Chapter 7 The Companion Beast
798 Words
Silence fell between them.
"You have a point." Cywen conceded, though something didn't sit right with him. Nevertheless, as a master, he was indeed obliged to provide ample food to his servant, particularly to such a valued guide.
Cywen went to the kitchen and soon returned with another plate of food for Lilith. This time, he prepared three servings of seared venison. Noticing some fruit and bread in the kitchen, and thinking that his delicate servant might need the extra nourishment, he added some to the plate.
"Here you go." Cywen placed the food on the table with his expression stern. He secretly pondered whether keeping a servant was too burdensome.
Lilith took it with a grin and deeply inhaled the enticing aroma. Geeze! How could his culinary skills be so impressive?
As Cywen watched his guide eagerly eating, he experienced a kind of feeder's satisfaction. Then, his gaze shifted towards the window.
A deep, trumpet-like sound echoed from the forest.
An elephant? Impossible.
Lilith turned in disbelief towards the large window. Emerging from the deep forest was a massive creature.
It had curved tusks and a long trunk. It was really an elephant!
But wait! This creature was enormous, over 10 feet tall and covered in dense black fur.
This was no ordinary elephant...
It was a mammoth, a creature believed to have vanished long ago!
Lilith's mouth dropped open in astonishment, and she stood up, her voice tinged with fear. "Oh my gosh..."
She knew that even a slight nudge from the mammoth could be fatal.
Cywen's hand rested on her shoulder, his voice calm. "Keep eating. We can't waste food."
"But that giant guy..." Lilith's voice trembled with nervousness.
If the mammoth went on a rampage now, she'd be toast! Cywen's instruction on keeping eating seemed absurdly out of place!
Cywen turned around and called out, "Alfi, you've frightened my servant."
The mammoth raised its enormous feet high, let out a thunderous trumpet, and then stomped them down, sending a heavy thud through the ground!
Cywen frowned and snapped his fingers, and the mammoth outside the window disappeared instantly!
How incredible! Lilith rubbed her eyes in disbelief and asked, "What happened to that giant creature? It just vanished?"
"That's my companion beast," Cywen explained, glancing at the leftover food on the table. Lilith followed his gaze, grabbed some bread, dipped it in the savory meat juices, and took a hearty bite.
"This is really good!" she exclaimed sincerely. "This venison is the best I've ever tasted."
A trace of warmth flickered through Cywen's usually indifferent gaze. When Lilith inquired about the companion beast, he seemed more willing to share details.
"It's a unique ability possessed by orcs." With a swift motion, Cywen transported Lilith to the forest outside the castle and snapped his fingers. Hearing the summon, the mammoth reappeared.
"OMG," Lilith exclaimed. She was dwarfed by the enormous beast before her!
She closed her eyes in resignation. Escaping from Cywen? The idea was laughable. A mere breath from the mammoth could launch her skyward!
The mammoth bellowed, the blast of air nearly sweeping Lilith off her feet. It then leaned down and affectionately nuzzled her with its head.
Its eyes were as large as Lilith's arms.
"You are my servant, and Alfi naturally feels a kinship with you. He's greeting you," Cywen explained, affectionately patting Alfi, who responded by gently rubbing its head against his palm.
"Hi." Holding back her fear, Lilith tentatively waved at the mammoth.
Cywen hoisted Lilith onto Alfi's back. She thought she was mentally prepared, but the reality of the situation still overwhelmed her!
Suddenly level with the treetops, Lilith brushed against nearby branches, her eyes catching a bird's nest where fledglings peered out curiously.
As she looked down, the ground appeared tiny, and her perspective widened dramatically.
"This is incredible!" Lilith exclaimed. She then asked, "Do I get my own companion beast as well?"
"Sure, it will be a loyal and charming little creature," Cywen assured her, enveloping her in his arms. He felt so good now! Could this be the enchanting effect of a guide?
"A small creature?" Lilith sounded disappointed. "Couldn't it be a mammoth like Alfi?"
Cywen's embrace tightened, and Lilith let out a stifled grunt, unable to escape his grip.
His deep voice, now laced with a touch of melancholy, murmured near her ear, "Whether they are creatures of prehistory or of magic, they are inherently unstable and unpredictable. They often bring us disaster..."
His mood suddenly became grave, and Lilith sensed an intense ferocity radiating from him.
She mulled over his words, realizing this was not the time for further questions.
Abruptly, Alfi bolted, charging through the forest with a ground-shaking thud from its enormous feet. The sheer force of the beast was unimaginable!
- Writer
