One week later

Whisked away by the winds, snowflakes fell slowly into the plains and into the grand city of the high griffons, Iria. With its high wooden palisades and innumerable number of fires within said walls, it stood as a bulwark against the cold.

Yet for all it's determined resistance, it was at a knife's edge. No carriage could be moved across the streets, for they were flooded with refugees. The marketplaces and plazas were rife with goods sold at extortionate prices, only meant for those with money.

For those who were lucky enough to have a roof over their head, it was nearly as bad. For within the massive amounts of villas that separated the administrative and commercial districts from the slums, conditions were poor. The council had decided that the poorer folk would be housed interchangeably within the villas, the effect being that instead of relieving, everyone suffered equally.

Lastly within the city's center lay the senate, a building where within its walls the council of the city would discuss and debate current issues and policy. It stood as a pillar of marble amongst the stone houses of the local patrician elite, the descendents of the first settlers of the plain. Each family living in relative comfort within their family houses, called a Domus.

Although if one were to enter the senate right now, the veil of nobility that had covered this district before would be crushed in front of their very eyes. For the nobility of status does not always equal the nobility of character.

…

"You can't be serious!" The patriarch of the Tullia cried out.

"Why ever not? The house of Romilia have always seen to the prosperity of Iria, and our continued service should not be expected without reward!" The patriarch of the Romilia countered.

"Rewards?! Each and every one of the Valeria have slaved away for this city and you ask for rewards in these times? Have you not seen the state of the public works? The squalor of the commercial and residential districts? Nevermind the frozen latrines right outside your own Domus!"

The patriarch of the Valeria paused to catch his breath before his scowl morphed into a smile.

"No no, these resources would be much better spent subsidising the builders guild, to see to new housing and the repairing of our infrastructure."

A new voice laughed, the echo of it being carried across the chamber as he let his protests be known.

"The builders guild?! Hah! The last time the builders guild built anything, half the lumber was sold to the Drakars! And the rest being smuggled off into your own Domus!"

A flurry of insults then erupted as the senate exploded in anger with houses squabbling amongst themselves.

"ORDER! ORDER!" The speaker yelled out but to no avail as his elderly voice was drowned out by the so called nobles of the city.

Yet as the squabbling nobles continued their tirade, a lone griffon sat in the corner, quiet and brooding. Giving the council a cold gaze he scoffed before jumping down from his seat and walking out whilst they were distracted.

"Useless fools." He muttered to himself.

"The city is on the brink of collapse with but half a year of food stowed away to last us through the cold yet they continue to squander what few things we have left."

He paused as he exited the building and got a grand look at the rest of the city from his vantage point. From every street, pillars of smoke rose like talons desperately reaching towards the sky. In every villa, the light of a hearth could be seen with griffons desperately crowding around them, awaiting a serving of stew.

"The last city of the high griffons..."

Sighing sadly he brought his eyes to the mountainside where he heard that song from days past. An omen? Hope? He doesn't know why, but that voice brought more warmth to him than any fire.

Looking back to the city, he set his eyes towards the slums on the outskirts, tightly hugging the walls. A look of pity filled him before he reached inside an enchanted bag he had hanging around his neck. Pulling out a cloak, he put it on quickly and raised the hood to hide his face.

In silence, he wandered off into the dark alleyways of Iria.

...

It has been a week since our meeting with Leona and the kids. Feels like a lifetime ago with how things have been progressing. I'll guess I'll start with the good news!

Leona has taken to reading like a fish to water, reading not only the bible but also other books we have in storage. Despite the wide variety however, she still insists on learning everything she can about the Christian faith first. It seems that I've been an influence on her, as sometimes I manage to overhear her quoting me to her children. It's quite flattering really.

The kids too have been busy, with Illarion and Lucia taking up training with me and Mark. Having a corporeal body needs an amount of fitness, a painful reminder since we've been having to train in the snow. Nonetheless they've been making steady progress, although they're still relying too much on natural instinct, thrashing about like wild animals when under strain.

Fiddie is a different case however, he has mostly relegated himself to reading along with his mother and Helena. Sharp little thing, he is, although despite that, he's still young. As such he's been having trouble grasping more advanced fields, no matter, all in due time.

One thing they all have in common as kids however, is that they're impressionable. As such, after settling in amongst us, hearing our daily prayers and reading the works of christendom, the spark of faith has lit a flame inside of them just as it has with Leona. I can't describe my joy at hearing them tell me of the love they feel. It's a good start, not just for them but for us as well. Knowing that all the races can be converted will be a boon in the future.

Finally, me, Mark and Helena have all continued trying to acclimate our souls and bodies to this world. The magic that flows through us has only increased, and to control it we've had to stop early to camp for the last couple of days to meditate. To sum it up, we've branched out to different fields of magic, although Mark has focused mostly on combat spells whilst Helena has focused on other practical areas. I myself have been in-between, as to not limit myself to any area.

Now the bad news, to pass the time between training, praying and other such activities, the kids, mine included, have grown a bit… playful.

...

"Kluk. Tik tik. Kluk."

thwak

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"..."

"Kluk."

thwak

"You'd be surprised."

Helena and Mark laughed together with the kids as Leona covered her snicker with a talon. Meanwhile I continued to sit with reins in my hands as I was pummeled by the grouse.

thwak

"Of all the fucking birds… Why'd you have to pick up this one?"

Helena calmed her laughter down to a snicker as she answered.

"Oh you know."

"To annoy me?"

thwak

"Mostly because it's funny but yes."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Peace. Love. Fai-

thwak

Alright that's it.

thud

"Lasted longer than I thought It would." Mark remarked.

"My patience is immense when dealing with brats."

"Hey!"

I tossed the lifeless corpse of the grouse, it landing on Helena's face as she let out a squeak before falling off the carriage and into the snow.

"You have no idea how good that felt." I said as I stopped the carriage and squinted at the sight in front of me. There was an opening in the treeline and… there wasn't any forest on the other side!

Setting the reins down next to me I stood up as Helena was getting up from her hole, with the others laughing at the sight. Pushing my fingers against my lips I let out a whistle and got their attention.

"We've arrived." I said as I pointed to the forest's edge.

...

It was the middle of the day by now and we had finally arrived outside the gates. Gotta say, this city? Not what I was expecting. Supposedly the high griffons were the most industrious and urbanised of the three folk, yet in front of us is a city of squalor. Ah well, if there's anything I know about the dark ages is that sanitation was abysmal. Even still though, you'd think they'd have more than just wooden palisades by this point.

We pulled up just along the gatehouse as the guards gave us weary looks. We had decided to keep the kids with Mark and Helena inside so as to not raise too much suspicion, although from the looks I'm getting, I'm guessing we already failed.

"Halt, by order of guard!" A griffon exclaimed as Leona and I stepped down from the carriage.

He eyes us wearily before continuing. "State your name griffon, what business do you and this creature have here?"

Leona looked up to me as I shrugged.

"The name is Leona, sir. We've come to seek shelter within your walls and to sell several goods, would you like to have a sample?"

I frowned but quickly suppressed it, realizing that bribery is the safest bet on getting inside. The smile that the guard produced seemed to confirm my suspicions as we led him to the carriage. Leona then quickly swooped in through the door before closing it, leaving me alone with the guard for a few seconds.

As I got a closer look at him, he looked quite famished as well. The city must be quite desperate if even the military can't be fed properly. My thoughts were broken however as Leona returned with a small bag within her talons.

"Here you go, sir!" She said as she handed it over to him.

Looking inside, his eyes widened a bit before closing it quickly and looking around. Then turning back to us, he gave us a smile.

"Well with such generous folk, there's no question about your credibility. Welcome to Iria, last city of the high griffons."

Last city?! I could've sworn there were three left! Either time passed much slower as we were transported or things were progressing much quicker than I'd like. There was no time for such thoughts however as we quickly hopped onto the carriage once more.

Being led into the city by our guard, we were gawked at by onlookers. I wouldn't blame them, none of them had ever seen a creature like me or Adolphus before. Luckily we were able to find ground onto which we could park, which was quite strange, as I saw no other carriages around.

For the first time since my arrival I opened my mouth to speak as I jumped down from the carriage.

"Excuse me, sir?" I asked to try to catch his attention.

He turned around and looked up at me before pointing his spear at me in what looked to be fear.

"Y-you can speak?"

Giving off a smile I lifted my arms up to seem as non threatening as possible.

"Of course I can, do you think a mere animal could steer an elk?" I asked rhetorically as Adolphus let out a snort.

"I-I umm." He cleared into his talons to regain his composure as he pulled his weapon back. "I suppose not. Yet I've never seen a creature like you before, what are you?"

"I'm a human, and it's natural for you not to be aware of us, my kind is incredibly rare in these parts." I said with a chuckle. "Although I do have a question for you as well, if you don't mind."

"Go ahead."

"I was wondering where all the carriages had gone? I can see tracks yet none are here."

The question was met with a sad sigh from the guard before answering.

"Tragically with the increasing attacks from ice beasts, the populace decided to use some of the carriages as fuel against the council's orders … although there are several in warehouses left."

Ah… well I suppose desperate people do desperate things, I, if anyone would know.

"Ah, well thank you for the information, sir."

"No problem, enjoy your stay in the city!"

He gave a firm roman salute before turning around and marching towards the gatehouse to return to his post.

Turning my sight back to the carriage, I walked up to the wall before knocking on it to the tune of staying alive. A few muffled voices could be heard from the inside before Helena and Mark came out along with the kids.

"Fuck me this place smells like ass" Mark muttered as he tried wafting the air in front of his face. Helena would've swatted his head but she too was holding a grimace as she smelt the city.

Looking at me and the kids, she groaned. "How can you handle this smell?!"

Shrugging, I just gestured behind me with a grim expression. "Because I know others have it worse than me."

Helena followed my hand and looked out amongst the spread out crowds of griffons, huddling amongst fires as they tried to warm themselves. Their faces were tired and their coats dirty and disheveled, only parts that were of relative cleanliness were their wings, which they kept preened.

Her face almost seemed to deflate at the sight, her grimace being removed and a sad look in her eyes as she looked at a pair of coughing griffin children.

"This is reality now." I said as I looked at them, Mark too, having been moved by what he saw. "There is no fairytale-like adventure for us to experience. Here in the dirt, we'll be these people's pillars, their hope for a better day."

Walking past them, I rummaged around the carriage a bit before finding what I needed. As I stepped outside once more, my kids looked at me as I held the firewood I had asked them to gather before we made our trip through the plain.

"And should the morning never comes, we'll be their hearth in the darkness."

Author's Note

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