THE LAST HOBBIT'S

3 - Dragon Conqueror Sword

...'Gearl Howl came and said that the world needed him and he began a long journey half-heartedly.'...

...*****...

The last time Gearl Howl came to Arslan's house was about 20 years ago and nothing has changed. Gearl Howl took a breath and recalled a few things as Arslan's voice resuscitated him.

"What made you come here?" Arslan was seen leaning against the wall of his house. His tone was serious, but the look in his eyes clearly showed that he did not want to talk too long with Gearl Howl.

"See this place hasn't changed much. You're still the same as the last time I saw you. What's... You okay?"

"Just go ahead, Mr. Gearl. You don't have to say pleasantries. What was your purpose in coming here?"

"............" Gearl Howl looked at Arslan and inwardly took a slow breath. This young man had always been cold when he came, but still he did not take such a heart.

"Arslan, the world needs you."

!!

Arslan's eyes widened. The previously crossed hands were now firmly clenched. He threw away his face and then snorted, "Obstill."

"Asians..!" Gearl Howl called as Arslan was about to walk out. He exclaimed, "You can't keep hiding in this place. Now, the world was shaking with the appearance of the Dragon Conquering Sword. The races tried to obtain the sword for their greed. You're so needed!"

"........... Mr Gearl Howl. If there's nothing else you want to say, then leave. I still have to find food,"

"What do you get from continuing to hide in this place?" Gearl Howl said and made Arslan who stepped out of his house now stop suddenly.

"Arslan, it's enough for you to hide. You are completely innocent of past events. Had enough... For you to punish yourself,"

"............" Arslan lowered his eyes. He turned around and looked at the old man with the long beard.

Arslan said, "Go Mr. Gearl. There's no reason for me to come back, let alone leave this place."

"There's a reason," Gearl Howl took a breath and said, "The Dragon-Bearer's sword has been a demon. Whoever gets the sword will be overcome with a strong killing desire. Nothing can stop this but you. Only you know the secret of the sword,"

"Mr Gearl Howl..!" Arslan shook his head, "Stop this. I don't want to be involved in anything, not even the world. I can't do what you're asking. I can't possibly bring about such a change. Precisely... My presence is not needed. So I'm asking you... Go,"

Arslan felt a pain in his throat as he said, "I... Just want to do penance and that is to get away from the world. I don't want to go back..."

Gearl Howl said, "If you think that hiding in this place to death is the way to atone for your sins, then you are wrong. Not like this is the right way to make up for everything,"

Gearl Howl took a slow breath and said, "You... It was the one who knew the truth about the sword and what terrible chaos it could bring if it fell into the hands of others. In this world... You are the only one who can stop the disaster that the sword will bring."

"Think of what I say" Gearl Howl said. "If you hide in this place waiting for death, then there is a better way to die. For the last time, help the world and earn an honorable death that can make all your mistakes erased. Be dead... Without remorse."

!!

"............."

Arslan watched as Gearl Howl walked out of his house. The magician from the drawf race stopped right beside Arslan before reopening.

Gearl Howl said, "I'm sorry for getting you back on something you've been so desperate to forget. But I can't think of any other way but to remember you. Think carefully and if you need help... You know how to reach me."

Arslan watched as Gearl Howl started walking away and left. The dwarf had indeed come and asked him to leave this place, but he refused. Now, Gearl Howl had instead used the excuse of the Dragon Conquering Sword and this had annoyed him.

Previously, he met an Elf named Sofia and the girl also told him about the Dragon Conquering Sword. Now there is Gearl Howl. His mediocre life over the years has now changed after the arrival of two people who never expected.

A shadow from the past seemed to flash before his eyes. Arslan closed his eyes and seemed to hear many sounds that came not only from the screams, but also the growls of wild animals, including the sound of explosions that were mutually disdainful.

It was an incident more than 50 years ago. He should have forgotten the details of every bloody tragedy, but somehow his reflection was completely clear. It was as if this had just happened yesterday.

Arslan did not want to leave, but when he looked into his house - his eyes were immediately fixed on the arrow that was on his wooden table.

Arslan walked over and then picked up the letter written by Sofia. The elf kept asking him to venture out and see the world and even beyond the inscription on this paper - there were pictures from the Middle World map and locations marked as where the Dragon Conquering Sword was located.

Arslan was of course surprised and flipped the paper in his hand. He looked at the map and a sense of shock approached him. Sofia really wanted herself to get out of this place.

Arslan took a breath. He thought for a long time before returning to the words of Gearl Howl. He turned his head and looked at his small closet and rolled up the paper in his hand.

Arslan walked towards the wooden cabinet and picked up a few sets of clothes. He wrapped it in a cloth and began to pick up a dagger tucked in his waist.

He also carried other weapons such as hammers and axes. Arslan put it in his cloth package along with Sofia's arrow and map. He changed his shoes and then walked out of the house with the package in hand.

Arslan walked a few steps before turning around to look at his house. He took a breath, his facial expression was calm, but the look in his eyes showed that he still felt hard to make this decision. He still did not want to leave and leave his house for a long time.

"I'll just check it out for a minute. If it's more dangerous than I thought, then I'll be back." Arslan made a decision and left. This still could not be said to be adventure as his intentions were still half-hearted.

Arslan down the small stream. He tried to catch fish even by making a dam, but still did not manage to catch a single tail.

He finally gave up and decided to cultivate the rainbow beetle caterpillar that he caught earlier when he felt the presence of something. Arslan flinched and immediately looked over with a watchful eye.

!!!

Just across the river, Arslan saw three black wolf and made a strange sound. Saliva seemed to drip in the mouth of the terrifying wolf. The area in that Red Mountain is indeed not a safe area because there are many wild creatures in this place and one type of course is the wolf.

"............." Arslan held her breath. He carefully took out his dagger and along with it, the three wolfs growled and ran towards him.

"Crevaison lux!"

The light was created with a single shot of a dagger from Arslan. The light that suddenly appeared and was very blinding made the three wolves startled and then ran away. Arslan was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief because he was able to repel the wolf with his simple magic.

"What's.... Should I just go back?" Arslan thought he would reconsider his decision. He felt that this was not the right decision to come out of his hiding place. It is clear that the task of saving the world... Not something that is easy to do, especially if it is just yourself.

"I'll go home"

"The world needs you."

The words of Gearl Howl suddenly ring in Arslan's head. His legs were just about to be moved home, but the memory of Gearl Howl made him stop.

"The Sword of the Dragon Conqueror has fallen on the devil. Whoever gets the sword will be overcome with a strong killing desire. Nothing can stop this but you. Only you know the secret of the sword,"

"..... For the last time, help the world and earn an honorable death that can make all your mistakes erased. Be dead... Without remorse."

Arslan closed his eyes. It hurt as he gulped and was extremely stifling as he took a breath. He looked up and looked at the huge tree towering above him.

"You gave me... Heavy duty..." Arslan slowly walked. He knew that he could ignore Gearl Howl's words, but somehow there was a point in his heart that really wanted death without regret. Her.... At least want to make amends in the right way.

Arslan continued walking near the stream. He even climbed a large rock with a small tree as well as moss growing on it. This road will be very long, but following the flow of the river will be able to make it out of the dracovudu forest. Just like when he came to this place many years ago.

Arslan had only taken a few steps down the previous rock when he heard the sound of something moving. He turned around and was surprised not to play when he knew that the stone he was riding was not an ordinary stone, but a troll.

"Geez..!"

Trolls are creatures that have a hard body and look like a stone. They often blanket the body with moss or even accidentally stay long enough on the ground until their body is overgrown with grass or other plants, it is their way of disguising and tricking the quarry.

Troll food is of course any kind of living thing, even Arslan would look like food in his eyes. There was no need to ask about the face of the troll, it was monstrous with unusually sharp pointed teeth. And one thing for sure is that this troll will not run away in fear with just simple magic.

"Crevaison lux!" Arslan knew that, but continued to use his magic. The blinding light made the troll let out a loud sound like it was extremely angry.

Arslan uses this opportunity to run and save himself, but the troll chases after him. He was forced to go into the forest and use the dracovudu tree to make it difficult for the troll to pursue him.

Arslan kept running. The troll itself was getting faster and even occasionally let out deafening shouts and gave anyone goosebumps, even including Arslan.

This situation is obviously very bad. It was like being chased by a giant with sharp teeth and even the condition of this land was very difficult for him. Arslan has to be careful because otherwise... He might slip and fall.

Imagining the word fall was the same as ending up in the mouth of a troll making his heart race. Arslan obviously did not want to die in this way, especially when he had not done anything to make amends. He had to live on given Gearl Howl said that the world needed him right now.

"Solventus!" Arslan chanted a magic spell and made it instantly shoot upwards at high speed.

This time he did not close his eyes. At that incredible speed, he tried not to hit his head with a hard branch of the dracovudu tree or it would be the end of his history.

Arslan managed to rise to the surface and fall on the leaves of the dracovudu tree. His breath seemed to be wheezing and was just about to calm down... The tree Arslan was in was shaking strongly.

Without delaying time, Arslan ran again. The advantage is that the dracovudu tree leaves are strong enough, let alone light body and he himself is always careful in taking every step.

A loud noise was heard again and Arslan could see some moving parts of the leaves. It was clearly a sign that the troll below was shaking the dracovudu tree and even heading it with great force.

Arslan slowed down his pace before eventually remaining silent. Trolls move by instinct and although this includes tall trees, the troll can see the movement of leaves because he ran before. The only thing that could be done was to stay silent for a while until the troll felt that its prey had already escaped.

"................"

Arslan gulped. He did not dare to peek at what the trolls were doing down there. He did not even know that the troll was trying to climb one of the dracovudu trees even though it ended in vain.

The sound of growling was heard again, but Arslan remained unmoved. He looked at the scene above him and saw a bright blue sky. For a moment, he felt a slight calm.

Only after there is no sound of growling and leaf movement... Arslan also dared to peek down. He saw that the troll had already started walking away and this made him able to exhale a sigh of relief.

"Haaah.." It's not even half the way and he's been having some difficulties. Arslan rubbed his chest and remembered that many years ago... He had experienced something worse than this several times.

******