That piqued Eirik's interest and Tariq knew what this meant for his friend just by the look he had on his face.
Though he would never admit to it, Eirik never felt whole, always less. His birth parents had abandoned him as a baby having deemed him weak sensing that he could not fully take to his lykan form or so he was told.
Lykan society revolved around strength, and weakness was unwelcome. Eirik had learned that the hard way. He was outcast, treated as less than and mocked for his so called disability.
But he did not let that hold him back, for he trained for years to harness what little power he could access. Though unable to fully transform he still had access to his strength, speed, heightened senses, regeneration, fangs and claws though they paled when compared to that of a fully turned Lykan.
Fur offered protection against sharp object such as claws, fangs, swords and even daggers.
The shift boosted physical strength, agility and speed but despite this Eirik trained to match his peers. To be able to fight and come up on top despite his handicap.
But still they did not accept him, having seen this he completed impossible dangerous tasks, one after the other in order to attain his freedom from them for good and he did.
Two centuries had passed since then and It was he who taught Tariq how to battle Lykans. To know their weak points, strengths and weaknesses.
It was why Tariq despised them so much for how they had treated his friend. He too was no stranger to the discrimination of being different.
"We accept" Tariq said.
"Wait Tariq!" Eirik said rubbing his neck. Damn that woman had a strong grip "I haven't agreed to this"
"I know how much this means to you my friend and I know your pride. For your sake I will accept for the both of us"
Eirik looked at his friend deep into his golden flecked eyes and he knew that Tariq was one of the few people in the world that truly cared for him, that truly loved him as a friend. He had never judged, abandoned nor deemed him broken.
For two centuries their friendship had stood. He recalled the day they had met, so many lifetimes ago deep in the heart of what is now Tanzania. He'd been traveling the world nor longer as a soldier but as a free man.
In a quiet coastal village of what is now Dar es salaam, he met the young man.
Fierce eyed and wise beyond his years Tariq descended from a long line of powerful shaman.
He had just witnessed the man perform his ceremonial hunt. One that all men were required to perform to be accepted into adulthood.
Hunt any one of the Big Five.
Considered to be Africa's most dangerous beasts this was no small task for a human but Eirik had witnessed him take out a large male lion all by himself with nothing but a spear and a club.
He raised the severed head of his prize over his head for his father to see who smiled on proudly at his son's accomplishment.
This man intrigued Eirik. Having faced such danger despite the fear he reminded Eirik of himself as he fought and defeated enemies older and stronger than he was.
Power made people arrogant and so Eirik had to use his wits to defeat them since he could never do so in a contest of strength.
He recalled what Tariq's father had told him when he had asked why they undertook such dangerous trials. The wise man had replied "What makes man the most dangerous creature on this planet is not his strength for he has none when compared to the beasts of the wild. A man cannot hope to outrun a cheetah, nor out swim a crocodile. Have more strength than an elephant but where he excels is in his intellect. The mind has made us even the playground."
Traps helped capture and fell stronger and more powerful creatures. They made weapons and tools to fight ferocious creatures such as lions and he acknowledged this for it was his intellect that had helped him outclass his peers despite their physical advantage.
Five years he stayed with the village learning their language, culture and tradition. They traded and interacted with many other tribes and people from as far as India and Arabia.
Here he was accepted among them for who he was and not what he was.
He and Tariq bonded quickly,two people from two different worlds. It was he who told Tariq of the Velari and that if he studied magic as he clearly could use it, he could become a powerful being and even protect his people from any possible threat.
Reluctant at first eventually he accepted and Eirik introduced Tariq to a world beyond his simple village.
Since then their bond had only deepened, having saved each others lives countless times. Tariq was not only his friend but his brother, the only one he had.
And now they stood in front of the very people who had cast him aside. Here his brother offered to help him attain the one thing he had always desired.
"If you will do it brother" Eirik said his voice quiet with resolve "Then I see no reason to refuse"
He turned to face the dias " However that will not be enough"
"Oh?" Thaleia arched a brow " Getting greedy are we!"
"You will grant Tariq anything he desires as well. I see no reason as to why I alone should be paid for this task"
Thaleia inclined her head "A reasonable request. We will grant the spell caster any wish he may ask of us that is in our power to grant upon completion of this task. Agreed?"
"Agreed" They said in unison.
"And the task?" Eirik asked.
"You are to track down and kill both witches and the werewolf" Damon said " The werewolf being your priority of course"
"I see...." Eirik's jaw ticked " You make it sound so easy"
"If it were" Aeson said rising from his throne "We would have done it centuries ago. You witnessed but a glimpse of its power, but we have full faith that you will go to any lengths to achieve your prize."
Damon smirked "Oh and by the way, Mr kessler will be assisting you on your task"
Tariq groaned outloud "More like a hidnrance"
Damon's smile thinned "Perhaps you should refrain from angering our commander any further. I've tolerated the disrespect for long enough spell caster.
It wouldn't be wise to have a divided team now would it?"
"Certainly not" Aeson added with a lazy grin, clearly enjoying the tension but he had developed a deep respect for the commander.
Despite the known rage that plagued their kind he had held himself fairly well from acting on the urge to rip the spell caster limb from limb.
"We all want this mission to succeed, so play nice" Aeson said.
Nyx rose as well now clearly bored "Go, rest and enjoy the city before you leave for your hunt. Surely Eirik you must have missed our cuisine"
Indeed he did. Lykans were known for their culinary prowess. Having a heightened sense of taste, they prepared food with the most explosive of flavors.
For all the suffering and scorn he had endured in this city, the food... the food had always been divine.
"And the Witch we came with, Sera levesqué?" Tariq asked.
"She should be done with her debriefing by now" Damon replied "I'm sure Alric will see to your reunion"
Thaleia gestured eloquently "Now go, you leave soon. Rest while you can"
Without another word, Eirik and Tariq turned to leave with Alric trailing silently behind.
They now had a chance to acquire what they desired the most in life but attaining their goals wasn't going to be as simple as they wished.
Their targets were beings of great power. Tracking them down and even killing them would prove to be the most difficult mission they had ever taken.
But anything worth something requires a bit of effort to achieve.