CHAPTER 112: HELPING A STRANGER.

After several minutes of non-stop running, the wolves hadn’t backed down one bit. They kept their pace, and though Aramith had put enough distance between them, they still didn’t stop. That might have been okay, but when he observed their eyes, he noticed something odd.

Their gaze wasn’t the gaze of animals following a leader. It was closer to worship, and it chilled him.

He mulled it over, thinking deeply of how best he would make them stop following him, but nothing came to mind. His only choice was to outrun them.

But another problem arose.

Aramith saw the end of the forest they were in. It opened to a clearing, but where was the academy in question?

They finally made their way out into the clearing when—

"Heeeelllllllpppp!!! Someone help me! Please!" A sudden scream toward the left of the clearing caught their attention.

It was a young boy about their age. He wore simple clothes and a heavy bag strapped to his back. Three wolves, very similar to the ones he’d encountered, chased after him, snapping at his heels.

It was strange, but he was still able to dodge their every attack by the skin of his teeth.

Aramith took a step, but paused.

"Mozrael, should we help?" He asked.

"Why are you asking?" Mozrael could see the question wasn’t about helping or not helping the boy. It went far deeper than that.

"He looks like he’s about to get killed, but he’s still able to escape, right?"

Mozrael nodded. "Yes, but he could run out of strength after a while."

Aramith squinted. "We could help him, but Lynnor said we shouldn’t just reveal our abilities to strangers like that. It could draw unwanted attention."

That was true, but ARamith had another thing in mind. "We can still ask him for help. Maybe he knows the place?"

Mozrael nodded, but how would they help him without revealing themselves?

"I have an idea," Mozrael said after thinking for a few seconds. "You can still communicate with the wolves, right?"

Aramith nodded. He still felt the connection to them.

The boy screamed and tried his best to hold on to dear life.

The wolves had been chasing him for almost an hour now. They first appeared as a large group of almost twenty, but all of a sudden, all but these three ran off. They found another target, but he still had to escape these three if he wanted to survive.

"That stupid Sylas! I swear I’ll get my revenge!"

The person he was referring to was a member of the group he was travelling with. They were to make it to the academy as a group, but Sylas decided to use him as bait while the rest of the group escaped. The plan was that he would draw the wolves away, then, when they were far enough, they’d use long-range attacks to kill the wolves, and then he’d join the group.

Too bad he was played the fool.

"I just have to make it there, but I’m getting tired. Won’t these wolves leave me alone?" But even in his tiredness, the adrenaline rush pumping through him forced him to stay alert and filled him with the strength to dodge.

"Hellllllppp!!!" He screamed again. "Someone! I need help!!!" He screamed so loud that all his blood vessels pumped under his neck, but no one was coming to his rescue.

He was getting tired. He stumbled and fell, then forced himself to keep crawling. In that moment, he was moving just like the wolves were, just...he was faster than them?

He was on the verge of giving u, when several howls behind sent a shiver down his spine.

"He looked back and cursed Sylas. "They’re back?! What kind of luck is this?"

The wolves that had run off earlier were coming to join the hunt.

And they were faster than the ones right behind him.

"Help!" His voice was now high-pitched and hoarse. He sounded like he was about to die.

He looked back one more time and saw the other wolves getting closer.

A scream escaped his throat just when they got close enough. All eleven of them leaped toward him, and all he could do was roll up into a ball and use the bag as a shield.

Growls and snarls echoed right behind his ears. Bones snapped and crunched right behind him. He covered his ears.

"I don’t want to die! I’m too young to die! Please! I have a life to live! I haven’t gone to the academy yet, or even fallen in love! Have mercy!!"

The snarls got louder and louder, and then they were moving further from him. He still couldn’t move. Even after the place became silent.

He felt a grip on his shoulder, and instantly his cries became louder.

"Don’t kill me!!! I beg you!! I don’t taste good!"

The grip became stronger and shook him again. This time, he noticed it felt...human? And the place was quiet now.

He raised his head and saw hope. He saw a girl about his age, with long, dark hair, gently blowing in the sun, and a gentle smile.

"A goddess!"

Aramith looked at the boy in confusion. "A goddess?" He asked.

The boy suddenly hugged him and wept, snot and tears running down his face.

"Leave me alone! What is wrong with you?" He tried to push him off, but the boy was stuck to him like a leech.

"You saved me, oh goddess! Thank you, my life belongs to you!" He wept louder.

Aramith struggled against him, but this boy had the grip of a beast.

He looked at Mozrael, who at first was confused, then found it funny.

The boy raised his head, and in that moment, he noticed Mozrael too. He blinked.

"Another goddess!" He let go of Aramith and crawled over with insane speed, but after seeing what Aramith had gone through, she qodged him and gave some space. But he didn’t give up. He tried again, but was still dodged by her.

"I just want to thank you for saving me. If you don’t want that, then this would do." He bowed with his forehead to the ground.

He didn’t know how they did it, but these two had driven away those wolves.

"Just get up," Aramith spoke, finding this reaction very uncomfortable.

He raised his head but thought for a moment. "My first goddess, not to be rude, but you sound like a young ma—"

"That’s because I am male!" Aramith couldn’t control how irritated he got for being mistaken for a girl. It was definitely because of his long hair. [Maybe because you’re a prettyboy? lol]

"Apologies, then, my savior. How shall I address you, then?" He asked in all honesty.

Aramith glanced at Mozrael. She nodded.

"I am Aramith, and she is Mozrael. How should we address you? And get up from the ground."

"Oh, thank you. My name is Aris. Aris Faldour. Are you headed to the academy as well, boss?"

"The academy?" Aramith asked quickly. He ignored Aris, addressing him as boss. This was a surprising turn of events.

"Yes, the academy. It’s in that direction," Aris pointed ahead. "Isn’t that why you’re here, boss?"

Aramith glanced at Mozrael and smiled. "Yes, that’s where we’re heading. We just lost our way."

Aris beamed. "Then let me show you the way! Since we’re both going there, why don’t we go together? This life belongs to you, so it’s the least I can do to show my gratitude."

Aramith nodded at Mozrael. But he had one more question.

"How did you end up in that situation?" He asked.

Aris’s mood turned sour. "I wouldn’t want to bother you with my sob story, but if you ask, then I shall tell you."

He was their age, but Aramith could tell from the way he spoke that he was very intelligent and polite.

"We were a group, planned to go together. And for the past few days, we’ve travelled as one. For how we met, I don’t see it necessary. Our group leader, Sylas, told me he’d seen the wolves before and made a plan to help us out. Since I was the weakest one, he decided that I would be the one to distract them. When I was far enough, they would all attack the wolves with long-range attacks and kill them, but I was a fool." His fists clenched tighter, "They never planned on helping me."

Aramith could feel the bitterness in his tone.

So he was played the fool in a group he trusted. We were removed from our home because of the decisions we made, but he was tricked.

"And where are they now?" Aramith asked.

"They must have made it to the academy by now if I’m not mistaken," Aris replied.

Mozrael looked at the disgusted expression Aramith had. He’d never had to deal with such people before, but hearing such things filled him with nothing but hate for those people.

"Aramith," she called. "We still have to get to the academy first. We don’t have to involve ourselves in such matters. It’s risky."

Aramith understood, but it still disgusted him. The so-called Sylas could even be stronger than him, and this wasn’t his fight. No need to involve himself, especially since he couldn’t verify if what this kid’s words. He remembered Lynnor’s words.

So this is what Lynnor warned us about. Not all monsters have fangs. And even prey could be dangerous.

"I didn’t mean to bring you into my problems. I’ll show you the way to the academy. We just have to make it there," he pointed.

Mozrael looked at the place he pointed carefully. It was still far off, but she could see two people standing in the distance.

Aramith couldn’t use his wolf form now, so they had to continue on foot.

"Let’s go, show the way," Aramith said to Aris.

"Yes, boss," Aris bowed and took the lead. He had some questions, but he wasn’t going to ask his benefactors.

How were they out here in this place, and their clothes were still so clean, and also, they had no bags with them. His greatest confusion was how they’d gotten rid of the wounds without leaving a single drop of blood as evidence.

He shook his head. Right now, he had to lead the way. That’s right, just lead the way. I wonder the look Sylas would have when he sees me alive.