After some minutes running with the kid on his back, the dog has finally arrived at Ruthos' place, but not alone.
- Ruth! we are here! I brought the child with me! open the door! they probably are almost here! woof woof!
The trees around the cabin started to shake with the winds.
- oh! you've come back rufos!
- I know, I know old man, but now let us get in and care about the important things after we deal with them, yes? woof.
- so they are finally acting, hm?
- yes, let's hurry!
- understood, just go to the basement, let this old man take care of our undesired visitors.
- can you deal with them alone?
- rufos... don't forget that I was once the Great Arch Mage of the old king!
- I know but... it was almost 50 years ago, are you sure?
- heheh, don't be fooled by my age, old dog! (he smile excited)
- I'm not as old as you though! haha! (he smiles back to the old man)
- now go! I'll be going soon.
- understood! woof woof!
The dog went inside the house and some hooded people appeared in front of the old man.
- hey guys, I'm just an old man, so take it easy...
- ...
There were 6 people using dark clothes, and a different one appeared from the middle of them, a woman using a black blanket with purple crystals on its sleeves
- well, well, well, what do we have here? (said the woman)
- you... (Ruthos clenches his fist tighter as he holds his staff)
- don't let his age deceive you guys, he is stronger than it seems
- Morgana... you still look so young...
- hah, and you are so doddering
- so, it is true what our brothers said? you've been corrupted and went to the dark side?
- your brothers, I'm not part of the brotherhood anymore. I am Magna, the left hand of Ulgmür, our true lord! he made me young again, in exchange of being his servant.
- I see... I'm sorry for what happened that day, it shouldn't have gone that way...
- enough! I don't wanna hear about a miserable past! I'm not that person anymore.
The old man stands still with a stick on his hands
- Then I shall not go easy on you, since you're not Morgana anymore... but still, I'll honor your name until the end.
- Do whatever you want, you're going to die this day!
She gave a step back and the hooded people went ahead to the old man, with runed knives, 2 with fire, 2 with water and 2 with wind symbols onto it
- you shall not pass! (the old man shouted)
The old man hits his stick on the ground once and a large wave of wind has pulled the hooded guys away to the trees, but one of them resisted and kept running to the old man
- huh? you're a tough guy, aren't you? (Ruthos gets excited and smiles in ecstasy)
The hooded guy jumped to hit the old man with the knife but...
- don't think it's gonna be that easy!
the old man hits again his stick on the ground and the hooded person got attracted to the ground, with the gravity around him
- so you have learned some new spells, huh? damn old man! (Morgana says from behind)
- of course I did! I've been studying and learning a lot in all those years!
- alright then, I should not waste much time talking to you, I need to get that kid to my master.
- so he is your target... I knew it. Sorry Morgana, but I shall not let you pass.
- I'm not asking for it. yargh!
The woman ran to the old man's direction and then disappeared
- what?! she disappeared!
Around the old man, there was some winds aggressively trying to hit him, but some sort of barrier was protecting him from it. Then suddenly, she appeared at his back
- from behind?!
- you can't follow my speed, old man!
The woman back stabbed Ruthos with a knife that the barrier couldn't protect
- h-how you...
- it's a cursed knife; cloaked with an hydra's blood, the most resistant blood. Even your barrier couldn't stop this knife!
- you...
- Khanarius! go ahead, I'll end this old man's life. Bring the child to me! alive.
- yes, ma'am! (the hooded people replied at same time)
- so, what's your last words, old man?
- ... better than 3.
- what?
the hooded people ran close to the cabin when suddenly...
- WOOF!!!
A big ferocious dog appeared and shouted. All of the five hooded guys were thrown far away from the house and got knocked out
- what was that?! (said the woman)
- you hit 'em all? five? that was really better than 3!
The big dog rushes to Ruthos and the woman jumped far away from it
- GRRR! Old man.. protect! bad woman.. KILL! WOOF!
- Tsk, this damn dog is really a problem...
- chill, chill rufos, no need to use more of the Arkari's transformation
The woman was in drawback, then slowly the beaten hooded guys disappeared in the shadow of the night
- this ain't over, old man... I'll be back soon to end this...
The woman disappeared too
- well, it seems they're gone for a while, we shoul-
Ruthos fell on the dog's back, tired and hurt
- RUTH! HOld it, I'll heal this wound immediately! woof woof!
The big dog returned to its normal form and took the old man inside the house, but when they got in, things were not really calm yet, something big was about to happen...
------------------------------------
Episode 2.2 - "Goodbye, old friend."
- Ruthos, you need to take us out of here, they'll come back anytime! woof!
- y-yes, I know... please, bring me the Ark Crystal, it is inside that box...
The old man pointed to a box that was under his bed, a red box with some gold lines on it. Something inside was glowing in pure blue lights.
The dog opened the box, got the blue crystal with its mouth and took it to the old man.
- here (waves his tail)
- great, now let me- Ugh..
- be careful! you're still wounded! we need to get you to Adria! she will heal you better than me, woof woof!
The old man sits on the bed, where Edric was laying down still unconscious and then started to cast something
-Mug, irka munha... dorpa manan, monota koriakure!
With his words, a small blue circle appeared around the bed, and then a great light was being charged from the crystal.
- I won't let you escape!
The woman who attacked before, appeared at the door and start shooting a sequence of fires from her hands towards them
- noooOOO!
The dog jumped off the circle and went to the big dog transformation to stop the shooting fires
- Rufos no!
The old man screamed before they disappear from that place
- Damn it! you stupid dog! you shouldn't have done this
The woman took two black daggers with some red lines, and killed the dog that was very wounded from the shooting
- ugh.. hah... goodbye... old friend.. (arf)
The dog died
- Ruthooos!! I will find you! and kill you!!!
The woman shouted from the house while the blue lights went to the sky then disappeared.
While that, in a very organized house, full of colorful potions and lots of books, the old man and the boy got teleported to it. Edric's true journey was about to start, what may could happen now? we'll find out!