“Who am I? I’m Gregoire.”

Isa looked confused. “Are you not the one who will lead us, the king?”

“A king, me?” I couldn’t help but lean back and look around.

“Yes, what are your orders?”

Orders. What was all of this? “No orders—not for now,” I muttered. This was all moving too fast.

She moved away… I think she whispered something but I couldn't be bothered with that right now. Something was knocking on my head. Looking up, the sun’s beam struck me. I didn’t look away; it didn’t hurt my eyes. In fact, my eyes felt cold.

Something was circulating through my body. It kept me cool under the sun, amidst these flames.

Focusing my consciousness on this energy, I moved it around my body, but it was wanting head into my wings, but I couldn’t be sure. This was all new to me.

Flapping my wings, my body became lighter and my feet were no longer fully tied to the ground.

Was this what let gargoyles fly? I now understand why I had mana, but why did I have any before? Especially since there was a gargoyle craftsmen class specifically for the use of mana. I should ask a mage class holder for some tips later on.

Beating my wings harder and channelling more of this cold energy into my wings, I gained altitude until I was flying above the tallest flame.

Quickly, I opened my status screen. I had already lost two mana points. I shouldn’t go too high if I didn’t want to end up as rubble.

Catching a gust of wind, I leaned over and flew straight, passing over the flames. Engulfed in smoke, I was pushed up and given speed. Eventually, I emerged out of the cloud, and the first thing my eyes landed on was the ground.

It was a sea of green. Emerald green. Trees and grass, bushes and moss, all vivid green. I don’t know why, but I had never realized the beauty of it all. Perhaps my eyes were just stained by the brown muck found on city streets.

Looking back to the firestorm of my creation my heart was twisted by grief and happiness. I could sense that one of these feelings weren’t mine, but I couldn’t be sure which was which.

Was it my gargoyle instincts to be proud of seeing my power or was it my human greed for power that was excited at the prospects of my strength?

Regardless, this strength was mine, and it has caused a lot of pain. I couldn’t help but shed a tear for those who had died.

That’s when I caught a glimpse of Isa and Bale. They were both following me, not caring for the destruction they were flying above. This also made me realize that they might also have a limited amount of mana they could use for flight and I didn’t know if they had more or less than me.

Quickly, I glanced at my mana. I had only gone down to forty-five. I guess, getting up in the air was the hardest part.

Glancing over the horizon, I found the tallest tree and carefully made my way down. Landing on the highest branch that could support my weight, I waited for them to catch up.

Landing in the nearby branches, Isa spoke, “Is there something wrong?” She asked.

Not only was I unsure how to abord the subject, I was still making dues with the fact that gargoyles seemed to be intelligent creatures.

“What’s your name?” I started from the start.

“It’s Isa my king, and this is Bale,” she tilted her head to the side where Bale was sitting.

“It’s my pleasure to serve you,” he answered with a low and rocky voice. He seemed like the quiet type.

Looking back over to Isa, I asked, “Are you the Queen of Gargoyles?”

“Oh, I couldn’t claim such a title on my own.” She seemed genuinely shocked. “That is up to you my king to decide. I couldn’t possibly—”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Then have you ever been a queen.” Perhaps what the girl in Le Mans saw was the past and not the future.

“No, never. I would never claim such past.”

“Then what are you exactly, how much do you know about your past?” I was getting rather curious as the gargoyles didn’t seem to speak much differently than your average human.

“I was crafted by the hands of a certain Alexandre. I remember it like it was yesterday.” She smiled. “His tools would glide on my skin as I slowly woke up, I am eternally grateful for his hands were majestically dextrous. I do not think I have seen a gargoyle my equal since my birth… well, he was crafting others while he was finishing forming me, but I haven’t seen them since. I suppose now that you have awoken me, I will be able to meet my younger siblings sooner than later.”

“And you bale?” I asked.

“Ah…yes,” he spoke slowly, almost confused. “I was made by Filion.” It seemed like he wasn’t going to say anymore. He seemed a bit slow.

Looking over to Isa, I couldn’t help but see pity in her eyes. “Is there something wrong with him.” Perhaps I was too blunt with my words, but I wasn’t one who could easily twist my words.

“Um, I suppose.”

“What is it?”

“You see, he and his brother are twins. I think that losing him has reduced his capabilities.”

Oh… that had happened. Did they not resent me for that? “I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s fine, they were misguided in attacking you, our king. They deserved what befell them.”

I didn’t have anything to add so I stayed silent on the matter, at least for now. “We should get going, we have to report that our mission was a success.”

But just as I was about to fly off, Isa spoke up in a hurry, “Wait! Report. Report what to whom?”

“To the duke.”

“The duke? Do you serve this duke? That can’t be, you are a ruler, our prince and future king, no one is above you.”

“That’s…” For some reason I didn’t want to disappoint her by telling her the truth, but that would only complicate things. I wasn’t remotely strong enough to distance myself from the duke. I was certainly strong, stronger than many out there, but not nearly strong enough… yet— “I’m not strong enough.”

“Not strong enough?” She repeated.

“Yes, I’m not strong. Not yet at least. And we’re just three. A king’s strength is in his men, no? Then we should focus on levelling up my class and adding more gargoyles to our rank before becoming independent. Until then we’ll need the help of those stronger than us.”

Isa frowned; it was evident that this answer would not satisfy her for long. “If that is the case. But let this not be the norm for too long. You are our future king, not the servant of a human.”

She sure spoke like a queen. “Yes, don’t worry. It won’t be long. Just thirty levels.” And now with a warrior class so gaining achievements shouldn’t be as much of a hassle as before. Which made me wonder. How easy will achievements come now? Not only did I have three strong gargoyles at my side, but I had the strength fit for an S rank warrior class. “Let’s start right now,” I proposed.

“What would that be?” she asked.

“Hunting.” I smiled. Other than war, hunting was the best way for warriors to gain levels. Well, that was if they weren't inclined to 1v1 death battles, which many were. But at heart I was a craftsman, death battles weren't much my speed.

“Very well, I will go find a suitable target please remain here.” And just like that, Isa flew off. I don’t know whether she did believe I was up to the task, or didn’t believe I was intent on levelling up, but this didn’t sweeten my mood. After all, I was supposed to be her master, the one to tell her what to do, how to act. Now it seemed as if I had lost complete control over her. I don’t know, but this didn’t sit right with me. I was too used to seeing them as inanimate objects that moved as ordered. Without consciousness, or will. But now, I…

I felt bad for Ligothe.

I couldn’t escape the fact that the little guy was no different than a person. I had failed him as his master, as a Gargoyle.

Leaves ruffled as Isa landed on a branch. “My prince, I’ve found a wolf.” She had been quick.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes, right this way.” She flew off, and it didn’t take me much effort to focus my mana into my wings and fly off after her.

Not long after we reached a small creek hidden in the midst of the forest. There, in between the century-old oak and yew trees a pack of grey wolves were sipping water.

We landed in a tree not too far off from the creek. Careful not to make too much noise I tried to use my silent breath skill. Closing my eyes, I focused on slowing my breathing; however, I couldn’t seem to be able to find it.

Opening my eyes, I found that my chest wasn’t rising or falling. It was a passive skill and it should have been obvious, after all I was now a gargoyle and not a man.

Regardless, I stayed conscious of any noise I was making, but—

“What are you waiting for my prince?” It was Isa.

“Do you want to scare them away?” I whispered frowning, but she didn’t seem to catch on to what I was saying.

“Just go. They can’t out run you nor do they pose you any harm. If it’s because these aren’t enough for you, I will go off in search of a dungeon, but will take some time to find—”

“No, it’s fine.” I cut her off before her rambling got out of hand. Staring down at the group of wolves, I glided down my wings out stretched.

Landing with a thud, the wolves wiped around and encircled me. They weren’t growling, simply studying my person.

I didn’t flinch. Even I knew my stone skin was pretty much completely impervious to their attacks, I guessed that I might have felt some kind of fear towards them, but there was nothing.

For an unknown reason, I disdained the way the wolves looked at me. It was their look of curiosity devoid of fear. I was a gargoyle, not an exhibition.

Digging my paws into the earth, I exploded in a blur at the nearest wolf. It couldn’t react as in the next instant my claws had pierced its torso.

You have killed your first beast as a warrior, you have gained 1 level.

I couldn’t help but smile. Compared to before this was too easy, I could get used to this.