The Voyage in the Blizzard (BL)

Fame

Next time…

These two words stuck in Draken’s mind until the next time finally happened.

Leaving the Battlefield behind, Draken and other thirty warriors, were climbing the mountain again. Half of the warriors were severely injured and half of them just had minor wounds. But realization that they are still alive gave them some hope.

Following Leidolf, Draken was thinking about what happened after the fight between him and the beast. Thinking about it over and over again made him feel himself uncomfortable next to Leiandros. He couldn’t look at him. He was ignoring the hidden happiness in the corner of his heart, like it was a mistake. But he knew that he was longing for it. He was searching for Leiandros. And now when he was walking behind of him, Draken wanted to hide, he wanted to run away and live in that cave for the rest of his life.

Feeling Leiandros’ eyes on his back, he with quick steps tried to run away from him. And without even noticing it, he was the first who climbed the mountain.

Politely saying goodbye to other warriors Leiandros was the only one who left with him and Leidolf.

And other warriors went back to their clans which were on tops of two other mountains. (There are three mountains and each clan has its own mountain)

“Brother let’s go now,” Leidolf said. Looking at him suspiciously he asked, “Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

When the roofs of the houses appeared before their eyes, Draken rushed towards his house. His steps were so quick that in a matter of seconds he was already inside of the house.

Leidolf looking ahead said, “I shouldn’t have brought him with me. In case if something happened to him, there on the Battlefield…”

Interrupting him Leiandros said, “Let’s go. I am tired and hungry.”

Storm seeing Draken, as usual, welcomed him with a warm embrace. But instead of saying hello, he shouted, “You stupid!”

Draken in bewilderment looked at Den who was standing behind. “Guys what happened?”

But instead of answering him, Storm pushed him so hard that he almost fell.

“I didn’t know that you are so stupid!”

“Brother! What is wrong with you?!”

Pointing at him with his finger, he said, “That fight with the beast! What were you thinking about? You just came here and already fighting with beasts!”

Draken tried to restrain himself from the laughter, but he couldn’t.

“Why are you laughing? Do you think it is funny?!”

The anger painted Storm’s face. He looked as if he was about to attack him with his fists. Seeing him like that for the first time, Draken said, “Brother calm down. See? I am alive.”

Raising his hand up he was about to hit him, but he stopped from doing so. Storm, absolutely raged, ran out of the house.

Looking out the window Den said, “Don’t pay attention to him. He was just worrying all these days. His anger doesn’t last long. After ten minutes he will be back as if nothing happened.”

The guy named Fan gave to Draken a cup of hot tea and for the first time asked him, “Are you alright? What did this beast do to you?”

Taking a few sips of tea, Draken asked, “Wait, how did you know about the incident on the Battlefield? I mean who told you about it? All warriors were with me. So how did you know about it?”

Den lied down to his bed and happily answered, “If something interesting happens then in a matter of seconds everyone will know about it. Rumors are very powerful. Rumors can get through the ice, through the blizzard and even through the death.”

Indeed, rumors were spreading with the speed of light. And Draken became the main topic of each conversation.

When he was going towards the canteen, he could hear many whisperings about him.

“This newcomer! Who do you think he is? He is just another Sun, he is just like him. Remember what he did! He acted bravely only once and then he became the Head of the Clan.”

“Yes. You are right. This newcomer is too pretentious. He did it on purpose. He doesn’t seem like a simple soldier. I bet his goals are higher than ours. I won’t be surprised if one day he’ll become the best warrior and for nothing. Just like the Head of the Second clan, Sun.”

“I think you two are just envious. I don’t think that he is bad. On the contrary I think that he is very smart and brave. And we all have to accept that we are just a bunch of cowards. We will never be able to fight with beast. We won’t even be able to look into its eyes. So, accept the truth, Draken, he is a new hero.”

“Let’s bet that he will ruin our lives and turn this place into something more terrifying than the Battlefield. I can feel that there isn’t anything good about him. He will bring a lot of problems to Raghnall and to us.”

“Let’s bet then.”

Hearing all these whispers, Draken didn’t pay attention to anyone.

But once he stepped inside the canteen, he noticed that everyone was standing in a row as if they were expecting someone very respectable.

His roommates were there too.

He looked at Galen and Den and made a questioning expression but none of them said anything.

Everyone’s attention was directed towards him. Feeling a bit awkward he made a step forward, noticing that they are not going to attack him, he just made his way towards the table.

When he sat down, everyone synchronically turned towards him.

Feeling hunger after the trip he decided not to pay any attention to them and so he began to eat. But he couldn’t feel the taste of the food. Being under such a pressure, he quickly stood up and asked loudly, “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Without looking at them he tensed all his muscles and was ready to fight. “If you want to tell me something then tell me now. I am very hungry so don’t take my time.”

Hearing a quite whisper he felt that this is not a good sign. Preparing for a fight, he clutched his fists and when he felt someone’s hand on his back, he sharply turned around and hit someone so hard that he screamed out of pain.

But the next what happened made him wonder and get surprised.

All of a sudden everyone began to clap their hands.

Without understanding he looked at the man whom he just hit. He was too, happily clapping his hands.

And then, one by one, they began to shake his hand. The usual dinner time turned into a happy celebration.

Unable to hide his curiosity he asked, “What is happening here? Can someone please tell me?”

But no one told him what was the reason of such happiness.

Lifting him up, everyone headed towards the exit.

“Den can you tell me what is happening?”

“You are famous now.”

After that happy incident in the canteen, everyone led Draken towards the Main House.

“I think you are mistaken. I didn’t do anything heroic,” Draken said trying to stop everyone.

Den tapping him on the back said, “Don’t be so shy. We all know that none of us is ready to face these creatures. But you, without a proper training, defeated one of them. No wonder that you are famous now. And also, you saved someone very important.”

“He is right.” Raghnall’s voice was heard. Approaching him, Raghnall happily smiled at him. “Draken, there is no need to deny it. All these young soldiers are applauding because you showed the bravery and you saved the life.”

Hearing these words, Draken felt a bit uneasy. He perfectly knew that it is Leiandros who defeated the beast. “Master, I don’t think that it is a big deal.”

Raghnall shook his head. Leading him towards the house he said, “My clan needs a lot of good warriors. Now, I see that you will become the hero.”

“But Master it is not…”

“If you’re going to say that it is nothing then don’t expect me to be kind. Fighting in the Battlefield without completing your study, is prohibited. You broke the rule. So if you don’t accept the fact that you are respectable now, then you’ll get a punishment.”