Ralian looks at Gale in utter shock, Moria is cackling in laughter as she can see what the person she met in the forest really looks like before as she can see the fear in Gale's eyes. After she made Gale revealing their true identity to everyone.
"I think I can smell tension in the air. Don't worry I'll be sure to give you all privacy"
As Moria begins to walk away from the cell before looking back at the group, but still noticing Gale's long hair almost covering their face. "Give me one moment there is something that has been bugging me."
Moria quickly heads back into the cell and kneels before Gale, but then plunges her arm into the water using her abilities to water warp, grabbing a dagger from the water. as she began to hold a piece of Gale's long grey silver hair, she proceeded to slash off most of Gale's long hair creating a short messy hair cut.
"That's more like it, now she can see all your hideous face" then Moria begins to walk out of the cell.
"Also I'm keeping this, it makes the scene more interesting" holding Gale's helmet she closes the cellar and water warps away.
Ralian is having trouble processing of what the appearance of her most trusted ally is not what she had thought of then. Jin slowly woke up as he looked at Ralian seeing the terrified expression in her eyes, and as he turned his head towards Gale his eyes widen as he witness Gale's true face.
"Ralian what happened. What happened to Gale"
"Gale, is this what you truly looked like under that helmet. A changeling, are you really the real Gale Night I know"
"Ralian, I can explain"
"Explain!? I always respected your opinion Gale, but for a while I always thought you were a human, or an elf who has hidden themself away in that armour. But you are a changeling, an imitation, deceit, deception. What are your motives Shifter!" Ralian slowly getting more aggressive at Gale.
"Ralian stop it, calling our friend names won't get us out"
"Is it. All Changelings are known for are to hide their appearance and blend in with society, who knows Gale could've been a spy working with someone"
"Listen I know what Changelings are, but Gale is not like that, how could you call someone who has been supporting you, been with you in your darkest moment as soon Gale revealed their face you reject them immediately. Is that the friend you want to be, the type of person who treats others badly, of whom they truly are"
"No Jin... Ralian's right, from birth from another realm I was task to observe the outside world, but I have grown fond of your world, that I couldn't complete my task" Gale admitting to another secret they had kept away.
"And let me guess was is that armor you have was stripped from its previous owner" Ralian being suspicious towards Gale.
"No this armour was given by someone passing, that was the only one who treated me equal" as Gale looked down upon their reflection "though this person was the real Gale Night the one I took identity of, I am really known as Azulen. And I am a Changeling hybrid".
Azulen started to speak of their past with Gale, this time from their perspective, as a few years ago I also to you known as Azulen, I had made a home for themself in a village in the south-west in Devandia and using my changeling nature I was able to hide and blend well with the people of the village, my original home. But one morning, I was living alone in a cabin as in order to live properly in this world, I had to leave his home to gather some food, and intel, but as I was about to leave my home, I noticed someone approaching my cabin.
From the armour I saw on the man I knew it was a wandering paladin walking towards my cabin. When I saw the paladin approaching my home I tried to come up with ways of how to greet a human properly especially if it's a warrior. As the paladin met eyes with me, I try my best to greet the paladin with open arms but the Paladin immediately pointed his blade towards me.
"I know who you are. Changeling" he said looking at my eyes widen with fear as I tried to come up with many ways to get out of the situation I was in. But the Paladin removes his helmet revealing their face to me.
"I am Gale Night, I have gotten words that great from the north that the people of Mondu heard Changelings were being seen. And I know how to find them" looking at Azulen confidently.
"But why are you showing me your face, if your confident I will help you" I had to asked
"Its because there is no one you can trust, than your judgement and instincts"
"But I'm a Changeling, and if I'm discovered by anyone, they'll kill me"
"No I believe that any species can coexist with each other. The dragon, humans, feys, Druids, and even species live from the skies to sea, were still created by the same person who gave us life"
"You feel like the strangest human I ever met"
"And I may be the *only* human you can trust" Gale then lowered his sword away from me as he raised his hand forwards towards me, awaiting for my decision. I was hesitant but witnessing Gale's kind, gentle face, yet he was a warrior at heart with a passion for a fight. I almost had no choice but to accepts Gale's proposal "I am grateful for your choice" he said with graditude.
"So human, what's the deal with a mortal like you seeking for a changeling, thus like me"
"I only need assistance from one form into one with great senses thus like you"
I was almost shocked as he also knew how my kind speak, "did you really have to do your research on how we speak?"
"Perhaps, but like I said, I want to respect all species. Learning their speaking patterns is one of them".
I sigh in disappointment as we are now acquainted with each other, teaming up together I now had someone who can quickly help them escape if my identity is reveals. But as we worked together by going on adventures seeking errands as I did get some practice in using my abilities to turn into a wolf for Gale pretending to be his pet. It felt weird at first, but we did complete our errands and after each errand we would head back to my home village and distribute most of their earnings to help the village thrive.
During our hard work, as it worked well together, we were both getting noticed by the people of village as it was named Offra the village of opportunities. While the village was thriving and we were out of town for the moment, a strange person in a cloak suddenly stumbled upon Offra and was trying to offer something to the people of Offra. When we got back to the village this had gotten the attention more towards me, and some to Gale as we both approach the strange person in a cloak not will to show them their face to any of them.
But I can already tell that this person is bad news, as from the body, I can sense a women under those clothing, I wanted to warn Gale. But I didn't want to hurt Gale's calm heart as he seems to already respect the women in the cloak as she wanted to sell them some trinkets. Gale happily bought some without a thought, and gave one to me. But as soon as we looked at each other something began to glow within the trinket, and as we both looked at the merchant, she had suddenly disappeared out of sight.
Never thinking much of what we witness, I heads back to their cabin, while Gale continues to help the village the best he can. I wanted to rest a bit on my bed, but when I closed my eyes to rest for the rest of the day, I suddenly began to hear beeping. Waking up and the night was slowly setting as I sees the trinket beeping on the table, I then went and observe the trinket making the beeping noise as it is also flickering brightly as I took notice of the trinket looking closely holding up against its ear as it is started to say something. The language was different to humans. But for me a changeling, I can change my appearance to benefit to any language I can try to understand, shifting my ears to listen to the strange language shifting the ears from different species to another species. Until I then shifted my ears of a goblin as Azulen suddenly started to hear words properly.
It is time. Prepare the torches
Then the noises stopped as my eyes widen with fear, quickly I ran out of my cabin, as I quickly formed into a falcon flying above the clouds trying to find my friend Gale, and see if the goblin is nearby as I then sees an orange light and a smell of smoke coming from a nearby forest approaching Offra. I quickly flew back to Offra as they see Gale at the end of the forest ready to fight.
"That idiot, what is he doing" I thought to myself, as they flew down towards Gale as they form back into their original form.
"Azulen there you are, how's your nap"
"Not now Gale, you've heard what's happening"
"Indeed, I got the hint of smoke in the air, and knew goblins were approaching"
"What about the people of Offra, how they are doing?"
"Azulen, I told the others, they are preparing their defences"
"You think these goblins are going to raid the village? I heard them talking through the trinket that the merchant gave to us. They said it's time"
"Well I don't like the sound of that". Suddenly a bomb was thrown at them, Gale thought quickly and shielded the blast protecting him and me from the blast, as multiple of goblins started to swarm trying to attack us. But Gale quickly cast a barrier around the goblins surrounding them in a barrier.
"Have you been holding back this time, Gale!?"
"Normally I would never use any magic on another life form. I only use it for intimidation"
"Well what if they were trying to kill you"
"Then I'll talk to them"
"Ugh, never mind we need to get back to the others"
"On it. Just let me cast a teleportation spell".
But as Gale was about to summon a teleportation spell the barrier was diminished as a goblin quickly charged towards them with a burning club. I quickly pushes Gale away, can formed into a gorilla grabbing the goblin and throwing them away.
"Did you really had to be that ruff on that poor fellow"
Though I couldn't talk as another animal, I only gave Gale a stern look "you crazy" I said in sign language before grabbing another goblin and throwing him into another as Gale rolls his eyes.
Until they suddenly heard a catapult being launched at the village and they watched in horror as it made contact with the village "where the form did they get a catapult" I worried.
"Not now Azulen help the villagers, I'll handle them"
"But what about harming any species. Wasn't that your thing?"
"Azulen when there's a time when other species hurt one another they're has to be someone to keep the peace between both factions" as Gale charges at the goblins.
I sighed in disbelief, but quickly forms into a wolf and runs as fast as they can towards the village as I witness the village in blaze, the place I once called my home, the people I was able to be connected with the help of Gale, now up in flames. I quickly reforms themself back into my original form, and rush towards the village trying to see if I can help anyone if they are alive.
But all I manage to find some of the village guards helping the injured residents bringing them to safety, but goblins quickly ambushed them "Gale I thought you have the situation handled"
I was about to form into a gorilla but stopped "wait if those people figure out that I'm a Changeling, then I would definitely suffer the consequences after the battle"
But then I sees a claymore "that will do for now" I quickly grabs the claymore the best I can but the weight was too heavy for me to pickup heavier than I excepted. But then I quickly uses my abilities to change the mass within my arm, strong enough to carry to sword as I then charges at the goblins swinging the claymore and slaying them.
"Azulen is that you?" The guards of Offra were confused about me, but I had to quickly change the subject for them as to not get more suspicious on me.
"Now's not the time, get these people out of here. I'll hold them off, and when Gale is here we'll finish them off"
The guards nodded to my suggestion which gave me a bit of relief, but they then began to lead a group of injured residents and soldiers towards somewhere safe. However as for I, seeing the villagers leaving and showing kindness, my senses started to feel hazy quickly, I changes my nose into a wolf, but my senses are still hazy until I suddenly felt and uneasy presence. Looking behind my back, I witness the merchant in the cloak from before.
"What are you doing here? Get to safety" though I had thought of that merchant would listen to my words, I didn't expect to witness the cloak merchant lowering down their hood revealing that I had once suspected before a women with vibrant purple hair with glowing devious eyes as she raised her hand at me showing me, her fade darkened fingers as she fires a fireball coloured in black at me.
But I knew she was trouble as I quickly blocks the attack and tries to charge at the sorcerer swinging their claymore. But I suddenly felt a strange vibration on the claymore I used, as it immediately fell to the grab I tried to grab the claymore, but couldn't do it, even if I use both of my arms were strong enough to break a tree, but the weight of the claymore had suddenly multiplied its weight making it unable to move.
I quickly looked towards the sorcerer was shock to see that both of her palms we gleaming with magic but one of them was cackling with lightning as she blasted a bolt of lighting hitting me pushing them back into one of the burning buildings as it crumbled down upon me. Then the sorcerer then leave me and presume her task, a task I don't know about, but she was talking to someone as if it was personal.
I can feel a burning plank onto one side of his face as I tried desperately, trying to remove the burning plank away from my face, eventually transforming myself into a rat and using its mobility to move away from the burning plank making my way out away from the burning building as it suddenly crumbled behind me. I slowly reform themself back to their original form as the feeling the burns on my face hurts too much, but I can hear someone shouting my name.
"Azulen, Azulen!" Gale surprisingly gasp "There you are" Gale is heard running towards me, hugging them in gratitude but I pushed him back because I had got the scent of blood on Gale as they look lower onto his body. I was horrified to witness that Gale has a hole through his the right of his chest.
"Gale..." Gale can see the horrified face on his friend as he realizes "I know that look... I'm dying aren't I... I cast a spell on myself so I would not feel the pain it would at least last me for a while but not for long"
"Gale, why did you had to do something so reckless" Gale then falls to his knees, but I was there to catch him in time, as I then let him sit on some stones.
"Because for you my friend" removing his helmet and handing it over for me to hold "Azulen you need to promise me that you will forge your own path, and not let anyone... anyone take control of your life. Promise me"
I hesitantly nodded at Gale, trying to cover the tears but hurt when it rolled off the burn side of Azulen's face. "Goodbye my friend. Till we meet again".
The sword in Gale's hand began to gleam with a holy light, he was able to get back onto his feet once more with my help, and I let him walk away from me, and what I saw was my friend Gale, slowly rushes gaining speed charging towards the huge assault from the goblins as with one slash a huge explosion of light emerge from the skies decimating the battlefield along with the horde of goblins.
As I began to feel something within myself as I started to slowly change my form into my friend Gale, only keeping his body as my face remains the same. While I started crying my heart out as I, Azulen now in the body of my friend, Gale Night wails his pain within the decimated village.
Trying to muster the courage to forge my own path I saw a deceased body of another knight guard that was protecting the village. I now Gale then stripped the clothes and armour from the dead knight drawing their armour and grabbing a sword and with the helmet the real Gale Night gave to him the puts it one as Gale gave themself a promise.
"Today I Gale Night will forge my own path. And I will promise myself to never remove my helmet no matter the consequences, thus no more like me". As Gale begins to leave Offra the village signifying that the name Azulen means nothing to me, as now Gale is just a simple traveller now traveling the world trying to create me own path.
Gale then ended speaking of their story. A story of an unforgettable past.
(end of chapter 35)