Raven saw it too: a massive Runebear was sharpening its claws against a jagged volcanic rock.
"With so many of us, the bear shouldn't attack unprovoked," the caravan leader whispered, swallowing hard. "Everyone, slow down. Keep quiet. Don't do anything to provoke it. Damn... I've never seen a bear that large."
Raven wasn't afraid of the beast, but he had no desire to engage in a needless, brutal struggle. Legends said that half the knights who died in the wilderness bore the marks of bear claws, and there were even records of entire companies being wiped out by a single pair of mated Runebears. He instructed the group to follow the merchant's lead, carefully attempting to bypass the creature.
The Runebear stopped its scratching. It began to move sluggishly, circling the flank of the procession. Its small, beady eyes were fixed intently on the two trolls; it was clearly wary of their sheer size.
The group and the bear passed each other, the distance between them gradually widening. Just as Raven thought combat had been avoided, the Runebear let out a low growl and lunged toward the slow-moving villagers at the rear of the line.
"Damn it!" Raven drew his staff, but with the crowd in the way, he couldn't get a clear shot. "With me!" he roared.
The members of the knightly order spurred their horses to follow him, but the Runebear was incredibly fast. It looked like they wouldn't make it in time.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ha!"
A shrill, high-pitched cry drifted over their heads from left to right.
Raven looked up. Someone was gripping a volcanic vine hanging from the cliffside, swinging in a massive arc. At the apex of the swing, they let go, hurtling toward the Runebear with a wild yell.
Distracted by the flying intruder, the Runebear abandoned the villagers and spun around, lashing out with a claw.
The newcomer curled their body into a tight, round ball mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike. Not only that, but they used the momentum to latch onto the bear's extended foreleg, rolling up its limb like a spinning top.
"An Albinauric?" Raven gasped, recognizing the figure's silhouette.
The Runebear shook its leg violently, trying to dislodge the rolling creature. But the Albinauric bounced like a rubber ball, evading the other swiping claw and leaping onto the bear's head. He threw his short limbs wide and clung on tight.
With a piercing roar, the Runebear reared up on its hind legs, its paws flailing at its own face. One of its eyes was gone, replaced by a bleeding, hollow socket. The Albinauric laughed heartily, leaping toward the nearby cliff and scrambling up the near-vertical rock face like a monkey.
The bear crashed back down on all fours, its front claws straining to reach the Albinauric, but it was useless. Instead, the Albinauric dropped a Cracked Pot, which shattered directly over the bear's head. A toxic, emerald-green sludge drenched the bear from head to chest, billowing thick green smoke wherever it touched.
BOOM!
A pillar of light tore through the Runebear's torso. The force didn't stop there; it shattered the rock wall behind it and buried itself deep within the mountainside.
The Runebear stumbled back, trying to cover the gaping hole in its chest with its claws, but the wound was too vast. Finally, with a low groan, it collapsed onto its back.
Hundreds of meters away, Raven lowered the Sword of Night and Flame.
"Ha! A magnificent strike!" the Albinauric shouted in praise. He grabbed another vine, took a few running steps along the cliff wall, and kicked off, whistling as he swung down toward them.
"You're an Albinauric. Did you come from Liurnia of the Lakes?" Raven asked, looking at the creature with curiosity.
Though he had the same bulbous, frog-like head as the rest of his kind, his aura was entirely different. A makeshift eye patch made of leaves covered one eye, and several scars marked his smooth, round head, giving him a rugged, battle-hardened air.
"I didn't expect to see an Albinauric outside the Carian Kingdom," Raven said, leaning down and extending a friendly hand. The Albinauric stood on his tiptoes to shake it.
"You've seen my kin? How are they doing?" the Albinauric asked happily. "The name's Ludi. I left the tribe years ago to travel, and I haven't been home since."
"They're doing well. Food is plenty, at least, and the populations of the various tribes are growing," Raven said. "I am Raven, a Prince of Caria."
"Oh! Then you're the Lord of the Albinaurics. I suppose I should call you 'My Lord,'" Ludi remarked, sounding impressed, yet his demeanor remained poised and confident, lacking the typical fear commoners showed to those of high status. "However, since I've left the tribe, I won't be kneeling."
"Of course. Albinaurics are freemen of Caria; there's no need to kneel," Raven waved it off. "Are you also heading to Volcano Manor?"
"Indeed. Praetor Rykard is hosting a grand festival, welcoming warriors from all across the Lands Between. Messengers from the Manor have been spreading invitations everywhere, saying the Praetor doesn't care about birth or race. They say even an Albinauric has a chance to earn the title of Hero."
"Pfft, an Albinauric wants to be a hero?" a nearby knight couldn't help but chuckle. He caught Raven's look and restrained himself from going too far. "Little guy, they'll just kick you out. You're better off going home to catch fish."
"Listen, you big oaf on the horse—I'll let that slide since you're one of Lord Raven's men," Ludi said, pointing a knife at the knight. The tip was still skewered through the Runebear's eyeball. "Otherwise, I would demand a duel to defend my honor."
"With that little knife?" the knight laughed. "It's not even metal. Did you carve that out of a bone or a rock?"
"This blade is a trophy I took from an Ancient Dragon," Ludi said solemnly, flicking the eyeball off the tip and holding the knife high. "I once challenged an Ancient Dragon that was eating a shepherd's cattle and managed to break one of its teeth. This dagger was fashioned from that very tooth."
The crowd finally lost it, bursting into laughter. Even the villagers allowed themselves a long-overdue smile.
"Ludi, I must thank you for saving these villagers," Raven said, suppressing his own grin, even though he suspected Ludi was spinning a tall tale. "You have great skill. My order is currently short-staffed; would you be interested in joining us?"
"Lord Raven, do you intend to dub me a knight?" Ludi asked in all seriousness.
"Hmm..." Raven paused. Given the agility Ludi had displayed, he could indeed pose a threat to a knight, especially in tight quarters. But knighting an Albinauric would be unprecedented and would likely cause resentment among the other members of the order.
"A knight needs to be able to ride," Raven noted, looking at Ludi's short legs. "Can you ride a horse?"
"If I find a horse suited for me, yes."
"Then, for now, I can only offer you a position as an infantry squire," Raven said with a smile. "Once you have achieved great merit, I will dub you a knight."
Ludi didn't seem surprised.
"In that case, I must decline your kindness, My Lord. Truth be told, my goal isn't just to be an ordinary knight. I intend to be the first Albinauric Hero." He pulled out his invitation to Volcano Manor. "I will take the head of the Immortal Serpent and earn the recognition of the Praetor and every warrior in the Lands Between."
"The Immortal Serpent?" Raven asked, confused.
"Yes. It seems the news hasn't spread yet; only those with invitations know," Ludi said. "The Immortal Serpent is an ancient evil god that once ravaged the volcano, and now it has awakened once more. If I can take the head of an ancient god, then even as an Albinauric, no one can deny that I am a Hero!"
"An Immortal Serpent... well, good luck to you," Raven said. "Regardless, since our destination is the same, let us travel together."
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(114 Chapter - Ongoing)
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