God Rising: Battle of Atela

Darren raised a shaky finger to call the server for another glass, but everyone knew he wouldn't be able to fuddle anymore booze.

"just ten shots knocked you out?" The wolfman was already at his thirtieth, but Darren was barely done with his tenth.

"You want to talk to me, but you can't even drink?"

It was his first time, and he was surprised he could go all the way to ten, but to the wolfman before him, it wasn't good enough.

"I…" He hiccuped "I can keep…"

The wolfman passed Darren a whole bottle and commanded him to drink it all. The Prince slowly turned his aching head to the right, and he watched the bartender scrub the glass of the chiller cabinet, acting like nothing was going on. The people continued to chant, and the music blasted in his eardrums.

"No more" His mouth puffed, and he grabbed the bucket the wolfman kicked to his side. He surrendered. He couldn't go any further. He stayed slumped on the table until his vision obscured and the sound muted.

*

"He's waking up..."

"Ssh…"

"Should we call uncle?"

Darren's eyes opened to meet three wolf children surrounding him. He sat up, panting and rubbing his temples, trying to recall what happened the other night, and where he was. The children ran away, leaving him in the room just when he wanted to raise a few questions about how he got in the place.

"My head's killing me" He said as he got out of bed. He turned around once his shoulder was tapped, and the face he saw gave him a jump scare, but it was somewhat familiar.

"Prince Darren, you spent a night In my brother's place, so do yourself good and pay up."

How did he know who he was?

Darren raised his hand to feel the mask, but his fingers felt the bare skin of his face. His eyes widened, and his head whipped back to the bedside table his mask was on. When did it fall off? What happened last night?

"From your behavior, I can tell you're quite confused about what's going on. You were nauseated after drinking pass your limit. Does any of that ring a bell?"

'Me? Drink?' It sounded unfathomable, but his memories flashed in an instant, and he staggered back, leaning against a shelf for support. 'I carelessly went out to a bar! What was I thinking?' He ran his hand through his hair, wondering what had gotten into him to make such a decision.

He wondered how many more people knew he was a Livingston. His plans to be undercover didn't last a whole day. Someone or a ton of people must have found out his identity behind the mask.

"Sol to the prince" The wolfman snapped his fingers and Darren quickly turned his attention to him, griping reality and the present. "I'm sorry for the brief distraction."

"What is it you seek? Why did you approach me? I recall you mentioned something like advice."

Darren nodded, "If it's not too much to ask. Be my mentor for a couple of —"

"Not interested. Settle up and leave" Darren's words ceased after his straightforward denial. And it didn't look like anything he'd say or do would make him change his mind. But what if he mentioned more money?

"I'll  pay…"

"LEAVE!!!"

Darren's face was a complete trace of despair. Why? He was willing to pay double, but the wolfman still refused to train him. He turned back, put on his mask, and just when he wanted to leave, the same wolfman burst into laughter.

"Can't you take a little joke. Look kid, as long as it involves money, I'll gladly train you. Come out and join us to have breakfast. You're also paying for that."

Darren followed the wolfman to a little corridor where his family had just assembled to eat. He pulled out an extra seat and permitted Darren to sit down. The prince felt uncomfortable. The stares were enough to make him lose his appetite. He just kept his eyes fixed on the vegetable porridge in front of him.

The wolfman cleared his throat and nudged Darren, "I believe it's time I introduce myself, and everyone else in the room. I'm Ludovic Warner. The man on the older side of the table is my older brother, Leofric, and the beautiful fox lady here…" Darren's eyes darted to the direction the wolfman named Ludovic pointed at "Her name is Maria" She lowered her head to greet the royalty, and Darren returned the gesture.

"Over here are my brother's children, Idonea, Jukel, and Fluer" They waved briefly and Darren smiled at them. He had no intent in staying with them, he had an Inn where he kept all his belongings, but he would appreciate them for not dumping his knocked out body in a ditch.

"Thank you all for your generosity" He said, then he searched his pocket for a satchel he once had in it.

He giggled and left a weary smile on his face. His pockets were empty, and that was all the money he had left.

"You were robbed, weren't you?" Leofric spoke. Darren lowered his head, "I'm sorry, I didn't plan for any trouble I might have caused you all…"

"Do not worry, young Sir. You just have to help in a few errands and we'll let you go free."

Ludovic leaned in to whisper "You still have to pay me for the training though" he winked, and Darren tightened his hands around his spoon. He could pay, but he was miles away from home, and writing them a pay note in advance would be difficult because he still had to get the money from his domain.

"You can pay whenever, wherever. However, twofold for the deferral."

Darren sweat dropped and knitted his brows "S-sure"

Ludovic smacked his back, and the young wolfman jolted.

"Wow, just that made you move that much?" His body contacted the table and everything on top swayed.

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry. My husband and Brother-in-law roughhouse on the table. Nothing about this is new," Maria continued to eat, ignoring the brief tumult completely.

Ludovic laughed before getting up, "Follow me Sir Darren. There's something important I want to ask you" His tone dropped towards the end of his words, and Darren recognized an abrupt change in his eyes. He followed Ludovic out, and the two of them walked around the courtyard behind their home. That was the place they would prepare, yet there was something else that had to be discussed.

"So you really don't have powers?" Darren frowned before nodding. He silently prayed the wolfman wouldn't give up on him because of his great flaw. Ludovic stayed still for a while, then he slowly stroked his grizzly chin before the corners of his lips curved upwards "Hm... this is a theory but have you heard of the magic Lock?"

Darren shook his head, "What is that?"

"Although I'm not too sure, but I think it is possible to seal someone's powers."

"Yes, it is..."

"That's not what I'm talking about. The first thing that came to your mind is the restrain spell used on criminals to stop them from using their powers. Am I correct?"

Darren nodded, although he wasn't convinced that the magic lock was something special.

"From the look on your face, my hypothesis must have confused you. But I'll explain the Magic Lock in simple terms. A Magic lock is something like a curse cast on someone to prevent their awakening, or prevent their magic use at least…"

"What you're trying to say is that…"

"Yes. Someone or something locked up your powers permanently for a reason."