The Golden Lion

Raiv's face was stern, his fists clenched tightly, his anger clearly visible. He spoke while stroking his thick yellow beard, his eyes fixed on the items Janemba was carrying. He asked in a quiet but sharp voice, "Is this all you have?"

Alucard, who was standing in place, trembled every time he glanced at Klaus and the deep wounds that had split his back. He grew furious upon hearing Raiv's words, squeezing his eyes shut as he glared at Raiv as if he wanted to crush him. He shouted in a loud voice, "What are you saying, you basterd? Is this how you speak to those who have done you a favor...?" Before he could finish his sentence, he received a brutal punch to the face, sending him crashing into the wall and nearly knocking him unconscious from the force. It was Janemba who had thrown the punch, and he looked at Alucard as he fell to the ground, saying calmly, "Who is this, Father?"

Raiv glanced sharply at Janemba and spoke in a steady voice, "You didn't answer me, Janemba, and you shouldn't have punched the boy."

Janemba lowered his eyes for a moment, then said, "Sorry, Father. Our supplies... most of them are still there. We barely managed to escape, and leaving them behind was necessary. Even Klaus was under my care; I did everything I could to help him."

Raiv didn't respond immediately, instead looking at Klaus, who was lying on the ground. Then he asked without lifting his eyes, "How are they now?"

Janemba took a deep breath and said, "They're more... and more as we move further away. And their intelligence... they now know well that we're aware of their traits. They've adapted slightly... they're truly adaptable to changes."

Raiv looked at Janemba, filled with suppressed anger: "So that's how it is... We need to put an end to this. Having creatures surrounding the area like this means our destruction is only a matter of time. If our borders remain exposed like this, we'll never thrive like the other colonies, or even the great ones we dream of becoming." Then he said firmly, "We must deal with them."

Janemba didn't hesitate for a moment, as if he had been waiting for those words: "When? When will we do it?"

Raiv answered without hesitation: "When Klaus recovers. I'll make all the necessary arrangements. A week will be enough for everything."

"I'll go with you," Alucard spoke slowly, holding his swollen jaw, barely able to move it.

Janemba immediately turned to him, a mocking look passing over his face, and said dismissively, "You can't even speak properly now, how will you join us?" Then he added, "And why is your hair white?"

Raiv suddenly laughed, a short but loud laugh: "It seems I'll take him with us because of that hair; it'll be useful for lighting the way!"

Janemba burst out laughing as well, as if he found the idea logical. "Good idea, he'll be like a moving torch. At least we won't need extra lamps."

Klaus laughed despite the blood coming from his mouth, then shook his head and looked at Alucard, his eyes shining with a mix of exhaustion and amusement: "Now I understand what they were talking about... You really do have white hair."

Alucard couldn't believe what he was hearing, his eyes widening as he shouted, "You weren't unconscious?!"

Klaus laughed again, but this time he tried to stifle it a little so as not to worsen his pain, then muttered as he struggled to get up: "What a pain, Father... but the pain is gone now. I'm excited to see the abilities of the Golden Lion Raiv, one of the greats of the grand colony."

Janemba immediately approached him, extending a hand to help him up, and assisted him in moving slowly toward the bed in the far corner. Every step seemed difficult, but Klaus didn't show any groans or complaints, just a tired smile on his face as he leaned on his brother.

Meanwhile, Raiv moved quickly around the workshop, opening drawers and cabinets, searching through shelves, pulling out small bottles and some clean cloth pieces. Then he grabbed a handful of fresh medicinal plants from one of the cabinet corners and placed them in a stone bowl on the table.

Among those plants was the stag plant, distinguished by its long, golden-brown leaves resembling small stag horns. Raiv took a handful and crushed them with his fingers before mixing them with some medicinal liquids.

"This will help the wound heal faster," he said as he carefully stirred the mixture.

Alucard was still shaken by the earlier incident and muttered to himself, "The Golden Lion, the greats of the colony, herbal medicine, shadow traps... It seems I've entered a completely different world."

Raiv placed the stone bowl on the table, then dipped a clean cloth into the medicinal mixture he had prepared. He approached Klaus, who was lying on the bed, his eyes half-closed from exhaustion.

"This will hurt a little," Raiv said in a calm voice, but he didn't wait for a response. He began applying the mixture to the deep wound running across Klaus's back.

"A little?!" Klaus screamed as soon as the substance touched his skin, clenching his fists and trying not to move, but the pain was evident on his face.

Janemba pressed on his shoulder to keep him from squirming. "Calm down, the more you move, the worse it hurts, and the longer the treatment will take."

Alucard watched, not knowing much about the treatment but feeling that the situation was under control. He stood by Klaus's head and said in a low voice, "At least you didn't lose consciousness this time."

Klaus looked at him with a half-smile and said in a broken voice, "I would have passed out if I had to listen to your lectures."

Raiv didn't comment, continuing to apply the mixture carefully to the wound, then took another piece of cloth and wrapped it tightly around the injury. "The bleeding will stop soon, but you won't be able to move as freely as you'd like for several days."

"We'll see about that," Klaus muttered, breathing heavily.

After finishing, Raiv brought a small bottle, opened it, and poured a dark liquid into a cup. "Drink this; it will help you sleep."

Klaus frowned at him: "I don't trust any drink you give me."

"Either you drink it, or I'll force you," Raiv said coldly.

Janemba intervened, reaching for the cup: "Don't worry, I'll drink it first, so you won't have any excuses." He took a small sip and handed the cup back to Klaus.

"Ass you," Klaus said before taking the cup and drinking it in one gulp.

After a few moments, his eyelids grew heavy. He lay back down and took a deep breath before muttering, "One week, no more..." Then he noticed Alucard at the exit, sneaking on tiptoes. In his rough voice, he stopped him: "Oh, Cloud Head, where do you think you're going?"

Alucard stopped, turned toward them, and the three of them stared at him. A terrifying thought hung in the silence.

Then Raiv spoke in a steady voice: "You're leaving?"

Alucard hesitated for a moment before answering: "Yes, I'll prepare myself. One week will be enough, right?"

Raiv crossed his arms: "As we said, don't be late."

Alucard straightened his posture and said firmly, "Of course, sir."

Then he turned and left without another word.

Janemba kept watching the door after he left, then finally spoke: "Father, you're not really bringing him just for lighting, are you? What's his use?"

Raiv looked at them and said calmly, "We'll see that when the time comes."

Silence fell for a moment, then Klaus and Janemba exchanged glances. It was clear that Raiv didn't do anything without a reason. He wasn't just their father now; he was the great Golden Lion, who didn't make decisions lightly.

Alucard walked through the heavy, cold air that had bothered him before, but this time he didn't care. Thoughts swirled in his head, flowing endlessly. Shadow traps... powerful and adaptable creatures... Klaus and Janemba, despite their strength, returned defeated... Just one week, and then we set out...

This wasn't just an exploratory trip; it was a direct confrontation with a real, tangible danger. This wasn't what he had chosen when he entered the workshop, but now he no longer doubted anything.

"I need this."

It wasn't a passing decision but a conviction that had taken root within him with every step he took toward his hut.

He finally reached the bend in the road that marked the boundary and saw his hut ahead. The hut was made of dark wood, slanting slightly over the road, surrounded by cold, ancient air. The hut had two floors; the first floor was for his mother, where small windows allowed him a partial view of the modest rooms from the outside. The second floor was his, slightly raised above the ground, accessible via a narrow wooden staircase that wrapped around the side of the hut. The staircase was on the side of the hut, surrounded by thorny plants and dry grass. The second floor had two small windows on the front and side, resembling a small hideout isolated from the outside world. The first floor was for his mother, furnished with simple, comfortable furniture. Faded colors filled the space, with light curtains hanging over the windows and shelves holding some personal items. In the corner was an old rocking chair, next to a small stove emitting a gentle warmth in the cold air. The upper floor was his domain. He preferred its quiet and the way it allowed him to immerse himself in his thoughts, especially now as he faced the turmoil in his mind. This was the first time he faced real pressure regarding his upcoming decision. He knew he would face significant challenges, but a vague feeling lingered, as if the upcoming journey would be a pivotal moment in his life.

Before heading upstairs, he glanced at the first-floor window, where his mother sat in the rocking chair, gazing outside as usual. He knew she was worried about him, as she always was, but she never interfered with his choices. He decided to go up without disturbing her, leaving her in her peace.

He climbed the wooden stairs to the upper floor, where his room was in the far corner. The stairs creaked softly under his feet, and he was sure Lerin had heard him. He closed the door gently behind him. The room was quiet, with a low bed and simple tools on the desk. He looked at his scattered travel gear on the shelf but didn't have the time or energy to delve into it now. He sat on the bed, took a deep breath, and tried to organize his thoughts amidst the chaos filling his mind.