Knight and Wand

Chapter 18: Griffin Friendship

After hearing the girl's voice, Leon hesitated. The sword in his hand was his only sense of security. Did he have to go forward with bare hands?

"Griffins are not just wild beasts. Their intelligence is no less than that of humans. You should at least put away your weapons and make a gesture." The girl's voice reminded.

Leon was skeptical when he heard this. Looking at the beast's sharp eagle eyes staring at him, he really didn't expect that this kind of creature could have such high intelligence, but there was definitely no reason for the girl's voice to deceive him.

So he made a decision, sheathed his sword, and placed the spirit lamp on the ground. Leon tried to raise his empty hands towards the griffin to show that he had no hostility.

The griffin still didn't respond.

Seeing this, Leon frowned and thought for a while, then simply untied the sword and scabbard from his belt and put them on the ground. Then he stood up and looked into the griffin's eyes, pointing at the crossbow arrow stuck in its chest and abdomen: "I'm not your enemy, I just want to help you, don't hurt me, okay?"

After waiting for a while, perhaps the griffin really understood Leon's kindness, or perhaps it simply had no strength left, the griffin opened its beak and let out a soft cry of pain, then raised its huge claws slightly to the side, revealing the horrific arrow wounds on its chest and abdomen.

Is this a response?
Leon took a deep breath and walked towards its body.

It's no wonder he was nervous. Being close to such a huge beast was much more exciting than pulling teeth out of a tiger's mouth.

His heart pounding, Leon squatted down in front of the griffin's chest and abdomen.

Very good, this big guy didn't use one claw to send me to the west. It seems that what the girl said was true, it is indeed very smart.

Leon looked closely at the arrow wound in front of him. The tail feathers of the crossbow arrow were very delicate, and one could even see intricate patterns engraved on the surface of the thick crossbow shaft exposed outside the body. Looking more closely, there seemed to be a hint of purple arc light flowing faintly on the surface of the crossbow arrow.

"Enchanted weapons?" Leon exclaimed in amazement.

"It can't be considered an enchantment. It just makes a link on the surface that can be manipulated by the caster. It's inefficient and crude, and there's not even any encryption in the technique. It's a pity that people nowadays dare to use this kind of thing, and they are not afraid of being counterattacked and flying back after being shot out." The girl suddenly muttered, seeming to look down on this practice.

Leon didn't know what bad luck this crossbow arrow had brought upon her, but he wisely decided not to get involved in such a professional topic.

Grabbing the tail rod with both hands, Leon nervously tried to pull it out, and the arrow was pulled out a few inches.

The griffin immediately let out a loud wail of pain, and its limbs and wings were tensed in severe pain.

Azerien and Lohak, who were not far away, were frightened by the roar and clenched their weapons tightly.

Leon paused for a moment, turned his head and looked around. Fortunately, the griffin's claws were firmly grappling the ground, and there were no further reactions.

Seeing that the big guy didn't attack him despite the pain, Leon gradually grew bolder and increased the strength in his hands a little: "It's better to suffer a short pain than a long one. Bear with it, big guy."

Fortunately, Leon could feel from the touch that the crossbow arrow had no barbs on the tip, so he did not find it difficult to pull it out. He did not know if it was because of the shape of the crossbow arrow or if the attacker wanted to capture the griffin rather than kill it.

The crossbow arrow that was deeply inserted into the griffin's chest and abdomen was dragged out of the body with a leg-weakening sound of flesh and blood rubbing against each other, and streams of blood gushed out.

"Will it not lose too much blood and eventually bleed to death?"

It was all in vain. Leon held the long crossbow arrow and his hands were stained with blood gushing from the wound, which made him terrified.

"Don't worry, this is one of the most proud works of the King of France."

The girl's voice was still relaxed.

Before she finished her words, the deep and terrifying arrow hole in the griffin's chest and abdomen seemed to be squeezed and contracted by the muscles. After a while, not only did the bleeding stop, but the wound was also closed tightly without any gaps. Leon was suddenly amazed.

A powerful eagle cry brought him back to his senses. Seeing the beast in front of him suddenly turn over, Leon quickly stepped back a few steps and made way for it.

The griffin flipped from its side to a lying position with a loud bang, and its four powerful claws supported its huge body to slowly stand up. Its huge drooping wings were slightly opened and stretched, as if it was adjusting its posture.

The raised eagle head, beautiful wings, and the strong and huge lion body.
Leon admired in amazement the renewed spirit of the graceful and beautiful creature before him.

The griffin's huge head shook its feathers left and right twice, then it turned its head and looked at Leon.

Even the expression in those bright eyes became much softer.

It let out a light cry as if to say thank you, and lowered its terrifying sharp eagle beak. As the human in front of it looked at it in a daze and bewildered, it rubbed the other's head affectionately and carefully.

Leon couldn't help but be flattered.

He now truly believed that griffins were no less intelligent than humans. If it were an ordinary wild beast, even if it was helped by someone, it would be considered grateful if it didn't bite the person back after being rescued. It would never show such a humane expression of gratitude.

No wonder they are considered sacred beasts by the Serians.

Leon held the griffin's head with both hands and gently touched its feathers. It felt really good, even more comfortable to touch than the fat chicks he raised on Earth in his previous life, and it had no fishy smell.

Reluctantly letting go of the griffin's head, Leon looked at the mighty yet friendly beast in front of him. Suddenly, he found the inexplicable contrast "cute".

Oh no, he was a little reluctant to leave this cute big guy in this dangerous cursed land.

Even though this giant beast is very powerful, there is really no food for it to survive in this area. According to the girl, the bodies of those undead beasts are full of chaotic energy, which is inedible to both humans and beasts.

or
Leon thought about it, put the long crossbow in his hand on the belt behind his waist, bent down to pick up the spirit lamp on the ground, waved to the griffin, and pointed in the direction of the bright light.

"Come with me, big guy, I'll take you out."

The griffin's huge eagle eyes blinked in confusion and it tilted its head, as if trying to understand what the person in front of it meant.

Seeing this, Leon felt that there was hope.

He picked up his sword and put it back on his waist, then took two steps towards his companions who were waiting not far away. Then he turned around and waved, unconsciously, as if he was facing a small animal, and he raised his hand instinctively: "Come here, come here, big baby~~"

The griffin looked around as if hesitating, and its huge wings flapped slightly. Its injuries had not yet recovered, so it could only droop in vain. After a long time, it really followed cautiously with a slightly staggering step under Leon's expectant gaze.

Excitement instantly filled Leon's heart.

My goodness, this creature is really too smart.

With the huge beast behind him, Leon excitedly walked towards his nervous companions not far away, and quickly asked them to put away their weapons, explaining that the griffin had no hostility, for fear that the weapons would further irritate the giant beast with which he had finally established friendship.

But in fact, he didn't need to remind them. As the real natives of the Serrians, Azerien and Lohak were naturally unwilling to draw swords against the legendary beast. They were already shocked by the mythical scene before them. It was a privilege to be able to walk with a griffin. This was a treatment that could only be seen in some legendary stories.
Leon turned his head to look at the griffin behind him. The huge difference in size meant that even though this big guy was seriously injured and his steps were unstable, it could still easily keep up with him. In other words, it was deliberately slowing down to follow him.

Holding up the spiritual lamp to illuminate the way ahead and with the king of beasts accompanying him, everyone felt extremely safe at this moment.

(End of this chapter)