DRAGON LONGZE ENCOUNTERS FREYA (BY BOST, 2026- PART 6)

Freya was happy to have encountered the very young man (Dragon Longze) she had sought to find and now after the knock and facing him, manners dictated that she wait at the doorstep to be invited in; she had therefore, expectantly stared at him, her words temporarily frozen on her tongue while her mind ran a prolific assortment of frenzied thoughts and feelings never before experienced. The young man’s awkward, prolonged response was unnerving; nevertheless, she had felt completely safe, unable to detect least malice, no threat or hostility in his keen gaze.

Longze on his part, had stood inexplicably (enigmatically) immobile because he had been thunderstruck (shocked) to see her there and remaining perfectly still, he was processing inwardly what he faced.

01-DRAGON LONGZE (32)

Freya’s concern for her father’s welfare being a vociferous siren, however, she was the first to break the spell, and the moment her senses snapped back to reality, she said: “Sir, please forgive my rude intrusion; my name is Freya Aquila and I am the daughter of hunter Hans Aquila. I have been beset (overcome) with worry since my father had gone on a routine hunting trip five days prior and has not yet returned; hence, I would like to know if you have come across him or know any news of him. He is my sole living kin, and I fear that something awful (dreadful) might have befallen him in these woods. So, kind sir, is there any chance of you having seen or heard anything about him?”

The girl spoke so quietly and looked at him so vulnerably that Longze deeply affected by her angst, rushed to at once bow his head in greeting and politely introduce himself as Longze, no last name was given; subsequently, he in quick succession, with a gentle voice and demeanor, uttered reassuring words to comfort her. Afterwards, he fell silent, not knowing what else to say.

Dragon Longze thereupon had discreetly observed her, this time being up close and really seeing her, he’d noted that for a human, particularly since her cheeks were tinged with crimson hue (shyness being the most delightful characteristics of humans), she looked as beautiful as a flower, akin those lovely blossoms in spring. Her braided blond hair (locks), meanwhile, disordered as it were, because of the prevailing winds and the storm, falling over her shoulders, swayed like the graceful branches of a willow tree.  Even though her large emerald, green eyes were sad, they held worders of the Universe as it glistened like the stars on a clear night; and, it seemed to Longze that she could not belong to the human species on earth, that she must be a fairy—an angel from Heaven.

02- GUARDIAN ASMUND (1)

“For heaven’s sake, what are you waiting for, have you lost your wits entirely, Longze? Can’t you see she is cold; invite her in!” The impatient voice of his guardian Asmund, audible only to Longze, snapped (busted the trance) Longze at once from his trance like obsession, his fascination of Freya.

“Am I allowed?” Longze abruptly looked up and silently asked Asmund; then straightaway feeling foolish, Longze opened the door wider. He declared that she would be safer and more comfortable inside; thence, with a polite sweeping gesture of his hand accompanying the words of, “Please come in,” he promptly stepped aside, and invited Freya into his humble abode.

Freya, now uttering her thanks, after moment’s hesitation, for her boots were all covered in mud, quickly stepped over the threshold but nervously remained inside by the door.

“She’s worried about dirtying the floor.” Asmund’s voice chimed in Longze’s ears.

Longze quickly responded with his placating (conciliating) vernacular, reassuring her that a little dirt on the floor was inconsequential, then bade (invited) her to please take a seat by the hearth, as she would be more comfortable and warmer there.  

Subsequently, she was shown to a seat and then offered steeping hot cup of tea. Longze, then asking, “May I?” and receiving an affirmative nod from Freya, he set across from her and tilted his head and politely inquired: "Tell me, if you please, bit more about your concerns, and more precisely, more details about your father so that I may rightly assist you in finding him; I will listen to your story, however long in its entirety, if you trust me enough to tell it to me. Hopefully, your father will be found safe, and…” he hesitated before speaking again, “and if you don’t think me too brazen, are you spoken for?" Longze had regretted asking that the moment the words had escaped his lips; he had innately understood the inappropriateness of it, and so, blushing, he averted his gaze and looked down, suddenly discomfited (embarrassed, flustered) and felt gauche (uncouth, tactless). “I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer that!” He then quickly added, trying to remedy his transgression.

“Now you’ve done it; and you were doing so well up till then too.” Asmund’s bemused snicker made Longze further disconcerted (embarrassed), as he had revealed not only to her but to his guardian his maladroitness (unsophistication, callowness, inelegance).

Asmund sensing his deep hurt, relented: “But I see that I am making you uncomfortable; so, I shall take my leave of you for a while. I have other matters to address anyhow. But Longze, do not try so hard; relax, and be yourself, all will be fine. I will check back on your progress tomorrow. “

03- DRAGON LONGZE(60)

Longze was grateful for Asmund’s tolerance and faith in him. He nodded his head, to his guardian; then, his attention was at once reverted (directed back) to her.

Freya, meanwhile, was taken back, baffled even, by his sudden awkwardness, his unusual candor and delightfully innocent nature, and so she had stared at him in silence, for so long that, he thought he’d definitely overstepped some boundary and breached some human decorum (propriety, modesty, tact, politeness) that she was cross with him and therefore, would not answer. But when he dared to meet her eyes again, he saw that there was no judgement, no anger or repulsion, only kindness and tolerance and something resembling his akin intense curiosity, in her eyes. This elated him, and so encouraged, he was about to speak, when the sudden gusting wind that shook the shutters, drew both their attention to it.

The sudden hurricane force wind again rising, had this time seriously shaken the dilapidated structure, which he had found (detected) curiously enough earlier that day.  Having decided on spending the night there, after his brief repose which he had spent playing the flute, he was about to more scrupulously examine the structure, explore and identify the possible hazards (pitfalls, snares, dangers) of the interior, when she had quite unexpectedly shown up at the cabin’s doorstep.  Meanwhile he could not shake the sensation that something was amiss (wrong, awry) or odd about this structure being mysteriously manifested (appearing) there, when there had been no such cabin prior. He had meant to ask Asmund about it, only, he did not get the chance.

Longze, five days erstwhile, as part of his extensive training, had been assigned to complete his eight challenging tasks by his demanding yet fair, current guardian Asmund- as means to assess (evaluate) his growing innate prowess (skill aptitude). The project entailed, that he promptly (within a month) capture and then eliminate the highly volatile, trickster demon incarnates, the ersatz (artificial) black panther, Sedit, that sometimes simulated (sham, fake) human warrior or a ruffian.

04- DEVIL PANTHER  SEDIT (13)

Escaping from the high security, penal colony, on Star Treon and, having set his sights on Earth, Sedit during the last six months had left immense carnage and vile (abominable) destruction in his wake, before, quite recently absconding (fleeing) to this remote region and then taking refuge (hiding) within the enchanted (magical, protected), inhospitable dark forest.

Longze two days earlier, on his routine reconnaissance had flown through the clouds over the said forest. Quite by chance spotting the elusive demon panther’s sometimes ally (contact) red tailed fox spirit, sneakily crossing into this segment of the forest, Longze had tracked her progress, deeming the fox spirit being up to no good, as well, hoping that she would eventually lead him to demon panther Sedit’s current recondite (abstruse) hideout (lair, den).

Suddenly, once more, the violent winds shook the walls of the cabin so powerfully (mightily) that Longze worried (fretted) whether the precarious structure would stand the next onslaught or simply collapse, tumble over their heads. He of course was beyond harming but the frail mortal girl before him could seriously be harmed. Strangely enough, he felt intensely protective of this girl; just then the wind, the air rushing through whistled through the chinks and crannies of the old building, while from the garden came the mournful howling of wolves, followed by the sudden cry of an owl. An owl? That was an impossibility in this part of the forest?

Longze noted that Freya was still very much frightened and beset with worry; and so, trying his best to distract (divert)her mind and ease her anxiety and concerns- he smiled at her reassuringly and then he repeated his prior request to learn of her story and her troubles, so that he may better assist her in resolving it.

The wind and the raging storm at outside, had indeed re-hashed (re-kindled) Freya’s apprehension (fretfulness) about her father Hans Aquila. Thinking of him forlorn, lost or injured somewhere in the wilderness- therefore, feeling sorrow to the quick, her eyes had defiantly brimmed with fresh tears; however, next instant defiantly, angrily, she had wiped her eyes and resumed her story:

"I am the daughter of a most wonderful, heroic warrior that was long ago falsely accused of a crime he did not commit and was banished to the edge of this Kingdom. He was stripped of his former status, disowned by his father and worst of it, his wife who was not my mother, formally divorced him and later married to his ardent foe. Subsequently, with not a single coin on him, with just clothes on his back, he was driven from the state. Yet he survived, hoping one day to clear his name and regain his honor. He never told me of the details of the crime, though I had implored him countless times, to tell me of it. Each time he would promise me that he would one day reveal all to me when passed my eighteenth birthday. As time went by however, he was disheartened, and burying the past completely in his subconscious, he (let go) also entirely forsook any notion of retribution. Meanwhile, my father’s travels had at one point led him to this inhospitable region. Furthermore, he had successfully bypassed all the blocks and barriers which had made this region impenetrable and chanced on this very remote village that had been permanently, for a decade, closed to all outsiders. He had succeeded where only few hardy warriors in a decade had done and unwittingly discover the hidden Village in this most inaccessible sector, well hidden from any civilized world.”

“The stringent rules were explained to him by the chief elders, and he was given the choice to either forfeit his life by his own sword (blade) that instant, or accept to immerse in their community, culture, by living henceforth, as one of them. It was made clear to him that once he accepted to live there, he would be forever forbidden to leave and would remain hidden from the rest of the world, for the rest of his life. He accepted the choice to stay, which of course, came with a trial period. He had to first prove he was worthy to be one of them (for the immersion into their group). After a gruelling inquisition and hair-rising tests, recognising his prowess’s and valuable mantle (mantle, role), they had accepted him into their folds. He was warned however of their very extensive rigid rules which meant no second chances and, any violation meant his immediate demise. After he had became a citizen, he eventually met my mother when she tended to his serious wounds from a hunting accident. She was beautiful, good hearted, and excellent heeler; to cut the story short, because she was so good, he could not help but fall in love with her and they were married soon after. Then first my brother Alec and then I was born.” 

05- HANS AQUILA  GONE ON HUNT (13)JP

“Winter months are (harsh) most severe in this region and so, my father wanting to secure us some meat for the duration, left on his final hunt, before the onset of winter, some days prior. “Freya lowered her head as she with a trembling voice next said: “He had been absent for unusually long time; he should have returned well before this day. Fearing the worse, but then suddenly hearing the melody of your flute, and hoping you had seen my father, I ventured into the forest to accost you and thus happened to come here.”

“My brother Alec was lost to us recently; I cannot bear to have my father be lost to me as well! How can I exist, without them? I still grieve for my brother Alec’s absence; but I know it in my heart he is still alive somewhere. He cannot be dead, otherwise I would have known it…I would sense it deep in my heart! That said, I miss him so terribly. In the mornings when it rains and, in the evenings, when the winds are fierce, I longed for him to be not at outside vulnerable and at the mercy of elements, but instead, to once more be seated besides me near the hearth, sheltered, safe and warm, us chatting about (talking of) this and that.”

As Longze with undivided attention listened to her story, inwardly however, he had quietly questioned whether the young warrior he had saved and is now convalescing in a cave could be her brother Alec. What if he is not; he should not give her hope, only to disappoint her, if he proved not to be him. Meanwhile, he should search for her father, and find out if he is all right or, if in trouble, rescue him also, before it is too late. Longze then quietly hoped and prayed, that Hans Aquila had not, not at any point (chanced) encountered the demon Sedit.

 

 

(END OF PART 6)

 

 

(Characters: ,  Dragon Longze, Elof Bijarke, son Jedrik, Jedrik’s trump card, trusted and esteemed (valued) friend Haldor Yon, from prominent aristocratic family, and a valued elite guard, serving under Elof Bijarke.  Halder Yon’s secret intimate partner Archilles Elof.  Hans Aquila, wife, Nora, Alec and Freya, guardian Asmund, the trickster demon incarnate, the ersatz (artificial) black panther Sedit, bandit Chief Loki, Immortal warrior Erland, Mayor Gudmund Kirk’s youngest, his still unmarried son Hagen, his wife Selma, his two other sons, the ranchers, named, Agil and Corey Kirk, Olga, Heavenly Emperor’s niece, one selected to be Longze’s future mate)

 

 DRAGON LONGZE ENCOUNTERS FREYA (BY BOST, 2026 - PART 5)

Jedrick and his guard, despite the length of time and the grueling trek they had spent searching in the depths of the forest, had failed to see any sign of Freya; meanwhile, to his deep consternation Jedrick had realized that they both at present had inadvertently and utterly lost their bearing. Thus, for a while now, mindful of the predatory beasts, both brandishing their swords, had advanced with vigilant caution, hoping to retrace their steps back to the edge of the forest and be freed from this dire predicament. Instead, with each step they took, without knowing it, they had delved in deeper and got lost in the darkest parts of the forest. Their circumstance growing dire by each passing moment, at one point they had found themselves surrounded by armed bandits.

01- JEDRICK BIJARKE CAPTURED BY BANDITS (7)JP

Obviously, Jedrick and his guard had fought dauntlessly, boldly even; however, they were outmatched both in numbers and competence.  For these were no ordinary bandits, they had clearly supernatural legerdemain (adroitness, skill) and they fought with unusual deftness (dexterity, precision). Jedrick and the guard did not stand a chance in besting (suppressing) them and before long, they were utterly defeated.

The ensnared (captured, trapped) Jedrick and the guard, were bound with ropes and then roughly carted away (lugged, carried off) to the bandit’s lair to, later that afternoon be thrown at the feet of their chief now seated in his impressive chair (on a dais), to await judgement.

02- JEDRICK TAKEN PRISONER (1)JP

What Jedrik and the guard did not know however, was that these bandits were all demons in human form and that their chief was non other than the trickster Panther demon, Sedit who now called himself Loki.

Demon Sedit, having utterly decimated (destroyed) the last place in bloody carnage and reduced all to ash, however, still ardently being pursued, had temporarily taken refuge in this dark forest.  

03- DEVIL PANTHER  SEDIT(16)

Chancing on the bandits in his pseudo human form as a helpless and lost merchant, he had allowed them to take him to their lair (den), then once there, he had absorbed (eaten) their souls but kept their mortal physical forms; thus enslaved, Sedit utilized these now demon bandits in human shells (appearances), to meet his varied needs.

Sedit (Loki) had chosen to for a brief time, linger in this forsaken forest, finding much to satisfy his hankering for carnage (slaughter), and wanting to have some respite from his ardent pursuers, as well have, bit of fun.

After Jedrick and the guard had been captured and dumped into the holding cell of this pit of evil, the guard, without delay was assimilated by the Demon Chief; however, Loki found himself rather intrigued with the arcane (esoteric, obstruse) malevolent aura which had surrounded Jedrick.  Wishing to learn more of it, Loki for the time being had opted not to absorb (eat) Jedrick’s soul, therefore, allowing him still to maintain his human foibles and be the source of his amusement. Furthermore, in his pseudo role as the ruling human Chieftain, Loki, after he had questioned Jedrick at length, and finding there much to engross (hold, engage) him, he then recruited Jedrick on the spot, as his second in command.

04- JEDRICK RECRUITED AS SECOND IN COMMAND (3)JP

 ~

 

Given that since time immemorial, there’d been an eternal struggle between forces of good and evil; however, Heaven had always protected and guided the good and pure souls- by quirk of fate, Freya had taken a different path from Jedrick’s and thus escaped, albeit temporarily, the Demon Sedit (Loki).

Meantime, unaware of the existing varied perils in these woodlands Freya, had resiliently and in safety, had persisted with her arduous trek, traversing over the uneven ground, in search of her father or that stranger; though, now as the rain fell more heavily, the ancient trees towering to great heights, functioned as an umbrella and, shielded her from the worst of the downpours.

Gradually the ground of her lonely trail, being soddened (saturated) by deluge runoffs from the sides, it turned into sucking mud; therefore, she stumbled occasionally, her foot sliding over the moss-covered rocks or boulders partially imbedded in that narrow goas’ paths, scraping her knees, calves or shins.

Freya stopped now and then to catch her breath and wring her sleeves, which were by then weighed her down being wet with rain as well as her tears. So absorbed was Freya in the thought of finding her father, or the stranger, that she hardly noticed that there was an ethereal(otherworldly) silence in the woods and there was a total absence of predatory animals or insects and that the air was totally stilled. Outside of this protective bubble, she noted that the storm now gave signs of lifting... Then, abruptly, it had altogether ceased, the clouds cleared and the silvery moon shone brightly in the sky. The change in the atmosphere (weather) at last roused Freya to look about her, and she saw that the path up ahead appeared clear of debris and furthermore, was illuminated by the moonlight.

05- DRAGON LONGZE ON NIGHT RECONNAISANCE

Subsequently, she had walked, endlessly, her trail (route) strangely still illuminated by the obliging rays of the full moon, when she suddenly spotted at distance ahead, a single white ray of light that glowed through the dense trees and the nocturnal gloom. Where such light existed, there had to be a dwelling of a sort. And surely, they must have encountered (had a brush with) her father and therefore know of his present whereabouts; thus, the kernel of hope sprung anew in her heart, she eagerly hastened her steps as best as she was able, towards the light and the presumed dwelling.

Soon as the odd, fenced cabin positioned in the shadow of a group of pines, fully visible now came into view, her heart palpitated with wild enthusiasm and hope; because, from within the structure, emanated just then the akin enchanting melody from a flute.

Freya hastened her steps to open the latch of the wooden gate of the encircling fence that was fallen in about two places and needed repair; then, she unwaveringly stepped inside the fenced garden that was overgrown with weeds. The full moon once more peeking from the clouds, its silvery rays just then had made everything visible; she noted how the weed that grew all over the garden and between the flagstones of a winding path, was quite undisturbed, as if no one had trod (trespassed over) it for a long while.  The posts which supported the inner moon-gate had two menacing gargoyles posted (perched) on top; they had suddenly, just then, swayed a trivial fraction in the wind, making the gargoyles appear as though both were alive.

06- GARGOYLES

Freya halting for a moment, exhaled a deep, slow breath from her lungs, then stoically brushed aside the fretfulness that the gargoyles were watching, judging, and assessing her measure; undeterred, she thenceforth quickly bypassed the moon-gate, swiftly climbed the four steps of the porch and then, knocked on the heavy wooden door.

The melody emanating from the cabin had ceased instantly, though, response was slow in coming; for not until she had knocked and called out twice did, she hear any stirring within. Afterwards someone had answered in a subdued voice, and then the nob turned, and the door opened ajar (about an inch).

A beautiful handsome young face of about twenty, with chiseled aristocratic features, peered out from the opening; at first, he did not speak, however, and his keen silvery, light- blue eyes for a spell (moment or two) registering shock and awe, he scrutinized her.

Freya’s breath had caught the very moment her eyes had fallen on his strikingly handsome face; but more than that, her heart skipped a beat, knowing for certain now- though at present, he was clad in a different, plain attire- that he was the very one, that had prior manifested at the edge of the forest.  This young man had the same long, pale white, blond hair, loosely draping (cascading) over his shoulders and reaching his waist; but what struck her most, seeing him up close, was his almost luminescent, alabaster, flawless, unusually pale (whitish, pastel), porcelain skin and those intense, brilliant silver light blue eyes, which shone like the stars and now, they were keenly (acutely) affixed on her, as though trying to decipher if in fact she was real.

07- DRAGON LONGZE (37)

The young man’s initial reaction of being startled thereafter had given way to surreptitious elation (euphoria, excitement); contrasting with his outward composed demeanor, he was inwardly in fact, thrilled by this most unexpected encounter and his eyes which were presently holding Freya’s gaze, conveyed a gentle, yet deeply awe-struck curiosity.

Then momentarily however, a fleeting dark shadow passed over his face, so slight that Freya had entirely missed it; nevertheless, he had quickly dismissed it, choosing instead to revel in this unexpected gift; or was this simply, another (imparted) test, from his ever-vigilant guardian Asmund?

No sooner had this query crossed Longze’s mind that, his keen senses had detected just then a slight chuckle from somewhere beyond, but this too was swiftly brushed aside, deciding not to dwell on it.

Meanwhile he had continued to in silence, astutely register (commit), every minute detail of her features, to his lasting memory.

08- FREYA SEEN THROUGH LONGZE'S EYES

Freya on her part, was so taken by the young man’s handsome, noble bearing, that for a long while meeting those memorizing pupils with akin intense zeal, she had held his gaze, as she concurrently (at the same time) cogitated: This very night she had followed an unusual compulsion, acted recklessly, ventured out in the rain, and entered the forest at dusk. Had she not ventured out and taken all these heedless, rash chances; she would not have encountered this enchanting being.

Subsequently, with furrowed brow, she strove to understand (to analyse) this inexplicable, precipitous feeling, that had tinted her cheeks with crimson hue, making her thus, even lovelier to look at.  Besides, she hardly knew him, they were two virtual strangers having only met short time ago, and, by sheer coincidence. Was she alone in this, being so affected? An unusual compulsion pushed her to learn, whether he felt the same?

In fact, both had been inwardly querying if the other akin had been struck with this intense feeling, that the felt attraction was mutual?

Earlier that day, he had noted her presence from afar but never dared to be at this proximity, yet here she was standing inches from him; moreover, he had noted complete lack (absence) of fear in her. Longze felt silly, remembering just then, that he was after all, in human form.

 

 (END OF PART 5)

 

  

Characters: ,  Dragon Longze, Elof Bijarke, son Jedrik, Jedrik’s trump card, trusted and esteemed (valued) friend Haldor Yon, from prominent aristocratic family, and a valued elite guard, serving under Elof Bijarke.  Halder Yon’s secret intimate partner Archilles Elof.  Hans Aquila, wife, Nora, Alec and Freya, guardian Asmund, the trickster demon incarnate, the ersatz (artificial) black panther Sedit, bandit Chief Loki, Immortal warrior Erland, Mayor Gudmund Kirk’s youngest, his still unmarried son Hagen, his wife Selma, his two other sons, the ranchers, named, Agil and Corey Kirk, Olga, Heavenly Emperor’s niece, one selected to be Longze’s future mate)