Myths and Gargoyles by Jamie Hawke (interesting books to read in english txt) 📕

if there was a way to use the prana, instead of upgrading my stats, to increase my Tempest power. More than skills, I meant to physically shift the mists, move them out of my way, to be able to see what was going on.

I dug deep, imagining the flowing green energy and envisioning it as part of me. As my skin tingled and a warmth expanded in my chest, I saw myself as one with the prana, using it to affect my surroundings. When I opened my eyes, the sight caused me to catch my breath.

The mists were actually moving! Swirling out, sweeping past me in way that was so unnatural, it could have only been caused by an outside force.

A shape appeared, darkness in the mist with large, flapping wings, and it was almost upon me! I dove aside as the beast emerged from the mist. A massive lion, larger than the largest two I’d ever seen put together, with wings spread out.

And then it was gone again, into the mists.

I stared, confused. It wasn’t I that had caused the mists to move, but that winged lion. Frowning, sword out and at the ready in case it returned and attacked me, I prepared again, trying to focus on my core, on doing the unthinkable.

A roar, and the mists flew out from around me, that lion there, standing, wings folded. It closed its mouth and stared at me.

One hand out, other on the sword that I lowered just in case, I tried to look as nonthreatening as possible.

“Whoa there,” I said, no other words coming to mind.

It lingered, watching. The mists returned, moving between us, and then it was gone. At first I wasn’t sure whether to feel relief or some other emotion at the lion being gone, but figured I’d give the strange prana usage a break, for now. Instead, I increased my stats again, bringing my strength to three-hundred percent, my speed to two-hundred and ten, and threw some at my shield and other skills, giving them extra boosts in how powerful they were and how long they would last.

That night when I returned, as exhausted as I was, it didn’t matter. As Arthur pointed out, we weren’t here only for my training against the Shades and my upgrades, but to work on all aspects of my abilities. He cleared a circle and had me practice with Red for some swordplay.

Going up against Red was an entirely different experience than the Shades. For one, I couldn’t rely on my other skills so much, because then I knew she’d do the same. Her, with that cloak of hers? No thanks.

Then there was the fact that she was a genuine badass. Mrs. Little Red Riding Hood herself, who’d gone up against none other than the Big Bad Wolf—often times a different version of said wolf than the one leaning against a tree and watching us right now. She was the latest, though, and from what I’d recently learned, the first female. Good thing for me!

Red knew she was badass, and loved it. When I came at her and she flipped me onto my back, quickly straddling me and sticking her knife at my throat, her eyes betrayed the fact that she rarely had as much fun as in these moments.

“Hot,” I said, and she moved her hips against me slightly before getting up.

“Don’t rely on your size, especially not the size of your sword,” she winked, and I wasn’t sure how to take that. Had she just made a jibe at the size of my dick? Surely not.

Deciding to take it as playful instead of going the insecure man route, I laughed, and charged again. Only, this time I made an effort of taking her advice, faking right and going for a kick instead of the sword.

“Better,” she said, moving out of the way of the kick and swiping my leg aside. “Now don’t get cocky.”

“Dammit,” I grunted as she managed to get behind me, standing this time but still, blade to my throat.

“And don’t get frustrated,” Pucky shouted from the sidelines.

“You’ve seen how much I’ve been training,” I countered, annoyed that I was sounding annoyed, “I’ve been upgrading speed and strength like crazy, and still she gets me.”

“A few days,” Red said, scoffing, “compared to a lifetime?”

“But I’m supposed to be this grand protector, this—”

I lunged, catching her off guard, and pinning her to the ground with a quick kiss. She shoved me off, at first mad, then laughing.

“You scoundrel.”

“Hey,” I stood back, sword ready, “taking advantage of the moment.”

“Whatever it takes,” Elisa said, nodding in approval.

“Try to get my sympathy again, see what happens,” Red said, brushing off her cloak.

“Lucky me, I don’t need sympathy.” I charged again, this time hoping that she’d think I would try a trick, and it worked. She dodged where she thought I’d fake strike and come in at, but instead I went straight for her, so that her cloak whipped in the wind and pulled her out of harm’s way.

Next, I spun fast and grabbed her by the waist—only to be flipped over and put in an arm bar, both of our weapons flying to the dirt nearby.

“Well, it was a good effort,” she admitted, helping me up.

Arthur was talking to Nivian and said he had to go, but directed us to keep training. Red took some time to show me more moves, some new blocks based on how fast and strong I was becoming.

By the time Arthur returned, we were breaking for food and water.

“Heard from Sekhmet?” I asked.

“Actually, yes.” He gathered us all around. “She’s reported seeing what should have been large communities, empty. Thinks they’re making a move on Earth.”

“That checks with what I’ve been seeing in the mists,” I said. “Portals, I think.”

He shook his head. “This doesn’t bode well for our return, but…” His eyes focused on me, intently. “Portals? And you saw some sort of fairy queen, you said?”

“That’s right.”

He ran a hand along his jaw,