shield and I will summon him. That isn’t an ultimatum, I simply can’t summon him within the shield, I’ve been trying to call him forth since he accepted the contract and it hasn’t worked. I can’t even call my other companions in here.”
Idril, still concerned over the disappearance of her child, reluctantly released the shield. As soon as it dropped, Lanek willed the demigryph to materialize, which he did eagerly. Immediately, the child rushed to his mother and began rubbing against her, resembling nothing so much as a large house cat. Idril, for her part, was making a cooing sound that sounded suspiciously like purring while she wrapped her wings around her child.
After waiting a few minutes, Lanek interrupted the reunion. “I hate to interrupt, but I need to teach your child something. It should only take a moment.” Once he had Idril’s permission, Lanek introduced the demigryph to Kazuma and Sanguineus and had the latter two teach the demigryph to summon and dismiss himself at will.
“There. Now if he is ever wounded or in danger, he can dismiss himself and return to me. However, I can only summon him nearby once he has dismissed himself into my soul. If that should happen, you will need to come back and pick him up.” Lanek explained to the curious gryphon.
I understand. Thank you for everything, if you ever need my aid you need only ask.
“While I could use your aid desperately due to the damned spider matriarch that is no doubt already planning on attacking us in the near future, Eldros needs you. He called me to your shield and helped me enter it to help you so that you could join him at his glade as a guardian once more. How did you end up as a part of the Order of the Talon while you were also a guardian beast anyway?”
I was a guardian beast first, but the grandmaster of the order aided me once and I owed him in return. As a result, I asked Eldros to release me so I could help the Order. Eldros agreed and raised another guardian to aid him. If he needs me to resume my position, my replacement must have fallen while I slept.
Idril cocked her head to the side, looking into the distance. She stepped over to her child, ever so gently lifting him in her talons before approaching and addressing Lanek once more. As she spoke, Lanek scratched the demigryph along his neck and the sides of his head, triggering a sound that was most definitely a purr.
I can hear Eldros calling me urgently. We must take our leave, but know this, I will return to aid you against the spider if at all possible. I don’t foresee any problem getting Eldros’ leave, but I also don’t know what problems he needs my help with.
“I understand, Idril. Go, get yourself and your child out of this city, the two of you have been trapped here for far too long. I do hope to see you again soon, however.” With a last nod from Idril and a happy chirp from the demigryph, they departed and made their way to the east.
Abruptly, Lanek had his attention torn from the majestic site of one of his favorite mythological creatures flying into the distance by shouts echoing from the monastery. Looking around, he saw Ivan staring at him in shock, eyes drifting back and forth between Lanek and the departing gryphon. Before Lanek could explain, the door to the stables burst open and Talwarg, Nerek, Shel, and Khurzag rushed in just as Caelis materialized next to Lanek.
Lanek was forced to shout them all down as they began asking questions in such quick succession that they weren’t giving him time to answer any of them. Once they had all gone quiet and Lanek could get a word in, he explained how he had spoken to Eldros when he touched the shield. He then went on to provide the backstory as to why Idril had created the shield and why Eldros wanted him to release her. Finally, he told them how he had used his class skill to save the demigryph.
Shel and Nerek seemed confused by his mention of [Soul Contract], but didn’t attempt to delve further. Meanwhile, Caelis and Talwarg looked disappointed that they hadn’t been able to meet Idril or see her child. For his part, Lanek was pretty sure that Talwarg simply wanted another big animal around to pet.
“So, finished with the tour?” Lanek asked Khurzag and Shel.
“We have and your home is quite impressive.” Khurzag answered and Shel nodded.
“Excellent. Let’s head over to the meeting room and have a talk about the future. Sound good?”
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
“I’m glad you agree and I’m guessing you have a few questions about everything you’ve seen.”
“We did, but I think I’ve forgotten all of them after seeing a bloody gryphon fly off and you acting like it was a normal, every day occurrence.” Shel said, shaking her head at the memory of the giant beast that was little more than a myth to her people appearing in the flesh.
“To be honest, I think I’m just a bit numb what with everything I’ve seen recently. If I went into shock every time something big happened, I would be little more than a blubbering mess and would struggle to get out of bed in the morning.”
“Wait, more stuff like this has happened recently?”
Talwarg laughed. “You have no idea.”