The Voyage in the Blizzard (BL)

Next Master

Draken, since he came to this village, he felt like there was nothing except Raghnall and Leiandros. Having lost all connection with his own self, he was floating on the surface of the river. He didn’t know what was real and only Leiandros gave his life a certain liveliness.

He was wondering about when he was more alive, when he lived in complete seclusion or when he joined this clan.

Thinking about all this on the way to the Main House, Draken decided to tell the truth, to tell everything about him and Leiandros. He didn’t care about anything. But he knew that Raghnall appreciates his father and that is why he harbored some hope. He hoped that he wouldn’t pay attention to their love or take it as a misunderstanding.

With courage in his heart, he pushed the door and when he was inside of the house, his eyes fell on all soldiers of the First clan. Gathering in the hall, they were looking at him with a strange seriousness.

At the very end of the hall, Raghnall and Sun were standing. At the sight of Sun, Draken’s hear beat faster and his eyes became almost red out of rage.

Catching his sly look on himself Draken, managed to quietly laugh because, now, in front of everyone he will reveal his cards and tell everyone about his secret.

Recalling all the words Sun said to him, he remembered the very sentence which made him brave.

Remembering that Sun himself confessed that he had caught one of the beasts in order to train it and use its power, Draken confidently walked towards Raghnall.

And when he reached him, Raghnall loudly said, “Today I gathered you all here, because I want to announce to you all about a small change that has occurred in our clan.” Looking at Draken, Raghnall continued, “Due to the recent events, I want to tell you that your teacher Leiandros decided to leave our clan. I won’t hide that his decision is very unexpected. And I should tell you that he left us because of the Second clan. From now on, he will be teacher of the Second clan. So you will not see him again.”

Unable to hear this anymore, Draken cried out, “Raghnall! It is not true!”

Raghnall with curiosity in his eyes approached him.

Sun, changing his expression, nervously smiled but he couldn’t say anything.

Draken continued, “You think that Leiandros betrayed our clan?! Well, it is not like that. He didn’t turn his back on you. What you think of him is wrong. The reason why he left us is because of him…”

The next second, the Head of the Third clan, Sirius, burst into the room. Without any ceremony he shouted, “What happened?!”

Seizing the moment, Sun ran up to him and loudly said, “Brother Sirius! I can’t believe that these creatures reached the Three mountains! What should we do now?! Brother, are you alright?!”

Screaming hysterically, Sun grabbed his hand and pretended to be frightened.

“I think all the soldiers of the three clans should start guarding the forests. So that no place will be left without a proper supervision. We will not allow these creatures to enter our homes,” Sirius coldly said.

Sun added, “You’re right. We need to protect our homes.”

The soldiers who were still young and didn’t know anything about beasts or war, began to whisper, creating even more noise.

Sun, looking at Draken loudly said, “We need to guard these mountains. So that is why we all need your help. And we need everyone’s help.”

One of the soldiers stepped ahead and said, “Before sending unprepared soldiers to the meeting with beasts, isn’t it worth to complete the training? You will destroy all these soldiers before they go to the Battlefield. Look at them, they are still children!”

Sirius looked at Raghnall who was sitting on the chair. “Raghnall what do you suggest? Sit here and wait until all these creatures invade our homes?”

Suddenly Den’s voice was heard. “One of the soldiers of the Third clan was killed. If it was a beast, then I don’t think it will stop. It will destroy everything on its way. But Master, in our clan, there are many soldiers who just turned 18. And you want to use them against beasts?! If you want to guard the Three mountains, then send those who are older. We are more prepared than they are.” Pointing towards the young soldiers, he added, “We will protect this place. Not them. We are older and we are stronger. And you should protect these children.”

“How can we be sure that it was the beast? After all, Master Raghnall isn’t sure about it. Then why strengthen the security?” someone shouted from the crowd.

While there was a loud noise and chaos, Sun walked away from Sirius and went up to Draken. Having created an ideal environment for himself, he, with a joyful smile on his face, whispered, “If you tell at least something, then I will not be silent. I will tell everything about you and Leiandros. And besides, my whole clan will confirm that they have witnessed your love. Also, do you remember Blaze? He is with me too. So do not think that you can take off my mask in front of everyone. Right now, I have your secret. If you want Leiandros to be safe, then you will be smart.”

Grabbing him by the collar, Draken said, “Don’t think that Leiandros will stay in your clan for forever. It is all temporary. Because in the end, everyone will find out about who you are. People like you can’t feast for a long time.”

Sun nodded his head and broke into laughter.

Draken, restraining himself, clutched his fists. He couldn’t do anything. He was cornered. And if before, he would have told about everything without thinking about himself, but now, in his life there was a meaning. And he had to protect this meaning, and even if the price of that would be the safety of the whole clan.

As expected, love makes a person an egoist.

Interrupting everyone, Raghnall raised his hand. “Let me tell you something now!”

Stopping their argument, everyone turned in his direction.

“As I said, your teacher Leiandros left our clan. And now, since you need a new teacher, and since all worthy warriors are on the Battlefield, and of course, following Leiandros’ last wish, I have chosen a new teacher for you.” Pointing to Draken, Raghnall said, “Draken will be your new teacher for an indefinite period. Since he showed himself in the best light, showed all his skills and bravery, I think he will be a good teacher.”

Expecting some kind of reaction from Draken, Raghnall went up to him. And Draken couldn’t say anything.

“Draken will be our teacher?”

“He is only 24 years old!”

“Quiet everyone!” Sirius exclaimed. Clapping his hands, he said, “To be honest, Draken’s talent is very precious. So, I am sure that he will be a good teacher.”

Putting his hand on his shoulder, Sun added, “Like your father, you achieved everything in a very short time. Raghnall, I am glad that your clan has such a young and talented man. And I hope that you are not offended that I have stolen your best warrior. But now, you have much better warrior, and this is Draken.”

Taking his hand, Sun, as if his longtime friend exclaimed, “Smile! Draken you should be happy! Not everyone, at such a young age, becomes the teacher of an entire clan!”

Draken, not knowing what to say, just looked at Raghnall. And all he wanted at that moment was for Raghnall to read his thoughts and understand that Leiandros would never have done that and the man standing next to him, with a sly smile, is actually not going against the beasts, but wants to go with them.

“Bravo Draken!” someone shouted and Draken’s eyes fell on Silver. A tired smile flashed across his face. At that time, he needed such friend as Silver. Stopping his lost gaze on him, it was like he found an oasis in the middle of the desert.

Finally, when celebration was over, Draken, at the request of Raghnall, stayed.

Looking at Sun who was walking past him, and who managed to whisper the following, “Think of Leiandros.” Draken was able to resist the urge to confess everything.

After extinguishing half of the candles and plunging the room into the twilight, Raghnall sat down on his throne.

Without looking at Draken, he murmured, “Sit down.”

Feeling exhausted after a long day, Draken sat and closed his eyes. All he could feel was a severe headache. And all he could think was Leiandros. But then, interrupting his own thoughts, he said, “Master are you sure about your decision? I don’t think that I can be a good replacement for Leiandros.”

“It was Leiandros’ decision and I trust him. That is why I am sure you can handle it. I hope you will raise my clan to the heights where Leiandros couldn’t reach.”

“Master, you should know that Leiandros didn’t betray your clan. It is not like that. He respects you very much.”

“Leiandros’ motives are unclear to me. But he was right. In this world no one is holding anyone, no one belongs to anyone. The Battlefield takes many lives, everything is decided there. Draken, I trusted your father with my life and now I trust the whole clan to you.”

Saying this, Raghnall stood up and left Draken with one flickering candle.