The egg

 return to my room completely sweaty and exhausted from training. I walk comfortably into the bathroom and let water run into my tub. I am about to open the letter that is on my wooden table when I notice a vase on the windowsill with a single flower in it.

Who brought it to me? Is it dangerous? You can't trust anyone at the moment. A flower of death can emerge from a flower and I could fall over on the spot. Normally I should have it tested, but since I can't die anyway, I walk to the windowsill with a wrinkle on my forehead.

I have never seen such a flower in all of my two hundred years. It is as blood red as the grass on our earth. The green rod that lifts its head has a couple of pointed, black spikes on it. The flower is five-fold and has many red stamens. Amazed by the beauty and the sweet, delicate smell of the flower, I only notice later that it is moving. The head of the flower wobbles and gets faster and faster. I immediately realize who has a hand in the game.

"Where did you get the flower from, Bahar?" I ask out loud into the room.

In response, she bursts into my room, dancing, and greets me with a beaming smile.

"Isn't she beautiful? I found her from afar when I was looking for the egg, ”she says excitedly and continues. "She was standing in a meadow with a thousand other flowers, but there was only this one kind of her," she says sadly.

Unlike me, Bahar is a vampire and has the ability to separate her mind from her body and thereby influence plants.

"Did you give her a name?" I ask her curiously and examine her.

She holds out her hands protectively a few centimeters from the flower. She looks worriedly at the flower and breathes heavily.

"No not yet. But I have to do that as soon as possible before she dies, ”she whispers thoughtfully.

She then looks sad and pulls a disturbing reddish brown strand behind her ear. Bahar is a bright and always cheerful friend of mine. After Gillis, she is the most emotional of her siblings. You can tell by the fact that the death of a flower worries her.

"It can't be that there is only one kind of her," I try to cheer her up. "There is sure to be a full meadow of hers somewhere."

"Maybe you are right," she sighs and keeps staring at the flower.

"Well," I say impatiently and promptly get serious. "Is there anything new about the egg?"

All day long I've longed for new messages. Without an egg I can't plan yet, and without a plan, I feel almost as weak as if I didn't have a sword.

"No, unfortunately not. I haven't found anything and as far as I know neither of the others, ”she replies thoughtfully. “I wonder where it could be. If King Lennard had got the egg back, he would have raised his whole army long ago and we would certainly have got wind of that. "

Dissatisfied and with seething anger, I run back to the desk and try not to show my worries. In order to distract myself and not have to think about the EI for a moment, I decide to open the letter on my desk. As soon as I opened the envelope and saw the writing, I immediately knew who the letter was from. I quickly read over the letter, slam it on the table and let out a scream of rage.

"What's going on?" Asks Bahar worried and winced slightly.

"Garun is coming," I hiss and clench my fists. "He should even be there right away."

Trying to sneak in angry over his short notice, I crumple the letter and toss it in the fireplace.

"It was clear that this bastard would have the letter appear on my desk shortly before that," I say in a bad mood and run into the bathroom to get ready.

"Cheer up the old man until I come," I call to Bahar before I disappear behind the bathroom door.

I wash myself quickly and cut away my stubble with a sharp knife blade. Finally I quickly get dressed and take a deep breath before walking down to the dining room. As expected, the magician is already sitting at the table and amusing himself with goodies that Bahar has presumably given him. I take a quick look at the old man and notice that his appearance has hardly changed, even after so many years.

"You're late," Garun comments piously as I sit down at the other end of the long dining table.

“And you're still alive,” I note bitterly.

"What do you want?" I ask him quickly before he can speak.

He immediately stops eating, leans back in his chair and grabs his long, gray beard. Sighing, he puts his glasses upright and leans on the stone table. His beard and gray hair have grown longer, I notice. Otherwise he still wears a loose cloak, now the color red. He still has the same, gray, bushy eyebrows, which he now strictly pulls up to reinforce his stern expression.

"I'm sure you heard about the egg," he begins, smoothing his beard.

"Of course," I answer blankly.

"If you are looking for it, it would be wise to know that it is no longer necessary," he looks at me thoughtfully.

I frown and look at the old magician in confusion. Why is he saying that? What does he know that we don't know? I had always hated that quality about him. Garun is much older than me and knew the kings before King Lennard. He has a lot of knowledge, but he doesn't come out with it and if he does, then only with a certain amount of tension in order to get everyone's attention. I've known Garun since I was what I am today. We used to be friends, but an argument has turned us into enemies. If King Lennard weren't my greatest enemy right now and if I didn't need Garun for King Lennard's death, I would have killed him long ago.

"What do you want to tell me?" I ask him impatiently because I can no longer stand his presence.

"You know the rumor of the strongest animal in the whole world, don't you?"

Now Garun leans against the table and clasps his wrinkled hands.

“When the time of war comes, the strongest animal will awaken and no one will be able to defeat it. It will make peace and the time of fear will go away, ”I repeat wearily.

"The rumor is not perfect," says Garun and raises his eyebrows. "There is still a part missing."

With a furrowed brow I look into the strict, alert eyes of the magician.

“It is said that when the clever, courageous and selfless warrior wakes up, with the strongest animal at his side, then peace will arise in our world. The war between the mythical creatures is stilled, the king overthrown and people no longer have to fear the dark, ”he says.

“Where does this new legend come from? From you? ”I ask him curiously and sound amused at the same time.

“No, not from me,” he replies calmly. "Where does the old woman come from?"

"Well, let's assume that what you say is true. Which warrior are we talking about then? ”I ask him and look at him mockingly.

"That is the question. We only know that as soon as the warrior appears, the egg does not open until then, ”he explains, lifting his index finger up. "So get your soldiers back, there is no need to look any further."

“What I do with my soldiers is still my decision. Better tell me what happens when the king finds the egg? ”, Hissed at him angrily and noticed again how it simmered inside me.

"He won't find it, any more than you will," says Garun, sounding impatient.

Again I look at him questioningly, wishing he would just come out with the answer and leave.