375 Summoned Back to West Lake (1/2)
A seventeen-year-old teenager sat at the edge of the ninth lookout tower of West Fortress.
He was carefully blowing a flute. The melody was utterly pleasant. It had a unique, countryside rhythm.
As the melody played, a gray-white Heavenly Eagle in its growing stage flew out from the trees and landed beside the teenager.
The teenager fondled the gray-white Heavenly Eagle's head and said with a smile, ”Gray, were you secretly hunting down hares? Is it because the food here at the fortress doesn't suit your taste? Or has that prick Beastmaster been torturing you again... Alright, I know that he's picking on you because he's not fond of your impure lineage. I'll make you something delicious when I have the chance.”
The Heavenly Eagle nodded as if it could understand the teenage boy's words.
The boy and the eagle played on the lookout tower for a while. Suddenly, a sharp siren was heard coming from the fortress. It immediately burst into an uproar as troops of Battlemages were summoned to the front line.
”What's going on?” the teenage boy yelled at a messenger soldier passing by the lookout tower.
”Wang Xiaojun, what are you doing up there? Hurry up and hide inside the fortress! A small guy like you will be eaten by the White Magic Falcons fairly quickly,” said the messenger.
”It's alright, I have Gray protecting me,” said Wang Xiaojun.
Meanwhile, a tall, skinny bloke whose face was full of pockmarks appeared. He raised his head to look at the teenager and demanded, ”Protect you? We've just received the order from our superiors! All soldiers must kill the Heavenly Eagles they are looking after at once!”
”What are you saying? Why would the army give such a command?” exclaimed Wang Xiaojun in disbelief.
”A Ruler-level demon beast has appeared from West Ridge. Every Heavenly Eagle of the fortress is turning against us. What are you waiting for? Didn't I tell you to kill your Heavenly Eagle now? Those who disobey the order will be punished by military law!”
Wang Xiaojun was stunned. He glanced at Gray, who was still not mature yet...
How could he possibly kill him with his own hands?
The gray eagle was the only present left him by his elder brother, who had sacrificed his life for the army. He had been taking care of the bird since he was a youngling, the gray eagle was his most important friend and companion.
”Humph, a Heavenly Eagle like that with impure lineage should never have been allowed to stay in the army,” said the Beastmaster with pockmarks.
”No!” Wang Xiaojun suddenly bit his lips, looking at the Heavenly Eagle, and blew his flute.
The eagle obeyed the signal like a soldier as soon as the piercing sound was made.
Following another signal from the flute, the eagle flapped its wings and rapidly soared into the sky.
Even though it was not mature, and its wings were still not fully grown yet, its speed was comparable to the ordinary Heavenly Eagles.
A brief moment later, the gray figure quickly disappeared into the trees.
The Beastmaster with pockmarks was infuriated. He pointed his finger at Wang Xiaojun and snapped, ”You little bastard, you dared to disobey a military order. You're not worthy to stay in the army, just like that crossbreed Heavenly Eagle. Do you have any idea what you've done? The beast will turn against us. It will attack the fortress with the White Magic Falcons!”
The teenager Wang Xiaojun lowered his head and fell silent.
He could not understand why the army would make such a cruel decision. He was clueless about why it was given in the first place. However, he and Gray had kept one another in company for a very long time. He was willing to take the punishment instead of doing such a cruel thing to his companion.
As the Beastmaster left furiously, Wang Xiaojun finally raised his head and saw piles of white feathers drifting to the wind in the fortress...