Blog

A Meeting with a Titan

This piece was the first I ever commissioned from the legendary Vallhound back in March of 2022, and a collaboration from my good friend CyberLightning and his dragon Richard.

The story was written wholly by him, and I handled the editing. It was fun to see someone else try to write Volpes, partly because it helped me understand how other people might receive him. Volpes might be my primary antagonist and villain, but I’ve never considered him truly evil. Seeing how others view him was enlightening.

---

Richard limped down the path as the rain soaked through his clothes holding his arm. His last battle had really taken a toll on him. Whilst he was able to destroy that wraith he had been tossed around like a ragdoll and without his armour to protect him he was covered in cuts, bruises and most likely more than that. He couldn’t be sure but he was fairly certain he had dislocated his shoulder.

Dragging himself along his foot caught a loose stone and he fell face first into the mud. He grunted as the pain shot through his body and pushed himself up but his arm gave out. All his strength was gone. With a few deep breaths he pushed himself onto his back causing him to grunt in pain.

“Easy there. You’re going to make it worse doing that”. Richard looked up. His vision had started to go blurry but he could see what looked like the silhouette of a fox above him. “Let me help you. I’m an apothecary and you are in need of care. That shoulder won’t heal on its own”. Richard just looked at them wondering what their end goal was but the pain reminded him he was in condition to say no.

He motioned his hand up expecting the fox to grab it but instead they picked him up with their arms and carried him away. Richard was taken aback at how strong the fox was but didn’t question as they made their way through the streets.

In time they came to a wooden shack in the slums where the fox opened the door. Inside was a typical pharmacy so the fox’s story checked out, but Richard had little time to look as the fox carefully lifted him onto a bed and then grabbed a green vial.

“This is a pain killer. It’ll dull the pain as I reposition your shoulder but it’ll still hurt. Okay?”. Richard nodded as the fox poured the contents down his throat. The taste was bitter but almost immediately he felt like he was floating. It was ethereal. He then saw the fox hold onto his arm and in one quick motion popped his shoulder back into place.

He screamed in agony but just as quickly the pain disappeared. He took several deep breaths and looked at the fox. It was now that he realised that they had glowing eyes. One green and one blue. “Thank you.” Richard whispered as a wave of exhaustion hit him, barely able to open his eyes.

“That is alright”, the fox replied. “Now rest. It looks like you’ve had a long day”. Richard slowly nodded as he fell back on the bed falling asleep.

---

The sunlight was what caused him to wake up more than anything. Pain still racked him but it was much duller than the night before. As he pushed himself up he noticed that he was now bandaged up on his leg, chest and arm. His tunic, bandana and sword lay folded on the bedside table where a bowl of steaming chicken soup lay.

“I hope you don’t mind but I needed a closer look at your wounds”. Richard turned to see the fox sitting in a chair across the room looking up from his book. “I didn’t want an infection to take root. It’s easier to prevent an infection than to cure one”.

“Thank you. I’m… not sure what I would’ve done without you” Richard eventually said, taking a sip from the soup.

“Most likely develop hypothermia and infected wounds. What caused your injuries may I ask?” The fox queried, placing down his book.

“A wraith.”

“A wraith? Was that the one down in the old castle 8 miles north?”

“Same one”

“You walked all the way here with those wounds? I’m impressed. I don’t know many people that can do that.”

“Stubbornness and determination is what does it.” Richard chuckled, “With no backup you have to make your own path”.

“I most definitely agree with you there but sadly not everyone has the strength to do that on their own.”

“I know but that’s why you and I exist”. Richard said, making the fox raise an eyebrow. “I protect the people from threats that could harm their families whilst you care and heal them. Plus idiots like me”. The two of them chuckled.

“Well maybe you should’ve asked around here. I did actually make preparations with a couple of people I know to take down that wraith. We could’ve backed you up”.

“You? Take down a wraith? But…” Richard stopped. He was about to comment on how he couldn’t take down a wraith when he was just a simple healer but it was only that he realised just how… Well jacked he was. He had never seen someone as strong or as powerful as this fox before in his life. “How…?”

“I have my ways. Something that you may be interested in considering your line of work” The fox responded. Richard put his empty bowl aside and leaned forward eager to listen to what this fox had to say.

“I am also an alchemist. When I was young I was determined to find create a potion that could heal all wounds so to speak. Instead I found something that could improve the body instead.” The fox flexed his arm slightly to emphasise his point, “Massively improve the body as you can see.”

“That’s impressive. Is that why your eyes glow?”

“A side effect of the potion, yes but I’ve grown to like them”, The fox smirked, crossing his legs. “Some fear me for that alone but I would say it has made my life a lot easier. I wouldn’t have been able to carry you here alone for example.”

“Are you trying to insinuate that I’m overweight?” Richard responded with a small grin.

The fox chuckled, “Well maybe you could lose a few pounds around the waist.” The two of them laughed.

“Let me guess. Did that potion also prevent you from gaining any pounds?”

“I’ve never let that opportunity arise honestly. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, I couldn’t tell you.”

“Ha that potion doesn’t half sound tempting right now. Would make dealing with wraiths a hell of a lot easier.”

“Well I can sort you out with that”. The fox pulled out a glowing blue vial from his tunic and handed it to Richard. “The very vial that transformed me and it can be yours too. All I ask is that you use it for good and help others but I don’t think that’s much of an issue for you”.

Richard twirled the vial around his hand and looked up at the fox. This vial could make him as strong as them? It was all too good to be true. His smile faded. Too good to be true.

“What’s wrong? Having second thoughts?” The fox said.

“What do you get out of this?”

“I’m sorry?”

“What do you get out of this?”

“Aha. What a silly question. I care for people like you said. And in your line of work you need the extra help you can get”.

Richard stared at the fox. Taking that answer in. “But you are giving this to a complete stranger. How do you even know I’m telling the truth? I could’ve been caught in a gang fight after a deal gone wrong for all you know.”

“Did I mention I also have enhanced senses? People that lie have an increased heartbeat. Yours is normal, that is how I know you’re telling the truth.”

Richard’s eyes widened. Enhanced senses? “You can hear my heartbeat?”

“Of course and that it has gotten a little faster now.”

Richard just stared at him realising that indeed his heart was beating faster. If this fox also had enhanced sense on top of strength what else had he improved? “You weren’t going to tell me that before drinking that potion?”

“Tell you what?”

“The enhanced senses. That might be something to tell people about. What else changes? Tougher skin? Stronger bones?”

“Why are you complaining? Surely those are all good things to have?”

“That’s not the point. You don’t hide stuff like that from someone. A potion like this is life changing. Any caring person would inform someone of stuff like.”

The fox frowned and stood up revealing his towering figure making Richard look like a child in comparison making him take a short gasp. “I don’t see how that is an issue. You can see for yourself the effects. All others you are talking about are minor.”

“Minor!? How can you call them minor? Giving someone the hearing that you say you have could be used by spies trying to overthrow kingdoms! That is incredibly dangerous to just hand out to random people”

“I will make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“How? You were going to give me this potion despite the fact you hardly knew me! How were you going to…” Richard stopped mid sentence. It clicked. It all clicked. “You bastard”.

“Excuse me?”

“You bastard. That vial would make me loyal and obedient to your every command wouldn’t it?” Richard frowned at the fox. The two stared at each other in complete silence for several minutes before the fox began to laugh.

“Well I must say. You are the first to see through that. I must congratulate you, young man. You are cleverer than you look”

“People always assume we fighters are dumb because they trust on stereotypes too much.” Richard said slowly reaching for his sword.

“Oh please there’s no need for violence. I’m not going to force that potion down your throat. I’m not a monster”.

“Ha! You won’t force a drink down someone’s throat but you’ll trick them instead? How is that not being a monster?”

Anger flared in the fox’s eyes. “The monsters here are the ones that have abandoned the weakest in our society. I’m doing the right thing by making them strong enough to fight back!”

Richard stood up as well but the fox was so tall he barely reached their shoulders. “By brainwashing them into your slaves!? That doesn’t make you any different to those you say are abusing the weak!”

“I cannot let my gift be abused for ill!”

“Why? Are you afraid you’re gonna get ganged up or something?” In a flash the fox wrapped his hand around Richard’s neck lifting him up from the ground. Richard tried to pry his fingers under the fox’s hand but their grip was too strong. “I hit a nerve didn’t I?” He choked, “But tell me. Have you killed a man before?”

The fox still held his grip around Richard’s neck. There wasn’t much Richard could do against him, he was simply too strong as darkness began to enter his vision. But then the fox let him go. He coughed several times before he pulled himself up.

“You are no longer welcome here. Get out” The fox snarled. Richard nodded and put on his clothes as he opened the front door before stopping.

“Thanks, again by the way”, he said and then closed the door behind him. He turned towards the Main Street where he felt a small pang of regret. That vial would’ve made life a lot easier for him but no he couldn’t think like that. That fox was clearly in it for himself and not the people. He just hoped that others didn’t so easily fall for his tricks.