Marvin faced the hardest moment of his life that day.
He had originally been a minor noble in Vizima, the capital of Temeria. Though his standing was not particularly distinguished, he owned several businesses, enough to give him a comfortable life-not as wealthy as some, but better off than many. More importantly, he had a happy, loving family. His wife, Noelle, also came from a noble family in Vizima and was gentle, kind, well educated, and sensible. Their daughter, Elena, was Marvin's pride and joy, his precious darling.
Elena was not only young and beautiful but also quite accomplished academically. Diligent, eager to learn, and quick-witted, she had recently been admitted to Oxenfurt Academy, the finest institution in the North, with outstanding grades. The good news left Marvin ecstatic. He felt that his life could not have been more perfect. Good fortune lifted the spirits, and Marvin had spent the past while immersed in joy, grinning from ear to ear every day.
As the start of term drew nearer, Marvin gathered his private guards and servants, preparing to set off for Oxenfurt Academy with his wife and daughter. They encountered no real danger along the way, and the occasional monsters foolish enough to approach were surrounded and killed one by one by his guards. After a little over ten days, Marvin's party finally reached Velen, on the border between Temeria and Redania. Since they were not locals, Marvin's guard captain, Kirk, hired a local guide willing to show them the way. The guide had often hunted with his uncle when he was young. There was scarcely anywhere in Velen he had not been, and he also knew many little-known trails.
"My lord, Moldavie Village is up ahead. Would you like to replenish your supplies? If not, we needn't go through the village. We can take the trail beside it and save quite a bit of time. What do you think...?" The guide asked Marvin's opinion with a somewhat fawning air.
"Hmm, thank you for reminding me, but we don't seem to be short of anything at the moment. Besides, we should reach Oxenfurt within a day or two. Let's press on. I don't want some mishap on the road to delay my daughter's enrollment ceremony." Marvin carefully considered the guide's suggestion, but still decided to hurry onward rather than waste time along the way. Little did he know that this decision would remain unforgettable for the rest of his life...
After passing through the dark, rugged trail, Marvin's convoy finally reached the main road to Oxenfurt. The road was wide and level, its surface as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest bump or dip, leaving them feeling utterly comfortable and at ease. Neat rows of birches lined either side, tall and straight, like sentries guarding the road.
Oxenfurt Academy truly deserved its reputation as the finest institution in the North. Even its roads were built to such a high standard!
Marvin kept looking around from horseback, admiring the scenery while marveling at the grand scale of Oxenfurt Academy's expenditure. Even a noble like him could only sigh at something so far beyond his reach.
Suddenly, Kirk, the guard captain riding ahead, stopped. The other guards immediately took up alert stances. Though Marvin did not know what had happened, he and Kirk had been childhood playmates, so he trusted Kirk completely.
"Lord Marvin! Get inside the carriage immediately! Whatever happens outside, don't come out! Something terrifying is coming!"
Hearing how grave Kirk sounded, Marvin immediately prepared to enter the carriage. If something could make Kirk look as though he were facing a formidable enemy, then they were probably in real trouble.
Just as Marvin was about to enter the carriage, a piercing, high-pitched eagle's cry rang out from the sky behind the convoy!
Screee-
Marvin looked up to see an enormous griffin diving rapidly toward them. The gale whipped up by its spread wings sent sand and stones swirling, making it impossible to keep their eyes open. Before he could call out a warning to his wife and daughter, the griffin's talons had already ripped through the carriage roof.
"Elena! Noelle!" Marvin roared amid the flying splinters, watching helplessly as the carriage, reinforced with fine steel, overturned like a cardboard box. His wife, Lisa, was flung into the grass beside the road, while Elena's legs were pinned beneath the shattered carriage. Blood flowed ceaselessly from her slender calves.
"Father... my feet..." Elena whimpered in pain as she tried to move. Marvin was just about to rush over to free his trapped daughter when the griffin landed heavily on the ground. He felt the earth tremble, and the flying dust blinded him.
"Soldiers! Don't panic! Get into position and prepare to fight back!" Kirk quickly recovered from his initial panic and immediately began organizing the flustered guards for a counterattack.
Hearing Kirk's voice, the guards quickly shook off their panic. The archers in the rear began drawing their bowstrings again and again, firing sharp arrows at the griffin, while the heavily armored guards moved forward to surround it. Kirk also drew his longsword and faced the griffin. Even with the experience of a hundred battles, he could not help feeling some fear before such a ferocious beast. But even if the enemy is several times, or even dozens of times, stronger than us, we must still dare to draw our swords! The hymn of humanity is a hymn to courage!
After encouraging himself inwardly, Kirk gripped his sword with both hands and took the initiative to attack the griffin. Seeing their captain move, the other guards also launched their attacks.
The griffin raised its head and let out an eagle's cry, then lashed its tail hard to the left, sending the guards about to rush it flying. Its right claw immediately swept forward toward Kirk, who had charged close. The blow was too fast for Kirk to dodge. He could only channel all his strength into his shield, preparing to withstand the griffin's full-force strike head-on. As it turned out, he had still underestimated his opponent, for he had never felt such terrifying strength before.
Bang!
The piercing screech of twisting metal exploded beside his ears, and flying metal fragments slashed several bloody lines across his cheeks. Agony shot like lightning from his arm to his shoulder blade. He heard his bones groan and shatter under the unbearable strain, felt as though all his internal organs had been jolted out of place, and tasted sweet, metallic liquid rising in his throat. His vision suddenly tilted, and his entire body flew backward like a stone hurled from a catapult.
Having knocked Kirk away with one swipe, the griffin turned its full attention to the enemies surrounding it from the right. Before the first soldier charging with a spear could thrust his weapon, the griffin's enormous beak darted out like lightning and punched through his iron helmet. With the sound of a skull shattering, the corpse was flung into the crowd like a rag doll. The second soldier raised his shield to block, only to be snatched up three meters into the air, shield and all. The griffin jerked its head violently and smashed him against the rock face. The sharp crack of his spine breaking was drowned out by his companions' screams.
A heavily armored guard seized the chance to slash at the griffin's hind leg, but the blade was stopped by its golden-brown feathers and failed to land an effective cut. The magical creature suddenly twisted its neck 180 degrees. The guard saw only a shadow fall over him-his upper body had already vanished into the barbed beak. The griffin raised its head and swallowed, and the entire man disappeared...