An invisible force surged from the ground like a crashing wave. Vern's charge froze mid-air. A snap of wind. A shockwave.
BOOM.
Vern was flung back—his body smashed through two trees and slammed into a moss-covered rock. His armor cracked, and his sword flew from his grip.
He didn't rise.
Silence.
The fawn flicked its tail and pranced over to sniff Vern's broken form. "Damn Mother, you really did him a good one." A surprisingly clear voice emerged from the fawn, sounding like a curious child.
Caldus dropped his sword and knelt. Smart man.
The deer turned back to Lucien.
"Your humans like to fight too much. I liked Gaius for his simple nature that didn't crave power." Gaius was Lucien's grandfather. "Is it a power struggle in your family domain."
Lucien, still bewildered by the sudden turn in circumstances, managed a nod.
Selene rushed to his side and cradled him, tears streaking her face.
The deer's gaze softened. "I guess it is part of life. My help was unnecessary" it looked at Lucien's chest, as if seeing deeper, "I can feel a potent origin within you. it will protect you if your life is at risk."
Lucien looked up at the glowing eyes and whispered, "Still, Thank you."
The stag gave a nod. The fawn though came up to him and sniffed him curiously, "You smell wierd, like metal and earth."
It then turned to Selene and seemed to find her smell more pleasant, "you smell nice."
The stag looked at the fawn tenderly then turned towards Lucien.
"I cant go with you, it is not advisable for me to leave my domain. I can however give you my blessing, it will protect you until you reclaim your own ."
Saying that, It's horns glowed brightly before a light shot towards Lucien and entered his body. Lucien evaluated his body but couldn't feel anything, as if there was no change.
The stag was amused. "My blessing will manifest when you encounter danger. before then you wont even notice it."
Lucien nodded thankfully, "I appreciate everything you've done for me. I will remember it."
The stag nodded at him. "I can't help you outside there, but in here." A sliver of cruelty entered the deer's gentle voice for the first time. "No one who wears those colors will leave my dominion alive."
Lucien felt an imposing might emanate from the deer, and he couldn't help but acknowledge its power at that moment.
The deer gestured towards a certain direction. "I can feel your kind in that direction, they were your family's colors. They might be your men. I hope you manage to regain what you lost, Gaius's kid"
With that the deer turned to leave. However at that moment, the fawn bounded forward again, tail flicking. "Can I go with him? Please? I want to see the human world. I hear it's big. And I like her—" it pointed at Selene with a tiny hoof, "—she smells like moonlight and honey!"
The deer blinked slowly, stunned. "No, little one. Their world is dangerous."
"But I can help!" the fawn protested, hopping in circles. "I'll be careful! I'll listen! Please, Mother?" It turned toward the wolf pup. "Help me convince her, Misty."
The wolf pup turned it's head away, "No."
The fawn paused, stunned. it then pointed an accusing hoof at the pup. "You traitor. I know you want to go too."
Lucien managed a weak smile. Selene blinked, stunned.
The fawn dashed up to Lucien, nose twitching as it sniffed his boots, then tried to climb halfway onto his lap. "You're warm," it announced cheerfully. "And you don't scream when I talk like humans usually do."
The stag sighed. "You'll be a handful…"
The fawn's ears drooped. "I'll be good! Promise!"
Silence fell.
Then, at last, the deer gave a gentle nod. "Very well. You may go with them. But stay close, and never leave his side." it then turned to the pup. "I know you won't want to stay behind, protect the little one, she is too curious some times.
"Yay!" the fawn leapt up, bounding in a circle. "I'll be your best friend, Lord Shiny Blood!"
Lucien chuckled hoarsely. "My name's Lucien."
"I'm Fawn," it declared proudly. "And this is Misty!" it gestured to the pup, who yawned and promptly vanished into shadow.
Selene was still gaping. "Did that deer just…?"
Lucien nodded. "Yes. And it's coming with us."
The deer lowered its head to meet Lucien's eyes. "Protect the little one. It may look small, but it holds more power than you think."
Lucien inclined his head respectfully. "I will."
The stag stepped back, its presence already fading into the woods. "Then go, Heir of Aureville. Reclaim what was lost."
With one final pulse of divine energy, it vanished into the trees—leaving behind glowing hoofprints, a bouncing fawn, and a stunned battlefield.
Lucien rose—wounded, but healing—and whispered, "Let's go."
Where once it loomed with shadows and danger, it now pulsed with quiet reverence. The trail ahead glimmered faintly—blades of grass bending subtly in one direction, as though bowing in farewell.
Lucien stepped forward, accompanied by Selene, with the little fawn prancing at his side. The wolf pup too popped up occasionally.
They moved swiftly through the forest, as if blessed by the forest itself. in two hours, the had covered the distance Lucien estimated would require him travelling a day or two to cover. He guessed that this was the deer's magic. it was the only logical response.
"She said this way, right?" Lucien asked when he felt himself move away from the strange influence, he glanced back and he could see the silhouette of a shimmering stag now nearly faded into the deep wood. It stood regal and unmoving at the edge of its domain, watching in solemn silence.
The fawn gave a proud little huff. "Of course! Mother never gets directions wrong," it declared, trotting ahead a few paces before circling back to check on Lucien.
Selene chuckled softly despite the fatigue written across her face. "You're quite spirited for someone so small."
"I'm not small!" the fawn retorted, puffing out its chest—if a deer could. "I'm just not full-grown yet. One day I'll have antlers bigger than the moon!"
Lucien managed a weak smile. "And you'll gore enemies with your glowing horns?"
"Exactly!" The fawn nodded furiously. "I'll protect you just like Mother did. Boom—snap—poof! Bad guys flying everywhere!"