Chapter 437: We Will Definitely Meet Again [Part 2]

"Zephira, is there really no other way?" Dominic asked. "Right now, it seems that the only way out for me is death."

At his words, Zephira’s feathers bristled in alarm. She could tell that Dominic wasn’t joking.

If he were really pushed into a corner, he might just sacrifice himself to save his family and his subordinates, taking the sin of losing the Gryphon Battalion to his death.

"There is a way for you and your family to survive," Zephira said softly. "But to do that, you have to live on."

Dominic chuckled wryly. "Live? How? The King will have me executed to serve as an example. Even if I return home, I’m as good as dead."

Zephira didn’t answer right away. She waited for Dominic to calm down a bit before she relayed Leone’s other message.

"The Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe has also asked me to pass on this message," Zephira stated. "As long as you and your subordinates don’t actively participate in this war, I’ll leave you with a way out. Not only can you keep your life, but your and your family’s safety would also be guaranteed."

Hearing her words, Dominic couldn’t stop himself from snorting.

"How can he make that kind of promise?" Dominic said, doing his best to restrain his anger. "Does he think that the words of a mere chieftain in the Borderlands have a sway in the King’s decisions?"

Zephira could only shake her head. "I don’t know. He simply told me to relay this message to you. But what if his words were true? What if he really did have a way to ensure that you and your family could live? What would you do then?"

The commander didn’t reply. He didn’t believe that the Aslan Tribe had the power to negotiate with their King.

"Zephira, listen to me," Dominic said calmly. "The Britannian Army might retreat today, but they cannot be stopped. After two consecutive losses, Duran and Vogel will no longer underestimate the Aslan Tribe.

"You can be certain that their next march will be very different. The Aslan Tribe only succeeded now because they took us by surprise. However, it will not happen again. The kingdom’s army will prevail in the end."

Zephira nodded. "Perhaps. But I have a feeling that the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe still has more tricks up his sleeve. Just live, Dominic. As long as you are alive, there will always be another opportunity to meet."

Dominic clenched his fists tighter. If he could only punch the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe right now, he might feel a little better.

"What is his name?" Dominic asked. "What is the name of that bastard chieftain?!"

The Royal Gryphon knew her Master would ask her this question. It just so happened that the chieftain had provided her with a name that Dominic could use to refer to him.

"He calls himself Lellouche Vi Britannia," Zephira answered.

"Hah!" Dominic almost laughed out loud. "Even the name he chose is meant to mock us. Does he really hate the kingdom so much? How dare he call himself Lellouche Vi Britannia?

"Is he perhaps an exiled noble? Or perhaps a descendant of one? If that’s the case, then that explains why he dares to mock us by using that name."

Zephira didn’t know Leone’s background. The only thing she could glean from her conversation with him was that he didn’t feel like a barbarian.

Aside from that, he looked young. She didn’t expect a chieftain who led a barbarian tribe to be that young.

The two talked for nearly an hour before Zephira looked off into the distance.

There, she saw a dust cloud heading in their direction.

"It’s time for us to go," Zephira said calmly. "Remember, Dominic. Stay alive. I don’t know what the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe plans to do. But please, do not try to do a suicide mission.

"The King of Britannia isn’t a merciful person. Who knows what he will do to your family after your death? They will be much safer if you remain alive."

Dominic quieted down because what Zephira said was true. If even his death would not help save his family, then he would have only died in vain.

"Also, don’t think that you will be the only one who will be blamed if this campaign fails to produce results," Zephira stated. "Even those two generals will not be able to escape punishment."

"Fail? How would they fail?" Dominic shook his head. "These are just minor setbacks. I already told you that the kingdom will prevail in this war. We have the numbers and the strategy to win this war."

Zephira agreed with Dominic wholeheartedly. She had only known the Aslan Tribe for a short while, and while she had a good impression of their strength, she couldn’t really see how a mere three hundred individuals could overturn the situation.

So far, they were able to make the Kingdom of Britannia retreat because they weren’t fighting at full force.

The soldiers were still weakened after suffering from illness, and so they were not in their peak condition.

However, the next time they attacked, they would come in full force.

They would no longer underestimate their enemy and prepare contingency plans for everything.

A moment of silence passed between the two of them before Zephira glanced at the riders that had now appeared in her line of sight.

"We really need to go, Dominic," Zephira said. "May the winds always be at your back."

Zephira nudged her Master with her beak before turning around to spread her wings.

She then screeched, telling everyone that it was now time to go before taking off to the skies.

One by one, the Gryphons bid their goodbyes to their riders before turning their backs to leave.

Some of the riders were stubborn and decided to mount their saddles, holding onto them for dear life.

The Gryphons tried to shake them off, but those riders held on as if their lives depended on it.

Zephira urged Dominic to call off his men and not make things difficult for all of them.

In the end, Dominic reluctantly agreed, but on one condition.

"Tell the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe I wish to meet him," Dominic said. "Just tell me the time and place. I’ll be there."

Zephira hesitated before reluctantly agreeing to the condition. "I’ll see what I can do. But no promises."

After the Royal Gryphon gave him her word, Dominic called out to his men and told them that this wouldn’t be the last time they would be meeting their partners.

He also warned them that if they remained stubborn, they might never come back to see them again.

The moment they heard that this wouldn’t be their last meeting, the soldiers reluctantly agreed to take a step back for the time being.

When all the Gryphons took off into the skies, they circled their riders one last time before flying southward.

Dominic and his men could only watch them go, hoping that this really wouldn’t be the last time they would meet each other.

Soon, the sound of hoofbeats reached their ears.

Marco and his men, who had come to check on the situation, had finally arrived.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Marco asked.

He saw that the Gryphons had left, assuming that their arrival was the reason for their departure.

"No," Dominic replied. "What is the current situation of the war? Also, why are you here? Did Duran send you on a suicide mission again?"

The Viscount of Frontera could only smile wryly while still seated on the back of his warhorse.

"The army is in full retreat," Marco answered. "General Duran asked me to make sure that all of you are safe and to escort you back to the fortress."

"Is that so?" Duran glanced in the direction where the Gryphons had flown ‌before walking toward his horse.

Soon, his men did the same. Together, they all returned to the Stoneguard Fortress, leaving the fleeting feeling of separation from the Gryphons that had shown them that their bonds remained strong even now.