12day of Withering year 190

The weather was quite good in the canine empire where refreshing cold winds came from the north, Xeor was staying in the Imperial capital as he had already conquered most of the known races, but this stange nightmare he had was driving him crazy as every night he saw himself running behind the red orb, unable to stop even if he so much wanted to.

The stress and strange thoughts drove him to a sense of unsatisfactory as his campaign to unite the beastmen was drawing to its end.

But this day a strange black catman came to him bowing before him informing him that he from that day had a brother, a small tiny brother back in the lionmen village. Xeor wanted to see his brother too but he also had a wild desire to see how the Iron mountains looked up close or more like something was there a strange intuition told him that something was there and he had to find what, he imagined that in those mountains humans had made cities and multiplying as days passed him by and as in his dream they would storm the whole valley destroying anything in their path.

Of course he had no proof and he couldn't just search randomly in fear of ridiculing himself, Imagine building an army and storming a bald mountain where none lives and the tracking golem can't show where Humans are as they don't live in just one place and if he tried to go to the closest it could as well take him beyond the great river.

So Xeor consulted Sherror and glori about what to do

(Xeor)-As you both know only the city of the hundred trees remains in my conquest list but those mountains behind us keep troubling me

(Sherror)-What's so great about them?

(Xeor)-I suspect someone or something is living there but I can't come to find a reason to invade it, do you Sherror know of any race that calls those mountains theirs?

(Sherror)-As long as I know the mountains have been devoid of intelligent life at least, as there are those really dangerous monsters the Grawlers that live there

(Xeor)-How do they look like

(Sherror)-Well, giant lizards that walk on two and screem at the top of their voice

(Xeor)-Oh that's what they're called I've fought one once, tough bastards

(Sherror)-don't think you have, they are quite persistant on their prey and always hunt in groups

(Xeor)-Yes I know, it was pure luck that I made it out alive, I even broke a claw while riding it

(Glori)-I believe you both had your own experiences in handling them but don't they normally leave the Iron mounts during the summer

(Sherror)-How do you know that?

(Glori)-Well they do appear seldomly in our territories but only in the summer around this time

(Xeor)-Glori you are a genius, If the grawlers aren't there we can explore the mountains as much as we like

(Sherror)-Or we could just send Glori here

Both stares were now on glori asking if he would go or not on this scouting mission alone.

(Glori)-Alright I'll go but don't wait too much from me I'll only go for

an hour or so

And Glori left flying through the sky a little clumsily at first but alright in the long run, Xeor and Sherror waited for an hour, a second one and Glori was nowhere to be seen, bad thoughts clouded their minds as Sherror called for a meeting of their best warriors and trackers.

(Sherror)-The five of you will go with Xeor, and find out if there is any malicious intent hiden in the Iron mount, While I will be putting together an army capable of halting an Invasion from the north, cause if we fall, all the other races will fall afterwards, by this unknown threat we are facing

(Wolfman Tacker)-Leader what makes you think there is something there?

(Sherror)-State your name and rank before talking!

(Wolfman Tracker)-Sina the best tracker the empire has to offer

(Sherror)-Shina today in the morning I sent a scout up there and he is missing, what do you make of that?

(Sina)-Bullshit no scout of ours is so fast

(Sherror)-My scout was a flying Hawkman, they can go back and forth in an hour and if there was nothing there I see no reason for him staying a minute longer up there

(Dogman Warrior)-Fourga general of the empire wants to ask , why did you sent him to scout

(Sherror)-Have you got any Idea who lives in those mountains

(Fourga)-No sir

(Sherror)-Neither do I but what if the ones living there know about us and we don't, won't that give them an opportunity to strike us from behind as all our defences face the oposite side

(Dogwoman Warrior)-Pyrra commander of the empire wants to ask why do we need the lionman with us on this scouting mission?

(Sherror)-Have you fought a Grawler and survived

(Pyrra)-No

(Sherror)-Any other...

(Pyrra)-But I don't believe he has either

(Sherror)-Just shut up Xeor doesn't lie when it comes to achievement and has no reason to

(Silly looking Dogman)-Who will lead the mission Sir

(Sherror)-Your name and rank

(Silly looking dogman)-Flint Hersh a mere soldier

(Sherror)-How come you have two names and How did you even end up here?

(Flint Hersh)-You see your Highness ... I ... my parents had a hard time choosing on a name so I got two, and as to why I am here It's because I am a veteran who had survived a battle with the lionman there

(Sherror)-Xeor does he bring you something to mind?

(Xeor)-Don't know but I like him, would he like to fight me again maybe?

(Flint Hersh)-I would have to decline your offer emissary of the god of creation

(Huge Wolfman)-What is he really the one in the rumors

(Sherror)-Yes he is and who might you be?

(Huge wolfman)-I am Pretor the champion of our race and the best warrior after you left us

(Sherror)-Oh you mean the ranking battles which the previous emperor created, very well, The leader of this scouting mission will be Xeor and subleader will be Sira the tracker

(Xeor)-Make it Hesh, I think he has more spank for it

(Sira)-What?

(Xeor)-Oh or do you maybe want a duel between yourselves to end up with Pretor here as the leader?

(Sira)-Ah whatever, lets just end with it

(Sherror)-that's my men, so any other questions

(Pyrra)-If the lionman got tracking skills why do we need another tracker

(Sherror)-Well you see my friend Xeor likes to dissapear sometines so as a precaution, you will need someone who can track him down

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

(Dogmen troops)"Just perfect he's an Idiot"

(Sherror)-Well I bid you good luck and hope you find nothing dangerous in the mountains

(Dogmen Troops)-Thank you Sir

(Xeor)-Do they have to call you that

(Sherror)-Well it was my nickname so why not

(Xeor)-So you want me calling you that as well

(Sherror)-Nah it's more fitting for soldiers and you are a King so just go and have fun while I'll try and straiten those lazy butts

The next morning under the leadership of Xeor the scouting group left for the Iron montains. Of course little did he know that in those very mountains his whole life would change.

You could say it was only a hunch but it must have been his fate to blame.Oh whatever Xeor's group was now climping up the mountain which would be quite easy if not for the iron nuggets under their bare feet, Xeor went after the orb that showed him where Glory was and

the others followed after him with no Idea as to where they were heading, but they wouldn't dare ask he was their leader for now, but one did anyway.

(Flint Hesh)-Oi Leader do you even know where we are going as it is growing colder and colder the farther up, good thing I brought these furs foe everyone

(Xeor)-Of course I know I'm going to where Glori is

(Flint Hesh)-Glori you mean the scout?

(Xeor)-Who else could he be, stupid questions

(Flint Hesh)-But wasn't he flying, what traces can you probably find on the ground, haven't seen a single feather yet

(Xeor)-Don't be an idiot, I'm using magic to track him down

(Flint Hesh)-Do all lionmen have such an ability called magic?

(Xeor)-How should I know haven't seen the others in a while

(Flint Hesh)-What didn't you have this ability by birth?

(Xeor)-Nah magic is something you can get

(Flint Hesh)-And how do you get magic?

(Xeor)-As if I know, I just got it by chance, was lucky I think

(Flint Hesh)-But weren't you sent by the god of creation

(Xeor)-no the Giant hand just appeared and made me its champion but nothing more did it want me to do at least for now

(Flint Hesh)-And what would happen in case you died let's say by a grawler

(Xeor)-Donno haven't thought of dying yet and don't plan to

(Flint Hesh)-And what powers do you have except of the tracking spell

(Xeor)-Just look, Kaching

And a large iron nugger in their path turned into a statue of his

(Xeor)-Sweet don't you find

The dogmen were amazed of how idiotic his power was all but Flint

(Flint)-You know It is an interesting power but can't you make something more useful with it like making a living being into a statue or something

(Xeor)-Donno never crossed my mind but I think it would be quite gross don't you think

(Flint)-So you can, no

(Xeor)-I think so but why would I want to do somethink like that?

Xeor hadn't realize but the dognem had become terrified by the mere potential of the power he had and went wasted on him, If any being other than him had such power he would be a King of the known world by then.

(Xeor)-So what do you normaly do for fun in your village

(Flint)-You should better ask Sina who isn't a soldier as our daily lives goes by guarding their safety

(Sina)-Cut the crap I know we trackers are not regulars of the army but you too spent most of your time playing tricks on eachother out of boredom

(Fourga)-What do you mean, we Generals have the hard duty to support our tribe

(Sina)-By speeping all day and drinking gnomish nectar

(Xeor)-Eew how can you drink that stuff its as if you drink your own pee

Laughters filled the place of discord as the begun saying funny things they heard on duty, till night fell, now they wanted to stop but Xeor wanted to go on, normally they would have no arguement but they wouldn't be able to follow him easily.

Xeor gave in easily thinking they must be really weak to be afraid to travel at night.

The next day Xeor's pace went even faster as he was full of energy,

They spent three days marching up the mountain, they could now feel the cold freezing their toes.

(Flint)-Xeor we should better go back there is no way your friend is here

(Xeor)-no he went through here

(Pyrra)-Why'd we stopped Xeor?

(Xeor)-The traces stop here, everyone look around

A strange sound canbe heard between the cold winds

(Flint)-Anyone seen Xeor?

(Pretor)-I think he dissappeared like Sir said

(Flint)-Sina, where'd Xeor go?

(Sina)-Over here,there's a hole here, I htink he fell in

(Flint)-Lets go in at least it might be warmer inside

The group went down the steep cave going deep inside the mountain, and as they went to the bottom of the hole they saw Xeor unconcious on the ground with many scratches and Injuries.

(Pyrra)-Is he dead?

(Fourga)-Just unconcious but I think he won't live long with a wound like that

And as he told that strange light orbs surrounded him some even passing through him, Flint tried to catch one but his hand passed right through him.

Xeor before waking up so but an image of the hand of the creator talking to him"Now you owe me one for saving your life so when you go back home you will have to build me a temple equal to your gratitude" After saying that Xeor woke up and the orbs dissapeared

(Xeor)-Fuck now I have to build him a temple but why?

The others were looking at him strangely as if he was some kind of undead, waking up all healed up after such a long fall.

Is he not mortal anymore?

(Xeor)-Guys, anyone knows what a temple is?

None but Flint seemed to know

(Flint)-It is a place where people worship their god and give him offerings

(Xeor)-Are you sure?

(Flint)-Most certainly am, as we are seeing one such right now

And before their eyes they saw hundreds of lizardmen dancing around a strange altar and glori was laying on It.

(Xeor)-What the fuck are they doing Flint

Flint gave him one behind his neck and Xeor fell unconcious once more and flint Shoured

(Flint Hesh)-Intrudersssss! We have Intruderssssss!

and before the dogmen eyes Flint turned into a lizardman, of the chameleon tribe, whose temple they had just entered.

(Flint Hesh)-And I am not flint my name is Hesh

The rest of the lizardmen surrounded them and knocked them all unconcious