alex bozdog
patreon
Chapter 626
🕑 Added 2026-01-27 04:05:34 +0000 UTCIt didn’t take long for Ajax and Lexi to make preparations for their departure to the capital though Ajax very much enjoyed the one night he had to sleep in his own home after so many months in the Wild Lands.
“What will you do?” Silvia asked him.
“I’m just going to get my arm fixed as well as reporting to the king.” Ajax answered. “It will take me a while to get used to the new arm, time during which I will return here. After that…”
Ajax left the rest unsaid. It was pretty obvious the best choice for the House would be for Ajax and Aurexion to join the war, not only would they gain a lot, Aurexion’s presence alone would bolster their forces and scare the enemy. That doesn’t account for the progress they could make in such fights.
“We’re all ready to head back?” The prince asked.
After a quick confirmation from everyone they were all ready to go. “I have to say, your bond might be even more impressive than mine.” The prince’s words surprised Ajax.
“You have a bond?” Ajax asked. “How come I haven’t seen it?”
“The mated griffin pair, the male is my bond.” The prince explained. “They have been guarding their egg for the past century but it hatched three months ago so it will be joining me when I go to war.”
“Why not bring it with you here?” Ajax asked.
“I didn’t think it would be a good match up for a dragon.” the prince admitted. “He’s not the best at dealing with large magic attacks besides killing the caster before they launch them.”
Ajax accepted the explanation. It also gave him an answer as to why the prince hadn’t looked into a way to fly, having a griffin bond would mean there was no reason to.
“Normally I’d say try to keep up.” The prince let out a sigh. “I have a feeling it will be the other way around.”
Aurexion let out a growling chuckle filled with pride as he lowered his neck for Ajax to climb on before gently grasping Lexi in one of his claws. Despite being Ajax’s fiance she was not bonded to Aurexion and as such he would not stand to be ridden.
As they took off Ajax could see the crowd that had formed on Lessis’s walls pointing at Aurexion. They didn’t need his Perception to see a dragon this large at that distance. Word about Aurexion’s presence will start to spread and with so many people seeing it every nation would know it within months.
“Are you looking to take out some spies?” Ajax asked as they left.
“It’s why half of Evelyn’s team stayed behind.” The prince answered. “News of your bond will have them all scrambling. We can't miss that chance.”
The one change Ajax had made before leaving the duchy was to have the biggest of the Mana focusing trees sent towards the lake to be replanted. The other nine he was hoping to split into four for his own experiments and gardens and the other five as a base for creating a home for Aurexion in his duchy where he won’t feel the lack of ambient Mana outside of the vault.
“It’ll be fine.” Ajax reassured his bond as they started to put some distance between themselves and the duchy. “Nobody will get in the vault. And if by some chance they do I promise you can eat them.”
“Why would I want to eat them?” Aurexion asked.
“Fine you can chew on them then, until you’re sure you know where every last coin they touched is.” Aurexion responded much better to this even if it did draw some glances from the rest of the people present. “Are you sure you want us flying this close to the ground? Aurexion can handle being so high up most people will think it’s just a bird flying above them.”
“Yes we want them to see you.” Rex said. “It will spook every spy that does, not to mention once word gets back to the Empire they’ll be very careful about doing anything to provoke us since an attack on Gryndor from their side will have to go through your duchy. They can’t afford the risk of provoking an Ascended race.”
“They wouldn’t be.” Aurexion corrected. “I can be here because of the bond but it also means that if I am killed here it doesn’t give any other dragons a reason to attack. Now if Ajax was to die and I survived that battle, then I would have to leave and an attack on me as I was leaving would give a reason to other dragons to attack. Otherwise it's all humanoid business."
“Best keep that to ourselves then.” Lexi said already planning. “It's best if they don’t know that so they’ll be more cautious about fighting you at least for the start once you join the war.”
Lexi wasn’t happy that Ajax would be going to war without her but she understood that this war wasn’t like the normal ones and that she wouldn’t see much benefit from joining since the war was focused on the movements of elite troops and champions neither of which she could currently compete with in terms of strength.
It was only a few hours later that Ajax could already see the capital. While he was sure they wouldn’t be attacked since the king knew they were coming, that didn’t mean the news had trickled down to the guards guarding the walls. Thankfully none of them were stupid enough to attack the dragon especially considering the obvious group moving with it.
“Can you drop me off at my grandfather’s manor?” Lexi asked. “I’m sure it won’t be long before we both join you at the palace.”
Ajax had no issues doing so. Though he did enjoy the look of awe on the retainers of House Manashaper as a dragon landed in their small courtyard to drop off Lexi before it launched off into the sky and towards the royal palace.
“We didn’t really go over this but how much do you know about magic?” Ajax asked Aurexion.
“We went over this quite extensively on our flight here.” Aurexion protested. “Are you having memory issues? A curse maybe?”
“We went over what you could use and what you can help me with.” Ajax rephrased. “I meant how much do you know about magic theory? Lexi’s grandfather will be… enthusiastic about any bit of information you can share.”
“I don’t know all that much more, I focused on physical combat and only picked up the basics I needed for magic. Though if he is so interested he might want to think about evolving and seeking out the sphinx, from what you say you humans don’t use [Spell Direction] so theory would be more the realm of [Chanter]’s.” Aurexion pointed out.
“Something tells me [Spell Direction] will be getting a lot more popular in the next few years. In fact I have the perfect candidate in mind.” Ajax was naturally thinking of his friend Benedict. Despite joining them for all their delves Benedict was still the only one of their friend group not to have a Legendary Skill and the difference in power was starting to show. With the extra Mental Stats pushing him towards a more hybrid build Ajax was sure he would love to learn [Spell Direction] as that would compliment his physical fighting style more than [Runic Casting] or [Chanting].
Approaching the royal palace Aurexion had a few open courtyards he could land in but it was clear which one they were expected to land in a welcoming group was already there. Ajax very much hoped nobody would be stupid enough to treat Aurexion as a pet the way most bonds were thought of. He made sure the prince insisted that Aurexion was his own person and just as intelligent and it would be incredibly insulting for anything else to even be insinuated. But there was usually always one person who didn’t get the message or for some reason chose to disregard it.
As they landed Ajax could see that a large part of the royal family was waiting for them including the king and the crown prince.
“Ajax, welcome back.” the crown prince said with a smile as he watched Ajax jump off Aurexion’s neck after the landing. “Greeting to you as well Aurexion, I am Xandor Gryndor.”
“Your Majesty.” Ajax responded with a nod that was halfway to a bow but not quite.
“My greeting to you as well Xandor.” Aurexion answered, pride at being recognised as an equal spiking slightly after Ajax had told him how most people viewed bonds in humanoids lands.
“Oh Ajax, I know Hatchet was your mentor but don’t you think losing your arm is a bit much to follow in his teachings.” Luna joked good naturedly as she could barely hold back while Ajax greeted the crown prince before she rushed up to him, hugged him and started inspecting him.
“I learnt from his mistakes.” Ajax defended himself as he returned the hug. “I didn’t wait months to come have it healed.”
“Yes, I feel we best start with that.” King Gryndor nodded. “We can hear the details of your trip in the Wild Lands once you are whole once more.”
Comments
Zuzana Toulcová
TFTC
Zuzana Toulcová
🥰
Nick O'Gara
100 years for a griffon egg to hatch? Sounds a bit much. 10-15 would still be outside of ajax first meeting with the prince.
Arrogant Savant
"I will actively fight in the war for battle and skill experience" wasn't something he could've said directly to his mother. I do wonder if Auxerion will be so blunt as to say "I am here to treat the strongest humanoids as prey"
Captain Greenhat
Tftc
D.P
Oh before I forget - Keleros!!! Can we please get updated maps? With rivers, borders, towns and cities and the rest please??? It competes the story so much as we can See it.
Aizen Weeks
Oh yeah, another tasty chapter
userunfriendly
We know longevity is determined by investing in Vitality EARLY in life. Hatchet really seemed more content being Luna’s retainer and being semi-retired, and teaching Adventurer Guild trainees. 🫡
Raymond Mouton
Thanks for the chapter.
D.P
This is going to hurt...... regrowing his arm somehow, although the arm won't be the same, it'll be... weaker etc. Well, should be weaker. Lexi isn't bonded but Aurexion feels the need to protect her. Wouldn't that be better done on her back? Are they running Under Aurexion??? They're talking like they are. I know their hearing is great but come on. 😂 Hatchet! Needs some potions and then he needs to go scout and get some levels. Ajax has left him behind and by the sounds of it previously, he doesn’t have much time left unless he gets more levels and stats. Something Ajax could easily have done with and for him.
Some Guy
Thanks for the chapter
