《Cultivating Talents [LitRPG Mana-cultivation]》
Chapter 1: Connection Established
Hector stumbled into the room, his mind ablaze. Memories from a life not lived swamped him. They were his memories, but they weren¡¯t. It was like he was another person. ¡°Who am I?¡± he muttered, dragging his feet as he stumbled around.
He rested a hand on the wooden wall¡ªpart of the run-down building he called home. The smell from the Digby street sewage leaked in through the open window, and Hector gagged. The open sewer running down the middle of the street rarely bothered him, but today, it hit him like a truck.
He wobbled over to the window, grabbing the frame and slamming it shut.
These memories can¡¯t be mine; I¡¯ve never seen a building like that anywhere in Middlec.
He thought back to when he had briefly visited the outskirts of central Middlec¡ªhis father had been visiting a friend. The buildings there were numerous and grand, but nothing like the steel and concrete behemoths in his memories¡ªnothing like Earth.
Sighing, Hector wobbled over to his bed. He slumped down, the bed groaning beneath him, its wood screaming in protest. Hector had had the bed for many years¡ªit should break any day. At least, he hoped it would. Then, he could place the mattress on the floor and sleep on that.
Hector grabbed his head and shook it. It wouldn¡¯t help, but he had to do something. The pain was annoying¡ªand sadly, this world didn¡¯t have paracetamol; the only thing that came close was quite root, something they didn¡¯t have. As he considered dunking his head into the bathtub, his vision flashed, and a screen popped up in front of him.
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///: Welcome¡ Talent Cultivator system loading.
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¡°A system,¡± he mumbled. A white, almost translucent text box appeared before him with the title Talent Cultivator written on it. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening.¡±
From the memories that flooded his throbbing head, knowledge about what a system was surfaced. But that was all fiction. People didn¡¯t get systems in real life; that was impossible. And yet, he sat in his room with a crisp white text box in front of him.
I must have a concussion or something; I¡¯ll have to ask Lincoln¡¯s mum to have a look at me.
Healers were hard to find in the slums of Middlec, let alone one as skilled as Valery. The image of a cheery old lady entered his mind, and Hector groaned. Catherine was also an expensive healer for someone in the slums. In the wealthier areas of Middlec, she wasn¡¯t much¡ªor so he¡¯d been told.
Hector frowned at the prospect of paying for healing¡ªespecially for a headache. A headache that could be linked with something not seen in this world before¡ªat least he¡¯d never heard of anyone within Middlec with a similar ability. The screen shuffled.
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///: New user binding complete¡ profile screen opening¡
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///
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Hector Jacaranda
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Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 1]
Spirit Root: Moon
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STATS
©À©¤ Body ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( I )
©À©¤ Mind ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
©¸©¤ Spirit ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
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EQUIPMENT
©¸©¤ None
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TALENTS
©¸©¤ Tough Body +1 [??¡ð] (2/3)
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TECHNIQUES:
©¸©¤ [Orion Fist] (Journeyman: 90%)
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///
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¡°A user screen? I must have a concussion; this can¡¯t be real. But then again, maybe that¡¯s what these memories are.¡± In the stories that contained systems in his past life, the main character had often been a transmigrator¡ªa person from a different world, taking over someone¡¯s body in the new one. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve transmigrated.¡±
Hector¡¯s eyes wandered around the room, landing on the purple necklace atop his bedside table. He couldn¡¯t be a transmigrator; he had memories of the here and now, and it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d died. His father had told him the necklace was the last thing his mother left behind, and it was the only thing that could comfort Hector.
He reached forward, picking it up and gazing at it briefly before slipping the necklace on. He needed the comfort it provided and the strength it would give.
The system and the knowledge of his transmigration, while not scary in itself, still left him on edge and unsure of who he was. Hector Jacaranda, the slum rat, digging through garbage in the Middlec trash heap? Or Hector Smith, the fast-food employee from Earth?
However, thinking about it, my old identity doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I¡¯m stuck here, and there¡¯s no going back. But would I even want to go back? My life wasn¡¯t exactly going anywhere.
He gripped the necklace, its tooth-like form biting into his palm. A wave of certainty washed through him. He didn¡¯t need to decide on anything; all that mattered now was moving forward, and the system would help him do that.
The panel floated before him, his stats laid bare on its surface. Everything it said made sense: Hector¡¯s cultivation level and spirit root, even the fact that he wasn¡¯t wearing any equipment. But he didn¡¯t understand what it meant by the word Talents.
There were many people in this world with unique abilities, the Frostkeep Family being an example. Everyone knew that many of them had an incredible ability to control ice that went beyond a mere spiritual root affinity. It was as if ice had given birth to them; was that Talent or something else?The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Hector sighed. Getting distracted worrying about what was and wasn¡¯t a talent was pointless. The system would explain it; at least they did in the stories he read in his old world. He raised a thin finger and tried to press the Talent link but found his hand passing through the screen.
He frowned at the screen, leaning back and sinking one hand into the dirty old sheets of his bed for support. If his hand went through it, it had to be voice-activated. Hector glanced towards the crappy old wooden door to his room, its hinge barely holding on. Mirae, his sister, was downstairs; she would most likely call him any second once dinner was ready. His sister wasn¡¯t one to judge, but the sight of him talking to himself would be hard to live down.
¡°Screw it. If she hears me, I¡¯ll say I was thinking out loud.¡± He looked towards the screen and took a deep breath. ¡°System, open Talents.¡±
Another white screen, smaller than the first, appeared next to the first and displayed Hector¡¯s Talents.
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///: Tough Body: This Talent makes the wielder slightly more resistant to physical harm. [??¡ð](2/3)
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Hector smiled as memories of previous fights surfaced. Getting into a scuffle was a common thing in the Middlec slums, and Hector had found he¡¯d always been just a little bit more resistant than some of the other kids growing up. ¡°Father always said I was a tough kid; I guess he was right.¡±
The Talent explained where his toughness came from, and Talent Cultivator was the system¡¯s name, so that must mean he should be able to gain more talents. But how? And was there a limit? And what did the numbers mean?
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///: ¡°Once the user has subjugated a target, they may begin the Talent collection. Due to the user currently being in the Gravity Forging realm, the Talent capacity is set to 6 active Talents. But, the user may have an unlimited amount of non-active Talents. The number beside the Talent is the stack of said Talent. Once the stack is maxed, it can be fused, allowing the Talent to evolve. ¡°
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Hector jumped in fright as the system spoke directly into his mind. He hadn¡¯t been aware that it would respond, not by voice. But this did clear things up, though only just a bit. What did it mean to subjugate the target? If he had to kill someone, this system wouldn¡¯t be too effective. He didn¡¯t want to become a murderer just for some strength; he wasn¡¯t an evil person.
Hopefully, he didn¡¯t have to kill anyone; fighting would be doable. ¡°[Tough Body], huh? Judging by what the system said, if I find another one I should be able to evolve the Talent¡ªbut how do I find another one? It¡¯s not like a Talent¡¯s just going to fall on my lap.¡± Hector pressed his lips thin, bouncing off the bed, and getting to his feet. The crunch from the bed following his action was not too reassuring¡ªcollapsing was one thing, but he didn¡¯t need a stake through the back.
He walked over to the window and looked through the cracked glass. Outside, a slow procession of people walked by. It was a cool day, with the sun partially hidden by the clouds. The slums weren¡¯t crawling with people, but for the inner Middlec slum, this was quite dense. Hector spotted a man stalking across the street, no different from the usual vagrants¡ªhe looked sturdy.
Maybe I can just ask the system and it will tell me?
¡°System, does that man have a Talent?¡±
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///: No talents found.
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Hector frowned and decided to pick a different target. A young brown-haired boy wearing slacks sat on the broken pavement across the street. He was poking at something between his legs with a frown on his face¡ªHector had a hunch it was something dead. ¡°System, what about him?¡±
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///: No talent found.
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Hector continued for a few minutes, looking from person to person until, eventually, he found one.
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///: Talent found: [Warding Charm].
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Hector heaved a sigh of relief, shifting his weight and leaning against the window frame. It wasn¡¯t easy to find someone with a Talent¡ªif anything, from this small sample size, it seemed that having a Talent was rare.
He flicked his white hair out of his eyes as he watched the haggard woman cradle a Deli fruit. It was a fruit similar to cauliflower in his old world but with a more sweet taste¡ªhe didn¡¯t like them much. Not that he could even afford one. The woman looked like she was bringing it home from the market. ¡°She has the Talent [Warding Charm]; I wonder what that does?¡±
¡°System, can you explain to me how [Warding Charm] works?¡±
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///: ¡°Not possible. The user must acquire the Talent to find out the function.¡±
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Hector sighed. He couldn¡¯t just jump out his window, run across the street, and start attacking some random woman. Sure. He may acquire one Talent from it, but his father wouldn¡¯t be pleased to hear about his son acting like a thug. Always do good because it¡¯s too easy to do evil, and we should never do the easy thing, his father¡¯s words.
He had shown Hector the good and evil in this world and always pushed him and his sister to do good. And he couldn¡¯t agree more¡ªwith all the gangs, crime, and poverty, there was too much suffering in the slum. The woman carrying the Deli fruit was one such example. Dressed in dirt-covered clothes that fit her like a sack, her hair was a mess, covered in what looked to be brown chunks.
Hector didn¡¯t want to know what they were. Her eyes, her sad sunken eyes, spoke of depression commonly seen throughout the slum¡ªthough they didn¡¯t call it depression in this world. If people did acknowledge it, they¡¯d call the feeling hollowed¡ªand a quick trip to the tavern would fix that.
Hector sighed, squinting his eyes as he regarded the woman. He could probably beat her in a fight if he had to. In the Mono-fist dojo, he¡¯d been coming along nicely¡ªthough that was only in technique mastery, and one technique at that.
He glanced at a heavy wooden cart being pulled by three men. Mess movers¡ªthey had the unfortunate job of tending to the sewers. The smell was bound to decrease a little soon¡ªnot that Hector would notice. Going up one level in cultivation had made his sense of smell that much stronger. He looked back over at the woman.
I don¡¯t even know how strong she is. So I guess it¡¯s a bit bold of me to assume I could beat her.
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///: Acquiring target stats¡
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///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [Warding Charm [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
///
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Hector¡¯s eyes went wide. The woman wasn¡¯t as defenceless as she seemed. A second-level gravity-forging realm, while not rare, was still out of the ordinary. The common folk in Middlec¡ªespecially in slums¡ªtended not to cultivate. The process could be excruciatingly slow if you didn¡¯t have a pure enough spiritual root¡ªsadly something he¡¯d experienced first-hand.
It had taken him just over four years to break through to the first level of gravity-forging, and it would probably take him another four and a bit to go to the second level¡ªthe lack of access to mana pills played a huge part. And to make things worse, he didn¡¯t have time to sit and cultivate all day like he¡¯d heard some of the noble families did, with their resources and whatnot.
A knock on the room door brought Hector from his thoughts. He turned his head away from the window, focusing on the room door. Raising an eyebrow, he called out, ¡°Who is it?¡±
¡°Are still feeling ill,¡± his sister said through the door. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling better, there¡¯s some food in the kitchen¡ it¡¯s grime-grain porridge¡ªI¡¯ve sprinkled some dried plums on it so it should taste good.¡±
Hector cringed, shaking his head, but smiled shortly after. He hated grime-grain, but it was the only thing the family could afford in bulk¡ªso it was a wonder Mirae paused like she was delivering bad news. The fact that they had dry fruit to sprinkle on it today was a small mercy.
Mirae had no doubt been talking to old lady Margaret down the street¡ªthe old herbalist would always give them something from time to time. She was a good woman. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in a minute, and yes, I¡¯m feeling much better. Thank you for asking,¡± Hector replied.
He stepped away from his window and glanced around one last time. A plank towards the back of the room jutted upwards out of the ground at an awkward angle¡ªsomething he¡¯d been meaning to get around to. He would have to fix it at some point if he didn¡¯t want to be impaled by a rather large splinter. Later. Hector sighed, waving away the system and moving across the room to open the old rickety door.
Upon opening, he met his sister¡¯s gaze. Her purple eyes¡ªmatching his own¡ªlocked with his as she played with the ends of her long, flowing white hair. She wore the same dirty tanned shirt she had worn yesterday and the same dirty brown shorts. Hector had told her she could wear the rest of her clothes, but she insisted that she needed to get the full use out of them before changing. It was a poor excuse, but they didn¡¯t have the money to go out and get a new set. They had to make do with what they had and repair what broke.
His sister greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°Are you okay? You aren¡¯t just saying you are because you¡¯re worried. I¡¯ll worry.¡±
¡°Or tell Dad and he¡¯ll worry,¡± Hector added.
¡°And that¡¯s what makes me think you¡¯re lying,¡± she said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Dad can be overbearing, but if you¡¯re ill, please say.¡±
¡°Trust me. I¡¯m fine, little one.¡± Hector reached a hand forward and ruffled her hair before stepping by her and heading to the kitchen. ¡°Is dad back yet?¡±
His sister huffed as she fixed her hair and followed behind him. ¡°I keep telling you to stop that¡ªand yes. He just got back a few moments ago. Though¡¡±
Hector stopped, turning back to face his sister. ¡°What is Mirea? Is everything okay? Did something happen to him at work?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. But he¡¯s biting his lower lip and tapping the table.¡±
¡°Crap.¡± Hector closed his eyes and massaged his forehead¡ªhis father was stressed. Something must have gone wrong, but it didn¡¯t make sense. Last week, his dad was raving about a promotion at the death trap people called a refinery. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him about it. But you know how he is?¡±
¡°Please,¡± she said, gesturing for Hector to continue to the kitchen.
Chapter 2: A Sisters Grief
"Everything alright son? Your sister told me you had a headache. How is it, are you feeling better?.¡± Hector¡¯s father said looking up from the table, his bottom lip red from the chewing as his fingers continued to tap the table.¡±
"I''m alright. It¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Hector stepped over to the splintering kitchen table, pulled out a chair and sat down. His sister then bought over a bowl of grim-grain porridge, with flakes of plum sprinkled on it.
The thick grey grim-grain looked as unappetising as ever, but the dried purple plume flakes made up for it. Furthermore, his sister had cooked this with love and it would be an insult if he were to complain¡ªnot that he had the heart to, what would that even achieve? Hector picked up the spoon and scooped himself a mouthful, before looking at his father.
"Is everything okay with you, I feel like something''s wrong?" Hector said, chewing. The bland taste smothered his tongue with the occasional burst of sweetness¡ªin a way it was a delicacy. . .
Hector''s father chuckled. "I''m fine son, but what have I told you about talking with your mouth full.¡± He said, moving his arms out of the way as Mirae sat a bowl of grime-grain porridge on the table before him.
"Really?¡± Hector said gesturing with his spoon at his dad''s fingers tapping the table. ¡°What''s going on Dad?¡±
The tapping stopped and his father placed a mouthful of porridge into his mouth. ¡°It''s fine,¡± he said, globals of porridge sputtering out of his mouth.
¡°Dad,¡± Mirae chided. ¡°Didn''t you just say not to speak with a full mouth?¡± She placed her bowl on the table and grabbed the cloth wiping up the mess their father had made. She¡ªeven at her young age¡ªwas the mother figure of the family, always cleaning up after Hector and their father.
Mirae was what Hector had assumed their mother would be like. He didn''t have many memories of her¡ªthe ones he did have were vague and unclear. But those few painted her as caring, and Mirae was exactly that. Even now as she wiped the table, she made sure not to disturb her father''s eating.
She looked over at Hector, swiping a strand of white hair behind her ear and gesturing for him to continue questioning him. They needed to find out what was going on, the stubbornness of their father often left them slow to react when things came up¡ªwhich thankfully didn¡¯t happen often, but it was a problem when it did.
¡°Dad I¡ª¡±
A crashing sound came from outside¡ªchoking back Hector''s words¡ªfollowed by several shouts. ¡°Cain, you dog waste, get out here now! You owe us and we''ve come to collect.¡±
Hector''s father shot him a look.¡°Take your sister and go to your room,¡± He said stiffly; with a cold face, something Hector had never seen before. His father was always smiling or joking, never was he this serious.
¡°Dad, what''s going on?¡± Hector said standing up from his seat and moving over to his sister.
¡°The Collar Gang are outside, get to your room now.¡±
Hector frowned. The Collar Gang the local thugs of inner-Middlec, what could they want from his dad? A debt? Sure they were poor but their father would never go and ask for money he would always insist on doing everything himself.
Didn''t he get a promotion why would he be in debt with someone?
Whatever the reason it didn''t matter now. Hector turned to Mirea, her purple eyes were wide with fear and she was frozen. He tugged her, ¡°Let''s go.¡±
She didn''t move and simply shook her head. ¡°We can''t leave him, Hector. They''ll kill him.¡± She said, tears streaming down her cheek. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it and looking at her father.
¡°Mirae we have to go, now! Dad will be fine.¡± Hector said, scooping an arm around her waist, and attempting to pick her up.
She started kicking and screaming, ¡°No, you''re wrong, they''re going to kill him, Hector. We can''t please, Hector.¡± The bowls on the table were knocked over sending porridge splattering.
¡°Quiet, girl.¡±, their father said, looking from Hector to her. ¡°We are just gonna have a small talk. There''s nothing to worry about, now go with your brother.¡±
The muscles in Hector''s forehead tightened¡ªwhat was going on today, why were these two acting like this? The men outside didn''t sound like they wanted to talk, they didn''t sound like they were keen to see reason, and it sounded like they wanted to hurt someone.
Hector¡¯s father was no slouch when it came to a fight. Hector once saw him fight off two first-level gravity-forging realm beggars¡ªheaven knows how a Mana-cultivator end up like that. But the Collar Gang was nothing like fighting a beggar.
As Hector lifted his sister into the air and began shuffling back, the kitchen door crashed to the ground. There, in the door frame, stood a slim man with a scowl on his face. A large scar ran down his left cheek and he smiled, running a hand through his greasy black hair.
¡°Boss didn''t want to wait, and you''ll slow ass was taken too long.¡± The man stepped to the side allowing for a much larger bold man to step through the door frame.
The man surveyed the room he''s gaze landing on Hector briefly before passing over him and focusing on Hector''s father. His eyes weren¡¯t friendly. ¡°Cain my friend, is this any way to greet a guest? Not even a cup of water prepared.¡± He said, smiling, his crooked yellow teeth on display¡ªwhich spoke of how much mana-infused ale he drank, as everyone in the Collar Gang was a cultivator, providing resistance to the usual decay of mortals.
How strong is this guy?
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///: Acquiring target stats¡
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/// Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 4]
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Well, damn. This isn¡¯t good.
¡°If you''d give me more time, I could have prepared quite the welcome for you, Brulin.¡± Hector''s father said, eyeing the man. He had two fingers behind his back and was gesturing for Hector and his sister to leave.
¡°Is that a threat?¡± said a voice. It came from a rat-faced man who walked in, dressed in black rags with a dagger at his side. He had a thick moustache and a bald head much like the large man. ¡°Our boss doesn''t take kindly to threats.¡±
The larger man, Brulin chuckled before walking over to the table and taking a seat. ¡°Come now Briggs, young Cain here would never threaten us,¡± Brulin said. His smile was that of a predator eyeing its food. ¡°He doesn''t have the gall.¡±
He then glanced at Hector and Mirae, ¡°Are the children joining us? Or is this just between the adults?¡±
¡°We¡¯re join¡ª¡±
Hector''s hand slammed over Mirae¡¯s mouth, muffling her screaming as she kicked. But he couldn''t let her go. These men were dangerous and didn¡¯t seem worried at all. They seemed to be enjoying what they were doing, not putting Hector in their eyes at all. And they didn¡¯t seem too worried about his father''s strength.
Hector¡¯s hand dug into Mirae¡¯s side as he pulled her back towards his room. Swallowing deeply as he fought back the rising bile. Whatever was about to happen he wasn¡¯t strong enough. And to stay, would put his dad in a worse position, he couldn¡¯t keep himself and them safe.
His father mouthed a silent thank you as the two moved back through the hallway towards Hector¡¯s room. The stoic look on his father''s face did not give Hector the comfort it should have. He instead looked like a man facing an execution with as much courage as he could master.
Tears streamed down the back of Hector''s hand as he and Mirae moved into his bedroom. The tears were fire against his skin. All of this was wrong. He should be out there standing with his father, but he was weak¡ªhis training at the dojo meant nothing. He couldn¡¯t compete with them.
He released his sister, dropping her to the floor and slammed the door shut, pressing his back against it. ¡°I''m sorry, I''m so sorry.¡± He said as his sister dropped to her knees. ¡° Dad will be fine, I''m sure.¡±
¡°He won''t,¡± she said her voice barely a whisper. Tears bounced off the floorboards beneath her as she plunged her face into her palms.
Hector sighed. It didn''t make sense why were the Collar Gang here? Did something at the refinery go wrong, did his father take money to pay for things that he needed? did he even work at the Refinery anymore? How could he not know all this, he lived with the man.
Hector pushed off the ground but froze. Through the door shouts rang out, followed by crashing. The sound got more intense as what sounded like chairs were thrown and then several heavy thumps.
Mirae¡¯s weeping intensified as the sound of violence grew. But Hector couldn''t find it within himself to go and comfort her. Could he say it would be okay, could he say he would do something? No. Like her, he was in this room unable to go and help the man who had raised them.
Why am I so goddamn weak. If I put more time in the dojo if, I had put more work in none of this would be happening. None of it.
Hector''s fists slammed the door, as he lowered back down and wept. He lamented the collar gang. The fear they brought to the people of the slums, and now the pain they brought his family. But as his emotion settled, he realised this was not new. There were evil people on earth, too¡ªhe could do nothing about it then. But this time, he could make a difference. He had an advantage.
System, scan her.
It wouldn''t help now but knowing, if his sister possessed Talent or not would allow him strategize. He had to get stronger, and he had to make sure the people around him got stronger too.
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///: Talent Found: [Dreams of Time]
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A bubble of confidence grew in Hector''s chest. She had a Talent. The name sounded impressive, but It didn¡¯t mean it was. It could be a simple ability that did something small to its holder. But what was important was that she had something.
System, Is it possible to consider a target subjugated If they willingly submit?
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///: ¡°Yes, if the target is willing, the Talent manipulation process can begin.¡±
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The system''s voice rang hollow in his mind as he crawled over to his sister. "Mirae, I need you to listen to me. I need you to relax,¡± he said, resting a hand on her shoulder¡ªhe didn¡¯t know what he was doing, but it was important to take a step...
System, start the talent manipulation process.
The world around Hector melted away like paint washed off a canvas, and he found himself standing in darkness. He looked down to find his feet were submerged in what he could only assume was water. As Hector observed his surroundings, he noticed a red light shooting across the inky black sky. ¡°System, what''s going on?¡±
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///: ¡°This is the Talent Space. A space allowing the user to interact with Talents found within themselves and others they have subjugated. The current Talent manipulation limit is one every 24 hours. There is a chance of failure with unwilling targets, as their soul resists the change.¡±
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Well, I guess that¡¯s good to know.
¡°And is that a Talent," Hector said pointing at the shooting lights. There was nothing else in the blackness apart from that¡ªnothing apart from the water that went up to his ankles, that is.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Yes, that is the Talent [Dreams Of Time]. Would you like to bring it down?¡±
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"what would happen if I did that?¡± Hector didn''t want to run around doing things willie-nilly if he somehow messed up and harmed his sister he would never be able to forgive himself.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Bringing it down would allow the user to learn the Talents features and remove it from the target.¡±
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Hector frowned. ¡°I''d like to bring it closer but not remove it from her, is that possible.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Calling down Talent: [Dreams of Time]. Note: Due to not learning the Talent, energy will not be consumed to process it.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The red light in the sky paused, then shot down towards Hector. It moved so fast that he had no time to dodge before it was in front of him. A floating red Orb with writing swirling across its surface, which he did not understand. Hector wouldn''t consider himself smart, but he had a good grasp of the basic everyday language his father had even taught him to read and write¡ªthe reading of writing from earth had become useless¡ªbut even with these basic skills for a mana-cultivator, the words made no sense.
Hector reached forward and grabbed the orb, its weight settling in his palms. It was heavier than he¡¯d anticipated, its surface giving off a warm feeling. As he looked into the Orb, he found an understanding of what it was coming to him¡ªit was like the knowledge was always there...
This Talent allowed his sister to see the future, though she could not control what she saw or when it occurred. Furthermore, she was limited to only thirty years maximum¡ªa long time for a mortal.
Hector¡¯s mind thought back to a few years ago. His sister had approached him and said that he shouldn''t leave, boys would be looking for him, looking to hurt him. He had scoffed back then. She was barely old enough to leave the house by herself what could she have known about the slums? But she had been right, later that day, some boys had jumped him, beating him badly.
Hector chuckled, releasing the Orb back into the air. He had been a fool then.
The Orb floated back into the air before shooting into the sky and continuing its journey.
She always seemed to have this knowing look whenever she did certain things.
Slide smile tugged on Hector''s lips, but then froze, morphing into a snare. She had seemed certain earlier when she said their father was going to die. Had she seen it? Perhaps but then that would mean¡ª
¡°System bring me back, stop Talent manipulation!¡± He said, his heart pounding in his chest. The world melted away again and he was back in his room, his hand resting on Mirae¡¯s shoulder. Hector then jumped to his feet and charged out of the room.
¡°Dad, dad!¡± he yelled, his voice horse.
Chapter 3: The Trash Life
Hector charged into the kitchen. He had been a fool to leave his dad alone, he should have stayed. His eyes frantically scanned the room until they landed on a figure in the corner, covered by ruined pieces of what looked to be the kitchen table.
Hector rushed over, dropping to his knees and clawing the wood off of his dad, not caring for the splinters that bit deep into his skin as he did. ¡°I''m sorry Dad, I''m sorry. I should have never left you alone I should have stayed.¡± He removed a large piece of wood covering his dad''s face, ¡°please be okay,¡± he said, his voice barely a whisper.
¡°It¡¯s alright son,¡± his dad croaked. His eyes were swollen with large black bruises and blood was running down his lips. His shirt was a complete mess, torn to shreds in places and hanging off in others, it was as if they were trying to kill him.
"Don''t speak, Dad," Hector said, still clearing away debris. "Save your strength. I''ll clean you up."
Soft footsteps sounded from the hallway behind Hector. ¡°Is he okay?¡± Mirae asked, her voice wobbling. ¡°I''ll go get a bucket and cloth.¡± Mirae¡¯s hurried footsteps filled the room, before stopping as she began rooting around the cupboard.
Hector scooped his arm around his dad''s side, lifting him up. The man groaned as he did. Hector¡¯s father was in a bad way¡ªgoing off the mess, the table had no doubt been used on him. But Hector wasn¡¯t surprised. Angry. But not surprised. Brulin was in the fourth level of the Gravity-Forging realm. He was more than strong enough to deal with someone like Hector''s father, only in Gravity-Forging realm two.
He will pay for this, I''ll make sure of it.
Hector sat his father down on the chair his sister had brought over¡ªshe had gathered a small pile of old clothes and the old bucket they used to catch leaks in the roof. She knelt next to the chair with the bucket and cloth and began dabbing their father''s face as soon as Hector stepped back.
¡°Thank you, children,¡± their father said resting our hand on Mirae¡¯s arm. ¡°Your dad has unfortunately incurred some debts at work. Don''t worry I''ll clear it up.¡± The weak smile on his lips did nothing to reassure Hector. Why was he even smiling? He had just been beaten up and was looking to be in even more trouble if they didn''t pay, how could he smile?
¡°How much do we owe?¡± Hector said crossing his arms. If it was a smaller amount surely he could do something to gather it.
¡°Don''t concern yourself. It''s my responsibility, I¡¯m the one who should be fixing this. Just go about your day doing what you do.¡± his dad said, taking the cloth from Mirae and holding it over one of his swollen eyes. ¡°It''s not too much and ill it have paid by the end of the month. Don''t worry.¡±
¡°Sure you will,¡± Hector said turning away and heading back to his room. Even now his father was still holding things back and treating them as if they were kids. If his dad wasn''t going to allow him to help he would have to do it anyway.
But first, he had to get to work.
***
The late morning sun bore down on Hector''s back as he wiped sweat from his brow. Sorting through the trash of the upper crust of Middlec was dirty work¡ªand pay wasn¡¯t even guaranteed¡ªbut every now and then he would find something interesting.
He rested one knee on a half-destroyed rotten pillow he had found and plunged his hand deeper into the garbage pile pulling at the mass beneath. A clatter of parts¡ªmetal and wood clogged with fabrics¡ªrained off of the pile as he sat it next to him and began sifting through it.
¡°Junk, junk, oh look at that more junk.¡± Hector sighed, twisting his body and landing on the pillow with a soft thump. The sweet sickening smell of garbage rushed from the pillow straight into his nose.
Leaning back and took in the sights¡ªtoday was going to be one of those days. All around him were mountains of garbage that ran on for quite some time. Within the dump, other kids could be seen either in small groups or alone doing the same dirty work as Hector¡ªmost probably didn¡¯t even know what they were looking for.
Those fellow slum rats that did, much like him, were looking for something to bring back home. Something that could help improve their situation if just for a day. Sure they could have looked for work somewhere else but that work tended to just be some form of crime that would get them either beaten up or arrested by the Middlec city guards¡ªif they were particularly unlucky they would be killed outright.
Why do we have to sift through this filth while they prance about in their ivory towers?
Off in the Horizon Hector could make out the tops of the grand palaces that housed the so-called Great Families. Beacons of power within the city at large.
Power Hector didn''t have. He glanced at the top of the trash heap of which he sat at the bottom of. He could climb up there and proclaim himself king, no one would care¡ªunless it was some uptee fool who thought himself a boss of some sort, claiming great dominion over the dump.
¡°Well breaks over,¡± Hector said, standing up and dusting himself off.
Hector walked up the trash pile, struggling to stand and wobbling. He dropped back onto a knee, with his pillow in hand. The good trash was often at the top of the pile¡ªafter all that was where it was freshest. Hector wasn¡¯t quite sure how it worked.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
But he knew that the trash was launched to the top from the carts that brought it to the dump. Thankfully they didn¡¯t bring the sewer filth here, that was taken deeper in. But he had been unlucky a few times¡ªnot every process was perfect.
Hector had once found a golden ring in the dump. That had been exciting. He had thought it was perhaps a storage ring¡ªan artefact held by higher level of Mana cultivators that could store items inside it. But once he brought it home to his dad and showed him those ideas were dashed. It was nothing more than a standard golden ring, probably thrown off by some young noble during a pointless duel.
He puffed as he crested the garbage mountain and set his pillow down. ¡°Alright here we go,¡± He said, brushing the loose strands of his white hair aside. Hector plunged both his arms deep in, grabbing a pial from beneath the trash.
A sharp pain bit into his arm but he paid it no mind. His arm was already covered in cuts, what was one more? With a heave, he pulled out the trash and set it to the side before diving in and pulling out another. When he was done, four separate piles of trash sat around him.
He could now move on to the next step, separation. Taking out what was completely useless and leaving aside what was good. It was a method taught to him by Emela¡ªa girl, now a friend that he¡¯d found searching around the dump a few months back. She had called his past methods wasteful and inefficient. According to her spending all day clearing trash like an animal would lead to a poor sense of self.
Hector chuckled. To this day he still didn''t get it. If you were rolling in trash you were rolling In trash. How you did it didn''t make a difference? But he had to admit her methods did make finding actually useful things a lot easier.
I''ll have to ask her where she got the idea. Most garbage diggers I know just dive in like a rat.
On another trash pile a short distance away was a boy much like Hector. Watching him, Hector couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. She was right. The boy was covered in dirt and other crap as he dug through the trash looking eerily similar to a rat trying to dig a hole.
Well, she definitely added some civility to this crappy job.
Hector''s hands paused as he noticed a bright yellow object within one of the piles. He reached forward and scooped it up, a smile coming to his lips.
If he wasn''t mistaken this was a pill, though the type of pill it was was unknown. It was not rare to find a pill in a trash heap¡ªthe refineries would often pump them out in bulk, and any trash or waste pills were thrown out and ended up in the dump.
But those pills were often grey and cracked, signifying that they were waste and unable to be used. A pill like this. Its surface intact its yellow shimmer still going, it had to be defective. But that didn¡¯t mean that it couldn¡¯t be used.
Hector had once heard of someone''s mana-cultivation soaring after ingesting one of the pills they found in the trash. Granted it did leave them bed-bound for at least three months, but that was a small price to pay for gaining some means of protection within the slums¡ªand a slum rat like him needed every advantage he could get...
He glanced around, placing the pill into his dirty grey trousers pocket. If anyone saw that he had something like this there would be trouble. With one more check to make sure he hadn''t been spotted, Hector moved on to the next pile. But froze as he heard his name.
¡°Hector, there you are. I''ve been looking for you everywhere. I thought we agreed to meet over by the entrance of the dump.¡±
Looking down Hector spotted his best friend, Lincoln, waving his long gangly arms as his short black hair bounced around. He was cleaner today, his grey pants not as dirty and his brown shirt more brown than it was black.
The look of joy in his green eyes brought a smile to Hector''s lips. He had messed up yet the boy was still happy to see him. He had agreed to meet Lincoln by entrance but with everything going on at home he¡¯d forgotten. That shouldn''t have happened.
¡°Sorry. I completely forgot, how did you find me?¡±
Lincoln tilted his head, squinting his eyes, ¡°Are you serious, you don''t go anywhere else within the dump. It''s always towards the back not far enough to see the city walls but just deep enough that you feel you could get lost within the dump itself.¡±
¡°Oh. Am I really that predictable?¡± Hector said scratching the back of his neck and adjusting himself so that he could see Lincoln properly at the bottom of the hill of trash.
¡°It''s one of the things I like most about you,¡± Lincoln said.
"Oh, shut up, " Hector said, standing. "So you coming up then, or are you just here to watch?¡±
Lincoln chuckled and clambered up the trash heap falling onto the knees of his dirty grey pants caking them in trash residue. ¡° I know the best things are at the top, but is it necessary to always climb up here?¡±
Hector chuckled, scratching the back of his neck as he glanced around the dump. ¡° are you kidding me, you have to get to the good loot before anyone else. To tell the truth, I actually found something today.¡±
¡°Oh really,¡± Lincoln said pausing in his climb to flick his hair and looking up Hector. ¡°Tell me more?¡±
"I will when you get up here. I''m sure the entire dump could hear your big mouth,¡± Hector said, smiling, as Lincoln continued climbing.
System what are his talents?
Growing up Lincoln hadn''t shown any particularly outstanding abilities. However, Hector had been checking everyone in the dump since he got here and had yet to find another person with a Talent. If Lincoln had one it would be for the best. Hector needed people. People with Talents and a strong level of cultivation.
The stronger people were closest to him the more protected they were from threats like the Collar Gang.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found.
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¡°Crap,¡± Hector said as Lincoln reached the top of the trash heap. He wasn''t expecting much, after all finding a Talent seemed to be difficult. But if his friend had something it could have gone a long way to help strengthen those close to him.
¡°What, what''s wrong?¡± Lincoln said reaching forward, taking Hector¡¯s outstretched arm, and pulling him in for a hug. ¡°Not happy to see me make it up top or something?¡±
¡°Yeah, I was hoping to see tumbled down a good few feet before making it to the top. Make my day just a bit better.¡± Hector said, chuckling and pulling back.
¡°Oh shut up,¡± Lincoln said lightly jabbing Hector''s arm. ¡°Anyway, what up, what did you find?¡±
¡°Not here.¡± Hector guided Lincoln over to his three remaining piles of trash. ¡°Take a seat.¡±
Lincoln chuckled. ¡° I see you''ve been using Emela¡¯s trash sorting techniques. I don''t know why you do it, man, I find I''m just as effective even without it.¡± Lincoln said taking a seat on the trash.
¡°I''m sure you do,¡± Hector said joining him, but making sure to use his pillow. ¡° and what was it that you found last time that proved how effective you were?¡±
¡°I thought we weren''t gonna talk about that anymore?¡±
Oh come on, Hector said and chuckled. ¡°Anyone could get a beast core and an odour pearl mixed up. There''s nothing to feel ashamed of.¡±
Hector leaned back as Lincoln fixed him with a leer. He would never let Lincoln forget that one time it was how he could keep him humble, his head was big enough as is. The call of trash crows above took Hector''s attention off Lincoln. The birds were free, freer than he was. They could do anything be anything.
¡°Are you all right,¡± Lincoln said, looking from the sky to Hector.
¡°Yeah I''m good, I have to tell you something. But first, look at what I''ve found.¡±
Chapter 4: Rumble in the Dump
¡°You are not joking, right? The collar gang actually broke into your house and attacked your dad," Lincoln said rolling the pill between his fingers. Hector had given it to him to have a look at and also told him about what had happened with his father. He needed Lincoln''s help if he was going to clear the debt, even if his dad felt he could do it alone.
"Yeah, why would I lie about that?¡±
¡°I''m not saying you are, it''s just the Collar Gang are usually¡ª¡±
¡°Ruthless, ignorant, animalistic. What, Lincoln, what? They are a terror in the neighbourhood, it doesn''t matter what they are usually like.¡±
Lincoln frowned raising his arms in defeat. "I know, I know. look I''m not sure I should be saying this but I might have a way to help you out with the debt,¡± Lincoln said throwing the pill back to Hoctor and leaning forward, his eyes scanning around and looking from one area of the dump to another.
"How? " Hector said pocketing the pill and focusing on Lincoln. ¡° I can''t exactly find a substantial amount in this dump.¡±
¡°Well¡ª¡±
¡°Hey you, Ghost! Get down here and pay your taxes.¡± A voice said, coming from the bottom of the trash heap.
Hector groaned. One of the would-be kings of the dump had arrived and he was in no mood to play with them¡ªespecially when he had bigger fish to fry.
¡°Crap, it''s Adrian and his starving dogs,¡± Lincoln said as he crawled to the edge of the trash heap. ¡°Yep it''s him alright, and his three buffoons are indeed with him.¡±
¡°Don''t make me come up there, Ghost. And bring your little friend too you guys need to pay up.¡±
What''s with everyone demanding payments from my family today?
Hector sighed and grunted as they stood. Working the trash heap did not do wonders for you the back. Mirae always told him to do stretches¡ªanother thing she was right about. ¡°Get up Lincoln let''s go deal with these guys. Then you can tell me about your idea.¡±
Lincoln nodded and scrambled to his feet. ¡°If they are enough of a challenge, you might get to see me use Orion Fist. I''ve recently achieved the Journeyman rank with it.¡±
"Oh, you finally caught up to me,¡± Hector said as he walked down the trash heap, kicking up random droplets of trash juice. He then skidded down the trash pile¡ªone of the only fun things about working in the dump.
¡°Caught up? I think you''ll find I surpass you. I could even beat Jodie on the fundamentals.¡± Lincoln said, trailing behind Hector. ¡°Watch you''ll see.¡±
Hector raised an eyebrow at Lincoln''s statement. No one had better fundamentals than Jodie, the girl''s battle insight was unmatched within the dojo. However, in an actual fight, insight could only get you so far.
¡°I can''t wait to see you go against her then,¡± Hector said sliding to a stop and coming face-to-face with Adrian. ¡°So what do you want exactly?¡± Hector, crossing his arms, eyed the boy with a hint of disgust.
Adrian scowled then his chubby face pulled into a sneer and he chuckled. ¡°Don''t play dumb with me Ghost, you know the rules. I turn up. You pay. Simple.¡± He then shoved his hands into his pockets as one of his dump guards¡ªas he liked to call the starved young boys that followed him¡ªstepped forward.
¡°Pay up Ghost,¡± the boy said, reaching an emaciated hand forward. His voice was dry and haggard. He was practically a walking skeleton. Nothing but skin, bone and the clothes on his back¡ªexactly the type Adrian loves to keep around. Weak and ready to do anything to eat, and if they complained Adrian had the weight and Mana-cultivation advantage.
¡°I don''t have anything,¡± Hector said as the cacophony of crow calls overhead intensified. It wasn''t clear how, but it was as if these birds could smell a fight. If you stayed knocked out for too long you might wake up with a finger missing.
Hector glanced at the boy¡¯s hand, before looking back at the boy¡¯s face. ¡°So I won''t be able to pay today.¡±
¡°Nonsense, we had a tip-off that you seemed to have looked interested. Something on top of that trash heap caught your attention now what was it?¡± Adrian said wiping his nose and gesturing towards the top of Hector¡¯s trash heap. ¡°You can give it up peacefully or we can beat it out of you and leave you both for the crows.¡±
¡°Adrian, I''d watch what I say if I were you, you know where we train,¡± Lincoln said stepping forward. The idea that the Mono Fist dojo would keep Adrian at bay was laughable, but Hector couldn''t blame Lincoln for trying.
¡°So what, you know where I train,¡± Adrian said, taking a hand from his pocket and cracking his knuckles. ¡°I don''t know about you boys, but I think these guys need it beaten out of them.¡±
Hector chuckled then rested a hand on Lincoln''s shoulder. He gave him a reassuring nod before focusing on the four in front of him.
System, what are their talents?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found¡///: No talent found¡///: No talent found¡///: No talent found¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Talent found [Tough Body[?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
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Hector smiled. Things were actually looking up, someone with a talent had rolled right up to him. Perhaps it was life''s karma finally paying off, after all, your day could only be bad for so long.
¡°You take the three in the back. I¡¯ll take this one,¡± Hector said to Lincoln gesturing at the group.
¡°You¡¯re brave Ghosts you think you can take me on alone,¡± Adrien said, raising an arm and whipping his fingers through the air. His dump guard followed his command and surrounded Hector and Lincoln blocking off their escape.
¡°I don''t think, short stack. I know,¡± Hector rushed forward and planted his fist squarely across Adrian''s jaw. He then swivelled and hooked his leg around Adrian¡¯s neck before slamming him onto the ground¡ªlike the large slab of meat he was.
Hector spared a glance for Lincoln before leaping on top of Adrian. He¡ªmuch like Hector, used a series of punches and leg hooks to down two dump guards in quick succession, before charging at the last two. It was apparent he had made it to journeyman level with the Orion fist. He was catching up.
A rain of fists fell onto Adrian''s face, bloodying his lips and blackening his eyes. Each blow carried the pain of the day. He had no right to try and take from him, he had no right to threaten him he had no right to make Hector feel weak.
Hector reeled back before landing the final blow. The boy''s face was a mess, bruised beyond recognition. Adrian was a cur, but perhaps he''d gone a bit too far.
System, start the Talent manipulation process.
The world melted away again and the screams of Adrian¡¯s dump guards faded with it. They were never a match for Lincoln¡ªif he was alone, and with the help of Adrian, they could have given him some trouble. But with the two of them. Not a chance.
Hector brought his mind from the fight and focused on the black space before him. A white light raced across the inky black sky overhead. ¡°System bring the ability down and take it.¡±
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///: ¡°Talent inbound.¡±
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The white light in the sky jerked to a stop, before shooting down, hurtling through air like a comet, and stopping in front of Hector. He appreciated the writing inside the orb with a smile even if he couldn''t understand it. Reaching forward he grabbed the orb and took in the information. There was nothing new as it worked the same as a tough body skill he already had.
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///: ¡°Would you like to merge the skill with the other skills?¡±
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¡°Yes begin merger,¡± Hector said and the Orb floated from grasp. It began to orbit him as two more orbs bubbled from his chest. It was surreal, he''d heard of the powers that those in the higher realms could use¡ªNot that this was that. But this was the first time he glimpsed what was possible.
The three orbs orbited overhead, and as their speed got faster. A subtle hum slowly filled space, their moment blending their orbits into a thick ring. The ring then began to undulate and pulse, before going tighter and tighter, coalescing into an orb above Hector''s head.
The orb then moved towards Hector¡¯s chest as it released a low buzz, with steam emanating from its surface. It had taken on the green colour, no longer the White of the previous [Tough Body] Talent.
Hector grabbed it. His palms rested firmly against its smooth surface, which emanated a subtle warmth. With it resting against his skin information began to flow from the Orb and into him. The new Talent was called [Hearty Body]. It was an upgrade of [Tough Body] allowing him to reduce a more predictable amount of damage.
"It''s nothing fancy but it will do for now. I just need to find someone that has another [Hearty Body] Talent, or scour this city for more [Tough Body] Talents,¡± Hector said resting a hand on his hip. The space was now empty Adrian had lost his Talent and there was nothing left to see. ¡°system, end Talent manipulation.¡±
The blackness melted away and reality replaced it, putting Hector back in the dump still on top of the unconscious Adrian. The screams then the thump of a dump guard hitting the trash-covered floor caught Hector''s attention. They all lay unconscious in a ring around Lincoln, and he stood in the centre panting.
¡°You look a little tired there Lincoln, have you been slacking on your stamina training,¡± Hector said climbing off of Adrian and dusting himself off. ¡°Remember it''s key to pace yourself.¡±
¡°Oh shut it, I pummeled these fools by myself, of course, I¡¯ma little tired,¡± Lincoln said walking over and standing next to Hector. He looked down at Adrian and cringed, ¡°Threaten to wipe out your family or something, what did you do to his face?¡±
Hector frowned and scratched his cheek, ¡° about that. Let''s just say I got a little carried away.¡±
¡°Carried away¡ªare you sure he''s even alive,¡± Lincoln said reaching down to check Adrian''s pulse.
¡°I''m sure he is,¡± Hector said looking towards the sky as the crows still circled overhead¡ªif he and Lincoln didn''t do anything the crows would begin their meal a few minutes after they left. ¡°Lincoln it looks to be heading towards the afternoon, I think it''s time we meet up with the others.¡±
¡° Yeah, yeah,¡± Lincoln said, dusting his hands off, standing up and stepping away from Adrian. ¡°He''s alive by the way.¡±
Hector grunted.
***
Hector fanned the collar of his shirt, attempting to cool himself down¡ªthe summer heat had become unbearable since leaving the dump with Lincoln. Walking along the cobblestone streets didn''t make it any better. The heat seemed to bounce straight off the floor and onto the surroundings cooking everything.
¡°Lincoln, have you got a water skin on you?¡± Hector asked. Something to cool down wouldn''t go a miss and his friend always had water skin, or at the very least a fan¡ªhis mom, Catherine, wouldn''t let him leave the house without them.
Lincoln chuckled, kicking a loose stone from the failing cobblestone path, sending it down the street nearly hitting a homeless man crouched in a corner. ¡°Crap,¡± he said with a hiss looking away. ¡°Yeah I have something, give me a sec.¡±
He walked to the other side of Hector, using his body to obscure himself from the homeless man. ¡°He didn''t see me did he? Also here,¡± he said as he moved his hand behind him and brought back a raggedy old water skin.
Hector snatched the water skin from Lincoln''s hand, took a big gulp and shook his head ¡°Why are you hiding from him? The man probably doesn''t even Mana-cultivate.¡±
Lincoln frowned, the look in his eyes speaking volumes. ¡°Have you not heard about sleeping Dragons, for all I know that man could be in the Mana Ignition realm just waiting for someone to make him angry. Then I''m dead. I mean look at him.¡±
The man''s dark brown hair¡ªnot a typical colour for someone in the Mana Ignition realm, was rugged and his clothes were more rags than actual clothes. This man was not a sleeping dragon. A sleeping rat, maybe. But not a dragon¡ªbesides what self-respecting Mana Ignition realm Mana-cultivator would live on the street as a beggar?
I swear Lincoln can be an idiot sometimes.
¡°That man is homeless, that''s it,¡± Hector said taking one last gulp from the water skin and handing it back to Lincoln.
The two of them had made it to the end of Digby Street, leaving behind its ramshackle houses barely held together by loose brick and mortar, and into the better-kept Hilda''s Square¡ªthe meeting place for their little group.
¡°Well, we''ll see about that,¡± Lincoln said taking one final glance down Digby Street then almost stumbling as they transitioned from failing cobblestone to a well-kept stone-tiled plaza.
Hector reached out and steadied Lincoln, before glancing around and looking for the others. Hilda''s Square much like usual was a buzz of activity, vendors lined the edges hawking their wears as pedestrians milled about killing time or looking for something to buy.
¡°Thanks, Hector,¡± Lincoln said giving Hector a nod. He then began to walk deeper, heading towards the central plaza fountain, ¡°Come on, I think I can see Jodie¡¯s hair from here.¡±
Chapter 5: A Little Get Together
Hector smiled as he approached the fountain, his gaze drawn to the cascade of ginger hair that seemed to catch every stray beam of light. Lincoln was right. Jodie could be spotted from almost anywhere¡ªas long as she wasn¡¯t in a room filled with Mana Ignition cultivators with fire affinity¡ªbut the Great Families were more likely to collapse before something like that happened.
He weaved through the crowd following behind Lincoln, and as he got closer to the fountain, he spotted Marcus a few feet away from Jodie. Marcus¡¯s long brown hair was tied up in the usual bun, and he wore the raggedy set of clothes he liked to call a suit.
Hector had often asked him why he wore it, and Marcus claimed it made travelling in the area closer to the centre of Middlec easier as the guards thought he was a roughed-up noble. But he never would say what he was doing near central Middlec¡ªit no doubt had something to do with his father¡¯s business.
¡°Oh, and there¡¯s Emela and Nyx,¡± Lincoln said, drawing Hector¡¯s attention to the two girls.
Emela sat on the fountain¡¯s marble edge, absentmindedly combing her fingers through her long blonde hair. Her main attention seemed to be on something on her brown breeches. Hector couldn¡¯t make it out. But a moment later she frowned and flicked at something on her poorly chosen white tunic.
Hector did not understand how anyone from the slums could wear white. He glanced at Lincoln¡ªthe prime example. Anything the boy wore would be covered in dirt by the end of the day. Hector would often see Lincoln come back with a bruise¡ªno doubt from his mother, furious at his treatment of his belongings.
But somehow Emela had always kept her clothing clean; it was rather impressive. Beside Emela stood the ever-reserved Nyx, sporting the usual black bob. Unlike Emela, she preferred to wear black. Black tunic, black waistcoat, and black leather pants¡ªif she had dirt on her, they wouldn¡¯t know.
System scan all of them.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found...///: No talent found...///: No talent found...
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Talent found: [Freezing Touch[?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Well, damn. Emela has a Talent. I knew there was something special about her. How come she¡¯s never said anything?
¡°Hey guys,¡± Hector said, sliding his hands into his trousers¡¯ pockets.
¡°Hector,¡± Marcus said, walking over with his hand outstretched. ¡°I take it you are just coming back from the dump?¡±
Hector took his hand and gave it a firm shake as he nodded at the others. ¡°Yeah, got into a little spat with Adrian, but¡ª¡±
¡°It was a bit more than a spat,¡± Lincoln said. ¡°You would have thought Hector was trying to kill him.¡±
Hector frowned at Lincoln. Did he have to over-blow it? Sure, he had pummeled Adrian pretty badly, but he¡¯d be fine¡ªas long as they got up before the birds got to them, it was nothing more than a spat.
¡°Are you okay, Hector?¡± Emela said, crossing one leg over the other as she reclined on the fountain¡¯s edge. ¡°I don¡¯t go to the dump much anymore, but I remember Adrian being quite the brute.¡±
¡°I¡ª¡±
¡°He¡¯s more than okay. He laid Adrian out flat,¡± Lincoln said, nudging Hector¡¯s arm. ¡°You should have seen it. One punch sent Adrian to the floor, and then this beast climbed on top and started destroying his face.¡±
Hector scratched his cheek and found an unusual interest in the ground. He hadn¡¯t intended to go that far with Adrian; he just snapped.
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like Hector,¡± Marcus said, resting a finger on his chin. ¡°Now if you said Jodie, I could see that.¡±
¡°You trying to take a swim?¡± Jodie said, stepping over to Marcus and gripping his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing my throws recently, and I¡¯m eager to try them out.¡±
¡°Calm down, both of you,¡± Emela said, brushing her breeches and turning to Nyx. ¡°Do you have my comb on you?¡±
Nyx nodded, reached into her leather trousers, and pulled out a black comb. ¡°Here.¡±
Hector glanced at the comb and then shook his head. For some reason, Nyx acted almost as if she was Emela¡¯s shadow. She would trail behind her and do what she said when she said it. It wasn¡¯t abusive at all; it was just strange. But they both seemed happy with the relationship.
¡°Anyway,¡± Hector said, gesturing for Jodie and Marcus to sit. ¡°I have something serious to talk about.¡±
¡°Something the matter?¡± Jodie asked, brushing her ginger hair aside. ¡°If it¡¯s another fight, I don¡¯t mind jumping in. As I said, I¡¯ve been working on my throws.¡±
Hector sighed. Jodie always seemed ready to go at it; it was no wonder she had such good battle-sense. ¡°No, nothing like that... Well, not yet anyway,¡± Hector said, throwing a glance around the square. While the Collar Gang was strong, that was only in certain parts of the slums, but it could never hurt to be careful. ¡°My family is in trouble with the Collar Gang.¡±
¡°Trouble?¡± Marcus asked, leaning against the fountain¡¯s edge and shoving his hands into his suit pockets. ¡°What kind of trouble?¡±
¡°They attacked my dad this morning and demanded that he pay a debt.¡±
¡°By the Great Lake, I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Emela said, leaning in. ¡°Is he okay?¡±
¡°Yeah, he was okay when I left. But he did not want to tell me how much he owes to the gang. I can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s wrong with him,¡± Hector said, running his hands through his hair.
¡°He probably just wants to keep you safe, you know,¡± Marcus said. ¡°I mean, my dad keeps things from me all the time. But I know it¡¯s because he thinks I¡¯m not ready to hear them.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Lincoln chuckled. ¡°No offense, Marcus, but I would keep things from you too.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that meant to mean?¡± Marcus asked with a frown.
¡°Never mind that. I need your help, guys,¡± Hector said. He didn¡¯t need this conversation going off-topic. Not now.
Lincoln scoffed and rested a hand on Hector¡¯s shoulder, his fingers drumming with barely contained energy. ¡°I¡¯ve told him that we should hit up one of the farms. I¡¯ve recently learned where they keep their profits. We break in and take what we need.¡±
¡°You agreed to this, Hector?¡± Emela asked, her frown deepening the shadows that played across her face. She crossed her arms and looked between Lincoln and him, her gaze sharp as winter frost. ¡°I would advise against it. While not a strong connection, everyone knows the Glademoors have some stake in all the farms in the city.¡±
Nyx leaned down to Emela and whispered into her ear, her black-clad form a shadow against Emela¡¯s pristine white, then returned to her position, leaving Emela with a contemplative frown.
¡°At the very least, those who pay more attention to what¡¯s going on around them would know this,¡± Emela said, looking pointedly at Lincoln, her words carrying the weight of unspoken knowledge.
¡°Yeah...¡± Jodie said, her ginger hair catching the late afternoon light as she glanced between Emela and Lincoln. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly keen on breaking into a farm and attacking some innocents. And I love fighting.¡± She then focused on Hector, her gaze softening. ¡°Besides, that¡¯s a situation where we put ourselves at risk, just for you.¡±
¡°Jodie,¡± Marcus hissed, his raggedy suit rustling as he shifted uncomfortably.
¡°Hold on,¡± Jodie said, raising her hands in a placating gesture. ¡°I love each and every one of you guys, but what you¡¯re suggesting, Hector, is incredibly reckless.¡±
¡°I know, and that¡¯s why I haven¡¯t agreed to it,¡± Hector said, as he started to pace up and down, his footsteps echoing against the worn stones of the plaza. ¡°It was more of a last-resort kind of thing. I wanted to come to you guys and see if you could help me figure something out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m more than happy to help,¡± Marcus said, his voice carrying the steady reliability that had become his trademark.
Hector smiled and gave him a nod¡ªMarcus was always dependable like that. Among the group, he probably had the most patience, a virtue that Hector deeply admired.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll help,¡± Jodie said, pushing off the fountain with fluid grace. ¡°But what we do has to benefit everyone here. As I said, I love you, but everyone needs to be invested in this. Hell, I have some debts I need paid as well.¡±
The plaza hummed with the ambient sounds of commerce and life as Hector frowned but nodded. Jodie¡¯s words rang true¡ªhe wasn¡¯t the only one wrestling with the weight of survival in these harsh streets. If they could all benefit from any group action, it would be for the best. He wouldn¡¯t just be using his friends. ¡°So does anyone have any ideas?¡± Hector asked, his voice barely carrying over the market¡¯s drone.
Silence passed through the group, the sounds of the shoppers in The Plaza and the sellers hawking their wares filling the air with a tapestry of urban life.
¡°Just pick-pocket,¡± Nyx said.
The group turned to her, but she looked blankly back at them.
¡°That¡¯s actually not a bad idea,¡± Lincoln said, his eyes lighting up with possibility. ¡°Especially with the Hida¡¯s festival coming up. There will probably be a bunch of nobles just walking around, waiting for their fat pockets to be picked.¡±
¡°But isn¡¯t that festival going to be crammed with Middlec Guards and a few of the Phoenix Company mercenaries?¡± Marcus asked, glancing between everyone, his anxiety visible in every movement. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just make it all harder?¡±
¡°I agree,¡± Jodie said.
¡°It could work,¡± Emela said, studying her nails with practiced nonchalance that belied the sharp calculation in her eyes. ¡°If I recall correctly, isn¡¯t your father running a stall at that festival, Marcus?¡±
¡°Yeah, he is...¡±
¡°So we can use that as a base camp,¡± Emela said, her words measured and precise. ¡°We will run the pick-pocketing operation from there. That way, we won¡¯t have to move past the perimeter guard, and we¡¯ll have a cover job.¡±
¡°You want to help my dad out at the festival?¡±
¡°No, you idiot,¡± Jodie said, smacking Marcus across his head. ¡°She wants to use working with your dad as a disguise to pickpocket the nobles at the festival.¡±
¡°Oh, I see. But I don¡¯t think my dad would allow us to do that,¡± Marcus said, fidgeting with his hands.
¡°Are you planning on telling him what we¡¯re going to do?¡± Jodie asked, her smile taking on a predatory edge.
¡°No?¡±
Jodie¡¯s smile widened as she patted Marcus on the shoulder. ¡°Then I don¡¯t see the problem.¡±
Emela watched as Nyx jumped down off the fence, her movements as fluid as a shadow across water. Having spent a good half an hour winding through the alleys, they were coming to the end of their journey for the day. Emela¡¯s thoughts drifted back to when she first entered the slums, searching for her lost heirloom.
The memory was made all the more poignant by the fact that she had to go to the disgusting dump to search for it. Though she had met Hector and her new friends then, so it had been worth the sacrifice.
¡°Are you alright, mistress?¡± Nyx said, her dark eyes tracking the movement of someone closing their shutter window¡ªno doubt retiring for the night.
¡°All is well. I am just thinking back to the past.¡±
¡°Do you mean when we first came to the slums? I remember telling you it was a mistake. I¡¯m glad to have been mistaken,¡± Nyx moved past Emela, walking further into the alleyway and bending down to a sewer grate. ¡°Are you ready, mistress?¡±
I am never ready to set foot in that blasted sewer. Sometimes I wish I could leave the slums normally after splitting up with everyone. But I guess it¡¯s still too risky.
Frowning, Emela sighed. For the last few months, she had been searching for a better way to enter the slums discreetly but had had no luck¡ªit was as if the heavens wanted her to dirty herself. She pinched the edge of her white tunic and shook her head.
She would need to use another warding talisman. They weren¡¯t expensive¡ªat least not for her¡ªthough her friends in the slums would probably say otherwise. Even Marcus, whose father owned a talisman store.
¡°Mistress?¡± Nyx tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, her black bob catching the dim light. ¡°Are you coming? It¡¯s getting late, and we may miss our opportunity to get back unseen.¡±
Nodding, Emela strode over and stood at the edge of the sewer grate. Nyx popped it off with little effort¡ªnot surprising considering she had firmly established herself in the fourth realm of gravity forging.
She then looked up at Emela, ¡°Your turn, mistress.¡±
¡°I suppose.¡± Emela stepped to the edge of the sewer hole and sighed. She drew upon the mana in her body as she leapt into the hole. The smell of unspeakable things hit her nostrils, their rot threatening to consume her. She popped a warding talisman in her pocket, causing a thin blue membrane to cover her body. The mana she had channeled entered her feet and, before she could touch the disgusting sewer water, it froze around her.
¡°Nyx, it¡¯s okay to come down now,¡± Emela said, glancing up through the hole.
¡°Yes, mistress.¡± Nyx leapt into the hole and landed to the side of Emela. The clang of the sewer grate sounded seconds later.
¡°You do time those throws excellently, Nyx. Though I do worry you will miss one day.¡±
Nyx shrugged. ¡°And if I do, I can just jump back up and correct it.¡±
Emela nodded, then walked deeper into the sewer. Every time she made it to the edge of the frozen area she created¡ªtypically expanding the length of her wardrobe door¡ªher next step would create a new one. She did this three times before reaching their exit grate. In many ways, the sewer would be both a curse and a boon.
A boon because it let her practice her family¡¯s inborn ability, and a curse because it cost a warding talisman each time she entered the dreadful place.
¡°Shall I?¡± Nyx said, stepping next to Emela.
¡°You know the drill. I¡¯m not doing it.¡± Emela crossed her arms and stepped out of the way, waiting for Nyx to pop open the sewer grate above.
Nyx nodded and stepped forward. She lunged upwards, striking the grate with her palm, knocking it into the air. Before landing back on the ice, and bouncing back up, shooting out after it.
¡°Show off,¡± Emela said with a chuckle, leaping out of the sewer and into the alleyway above.
The two girls then left the alleyway and headed deeper into the clean streets of central Middlec. The streets were paved with polished marble, creating pristine pathways to the finely constructed houses. The golden lampposts washed the area in their subtle warmth, filling the atmosphere with comfort¡ªit was a far cry from the rundown Hilda square with its disrepair¡¯d fountain.
The two stuck to the shadows as they looked out onto the street.
¡°Now, the hard part,¡± Nyx said.
Chapter 6: Family Matters
Emela and Nyx moved from shadow to shadow, careful to avoid the eyes of any of the pedestrians on the street. It was late in the evening so the chances of them being spotted were low¡ªany Mana-cultivator walking the streets at this time already had a set destination. They wouldn¡¯t be paying too much attention.
There is nothing like a nighttime run.
Under normal circumstances, her family would lose their minds if they saw her doing something like this. As a lady of the Frostkeep family you act with poise, her father would say¡ªif he acknowledged her at all. And to a certain extent Emale did, but when it came to the art of freedom, of being herself. Nothing could compare.
¡°We are coming close to the compound walls,¡± Nyx said, racing along at Emela''s side. ¡°make sure you have enough momentum to leap.¡±
¡°Don''t worry, I know. Besides, it is far easier for me to clear the wall than you.¡±
Nyx set her jaw and continued running forward. When the two of them reach the end of the street''s pavement they lept into the air. Emela sailed higher than Nyx¡ªwhich was a given, she had a higher mana cultivation level after all.
The two landed with a soft thud at the edge of the Frostkeep compound. Emale sighed. They had made it, not that she doubted it. All they had to do now was get past the guards.
Gulken, the captain of the compound guard and a fourth-level Core Formation mana cultivator would be on duty tonight, so it should be easy enough to get back into her room¡ªthe man liked to ensure that the main exits and entrances were heavily guarded and was laxer with the perimeters.
¡°Ready,¡± She said turning to Nyx.
The girl nodded and stalked forward and Emela followed, making sure to keep low and sticking to the bushes. The manor of the Frostkeep family sat in the middle of this forested compound¡ªa design choice all of the Great Houses chose. They know doubt thought, it made them seem a bit more ethereal.
Emela stopped as Nyx held up her hand, she pointed forward gesturing to a moving light in the distance. A torch. A patrol of Frostkeep guards was a head¡ªone of the few they had to avoid on the way back.
The two of them waited, for them to pass. If they rushed they would increase the chances of getting caught. A snap of a twig sent, a shiver down Emale¡¯s spine and she whipped around, finding a squirrel bouncing out of a bush.
Oh, its just a rodent. It¡¯s fine.
Nyx looked back at her and frowned, then shook her head and gestured for them to continue on.
The two of them bound through the dense shrubbery with ease, stopping as they spotted another patrol. Emela never understood, why their family had so many guards running up and down, they were in the centre of Middlec. No one could touch them here, the main reason she and Nyx had even got this far was because they had the correct mana signatures to enter and exit the formation at the compound''s edge.
¡°They¡¯re almost gone, get ready,¡± Nyx said. Her blue eyes focused on the passing guards.
A bush rustled and Emale whipped around as her heart hammered in her chest. Only to frown as a badger trundled out of the bush shaking its head furiously. The cute creature spotted the two and turned heading deeper into the forest.
A lot of creatures out tonight, Emela thought, as she watched it disappear into a bush.
¡°Time to go,¡± Nyx hissed shooting forward. Not wanting to get left behind¡ªnot that Nyx could. Emela stuck close sailing through the bushes just behind her.
Nyx had an affinity for the night. One of the many skills that she had displayed growing up with her. It was an unexpected boon for Emela, allowing her ever-loyal Nyx to help her with escapades, during the hours of the night.
Furthermore, Nyx was a serious person much like Emela herself. She would help to ensure Emela didn¡¯t go too far off course and upheld her appearance as a lady of the Frostkeep family¡ªeven if her friends in the slums weren¡¯t aware of her true origins.
The two continued to zip through the forest, approaching the left side of the manor where her room window was located. Smiling, Emela noted the family guards'' absence, which could only mean that the hard part was over.
¡°We are almost there mistress Emela,¡± Nyx said glancing back at her. ¡°Shall I run you a bath when we get back?¡±
Emela nodded. A bath would do her good. Her friends, as lovely and free as they were, lived in a place surrounded by filth. And as the saying goes. If you play with mud don¡¯t be surprised when you come back dirty. These were words, Emela strived to adhere to.
She glanced, down at her still white tunic, the warding talisman having kept all the muck of the swerve off of her. She wore pieces of white clothing every time she went to the slums as a test¡ªand as proof¡ªthat no matter what, no matter where. Her environment would never sully her.
¡°Mistress,¡± Nyx said pulling Emmel from her thoughts.
¡°Yes, sure. Run me a bath.¡± She said as they stopped in some bushes. Her room window could be seen two stories up from the bushes. ¡°You did leave it unlocked didn''t you?¡±
¡°Of course. Are you ready?¡± Nyx¡¯s body tensed, before she shot into the air, like an arrow and touched down on the windowsill.
A wave of calm washed over Emela. The trek home had been uneventful as usual, and she was glad for that. She tensed her body and leapt into the air, arcing onto the windowsill as Nyx pushed the window open. ¡°Did you leave, my garments out before we left?¡± Emela asked.
¡°Yes, Mistress.¡± Nyx hopped off the large windowsill and raised a hand for Emela to take, ¡°I¡¯ll start the bath now, and then help you get dressed.¡±
Emela reached forward, taking Nyx''s hand, and hopped down onto the frost-white carpet of her room. A wave of satisfaction washed over her as she relished the fact that, again, she had made it back and no one was any the wiser.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
With a sigh, she slipped her sandals off and padded over to her bed as Nyx went to the side room to start her bath. Emela smiled, anticipating the warmth that would soak her tired muscles and the sweet smell of roses. She ran her fingers along one of her braids resting on her chest as she glanced down at the garments laying on her white sheets.
They had been a gift from her mother. A white silk dress customary for a lady of the Frostkeep family, embroidered with the family crest on its breast and accented with ice-blue patterns on the cuff. It was beautiful.
"Allimon is truly a splendid designer. Isn''t he?" Said a voice.
"Yes, that''s why it''s one of¡ª"
Emela froze as the colour drained from her face. That voice. She turned her head slowly, dreading what she would find.
How had I not noticed, how long had she been following me? It didn''t make sense; there were no signs. You have to be kidding me.
She turned, and standing by the windows with a playful smile on her face, dressed in white form-fitting leather was her mother. She stood with her arms crossed and her blonde hair tied up into a bun, her blue eyes seeming to see right into Emela''s soul.
"Hello, my love," she said, tilting her head to the side. "You look surprised to see me."
More than a little surprised, you''re meant to be asleep, Emela thought.
"No, no mother," she said, taking a step back on the carpet. "I was simply, startled is all."
"Oh, so you knew I was following you?"
"Ah," Emela said, glancing back at the side room. Nyx was still in there running the bath, but she could really use her help. She had to get her mother to leave but without her figuring out where she went, she didn''t want to lie to her, how could she? A lady''s word was important. "I wouldn''t say I knew, but you are here. So." She cringed¡ªwhat did that even mean?
"Damn," her mother said with a sigh, shaking her head as she glanced out the window. The moonlight reflected off her snow-white skin. "And here I had thought that the squirrel and the badger might have outed me."
She looked back at Emela and her eyes steeled as a pressure exploded from her and bore down on Emela, causing her knees to bend a little. "Where were you today, my darling? Your father has been looking for you."
"I¡ª"
The door to the side room burst open and Nyx ran in with a panicked look on her face. When she saw Emela''s mother she froze and glanced between them. "Mistress Catherine, what brings you here tonight?"
"I''m here to see my daughter, Nyx. You may carry on with your duties." She fixed Nyx with a glare and some of the pressure on Emela lessened. Nyx''s face seemed to tighten as the pressure was spread to her.
Emela took another heavy step back on the carpet¡ªshe had to get out of her mother''s orbit. Even though she wasn''t going full force, this small pressure from someone who was at least at the third level of the Core Formation realm was suffocating. "Mother, father was looking for me," she said, hoping to pull her focus back on her, this wasn''t Nyx''s fault.
The woman sighed and casually glanced back over to Emela. "Yes, he had an announcement to make. Something to do with your engagement."
Its already decided? I thought I had at least another month left. How can Father have decided already and to who?
"But that''s not important," her mother said, looking her up and down. Her eyes seemingly analysing Emela''s body. "Where have you been?"
"How can you say that, this is my future we are talking about," Emela said, taking another step back. The pressure had begun to loosen. From her studies, she understood that a Core Formation mana-cultivator at her mother''s level typically had an orbit of about two meters. So she had to be close to the edge by now.
Her mother narrowed her gaze at her and smirked. "My dear I love you, but you''ve known this was coming for a long time. You are nowhere near as talented as your siblings and you are better off finding your place in a lesser house."
A pain welled up in Emela''s chest, dull and throbbing. It was one thing to hear this from others, but her own mother. "I¡ªI, well... who is it I am to marry?"
"For that, you can wait until tomorrow to find out. Your father is having them come to the meeting hall tomorrow to announce it to the rest of the family." Her mother''s gaze relaxed and the pressure on Emela dissipated as if it were never there in the first place. Emela let out a breath and moved over to Nyx''s side as her mother continued. "You don''t have to tell me where you have gone, but you will be punished for coming in so late."
Her form flickered and she appeared by the bedroom door, "Be thankful, that it was I who discovered you. Anyone else, and you would be having this discussion with your father. And I trust you know how that would end."
Emela nodded at her mother''s words, lowering her head.
"Get some rest, my dear, you have a long day tomorrow. And I should have your punishment ready for you after the announcement tomorrow." With that, Emela watched as her mother opened the door and glided out of the room.
"Well, that could have gone worse," Nyx said, brushing a loose strand of black hair from her eye. She turned to the side room door and gestured towards it, "Are you ready to go and wash up?"
Emela sighed and slumped her head onto Nyx''s chest, muffling her voice. "Thanks, Nyx. What would I do without you."
The early morning sun beat down on the dry dirt of the training ground as Emela stood in the middle of the grounds with her sword pointed forward. The cool morning wind rippled through her bangs as birds sat on the training ground walls and sang their summer song.
"Keep the sword straight, girl. If I see it slacking, that will be ten laps around the field," said Captain Shallowcold, standing at the end of the training ground with her arms crossed next to a training dummy. The long scar across her right eye from a battle she never talked about was particularly menacing. The sunlight seemed to intensify it as well as her cold grey eyes.
The captain''s gaze narrowed as she watched Emela. She shifted her weight onto her other foot as a light breeze buffeted her battle robes. "You have still yet to make any progress past the novice stage with the Frost Ice Dance technique, while your siblings are already pushing the adept level."
Why am I not surprised? I''m sure they would reach the grandmaster rank if you pushed them a little more.
She glanced over at Nyx who stood at the side of the field by the stone archway. She had her usual blank look on her face as if all of Emela''s suffering was unrelated to her. Emela sighed, refocusing on her sword, and taking a step forward.
She kicked off with her back foot, the tip of the sword piercing the air with a whistle, and as she channelled her mana into the blade¡ªthe technique fell apart. Her sword shot forward, sinking into the dirt with a clang as she staggered, barely able to stay on her feet.
Shallowcold let out a heavy sigh and strode over to Emela, "What in the great lake¡¯s beauty was that young lady? Have you no control over your mana?"
"I did, it simply¡ª"
A sharp cackling from the other side of the field caught Emela and the captain''s attention. The ugly wench Noella, Emela¡¯s half-sister, and her toad of a maidservant had arrived. The girl wore another new battle dress no doubt paid for by her mother and Emela made out the family crest embroidered on its left breast.
The seventh child of Emela¡¯s father and the most annoying by far. Noella was a terror to be around.
What does she want now? Emela thought, walking over to her sword and plucking it from the dirt.
"Mistress Noella, I have no training scheduled with you today. What brings you here?" Captain Shallowcold said. Emela could see the confusion on her face. She had no idea why this annoying girl was here either, and Emela hoped that would mean she would send her away.
"No, no, captain. I was passing by is all, and I noticed Emela seemed to be struggling with the novice stage of her technique," Noella said, with a sly smile directed at Emela.
"We all know that''s a lie," Nyx said as she arrived at Emela''s side and stared down Noella. "You only came here to cause trouble."
"Shut up, you filthy street urchin," spat Noella''s maid, Matilda.
Emela took a step forward, but the captain stood in her way. "If you are here to help as you say perhaps a spar is in order?" The captain said, looking between Emela and Noella.
"That''s a wonderful idea," Noella said, clapping her brutish hands. She acted as if coating them in white dust did anything other than make her look desperate for attention¡ªnot that Emela¡¯s father starved her of any.
"It''s decided then," Shallowcold rested her gaze on Emela and smiled. "Best get into position then."
Chapter 7: Duel鈥檚 Of A Feather
Emela flew back and slammed into the floor with a grunt, as her sword clattered to the side. Standing a few feet away, Noella looked at her with a contemptuous smile. ¡°Oh come now, dear sister. I barely even touched you.¡±
That¡¯s what you call barely, you toad.
Emela pushed off the ground and staggered over to her sword as Noella watched on. She was enjoying this; she always did. It was as if she wanted to punish Emela for the simple fact that she was older. Who the hell raised her?
Emela walked forward and got back into position. She didn¡¯t need to ask who raised her, as the apple never fell too far from the tree. The girl was exactly like her trash heap of a mother, Yulara. Emela raised her sword, readying for another round.
All she needed to do was land one hit without getting knocked back. That would be more than enough to hurt this toad¡¯s pride. It might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but she would have something to smile about tonight as she went to bed.
¡°Begin,¡± Shallowcold called from the side of the training grounds as she stood with the two maids.
Emela charged forward, the wind rushing past her ears. The morning sun glinted off her blade, its edge thrusting towards her sister. A burst of mana shot through her spine and into the sword. She wouldn¡¯t hit her using the little knowledge she had of the technique. No. But she could with something Noella wasn¡¯t expecting.
Noella stood with a smile on her face, lightly raising her sword and preparing to unleash her technique again.
But that smile froze as mana raced through Emela¡¯s hand, causing it to buckle with pain as her sword shot forward, darting towards her.
Noella¡¯s eyes went wide as she dived to the side, narrowly avoiding Emela¡¯s blade, which pierced into the ground a few feet behind her.
¡°Are you trying to kill me!¡± she screeched, hopping to her feet and leveling her sword at Emela. ¡°If that¡¯s the game you wish to play, dear sister, then I shall oblige you.¡±
Emela¡¯s eyes went wide as her sister charged at her, her eyes fierce with intent. She was going to stab her, and it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as the spar intended.
But as Emela closed her eyes, a gust of wind tickled her cheek. The clang of metal forced her eyes open. And there, before her, stood Captain Shallowcold. A small dagger rested in her hand as she casually blocked Noella¡¯s blade.
¡°Are you serious?¡± Shallowcold asked, her eyes boring deep into Emela. ¡°What did I say earlier about your control of Mana? Now here you are using that in a battle. I don¡¯t know whether to call you resourceful or an absolute idiot.¡±
Hopefully, a bit of both, Emela thought as she lowered her head.
A smile came to her lips. She¡¯d seen Noella¡¯s face as she jumped to the floor like the toad she was. The girl was scared, and she felt shame. Emela had gotten her goal; at this point, not being run through by her was a bonus.
¡°And you,¡± Shallowcold said, fixing Noella with an intense glare. ¡°Were you seriously trying to harm your own sibling? Do I need to inform the master of this?¡±
¡°So what if I try to harm her? She is a talentless waste; the family would be better off if she was gone.¡± Noella said, sliding her sword back into its scabbard and fixing Emela with a glare. ¡°The only value she has to the family now is that of an alliance tool. Don¡¯t forget your place, dear sister, because someone will remind you of it. Don¡¯t forget the lesson our dear brother Drion gave you last time.¡±
As Shallowcold went to respond, Noella turned around and stormed off across the training grounds. The pathetic maid Matilda scrambled behind, eager to soothe her mistress¡¯s temper as per usual.
¡°Are you pleased with yourself?¡± Shallowcold said, stowing away her dagger. Her gaze followed Noella as she passed through the archway before turning to Emela. ¡°I hope you realize that you have just earned yourself twenty laps around the training grounds.¡±
And it was more than worth it. But she frowned as she marched off to the side of the training grounds to meet up with Nyx.
¡°What happened? Did you lose control of your mana again?¡± Nyx asked as Emela set her sword down on the bench.
¡°No. I did it on purpose this time. I needed a win, even if it was a little pathetic.¡±
Nyx furrowed her brow but said nothing as she picked up Emela¡¯s sword and cradled it in her arms. Emela wasn¡¯t sure what the girl was thinking, but knowing her, she was evaluating whether it was even a good plan. It wasn¡¯t¡ªthe throbbing pain in Emela¡¯s hand reminded her of that.
¡°Okay, I have to go and do twenty laps of the training grounds now. Would it be okay to ask you to bring me some water?¡±
¡°Of course, mistress. It will be here when you return.¡±
Hector eyed up his opponent before him. Jodie was in good form today, her ginger hair tied in a bun, her green eyes shining with a fierce light. She was in her prime, but that did not mean much to him. After all, he was her opponent today, and he would not yield.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
¡°Ready?¡± squeaked a voice from the dueling mat¡¯s edge. There, with one arm raised in the air, was Able. A short boy with a tuft of blonde hair, he wasn¡¯t much of a combatant. Hector had learned as much when he sparred against him a few months back. The poor boy could hardly handle one punch¡ªit was unknown why instructor Kambel even kept him in the dojo.
He must be his illegitimate son or something. If you squint, they kind of have the same eyes.
Hector threw a quick glance out of the window. His sister stood outside selling her little basket of flowers. He nodded. The fight shouldn¡¯t take too long, and she looked alright. More importantly, Fangdale street wasn¡¯t exactly known for its crime¡ªthe fear brought about by the dojo kept most vagrants at bay. Most but not all. The Collar Gang didn¡¯t fear the dojo.
His lips pulled into a tight smile, and he nodded at Able. The boy then lowered his arms, signaling for the fight to begin.
Jodie took a step back. She was starting the same way as usual, always one to analyze and wait for the opponent to make a mistake. But Hector rarely made mistakes. He shot forward; the wind rushing past him as he opened with a punch.
She took a step back again, anticipating the kick he threw a second later. A mere distraction. Hector swiveled on his heels, hooking her arm with his leg and tugging her forward. She reeled as he slammed a fist into her chest, staggering her.
His feet slid across the mat as a smile came to his lips. ¡°You can¡¯t be leaving yourself open like that, Jodie. People like me punish you for it,¡± he said, sparing a quick glance out the window to check on his sister.
¡°Oh, shut it. The fight isn¡¯t even halfway over.¡± She charged towards him, and he laughed. Now was not the time for her to lose her cool. Hector punched forward, aiming for her face, but frowned as he felt a foot in the gut.
With a grunt, he staggered back and narrowed his eyes at the smiling Jodie. He looked to Able, whose mouth hung open¡ªhe apparently barely noticed what happened himself. But when was that not the case? ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you that one,¡± Hector said, lowering into his stance and throwing another glance out the window.
His sister had a bubbly smile as she completed a transaction. The hard work she¡¯d put into raising those plants had actually paid off. But it wouldn¡¯t go far in repaying their father¡¯s debt. ¡°Okay!¡± Able said, raising his arm. ¡°A point apiece.¡± The boy had a smile on his face as if he was the one on the mat fighting. ¡°Ready¡ª¡±
The training room door slammed open. Leading a group of students was instructor Kamble. He had a fierce look on his face as he stormed over to Hector and Jodie. ¡°I¡¯ve just heard the news, and I am as furious as you are. We¡¯re going to fix this.¡±
¡°What?¡± Hector said, throwing a look at Jodie. ¡°Who told you?¡±
¡°Most of the slum is talking about it, boy. How could I not hear?¡±
I mean, they did attack us quite publicly. But I didn¡¯t think anyone in the slum really cared.
He looked at the instructor with warmth in his eyes. The old man had more of a heart than he realized, but Hector didn¡¯t wish for him to do anything reckless. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning, sir, but I wouldn¡¯t recommend getting involved. The Collar Gang are tricky to deal with.¡±
¡°Huh? What does this have to do with the Collar Gang?¡±
Hector frowned. ¡°It was them who beat my father yesterday morning.¡±
The righteous anger in Kamble¡¯s eyes faded, and pity replaced it. ¡°Oh, my dear boy. I didn¡¯t know about that. Sorry. I was talking about the fact that Dale has reached the journeyman stage with the Phoenix Barrage Kick.¡±
An awkward silence settled into the room as Hector turned to Jodie, who shook her head and then massaged her temple. He spared another quick glance out the window to check on his sister before turning back to his instructor. ¡°I see. I didn¡¯t even know he was practicing the Phoenix Barrage Kick.¡±
¡°Yes, yes, it was news to me as well.¡± Kamble scratched the side of his neck and coughed. ¡°About your father. I¡¯m sorry to hear what happened. But I fear I won¡¯t be able to help much where it concerns the Collar Gang. A few low-leveled thugs I can handle, but they are a bit different. It won¡¯t mean much to you now, but in the future, you¡¯ll understand.¡±
I understand that you¡¯re weak and don¡¯t want to get your butt kicked. But I can¡¯t blame you.
Kamble was only in the sixth level of gravity forging realm¡ªto an average Middlecean slum dweller, he was to be feared. But with more organized groups such as the Collar Gang, he didn¡¯t amount too much. So there wasn¡¯t anything he could do to help Hector.
The instructor clapped his hands, and the group behind him dispersed, forming a line at the edge of the training room. ¡°No, Lincoln today?¡± he asked, looking between Hector and Jodie.
¡°No,¡± Jodie said, rolling her shoulders and wiping the sweat off her brow. ¡°He said he had some errands to run for his mother today.¡±
¡°Shame,¡± the instructor said, striding to the edge of the mat and getting into a stance. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll be teaching the new technique to you two, then.¡± He gestured to the group lining the wall. ¡°That lot will take a bit longer to learn it, and I feel you two will pick it up the fastest.¡±
Hector glanced over at the group lining the wall and activated his system. It had taken him some time to get into a habit of scanning everyone he came across, as the system was something he hadn¡¯t fully grown accustomed to as of yet. It was there, but he had other pressing issues¡ªbut that needed to change. After all, he wasn¡¯t the same Hector he was before.
He had scanned Abel earlier, and he came back with negative results, and sadly, this group did as well.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found¡///: No talent found¡///: No talent found¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Why is it so hard to find anyone with Talent in this slum?
He had somehow managed to find four yesterday. But today, even though it was still early, he hadn¡¯t managed to find any.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Sufficient scans have been completed¡Upgrade of System now initiating.
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Oh, maybe I should have been scanning more people. If I had known it would get an upgrade, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much time.
¡°Alright, both of you watch me closely,¡± Kamble said, steadying his breathing. ¡°This is called Orion Leaping Strike. It is normally used to catch opponents off guard. I¡¯m sure it will give you an edge in the upcoming competition, especially if you face Dale.¡±
Focused, Hector watched the instructor as he moved around the mat. He analyzed his moves, feet placement, fist placement, where his head went and where it wasn¡¯t. He soaked it all in, committing everything to memory. If he could master this move, then it was one more card to play, especially in the pick-pocketing operation in the coming days.
As the instructor moved, soaring through the air and doing a double kick amidst the cheers and excitement from his fellow disciples, Hector spared a glance out of the window and frowned. A young man was talking to his sister, not suspicious by itself. After all, maybe he wanted to buy something for his girlfriend, but this transaction was taking too long.
¡°And that¡¯s how you do the technique, any questions?¡± The instructor said with an expectant look.
¡°No,¡± Hector said, striding over to the edge of the mat and putting on his slippers. ¡°One second, instructor. I just have to go take a look at something.¡±
Chapter 8: Don鈥檛 Touch The Flower
¡°Oh, come now. Don¡¯t you have anything better than this? I need something beautiful for the girl that I¡¯m going to bed tonight,¡± the man said. Hector couldn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face as he stood facing his sister, but the clumped-up brown hair and dirty slacks spoke of his hygiene level. His mud-brown shirt had a few stains, no doubt from eating the garbage scum like him usually dined on.
He was a waste.
¡°I¡¯m sorry. But this is all I have. If you come back tomorrow, I could have something more to your liking.¡± His sister¡¯s shaking body sent waves of something violent through Hector, but he couldn¡¯t let it out, not like he did in the dump yesterday. Control was needed. But this fool was antagonizing her, and he couldn¡¯t be allowed to get away with it so freely.
¡°Listen, I need something now. Where do you get these from? I can follow you there. Perhaps I¡¯ll find something I like,¡± the man said with a sickening chuckle¡ªit was as if a chicken was choking in his throat.
Hector drew up to the man, cracking his knuckles before resting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°As she said, you can come back tomorrow and perhaps there¡¯ll be something you like.¡± The man turned with a scowl on his pock-marked face. ¡°But to be honest, I don¡¯t like your attitude, so I don¡¯t want you near her ever again.¡±
¡°And who the hell are you?¡± the man said, slapping Hector¡¯s hand to the side. ¡°Don¡¯t come over here messing with my business and don¡¯t touch me. Now if you don¡¯t mind, I was in the middle of something, so you can go piss off before I make you.¡±
That¡¯s exactly what I was hoping to hear. System, scan him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found¡
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¡°Figures,¡± Hector said, smiling. As instructor Kamble always said, they should use their techniques to defend themselves and the innocent, and this man had just threatened him¡ªa form of violence. Defense was his only option now.
Hector squinted at the man, willing the system to acquire his stats. The last thing he needed was to recklessly attack someone in a higher realm than himself¡ªhe¡¯d need to use his head, if that was the case. But looking at the man, he doubted he even cultivated.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: None
Talent: None
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The system¡¯s message brought a smile to Hector¡¯s lips as he looked past the man and nodded at his sister. She frowned, her eyes narrowing at him as if to say, don¡¯t do what you¡¯re about to do.
¡°Hey,¡± the man said, jabbing a dirty finger into Hector¡¯s chest. Hector scowled, crinkling his nose, as a pungent smell wafted through the air. His movement seemed to have released the odors trapped within his clothing. ¡°I told you to piss off. Imma count to ten, and if you aren¡¯t gone, you¡¯ll be in a world of trouble.¡±
Hector nodded as his sister¡¯s mouth fell open. She understood what this idiot did not¡ªhe¡¯d crossed a line. Threatened twice, and attacked once. Hector had more than all the justification he needed. A surge of energy rushed through his body as his muscles tensed.
A crisp thump snapped through the air as his fist slammed into the man¡¯s jaw, sending him sprawling onto the cobblestone. The force of the blow put him on the ground with a thud, as if he were no more than a sack of potatoes. He stilled. His face was one of absolute shock, seemingly not believing he¡¯d been laid out. The glazed look began to fade from his eyes, but Hector¡¯s ears pricked as he heard footsteps thundering down the cobblestone streets of Fangdale.
¡°You little dirt wallop. How dare you lay hands on one of my boys,¡± said a man as he charged down the street, two more scruffy-looking men following behind him.
¡°Was that really necessary?¡± Mirae said, adjusting her basket with both hands and looking at him for an explanation. ¡°We¡¯re meant to be avoiding trouble. Being good, what would father think?¡±
He wouldn¡¯t think much at the moment. Too preoccupied hiding secrets he thinks we can¡¯t handle.
¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault. You saw it. He attacked me,¡± Hector said, rolling his shoulders and getting ready to meet the coming fight. He didn¡¯t have time to try the new technique that instructor Kamble had shown him. Now would be a good time¡ªhe¡¯d need all the practice he could get.
How did it go again?
Images played in his mind. The feet spacing, the movements, all of it laid out bare in a simple and easy-to-follow format. For a technique that would give an edge, it seemed rather trivial. But then again, looks could be deceiving. The man laid out on the cobblestone had learned that the hard way; he had probably thought Hector was nothing more than a brat coming to play hero.
Hector took in a deep, refreshing breath of slum air¡ªthe vile taste making him want to gag¡ªand Mirae took a step back as the group of men drew closer. Across the street, he spotted Able at the dojo window. His eyes were wide as he looked from Hector to the approaching group of thugs. He then turned and scampered away, probably off to go and tattletale to instructor Kamble.
Seems I won¡¯t have much time. System, scan them for Talents.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
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///: No talent found¡ ///: No talent found¡
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Makes sense, Hector thought. He frowned. He didn¡¯t get his hopes up, but it was still a little disappointing. At the very least, it got him into a habit, so there was that at least. He moved his focus to the last man and scanned him with the system.
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///: Talent found [Quickening Brace[?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
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It seems I spoke too soon.
The man on the right of the leading man had a talent. While Hector didn¡¯t know what it did from its name, he guessed it had something to do with speed. Though he wouldn¡¯t think that from his gaunt face and stick-thin arms and legs. A stiff wind would probably blow him over.
A man like that was no doubt like the fools that followed Adrian. He was just looking to survive. It seems the man at the front of the group provided that¡ªhim or the guy Hector had laid out on the floor.
As the first man closed in, Hector made his plan of attack. The lead man would have to go down first; he was bigger and more well-fed, which meant he had a lot more energy to fight than the other two. Hector cursed, wishing Lincoln was here¡ªthey could split it as they did before. But now he¡¯d have to put in some effort.
He kicked off the cobblestone and launched towards the big man. The man swung his fist back, giving Hector the perfect opportunity to slip to the side. Hector slammed his palm into the man¡¯s shoulder, knocking his momentum.
The other two men went for a tackle, but he slipped them and launched into the air, hooking his leg around the big guy¡¯s neck and throwing him into one of the smaller ones. They clattered to the floor in a heap as he turned his attention to the man with the Talent.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t waste the good opportunity.¡± In an instant, Hector lowered his stance, power ballooning in his legs before he exploded forward. His knee cracked into the man¡¯s chin, sending him head over heels through the air. The man slapped onto the wet cobblestone with a pained groan¡ªthe idiot wouldn¡¯t be getting up any time soon.
I think that was wrong. Kamble¡¯s one was more of a double kick.
Hector spun as a large fist filled his vision. His knees bent and the big man¡¯s punch brushed past his face with a whistle. If that had hit, it could have been bad. Not wasting a second, he flipped backward, his foot slamming into the man¡¯s chin, sending him stumbling backwards.
¡°What is with this kid?¡± The big man said, rubbing his chin. He glanced at the two men on the floor and then to the one man left at his side. ¡°What are you waiting for? Grab him.¡±
The man¡¯s eyes went wide, seemingly pleading with the big man, who shrugged. He then took a step forward, rushing past the man before swiveling and grabbing him by the collar of his tattered brown shirt. The man screamed as he was launched through the air towards Hector. Poor unfortunate fool. Hector wouldn¡¯t catch him, and the floor was more than eager to. He ducked out of the way, readying himself. That was clearly nothing more than a distraction.
As he looked to where the big man stood, he hadn¡¯t moved. Instead, he stood with a smile on his face, as if he¡¯d caught something in a trap.
¡°Hector, behind you!¡± cried Mirae, but it was too late.
Pain exploded from his side as he staggered forward. The first man he¡¯d laid out on the floor had gotten up at some point. ¡°How dare you sucker punch me!¡± he yelled.
Before Hector could reply, a fist crashed into the side of his face. He¡¯d been distracted, and the big guy had wasted no time. He crashed to the floor and heaved as a foot slammed into his side, throwing him back across the cobblestone and slamming into a wall.
Okay, how are they playing fair? I mean when did I even sucker-punch him? That was a full-on knockout blow.
His sides ached with pain as his head throbbed. He may have had one cultivation level on these guys, but boy could they hit hard. ¡°I should have focused on the big guy. I need to stop wasting opportunities,¡± he muttered, tasting the blood and dirt in his mouth.
¡°Now it¡¯s time to end this, you little dirt wallop,¡± the big man said, striding towards him with a proud look on his face. What was there to be proud of? He was a grown man attacking a teenager.
The man approached Hector, his shadow looming over him like a mountain of muscle. ¡°First I want you to apologize, and then I¡¯ll deal with you nicely,¡± he said, cracking his knuckles.
Hector spat a glob of blood onto the cobblestone and looked up at him as if he was an idiot. Why would he waste his time apologizing to someone like them? The fight was done, and even if it wasn¡¯t, the apology would not be enough. So they could go and choke.
¡°What, not feeling in the mood to talk? Don¡¯t worry, I can beat it out of you.¡± As the man readied his foot for a stomp, a small figure barreled into his side, achieving nothing. His sister bounced off the man and crashed onto the cobblestone, her basket of flowers spilling across the ground. ¡°Wait your turn, little one. I¡¯ll get to you.¡±
Over my dead body. You big bull.
Energy rushed through his body as he struggled to his feet. His sides ached and his face was beginning to swell, but that would not stop him. The man had attacked his sister and that would cost him. His feet shifted in place as he played back the instructor¡¯s movements.
¡°I see you are ready for another round, being welp. Let¡¯s¡ª¡±
In an instant, Hector¡¯s body shifted forward in a blur, his knee cracking into the man¡¯s nose, disintegrating it into nothing but a lump of skin and fragmented bone cartilage. He landed on the ground and hopped back as the air stilled, before the big man crashed to the cobblestone with a loud wet thud. Blood leaked from his nose profusely, coating his face like a red mask.
That still wasn¡¯t right, Damnit. I need to figure this out.
¡°What... crap,¡± Hector¡¯s original target said. He took one look at the man, glanced at Hector, and then turned, running down the street amidst the stares of onlookers.
¡°Well, it seems you got the beginning of the move down,¡± Kamble said, approaching with the small crowd from the dojo. Jodie was a few steps behind him, with a frown on her face. Kamble glanced over the unconscious bodies and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize these guys; they must be new to this part of the slum. Idiots.¡±
That¡¯s the beginning of the move. Well, all right. I just have to keep practicing.
Jodie walked over to Hector and gave him a light punch in the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re ahead of me for now, but I¡¯m going to reach adept level with this technique before the competition even begins, so you better stay focused.¡±
Hector chuckled, wincing at the spike of pain from his side. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was never one to fall behind, anyway.¡± He then lowered his voice to a whisper. ¡°Besides, anything that can help with the upcoming operation will definitely have my focus.¡±
Jodie probably didn¡¯t need telling, but it would be good to keep her mind on what was important at the moment. The competition was fine, but his family¡¯s debt came first. He turned to Mirae. She was bent over with her basket, collecting flowers. ¡°Are you all right, Mirae?¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t be better. I¡¯m more upset about the flowers¡ªand that horrible welt on your face. But mostly the flowers,¡± she said with a huff. ¡°But I hope you¡¯re pleased with yourself.¡±
¡°Come on Mirae. Don¡¯t be upset, I was just protecting you.¡±
¡°I know.¡± She stood up and adjusted the basket, leaning it against her waist. The flowers that had spilled had all been placed neatly back inside. ¡°I just feel pathetic. I mean, I have to stand out here just so you can keep an eye on me.¡±
¡°You should start cultivating,¡± Jodie said, stepping forward. ¡°I¡¯m sure instructor Kamble is eager for more students, especially with the current hardships of your family.¡± Jodie turned, eyeing the instructor with a provocative look.
¡°We don¡¯t have the funds,¡± Mirae said, her voice barely a whisper, but those with cultivation could pick it up with ease.
¡°Instructor, surely there¡¯s a place in our dojo for the sister of one of our greatest fighters. No expenses, right?¡± Jodie narrowed her gaze at Kamble as she raised an eyebrow.
The man looked from her to Hector, and then to Mirae. His eyes held a conflicted look as he swallowed and wrung his hands. ¡°I¡ª¡±
Chapter 9: Organising & Strategizing
Hector smiled as he walked down the street, looking over his stats. Jodie and Mirae followed behind him. It was a hard fight, but it had been more than worth it in the end.
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///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector Jacaranda
¡ª¡ª¡ª
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 1]
Spirit Root: Moon
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STATS
©À©¤ Body ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( I )
©À©¤ Mind ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
©¸©¤ Spirit ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
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EQUIPMENT
©¸©¤ None
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
TALENTS
©¸©¤ Hearty Body +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3) ¡ª Quickening Brace +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
TECHNIQUES:
©¸©¤ [Orion Fist] (Journeyman: 90%) ¡ª [Orion Leaping Strike] (Novice: 20%)
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector had acquired the Talent [Quickening Brace]. And it was as he thought. The skill was related to speed. Specifically, when he had the intention of striking a target, time would seem to almost slow down, allowing him to deal another physical blow on his enemy. It was a strong Talent, though it did have the downside of taking an hour to become usable again. But that could be remedied by finding another [Quickening Brace].
Hector kissed his teeth as he sidestepped a man lugging his cart of goods down the main street. The streets weren¡¯t packed, but there were definitely a good handful of people. Probably not the best place to stand and gawk over his stats.
But he couldn¡¯t help himself; he was growing. And when the system finished upgrading, he would grow even more. A thought then came to his head: when he was fighting that group, the man hadn¡¯t used his Talent once. It didn¡¯t consume mana, but he seemed not to even realize that he possessed the Talent. It was strange¡ªperhaps one had to train themselves in order to use it, or at the very least be aware that they could.
I¡¯ll have to do some testing in the future, Hector thought.
He glanced at his side, and a smile came to his lips. Mirae walked beside him, lugging her basket along with both hands clasped firmly around its handle. She had a determined look on her face. No doubt her future journey as a Mana-cultivator had sparked a fire within her.
¡°Thanks again, Jodie,¡± Hector said, turning his head to his other side with an appreciative look. ¡°You¡¯ve given us¡ª¡±
¡°Oh shut it,¡± Jodie said, brushing her ginger hair behind her ear. ¡°You¡¯ve spent too many years training while staring out that window. It¡¯s a distraction to you and to the rest of the dojo. This way, you can focus on actually getting better. Or one day I¡¯m gonna surpass you and you¡¯ll never catch up.¡±
Hector¡¯s mouth hung open amidst Jodie¡¯s chuckle as she gracefully sidestepped another pedestrian. The idea of her surpassing him wasn¡¯t far-fetched, but it was uncomfortable. Not because he didn¡¯t think she could, but because with her battle insight, she could very well do it.
A gust of wind blew down the street, blowing through Jodie¡¯s long ginger hair, which she had let down after leaving the dojo. She frowned and cursed, grabbing her hair before looking at Hector. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I doubt I¡¯ll be surpassing you anytime soon.¡±
¡°I¡ªmost definitely will,¡± said Mirae, grunting as she hefted the basket so it could more comfortably rest on her hip. ¡°... Brother, you know I love you, right?¡±
¡°Give it,¡± Hector reached forward and took the basket from her, and she cheered and jumped, hugging his arm.
¡°See, this is why I love you.¡±
¡°Okay, whatever. Come on, we have to hurry up¡ªwe don¡¯t want to keep the guys waiting.¡±
Hector placed the basket down, resting it up against the wall of Hilda¡¯s fountain. He didn¡¯t need to hold it in his hands, and Mirae didn¡¯t want to hold it on her lap. But that was fine. She¡¯d had a tough day and if she didn¡¯t want to hold her flower basket, she didn¡¯t have to.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
I hope we don¡¯t forget it here. It¡¯s not much, but these flowers could pay for our next bowl of grime-grain.
His mouth went dry at the thought. They wouldn¡¯t always have plums to combat the dry taste. He slumped down onto the edge of the fountain, careful not to kick the basket, and looked at his friends. ¡°So, about the pickpocketing operation? We have the general plan, right?¡± he asked, inclining his head to Marcus. ¡°We meet up at his dad¡¯s stall. Then go about our separate ways, picking the pockets of anyone we come across¡ªbut especially nobles.¡±
¡°Yeah, about the plan. I¡¯m having my doubts,¡± Lincoln said, wringing his hands. His gaze darted about as he stammered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mind at first. I mean, the festival or the farm, it didn¡¯t matter. But thinking about it again, it¡¯s the Hilda festival we¡¯re talking about. Are we forgetting that the place will be crawling with Phoenix Company initiates, just looking to make themselves look good?¡±
Hector frowned and regarded Lincoln¡ªhis hair was a mess, and his tunic was tattered. Not any different from how he usually was, but his behaviour was strange. Sure, it would be harder with the Phoenix Company present, but that didn¡¯t mean the operation should be scrapped. ¡°So, what are you suggesting?¡±
Lincoln glanced at Jodie before looking straight to the ground and taking a breath. ¡°I think we should reconsider the farm.¡±
¡°No!¡± Jodie said, shaking her head. ¡°We discussed this last time.¡±
¡°But¡ª¡±
¡°But what, Lincoln?¡± Jodie snapped, taking a step forward on the cracked plaza tile. ¡°If you are so desperate to go and beat up some Farmhands, go and do it. But no one here is going with you.¡± Jodie¡¯s eyes scanned the group as if looking for someone to challenge her.
Emela cleared her throat and gestured towards Lincoln. ¡°I think he¡¯s just worried about our safety. The Phoenix Company are no pushovers. Even if it¡¯s the initiates, we should still be careful. Actually, it leads into what I wanted to bring up with you all today.¡± She strode over to the fountain¡¯s edge, gently set herself down next to Hector, and crossed her legs.
Nyx walked up to Emela and stood at her side with her usual placid look. Emela again cleared her throat before she continued.
Is she getting sick or something?
¡°I think there are people and places at the festival that we should avoid targeting. Specifically, high-end areas,¡± she said, giving a pointed look to Jodie. ¡°Not everyone is a target we can handle, and some areas will be worse for us than others.¡±
Hector tapped his foot on the tile, resisting the urge to stand up and pace. She was right, and to a certain extent, so was Lincoln. The Hilda¡¯s Festival, while not the biggest event in Middlec¡ªthe Middlec tournament was still at least two years away. The festival was no small street party. The Phoenix Company paid for a lot of it and would certainly want to ensure that it went off without too much of a hitch.
Hector rested a hand on the fountain¡¯s edge and looked first to Lincoln. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do this, I get it. But I have to help my dad. To be honest, taking part in this operation goes against what he¡¯s taught me. But I can¡¯t sit around and do nothing.¡± Lincoln nodded and looked to the ground like a disappointed child.
Hector then brought his attention to Emela. ¡°You seem to have a plan already if you¡¯ve been thinking about who to avoid.¡±
¡°Well¡ª¡±
Before she could finish, Nyx leaned down and whispered something into her ear. Emela pursed her lips and seemed to reconsider whatever it was she was about to say. ¡°I haven¡¯t got too much of a plan. I want to avoid some people and areas, that¡¯s all.¡±
Okay, that¡¯s kinda weird. But then again, it¡¯s Nyx and Emela.
He sighed as he pushed off the rim of the fountain and walked over to Marcus, placing a hand on his back while gesturing to sit in his now vacant spot. Marcus had been getting more and more anxious as the conversation continued, and Hector didn¡¯t need him zoning out while they all tried to come up with a plan.
Emela raised an eyebrow at his actions but said nothing, while his sister gave Marcus a bright beaming smile and nudged the flower basket out of the way with her foot. The basket almost tipped over, but before it did, she hefted it onto her other side and thumped it down onto the plaza tile.
¡°So we don¡¯t have a serious plan, but a general one. I can¡¯t say I like that,¡± Hector said, frowning as he began to pace back and forth. Each step loosened, the tightening anxiety twisting in his gut. ¡°We need roles, we need operation sites, we need to have an escape route in case it all goes to hell.¡±
¡°Hell?¡± Jodie asked. ¡°Where is that?¡±
Hector shook his head as he continued pacing. ¡°Never mind that. I want us all to establish roles now.¡± He looked at all five of the people before him and considered what he knew about them.
¡°I can bring lunch,¡± Mirae said enthusiastically. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but a few hard-dough sandwiches made from the fruit in our garden should be alright.¡±
You know what? I¡¯d rather she do that than be involved with anything else.
He nodded at his sister and gave her a warm smile. ¡°So, we have our chef, good. Anyone else got any roles they want to fulfill?¡±
Jodie cocked her head and rocked back on her foot as she crossed her arms. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound rude, but aren¡¯t we just taking people¡¯s money and running off¡ªif we¡¯re seen? If not, walk off. No need to draw attention.¡± She smiled at his sister. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone needs a defined role aside from our sweet Mirae.¡±
She then turned to Hector. ¡°What I think we should be discussing is how we are going to split the loot.¡± She glanced at everyone, her gaze looking eerily similar to instructor Kamble when he wanted to make sure everyone was paying attention. ¡°I don¡¯t mind having it, so sixty percent of the total haul goes to Hector. As he¡¯s said, he¡¯s in a bit of a pickle right now, and I¡¯d rather not hear about Mr. Jacaranda being beaten to death.¡±
A brief silence passed over the group as they let what Jodie said settle in. Mirae let out a low whimper, and Hector walked over to comfort her. Memories of what she¡¯d said in the kitchen surfaced in his mind. She¡¯d seemed so certain he would die, and it looked like she hadn¡¯t gotten over that.
¡°Jodie,¡± Emela said, narrowing her eyes at the ginger girl. ¡°Can you not be more careful with how you phrase things? It¡¯s not ladylike at all.¡±
Jodie huffed and shrugged her shoulders. But Hector couldn¡¯t blame her¡ªJodie¡¯s brashness was sometimes needed. She would often be the one to jump in and help with a fight, no questions asked. Though he was sure, that was mainly because she loved to fight.
¡°No, no. I agree with Hector,¡± Marcus said, playing with the ends of his suit. ¡°We will be using my dad¡¯s booth as a meeting spot, but we won¡¯t know where anyone will be going or doing. If something bad happens, how will we know where to look for the others? I think we need a clear plan and contingencies.¡±
¡°I agree as well,¡± Emela said, giving Marcus a quaint smile. ¡°I think we should pair up. With each pair working in a specific area of the festival.¡±
¡°That sounds good,¡± Hector said. ¡°Anything else?¡±
¡°I think one of the areas we should avoid pickpocketing in is the central area of the festival,¡± Marcus said, looking up from playing with the ends of his suit coat. ¡°Specifically, the area with my dad¡¯s stall. If something goes wrong there, then it¡¯s over and my dad will kill me.¡±
¡°That would be the least of your worries if they link your dad¡¯s stall with the operation,¡± Jodie said with a chuckle, but still nodding at the end. ¡°That has to be one of the areas we avoid doing stuff in. We don¡¯t want to draw the guards or the Phoenix company to our HQ.¡±
Hector smiled and nodded. It seemed that ideas were starting to flow, even from Jodie. He looked up at the mid-afternoon sun. There was still some daylight to burn¡ªit was time to get a concrete plan.
¡°Alright, guys, I want to hear what everyone thinks,¡± Hector smiled at Lincoln, giving what he hoped was reassurance. ¡°Especially you Lincoln, we need to work together on this.¡±
Chapter 10: The Chains Of Family Would Break Hollower Bones
Hector¡¯s meeting with the group drew to a close amidst the chattering of the market crowd. They had come up with a concrete plan for the festival. Even Lincoln had contributed in the end, choosing to take a more active role.
It had been decided that all six of them would split up into pairs and take a direction¡ªmoving around as one large group would draw too much attention. Emela and Nyx would take the east, Hector and Lincoln would take the west, and Marcus and Jodie would take the south.
The pairs would allow each person to cover the other¡¯s back. The guards could be anywhere, and having someone nearby to keep a lookout could prove invaluable. Furthermore, with each taking a specific direction, it would be easier to locate each other if something went wrong.
Hector slumped down onto the edge of the fountain and let out a sigh. Mirae smiled at him with a bright beaming smile, and around him, each of his friends stood in silence amidst the winding down of the plaza market.
¡°Well then,¡± he said, his eyes drifting past his friends and to the streets leading away from the square. ¡°I guess we have it all figured out. If anything does happen, we will have to adapt on the fly.¡±
¡°I know we¡¯ve already been over this, but are we sure that we want to do this?¡± Lincoln said, looking between each member of the group.
¡°Lincoln, I swear I¡¯m going to hit you,¡± Jodie said, cracking her knuckles.
Hector sighed and shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ve got this people.¡±
Emela stood with her back straight before the great oak doors of the Grand Hall. The door was intricately carved with various runes which hummed with power, symbols of the protection array that covered most of the building.
Okay, this shouldn¡¯t be hard. I just have to explain to Father that I can do more for the family unmarried than I can if I¡¯m married.
She glanced at her side. Nyx stood ever vigilant, eager to put down any threat that may occur¡ªthough the only threat here was Emela¡¯s own family. But she would be of no use in the upcoming battle of words against Emela¡¯s father and the rest. She was but a maid, after all.
Nyx patted down her frock¡ªa piece of clothing she seldom wore¡ªand smiled. ¡°Are you nervous, mistress?¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be? After all, the rest of my life is about to be decided for me.¡±
Nyx tilted her head as she bunched her lips. ¡°I suppose so, but whatever happens, mistress, I will be by your side through all of it.¡±
¡°I sure hope that is the case.¡±
The soft crackle of the surrounding lamps filled the silence that followed.
Emela had been waiting for some time now. Not one person had come to inform her as to why she was waiting so long, though that spoke of how much the family valued her. She opened her mouth to comment, but froze.
In the corner, by the door, a burst of icy wind and mist flooded out of nowhere, breezing in like a torrent of ice. And from this mist stepped her mother, Catherine. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re on time, my love. I had feared that you would be late, but I¡¯m glad to see that the other night was nothing but an accident.¡±
¡°As am I mother,¡± Emela said, flexing her fingers as her mother¡¯s cold aura washed over her. A layer of frost formed on the carpeted floor, and she took a step back, not wanting to be within her orbit again.
A coy smile came to her mother¡¯s lips as she crossed her arms and locked eyes with her. ¡°I¡¯ve come up with a suitable punishment for you. As I said last night, it will be administered after your father¡¯s announcement.¡±
Dread crawled up Emela¡¯s throat, threatening to choke the words as they came out of her mouth. ¡°And what will my punishment be, if I may ask,¡± she said, throwing a quick glance at Nyx, who had taken a step closer to her with a look of concern. It was appreciated, though ironic that it was levied against her mother¡ªthe person meant to protect her.
¡°No, my dear. I think I will keep that piece of information to myself. Besides, it¡¯s time to go in,¡± she said, turning.
The heavy oak doors creaked and let out a low rumble as they began to open. Waves of mana flooded through the hallway as the array circuit was broken. Emela¡¯s fringe whipped about as Nyx held down her frock. All the while, her mother stood calm, like a sturdy rock in a wild lake.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Moments later, the wind settled, and a deep voice boomed out of the meeting hall. ¡°You may enter.¡±
Her mother turned to her, nodded, smiled and walked in, a light shroud of mist in her wake.
¡°Come along Nyx, let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Emela said, following behind her mother.
As Emela entered the great hall, a crowd of eyes fell on her. Elders, enforcers and various members of her family that held more power than they deserved. But even the weight of this crowd was nothing compared to the man who sat at the end of the hall on his elevated seat with blue crystal-like stairs leading up to it.
She could feel the pressure he was giving off even upon entering the room. She had long entered his orbit. Her skin prickled as the mana in the air seemed to fall still. Waiting. Her father¡¯s power was unquestionable.
In his orbit, he was law. Even her mother¡¯s mist had retracted to a thin layer that hovered just above her clothing. His orbit covered the entire hall, and probably a bit more. This was the power of a Mana Ignition cultivator.
As she walked down the hall, her heart racing more than she¡¯d hoped, she glanced at the stands running along either side of the hall. Murmurs, at first a little, then they picked up as more and more of her so-called family recognized her.
¡°And here I thought she had been shipped off to Escal. Time as a serving woman would have done the girl well,¡± said a voice. Her gaze flickered to it. An Elder¡ªone that caused her gut to twist with disgust as she locked eyes with him.
Grandfather to her perfect first brother, Drion. Elder Garen held no love for her. He would often comment that she was nothing more than a waste of resources, which would have been better spent strengthening his genius of a grandson. The man was a pathetic old fool.
She swallowed and continued forward, resisting the urge to look back to Nyx for support. Instead, she let her mind wander. Thinking of the Middlec slums and the freedom she had there. Thinking of Hector and her other friends. The plans they¡¯d made, and the relief she would have when she could go back there.
After a few moments of walking amidst the murmur of the crowd, she came to a stop a few paces away from the crystal-like stairs. She looked up at her father, sitting high above, and waited for him to speak.
But instead of speaking, the air began to tingle as she felt a pressure on her chest. It was light, intended to make her pay attention. The hall immediately fell silent, and the pressure receded. ¡°Emela Frostkeep. I have brought you here to recognise officially your engagement to the Muddust household. Do you have any objections?¡±
A wave of murmurs once again washed through the hall. Her chest tightened, eyes narrowing as her lips contorted with disgust. The Muddust house. A low to medium-ranked family in the city that specialized in refining average standard pills in bulk. Their pills weren¡¯t widely used in the central parts of Middlec, but it was not hard to find a cultivator in the outer parts of the city that didn¡¯t use them.
No. Not only am I to be married, but to such a lesser house. Why would Father do this?
Her gaze flickered to her mother. She frowned, and Emela noticed a look of confusion crossing her features. ¡°Lord Patriarch, surely you do not mean the lower house headed by Blaine Muddust. They are a middling family at best. Would it be wise to¡ª¡±
¡°Your thoughts are appreciated, Catherine,¡± said a voice. It came from one of the balconies within the stands that stood out with its ornate blue crystal dragon, running along its edges acting as railings. And sitting in the balcony was first elder Rodrick, second only to the Lord Patriarch himself. ¡°But this has been decided by the inner family. Your words and opinions are not needed.¡± Rodrick combed his bony fingers through his short, slicked-back white hair and regarded her for a moment. ¡°I believe the patriarch is still questioning Emela.¡±
The man may have worn beautiful blue and white robes trimmed with gold, but there was nothing beautiful about him. Whether it was his scrawny nose or callous appearance, he was a man who had little love for things he could not use.
Emela gulped and focused on her father¡¯s cold blue eyes, his features like a block of ice, cold and sharp. ¡°I¡ªI do not wish to marry the Muddusts,¡± she said, forcing the words out of her mouth.
¡°If you are not to marry, we have no use for you, girl,¡± said another voice from the opposing stand. They sat in a similarly ornamented balcony to the first elder. Elder Margaret. She was the mother of Drion and the Lord patriarch¡¯s first wife. ¡°You have failed to make progress, and if we continue to waste resources on you, it would be an embarrassment. So marriage seems to be your only option.¡±
¡°Indeed, Emela. In marrying the Muddust, you would also be serving your family,¡± the first elder said, narrowing his eyes at her. He reached to his side and brought up a cup, taking a sip, never moving his eyes from her. ¡°If you do not wish to serve the family, then you are not part of the family.¡±
Her mother went to speak, but a look from the first elder evaporated any words she may have had. She looked back at her daughter, frowned, and lowered her head. It had become clear she could do nothing to help.
¡°So, Emela, do you wish to be a part of this family?¡± The first elder said.
I wouldn¡¯t even keep my name. Would I even be part of this family? I just want to go back to the slums.
She grit her teeth and shifted her weight on the carpet beneath her.
¡°Oh come now, dear sister,¡± a voice said from behind her. She turned. The doors to the great hall were still open, and through them she could see two men walking towards her. The one who had spoken was perhaps the person she wanted to see the least. Drion.
With a cocky smile on his face, he strode into the great hall, his long white hair trailing behind him. He wore his usual blue and white battle robes, clean and trim, displaying the house insignia. A few paces behind him was a boy she had never seen before¡ªhe had brown ruddy hair and wore battle robes that were a mix of brown and black, though she did recognize the house insignia. He was a Muddust.
¡°I have just been speaking to Ulrich here,¡± Drion said, gesturing to the boy behind him. ¡°And he seems quite excited to be your betrothed.¡± Drion had a look on his face that said he was enjoying every bit of her suffering. She supposed that with Talent such as his, and the pressure that came with it, she was a good outlet.
¡°It is good that you are here, Drion,¡± her father said. For the first time since she¡¯d entered, some interest seemed to have been sparked in him. He then glanced back at her. ¡°Your betrothed is here. Do you accept marriage? Give me an answer?¡±
Chapter 11: Do You Know What It Takes to Be A Father?
Emela searched around the hall, looking for what? She did not know. The only people who may have supported her could say nothing¡ªNyx was but a maid and her mother didn¡¯t have much weight against these giants.
She looked to Ulrich, to the modest smile that graced his lips. It was fake. He could not hide the lust that lurked just beneath the surface, the disregard for who she was as a person. He would not be a good husband.
What choice do I have? If my family were to abandon me, where would I go?
The slums were not an option¡ªas soon as they found out who she truly was; she did not doubt that Hector and her friends would abandon her. The Great Houses and, to a certain extent, all noble families saw the people of the slums as nothing more than slum rats and treated them as such. So, they had no love for the nobles. If anything, they would gladly put a sword in the back of any noble.
Furthermore, with no support from her family, she had no resources. As a cultivator, she would be able to get by to a certain extent, but she didn¡¯t like her chances as an abandoned Frostkeep. Family members now could turn assassins in the future, as she became an eyesore to a glorious family name.
Her lips trembled as the urge to throw up coiled inside of her. But the words. She had to say them. She had no option. ¡°I¡ªI accept the marriage.¡±
A small smile passed over the first elder¡¯s face as he nodded to Drion¡¯s mother. They had gotten what they wanted. Murmurs passed through the crowd as Drion strode past her and whispered, ¡°Make sure to be a good wife now, sister. The family is watching.¡± He then continued, walking past her and stopping right before the crystal-like steps.
Her father¡¯s voice boomed through the hall. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±
The mana in the air seemed to come alive. It swelled around her, churning into a tornado of mist and frost. Her body became light. Weightless. Then with a thud, her feet landed on soft carpet, and the mist and frost cleared.
She now found herself standing outside the Great Hall. The oak doors were now closed, with runes humming along their surface. Nyx stood next to her and her mother a few paces away.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, my love. I knew you were to be married, but not to them. If I had known...¡±
Emela sighed and looked absent-mindedly at the great oak doors. ¡°There was nothing you could do Mother, there was nothing anyone could do.¡±
¡°Mistress,¡± Nyx said, taking her hand and squeezing it. ¡°I will be with you, don¡¯t you worry.¡±
Emela smiled and squeezed her hand back before turning to her mother. ¡°About my punishment, do you think¡ª¡±
¡°No, my love, if anything, I have more of a reason to do this. You are going to need strength for what comes next.¡±
Silence fell as the lamps running along the hallway crackled. It was going to be a long night.
¡°So grime-grain and sprouts for dinner, huh?¡± Hector asked. He and Mirae walked into the kitchen and he placed the flower basket on the table with a thud. The stale smell from the sewage outside leaked into the room as he walked over and closed the kitchen window.
¡°Do we have to?¡± Mirae asked with a pout as she walked out of the kitchen, her long white hair bouncing behind her. She was heading to her room and Hector was eager for an answer, so he followed. ¡°I should have something in the garden, right?¡±
¡°I mean, even if you do, there¡¯s no guarantee that it¡¯s ripe.¡± Hector walked behind her until she entered her room. He stopped at her door and leaned against its frame as she began to rifle around her drawers. Mess. One thing that she often made, but she would always clean it up straight away.
¡°Yeah, but still. I feel like my skin is starting to be made of grime-grain,¡± she said, pinching her forearm. She then shook her head and continued searching through the drawers, looking for something. She paused, looking up with a frown. ¡°Didn¡¯t you once say that as a cultivator you need more than grime-grain to become stronger? Stands to reason that the same would apply to me.¡±
Hector sighed, lightly slapping his forehead and dragging his hand down his face. He had said that with a lot more confidence back then. But time had proven that grime-grain was not what was holding him back. A lack of talent was. But now he had the system. Things were different. ¡°Okay, okay. If you are quick, you can go see what we have in the garden.¡±
Mirae let out a cheer, and Hector levied a serious gaze against her. ¡°Make sure that it¡¯s ripe. I don¡¯t want to spend all of tomorrow on the bucket again.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
The girl nodded and ran towards him. She jerked, stepping past him, and continued full pelt down the hallway. The mess she had made of her drawers long forgotten.
She¡¯ll clean it up, I hope. System, how long till the upgrade is complete?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: update progress... 99.89%
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A smile came to his lips. He pushed off the door frame and made his way back to the kitchen. The update would soon be complete¡ªhe could have a look at it after dinner and see what it had unlocked.
He entered the kitchen and made his way to the cupboard on the far side of the room, pulling it open. A stale scent assaulted him, forcing him to crinkle his nose as he reached for his target. An old heavy brown sack filled with the dry sandpaper-like flakes known as grime-grain.
Now I¡¯m kinda hoping she finds something. I don¡¯t think I can eat another bowl of grime-grain.
He gripped the sack and tugged. The sack scratched across the wood before falling to the ground with a heavy thud, kicking up a plume of flakes. He shook his head and made his way over to the sink, grabbed the pot from the cupboard beneath it, and whipped it onto the stove with a clang.
The pot¡¯s rough exterior, marked with years of use, looked at him as he considered it. If she brought back something good, perhaps the grim-grain could be a palate cleanser. That would mean that he wouldn¡¯t need to make too much.
As he nodded his head, a loud bang and a crash caused him to freeze. He turned, frowned, and made his way over to the window of the kitchen, looking outside with concern. It couldn¡¯t be Mirae. She was in the back garden, but then...
His eyes went wide as he watched his father¡ªhaggard, clothes torn, and face bruised¡ªstumble up the dirt and cobblestone path. He had already slammed through the front gate and was fixing to do the same to the front door if Hector didn¡¯t do something.
Hector slammed the bottom of his fist on the counter¡ªthis was getting bad¡ªbefore rushing over to the front door and opening it for his father. His father fell into his arms as soon as the door opened and hacked as Hector held him.
¡°S-sorry about that, son. I didn¡¯t think you guys would be home yet.¡± He let out a few more coughs, patted Hector on the chest and stood up, his legs shaky.
¡°Dad... what happened?¡±
He looked at Hector with a weak smile and gently shook his head. Silent. He then turned and walked over to the far cupboard and pulled out a bottle of whisky.
¡°Do you really think that¡¯s a good idea right now?¡± Hector said, eyeing him. The bruises on his face were new. ¡°You should get some rest before you start drinking.¡±
¡°It¡¯s only a sip. You know, a small drop to cool the pain. I¡¯m not aiming to get drunk or anything. Don¡¯t worry.¡± He fetched himself a glass from the adjoining cupboard before making his way over to the new table¡ªfreshly collected from the dump this morning¡ªand slumping into the chair. He cocked his head to the side as he poured himself a glass. ¡°Making dinner, are we?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Hector said, walking back over to the stove and lighting the fire underneath. He glanced back at his father. ¡°Mirae is outside fetching some stuff from the garden¡ªwho did that to you, was it the Collar Gang?¡±
¡°Hector.¡± He frowned, taking a swig of his whisky before slamming it down on the table. ¡°Drop it,¡± he said, narrowing his eyes.
¡°Why won¡¯t you trust me? I¡¯m almost an adult, for crying out loud. When will you let me help you and stop leaving me in the dark like I¡¯m some child?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not having this discussion with you. I said drop it.¡± His father then set his jaw and looked out the kitchen window as the sound of the crackling fire from the stove filled the room.
Why are you such a stubborn old fool at times? How am I meant to help you if you don¡¯t tell me what¡¯s going on?
Silence settled in. Hector brought the pot over to the sink and twisted the nozzle. A small mana array triggered at its underside, and a bout of water gushed out in a wave, slamming into the pot and filling it in moments. He twisted the nozzle, then brought the pot back over to the stove and left it to boil.
A few strained silent moments later, Mirae bundled in, carrying a basket filled with fresh vegetables. Tomatoes, carrots, and even a whole cucumber. A few bell peppers rested on top of the pile, their coloured skin making his mouth water. It wasn¡¯t much, but they could definitely make a soup from it.
¡°I brought the best-looking ones. I could have brought a little more, but you said only ripe ones¡ªoh, hey Dad.¡± She said, smiling at their father as she hefted the basket onto the table. He smiled at her, the past conversation forgotten. She brushed a strand of white hair from her face as she regarded him. ¡°Drinking? Isn¡¯t it a bit early for that?¡±
¡°Well, you know, a sip a day keeps the healer away.¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure it does, and you look like you could use one,¡± she turned to Hector with a pointed look, as if asking what happened. He shook his head and moved over to look through the basket.
¡°It¡¯s just a few bumps and scrapes, nothing too serious. Don¡¯t worry your little head about it one bit,¡± their father said with a grin.
Does he think she¡¯s stupid? Smiling like everything is okay isn¡¯t going to mean anything.
¡°If you won¡¯t tell me about what happened, can you at least say how work was?¡± Hector said, picking up a carrot and examining it. ¡°I remember the other day you said you got a promotion.¡±
¡°Ah, yeah, the promotion.¡± His father took another swig of the whiskey before slamming the cup down onto the table. ¡°I thought I had the promotion, but apparently Zehira gave it to someone else. Something to do with attitudes at work, damn Muddusts. Those sewage wastes don¡¯t appreciate anyone. But I got to keep my job, so there¡¯s that at least.¡±
Hector glanced at his sister and raised an eyebrow before moving back over to the sink with a handful of carrots and the cucumber. ¡°So no promotion. Good to know you are still stuck sorting herbs.¡±
Is that what happened? Did he take a loan, thinking he would receive a promotion?
¡°Anyway, enough about me,¡± his father said, glancing at his sister. ¡°How were the flower sales today? Did Pippa join you like she said she would?¡±
¡°Um, about that,¡± she said, glancing from Hector to their father. ¡°Yes, I sold flowers, no, Pippa didn¡¯t turn up, and I¡¯m now training to be a Mana-cultivator.¡±
Their father coughed and sputtered, splashing spittle over the table. ¡°You¡¯re doing what now?¡±
Chapter 12: On The Hunt
Hector sighed, slumping onto his old rickety bed in a puff of dust. The food had been good, though his father hadn''t taken his eyes off him the entire meal. His sister''s free education as a Mana-cultivator seemed to not make him too happy. But that didn''t matter.
With a grunt, Hector rolled over onto his front and gazed out the window at the dimming sky. His sister was going to be a Mana-cultivator; that was something to be celebrated. Especially by their father¡ªhe was always saying how they should do good. But that was hard to do when you were weak and untalented.
Talent. Smiling, Hector tapped his sheets. Talent was something that he wouldn''t lack soon enough. The system would give him it in spades. He brought his attention to his golden finger.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: System update complete. Would you like to take a look at your new abilities?
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///: +++ [Yes] / [No] +++
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Hector struggled to hold back the smile that came to his lips but in the end, he relented as he mentally clicked yes. He rolled back onto his back and hopped to his feet as the contents on the translucent screen morphed.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: [Talent Garden]
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///: This ability allows the user to collect Talent Fragments off a Talent holder. Once the threshold of Talent Fragments is achieved, the user can then form a Talent Seed to be placed in the Mind Garden. Once fully grown the seed will produce a number of Talents one rank lower than the seed''s level. The minimum rank being Common.
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Holy crap, Hector thought. I can now grow Talents, that''s insane.
He raced across his ramshackle room and bounded out of his door, making his way to the street¡ªhe needed to test this out right now. If he could gain any edge in the upcoming operation, he needed to take it.
"I''m heading out," he yelled, bounding through the kitchen and leaving the house. He didn''t wait for a reply from Mirae or his father; she would be home when he came back and his dad would be up to who knows what. If Mirae needed anything, he wouldn''t be too far¡ªit was just a quick trip around the area.
Hector walked around the street taking in the surroundings. The cobblestone streets of the Middlec slums echoed with the hollow footsteps of the desperate and the damned. But he moved through the throng with purpose, his eyes scanning the faces of those he passed, searching for Talent holders.
The system, or to be precise his new ability, had said nothing about restraint or incapacitation, so perhaps he could get the Talent fragments without having to fight this time.
As he navigated the cramped alleyways, the stench of rotting refuse and human misery hit his nostrils. Many times he would walk down an alleyway and then stop, being forced to turn and leave due to the stench. The slums were a festering wound on the city''s underbelly, a place where hope came to die and dreams were crushed beneath the iron heel of poverty.
But in a way there had been a comfort to that, knowing that he didn''t need to try. Just go to the dojo, eke out a good Mana-cultivation level and he could claw someplace in this hell hole for himself. But that wasn''t enough anymore.
The system has given me the opportunity to rise well above all this.
Hector frowned as he walked down the street. Ramshackle buildings leaned precariously against one another, their timber frames groaning under the weight of too many souls crammed into too little space. His gaze swept over the crumbling facades, taking in the gaunt faces peering from grimy windows and the hollow-eyed children huddled in doorways.
He had never been that bad, thankfully. His father had made sure of that, working long shifts at the Muddust family refineries for a company that didn''t appreciate him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found... No talent found x 4
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Talents truly are sparse. I''m glad I can at least grow them. If I had to continue at this rate, it would take forever to get anything good.
His mind drifted to his cultivation, to his level and lack of talent; the slow and sometimes unsteady progress he had been making was at times frustrating. His muscles were stronger than the average person''s due to the fact that he was in Gravity Forging realm one. But it wasn''t enough, far from it. That was made more than apparent when the Collar Gang broke down their door. He needed strength and fast.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
At this point, he was just hoping that there was talent out there that could give what he was looking for. He paused as he came to the end of the street, looking on as a small crowd of people continued to march about their day. It wasn''t late but at times it felt like the time of day didn''t matter to the slums.
Hector glanced across the road and spotted Diana''s bakery.
The bakery''s faded sign swung gently in the breeze as the aroma of sweet loaves danced through the area, a refreshing performance for his nose. It was a much needed break from the constant stink that filled the rest of the slums.
Continuing to watch the shop, he considered what to do next. He had still not found anyone with a Talent and it was going to start getting dark soon. He didn''t need to make Mirae worry more than she had over the past few days.
It was a problem: Carry on, or go home and try again tomorrow?
But before he could decide, the door to Diana''s bakery jingled as it opened. And there, emerging from the shop with a small, paper-wrapped package, was Lincoln.
What a lucky guy. I haven''t had anything from Diana''s in months.
His lips quirked up with a smile. Lincoln was no doubt running another errand for his mother. A pang of sadness washed through Hector''s chest as a distant memory surfaced. "Mother," he said. The words tasted stale.
Shaking his head and putting back on a smile, he took a step forward. But a moment later, he jerked to a stop. At the other end of the T-junction, down the street, shouts came from what looked to be a vendor with his little cart turned over. A group of around four people had cornered him and were shouting in his face. Hector recognized one immediately. Adrian.
He would recognize his round rump anywhere. It seemed as if Adrian and his dump guard had finished at the dump today and were now doing a little cashing in on the vendors that were closing. It would seem that this one had been unable to pay.
The young man cowered on the floor as Adrian and his three cronies stood over him. The wares from his cart littered the ground around him, small trinkets and what looked to be some incense. Vital commodities to ward off the stink of the slum.
Hector frowned as he began to walk over. He had already taught Adrian a lesson once this week¡ªmaybe the idiot would give up without a fight. After all, he loved to prey on the weak, and compared to a poor hapless vendor, Hector was to be feared.
He threw a glance to Lincoln who still watched from the bakery door with a frown on his face. It took him a moment to spot Hector but when he did he gave him a nod and made his way over, but Hector raised his hand. He gestured for Lincoln to stop, signalling that he would handle it. The fight from last time had shown that he was more than enough to handle Adrian and his goons.
As he approached, he assessed Adrian and the three other boys. He had taken Adrian''s talent last time, so it stood to reason that he would be weaker than in their previous conflict in the dump. And Hector had even acquired another talent, one that was sure to give him an edge in the coming conflict.
Not that there would be much of one.
Hector took in a deep breath before shouting, "Adrian, you worthless mutt. What are you doing?"
The chubby boy turned, his pudding-like cheeks red with anger. "Who the ¡ª Ghost. Why am I not surprised."
"Maybe because I live around here," Hector said, raising an eyebrow and coming to a stop a few feet away from him. He glanced at the three other boys around Adrian¡ªthey were gaunt, emaciated, and no doubt starving. Just the way Adrian liked them.
"What do you want Ghost?" Adrian crossed his arms and scanned him. "I don''t know if you can tell but I''m a bit busy right now."
"I see that," Hector said, gesturing towards the vendor. "But I think the man has had more than enough so why don''t you and your other mutts back off."
Adrian sneered as he uncrossed his arms and chuckled. "The other day at the dump must have been quite the confidence boost for you. I can''t believe one lucky punch has got you making demands of me. That''s hilarious." He fixed Hector with a glare. "Get lost Ghost, before I have to hurt you."
Is he forgetting how I laid him out?
He looked to Adrian''s goons; each of them had a look of confidence on their faces. They actually thought that they were a threat. Then Hector realized: these guys weren''t the same ones from the dump; the fool had somehow convinced some more people to join his little gang.
It wasn''t a surprise¡ªthe hungry were a lot easier to convince than those with full bellies. "Hey, it was a fair fight. It''s not my fault that I dropped you in one punch," Hector said, watching how the three grunts reacted. If they heard that Adrian had already lost to him maybe they would reconsider.
At least if they are smart they will reconsider. Though something tells me the hunger has stripped them of all rationality.
The three other boys seemed to not even register what he had said, as they looked at Adrian as if waiting for something. A smile crept to Adrian''s lips, and he let out a bark of laughter. "You didn''t lay me out. We both know that. I let you and your freak of a friend leave with your lives. It seems I may have been a bit too forgiving."
Hector scowled but found the anger he was beginning to feel give way to some humour.
He''s truly pathetic. I almost feel sorry for him. Though I get it, you can''t look weak around starving dogs.
"Okay Adrian, this is how it''s going to go. I''m going to count to ten, and if you and these starving idiots aren''t gone by the time I''m done, I''ll refresh your memory of what happened last time. How does that sound?"
The boy''s face somehow became redder as he jiggled with anger. His eyes flickered around as if looking for something. Whatever it was, a smile came to his face and he crossed his arms. "I don''t need a ten second warning. Get him, boys."
This guy has lost his mind.
He dropped his stance as the moves for Orion Fist played through his mind. The starving boys charged him as one, which was good for them as anything less and they stood no chance. He shot forward and delivered a knee to the first boy''s empty stomach.
Before the second and third could react, he hooked a leg around one of their neck, swivelled and slammed him to the floor with a crunch. The power of Quickening Brace activated and time seemed to crawl.
He wasn''t moving any faster, but his thinking had increased. He could see where he would end up, giving him an idea. He slowly adjusted himself, lining his fist up. And when time snapped back into motion his fist slammed cleanly into the jaw of the final boy, laying him out with a thud.
Hector stood in place with the boys littered around him like discarded trash, locking eyes with a wide-eyed Adrian. "Your turn," he said, unable to stop the smile from coming to his lips.
Adrian growled, then roared as he charged towards Hector with his teeth bared. Hector ducked to the side but wasn''t quick enough as Adrian grabbed the side of his tunic and dragged him in. Hector kicked off the cobblestone and delivered a knee to his gut. It did barely anything¡ªhis knee sunk into Adrian''s blubber, losing most of its energy. It did stagger him, giving Hector a moment to back up, but it was ineffective.
It seems I''ll have to aim for his head if I want to do any damage.
Chapter 13: Are we always blind to whats right in front of us?
Hector and Adrian stood across from each other, as a strong wind blew the stink of the slums down the street. The vendor was still at the side, watching on unable to move, as the three of Adrian''s grunts lay a short distance away.
"I''ll give you one more chance Adrian," Hector said, as he began circling him. "Your dump guards are knocked out, you can go and collect some new ones from whatever trash heap you find them."
"Shut up, Ghost," Adrian snarled. He lowered his stance, gripping the cobblestone with his sandeld feet. He then exploded forward.
Hector pulled on the still lingering effect of [Quickening Brace]. The world slowed. Adrian was going to charge him, and once he was close enough he''d grab for him again. It was impressive that Adrian could think that far ahead, though he did have to control a gaggle of starving dogs, so it tracked.
But what could Hector do? His mind reeled¡ªthe effects of [Quickening Brace] would end soon and he had to do something. Though Adrian probably expected him to dodge, he could also be expecting him to attack.
Throwing caution to the wind, Hector prepared himself to deliver an Orion Leaping Strike. But this time he would not aim at Adrian''s stomach. The world snapped into motion and he shot forward, sailing through the air and aiming for his chest.
Adrian crossed his arms to block. Hector smiled, as he kneed into Adrian''s arms he used the force to launch himself into the air. He swivelled, then came crashing down with an Orion Fist straight to Adrian''s head.
Adrian crumpled beneath Hector''s fist, letting out a shout as he collapsed to the ground. Hector flipped back creating some distance between them. He watched as Adrian didn''t get back up, his body lay slumped on the floor, his chest rhythmically rising and falling.
That''s the second time I''ve laid him out flat. I hope he actually remembers next time.
Hector spared him one more glance before turning to the vendor. He made his way over and held out a hand. The man grabbed it, smiling as Hector pulled him to his feet. "Thank you, my friend, I thought I''d have more time before they came." He scratched his arm with a sad chuckle, looking at them with embarrassment on his face. "But I guess I mistimed."
"It wasn''t your fault, these guys are a bunch of clowns," Hector said, gesturing to Adrian''s crew laying on the floor like the trash they were. He bent over and began helping collect the vendor''s wares. He then tipped his cart upright and shuffled everything in. "It''s best you get going. Them I can handle, but I am not sure about anyone else."
The man chuckled. "You should give yourself more credit, I''ve never seen anyone do what you did. The name''s Brick by the way," he said reaching a hand forward. "If you ever need any incense or ghost-warding charms. I''m your man."
"Brick," Hector said, tasting the words in his mouth as he shook his hand. "It''s nice to meet you. Now get going."
The man nodded and then made his way to the front of his cart. He buckled it in place and pulled it along, making his way further down the street. Lincoln gave the man a nod as he strode past him.
Hector glanced over at Adrian. Memories of the past conflicts he''d had with him played in his mind, the constant abuse, the constant tyranny. Adrian had seemed like an insurmountable mountain before, but now after advancing mana-cultivation and gaining a few talents, he was a lot... less.
The world seemed to have moved on. Adrian still bullied the weak while Hector now had to consider bigger things. Not that robbing a bunch of people of their belongings was something to be proud of¡ªif Hector''s father found out he''d kill him. But the world did seem a lot bigger than the pond known as the Midlec dumps.
The world is a lot bigger than just the slums. I need to keep that in mind.
Hector swept his gaze around the slums. The dilapidated buildings, the open sewers running alongside the streets, the hollow-faced residents¡ªall that served as a reminder of what he had to overcome. And one day he would.
"You handled yourself pretty well there," Lincoln said, as he strolled up clutching his brown paper bag. "I mean you could work on a few things, but I have to say you did well."
Hector playfully punched him in the shoulder. "You wish you could do what I just did."
"I know we ain''t sparred in a while but, don''t get too cocky."
Hector smiled, throwing his arm over his friend''s shoulder. "Speaking of sparring, you really need to make sure you come to the dojo more. I know your mom''s got you running errands, but with this upcoming operation everyone''s gotta be at their best."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Yeah I know," Lincoln said with a sigh. He looked down at Adrian and his group, and his lips moved as if he had something to say but he held the words back. He then turned and looked at Hector. "What are you doing anyway, are you heading home?"
"I wasn''t planning to initially but then I saw these guys," Hector gestured to the unconscious trash resting on the cobblestone. "But now I''m feeling a bit worn out." His glance stopped at the reddening sky, masked with thickening clouds, and he nodded.
It''s probably going to rain and I can''t get back too late. Mirae will give me an earful again.
"Shall we then?" Lincoln gestured in the direction of home.
The two of them walked, talking casually about their day. Lincoln''s was mostly filled with running errands for his mother, as one of few healers in the slums she didn''t have much time for housework. But even as they talked, Hector found himself distracted. He needed to find Talent fragments, and sadly talking to Lincoln wouldn''t bring them any closer.
By the time they reached Lincoln''s house, Hector had a tight frown on his face. Not one person had a Talent fragment, let alone a talent. If they were the same level of rarity in this place, then thank goodness he had the ability to grow them. Otherwise, even with this system, his journey to amounting to much would be arduous at best.
"All right then Hector, I guess I''ll see you tomorrow," Lincoln said, giving him a nod. He backed up, with his bread using his back to push his gate open. His house much like the rest of the street was dilapidated, a wooden structure held up by the mercy of an unknown power. But it was his home, and Hector wasn''t exactly in a position to judge.
"I''ll see you tomorrow¡ªand make sure you come to the dojo. If not I''ll come right back here and drag you there myself."
Lincoln chuckled and shook his head, kicking the gate closed with his feet. It gave a soft thump shaking the decaying wood, causing Hector to chuckle and shake his head.
I''m sure that gate probably wouldn''t last much longer.
Hector turned to walk to his home but paused. The soft heat that filled the slums like a warm release of gas suddenly gave way to a light chill. In the distant horizon, amongst the darkening clouds, snakes of lightning rampaged through the sky.
Now I really need to get home.
Hector broke off into a brisk stride, his eyes still scanning the faces of those he passed. Even if it was going to rain, he needed to find Talent fragments.
The first fat droplets of rain began to fall, splattering against the cobblestones and raising a haze of dust and grime. In the distance, a fork of lightning split the sky, illuminating the slums in a brief, harsh glare.
Hector cursed, breaking into a run. His house was not too far from Lincoln''s so it wouldn''t take him much longer to get home. He had missed his chance today, but tomorrow he would find something.
A few minutes later, Hector pushed open the door to his house and strode into the kitchen. Water droplets peeled off him and splashed onto decaying wood, forming a small puddle around him.
"Hector, what are you doing get out of those clothes now!" Mirae said, hustling over with a bundle of rags. "You''re gonna catch a cold come on hurry up. What were you even doing outside so long?"
"Mirae I¡ª"
As he went to speak the system interrupted him.
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///: Talent fragment found, would you like to harvest?
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///: +++ [Yes] / [No] +++
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"Yes," Hector said, raising his voice as a bright smile came to his face. How could he forget that he''d already had someone with the Talent? Maybe that was it, Talent fragments came from those with talents. But then why couldn''t he produce any?
"Yes?" Mirae said, squinting her eyes as her mouth fell open. "What does that even mean? I asked you what you were doing! I swear Hector sometimes I don''t understand." She continued to scramble around him, dabbing him with rags and urging his clothes off.
"It''s okay I''ve got it," Hector said taking one of the rags off of her. "I can dry myself."
"Sure you can. Now answer my question. You didn''t even say goodbye earlier. What if something had happened? What if the Coller Gang¡ª"
"I was just meeting up with Lincoln. Now can you hand me that rag?"
Mirae''s heart raced as she approached the Orion fist dojo, her fingers absent-mindedly gliding through long white hair. The familiar weight of Hector''s hand on her shoulder brought her some comfort. It steadied her.
She had done this walk many times, walking to Fangdale Street to sell her flowers, but this time was different. She wasn''t going to simply stand outside the dojo as her brother practiced. She would be in there, starting her journey to become a Mana-cultivator.
"You feeling nervous?" Hector asked, with a warm smile. "If you are we can head home right now. You don''t need to do something you don''t want to." His voice was tinged with worry.
But Mirae flashed him a bright smile and shook her head. "Are you kidding me, I was born ready. You watch, after today, instructor Kamble will be calling me his top student."
"You think so?"
"I know so," Mirae said as they rounded a corner, turning onto Fangdale Street.
Mirae sighed, looking on. The difference between this street and the rest of the slums, while not huge, was certainly unmissable. The cobblestones seemed a little straighter, the buildings, while still in disrepair, didn''t look like they could collapse at any moment. And the overall smell, while not refreshing, was certainly more bearable.
And the crowning jewel of Fangdale Street was no doubt the Orion Fist dojo. The surrounding buildings, in comparison, seemed to slouch under the weight of their relative poverty and neglect, while the dojo stood as a beacon of order and purpose. Its walls, though weathered, were clean and well-maintained. The cobblestones leading to its entrance were swept clear of the usual detritus that clogged the nearby gutters.
It was almost as if the building dared her to look at it. It represented a truth known in the world¡ªlike mana cultivators in general, it was above those in its environment¡ªeven if that environment was the slums.
As Mirae approached the dojo, she took notice of the small garden out front. Nestled against the dojo''s wall, a few feet from the entrance, was a garden she had helped create and work she was proud of. Bright flowers¡ªmarigolds and ruby-flowers¡ªadded splashes of colour to the otherwise drab surroundings.
"It took you two long enough, I thought I''d have to stall the instructor for you."
Chapter 14: Why Do Birds Of A Feather Stick Together?
The voice belonged to Jodie who stood by the large oak gates decorated with scrapped bronze buttons. She rested a hand on the gate and squinted to keep out the midday sun. ¡°The lesson starts in a few minutes, and it seems your sister isn¡¯t the only one joining us today.¡±
¡°She isn¡¯t?¡± Hector asked, stepping forward and bowing to Jodie. She did the same.
As she rose, she flashed Mirae a smile before returning her attention to Hector. ¡°Yeah, a girl and a boy. I didn¡¯t get their names, but the boy¡¯s a redhead like me, so I¡¯m definitely happy to see our numbers increase.¡±
¡°I bet you are. Now you¡¯re less likely to stick out like a sore thumb. And I mean that literally.¡±
Jodie rolled her eyes and turned, walking down the grey stone tiled path, further into the dojo. Mirae and Hector followed behind, her heart racing all the while. This was it. She was doing it; she was about to begin her journey and these first few steps would¡ª
Is that Pippa? She didn¡¯t tell me she was gonna join. That little...
¡°Pippa!¡± Mirae yelled, racing forward to embrace her friend. ¡°You kept this quiet, didn¡¯t you? How come you never told me you were signing up?¡±
Pippa returned the hug with equal enthusiasm. ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to originally, but when I told my mom and dad, both of them felt it was a good path to take. Besides, they think you are a good influence on me, so this was bound to happen.¡±
Mirae chuckled, releasing the hug. ¡°Then, depending on how this goes, I¡¯m either sorry or you¡¯re welcome.¡±
As the two of them chatted, Mirae spared a moment to glance around the dojo. She had never been inside before, so this was something new. ¡°I can¡¯t believe they actually have wood that isn¡¯t completely rotted,¡± she said, marvelling at the polished wooden surfaces.
¡°I mean yeah, but look at this mat, look at the size of it,¡± Pippa said as she gestured to the training mat that covered most of the room, leaving only a wooden border a few feet thick. ¡°At the very least, I know where the money is going.¡±
¡°To a training mat and probably to those incense,¡± Mirae said, gesturing to a shrine-like structure at the end of the room. It was littered with hundreds of incense sticks, all burning faintly, filling the room with the scent of sandalwood. ¡°It smells rather nice. I think I might ask Hector if we can get some.¡±
¡°Get some of what?¡± her brother said as he approached, with a soft smile. ¡°Oh hey Pippa, I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be joining us. Mirae didn¡¯t say anything about that.¡±
¡°Because I didn¡¯t know.¡± Mirae turned, smiling at her friend. ¡°But I¡¯m super glad she¡¯s here.¡±
Pippa chuckled, causing the freckles on her face to dance. She smiled back, brushing a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m glad I got to surprise a few people today.¡±
¡°And I take it this is the other student joining today.¡± Hector turned to a boy that stood a short distance away. He was a lanky with a mop of unruly ginger hair, standing with an air of confidence.
He glanced at Mirae, giving her a sharp nod before continuing to observe the room. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him before. You, Pippa?¡±
¡°No. I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve seen him before. Maybe he comes from the other side of the slums.¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Mirae said. Her gaze lingered on the boy for a few moments before turning back to Hector. ¡°Where did Jodie go, by the way?¡±
¡°She¡ª¡±
A gong silenced Hector before he could speak and caused everyone to turn towards the sound. At the centre of the room stood a young boy holding a stick with some thick wrapping at the end of it. Next to him was a large metal disk that was vibrating as the sound petered off.
¡°Prepare to greet the Instructor!¡± the boy yelled, his face tight but filled with pride.
¡°You two should stand towards the back of the room. After the morning roll call, the instructor should come over to you,¡± Hector said before walking towards the centre of the training mat. Several other people around the room also began to filter towards the centre of the mat. Jodie was amongst them, her ginger hair a sharp contrast to everyone else aside from Hector¡¯s own white.
¡°Come on, Pippa,¡± Mirae said, grabbing Pippa¡¯s hand and leading her towards the back of the room. The girl stumbled forward, hurrying behind her. Mirea, glancing out of the corner of her eye, also noticed the boy moving in the same direction¡ªhe was clearly following them.
Oh, so he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
The way he was walking, she¡¯d worried he¡¯d trained for years, but that confident look earlier was just a front. Maybe he wanted to show off? Perhaps it made him feel less nervous. Who knows?
As Mirae approached the back of the room, her slippers screeching against the polished wood, the two large wooden doors that the boy with the stick¡ªmost likely Able¡ªwas standing by opened. And there, wearing tattered brown robes and his long grey hair tied up in a ponytail, was Instructor Kamble.
¡°What a most excellent day!¡± he yelled, causing his long grey beard to shake.
¡°The day belongs to the excellent!¡± the assembled students replied.
Instructor Kamble chuckled as he walked into the room. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see we have everyone in attendance today. Even the usually absent Lincoln has decided to grace us this day.¡±
Mirae¡¯s eyes snapped to the boy standing in the front row next to Hector. Lincoln was wearing a new-looking white shirt and some creased black breeches. She hadn¡¯t even noticed him when she came in.
It¡¯s good that he¡¯s here. Now Hector can finally stop worrying. Just because he doesn¡¯t agree with the plan doesn¡¯t mean he shouldn¡¯t try.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s do roll call,¡± instructor Kamble said. Able dropped his stick and scrambled forward, pulling out a small booklet from his pocket. He then handed the booklet to Kamble.
¡°Who is that?¡± Pippa said, shifting a little as her gaze locked onto the boy. ¡°He seems important.¡±
Mirae moved closer, cupping her hand over Pippa¡¯s ear and whispering into it.. ¡°I think that¡¯s Abel. My brother says he can be quite annoying.¡±
Pippa didn¡¯t say anything, but the interest seemed to fade from her eyes as she continued to survey the room.
Mirae¡¯s focus moved back to the center of the hall, to the assembled students as the instructor continued to call out names. ¡°Caroline.¡±
¡°Here instructor.¡±
¡°Sen.¡±
¡°Here instructor.¡±
A while later, when all the names had been called, the instructor gave the assembled students a firm nod before handing the booklet back to who Mirae suspected was Abel. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you are all aware, today we have some new students. So Hector and Jodie will lead you all in morning meditation while I attend to them.¡±
Kamble then bowed to the class, and they did the same. Before he began making his way over to Mirae and the others, as the students following behind her brother and Jodie made their way to the other end of the room.
¡°You can address me as instructor, Kamble,¡± he said, coming to a stop in front of them. ¡°As I am sure you are aware, it brings me great joy to see three fresh faces join my Orion Fist dojo. So go on, introduce yourselves.¡±
Mirae turned to Pippa and she to her. They both used various eye movements to decide who would speak first, but in the end, it was unnecessary.
¡°I am Henry Staticill. I¡¯m from the Papyrus quarter.¡± The boy with the ginger hair said. The confidence on his face didn¡¯t crack even as he said the name of his home.
That¡¯s so sad. I can¡¯t imagine what it would be like to grow up there, the shame he must carry.
She hadn¡¯t heard anything good about the Papyrus quarter¡ªa place many in the slums would deny that they¡¯d ever entered. All she did know was it was a place where women were commodities and men acted like dogs. Most who came from the quarter would deny it as their origin. But not this boy. Not Henry.
¡°Papyrus, eh,¡± instructor Kamble said, stroking his beard. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t choose to go to a dojo closer, but never mind that.¡± He turned to Mirae. ¡°We may already know each other, but it is good to introduce yourself, don¡¯t you think?¡±
Mirae¡¯s back straightened as the words seemed to rush out of her mouth under the wise grey gaze of Instructor Kamble. ¡°My name is Mirae Jacaranda. I¡¯m from the Sirius quarter.¡± The instructor nodded and moved on to Pippa.
¡°My name is P-Pippa Strongmail,¡± the girl stuttered, sounding like she was about to bite her own tongue. ¡°I am also from the Sirius quarter.¡±
¡°Good, good. Now that introductions are done, I think we should move into the other room so as not to disturb the other students.¡± On the other side of the hall, Mirae¡¯s brother and all his other dojo mates sat cross-legged on the training mat, their faces calm and focused.
I can¡¯t believe it. I¡¯m going to be like them soon. I¡¯m gonna grow in power and perhaps...
Images flashed before her mind: her father¡¯s death, Hector¡¯s tears, herself standing, unable to move, unable to help. She had been weak.
That can¡¯t be real and I won¡¯t let it be real.
The dreams did not control her, they did not control her future, and she would not let them.
¡°Alright young aspirants, come along,¡± instructor Kamble said as he plodded across the mat, walking to a side door on the other wall. The three of them followed him in silence, not one jostling the others.
They entered a much smaller room, one that looked to have not been used in a while. The mat in the centre of the room was a bit more faded, and the air was a bit staler, tinged with the stink of the slums¡ªlike dry bread with a bit of unseen mold.
A chalkboard hung at the front of the room, and beneath it was a large pillow. Towards the back of the room were stacks of pillows that seemed to be covered in a thin layer of dust.
¡°Alright aspirants, go and grab those pillows over there and put them in the centre. We¡¯ll be going over the basics, and after that, I¡¯ll give you the meditation technique you are to practice.¡± Instructor Kamble plodded over to the large pillow beneath the chalkboard, dusted it off and plopped down, releasing a plume of dust into the air. He fanned it out of the way as the three of them moved to grab the pillows at the back.
¡°This room could do with a bit of cleaning, don¡¯t you think?¡± Pippa said in a whisper. ¡°Compared to next door, this place is...¡±
¡°It is yours. Until you three reach the rank of your senior aspirant, it will be your room to maintain,¡± instructor Kamble said with a soft smile on his lips.
Are you kidding me? I came to train, not to be a housekeeper. I do that enough at home.
Mirae frowned as she moved to grab a pillow, plucking it off the pile, which unfortunately coated her hands with dust. Pippa did the same, and so did Henry. The three of them then made their way to the centre of the mat, placing the pillows down and releasing three plumes of dust. Mirae coughed away the dust before carefully sitting down.
Instructor Kamble chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure once you three give this room a good once over, the dust will no longer be a problem.¡±
The boy, Henry, grumbled but made no move to say anything. Mirae nodded at the instructor, throwing a glance at the window and wishing it were open.
¡°So, who wants to learn how to cultivate?¡±
Chapter 15: You Think You Understand What Cultivation Is Dont You?
Mirae sat with her bottom firmly placed against the dusty old pillow, her back straight¡ªPippa to one side and Henry on the other. At the front of the room, Instructor Kamble sat, his brown robe flowing over the large well-worn pillow as he stroked his beard. Watching.
She swallowed as the dull buzzing of a fly came from the back of the room. She wanted to scratch at her ear, but Kamble¡®s gaze kept her from moving an inch. Mirae sat and waited.
A moment passed. The buzzing growing more intense. Her tongue shifted in her mouth as words threatened to bubble out. This silence was like a pillow over her face, and she needed to breathe.
¡°So,¡± Kamble said. Her shoulders relaxed¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even noticed they were tensed. ¡°What can you all tell me about mana? Who wants to go first?¡± He glanced at her with an expectant look, like he¡¯d given her a nice setup.
Just because my brother is one of your top students doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m filled with knowledge, Kamble.
Mirae shifted against the pillow¡¯s fabric, wishing she could sink deep into it. All the while, the buzzing fly at the back of the room carried on its annoying business. What could she say? Hector hadn¡¯t talked about any of this with her. If anything, it was a wonder he readily let her join the dojo at all.
¡°I¡¯ll start instructor,¡± Henry said. The instructor¡¯s lips tightened, disappointment flashing through his eyes as he looked at her, before he turned to Henry and nodded his head. The boy continued, ¡°Mana is an energy. It flows all around us like air, but is more than that. It exists everywhere.¡±
Henry shifted on his pillow. He was no doubt finding it uncomfortable as well¡ªcompound that with the fly, and Mirae could more than sympathize. But he carried on, his back straightening, ¡°Mana is the lifeblood of a Mana-cultivator, it is what gives them power, and allows them to do all the feats we hear about.¡±
Instructor Kamble stroked his beard. Clearing his throat, he then turned to Mirae and Pippa. ¡°And you two. What do you know about mana?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a type of energy that is good at...¡± Pippa petered off and turned to Mirae. Her eyes signalling for her to jump in.
Oh, Pippa. Good effort, but I don¡¯t know anything either.
Mirae straightened her back and attempted to drown out the buzzing as she focused on the instructor¡¯s forehead¡ªthere was no way she was looking into those cold grey eyes. ¡°I apologize, but I do not know much about mana apart from the fact that it powers many of the things we use on the day to day. As well as large objects like the airships.¡±
Kamble shook his head and let out a sigh. His gaze flickered to the window as he scooped up a small piece of chalk. His hand whipped out, and the air snapped. The buzzing at the back of the room stopped. ¡°It seems only our friend from the Papyrus quarter has some knowledge of mana. I must say I expected better, especially from you, Mirae.¡±
She fidgeted as the weight of his gaze rested on her. Her heart fluttered, and she resisted the urge to investigate the design of the room¡¯s mat. ¡°At home, we don¡¯t speak much about these things. I mostly spend time focusing on my garden. But I hope to fix that with your guidance, sir.¡±
¡°Hmm... I should hope so.¡± The instructor rested a hand on his knee as his gaze wandered around the room. ¡°So, what is mana? As Henry here said, it is the lifeblood of a mana cultivator. It is where a Mana-cultivator starts and is where a Mana-cultivator ends. There is nothing else.¡±
Kamble pushed off his knee and stood, grabbing a long piece of chalk from the floor as he did. He nudged the large pillow to the side with his feet and began writing on the board. ¡°Mana comes in many forms, but what you three will focus on is chaotic mana.¡± He scribbled the name furiously onto the old chalkboard, setting off a mist of chalk and dust.
¡°This is the foundation of mana cultivation. It is what you draw into your soulscape and convert into affinited mana via a four-step process. And these processes are, in general terms: absorb, capture, cycle and funnel. Any questions?¡±
I¡¯m so confused. What the heck is a soulscape, and how do we even get mana there?
She raised her hand. Kamble nodded. ¡°Sir, what is a soul scape?¡±
Instructor Kamble frowned for a moment in thought, then his hands burst into motion as he began to draw a diagram. It was the body of a human, not too well drawn¡ªinstructor Kamble seemed to not draw in his spare time. But what made the body special was the lines and circles drawn on it.
¡°This is your body, and within it is the soul scape. Don¡¯t ask me exactly where¡ªthe soulscape is not a physical place.¡± He continued scribbling on the board. ¡°And this here, these circles and lines are your mana veins and mana nodes. It is the way in which you extract mana from the environment. Is that clear?¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
¡°Yes,¡± they all said in unison.
¡°Good.¡± He reached down to a small ledge at the bottom of the chalkboard and picked up a block. He then wiped the board. ¡°So, back to the four principals of cultivation. What are they? Pippa.¡±
The girl tensed, her eyes going wide as she looked from the board to the instructor. ¡°Umm... absorb, capture... and... umm,¡± she stuttered to a stop and turned to Mirae. Her eyes again signalling for her to jump in.
And Mirae did. ¡°Absorb, capture, cycle and funnel, Instructor Kamble.¡±
He nodded, ¡°Stay focused. These steps are important. You will need to implement them later when I give you your cultivation techniques.¡±
Oh, my stars. We are going to get cultivation techniques.
The instructor flicked the long sagging ends of the robe¡¯s arms as he continued to write. ¡°As Mirae said, the four basic and fundamental principles of mana-cultivation are: absorb, capture, cycle and funnel. These will allow you to grow your soul nucleus, which is where we as Mana-cultivators get our abilities.¡±
Instructor Kamble turned back to their group. He frowned for a moment. ¡°Do you have any questions before I move on to the next topic? If you have any about the soul nucleus, you can save them. It will all make sense once you cultivate. All I will say is that during the funneling process, you should aim the mana that you gather directly above you. You will understand what I mean.¡±
Do I have any more questions? I don¡¯t think so. He¡¯s answered all of my major ones, so I guess not.
¡°I have a question, sir. How does any of this relate to the dojo¡¯s battle techniques?¡± Henry said, his voice laced with determination.
¡°Ah, you mean techniques such as our legendary Orion Fist. Well, that¡¯s simple,¡± Kamble said, stroking his beard. He nudged the pillow back to its original position and plopped back down, kicking up another plume of dust. ¡°The Gravity Forging realm strengthens one¡¯s body, and that is important. As even if you know a handful of battle techniques, you could be crushed by those who have far superior cultivation. Though there are those who can shorten that disparity with pure skill. Your brother being one such person, Mirae.¡±
Her cheeks flushed as warmth crawled up the back of her neck. While it wasn¡¯t her being complimented, it was still a little strange to have someone praise Hector.
¡°But to answer your question, you need battle techniques to augment your strength. Because raw strength isn¡¯t everything. It¡¯s how you use it.¡±
Having finished his speech, Instructor Kamble stood back up and walked to the side of the room, to a small shelf. He opened it, pulling out three worn books, their green covers browned with age. ¡°These hold the cultivation technique of our dojo. I see that look in your eye. Don¡¯t be impressed. I just made some changes to the standard Kurma manual you can find in stores.¡±
¡°Is that safe, instructor? I¡¯ve heard that¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯s more than safe, my boy.¡± Kamble shuffled back across the mat, plopping back down onto his pillow with a huff. He splayed the three manuals out on the floor before him. ¡°Okay, each of you take one and read over it. We are then going to move on to the practical application.¡±
Mirae nodded, focusing on the tattered green-brown book, its cover splotched with stains. As she reached toward the book, the sunlight seemed to converge on it and her hands shook, reverence overtaking her.
She was about to enter a world that had only been a dream. A world only her brother and father knew of. But now¡ªno, she had always been a part of it. Her visions didn¡¯t come from nowhere, but now she would take a step in finding out where they came from.
She scooped up the book, careful not to damage its delicate form, and began reading. The book described the process of cultivating mana, of taking it into your soulscape and cycling it around your soul''s manifestation.
The words were more detailed than what Kamble had said, but the same four principals were there. Absorb mana into your soul space, capture it into your soul orbit, cycle the mana until it has become affinited, and then funnel it into your souler lagrange point, forming your soul nucleus.
It all made sense. It was all simple.
After a good while of silent reading, Kamble spoke up. ¡°Okay, now that you have familiarized yourselves with the cultivation techniques, it is time to get hands on with it.¡±
¡°I want you all to follow my lead.¡± Kamble then crossed his legs, wiggling into place on his pillow and closing his eyes. Mirae did the same. ¡°Now I want you all to focus inward, listen to the rhythms of your body. That is the path to your soul.¡±
That is the path to my soul. I need to focus in on myself, focus on the rhythm.
A wave of calm washed over her. Her heart thumped in her chest, her skin prickled. All these sensations, all of them, had a rhythm and it was going somewhere. She followed her heartbeat, each thump became more intense. Building and building, until...
She found herself standing in a void, a black, all-consuming void. She looked to her feet, and there she found water, ankle-deep and still. ¡°Is this my soulscape?¡± Her mind went back to the words of the book as she turned in the empty void, the water glowing as she moved.
It said the next step was¡ª
¡°Good, all three of you have entered your soulscape. It¡¯s quite impressive. I thought it¡¯d take a bit longer.¡± Instructor Kamble¡®s voice echoed through the void. She could follow it if she wanted to, but from what the book said, doing that would break her meditation.
His voice continued, ¡°Now comes the absorption process. I want all of you to take a deep breath. It will feel like you¡¯re breathing through your entire body. I want you to grasp that feeling and pull.¡±
It¡¯s just like breathing, just breathing.
She took a breath, and immediately the void began to throb. She fought to keep her focus, as it felt like her body had become a gaping hole pulling in all around it.
After a few moments of bearing this, she noticed a light form in the void above her. A small weak light. It drifted through the void lazily, going about its business. A few moments later, another light appeared.
This is it, this is what the manual said. Chaotic mana motes. Now I just have to pull them in and capture them.
Chapter 16: Achieving The Flow State Is Easy... As A Cultivator
As Mirae stood in the void, ankle-deep in comforting water, considering her next action, Instructor Kamble¡¯s voice echoed through the space. ¡°Alright, you should be seeing quite a few chaotic motes now. It¡¯s time we moved on to the next step.¡±
Quite a few? I have two, maybe three. That can¡¯t be what he considers quite a few.
Kamble continued, ignorant of her worries. ¡°Now, as you continue to breathe in, I want you to imagine a circle forming around you. Imagine it pulling in, starting wide and growing smaller. As you do that, the motes travelling through the void should float towards you and begin orbiting.¡±
Not having any other option aside from continuing to absorb, hoping to pull in more, Mirae imagined the circle. She imagined it starting wide and tightening, and as she did, the void responded.
She couldn¡¯t see it, but somehow, as if by instinct, she could sense a circle forming around her, with a pull so intense that it overshadowed the absorption phase. Above her, the motes of light grew brighter as they descended towards her.
It was slow at first, but they picked up speed. Whisking through the sky, before hooking around her and zooming off in a different direction, and shooting back. They would do this a few times until they settled into an orbit around her.
You know, the capturing phase isn¡¯t that bad. I feel like I have more control than I did before.
The motes of light¡¯s speed slowed as they continued to circle her, eventually settling into a lazy orbit. It took a few moments, but the chaotic mana motes didn¡¯t seem to be going anywhere. So the capture phase was complete¡ªthe cycling and funneling phase was the only thing left.
Mirae¡¯s gaze followed the motes as they went by, circling her. The light that they had been, appeared so wild and untamed before, but now... They looked like sparkling white marbles emitting a good amount of light.
¡°Well, I¡¯ve given you long enough. By now, you should have captured some of your motes. Now it¡¯s time to begin the cycling phase,¡± Instructor Kamble¡¯s voice echoed through the void. ¡°This is where you will affinity your mana motes. Turning them from chaotic to the mana affinity you hold. Which also means we are about to find out your affinity. So you could say the cycle phase serves two purposes.¡±
He cleared his throat. ¡°Next you are going to speed up the orbit of the mana motes you have captured. While doing so, you will also push your soul out, almost like you are attempting to push out your stomach. Between the increased spinning of the circle and the pushing of your soul, a resistance similar to using both your hands to push against each other will form¡ªthis is how the mana will take on its affinity.¡±
I feel like that¡¯s a lot to do at once. Can¡¯t I push without having to¡ªno. There aren¡¯t any shortcuts. I have to do this how it¡¯s advised.
She carried out the instructor¡¯s words. First cycling the mana motes around her, and when she felt that they had built up a good speed, she attempted to push out her soul. She took his advice and attempted to push out her belly, feeling a little ridiculous. But as she did, she felt it.
The resistance built. At first, it was wobbly, like kneading grim-grain flour into dough. Her heart leapt as she almost lost a mote, but got it back under control a moment later. And soon the resistance was equal. It was as Instructor Kamble described: two hands pushing against each other.
A smile crept across her lips as she got a better feel for it and increased the speed of the cycle. Soon the mana motes began to change. They went from the white marble of light to an almost pale blue.
And as the pure white faded, and the blue crept in, she began to sense the motes¡ªit was as if they were a part of her. It was as if her soul was being forged into their very core. And what to do next was clear.
With a thought, the motes of light peeled off from their orbit around her and funnelled to a space above her. They flowed through the void, bobbing along until they stopped. Suspended in space, unable to move. Locked.
She had successfully funneled her motes into her lagrange point. Mirae let out a sigh as an indescribable warmth spread through her. It was as if she had found a part of herself, and that part was stronger, more resilient. More her.
She glanced up at the clump of three motes suspended in the void above her and smiled. She had done it¡ªcultivated mana. In a sense, she was a mana cultivator, not a true one, nowhere close. But the journey had begun.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for you to leave meditation,¡± Kamble said, causing the still water of the void to shudder. ¡°It¡¯s time to wrap up for today and I wish to address the class before they all head home.¡±
What? Go home? But we haven¡¯t even been here that long. How is everything over already? Hector usually spends hours in the dojo.
She calmed herself and looked around the void one more time before closing her eyes. The book had named three methods of exiting the soulscape: being forced out by an attack, following a distraction such as Kamble¡¯s voice, or exiting the same way you got in. That being the rhythm, and so she did.
Moments later, her eyes flickered open, and she was back in the room. Back to the old worn pillow, and the faded training mat filling most of the room. It felt as if she had been gone a moment, whilst also for a while.
The sunlight coming from outside had dimmed a good bit and seemed as if it was approaching the afternoon. But that couldn¡¯t be right. She had only been in there for a few minutes at most.
¡°It¡¯s always a surprise to people after their first meditation,¡± Instructor Kamble said, chuckling lightly. ¡°For you, it may have been a few moments, but you¡¯ve actually been in there all morning. I even had time to go and instruct the other students.¡±
He dragged his hand across his beard as the room fell silent, before he looked between the three of them. ¡°So let¡¯s find out your affinities. You can go first, Mirae. What did your mana mote look like after it had been affinited?¡±
Her eyes widened as she began to shift about in her seat. In her confusion, she had forgotten that she was going to find out her mana affinity¡ªthis was great. ¡°It was a pale blue colour. I¡¯m not sure how to describe it.¡±
¡°From the sounds of it, you have the same affinity as your brother. You have the affinity of the moon,¡± Kamble said, nodding his head with a knowing look. ¡°Not surprising. Siblings tend to share similar affinities, though it is not rare for them to differ. And you, Pippa?¡±
¡°Ah, mine was a brown colour. It kind of looked a bit like dirt, but I¡¯m not too sure.¡± Pippa looked down to her lap, as if she was afraid she had said something wrong. Not that she did.
The instructor nodded and thought for a moment. ¡°I believe you have the earth affinity. It is a fairly common affinity.¡± He then looked at Henry.
¡°My affinity is fire, instructor.¡±
Kamble tilted his head and frowned. He adjusted in his seat, regarding the boy. ¡°You know your affinities?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not hidden knowledge,¡± Henry said, holding Kamble¡¯s gaze. He squirmed a little and wet his lips. ¡°My mother told me about them.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Kamble said, stroking his beard. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that you have such knowledge.¡± The instructor then pushed on his knee and stood up, gesturing to the three of them to do the same.
Well, I guess we¡¯re done for the day. Perhaps I can cultivate a little when I get home. But it will have to wait until I finish cooking. I don¡¯t think Hector will have time to make food today, and I don¡¯t know when Dad will be back.
The four of them filed out of the smaller room and entered the bigger hall. Students littered the area. Some were in groups sparring with one another, while others were in various poses.
¡°I wonder when we will get to spar,¡± Pippa said, hooking her arm through Mirae¡¯s. She held a bright smile on her face as she looked around the hall. ¡°Oh, did you see that? The way she moved, that was incredible.¡± She pointed at a small circle of students.
The circle surrounded a boy and a girl who had just finished a fight. The boy was sprawled out on his back as the girl stood over him, huffing. Mirae didn¡¯t recognize her, or the boy, but had no doubt she would come to know her with time.
¡°I didn¡¯t see it. Sorry.¡±
¡°Well, keep watching maybe¡ª¡±
¡°Alright, students!¡± Instructor Kamble¡¯s voice boomed across the hall, shaking Mirae¡¯s chest. All the students stopped and turned towards him. ¡°Get in line. It is time for us to finish up for today.¡±
The hall erupted into motion¡ªno matter what they were doing, students scrambled to the centre of the hall and began to organize themselves into three rows. Mirae spotted Hector in the middle of the first row.
¡°Good work today, everyone. I¡¯m happy to see you are all making good progress.¡± Instructor Kamble strolled up to the front and looked over at everyone with an appraising gaze. ¡°Hector, keep pushing. I can tell that you are about to enter the Journeyman rank with Orion Leaping Strike. Just keep at it. Jodie, you are a bit behind, but as usual, your understanding of the techniques is excellent.¡±
Her brother gave a firm nod as he focused on the instructor.
¡°Now, it¡¯s been an excellent day,¡± Instructor Kamble yelled.
¡°And we strive for excellence,¡± the class replied.
The instructor spoke about the upcoming dojo competition, as well as the focus of tomorrow¡¯s training. It to a few minutes. But eventually, the group dispersed. Hector made a beeline for Mirae, with Jodie and Lincoln a few paces behind. She moved to meet them.
¡°So, how was it?¡± Hector walked forward with a bright smile on his face. His brow was glossed in a thin sheen of sweat, and his clothes were damp, but he seemed satisfied.
¡°It was great, though time went by super quickly. One minute I was here, then the next I was in my soulscape. And then by the time I refined a little bit of mana, the entire day had gone by.¡±
Lincoln chuckled as Hector and Jodie smiled. The three of them seeming to share a moment.
¡°I know the feeling,¡± Hector said, resting a hand on her shoulder. He glanced at Pippa with a smile. ¡°You will often find that time seems to flow like water in the soulscape, and if you are not careful, you could spend a lot of time in there. Remember the day after I joined the dojo? When I spent the entire day in my room?¡±
¡°Yeah, I thought you were sick.¡±
Hector shook his head and smiled. ¡°Try not to make my mistake. Though I¡¯m sure you no doubt will.¡±
The three of them exchanged a look. ¡°Alright, guys. Let¡¯s head home. I still need to go to the dump today, and it¡¯s getting late.¡±
Chapter 17: Have you ever thought about what you would see in a city dump?
Hector strolled down the cobblestone streets, smiling to himself, as he walked towards the dump. His sister had done it¡ªshe had begun her journey as a Mana-cultivator. He was proud in many ways, but worry still lingered.
Protecting Mirae was second nature to him, but he also knew that as a mana-cultivator, she¡¯d be able to protect herself. After all, he wouldn¡¯t always be around. Even now she had headed back home while he went to scavenge in the dump.
This is a good thing; I know it is. I just need to make sure I can keep her safe, no matter how strong she gets.
His own cultivation wasn¡¯t going well¡ªin the time it had taken him to make it to Gravity Forging realm one, others such as Jodie had made it to Gravity Forging two. And from the looks of it, Jodie was on her way to three.
He was falling behind. Maybe not with pure fighting skill, but eventually, without the system anyway, his skills wouldn¡¯t help much.
Yawning, he watched as people milled by, some despondent looking for something to do with their days. Others had a sense of direction¡ªthey were perhaps going home after a long day of work.
Maybe his father was heading home now.
I wish he would just rely on me more. But it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll make it so he knows he can count on me.
After a few more minutes of strolling, he entered the dump. The smell, as usual, hit him like a rampaging horse, but after all these years, he no longer felt like puking. The smell had, in a way, become a part of what he had to bear.
He strolled through the gates, heading deeper in. The dump was quiet, which made sense as it was afternoon and as it got darker, it would be hard to work¡ªyou were bound to hurt yourself during the day, let alone at night.
But as he made his way over to his spot, a sight he hadn¡¯t seen before made him pause.
It wasn¡¯t unusual for fights to break out in the dumps¡ªthere was always someone trying to push their weight around Adrien, usually. But they would take your stuff and then leave, fearing you might gather yourself and come back for round two.
But what he saw made no sense: a group of men much older than him stood in front of a small crowd. A large man stood at the front of this crowd, his muscles bulging and his arms crossed. ¡°This area now belongs to the Scoda gang. If you want to scavenge, you come to us. Anyone found scavenging without our permission well...¡± the man gestured to his side.
There lay a small boy. He looked familiar, but Hector couldn¡¯t place him. All the faces in the dump tended to blend together after a while. Hector watched on, slowly making his way closer as the man continued.
¡°If you find something we like, we will pay you in good scrap. If not, you¡¯ll keep on searching until the job is done.¡±
The crowd of Hector¡¯s fellow young slum rats groaned, which was the best that many of them in their malnourished state could manage.
As Hector approached, he spotted someone. They stood by a small hill of trash, which they had no doubt been searching before this gathering. He approached them. Perhaps they knew what was going on.
¡°Hey,¡± he said, tapping them on the shoulder.
They swivelled, their thinning hair twisting in the wind, and frowned. ¡°Who are you?¡± They, a boy, said, taking a step in front of his trash pile. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of stealing from me, you better not. I got Scoda¡¯s permission.¡±
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///: No Talent found.
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Hector grunted, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised¡ªof course, he wouldn¡¯t have a talent. He regarded the malnourished boy again. Scratches ran along his stick-thin arms, and he had a busted lip. It seemed he¡¯d taken a beating to claim this small pile.
But that tended to be the life of someone without any cultivation. Hector smiled. ¡°That¡¯s actually what I want to ask you. Who are these Scoda guys?¡±
¡°What?¡± the boy said, looking at him as if he were stupid. ¡°How do you not know Scoda? They¡¯ve been here all day. Passed around a few lumps, and claimed this part of the dump for themselves. Filthy dogs.¡± The boy jolted, his head snapping around to see if anyone had heard him. A few slum rats rummaging about nearby looked over, but when no one from the crowd spoke up, he let out a sigh.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
They are a bit too far to hear you. Maybe if they were in the third level of the Gravity Forging realm, that reaction would have made sense.
The group of men didn¡¯t look like mana-cultivators, just a bunch of thugs here to exploit the weak. They wore clothes that barely looked better than his own. So they were no doubt slum dwellers like himself.
But why were they here recruiting in the dumps? No one did that. The children in the dump tended to be malnourished and struggling, all of them looking for a piece of treasure that could change their lives.
They were not people who would seek out the gang life in any way. Hector felt at his side, his hand brushing over a bump, feeling the pill in his pocket. It could be his treasure. By the heavens, it had caused him enough trouble to be considered one.
¡°So, what do you want? I can¡¯t introduce you to them,¡± the boy said. He threw the occasional look at the pile behind him, but kept his guard up. His hand twitching, as if waiting for Hector to attack.
¡°No,¡± Hector said with a sigh. He shook his head and moved away from the boy. Slowly. The last thing he needed was for the boy to attack him. It wouldn¡¯t be much of a fight, but he didn¡¯t need to draw the attention of a gang who was clearly up to something.
It was hard enough to find good scrap as it was. If he had to give it away when he found it, that would be more than frustrating.
I just hope that they do what they are doing and move on. Heaven knows, we have enough troublemakers in this place as is.
Putting the activities of this unknown group to the back of his mind, Hector made his way towards his section of the dump. The gang surely hadn¡¯t spread that far yet, as the dump itself was quite big.
If his guess was right, the gang didn¡¯t have enough men to look after all the dump. Otherwise, why would they be forcing a bunch of malnourished children to do it for them?
He spent the next few minutes walking in silence as he thought about the upcoming events. The pickpocketing operation would be difficult. The worst thing that could happen is that he or one of his friends got caught.
Then not only would it be doubtful whether they would have the money to help with the debt, but they would also lose a friend. The Middlec city guards weren¡¯t known for being particularly merciful.
Hector cringed as he remembered a young man called Kable. He wasn¡¯t great, but he wasn¡¯t the worst. But one day, he did something¡ªno one had seen what happened, only talk of theft¡ªto catch the guards¡¯ attention. The next time Hector saw Kable, the guards had strung him up from a lamppost. Dead.
The city guards stood underneath him, to ensure no one took down the body before the day was done.
I can¡¯t let anyone suffer the same fate. I mustn¡¯t. Should I call this off?
On one hand, it made sense, but on another. If he called it off, who knows what the Collar gang would do with his father? Who knew what they would do with his sister?
Debt in the slums didn¡¯t just end with one person.
Hector sighed as he came to the bottom of his trash pile. He glanced up at its peak as the sun slowly dipped behind it. He wouldn¡¯t have much time to search, and the chance of it being a fruitful search was low.
He felt for the pill in his pocket, its smooth surface brushing against his hand. He could take it now, but would it be worth the risk? On one side, it could be a huge boost in power, but on the other, it could leave him comatose.
If something bad happened while he was out, everything would be ruined. And it¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t trust them. But the idea of his friends having to do the operation without him left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
Shaking his head, he trudged up the trash heap. He could think about this stuff later. Right now, he needed to, hopefully, gather valuable scrap. And no one was on their way to do that for him.
¡°Get up you welp!¡± A voice broke him from his thoughts, and he paused. ¡°If you want it, you are going to have to work for it.¡± The person then laughed as the sound of something thudding and a grunt caused Hector to frown.
He turned. Across from him at the bottom of a pile a little smaller than his were two individuals. One, a girl, stood over the other, who lay on their side clutching their stomach.
¡°What, don¡¯t you want it?¡± The girl drove her foot into the person¡¯s side with a thud and cackled as she held something up to the person on the ground.
The person let out a scream as they shielded their head. ¡°Please. I need it. Please.¡±
Another person picking on the weak, who couldn¡¯t defend themselves. He contemplated turning around¡ªafter all; the sun was going down. But no.
If this were back on earth, he would at least say something, and here he could actually help¡ªhe could defend those who couldn¡¯t defend themselves. Plus, his father had taught him better, and would probably want him to intervene.
Ah well. Let¡¯s at least see what I¡¯m dealing with.
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///:
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Cultivation Level: [Gravity Forging - 1]
Talents: [Nimble Sole [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
Talent Fragments: ( 2-Normal )
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///:
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Hector paused. The girl had Talent fragments. Which was fantastic¡ªon the downside they were normal, which sadly meant they couldn¡¯t be fused with the (1-Mystic) fragment that he got from Mirae.
Rarity levels didn¡¯t mix after all. But it was a start. After all, so far, aside from Mirae, he had only found Talents within the normal range.
I should be able to take her. As long as she isn¡¯t hiding techniques. Or a knife.
The girl wore a tattered tunic, and pants stained with dirt. But not in the same way as some who went dump diving. No, she was just your average level of dirty. So that begged the question. Why was she here?
Chapter 18: Do you think all heroes are selfless?
Hector walked towards the girl, noting the tattoo that ran along her forearm. He recognised it. It was a Ravisher tattoo. A gang related to the Collar Gang, they would often be found carrying out grunt work for them.
As he walked closer, his heart raced. She wasn¡¯t them¡ªhe knew that, but what was the difference when she took orders from them all the same? The crows circled overhead, their calls becoming distant in his ear.
He now had more of a reason to take everything from this girl. It was wrong, sure. If he could go after the Collar Gang now, he would. But until then, she would have to do.
¡°Hey,¡± Hector came to a stop behind her, his fists clenched. ¡°What is gutter trash like you doing around here?¡±
The girl turned, a scowl set on her face. She rubbed at her eye and spat on the floor, ¡°Do I know you, you white-haired freak?¡± The girl¡¯s gaze flickered from him to her victim for a moment.
She must not be taking me seriously.
¡°No. You don¡¯t, and you don¡¯t need to. Give the boy back his scrap, and I might go easy on you.¡±
The girl let out a cackle, looking at him as if he were an idiot. ¡°Do you not know who¡ªI¡¯m with the Ravishers and this little¡ª¡± she slammed her foot into the boy¡¯s side. ¡°Welp! Isn¡¯t getting anything back. And you, well, you are about to be in the same position as him.¡±
The girl exploded forward, her brown hair whipping out behind her. She raised her arms in a mock boxing stance, displaying more competence than most. Two jabs thrusted at him. Hector dodged the first and deflected the second. His fist then rocketed forward, slamming into her gut and knocking her back. He then followed through with the rest of the Orion fist technique, leaping into the air and hooking his leg around her neck before slamming her into the trash-ridden floor.
Her head bounced off the ground, but she was up a second later. She scuttled back with her arms raised as she eyed him. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise I was in the presence of a professional. I didn¡¯t realise the dojo sent its people to the dump. But then again, I guess you have to eat as well.¡±
She chuckled, glancing at the boy on the floor for a brief second. Even now, she was still preoccupied with her victim. Hector didn¡¯t doubt that if she was a little more focused, she might have proven a challenge. But distracted, she wasn¡¯t getting anywhere.
He kicked off the ground, launching himself towards her, aiming his knee straight for her chest¡ªbut missed. She sidestepped his knee and slammed her fist into his side, flooding it with pain.
Hector dropped to the floor, but she was on him in seconds. Her foot slammed down with reckless abandon as he scrambled from side to side.
So she does have some teeth. Good, I was worried this would be easy.
Hector twisted, rocketing off the ground, slamming his fist into her chest. She coughed. He spun. His leg again hooked across her neck, whipping down and bouncing her head off the ground. She didn¡¯t get up this time.
The call of the crows overhead intensified. Hector dropped to his knees, resting a hand on her, and entered the Talent Space. Once inside, he extracted the fragments, as well as the Talent. The process took no more than a few minutes.
Once done, he stood up, combing a finger through his white hair as he looked down on the girl.
He¡¯d like to say he felt satisfied, say that beating her had lifted some of the weight off his heart. But it didn¡¯t. She wasn¡¯t a Collar Gang member. Just the grunt part of a grunt gang. Really, the only thing that made it worthwhile were the Talent and Talent fragments.
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[Nimble Sole [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
This Talent boosts the user¡¯s ability to climb, jump, or manoeuvre in a precarious situation. Increased stacks of Nimble Sole boost this ability.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªEnjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
///:
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The skill wasn¡¯t bad. It would allow him to be at the very least more dexterous than he already was, but it wasn¡¯t anything groundbreaking. And that meant it wouldn¡¯t hurt to lose it.
I guess we have the first Talent for the Talent Garden. But that¡¯s gonna have to wait till later.
The girl¡¯s victim still lay on the floor in the fetal position, his eyes peeking through his fingers as he covered his face. Hector shook his head and bent down, picking up the scrap that the woman had been mocking him with.
He brought it to eye level and examined it. It was a glass pill bottle, chipped in places but still usable as a bottle. If brought to the right person, the glass itself could be sold for a few coins. He shrugged, flicking the bottle to the boy.
¡°Take it and get out of here before she wakes up. You¡¯ve had enough trouble today,¡± Hector said.
The boy scrambled away amidst the call of the crows¡ªthey were hungry. Hector glanced up; the sky was now much darker than it had been earlier. He wouldn¡¯t find much in the dark, and it¡¯s not like he had a lamp.
Hector sighed, turned, and made his way down the loose footpath cleared from the trash. Whatever happened to the girl wasn¡¯t his problem. If she woke up before the crows began taking chunks out of her, that would be for the best. But it wouldn¡¯t be his problem.
A smile crept onto his lips. As soon as he got home, he could begin planting the Talent he¡¯d found¡ªfrom that one Talent, who knows how many Talents he could get.
Hector walked through the front door, moving into the dimly lit, clean kitchen of his home. The table stood empty in the middle of the room; his father had yet to return home. A pang of fear washed through his chest. But he dismissed it.
His father was a grown man. He would come home late from time to time; that¡¯s just how it was. Collar Gang or no Collar Gang.
Hector made his way to his bedroom but stopped in the middle of the rundown hallway and stood outside of Mirae¡¯s room. He sighed, then raised his hand and rapped his knuckles on the old wooden door. The sound of shuffling came from the other side.
¡°Just a moment!¡± Mirae yelled.
The door flew open a few seconds later. And there, Mirae stood, her long hair frazzled and a look of slight annoyance in her eyes. It lasted but a moment, a bright smile overtaking it when she saw his face.
¡°Oh brother, I wasn¡¯t aware you were back,¡± she said, raising her small, thin arms for a hug. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±
Hector reached forward, embracing her as warmth settled in his chest. It felt good to be home.
¡°No,¡± he said, stepping back and giving her a once over. She still wore the same ratty clothes from yesterday, and her hair had taken on a browner tint to its white. ¡°I was just coming to check on you.¡±
¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡±
Hector nodded, not letting the disappointment show. She wasn¡¯t okay, even if she thought she was. He may not be the same Hector, but she was the same Mirae. And all signs pointed to something being wrong. What happened the other day, the same clothes, and most of all, the hair.
Mirae would never let her hair fall into such a state, even if she was bending over backwards for the family. It was the one nice thing she allowed herself.
¡°Hector, is everything okay?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m okay. You don¡¯t have to look so worried. I promise I¡¯m fine.¡±
He took a deep breath, then leaned against the doorframe. ¡°It¡¯s my job to worry. You are still growing, and I need to protect you. Speaking of growth, how is your cultivation coming along?¡±
Mirae scratched her cheek as they took on a red colour. ¡°You don¡¯t need to always protect me. But with my cultivation...¡± She hesitated, looking to the floor as she muttered something.
¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t hear you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not going well,¡± she said, her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°The mana particles, they just aren¡¯t coming, and I¡¯ve been practicing since you left. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong. I¡¯m sorry.¡±
Hector sighed, then rested a hand on her shoulder, kneeling down to her eye level. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be sorry. What you¡¯re going through is normal¡ªnormal for me, anyway. You just need to give it time.¡±
She smiled, her lips quivering slightly.
¡°Listen,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck in Gravity Forging realm one for a while now¡ªI probably have another four before I make it to the second stage. So don¡¯t be too hard on yourself.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± she said, looking at the ground. Eventually, she nodded and stepped back away from the door. She grabbed it. ¡°I¡¯m going to continue working at it. If you need me for anything or get hungry, let me know.¡±
Hector nodded, watching the wooden door drift forward, closing with a soft thud. Flakes of dust drifted down like snowflakes, settling on the rotten wood floor. He seriously needed to do some repairs¡ªit wouldn¡¯t fix the problem, but at least the house¡¯s eventual collapse could be halted.
I wonder if we still have the spare wood that I got from the dump.
Hector made his way down the rickety hallway, stepping into his loosely organized room. Discarded scraps lay in corners or tucked into shelves, dust settling on their surfaces. He loosened his tunic strings and pulled the shirt off, throwing it onto a clothes pile in the corner.
It was time to get acquainted with the Talent Garden. That, in turn, would hopefully give him a new set of Talents to work with.
He moved to his bed, bending over to pull out a meditation mat. The dump always did provide. He just had to have patience and he could eventually find everything he could need. He threw the mat, and it sailed through the air, landing in the centre of his room with a slap.
The room didn¡¯t have anything else he needed to attend to. Mirae would eventually come and take the clothes. But if not, he would get to them when he was done.
Smiling, he crouched onto the mat, settling down into the lotus position. He didn¡¯t need to meditate to use the system, but it brought some sense of rhythm to the whole thing¡ªand rhythm was good.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. ¡°System, begin the Talent Garden space.¡±
Chapter 19: Gardening has to be easy, right?
The world around Hector melted away¡ªhis room becoming nothing more than paint running off a canvas. A new scene bubbled up, like boiling water in a pot, and he found himself in a void. Water was at his ankles again, shimmering as he moved his legs.
No difference so far.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something. He turned, sloshing water at his feet.
Three marble pedestals stood across from him, intricate designs running up and down their surfaces. At the top of these pedestals were plant pots, brown clay plant pots. He tilted his head and waded towards them.
¡°System, I take it this is where I plant the Talents,¡± he said, coming to a stop before the middle pedestal. Up close it seemed glossy¡ªno doubt that if it was in the real world, the nobles would pay a good price for it.
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///: ¡°Yes, once a Talent has been converted into a seed, it can be planted into one of these pots.¡±
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Hector rested a hand on his hip, bringing the other to his lip in thought. He looked at the water at his feet¡ªwas that what he¡¯d have to use to water the Talents, or did the pedestals have some kind of pump mechanism?
He held out his palm, keeping it straight as he sent his will out into the void. ¡°Bring me [Nimble Sole].¡±
A silent moment passed, then a bright light bloomed into the void. The light arced through the sky, racing towards him with reckless abandon, a trail of white behind it.
I wonder where it came from this time. I didn¡¯t see it when I entered earlier.
The Talent screamed through the air before slamming into his palm. Its impact sent a pulse of white energy through the void, rippling as it went. The whole thing was a tad bit dramatic, but he couldn¡¯t say he didn¡¯t like it.
Hector lifted the Talent in his hand. The orb, much like the previous, glowed, swirling with an indecipherable language¡ªperhaps one day he would figure it out. He glanced around the void and then brought his attention to the brown clay plant pot.
¡°Do I just shove the Talent inside it?¡± he asked. He stuck his finger into the pot, fingering the loose soil and swirling it around. The soil was warm and seemed to crackle with energy as he moved it.
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///: ¡°No. You must now begin the seeding process. Channel the soul waters around you to harmonize the Talent into a seedling.¡±
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¡°Well, that doesn¡¯t sound too hard.¡± He paused, unsure of how to proceed. Looking at the water at his feet, he sloshed it around with his foot, then looked to the Talent. ¡°Do I just stick it in?¡±
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///: ¡°The host must will the waters to the Talent. Much like you did when you summoned it here.¡±
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His face brightened as his lips broke into a smile. That was trivial. He had thought it would be some long, complicated process requiring him to memorize some form of technique. He again held his hand out, the orb resting in its centre.
¡°Begin channeling...¡± he said hesitantly.
The water reacted.
It began to swirl at his ankle, turning into a shimmering whirlpool. A connection formed between him and the water, and he directed it at the orb in his hand. The whirlpool lurched, as waterspouts shot out of it, plunging into the Talent, like tendrils of a jellyfish found in the lake surrounding Middlec.
Hector watched on, a smile firmly on his lips. This had to be one of the most impressive things he had ever done. He held the Talent up for several minutes, as the whirlpool spun, and the tendrils continued to... do something to the orb. Eventually, the whirlpool slowed, retracting its tendrils, before going still at his feet.
The waters were calm again. He glanced at the talent, now a rather large seed. It had the same white glow, but he could no longer see the words on the inside¡ªnot that seeing them meant much.
¡°So I guess I can just put it in now,¡± he said. ¡°I mean, unless I have to do anything else.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªThe story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
///: ¡°No. You may now place the seed in either of the pots and begin the watering process.¡±
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¡°Alright.¡± He began to dig a large hole in the pot¡¯s soil. Energy crackled as he moved the dirt to the side, specks of it getting caught under his nails. Eventually, he stopped, studying the hole for a moment, judging it against the size of the seed.
¡°Looks good to me,¡± he said, carefully lowering the seed into the hole like it was a baby¡ªthere was no point being reckless now. After all, who knew if anything in the soulscape could break? With a satisfying thud, the seed was in the hole. He then scooped dirt over it, crackles of energy buzzing as he covered the seed.
¡°Okay, it¡¯s covered. What do I do now?¡± He looked off into the void. He wasn¡¯t sure where the system''s voice came from. It was an odd thing¡ªif he could even call what he was doing normal.
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///: ¡°Now you must harmonize with the seed. Push your will onto it.¡±
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Seems simple enough.
He held his hand over the plant pot, willing it to grow. Particles of light floated up from the water, like bubbles floating towards his hands. They drifted over the back of his hand, twisting in the void, and curling into a ball just above the plant pot.
Finally, the ball of light condensed, collapsing in on itself, becoming denser and denser. Trickles of glowing water poured out from the ball, splashing down onto the soil and seeping beneath its surface. The sight was magical.
Hector watched on, his mouth parting and his eyes wide. It was almost as if he were a high-level mana cultivator, able to change the weather on a casual whim. It was awesome.
A box of text flashed into existence above the plant pot.
He moved his hand, the ball of light dissipating like smoke, and read over the text¡ªthankfully in a language he could actually read.
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
| Name: Common Seedling
| Growth Time: 2 days
| Watered: [1/2]
| Time Till Next Watering: 8-hours
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So I have to water it one more time before it¡¯s done growing. It should also finish growing on... what day even is it?
Hector frowned. He rarely tracked the day, as every day was pretty much the same as the last. But things had changed. He had a pickpocketing operation coming¡ªheaven forbid he missed the entire thing because he got the date wrong.
Nevertheless, it would be done in two days. He glanced at the two other pedestals and the pots sitting atop them. He didn¡¯t have any more seeds, but in time, he would surely find a few more fragments. And with the common seedling currently growing, maybe it would sprout more talents he could use¡ªhopefully more than one.
He looked around the void, water sloshing at his feet. He regarded the pedestals for a moment. There didn¡¯t seem to be much more he could do, but it didn¡¯t hurt to ask. ¡°System, is there anything else I can do here?¡±
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///: ¡°The host may sit and meditate within the space, speeding up the growth of the seedling fourfold.¡±
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Hector froze¡ªnot sure of what to make of that information, but feeling excited all the same. What did this mean? Potentially, he would be able to finish growing this common talent in half a day. That was only twelve hours.
He paused and smacked his forehead.
Even if it was a speed-up, he couldn¡¯t spend twelve hours in here. Mirae would throw a fit¡ªespecially after his own words to her about spending too much time cultivating. But what could he do? This was a new talent on the line. Most likely several.
If it really comes to it, I can just stop halfway. Mirae will probably come in and pull me out of meditation, anyway.
Hector sighed, lowering himself and getting into the lotus position. Water washed onto his thigh¡ªit would have soaked his clothes had it been real. Instead, it was just cool¡ªno wetness at all. It was soothing¡ªit was one of his favourite parts about coming to the soulscape.
Taking a deep breath, his lungs filled. He directed his focus to the plant pot, channelling everything he had to it.
His mind calmed as time slipped away. Determined. Uncaring. Inevitable. The seconds flittered by like a stream running off into the empty void of his Talent Garden space.
¡°Hector, you silly goose.¡± Mirae¡¯s voice boomed through the void. ¡°And after all your talk about me having to be careful of how much I cultivate, and not to overwork myself, yet here you are.¡±
He snapped back to the moment. Time returning to his mental grasp¡ªwell, as much as he could grasp it, anyway. Time was a fickle thing, never caring whether you were ready or not. Someone who couldn¡¯t at least account for that was bound to waste a lot of it.
¡°Hector, it¡¯s time for dinner. Dad¡¯s home,¡± Mirae said, her voice continuing to boom through the void like an avalanche.
I should get going, but first, let¡¯s see how much time I¡¯ve got left.
He placed his hands into the soul water, pushing off and climbing to his feet with a grunt. It never made sense how he had to physically exert himself in a place that was said to be in his soul¡ªthen again, what normal people, especially in the slums, knew about the soul could be called small at best.
He stood over the plant pot, reading over the stats. A small smile forming on his lips.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///:
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
| Name: Common Seedling
| Growth Time: 1.33 days
| Watered: [1/2]
| Time Till Next Watering: Ready: Death in 2-hours
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///:
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
His arm shot into the air, his heart racing with excitement. It had actually worked¡ªnot that he doubted its effectiveness, but this was great. He had spent, what, four hours and the time had dropped so much. If he came back after dinner and did this for the rest of the night, he should have a few new talents by tomorrow.
But I should probably get it watered before I leave. I don¡¯t need it dying on me.
¡°Hector, please,¡± Mirae said, shaking the void. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you a few more minutes, but if you aren¡¯t up and out before I come back, this pillow is coming straight at your face.¡±
He lowered his head, chuckling as he sloshed closer to the pot. He had no doubt she would do what she said. When it came to helping, she would do whatever she thought was necessary¡ªeven using one of his rather dense pillows to whack him out of meditation.
Alright, I best hurry up then. Besides, I¡¯m a bit hungry, anyway.
Chapter 20: Do our parents truly know whats best for us?
Hector placed his hand over the plant pot, and the light particles again bubbled off the water¡¯s surface. It was enchanting. Before he knew it, the condensed ball of light particles floated over the back of his hands, dripping water onto the soft soil of the plant pot¡ªthough, Talent pot would probably be a better name.
He pulled his hands back.
Crossing his arms across his chest, he regarded the pot. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what you will become.¡± There was so much hope in front of him, and it filled him with a feeling he couldn¡¯t describe, but whatever it was, it swelled the more he observed the pot.
I should get going. Mirae will be back soon, and I don¡¯t want to be knocked out by a pillow.
¡°System, end the Talent Garden space.¡±
The world around him, like so many times before, fell away like paint. The Talent pots, the pedestals, and the void. It all dripped away before the colour of reality frothed and churned back into being.
His eyes fluttered open. He was in his room again. The clothes pile that had been gathering in the corner was gone. He smiled; it wasn¡¯t a surprise that Mirae had picked it up. But it was still nice to see that she did¡ªhe appreciated everything she did for him. Hopefully, someday, he could repay her.
He raised his arms, stretching as he let out a thunderous yawn. It wasn¡¯t like he was tired¡ªcultivating provided more than enough energy. But it was satisfying to let out a yawn after a particularly long session. It had become almost a ritual.
He pushed off the ground, hopping to his feet with a grunt.
It was time to get going, and he doubted Mirae would wait much longer for him to show his face. He reached down, grabbing the meditation mat¡¯s edge and yanking it up. He flicked it forward, directing it under his bed. It hit the ground with a hard slap, skirting underneath it.
He dusted his pants off and made his way to the exit, moving with a slight skip in his step. His two lives had been merged for a few days now, but things were truly starting to happen¡ªthings that were in his control, anyway.
And hopefully, with some luck, he would see some payoff soon. He strolled down the creaky hallway as images of the possible futures played in his mind. They were all fantasies¡ªbut that wouldn¡¯t last long. He would make them a reality.
He walked into the kitchen. Smiling, he nodded at his dad¡ªnow sitting behind the table, as usual. His bruises looked better today. The swelling had gone down, and the cuts he had from yesterday had mostly scabbed over. He was on the mend.
¡°How was work, Dad?¡± Hector said, pulling out a chair. Mirae paused, narrowing her eyes at him as she slopped a scoop of grim-grain into a bowl. She was most definitely a little annoyed that he had taken too long. But she would understand one day, then all would be forgiven¡ªwell, he hoped so anyway.
¡°It wasn¡¯t too bad today. Same old, same old.¡± His dad said. He wrapped his rugged fingers around the whiskey glass, lifting it gently and bringing it to his lips. ¡°How about you? Mirae was just telling me she had a good day at the dojo.¡± He punctuated his question by narrowing his eyes at Hector, taking a small sip of his whiskey.
Hector chuckled. ¡°It was a good day. And Instructor Kamble believes she has a good level of Talent.¡±
¡°He said that, did he?¡± His father lowered his glass, resting it on the chipped surface of the table. He brought his hand to his chin, stroking it as he regarded Hector. ¡°Well, if she is enjoying it, I suppose it isn¡¯t too much of an issue. You are enjoying it, aren¡¯t you?¡± He turned to Mirae.
She walked over to the table, two bowls of grim-grain resting in her hands. ¡°Yes, a lot. I think I could surpass Hector at the rate I¡¯m going.¡± She plopped the bowls down onto the table, sliding them over as she giggled.
His lips quirked in a smile¡ªif it was an act or not, it didn¡¯t matter; he would make sure she didn¡¯t feel like she was failing her cultivation in the future. He pulled the bowl towards him and picked up the spoon to his side.
¡°Oh, really? You hear that, Hector? You are gonna have some competition,¡± his father said, dipping his spoon into the thick bowl of porridge. He brought it to his lips as Mirae pulled her own chair out and sat with her bowl. ¡°You will do me proud, girl.¡±
¡°Thanks, Dad,¡± she said, digging into her own porridge.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Hector watched as his family began to eat. Leisurely. Warm. Comfortable. The clanking of their spoons against the ceramic of their bowls was like a soft melody being played on a family piano.
I won¡¯t lose this. As soon as I¡¯m done, I¡¯m finishing the growth of that Talent seed.
Emela followed her mother down some winding stairs¡ªshe had never noticed them within the manor prior to this. The whole thing seemed old; the walls were crumbling, and the steps were worn with the footsteps of countless people. Nox trailed behind¡ªthe girl was as silent as ever, especially with Emela¡¯s mother around. Emela wished she¡¯d at least throw in a word or two, but none were forthcoming.
¡°Where are we going mother?¡± she asked, ducking to the side, almost hitting a torch holder that was awkwardly falling off the wall¡ªthe thing had more than served its time and needed to go.
Her mother, dressed in her white leather battle robes and pair of white pumps, walked on. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and Emela could see her face as she continued down the winding steps. She wasn¡¯t going to answer her question¡ªnot like she ever really did. It was as if she wanted her to learn from silence. It made her want to scream.
Their group continued to walk down the stairs for a few moments. Finally, they exited the staircase and entered a cave. It was fairly large. Sharp rocks hung from the roof, water dripping from their points. Further in, a boardwalk trailed over the edge of a lake that shimmered off into the distant darkness of the cave. The walkway was lit by six torches¡ªthey appeared to be in much better condition than the ones they had seen on the way down.
¡°Take a good look, my love,¡± her mother said. She strutted further in, walking to the beginning of the boardwalk, then turning to face her. ¡°Come on, then.¡±
Emela stood frozen¡ªwhat exactly was she meant to be seeing? It was just an underground lake of some sort. She walked forward, throwing a quick glance behind her. Nyx didn¡¯t seem particularly fazed by the whole thing¡ªit was as if she had seen it all before. But that was impossible; the girl never left her side.
¡°What are we doing here, Mother?¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good question,¡± Emela¡¯s mother said, her lips quirking into a smile. ¡°This is your punishment.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Her mother moved over to her, placing a hand on the small of her back and ushering her down the boardwalk. Emela¡¯s eyes darted from its edge to the casual smile on her mother¡¯s red lips. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡ªhow is this a punishment? I¡¯m more than able to swim.¡±
¡°But can you suffer?¡± her mother asked.
I hate it when she asks that.
A sense of dread welled up in her chest. Thick. Unyielding. Poisonous. Whatever her mother was planning, she would not enjoy it¡ªif she was honest, she never enjoyed much of what her mother planned. Indeed, whatever she was doing, Emela would most likely hate it.
She and her mother stopped at the edge of the boardwalk, Nyx trailing behind. Emela looked down at the water. Its surface was still, only shaken by the occasional ripple¡ªthere was something in there. Her skin began to crawl, muscles tensing as she glanced at her mother. ¡°Do I have to?¡± she asked.
¡°Hmm? Why would you not have to? And you never answered my question. Can you suffer?¡± Her mother removed her hand from Emela¡¯s back, glancing up at the ceiling, and then back at her. ¡°You will do this, and it will be good for you. Trust me, my love.¡±
I don¡¯t know about that. But she has never done something that wouldn¡¯t benefit me. Well, aside from the whole marriage thing.
Emela swallowed hard. She wouldn¡¯t be leaving here without doing this, so she might as well suck it up. She rolled her shoulders, glancing at Nyx, then nodding at her mother. ¡°I think I can suffer. I¡¯m ready.¡±
¡°Excellent,¡± her mother said, her lips parting to reveal perfectly white teeth. Mana cultivators in the Core Formation realms had such enhanced features that if you were not used to it, you would be caught off guard. But Emela found herself excited because she would have those same benefits one day. Just five more minor realms to go.
Her mother raised her arm, flicking her fingers up. A block of ice erupted underneath Emela, throwing her into the air, screaming out her lungs out. She splashed against the water, sinking beneath its freezing surface.
Oh my, this is so cold.
Emela¡¯s legs kicked out as she fought the urge to lock up. Doing so would mean nothing but death, and drowning was not her ideal way to go. Emela kicked and kicked, her hands clawing through the water as she moved to the surface.
Breaching, she took a deep breath of freezing air as her body shivered in the cold lake waters. Emela¡¯s mother stood at the end of the boardwalk with a small smile. ¡°How is the water, my love?¡± she asked.
Emela resisted the urge to scream¡ªit would use up more energy than she had, and she needed to keep kicking. Both to stay warm and to keep afloat. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said, teeth chattering.
Nodding, her mother glanced to the side, her attention apparently moving to Nyx. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you two should be doing this together?¡± her mother asked.
Before Nyx could respond, Emela¡¯s mother raised an arm, flicking her finger forward. Another block of ice shunted out of the ground, launching Nyx through the air. She arced like a ball¡ªher face still as calm as ever, as she splashed down next to Emela.
Emela¡¯s hands jerked up, shielding her eyes, as small waves rocked her body. She glanced at her mother. The woman looked at Emela, her arms crossed and an easy smile on her lips. ¡°Good, now the real punishment can start. I think you will thank me for this.¡±
I really don¡¯t understand this woman. Nyx didn¡¯t even do anything wrong.
Her mother quirked an eyebrow, obviously noticing the confusion on Emela¡¯s face. ¡°Even if the girl was just following your orders, she must still accept responsibility for your actions. It is her job, after all.¡±
Nyx splashed to the surface. Emela continued to kick, her teeth chattering all the while. Nyx looked much the same as usual¡ªthough her short black hair was now soaked, and Emela could make out the faintest shiver on her body.
¡°So if you have no questions, I would like to get things started,¡± her mother said.
Chapter 21: Do You Fear Freezing cold water? I dont.
¡°I want you to keep swimming,¡± Emela¡¯s mother said, leaning on the post at the front of the boardwalk. ¡°I will not be holding too much back, so if my attack hits you, it will hurt. The goal of this punishment is to keep moving in high-stress environments using any means at your disposal.¡±
Noelle would know about moving in high-stress environments. Damn worm excrement. I wish my sword had at least grazed her.
¡°Focus!¡± her mother snapped, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Get ready. I¡¯m starting now.¡±
A block of ice¡ªsmaller than the one she¡¯d used to launch her and Nyx¡ªshot forward from a post on the boardwalk, moving towards her at a good speed. But she could dodge it¡ªit was not so fast that she couldn¡¯t react.
Her legs kicked out, splashing to the side, dodging the block of ice. It streaked past her, splashing into the water. She noticed another one. Jerking to the side, the block of ice snipped by her.
¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± her mother said, ¡°you need to use any means at your disposal.¡±
¡°I¡¯m such an idiot,¡± Emela said. Her hand reached out, slapping the water¡¯s surface¡ªkeeping herself clean wasn¡¯t all her special ability could do. An icy chill rushed from her hand, seeping into the waters.
Icicles snaked through the water, cracking and holding the water in place. In seconds, a disk of ice had formed on the lake¡¯s surface. She grunted, hoisting herself up, rolling onto the disk and scrambling to her feet.
She jerked to the side, an icicle narrowly missing her head¡ªwas her mother trying to kill her? From the corner of her eye, she spotted Nyx moving through the water. Calm. Cold. Practised. She moved through the water with barely a ripple¡ªif Emela didn¡¯t know any better, she¡¯d assume Nyx was showing off.
Another ice block barreled towards her¡ªfaster than the previous. Hopping to the side, she cursed as her foot slipped, forcing her to her knee. The disk cracked underneath her, its surface crunching and splintering. But it held.
By the Great Lake, this isn¡¯t going to last. I need to do something.
She shivered, watching as another ice block formed from the post of the boardwalk. Her mother could definitely do this for a while. She had more than enough mana to do so. The only saving grace was that she wasn¡¯t within her orbit. Frontal attacks would be the least of her worries then.
She dodged another ice block, taking care to observe the area¡ªit would be a waste of mana to continually enhance herself so she could dodge ice blocks. But perhaps offence could be a suitable solution. She channelled her mana through her body, flowing the moves of Frost Ice Dance¡ªa battle technique still struggled to fully grasp, only being proficient with the most basic moves.
She swivelled on her heel, dodging an ice block. With the momentum, she shot out an arm and crunched it into another block, shattering it. Her eyes went wide as the chunks of ice splintered to the ground¡ªthat could have gone horribly wrong if her mother had used more mana to strengthen it.
Alright, now if I can keep this up, I should be able to build a few more platforms and get Nyx some footing.
She caught a glimpse of the girl from the corner of her eye. She continued to move through the water with practised ease, but she would no doubt falter, eventually. Dodging another ice block, Emela pumped mana into her leg, leaping into the air¡ªshe just needed one more platform for Nyx and then the girl could hold out a little longer.
¡°Nyx!¡± Emela yelled, falling towards the water. Before she hit the surface, she activated her special ability again. The icy chill exploded from the soles of her feet, through her shoes, and rushed onto the water¡¯s surface, freezing it immediately. She slammed onto the newly formed disk with a crunch, swivelling as she dodged another block of ice.
The disk had formed relatively near to Nyx¡ªit was as close as she could get without freezing the poor maid in its path. The speed that Nyx had would more than allow her to make it onto the disk, and as she dodged another ice block, Emela noticed she was doing just that.
¡°I¡¯ll keep the ice blocks off you,¡± Emela said, swinging her fist forward and smashing it into an ice block. It exploded into shards, like broken glass, tinkling onto her ice disk and sliding off its side into the cold water. ¡°Just focus on getting yourself up here.¡±
Nyx ploughed through the water, and in moments was on the disk, sliding to a stop next to Emela as she shattered another ice block.
¡°You¡¯re doing well,¡± her mother said, sending another block her way. ¡°But let¡¯s increase the intensity a little¡ªdon¡¯t need you getting overconfident after all.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Emela¡¯s lips tightened at her mother¡¯s words. It was already intense as is. A dull pain would shoot through her hand every time she smashed a block¡ªthe ice forming slowly on her knuckles didn¡¯t help that fact.
I just need to hold on. I can do this.
Energy rushed to her feet as she pushed off the disk, sailing through the air¡ªNyx now had her own platform; Emela didn¡¯t need to share. She landed on her disk, grunting as the ice groaned beneath her weight.
Emela gasped as two blocks of ice shot towards her from two separate posts¡ªWas this how she increased the intensity? Emela lashed out, crunching one to splinters, staggering as the other slammed into her shoulder. She screamed, stumbling back but staying on the ice.
¡°Keep focused, my child. I will have to punish slip-ups,¡± her mother said, directing four more ice blocks at her and Nyx.
The onslaught continued for a while. She used Snow Rabbit Step¡ªa movement technique she had used since she started cultivating, and thus the one she was most proficient in having reached adept level¡ªto dodge, while her mother continued to assault them with wave after wave of ice blocks.
Eventually, her mother smiled. Emela heaved, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Her once neatly tied twin ponytails were now much looser, and her fringe was stuck to her forehead with sweat. Twirling her wrist, her mother cast her gaze behind Emela.
¡°Darling,¡± she said. ¡°Do you know why I brought you down here and didn¡¯t do this on the lake upstairs?¡±
Maybe you didn¡¯t want to embarrass me in front of the family. You know, being a decent mother for once.
The look on Emela¡¯s face and her trembling jaw must have said enough. Emela¡¯s mother cocked a smile, glancing at Nyx. ¡°Do you know?¡±
Nyx, as expected, said nothing. Her cold blue eyes just sparkled as she kept them focused on Emela¡¯s mother. The woman raised a neat brow and looked back at Emela¡ªthe look in her eyes was one of amusement and some interest.
¡°I would like to introduce you,¡± she said, ¡°to Brutian. I¡¯m sure you will grow fond of him.¡±
Emela glanced back¡ªnarrowly avoiding another ice block. The water further out bulged as something moved towards her. Fast. Small waves rippled off its form as it bee-lined for her.
You have to be bloody joking.
Emela looked at the water, at the icy waves that rocked against her floating ice disk¡ªshe was still shivering; falling back in would only make things worse. She glanced back at the form that was barreling straight at her.
Ah, crap.
She leapt into the air¡ªno mana added to her jump. Not that it would really help; she was going into the water no matter what happened. The creature slammed into her ice disk, shattering it like a snowflake on the water¡¯s surface. Splashing into the water, her hands splayed out as she tried to swim to the surface.
She hoped that the thing wouldn¡¯t come for her, but with her mother involved, she couldn¡¯t put it past her. A figure moved in the corner of her vision, and she snapped to it. Brutian, from what she could see in the cold murky water, was big.
It seemed to be an enormous fish, black with deep blue lines running along the side of its body. Emela swam up, her fingers clawing through the water, propelling her forward. Eventually, she breached the surface, the low cave light filling her eyes again.
The stale smell was a welcome one even though she hadn¡¯t been gone for too long¡ªfor it was a far sight better than having her nostrils filled with water. On the boardwalk, her mother locked eyes with her, smiling as she sent another ice block her way.
Could she not even wait a moment? She just sprung a monster on me. What is wrong with this woman?
Emela splashed to the side, dragging herself through the cold water with all the strength she could muster¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t much. She was reaching her limit, and it was as if her mother could sense it, like a shark playing with its food.
From the corner of her eye, she spotted a figure being thrown into the air. Nyx, from what she could make out through the splashing, sailed through the air before crashing into the water. Brutian moved on after smashing the ice disk she¡¯d been standing on.
Emela clenched her jaw, wanting to bite the damn beast as it swam by¡ªnot that her teeth would do anything to a creature like that. Beasts didn¡¯t use the same system of cultivation as humans did, but if she had to guess, it would be somewhere around higher levels of the Gravity Forging realm.
The way it broke her ice disk like it was nothing at all. That told her all that she needed to know. She reached out an arm, tearing through the water as best she could towards Nyx. Now that the ice platforms were done¡ªcreating another in such a situation would be pointless¡ªthe creature could attack from anywhere. It would be best if they could cover each other¡¯s backs.
Emela moved forward, sloshing through the water towards Nyx. Finally, she arrived at the maid¡¯s side. Nyx floated with the same ease as usual¡ªnot surprising, but what she did notice was the twinge in her brow. Nyx, for the most part, didn¡¯t show much emotion, especially in battle, so this was something.
It seems even she¡¯s being put through the wringer by this ordeal.
Emela jerked to the side, narrowly avoiding a block of ice. Nyx did the same, diving underwater before popping up a moment later. Emela¡¯s body was heavy; each move felt like lifting heavy wooden trash found she used to find in the dump.
¡°I don¡¯t know what to do, Nyx. I¡¯m sorry I got you dragged into all this.¡±
Emela¡¯s body became weightless as she soared into the air, screaming¡ªif she could call the rasp that she let out a scream. Brutian, the damn thing, had exploded underneath her. She fell through the air, amidst the laughter of her mother, standing on the boardwalk watching on.
The beast launched Nyx into the air a moment later. Emela put her hands out front, shielding her face with her arms as she smacked into the waves. Pain exploded in her arms as she fought back a scream¡ªdrowning and fighting for your life was not a good combo, and she would not last long.
A form¡ªno, Brutian¡ªbarreled from the murky depths, smacking into her with its weight. She tumbled head over heels, fighting to keep the air in her lungs as her whole body thrummed with pain. How was this even fair? Her mom had said this was to toughen her up. It felt more like a beating.
I suppose that this is technically a punishment, but I feel like this is going a tad bit too far.
She swivelled in the water, her ponytail whipping into her eyes as she searched through the depths. Emela needed to find the thing; if it hit her like that again, she was not sure if she could hold on to consciousness.
Chapter 22: Can you ever have too many options?
She clawed up, water passing through her fingers as she struggled through the water¡ªit wasn¡¯t good form, but who cared? She couldn¡¯t stay where she was¡ªshe would drown. As she moved up, her skin seemed to vibrate.
It was as if a wall of something was moving towards her, pushing water at her. It had to be the beast.
She looked down, and there, approaching through the murky depths, was Brutian. She couldn¡¯t afford to be hit again. The blow would surely knock her unconscious, and she was barely holding on. Her eyes widened as an idea popped into her mind. It was risky¡ªbut doing nothing would get her nowhere.
If this worked, that beast would show more caution. She grit her teeth, fighting back the darkness that was slowly creeping into her vision. She had to time this right. If she didn¡¯t¡ªit was going to be difficult to explain to Hector how she got a broken arm.
She moved her arm out in front of her, holding it steady, preparing to let loose her ability. She¡¯d never tried this on anything living before¡ªshe¡¯d never needed to. Hunting beasts was not on her training plan as yet.
Finally, the beast was within reach. Energy surged through her body and out of her palm, freezing the water in front of her. The cold raced to it, slamming into the beast¡¯s face.
It recoiled. And a smile came to her face, but it didn¡¯t last long. As the beast turned, moving its head away from her, its body swivelled with it. Smashing into her, its tail sent her sailing up through the water, all the air ejected from her lungs.
The last thing she felt before falling unconscious was the cold rush of air as she broke through the water¡¯s surface.
Hector let out a breath, flickering his eyes open as he raised his arms and stretched. He didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been meditating¡ªtime, as usual, passed like water when one cultivated. But as he looked around the void of his Talent Garden space, his lips quirked into a smile.
On the marble pedestal, inside the brown clay pot, the Talent tree stood tall. It had finished growing. At the top of the plant, three large balls stood, glistening with white light like the seed had before he¡¯d planted it. But these were no seeds.
He placed his hand into the water, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt. Walking towards it, a surge of energy bubbled in his chest as he imagined the possibilities of these new Talents. His main hope was for something to do with cultivation.
That was his greatest hope for the system so far¡ªa method to increase the speed at which he cultivated. What he had now was painfully slow. Hector was one of the worst in the dojo¡ªin terms of cultivation speed, anyway. The only saving grace was that he seemed to pick up on techniques surprisingly quickly.
He came to a stop before the three pedestals, letting out a sigh as he raised his hand towards the plant. The golden leaves running along its stem seemed to sway, but he wasn¡¯t sure why¡ªthere was no wind in the Talent Garden space. He moved his hand forward, placing it on the middle Talent, and as he did, the whole plant shook.
Flakes of light fluttered off, drifting into the air, slowly at first, but then there were many. Finally, the plant burst into a shower of light flakes, leaving three floating white orbs in front of him.
I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll ever get used to how much showmanship seems to go into the system¡¯s actions.
He lowered his hand, gazing at the Talents as their surfaces shimmered white, scrawling with the unknown language. He hadn¡¯t made any headway in figuring out what any of it meant¡ªhe hadn¡¯t really had the time. But it was something that could be useful to look into.
He reached forward, his hand stopping just underneath the middle Talent, a breath away from touching it. A smile slid across his lips, reaching all the way to his eyes. He took a moment, gazing at the Talent, slowly taking a deep breath.
His hands shook a little¡ªpart of him hated that. But then again, he couldn¡¯t help it¡ªhe¡¯d lived two lives, and both were almost absolute failures. These Talents and the ones that came after could be the key to turning all that around. Strength. It was his path to a better life, and he needed it.
He moved his hand up, cupping the Talent orb and pulling it towards him. The orb had a weight to it he hadn¡¯t noticed before¡ªit bore down on his hand in a way he couldn¡¯t quite put into words.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
I wonder if that has something to do with the old saying of things weighing on your soul.
His gaze scanned over the Talent, and a moment later a screen opened, words flowing onto it.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Tracker¡¯s Charm: Once every six hours you can track a particular scent. You can tell how strong it is, allowing you to determine age, as well as the direction the scent you are tracking is going.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Raising an eyebrow, he stood back and brought the orb out in front of him. It was kind of disappointing¡ªit was good, but not what he wanted. Tracking people wasn¡¯t something that he needed to do right now, so this Talent had little use.
It did make things easier, though. He read over the text again, trying to come up with a spark of inspiration, some way in which this would help him cultivate. But he kept drawing a blank¡ªhe couldn¡¯t smell mana after all. It would have to be replanted in hopes of a better Talent or Talents coming out of it.
It¡¯s a shame, though if I wasn¡¯t in such a hurry for strength, maybe I could find some use for it.
He sighed. The Talent wasn¡¯t even useful in the pickpocketing operation¡ªnot in a standard one, anyway. He didn¡¯t need to track a target. If anything, he wanted to get in and out, forgetting they even existed as soon as he was done.
He brought his other hand up, placing it on the other side of the orb. It was time to make a new seed. He brought his attention to the water at his feet, reaching out to it with his mind. The connection was instant, like falling back into a familiar role. Forming fast, the whirlpool whipped at his feet.
The tendrils, snaking through the air, plunged into the Talent and began turning it into a seed once again. He took a breath, smiling as the Talent began to morph. He hadn¡¯t noticed before, but it kind of smelled like wet dirt.
I guess the smell could have been a lot worse. Though, having a smell at all is strange.
The void in which everything usually took place, for the most part, smelled like nothing¡ªnot that that really made any sense. It was probably more accurate to say it was the absence of smell. Not that it mattered too much.
Several minutes later, with a slight frown, he stood before the pedestals, a new seed in hand. He raised the Talent seed up and moved it around. It looked exactly the same as the last¡ªnot really surprising. But he¡¯d hoped to at least see something that set it apart from the last. Maybe there was¡ªafter all, he didn¡¯t exactly have a photographic memory.
He shrugged, taking the seed under one arm as he stepped closer to the middle pedestal. He brought his hand forward, plunging it into the pot, and began to move the dirt as blue cracks of electricity lit the soil. Once the hole was wide enough, he slid the seed in and covered it with soil.
The particles of light floated up from the water¡¯s surface, curling into a ball above his outstretched hands. The ball then once again dripped glowing water onto the soil as it condensed. It was still quite the sight. Moments later, he finished and brought his attention to the next Talent of the two remaining ones.
He reached forward, pulling it out of the air, and examining its surface as another screen with text popped up in front of him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Light Token: Every 3 hours you can create a light source that will last for 30 minutes.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
He frowned. Another skill not even the slightest bit useful for cultivation¡ªnot any that he knew of, anyway. If anything, the skill was worse than just using an average torch. At least the torch would last for a few more minutes and could be re-lit quickly in comparison to a three-hour cooldown.
I don¡¯t think this would be useful for anyone. Maybe in an emergency situation where light is needed right away.
His mind drifted to his little sister. Mirae could get into trouble one day, and who knows, maybe the upgrade would be worth it. He shook his head, chiding himself as he gazed at the seed. It was useless, plain and simple.
Besides, Mirae had barely even started cultivating. She didn¡¯t need to begin learning how to make use of a new Talent. It was clear enough she hadn¡¯t fully understood her first one.
I should probably make some time to actually sit down and talk to her about it.
He set the idea aside and went through the motions of burying another seed. At least it would hopefully make another good Talent or three.
Finally, his gaze moved over to the last Talent. It floated above the pedestals. Careless. Unbothered. Not a care in the world. It was kind of enviable in a way. He reached forward and pulled the Talent from the air, feeling its weight settle into his palm, his eyes scanning over it.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Street Reader: Once every 6 hours you can gain information about a crowd¡¯s movements or a public space. You will be able to know likely congregation points or quiet areas.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
His head flopped as he resisted the urge to sigh. Again, nothing. Not one of these Talents had the faintest hint of being useful for cultivation. He looked up, gazing into the inky blackness of the void, before bringing his attention back to the Talent.
It would have to be planted. Water sloshed at his feet as he made his way over to the last pedestal. He looked down at the seed for a moment¡ªwas it really going to be that hard to get something that could boost his strength? He was weak already. The only thing that even kept him safe was his ability to learn faster than others and make use of his little resources.
It would have been nice if these Talents were at least good for... wait. The Talent said it would give information on crowd movements. That could actually work.
He had never pickpocketed before¡ªthe idea hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind. His father would have beaten him black and blue if he¡¯d even got a whiff of the idea. But one thing he at least understood about pickpocketing was that it was about timing. And knowing what a crowd would do, and where to go to find good targets, could help that quite a bit.
Chapter 23: Dont all heroes wear masks?
Hector raised the Talent up, taking in its form as the white light shimmered off its surface. [Street Reader]. The Talent wasn¡¯t good for cultivation, but it was more than useful for information gathering and setting up key points of interest. A smile came to his lips.
With this Talent, he¡¯d have a way to ensure that he and his friends got out of this operation okay. The Talent would also allow him to gain more coin pouches than he would have gotten without it.
This is actually a game-changer.
¡°System,¡± he said, gazing past the pedestals and into the endless void of the Talent Garden. ¡°I would like to merge this Talent into my soulscape.¡±
¡°Your request has been acknowledged. You may begin the transfer.¡±
Hector raised his arm up, the seed resting in his palm, his mind calming as the words surfaced. ¡°Bind [Street Reader] to my soul.¡± A moment of silence passed, but was then followed by a low thrum, like a distant explosion. Seconds later, a ring of light circled the area, closing the distance in seconds. It snapped by, passing through Hector as if he wasn¡¯t even there and slamming into the Talent.
The orb shook, humming with power before exploding from his hand and arcing through the air. It raced into the distant horizon like a shooting star, winking out of existence moments later. Hector sighed, focusing back on the two pedestals and the plant pots that sat atop them. These would birth new talents¡ªnew hopes, so to speak. In a way, he was happy that the two of them were duds.
He stepped back, creating some distance between himself and the pedestals, water sloshing at his feet. He rested a hand on his hip and looked on absentmindedly at the pedestal''s white marble. Maybe he had been wrong¡ªwell, he certainly hadn¡¯t been right.
Sighing, he lamented the fact that he almost wasted a skill that could prove crucial in the upcoming pickpocketing operation. Was he too focused on cultivation? Perhaps. But then again, in the face of true strength, Talents wouldn¡¯t be worth much¡ªat least not the ones he had now.
He grunted, lowering himself back onto the ground amidst the splashing of water as he got into the lotus position, breathing slowly. In the end, all that really mattered was that he¡¯d seen the light. Hector had his weaknesses, and in situations where Talents could make up for a difference in strength by coming at things from a different angle, he would be a fool to ignore them.
Well, let¡¯s see what else I can gain from this Talent Garden.
He paused. Hector had been in here for a while and had no doubt that the night had mostly gone by. If Mirae walked into his room, she would throw a tantrum¡ªif not a pillow as well. Any other time, he would not have minded, but this was important.
Hector frowned, nibbling on his bottom lip as he looked off into the void. The safety of his family and the success of the mission were more important. He¡¯d have to bear with a pillow to the face for now. Gaining cultivation Talents¡ªno, gaining versatile Talents was more important.
Though he knew he couldn¡¯t do this forever. At some point, he¡¯d have to continue cultivating. He was still [Gravity Forging-1] and had some ways to go before he could catch up to the others. But what should he focus on? If he spent all his time gathering Talents, eventually he¡¯d be left behind.
But if he didn¡¯t do it... He paused, slapping his forehead and sighing. All he needed to do was plant the seeds. He didn¡¯t have to sit here and babysit them¡ªwell, aside from giving them water every 8 hours. No, he could do both¡ªhe would do both.
I guess I¡¯ll do these ones, then do some cultivating.
The sun beat down on the cobblestone.
Hector watched the people hustle and bustle around the market, moving from one stall to the next, haggling and laughing. He wanted to be like them. Unburdened. But he didn¡¯t have the luxury. The money he did have came from his father¡ªonly to be used to buy supplies for the house.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
These people wouldn¡¯t understand, dressed in well-kept shirts and trousers that didn¡¯t have one hole in them. They may not have been noble, but they lived a far sight better than him. He glanced down, noting the large hole in his shirt sleeves. Another problem he¡¯d have to fix.
Sighing, Hector craned his neck, his gaze scanning people¡¯s faces as he moved through the Makall market¡ªa place he rarely frequented. Eventually, his eyes widened as he spotted his target. His hand shot into the air as he waved. ¡°Lincoln, Lincoln over here!¡±
The boy stood, hands in his pockets, looking around, as the light breeze curled through his brown hair. Dressed in his usual brown shirt¡ªby far the cleanest Hector had ever seen it¡ªand a pair of black trousers, Lincoln looked quite out of place for a slum rat.
Business must be going rather well for his mother as of late. Something must have happened recently.
A few moments later, Hector stood in front of him, opening his arms and going in for a hug. Lincoln smiled and leaned in, and the two of them patted each other on the back. ¡°You actually met up with me this time,¡± Lincoln said.
Hector paused, blanking, as his arms fell to his side.
¡°Don¡¯t tell me you forgot how you started searching through our trash pile a few days ago. Not even meeting me by the entrance as we had agreed.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Hector said, bringing his hand up to his cheek and scratching. He chuckled sheepishly, looking around for Marcus, who they¡¯d agreed to meet up with in the market. Hector had suggested meeting in the same place, but the boy claimed to have things to do, but he¡¯d be around¡ªthe guy seemed to find it hard to do nothing.
¡°I haven¡¯t seen him, and I¡¯ve been here for a while?¡± Lincoln said, sliding his hands into his pockets. ¡°But we are here for masks, so maybe he¡¯s by one of those stalls.¡±
¡°Damn,¡± Hector said. The Hilda festival allowed costumes, and Marcus had had the idea of wearing masks¡ªit was a good idea and would help if they needed to escape. After all, a lot of people would be dressed up. ¡°I guess we will have to have a stroll around the market. But just give me a second.¡± Hector bent down, reaching for the old worn-down sandals on his feet. Feeling for the [Street Reader] Talent within himself, he grabbed it and mentally tugged.
His brow scrunched as a soft ping echoed in his mind. In moments, his mind¡¯s eye filled with information on crowd movements within the market. A few stalls down from where he and Lincoln stood, the crowd would ease up in a few minutes. Further back, a larger crowd would swell as people seemed to be reacting to something. But the feeling was faint. Whatever it was likely wouldn¡¯t happen for a while¡ªthe picture wasn¡¯t clear.
This Talent is proving its worth already. If I were an actual criminal, I could wait for that crowd and fill my pockets. But I¡¯m not¡ªthis operation is a one-off. It will never happen again.
¡°You all good down there?¡± Lincoln said, leaning over Hector, looking at him with confusion, colouring his features. ¡°Tightening a buckle isn¡¯t that hard. I can get down there and help you myself if you are struggling.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Just missed the hole a few times is all,¡± Hector said, getting to his feet. ¡°Come on,¡± he moved past Lincoln and squeezed back into the crowd, heading for the thinning he¡¯d seen with his Talent. The market, much like any place, had its own natural ebb and flow. He was thankful he could now see it.
He weaved through the crowd, Lincoln shuffling behind. Once they got to the less crowded spot, it would hopefully be a bit easier to spot Marcus¡ªand if he was lucky, find the mask stall they were looking for. Every store was selling a mask or two¡ªthey¡¯d be fools to skip out on the profits the Hilda festival could bring, but according to Marcus, this stall sold masks all year round.
Hector hadn¡¯t heard of it before¡ªafter all, wasting money was not one of his habits¡ªperhaps in his old world, he could have afforded to, after all, who didn¡¯t love fancy dress? But here, that was a no-go.
People continued to shuffle by. Hector thought back to this morning, lamenting the fact that his dear sister had disturbed him¡ªthough it was expected. But it still sucked¡ªhe was right on the cusp of harvesting some new talents.
He would have continued, but she reminded him that he¡¯d agreed to meet up with Lincoln and Marcus today to find masks for the festival. It was easy to lose track of things in the Talent Garden, especially when he was making progress for once.
As Hector and Lincoln shuffled through the crowd, stepping on toes and being elbowed by people wrapped up in their own world, the amount of people started to reduce. It was slow at first¡ªhaving to dodge one less elbow or two¡ªbut the next thing Hector knew, he and Lincoln stood alone.
¡°Well, that was strange,¡± Lincoln said. ¡°Is it me, or did this place clear up quite a bit? I feel like we were swarmed a moment ago.¡±
Hector grunted, glancing down the bustling market where the crowd had grown denser. A smile crept across his lips. The talent had done its job finely¡ªwith a bit more practice, he could get this down to a science.
¡°Hector,¡± a voice said.
He turned, swivelling on his heels to the source of the voice. There he found Marcus. The boy was dressed in his usual brown suit, hair tied up in a bun, and in his hand, he held a book. Hector couldn¡¯t make out what was on its leather cover, but knowing Marcus, it was some form of poetry¡ªprobably some of Dawn Rose¡¯s work.
¡°We were just looking for you,¡± Hector said, gesturing at Lincoln as he walked over to Marcus. ¡°Where have you been anyway, and where are the masks you told us about?¡±
Lincoln nodded at Marcus as he stepped next to Hector. Marcus gave him a curt nod before turning back to Hector. ¡°The shop¡¯s just over there,¡± he said, pointing a little down the market, towards the direction Hector¡¯s Talent had said the crowd would swell.
Chapter 24: Is it hard to find a good deal?
Hector frowned. It was a strange coincidence to be sure, or maybe it wasn¡¯t, but at least they wouldn¡¯t be far from the action when it all kicked off.
At the very least, I¡¯ll get to see what kind of trouble my Talent can help me avoid. In a way, it¡¯s almost like a future-telling ability. I wonder how it compares to Mirae¡¯s [Dreams of Time] Talent.
¡°Well, now that I¡¯ve found you,¡± Marcus said, bringing his book to his chest¡ªHector had no doubt he was trying to show it off. The book was likely why he¡¯d come to the market, aside from the masks, that is. ¡°We should get going¡ªif my hunch is correct, this should be a good deal for us.¡±
¡°I hope so,¡± Hector said, jingling the sparse coins he had in his pocket. ¡°I don¡¯t exactly have a lot of money.¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Lincoln chimed, raising a hand and resting it on Hector¡¯s shoulder. ¡°My mom¡¯s had quite a few clients lately, so I¡¯ve got a few more coppers on me today.¡±
Hector raised a brow at Lincoln as he signalled for Marcus to lead the way. He¡¯d been right¡ªsomething must have happened. After all, business didn¡¯t just pick up for no reason, especially for a healer.
¡°Any idea where all this extra business is coming from?¡± Hector asked, following behind Marcus as he made his way through the market. Hector had a hunch that the new Scoda gang he¡¯d seen in the dumps the other day could be involved.
Lincoln took his hand off Hector¡¯s shoulder and brought his finger to his lip, tilting his head with a look of contemplation. ¡°I don¡¯t know, to be honest. I asked my mom, and she said it was something to do with a turf war. But I find that hard to believe. After all, the Collar gang has a large part of the slum under their influence¡ªcontrolling all of Sirius quarter and a large part of Yolda quarter in the north.¡±
More like a chokehold. Damn pig bastards.
¡°Yeah, who knows? Maybe a new gang tried to take over,¡± Hector said, glancing at a clay pot resting at the bottom of a stall they passed. It reminded him of the one they¡¯d had at home. ¡°I hear that happens a lot more frequently towards the edge of the slums closer to the city walls.¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Lincoln said, shrugging, ¡°But I can¡¯t¡ª¡±
¡°And this is it,¡± Marcus said, interrupting Lincoln.
Hector paused, regarding the stall for a moment. He¡¯d noticed it on the way over, but it didn¡¯t particularly stand out to him. Its outward appearance was like that of any market stall. The wares¡ªin this case, masks¡ªsat in large rectangular drawers, exposed to the elements, while the store owner sat elevated above them.
The man¡ªclearly well worn by time¡ªhad a short scruffy grey beard that connected with his thick sideburns. On his head, he wore a red hat that sagged off to the side, as he rested a weathered hand on the side of his face. He appeared to have grown tired of his day-to-day and was just waiting for his heart to give out.
¡°What can I do for you children?¡± he asked, his voice like broken cobblestone.
¡°You want to get the masks from here?¡± Lincoln said, looking between Marcus and Hector.
Marcus tilted his head, sliding a hand into his blazer. ¡°Is there something wrong with them? I assure you, we can get a good bulk deal here.¡±
Lincoln raised a brow and looked at Hector. It seemed like his friend wasn¡¯t too sure about the stall, but Hector couldn¡¯t see why. The store¡ªeven with its grumpy owner¡ªwas fine. The masks didn¡¯t look too expensive, and Marcus believed he could get a good deal.
Hector moved past Marcus and nodded at the stall owner. He regarded the masks. ¡°They look pretty good to me. As long as we can get a few, it should all be fine.¡± Hector smiled as he spotted a mask that looked familiar.
It had a similar style to the one he¡¯d seen a wrestler wear on TV, back on Earth. He missed watching TV, the simplicity of it all, just being able to turn your mind off. But now, in many ways, he was wearing a mask.
Sure, he was still the same Hector from this world, but he wasn¡¯t at the same time... There were feelings that he had, experiences he¡¯d lived, that no one could ever relate to¡ªunless he wasn¡¯t the only transmigrator from Earth. But he didn¡¯t know the chance of that.
All he could do right now was treat that part of him as little more than a dream. ¡°I like this one,¡± he said, pointing to the one that reminded him of the wrestler from Earth.
The old man perked up, scratching his grey beard and letting out a slight yawn. He rubbed a tear from his eye as he leaned forward, looking to where Hector had pointed. ¡°Ah, the Mysterious Ray pattern, that¡¯s a good one. I believe my grandson painted it some years ago now.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
I wonder why he went with that design?
The stall owner glanced at Lincoln and Marcus and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you two children buying anything, or is it just your friend here?¡±
¡°Umm...¡± Lincoln stammered as he stepped forward, his eyes looking from mask to mask. ¡°I-I did need one, umm...¡±
The stall owner paused and brought his hand to his chin, rubbing at his beard as his beady eyes scrutinized Lincoln. ¡°Don¡¯t I know you from somewhere, child?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t believe so,¡± Lincoln said, lowering his head. It struck Hector as odd that he would do that. After all, Lincoln didn¡¯t have much to hide, and he stayed out of trouble¡ªfor the most part, anyway.
Hector turned toward Marcus, who stood off to the side with his book clutched to his chest. He was looking around like a child who had lost his mother. Hector spared a glance at Lincoln as he walked over¡ªthey could talk about what had him so spooked later.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, Marcus? Who are you looking for?¡± Hector asked, glancing around the market. From the looks of things, the crowd that his Talent had picked up earlier was starting to grow.
Even from where he stood, what sounded like shouting could be heard over the general chatter of the market. What was going on? It couldn¡¯t be anything too big. Perhaps an impromptu street performance¡ªthose did happen from time to time when a street performer was feeling particularly creative.
¡°Oh, no one,¡± Marcus said, turning back to the stall. ¡°Have you picked a mask yet? Oh, don¡¯t forget to pick ones for the girls as well.¡±
Hector raised an eyebrow but turned back to the stall. A low groan escaped his mouth as he thought about what mask to pick out for the girls. What would they even like? There wasn¡¯t exactly one that looked overly girly, and he had a suspicion that Nyx wouldn¡¯t exactly be thrilled to receive something that was pink¡ªthe girl seemed to love black.
You know what? I¡¯ll get one for Mirae and Jodie. Those two are easy enough. And leave the other two to these guys.
Hector made to walk back to the drawers, but paused, turning back to Marcus. ¡°Why were you so confident you could get us a good deal, anyway? Do you know this old man?¡± he said, thumbing behind him.
Marcus¡¯ shoulders sagged as he looked down at his book and went quiet. This lasted for a few moments, but eventually, he spoke, his eyes watery. ¡°Well, I had¡ª¡±
A scream pierced the air, ringing out like a bell, stunning Hector. His head snapped to the crowd that had gathered, now at the density that his Talent had predicted. On one hand, he was glad¡ªthe Talent had worked, and the gathered crowd had nothing to do with them. But on the other, whatever was going on seemed bad.
Hector turned back to Lincoln, who held a mask in his hand, trying his best to avoid eye contact with the stall owner. The man kept stroking his beard, looking at Lincoln before going back off into a daydream. Whatever was going on between those two, it was starting to get a bit awkward.
¡°I¡¯m going to go look at what¡¯s going on,¡± Hector said. ¡°Do you want¡ª¡±
¡°Lead the way,¡± Lincoln snapped, resting the mask back down into the drawer and hurrying over like someone had thrown him a rope. What was going on with these two? They were all over the place.
I¡¯ll need to sit and have a chat with them later. We can¡¯t have this on the day of the operation, or we might be in some trouble.
Hector made his way past Marcus, signalling for the boy to follow as Lincoln trailed behind. For now, he needed to see what was going on in that crowd¡ªhis Talent just let him know that the crowd would gather but nothing else.
Hector pushed into the crowd, moving into the body-odor-choked cluster of people. A few of the people pushed against him, but their efforts amounted to little. He was a Mana Cultivator¡ªthe average person wouldn¡¯t get too far in a contest of strength.
After a few moments and bruising a few amongst the crowd¡¯s ribs, Hector made it to the front of the crowd, with Lincoln and Marcus just behind him. There, he found a group of four boys. One lay on the damp cobblestone while three others stood over him with smug grins.
The three appeared to be Farmhands, Middlecians who worked on the farms at the edge of the city, right up against the walls. They were a well-respected group, for the most part¡ªdue to their affiliation with the Glademoors, one of the three Great Families. But there were those who felt their status as Farmhands put them above the average slum dweller.
¡°I told you before, you pig. Is your brain made of grim-grain, or are you just slow? If I say you are to follow me, you will do so.¡±
The one who spoke was a boy dressed in dark green robes, accented with black stripes and gold trimming¡ªcustomary for a Farmhand. Pinned onto his breast was a small badge in the shape of a pitchfork. The other two beside him were dressed in the same way, all of them sneering as they looked at the boy on the floor.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: No talent found...x4
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Well, it couldn¡¯t hurt to look. But seriously, what¡¯s his problem? Even for a Farmhand, this is going a bit too far.
¡°Hector,¡± Lincoln said, his voice barely a whisper, ¡°they¡¯re Mana Cultivators.¡±
Hector¡¯s thoughts slowed, and he began regarding the Farmhands more closely. It was subtle, but Mana Cultivators had movements that could give them away, though it was easier for other Mana Cultivators, with their enhanced sense, to pick them up.
¡°Well, that¡¯s not right,¡± Hector said, looking back at Lincoln, who seemed just as confused. Farmhands were usually mortal for the most part. Those who cultivated would usually be of a higher rank. After all, the higher rank you were, the more contact you had with the Great House and their resources.
A low-ranked farmhand wouldn¡¯t waste their time cultivating if they could spend more time working the farm, climb the ranks, and thus surpass the growth of an average slum dweller with the high-end resources they would receive.
¡°Delworth,¡± Marcus said with a whimper. Hector turned to find his friend covering his mouth with a hand, staring wide-eyed at the boy, who lay with his arm twisted out of place on the cobblestone.
¡°Do you know him?¡± Hector asked, narrowing his eyes at the three farmhands.
¡°Yes. He¡¯s my cousin.¡±
That was all Hector needed to hear. With a grunt, he kicked off the cobblestone, the wind whipping by as he surged towards the three Farmhands. He leapt off the ground, raising a knee as he sailed through the air, before slamming it into the lead farmhand¡¯s back.
Chapter 25: Who is this guy exactly?
A grunt escaped the boy¡¯s mouth as he sailed forward, slamming into the ground and rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. The chatter of the crowd paused, all falling silent as they took in what happened.
Hector watched as the boy groaned and climbed to his feet, cursing. The boy had taken the hit surprisingly well¡ªthough he was a Mana Cultivator, so that was to be expected.
¡°Who do you think you are?¡± the boy said, raising a veiny finger and jabbing it at Hector. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯ve just attacked, who you¡¯ve just insulted?¡±
¡°No, not really,¡± Hector said. ¡°And I don¡¯t care. You messed with someone, and now I¡¯m messing with you.¡±
The boy¡¯s eyes went wide, seething with rage. It was as if he were a noble and Hector had insulted his house¡ªthough, if he were the kind of Farmhand Hector assumed he was, then it probably felt like that to him.
¡°Glimleck!¡± the boy screeched, whipping his hand to the side. ¡°Beat this piece of slum trash into the cobblestone.¡±
Across from Hector, a plain-faced Farmhand nodded. He then turned toward Hector. ¡°Your sneak attack worked once. I hope you enjoyed that.¡± The boy charged and slammed his fist forward.
Hector took a step back, raising his arm and blocking the blow with his elbow. He felt the crunch of the boy¡¯s knucklebone amidst the gasp of the crowd. On instinct, Hector turned his head, finding the pompous fool¡ªnow off the cobblestone¡ªwith his fist driving through the air. It slammed into Hector¡¯s cheek, dropping him to his knee.
And they judged me for launching a sneak attack, though I guess I can¡¯t complain. I started it.
A shadow passed over Hector, and he glanced up, spotting Lincoln. The boy¡¯s fist rammed into the side of the pompous boy¡¯s face. Lincoln then swivelled and bore a kick from the third Farmhand, who then shot forward, swinging wildly as Lincoln casually dodged to the side.
It was poor technique on the Farmhand¡¯s part, though it made sense. One, they weren¡¯t trained in a dojo, and two, they were Farmhands¡ªfrom what Hector had heard¡ªthey didn¡¯t gain their techniques till much later ranks. So why were these guys in the Gravity Forging realm in the first place?
Shaking off the thoughts, Hector launched off the ground, barreling at the pompous boy with another Orion Leaping Strike. He seemed to be the leader, so it was perhaps best to take him out first. But Hector missed as the boy stepped out of the way. Not faltering, he raised his hands, following the Orion fist technique, and began raining a flurry of blows onto the boy¡¯s chest. Each blow landing with resounding thuds.
A grunt came from behind him. But before he could turn, Lincoln was popping up from between his still-swinging arms. Shooting straight up, like a jack-in-the-box. Lincoln ploughed his fist straight into the pompous boy¡¯s chin, delivering an uppercut. The blow snapped the boy¡¯s head back as his feet briefly left the ground, and he was sent falling flat onto the cobblestone, knocked out cold.
One of the other Farmhands circled to the front, blocking the boy on the floor. His friend rushed in a few seconds later and scooped the unconscious boy up amidst the jeering of the crowd. They rushed back, forcing their way through the crowd as Hector watched on, with Lincoln at his side.
¡°I had him,¡± Hector said. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to get involved.¡±
Lincoln chuckled, slapping Hector on the back and shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m sure you did. But we all need a little help sometimes. How is your cheek?¡±
Hector raised a hand, bringing it to his cheek and rubbing it. It hummed with a low pain. Pain that he¡¯d grown used to. It wasn¡¯t much. He¡¯d had worse. ¡°I¡¯ll be alright.¡± Hector then looked over at the boy Marcus had called Delworth.
He was a thin boy¡ªmuch like many in the slums. Delworth no doubt struggled to get a good meal. He wore a thin black lace-up shirt and a pair of brown leather trousers. On his feet were sandals that looked marginally better than Hector¡¯s¡ªthough not by much.
Marcus rushed over, dropping to one knee and steadying himself with one hand on the damp cobblestone while the other rested on his cousin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What did they want this time?¡±
This time? So it wasn¡¯t just a one-off. I hope we didn¡¯t just make things worse for him.
The crowd began to clear out¡ªwith no show to occupy their mundane lives; they had to get back to them. Hector made his way over to Marcus and his cousin, Lincoln, trailing behind him and glancing around at the crowd.
¡°Are you okay?¡± Hector asked. ¡°Can you stand?¡± His arm most definitely looked screwed up¡ªunless Marcus¡¯s cousin was weirdly double-jointed, he¡¯d need to get that seen. Though luckily they knew someone. Hector glanced at Lincoln, who gave him a knowing nod.
Misses Clearwater should give him a discount, if she doesn¡¯t do it for free. Even I feel sorry for him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
The boy looked pathetic. His hair was a mess, dirt and specks of blood splotched its fringes and his clothes were torn in places. The boy smiled at Hector. It was weak and filled with undisguised pain. ¡°I think so. It¡¯s just my arm. My legs should be fine. Are you two friends of Marcus?¡±
Hector raised an eyebrow at the boy¡¯s manner of speech. He¡¯d thought the Farmhand was just being rude earlier, but maybe he was a bit... Though, perhaps it was just the shock of it all. Hector reached an arm out for the boy to grab as the crowd began to flow by once again. He¡¯d have to try his Talent again once the cooldown was done.
Delworth, gripping Hector¡¯s outstretched hand with his good arm, clambered to his feet aided by Marcus, who slung an arm around him to assist as a stifled cry of pain seeped through Delworth¡¯s lips.
The boy took several deep breaths before patting Marcus¡¯s back, signalling for some space.
Marcus let go, stepping back as Delworth let out a low sigh and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to save me. I¡¯m Delworth. Marcus¡¯s cousin.¡±
Hector nodded.
¡°I hope you aren¡¯t too annoyed.¡± He glanced at Marcus, the two of them sharing a look. ¡°I was meant to meet you by the Mask stall. Old Digby knows me. I didn¡¯t wish to be late. Things got out of hand.¡±
¡°No need to apologize,¡± Lincoln said. ¡°How were you meant to know that those Farmhands would do that? Have they been giving you trouble in the past?¡±
Delworth paused and frowned, looking to the cobblestone, then looked back up. ¡°I should have known. Forget about it. We should get your masks?¡±
Lincoln¡¯s mouth parted, but whatever he was going to say, he held it back. He instead looked at Marcus, which was probably for the best. As much as they were all friends, Hector understood that it was up to Marcus and his family if they wanted to talk about it¡ªbut if he could help, or Marcus was in need of it, Hector wouldn¡¯t hesitate.
I may not keep to my father¡¯s teachings all the time, but I can still do what is right.
Marcus, for his part, looked nervously from his cousin to Hector, fidgeting. If he wanted to say something, it wouldn¡¯t be coming anytime soon. Eventually, after a few awkward moments of silence, Hector decided that it would have to be on the back burner for a while.
¡°Let¡¯s go get the masks then,¡± Hector said, turning and walking toward the stall. The other three followed behind. But after a moment, Lincoln fell into step next to him.
¡°This probably isn¡¯t a good time,¡± Lincoln¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, ¡°but do you think this Old Digby guy will give us an even bigger discount now, seeing as...¡± He gestured behind them with his eyebrows.
¡°Yeah, Lincoln,¡± Hector said. ¡°It¡¯s probably not a good time to be asking that.¡±
Lincoln shrugged, seemingly happy to put that line of questioning to rest, which was probably for the best¡ªthey had saved the boy. No need to start exploiting him immediately after. Hector loved Lincoln, but sometimes he said the stupidest things.
After a few moments, they were back at the Mask stall. The old man still sat on his chair, his weathered hand resting on the side of his face as he looked on absentmindedly. Bored. Unbothered.
¡°Hello Old Digby. I have come to buy some masks,¡± Delworth said, letting out a wince as he smiled at the stall owner.
¡°Ah, Del boy¡ªWhat in the great lake happened to you?¡± Old Digby said, snapping from his seat. ¡°Your arm. It¡¯s all out of place.¡±
¡°Yes. But me and my friends have come for masks,¡± Delworth said. He gestured to Hector and then to Lincoln. ¡°My cousin has told me they have found some. He would like to pick out a few. We can then work out a deal.¡± Delworth then did¡ªwhat was most likely a wink, but it came out strained and oddly clumsy, like it was his first time trying to do it.
¡°Uh...¡± The stall owner looked between Hector and Delworth, then from Delworth to Marcus. ¡°Well, alright then, I¡¯m sure we can work something out. But then you have to head straight to a healer.¡±
Yep, this guy is definitely not normal. He¡¯s even got the old man more interested in life.
After a few moments of searching, followed by the old man urging them on so Delworth could get checked, they left the stall with six masks in total. Delworth had apparently been informed by Marcus about the operation and was now interested in helping out¡ªapparently, he didn¡¯t have many friends and it sounded fun.
Which was odd enough, but Hector got the feeling that Marcus may not have emphasized how serious this operation was¡ªthat or much like his arm, the seriousness of the matter was lost on Delworth. Hector wasn¡¯t doing this for the fun of it. He had a debt to repay.
¡°So, why were those Farmhands after you anyway?¡± Hector asked, as they all made their way through the market, heading for the exit. Hector needed to know what he had gotten himself into¡ªthat, and Delworth was now involved in something that was meant to be a group secret.
¡°Well...¡±
¡°Come on, it can¡¯t be that bad,¡± Lincoln said, fiddling with his mask. He brushed by someone and almost dropped it, but was quick with the recovery. ¡°Besides, if anything, we will just knock them out again.¡±
¡°Stop messing around,¡± Hector said, glaring at Lincoln. ¡°But he¡¯s right, we¡¯ve got your back.¡±
¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s bad. Hammond, the leader of the group, has been bothering me,¡± Delworth said, clutching his side and letting out a wince. ¡°He said I can be useful. He said I could be great. I should follow him. He will show me how to be more than a pig... I didn¡¯t want to go.¡±
¡°Not surprised,¡± Lincoln said. ¡°The guy¡¯s closer to an actual pig himself. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he warmed his bed with a few.¡±
¡°Lincoln!¡± Hector snapped.
¡°Sorry, sorry, continue, Del boy.¡±
¡°It¡¯s Delworth. Only Old Digby can call me Del boy,¡± Delworth said, turning his head to give Lincoln a blank stare. ¡°But I rejected Hammond again today. It made him angry. He did this.¡± He raised his good arm and gestured to the twisted one.
Spotting the exit a little way down the market, Hector stopped walking. The group did the same. He looked over at Delworth and then turned to Marcus. ¡°We were thinking...¡± he said, gesturing his hand toward Lincoln, ¡°he could follow us back to the Sirius quarter, to get looked over by Lincoln¡¯s mom.¡±
Marcus lived on the other edge of the slum, and Hector had never seen Delworth around. So it stood to reason that he didn¡¯t come from the Sirius quarter¡ªbut then again, he could have spent all his time at home. He didn¡¯t have any friends, after all.
¡°That sounds good,¡± Marcus said. Cocking his head, he turned to Delworth and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you want to do that? You can then spend the night at my house if you want to. I¡¯m sure Father would be happy to see you.¡±
Delworth rubbed his side and raised his hand, dabbing it on his battered lip. ¡°I think that would be good. Uncle has a well-maintained house.¡±
¡°To my house then,¡± Lincoln said. He skipped by, slapping Hector on the back and flashing a cheeky smile.
Hector sighed. They weren¡¯t kids... but he¡¯d be damned if he didn¡¯t pound the fact they needed to grow up into Lincoln. ¡°Get back here, you idiot.¡±
Chapter 26: Late Night Discussion
Emela reached for the crystal door handle and pulled. The door opened, gliding smoothly past as she stepped by, tightening her towel with one hand. She stepped into her room, feeling the soft carpet embrace her feet.
By her bed, Nyx stood, leaning over as she laid out Emela¡¯s clothes for the night. A loose white nightgown and white undergarments¡ªthe usual for this time of year. Noticing her arrival, the maid looked up and smiled. ¡°Are you feeling better, Mistress?¡± she asked, turning to face her.
Raising a hand, Emela rubbed her forehead, feeling the dull pang of pain from her bruise. She nodded, her gaze passing over Nyx, moving to the girl¡¯s side. The wound from yesterday was no doubt still there, covered by her uniform, but her friend did well to mask her pain.
¡°I¡¯m doing well. Nothing a bath couldn¡¯t fix,¡± Emela said, making her way across the carpet and to her bed. The moonlight filtered across the room, dappling her sheets with light as it passed through the clouds. Emela turned her head, looking out of the large glass window¡ªvery much the centrepiece of her room. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. She actually had us fight a beast for a punishment.¡±
Nyx raised an eyebrow and gave a small nod. ¡°It was much more than the both of us could handle, but I believe that was the point, Mistress.¡± Nyx bent back over and smoothed out a crease she¡¯d found in the nightgown. ¡°It was meant to be impossible.¡±
Emela loosened her towel regarding Nyx as it dropped to the soft carpet. ¡°And what does an impossible situation even teach me? Teach us?¡± she said, reaching forward and plucking her undergarments from the bed.
Nyx brought a finger to her lips and looked out of the window, moonlight dancing across her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but knowing the Lady, she was hoping we would fight to the end.¡±
I don¡¯t doubt that in the slightest; she probably enjoyed watching us struggle.
Emela pulled the undergarments over her head, smiling as the sweet smell of roses hit her¡ªNyx had picked a good perfume today. She felt a tug on her shirt as Nyx moved to assist her. The maid helped slide it on, making sure not to be too rough.
Emela popped her head out of her undergarments, puffing her hair out of her face. ¡°We did fight to the end though¡ªwell, I at least tried to. But all it taught me was not to fight giant fish underwater.¡±
Nyx, kneeling on the carpet, straightened out the frills on Emela¡¯s undergarments before looking up. Her blue eyes were as calm as ever. ¡°That is true, but you at least got some inspiration. What you did with the Ice disk at the end was quite smart. Much better than using it to avoid sewage.¡±
Emela grunted as Nyx moved over to the bed and carefully scooped up the nightgown. ¡°It was a bit of a lucky shot,¡± Emela said. ¡°But I¡¯m glad it worked. If I had been stronger, I could have done more. Drion would have never been in that position.¡±
¡°You give him too much credit.¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Emela said, raising her arms. Nyx positioned the nightgown over her and then slid it down. The smooth silk caressed Emela¡¯s skin, sending a tingle running down her spine. ¡°Either way, that didn¡¯t go to plan at all¡ªnot that there really was one.¡±
Nyx patted down her nightgown. She then took a step back and regarded Emela¡ªshe loved looking over her work to make sure everything was as it should be. ¡°No, there wasn¡¯t a plan, yet we still did a good job.¡±
¡°I hope so.¡± Emela stepped away from her bed, making her way over to her window¡ªto the soft-furred seat beneath it. She looked out the window as she climbed onto the chair and got comfortable. Nyx trailed behind, coming to a stop at the window seat¡¯s edge. She wouldn¡¯t be sitting.
¡°I never thought that I would step foot in those slums,¡± Emela said, looking out at the distant cityscape. Various pristine buildings lined the view, with the large and imposing Great House mansions being noticeable even from where she sat¡ªafter all, the Great Families wanted to be as far apart from each other as they possibly could.
The slums, in comparison, were a distant haze out in the darkness. Torch lights looked like stars dotted amongst the night sky. It would be beautiful if she didn¡¯t already know what the slums were like¡ªthe stink of it all, and the suffering.
But still. It has a certain charm that I can¡¯t quite ignore. The freedom of responsibility the people have there. With enough strength, you can do whatever you want. Not like here.
¡°Do you think we could live there?¡± Emela said, turning her head to Nyx. ¡°Do you think that we could survive there if we left the family?¡±Stolen story; please report.
¡°You wish to run away?¡±
Shaking her head, Emela let out a sigh and looked down. A moment later, she looked back, right into Nyx¡¯s eyes. ¡°And if I were looking to run away to the slums, do you think I could... Do you think we could survive there?¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Nyx¡¯s shoulders slackened, but her face remained the picture of calm¡ªit was as if they weren¡¯t talking about upending her entire life. ¡°I think if we did go, it would be hard. Do you know what they eat in the slums? Do you know how they sleep? I do, and it¡¯s nothing like this.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t think I could handle it?¡± Emela asked. She raised an eyebrow and reclined into the seat¡¯s fur. ¡°I think I could. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, but I could carve out a life for myself. My strength actually amounts to something down there.¡±
¡°You misunderstand me, Mistress.¡± Nyx looked away, her eye briefly catching the moonlight in a twinkle of blue. ¡°Life would be different down there. Things that you take for granted up here would be gone down there. Forget a life of luxury¡ªevery day would be a struggle.¡±
¡°Our friends can do it. You once lived there yourself,¡± Emela said.
¡°I did. But that was a long time ago. I was an orphan back then. If I hadn¡¯t been taken in by...¡± Nyx trailed off. ¡°You are right, though. Your strength in the slums is quite significant. If you discount the larger groups.¡±
Esmerelda¡¯s death still haunts her, even after all these years.
Emela turned her head, looking back out at Middlec, and sighed. She eyed the distant light of the slum as she thought about the possibilities. ¡°With my strength, I could form my own group. I¡¯m sure our friends would be willing to join us. We could carve out a chunk of the slum for ourselves. Think of it. From Frostkeep to Frostqueen.¡±
Nyx coughed.
¡°It¡¯s a working title,¡± Emela said, scratching her reddening cheeks. ¡°But my point still stands. I could actually be valued down there, instead of being used as a bargaining tool, sold off to a lesser house like some slave.¡±
¡°That is true. You would be valued, and who knows? We wouldn¡¯t have to stay in the slums.¡± Nyx shifted on her feet, her maid uniform shuffling as she readjusted herself. ¡°You could perhaps join a mercenary group, venture outside Middlec and see the wilds.¡±
¡°Hmmm... I guess I could do that. But that would just put me under someone else¡¯s rules. No, I would have to just start my own mercenary group. That way, I would be in control.¡±
¡°Build a group, take on quests and do more than you thought possible within these walls,¡± Nyx said. ¡°That sounds great. And I would support you through all of it. But I fear that you are underestimating your family, Mistress.¡±
¡°I know,¡± Emela said, thinking back to the time in the grand hall when her father had announced she would be marrying that pig, Ulric. It was clear her family would abandon her if she didn¡¯t agree¡ªin many ways, they already had. But abandoning and fleeing were two separate things.
Were she to flee the family, she would immediately put herself at risk, as well as anyone that helped her. No, it was a nice idea, but if she were to flee her family, it would have to be a last resort.
¡°Furthermore, Mistress,¡± Nyx said, ¡°it¡¯s easy to idealize this. But what do you think the average day for you would be like in the slum? How would you get yourself off the ground?¡±
Emela shifted, looking down at her hands resting on her leg. The silk of her nightgown fluttered gently as it was caught by a breeze. What would her day-to-day be like? Perhaps she could do what she always did¡ªit was already normal to meet Hector by the fountain. And he worked at the city¡¯s dumping grounds, so she could do the same for a short time.
¡°You could never be who you are now, Mistress. You would have to be someone else. Let¡¯s not forget that the slum dwellers don¡¯t exactly like nobles either.¡±
Bringing her hand to her chest, Emela¡¯s finger glided across her collarbone as the cold night air tickled her cheek. The slum dwellers didn¡¯t like nobles¡ªin all honesty, it was more apt to say they hated them. And not without reason. Emela wasn¡¯t blind to what the nobles had done to those below them¡ªthe Nightcroft Incident was a good example. But still.
In the slums, Emela felt a freedom she¡¯d never felt. It was as if for the first time in her life she was her true self. Her mind went back. Back to when she¡¯d first stumbled onto Hector in the city dump. She wasn¡¯t supposed to talk to anyone. But he¡¯d seemed so different, so interesting.
So, even though she should have been looking for something, something she had stupidly thrown out, she became distracted. With a slum dweller, no less. ¡°I know, Nyx. I would have to tell him. I¡¯d have to tell all of them.¡±
¡°And I don¡¯t think they would take it too well, do you?¡± Nyx asked.
Emela raised a hand, placing it on the cool glass of the window. She¡¯d have to tell them eventually, so what difference did it make? ¡°You know, the only people that would really care would probably be Jodie and Hector. Lincoln and Marcus don¡¯t strike me as the type to seem too bothered. Especially Marcus.¡±
¡°That may be true, but still.¡± Nyx combed her fingers through her black hair as the moonlight reflected off her cheek. Turning to Emela, she smiled. ¡°Besides, if we were to leave, who would look after Claymore?¡± Nyx said, resting her gaze on her.
Emela sighed as Nyx continued. ¡°Your younger brother is the only one of your siblings that¡¯s shown some promise of actually being normal. Could you leave him to be warped by the others?¡±
¡°Claymore,¡± Emela said, her voice barely a whisper. What would he do without her? He was still so young, so impressionable. He was a bright child; his spirit root hadn¡¯t developed yet, but Emela had no doubt that he would be impressive. Her ninth brother was the only one she actually cared for, aside from her mother¡ªeven though the woman strived to make that difficult.
¡°In all honesty, Mistress, if you do run, it would be difficult, and I think the family would hunt you down. But I do feel we would be able to trust our friends.¡±
¡°And if they catch us?¡± Emela said, locking eyes with Nyx. ¡°What then, what will you do?¡±
¡°If they catch us, Mistress, then I will die knowing I served you well.¡±
Chapter 27: Dont you love it when a plan starts?
Emela¡¯s gaze rested on Nyx, her heart swelling with pain. It was wrong. Why should Nyx have to die for her decisions? It was so... wrong. Emela looked back to the city, holding back the tears that threatened to seep out.
¡°It¡¯s just an idea, anyway. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m planning to do anything soon,¡± Emela said, raising her hand and pulling at the ends of one of her ponytails that rested on her chest. Knotted. She¡¯d need to have Nyx redo them tomorrow; for now, they needed to go.
¡°That is true,¡± Nyx said, moving behind her. She grabbed Emela¡¯s other ponytail and began undoing it. ¡°You do have more pressing concerns at the moment.¡±
¡°You mean Hector¡¯s operation?¡±
¡°Are you actually going to pickpocket those people?¡± Nyx asked. Emela thought she heard a faint accusation in the maid¡¯s voice.
I don¡¯t doubt I would lose some respect in her eyes if I actually went through with it. Oh Nyx, do you really think so low of me?
¡°No. I plan to just use some of my savings and claim that I stole it. We have different areas to work in any way, so they shouldn¡¯t ask too many questions.¡±
¡°Would you like me to count it out?¡± Nyx asked.
Emela opened her mouth to speak, but paused. She could do it herself, but she didn¡¯t know what was a good amount to bring. The last thing she needed was to come back with more money than anyone would rightfully have at a festival in the slums. No, that would bring too many questions¡ªquestions she didn¡¯t want to answer.
¡°Yes, you can count them out,¡± she said, pulling out the last of her braid, letting it fall to the side in a blonde waterfall of hair. ¡°I want it to look like we were effective, but not too much.¡±
¡°It will be done, Mistress.¡±
---
Red and yellow confetti fell from the sky.
Hector watched the lively flakes dazzle through the air, their beauty enhanced further in the bright morning sun. They had picked the perfect day for the festival. The weather was calm, with little to no wind, and the humidity was low¡ªit was great.
The sound of various instruments beat through the air, colouring the noise of people with the soft undertone of rhythm. Hector crossed his arms as he watched the people enjoy the festival, showered in the flitters of red and yellow. People laughed and played and cheered and sang, going about their days with bright smiles.
Marcus¡ªnow much calmer than a few days ago¡ªcrouched behind him. He was looking at the lowest shelf of the stall¡ªhis father¡¯s stall. Mr. Pennybrook had asked him to make sure that the displays were set up nicely. Which made zero sense. Hector had no doubt that the man had looked over them himself before even asking Marcus to do the same.
¡°They look good,¡± Marcus said, adjusting one of the talismans, named Slow Worm¡ªapparently using mana to create worms that turned over dirt was a valuable skill. The thing sold for two silver coins.
If I sold at least ten of those, I could feed Mirae and Dad for at least three months.
But he would make more than that; he had to. He didn¡¯t know how much money his father owed the collar gang¡ªthe man still wouldn¡¯t even tell him what he owed them for¡ªbut he would get as much as he possibly could.
And his new talents would hopefully help with that. ¡°I¡¯m going to check on Mirae,¡± Hector said, walking away from Marcus, moving through the stall¡ªwhich was more like a full-on shop than anything resembling a stall. He stepped through the door, and stopped, looking back, ¡°Are you going to be alright with the rest?¡±
¡°Yeah, I should be. I¡¯m going to give it a quick look,¡± Marcus paused, biting his thumbnail. ¡°From top to bottom, then I should be in. Oh, and tell Delworth to bring me the list; I think one of these talismans should be inside the stall.¡±
¡°Will do,¡± Hector said, tapping the stall¡¯s doorframe and flashing Marcus a smile. It was much better to see his friend like this. Focused. Determined. Driven. It was that Marcus that had actually shown Hector that there was more to this world than struggling with your fists¡ªthough having a lot of strength certainly made things easier.
Smiling, he walked further into the stall. It was cramped and shaded in a yellow hue from the lanterns hooked into various corners. Hector summoned his system screen and looked over his two new Talents.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªThe author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
///: Spark Capacitor: Once every 6 hours, the user may activate this Talent. Once active, the user¡¯s legs are charged with energy, allowing them to move faster when running.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Resonant Shout: Once every 12 hours, the user may unleash a focused shout at a single enemy within range. If the target cannot resist the shout, they are brought to their knees.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
He had grown these talents last night¡ªit hadn¡¯t taken him too long, and he even got in a good night¡¯s sleep. He even put on another three talents to grow. The decision wasn¡¯t too hard; two of them were just repeats of the smelling skill and the light ball, and the last was... disappointing. When would he ever need to hold his breath underwater? He hadn¡¯t ever left the city and seen the great lake beyond the wall and probably wouldn¡¯t for the foreseeable future. .
But these skills were different. Hector ducked under a lantern that hung from the stall-slash-shop canopied roof. With these two skills, if anything went wrong¡ªtouch wood¡ªhe would be able to flee with some ease. Though the cooldown was annoying. He¡¯d have to choose wisely when he¡¯d use them.
As he moved further through the store, he spotted Delworth. Dressed much more formally than he was a few days prior, he wore a simple white shirt overlaid with a black blazer and a pair of black trousers. On his feet were a pair of fine leather sandals¡ªthey made the ones Hector had on look like trash found in the dump, which would have been true. He didn¡¯t have money to burn, after all.
¡°Delworth,¡± Hector called to the boy. He looked up from the talisman he had in his hand and smiled.
¡°How can I help you?¡± Delworth said, placing the talisman back on the shelf and walking towards him. ¡°Is everything alright outside?¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine. Marcus just asked me to get you. He wants you to bring him the list of talismans.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Delworth frowned. ¡°Is there something wrong with one of them? I told Uncle that the beast blood he got was bad. I should get out there.¡± He turned and raced deeper into the stall before coming back with a list. He brushed past Hector and headed for the door.
¡°Hold on. Where is Mirae?¡± Hector called. He had come to the stall with his sister earlier on in the day¡ªshe claimed that even though they were doing something wrong, it was still good to get a head start.
¡°She¡¯s in the back with uncle. She is setting everything up,¡± Delworth called.
Hector shrugged and headed deeper into the cramped¡ªyet organized¡ªstall, taking in the different array of talismans all over the place. It was incredible. Even more so was the fact that this stall was only set up for the Hilda festival. Marcus¡¯s father actually had a store at the edge of the slums.
It was a wonder that with all that money, he¡¯d never once considered having Marcus cultivate. But then again, he was a businessman¡ªbesides, Marcus didn¡¯t exactly have the temperament of a fighter. That much was clear, especially with what happened the other day.
Hector passed by the stall¡¯s cash desk and stepped into its back room, dimly lit by lantern light, which jerked shadows all over the fabric walls of the stall. There, he found Mirae standing over a desk with Mr. Pennybrook beside her, showing her some talismans.
¡°This one here is called a stone skin talisman,¡± he said. ¡°It is perfect for those who wish to forgo a shield and charge recklessly into battle.¡± The man, dressed in a smart shirt and tight-fitting blazer, with a pair of black trousers and shiny black shoes, smiled as he showed her his wares.
And for her part, Mirae looked interested; her white eyebrows were raised in delight as her purple eyes focused in on everything that he was showing her. Dressed in crushed brown shorts and a tattered white shirt, she was quite the contrast to Mr Pennybrook¡ªthough there wasn¡¯t anyone from the slums that he wouldn¡¯t contrast with.
¡°Everything alright?¡± Hector said, stepping down into the room.
Mirae turned, her face lighting up into a bright smile. She walked towards him, her waterfall of blonde hair bobbing as she went. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s great! Mr. Pennybrook was just showing me his work.¡±
¡°I saw that,¡± Hector said, nodding to the man before looking back at his sister. ¡°And what did you think of the talismans?¡±
¡°They are incredible. I mean, I just recently became a Mana Cultivator so I can¡¯t fully appreciate it yet, but it¡¯s very impressive. I especially like the silent step one; it allows its user to cover the sound of their footsteps, allowing them to sneak around.¡±
¡°Why do you like that one?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow. Mirae didn¡¯t really have any reasons to be stealthy¡ªno reason he knew about, anyway. As far as he was aware, she spent most of her time in the garden growing plants.
She chuckled shyly and looked at the ground. ¡°Well, you see, there is a bird that comes to the garden every now and then, and I¡¯d like to get closer to it. But every time I try, it always ends up flying away.¡±
Bird watching. His sister wanted to use a high-end product so she could sneak up on a little bird. Hector would have laughed if she didn¡¯t look so cute. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure one day you will get to see the bird up close, especially as your level of cultivation increases.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure she will,¡± Mr. Pennybrook said, walking over. ¡°How is everything going out there, young lad? Has Marcus finished the checks?¡±
¡°Yeah, when I left, he was just finishing up, though he did say that there may be something wrong with the placements of one of the talismans.¡±
The older man chuckled, and a look of satisfaction came to his eye. ¡°So, he noticed, did he? Looks like he¡¯s on track to pass all my tests today. That boy is going places, let me tell you.¡±
¡°Tests?¡± Hector asked, turning to his sister in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
The man shook his head and walked back over to the table. He began taking talismans off the desk that he and Mirae were standing over a minute ago. ¡°It¡¯s just some preparations I¡¯m putting the boy through; he is my son and heir, after all.¡±
¡°Huh...¡±
¡°Hector!¡± a voice¡ªunmistakably Jodie¡ªcalled. ¡°Are you hiding back there?¡±
¡°Big sister Jodie is here!¡± Mirae chirped, racing past Hector and out of the room.
¡°Ah, young Miss Meldish is here. What a treat,¡± Mr. Pennybrook said as he placed the remaining few talismans into a chest. ¡°You go on ahead; I shall finish up in here.¡±
Hector nodded, turned, and walked up the steps, leaving the room. With Jodie here, that left Emela, Nyx, and Lincoln. The boy had said he would be late¡ªhe didn¡¯t say why, but it no doubt had something to do with his mother. But Hector had a hunch he would arrive before Nyx and Emela.
Alright, I should go meet these two before Jodie can put any more strange ideas into Mirae¡¯s head.
Chapter 28: Can you ever know enough?
Hector stepped back into the cramped stall. The light from the lantern illuminated each of the three aisles, painting the room in a subtle yellow hue. In the middle aisle, Jodie stood with Mirae clinging to her arm.
What¡¯s going on here?
¡°And how is your cultivation going?¡± Hector heard Jodie ask Mirae as he got in earshot. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve been keeping up with your practice. I¡¯m already crushing you; we don¡¯t need it getting any worse.¡±
Mirae pouted, slapping Jodie¡¯s hand away as the girl went to ruffle her hair. ¡°It¡¯s... going okay, I think. I practice every day, but progress is slow.¡±
¡°That¡¯s no problem, trust me.¡± Jodie nodded at Hector as he approached. ¡°You were probably just unlucky enough to have the same problem as your brother. But that shouldn¡¯t discourage you.¡±
¡°I know it shouldn¡¯t, but still.¡± Mirae turned her head, giving Hector a weak smile.
Hector stopped just behind Mirae, being careful not to make any sudden movement¡ªthe last thing he needed was to knock something over that he couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°You will be fine, Mirae. It took me a long time to get to gravity forging one, but I know you will get there much quicker than me.¡±
Especially when I find a cultivation Talent. Hopefully, at that time, we can look back at this time and laugh.
¡°Hey, Mr. Pennybrook,¡± Jodie said, waving at the man as he came up from the back room. Hector looked at Mirae and stroked her head before squeezing by her and Jodie. The sounds of the festival outside carried through, seemingly growing. Jodie pulled on Hector¡¯s arm. ¡°Can I talk to you for a bit... outside?¡±
Hector¡ªunderstanding the implication¡ªnodded. He jerked his head toward the door and shuffled his way through the stall, mindful of his movements. Jodie and Mirae trailed behind. The festival would start in earnest soon, and inside the stall would not be a good place to talk about what he guessed was the operation.
Stepping out of the stall, the sound of music slammed into Hector. The stall¡ªno doubt set up with some noise-cancelling talismans¡ªhad kept most of the noise out. He noticed a few young kids run by with candy apples, their faces dripping with excitement as their parents gave chase. It was heartwarming.
Hector nodded at Marcus and Delworth, still standing over the three shelves. What were they still doing out here? Hector turned to Jodie, stepping out of the stall and squinting against the sunlight as red and yellow confetti bounced off her head. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Hector asked her as he waved for Mirae¡ªwho skipped out behind her¡ªto stand beside him.
¡°Not much; I¡¯m just a little worried is all,¡± Jodie said, picking confetti from her lip. ¡°The guards look to be on higher alert than I would have expected. Also, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but the Phoenix company seems to be out in force this year.¡±
Hector frowned. It wasn¡¯t odd for the Phoenix company¡ªone of the Flamelight House¡¯s top mercenary companies¡ªto be at the Hilda festival; after all, they financed it. But they would often send a small group of people just to show support, and that support had been waning in recent years. So what was going on this year?
¡°That could be a problem. But it doesn¡¯t change much for us,¡± Hector said. He looked down at Mirae and gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°We have to do this and don¡¯t have the time to think of something else. I have no idea when the Collar gang is going to show up at my house again.¡±
¡°Hey, you don¡¯t need to pull on my heartstrings; I already know why we are doing this,¡± she nodded at Marcus. ¡°You aren¡¯t the only one that needs this to happen. I¡¯m just saying we should be extra careful, is all.¡±
¡°I hear you,¡± Hector said. He turned his head to Marcus. ¡°What are you still doing? I thought it was a quick check.¡±
The boy dusted confetti off the list and looked at Hector with a frown. ¡°It was meant to be a quick look over¡ªand this talisman is meant to be inside.¡± He held up a talisman Hector didn¡¯t recognise. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what we should replace it with. I don¡¯t want it to be empty; that would look terrible.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Hector raised his arms and slapped his forehead, listening to the distant music of the festival to calm his growing annoyance¡ªnot that it helped much. Drums weren¡¯t exactly known for being calming, and sadly, they were the loudest. ¡°All right, how long do you think you are going to take? I want to head out as soon as everyone arrives.¡±
¡°We could check inside,¡± Delworth said. The boy had got on his knees¡ªapparently he didn¡¯t care about dirtying his black trousers¡ªand was looking over the bottom shelf. ¡°If there is one that should be inside, there should be one that goes outside.¡±
¡°Yeah, check inside,¡± Hector said, waving his hand as Marcus and Delworth headed inside the stall. The boys needed to hurry up. His father couldn¡¯t have picked a worse day to be assessing his son.
¡°And make it fast, you numbskull,¡± Jodie chided with a laugh. Confetti covered her hair, and she continued to pick at them. At least someone was having fun. ¡°I hope we don¡¯t go home with more of this than we do coin,¡± she said, flicking a piece of confetti from her shoulder.
Hector shrugged. With the increased security compared to previous years, that could be a possibility. The cheers from a stall grabbed his attention as several people threw bags at wooden pots. He hoped he wouldn¡¯t have to consider Lincoln¡¯s farm option. It was one thing to pick a pocket or two, but breaking into a farm, potentially having to deal with Farmhands¡ªit would be a lot.
¡°Where is everyone? We are burning daylight,¡± Hector asked, looking around. They had all agreed to meet at Marcus¡¯s dad¡¯s stall in the morning, but they still weren¡¯t here.
¡°It will be fine, Hector,¡± Mirae said, squeezing his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure they are just distracted by all the fun.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Hector said. He looked at Mirae, confused. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be making the food, Miss Chef?¡±
Mirae¡ªfrowning as she watched some kids walk by with sweets¡ªturned to him. ¡°I was thinking of starting when you guys head out. I¡¯ve got a while till noon anyway, so I decided to take my time.¡±
¡°Smart,¡± Jodie said.
Hector shrugged, resting his hand on his hip, continuing to look around. Eventually, his face lit up as he saw Emela. Her twin ponytails swayed behind her as she made her way through the crowd of people, Nyx following behind her.
Dressed in a long-sleeve white shirt and a blue long skirt, she looked quite the lady.
She smiled, waving at him as she and Nyx picked up the pace. Hector was a little surprised; he had expected that Lincoln would have arrived first. He didn¡¯t know where Emela lived¡ªhe¡¯d only known her for a few months after all, not enough time to be invited over¡ªbut she was definitely outside Sirius quarter.
Lincoln, on the other hand, was pretty much his neighbour. The beating of the drums picked up, as several cheers could be heard in the distance. Wherever the boy was, Hector hoped that he would hurry up.
¡°Good morning, Hector,¡± Emela said, stopping short of him. Nyx nodded at him¡ªas usual. She wasn¡¯t much for words. ¡°Are we the last to arrive? Jodie, Mirae, I trust you two are well.¡±
¡°No, that idiot Lincoln still isn¡¯t here,¡± Jodie huffed. ¡°And I¡¯m good. This confetti is a little annoying, though; how is there so much of it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Mirae said from Hector¡¯s side.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s troublesome. Is he okay?¡± Emela asked. ¡°And it¡¯s probably a low-level formation. It will no doubt disappear over time, similar to how snow melts when it lands on you. Especially since it¡¯s not in a caster¡¯s orbit.¡±
¡°Yeah, he should be all right,¡± Hector said. ¡°He told me he was going to be late, but I didn¡¯t think that it would be this bad.¡±
¡°You¡¯re telling me someone in the Core Formation realm made this?¡± Jodie said, plucking a piece of red confetti from the air. ¡°It seems like such a waste of mana.¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably a derivative of another spell,¡± Emela said, smiling as a family walked by with their children. ¡°The formation itself is probably not made by a Core Formation Mana Cultivator, but is powered by a beast core at that level.¡±
¡°That sounds expensive,¡± Hector said. Beast cores¡ªeven the lowest-level ones¡ªfrom what he¡¯d heard went for at least one gold coin. That was crazy. And if it was supplying all this confetti... He looked up, watching the rain of yellow and red; this was beyond lavish.
How can they spend so much on a simple festival that they do every year?
¡°Well, it is the Phoenix company we are talking about,¡± Jodie said. ¡°They probably have tonnes of cores just lying around.¡±
Hector nodded, crossing his arms as he looked around, waiting for Lincoln to arrive. Jodie was right. A high-class mercenary company like that probably hunted beasts daily. They were sure to have a bunch lying around. But still.
¡°They most likely have a lot; that is true,¡± Emela said, moving over to the shelves in front of the stall. She began browsing the talismans, looking quite impressed with what she was seeing. ¡°But the Hilda festival means a lot to them; after all, Hilda Vailmont was the leader of the third company.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Jodie¡¯s jaw dropped as she looked from Emela to the crowd. ¡°She was a real person? I thought it was just a story our parents told us to make sure that we were good.¡±
Nyx whispered something in Emela¡¯s ear, and¡ªas expected¡ªEmela coughed and modified her answer. ¡°Oh, at least that¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard.¡±
Hector didn¡¯t know what Nyx told her when she did that. Perhaps she was telling her it was just hearsay; after all, Emela had said it with a lot of confidence. But Hector had gotten used to the pair¡¯s antics by now.
The four of them continued to chat¡ªNyx offered a grunt or two now and then. Finally, Lincoln appeared. His clothes were a mess, and he kept looking over his shoulder. There was a subtle panic in his eyes.
Chapter 29: What is morality?
What¡¯s up with him? I hope it¡¯s not going to be a problem.
¡°Lincoln!¡± Hector called, waving the boy towards him. The festival had started in earnest; laughter and the smells of various foods filled the air as music bounced around. His friend spotted him and jogged over.
¡°Hello everyone, sorry I¡¯m late. I got caught up with some stuff with my mom.¡±
Hector narrowed his eyes. The boy was lying, but why? If it was something to do with his mom, why was he looking over his shoulder? Sure, he could have bumped into someone on the way over¡ªunlikely, given the fact that he was in the second level of Gravity Forging realm¡ªbut then why did he look so worried?
Everyone greeted him.
¡°Is everything alright with your mom?¡± Hector asked, noticing Mr. Pennybrook step out of the stall with a rather happy-looking couple. Marcus and Delworth were behind him. Whatever Lincoln was lying about, it could wait till later.
Marcus and his cousin said something to Mr. Pennybrook before making their way over to the group. ¡°How are you doing, you two?¡± Lincoln said, reaching forward to shake their hands. Odd.
Since when did he shake hands? Oh, what has he done? I just hope it isn¡¯t serious.
The two boys shook his hand, looking him over with some confusion. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Marcus asked.
¡°Not much, just something to do with my mom.¡±
¡°Oh, I hope everything is alright,¡± Marcus said.
¡°Ah, it seems you¡¯ve all arrived,¡± Mr. Pennybrook said, walking over. ¡°I guess that means that you will all be off to drum up some business.¡±
It was an excuse they had all agreed on. They couldn¡¯t tell Marcus¡¯s father that they were going to go out and pickpocket. At least, not if they actually wanted to leave the stall. So, instead, it had been decided that they would go out and drum up some business for the stall. A small lie. But it wouldn¡¯t raise too many questions, and Mr. Pennybrook was a businessman¡ªhe would never turn down free advertising.
¡°Yeah, we were just about to head out,¡± Hector said, resting his hands on Mirae¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Is there space in the back for her to get to work?¡±
Mr. Pennybrook smiled, nodding his head as he looked around the festival. ¡°I¡¯ve already set up the table and put all the food out. She should be fine.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Alright, Mirae, I¡¯m going to get going now. You be good, okay?¡± Hector placed his hand on her back and gently pushed her towards the stall. She looked back at him with some hesitation, but eventually smiled. He would¡ªif everything went well¡ªbe back soon.
Mr. Pennybrook nodded at him and led Mirae inside. As the two entered the stall, Hector turned to his friends. Marcus and Jodie had a faint look of trepidation; Nyx, Emela, and Delworth looked unbothered. And Lincoln¡ªeven though he tried to hide it¡ªlooked worried.
It wasn¡¯t what Hector was hoping for; it wasn¡¯t what he needed. Some of his friends seemed worried about what they had to do, while the others seemed unconcerned. At least no one had said anything about calling the entire thing off.
¡°Well, alright then,¡± Hector said, scanning the festival. He spotted a few city guards dressed in their white robes embroidered with gold. The sigil of a lion was emblazoned on their chest. In their hands, they carried long polearms¡ªperfect for keeping enemies at a distance. But with each guard on average being at Gravity Forging three, it was a bit overkill. After all, they could tear the standard mortal apart with their bare hands.
¡°If you guys just give me a moment, I need to think,¡± Hector said, closing his eyes, ¡°and as soon as I¡¯m done, we can all head to our respective areas.¡±
Within himself, he reached for the [Street Reader] Talent. He found it, grabbed it, and tugged. Within his mind¡¯s eye, a pulse of energy rushed from him, illuminating the area, showing him the makeup of the crowd and the movement of people.
Hector saw the ebb and flow, the bulging of groups and the scattering of others. He picked his targets and mapped them. Eventually, he opened his eyes, knowing where he¡¯d go first. ¡°Alright, we all know where we¡¯re going, right?¡±
They all nodded, aside from¡ªrather predictably¡ªDelworth. The boy was a new addition, so it made sense. But where would he send him? Delworth couldn¡¯t act alone; that would put him and them at risk. Several cheers rang out, and Jodie looked off, enthralled by what she was seeing. She¡ªgiven her brash personality¡ªand Marcus would probably need a bit more help. He would go with them.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
¡°Marcus, I want you to take your cousin with you. It should make things easier on you and Jodie.¡±
Jodie¡¯s head snapped to Hector. ¡°What? I don¡¯t want to babysit him. He¡¯ll just slow me down.¡±
¡°Oh, come now...¡± Emela said, regarding her with a frown. ¡°Show some tact; he¡¯s right here. And I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll complement your duo rather well.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t see you volunteering to take him along,¡± Jodie bit back.
Emela locked her jaw and turned away, watching whatever was going on a few stalls down. Hector shook his head. Delworth could be a liability, but he had faith that Marcus could mitigate that. Jodie, for all her complaining, would help in that regard.
Marcus and Delworth both nodded, while Jodie grumbled beneath her breath as she continued to pick confetti out of her hair. She was going to have a long day if she didn¡¯t give up with that endeavor.
¡°Alright, before I let you guys go,¡± Hector said, looking into each of their eyes, hoping¡ªno matter how small¡ªthat he was giving off some form of confidence. ¡°I want to ask one more time: does anyone feel that they should back out?¡±
Lincoln looked like he wanted to say something. But in the end, he turned his head to the side, not speaking up. The rest of them nodded. Delworth was the only one that looked a little excited¡ªhe probably still didn¡¯t grasp the gravity of what he was doing.
¡°There is no point getting cold feet after this,¡± Hector said. He paused as some guards walked by¡ªthey were more than a few feet from them, but you could never be too cautious. Especially around Mana-cultivators. ¡°I want to make sure you are all ready.¡±
¡°We are, Hector,¡± Emela said, smiling at him. Her smile achieved the effect he¡¯d hoped his own had. It made him feel more assured of what he was about to do.
¡°Okay, then I will see you all soon. Oh, and one more thing,¡± Hector moved over to the side of the stall, reaching down behind a nook, pulling out a sack. Inside were the masks. He walked back over to his friends and began handing them out. ¡°I picked yours, Jodie.¡± He handed her a red and yellow mask¡ªan unusual coincidence given what she was picking out of her hair.
¡°Thanks,¡± she said. She didn¡¯t look pleased, nor upset. It was just as he¡¯d hoped; she didn¡¯t care what she wore, only that it was effective¡ªhe loved her practicality sometimes.
¡°Marcus and Lincoln picked the masks out for both of you,¡± he said, handing Nyx and Emela a mask each. Nyx nodded, accepting the pure black, featureless mask, while Emela seemed pleased with her blue and white mask with various shapes running along its edges.
Lincoln took his green one, and Marcus and Delworth both went for a simple white, featureless mask. Overall, the designs were quite good. ¡°Now that we are all equipped,¡± Hector said, ¡°I¡¯ll see you guys around. If anything happens, we should regroup here.¡±
The group dispersed. Hector, with Lincoln at his side, moved to the west section of the festival. They picked through the crowd, dodging dancers and festival-goers alike. Finally, after a few minutes, they reached their spot.
Lincoln pulled on his mask, slipping the string around his ruffled hair with a grunt. ¡°Well, I guess we just have to find our targets now,¡± he said, his voice muffled.
¡°I¡¯ve already got a spot,¡± Hector said, slipping on his own¡ªthe mysterious ray design had grown on him in recent days. He hoped the pickpocketing operation would go off without a hitch, so the mask wouldn¡¯t become evidence against him. Even though he¡¯d agreed that this was his world now, it would still be nice to have something that reminded him of earth.
¡°You have? Well, come on then, let¡¯s head over. I¡¯ll go first.¡±
Hector nodded, taking the lead, with Lincoln trailing behind as they made their way past people. The west side of the festival was predominantly a restaurant area¡ªunlike the center where Marcus¡¯s father¡¯s stall was, which was a mix of everything. In this area, people wanted to eat, so they were going to be more ready with their purse. Not good. But he had to make it work.
The talent had shown a good swell right around here. I hope Lincoln will notice it and take advantage of it.
¡°This it?¡± Lincoln said, stopping next to him. They stood next to another stall, much like Marcus¡¯ fathers. It was more like a shop. People¡ªclearly seen through the glassless wooden window frames¡ªsat inside eating. ¡°Are you sure that this is a good spot?¡±
¡°Yeah, just give it a moment.¡± Hector steeled his gaze and waited. Watching. He noted a father and son walk by. The father was lecturing his child similar to the way Hector¡¯s own father did to him. We do good because it¡¯s far too easy to do evil, his father would say.
Then why doesn¡¯t this feel easy? I¡¯m about to ruin someone¡¯s day, and that¡¯s wrong. But I have no other choice.
As the crowd continued to build, a frown came to Hector¡¯s lips. What would it be like to come here with his family? What would it be like to have enough money to just enjoy this place and not worry about anything?
His father rarely spoke of the past. But from the faint memories Hector had, it had been better. His mom was around. He¡¯d probably been one of these families at some point. But now. Now he was the type to ensure that today would be one of disappointment for them. The laughter of a couple broke him from his thoughts; he looked towards them.
Lincoln nudged him. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time to get this started,¡± he said, gesturing towards the growing crowd¡ªit was just as Hector had seen with his Talent. ¡°Wish me luck, and if this goes wrong, remember, I told you so.¡± The boy chuckled.
Hector playfully slapped him on the back as he slinked away into the thickening mass. It was time; no going back now. What had brought him to this moment? What had he done? Sure, he organized this, but was there something that could have been done before now? Could he have prevented his dad owing the Collar gang money? Hector lost Lincoln as he disappeared like smoke into the cluster of people.
Hector took a step back, leaning against the restaurant stall¡¯s beam. He couldn¡¯t have done anything before now. He wasn¡¯t the same person, after all. No. He was someone else, someone weaker. But he¡¯d changed, he was changing, and soon he wouldn¡¯t ever have to do something as pathetic as this again.
It was weak of him to steal from these innocents. But it would be just this once; perhaps in the future, when he was strong enough, he could repay them¡ªthough would he even feel he needed to by then?
Chapter 30: Why does life feel like a fading dream?
Eventually, after a few moments, Lincoln slinked back out of the crowd. Hector couldn¡¯t see his face, but his body language spoke volumes¡ªespecially when compared to earlier. There was a soft swagger to his steps, and he wasn¡¯t looking over his shoulder. He had done it.
Hector turned and began walking away, keeping an eye out for any guards or Phoenix Company initiates. To get caught this early would be bad. But they were fine; no one had noticed them. He did spot two guards, but they seemed to be dealing with something else that Hector couldn¡¯t quite make out from where he was.
After a few steps, Lincoln pulled up alongside him. ¡°Quite the good haul, if I do say so myself.¡± He let out a low chuckle, causing something to stir in Hector. They were robbing people; what was so funny about that?
He really does know how to say the stupidest things.
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Hector said, taking a right. ¡°I guess I¡¯m next.¡±
Hector weaved through the crowd, heading to another spot that he¡¯d identified with his [Street Reader] Talent. The restaurant stalls on this¡ªit was weird to call it a street, but it was like a micro-version of one¡ªroad were of the dessert kind, so naturally there were even more children than earlier. He wouldn¡¯t take anything from them. Doing that went too far, even for him.
From the sense he got from his Talent, he knew the crowd would peak soon. ¡°Alright, you got my back?¡± he asked, turning to Lincoln.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a couple ways to cause a distraction if things go wrong.¡± The boy scanned the area and nodded to him. ¡°So, don¡¯t you worry.¡±
Lincoln''s nod didn''t reassure Hector much, but he would have to trust his friend. It still bothered him that Lincoln was lying about something¡ªthey were like brothers, and if it was a problem, he should have come to him straight away¡ªbut whatever it was, now was not the time.
Hector walked forward, acting as normal as possible given he was trying to steal from someone. He adjusted his mask, stepping into the crowd, blending in as best he could. His heart hammered in his chest, his ears filling with the sound of blood. It was funny in a way; he had spent so much time worrying if his friends were ready. But was he?
He bumped into a man who seemed too drunk to notice. He¡¯d be a suitable target, but he wasn¡¯t the one. Hector continued to scan the crowd, his eyes going from waist to waist, searching for any loose pouches.
He was overthinking things; what would the perfect target even look like? Were they too young, were they too old? These things had to become irrelevant to him. In the end, he pushed down his concerns and picked a victim.
I¡¯m sorry, whoever you are. If I ever run across you again in the future, I¡¯ll make it up to you somehow.
Hector didn¡¯t pay too much attention¡ªat least he tried to make it look like he wasn¡¯t¡ªas he walked beside the man. He lifted an arm, carefully inching it towards him, and as the man went to take one more step, Hector bumped into him, stumbled back, and cursed. ¡°Sorry, sir, it¡¯s the mask¡ªreally makes things difficult to see,¡± he said.
¡°Damn street filth. Watch where you¡¯re going,¡± the man huffed, dusting down his coat and walking away.
Well, that was easier than I thought. Now the next one.
After the first successful pickpocket, the ones after that were easier. It was like how starting a task was hard, but continuing was easy. Though it didn¡¯t make the guilt feel any easier to bear. Over ten minutes, he¡¯d taken at least four pouches. It was probably time to head somewhere else; staying here would bring too much attention once people started noticing the common theme.
Hector pushed his way through the crowd, passing by the concerned faces of those he¡¯d taken from. Many looked furious, others in shock. It made sense¡ªat least, if you had money growing up, it made sense. But if you were a slum dweller like him, most would be glad to still have their lives. It was probably shocking to these well-off folks.
They don¡¯t deserve this, but I need this. My family needs this.
Hector didn¡¯t spot Lincoln where he¡¯d left him; instead, the boy stood a little way down by a dessert stall. Why had he moved? Hector looked around, seeing if he could spot any guards. There were none.
He must not have wanted to draw too much attention just standing there.
The coin pouches Hector had collected jingled at his waist. It satisfied part of him¡ªhe hated that¡ªwhile the other was a little disgusted. But now it was done. As he moved from the crowd, he noticed an old woman shouting. The same as any other partially malnourished lady you¡¯d find in the slum. The only noticeable thing about her was the long, striking scars dug deep into her exposed forearms, like gutters filled with the dirt of years of suffering. But scars were not uncommon in the slums.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°Repent, you sinners, repent!¡± she yelled, shaking her fist at those who walked by and spitting at others. ¡°You fools are all out here celebrating while those Great Houses look down on us. Was the Nightcroft¡¯s sacrifice not enough? Did not enough people die for you to realize that you are all pigs ready for the slaughter when those noble Mana Cultivators come for your necks?¡±
Hector frowned as he made his way towards Lincoln. He¡¯d heard of the Nightcroft incident; everyone in the slum had. It was the one time in recent history that they¡¯d fought back. A waste many had called it. Even now¡ªnot that people could tell¡ªthe slums hadn¡¯t fully recovered from its effects.
¡°Hey man, why did you move?¡± Hector asked, walking up to Lincoln. He frowned, crossing his arms, waiting for a reply.
Lincoln chuckled, scratching his head and pointing a few stalls down. There, three Phoenix company initiates stood. Dressed in dark red robes embroidered with gold filigree, they stood out. The edges of their robes were accented black, and on their fingers were gold rings with a sigil on them.
They seemed happy as they chatted to a few people and greeted a few others. They were practically celebrities. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get too caught up with them, you know, since I have a few more things than I should...¡±
Well, I feel like a bit of an idiot.
There was no guarantee, but Lincoln was right¡ªan oddity in of itself. It was probably best that they avoided them. People would most likely start to report that their pouches had been stolen, and two scruffy-looking teenagers with masks on would probably stand out.
¡°So, where to next, wise leader?¡± Lincoln said with a chuckle.
Mirae looked around her, taking in the sights of the Hilda festival. But it was wrong. Everything was gray scaled; it was a dull color. No life, no joy. The people that walked by were nothing but outlines.
What is this? Is it another one?
She couldn¡¯t control when visions came to her. They would strike unprompted, sending her into a world much like this. Colorless, lifeless, but not empty. If she paid attention, the world would show her things deemed important to her.
A feeling welled up inside her, something she couldn¡¯t shake. She learned¡ªrather regrettably¡ªthat when this feeling occurred; it was best to follow it. She turned, moving away from where she stood and heading deeper into the festival. The music was hollow, empty, and the confetti of yellow and red was a dull gray.
When she¡¯d first got visions, it¡¯d been uncomfortable. It felt like a dream, but she knew it wasn¡¯t. Now she was much more accustomed to the sight, though it still left her feeling helpless. When a vision came, no matter how she felt, it reminded her that she had to follow, and there was nothing she could do to change what was coming.
But still, she believed there could be a change. After all, why show her these things if there was nothing she could do about them? What would be the purpose?
She continued to walk, moving past gray scaled festival-goers enjoying life to the fullest with their families and loved ones. She was envious. Happy for them, but envious. Her family had never been able to enjoy the Hilda festival. They¡¯d been too poor. Even now, instead of enjoying it like she wanted, she worked. What she was doing¡ªeven though not directly involved¡ªwas a crime, but it could still be considered work.
Mirae noticed a light in the distance¡ªoften a sign of something she should pay attention to¡ªfrowning; she followed it. She walked through more gray scale people and paused. The light was a figure; they looked familiar, but she wasn¡¯t sure. They were saying something to a guard. Whatever it was, the guard took it seriously.
What are they talking about? Maybe I should get closer?
Before she could take a step, the world rushed by in a haze of gray. People rushed all around, buzzing through her faster than she could track. When it stopped, the figure was gone, and a new one had replaced it. She moved towards it, not wanting them to get away this time.
She¡¯d already reacted too slowly, and the vision had moved on. She needed to be fast this time. Finally, after a few moments, she made it. And this new figure turned out to be her brother. In front of him, a guard stood; it was not the same one she¡¯d seen previously. But this one looked just as angry.
¡°Hector!¡± Mirae called out. He didn¡¯t respond. He never did, but still, each time she saw him in trouble in one of these visions, she called to him. The guard reached forward and grabbed him, while Lincoln¡ªfrom what she could make out in his gray scaled form¡ªtook off.
He raced by her, not stopping to look back. Coward. Mirae ran towards her brother, eager to get a look at the man who would capture him. But as she moved, the world shook, beginning to dim. The vision was ending.
No, no, no. Not yet. I need more time. Give me more time.
Mirae shot up, jumping from the chair she had fallen asleep in. Mr. Pennybrook, who stood on the other side of the room with a list in hand, jolted, dropping the notebook. ¡°By the Great Lake, whatever is the problem? Were you having a nightmare or something?¡±
Mirae reached forward and steadied herself on the table, looking around the room in fright. She had to leave now. She had to find Hector. Turning, Mirae bolted up the steps and out into the stall, ignoring the calls of Mr. Pennybrook behind her. She didn¡¯t have time to explain¡ªeven if she did, the man wouldn¡¯t believe her; no one ever did.
In the stall, she passed by several browsing customers, bumping into some and narrowly avoiding others. But through all, she was careful not to knock over any talismans. The situation was bad, but it hadn¡¯t become dire. She could still save her brother without causing any more problems¡ªshe hoped.
She passed through the stall¡¯s doorframe, pausing in a slow crowd of people out front. People complained, some nudging her. But she paid them no mind. Instead, she focused, trying to remember the direction she¡¯d taken in the vision.
Come on, come on. There!
Mirae darted forward, ducked under strangers, and sidestepped others. She¡¯d be proud of herself if she wasn¡¯t so worried. She had to change her vision. If Hector got caught¡ªwell, the guards weren¡¯t known for their mercy.
Chapter 31: Why is time such a fantastic runner when it wants to be?
Mirae charged forward, swerving on her heels. She grunted as her back slammed into something. The force of it sent her staggering forward, hands slapping against the dirt and stone, tiny rocks sticking to her palm. ¡°You damn brat, watch where you¡¯re going?¡± a voice called, as she scrambled to her feet and sprinted off.
Later. She could deal with that later.
¡°Excuse me, miss,¡± a stern voice yelled, muffled by the crowd''s chattering.
She ignored them. Whoever had called wasn¡¯t important. She needed to find her brother. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a pair of children, perhaps a few years younger than herself, running alongside her.
This is seriously not the time.
She skidded to a stop, gravel rolling under her feet. Where was she? She looked around, trying to find landmarks. The two children ran around her, cheering happily and urging her on. She wanted to call them idiots, but they didn¡¯t know what she was doing.
How could she blame them?
Her eyes landed on what she was looking for. A large wooden sign in the shape of an ice cream. She¡¯d just have to continue down this path and she would find her brother.
She charged forward, slamming into another person. Something cold hit her back, sliding off her, following an icy line and hitting the floor with a wet thud. More angry shouts sounded behind her as she powered down the path. Why did there have to be so many people? It was ridiculous.
After a while, she stopped again, ensuring she was as far as possible from where the shouting happened. Her chest heaved as her lungs burned with effort. She couldn¡¯t wait to be a proper Mana Cultivator. Then¡ªwith some actual training¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t have to deal with the pains of having such a weak body.
Looking around, she searched for more landmarks. She was close. She¡¯d find her brother, she¡¯d... What would she do? In the past, a vision would always come true. There was nothing she could do to change them. If she wasn¡¯t there, they would still happen. If she was, nothing changed. It didn¡¯t matter. They would always play out the same.
It was like I was nothing but a puppet on a string. But, I can¡¯t just give up. Can I? I can¡¯t leave my brother, but then again, maybe I already have. Maybe I¡¯m running for no reason. Killing myself over something that¡¯s already happened. But that was the point.
Mirae brought her hands up. Her palms were raw, with small rocks decorating her skin, and her nails covered in dirt. These were the hands¡ªshe believed¡ªof someone who would try no matter what. Something within her told her that her visions could be changed and she promised to one day make sure that happened. So, no matter what, she couldn¡¯t give up. She had to keep pushing.
Her father had almost died¡ªher vision said he would. But he still lived. At first, that had given her some hope. But the visions of his death still came. Though part of her knew, deep down, that something was different. She didn¡¯t know what; she didn¡¯t know how, but something was different.
The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind her.
Mirae lowered her hands and turned, wondering who else was in a rush. The glint of the sun bounced off the tip of the polearm held by one of the many guards running down the path. She locked eyes with him and he shouted, ¡°Stop right there, now!¡±
Turning on her heel, Mirae bolted. That had just made an unpleasant situation worse. She was trying to find her brother so that she could keep the guards away from him. Now she was at risk of bringing them right to him.
Ducking under one person, and squeezing past another, Mirae forced her way into a crowd. She had to lose the guards. There was no point in rushing to Hector and bringing down even more trouble on him. As the crowd increased and the space for movement tightened, she noticed that the guard¡¯s voice faded slowly into the background of the festival.
The large amount of people had perhaps slowed them down. Unlike her, they were big. And the weapons the guards carried would make it difficult to chase a tiny girl like her through a big clump of people.
Good, I should have some time before they spot me again.
Mirae squeezed past a finely dressed woman, her cheek brushing up against the smooth silk of a dress that she could never afford. She needed to find Hector. If not him, that figure from her vision¡ªor at least where that figure was. They had been the one to alert the guards. So if she could stop them, perhaps she could prevent everything.
Hector pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze scanning the flow of people. The happiness, the fun, and the laughter. All of it mixed, stirred by the gentle beat of music in the distance. The cobblestone walkways were less choked with people now¡ªhis Talent had warned him of this. This part of the festival was no longer a good place to look for targets.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
We should probably head to the ride section. The long lines there will probably bear some fruit. Waiting in line is annoying as is, people¡¯s focus should be running on strings. At least mine would be.
He angled his head to Lincoln and nodded. ¡°We¡¯re going that way,¡± he said, thumbing behind him. As he lifted his foot to walk away, shouts split the festive atmosphere. Hector spotted a small group of guards marching down the cobblestone. They weren¡¯t happy, and they were looking for someone. Their eyes darted from person to person as a few of the guards stopped and pulled people aside, patting them down.
What the heck is going on?
Hector frowned at Lincoln. It hadn¡¯t been long enough for them to get this worked up. They should have had more time. Lincoln shrugged as his head snapped back and forth. ¡°We should get going.¡±
Hector nodded, moving in the opposite direction to the guards¡¯ approach. None of this made sense. They should have had more time to move around before the guards cracked down this much. But whatever the reason, they needed to get away from here.
As Hector moved through the crowd. He spotted something amongst the thinning groups of people behind him. Jerking, his eyes flashed as dread flooded through his chest. He spotted a figure a few feet in front of the approaching guards. He¡¯d only glimpsed white hair¡ªsomething that wasn¡¯t common in the slums.
But it couldn¡¯t be Mirae. She was with Mr. Pennybrook, making them all lunch. The yellow and red confetti continued to rain down like snow, their numbers obscuring his vision. Should he go back to check? What if it wasn¡¯t her? What if it was?
Lincoln¡¯s head bumped into him, and they both let out a curse. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lincoln asked, his eyes darting back and forth. Two children rushed by with a look of confusion on their faces, sidestepping one. Lincoln frowned. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for you to be spacing out. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Hector nodded, as Lincoln stepped by him¡ªit was probably best he take the lead. Hector needed to be sure it wasn¡¯t Mirae. ¡°Where did the pretty girl go? She was right in front of us a second ago.¡± A young boy, one of the two confused children, said.
Hector spared a glance behind him in the direction the two children were looking. Were they talking about the same person he had seen? The crowd continued to shift, as the Middlec guards continued marching down the street. He needed to keep walking.
A short distance away from the cobblestone path was a makeshift alleyway¡ªthey were all over the festival, but people rarely used them. They could be more cramped than walking down a normal body-choked path.
If I move parallel to the crowd and squeeze in there, I should be able to see if it¡¯s her without getting seen.
He raised an arm, grabbing Lincoln¡¯s shoulder, slowing his friend down and causing him to look back. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He asked, looking past Hector with a frown.
¡°I think I might have seen Mirae. I¡¯m going to squeeze into one of those side alleys and see if I can find her.¡± More cries from disgruntled festivalgoers coloured the atmosphere. The guards were close.
A few stalls down, two Phoenix Company initiates looked up. They frowned and began making their way towards the guards, towards Hector. The walls were closing in. Lincoln nodded, frowning as his gaze flickered to Hector. ¡°But you should be careful if you get trapped in there. The guards will definitely get you.¡±
¡°I know, but we might have more problems,¡± Hector said, gesturing towards the initiates.
¡°Well, ain¡¯t that just great?¡± Lincoln grabbed Hector¡¯s hand, pulling him. ¡°We have to get out of here. We can¡¯t get trapped between them.¡±
Hector tugged his hand back. ¡°Lincoln, I¡¯m not risking it. If it¡¯s Mirae, then the plan is out the window. I¡¯m not letting my sister get caught by the guards.¡±
A group of drunk men shuffled by, the stink of alcohol emanating from them like sewage from a gutter. Lincoln frowned, looking from the guards to the initiates. ¡°It¡¯s not her, Hector. What would she even be doing here? She¡¯s with Mr. Pennybrook.¡± Lincoln¡¯s hands twitched as one man stumbled. He was considering pickpocketing now, of all times.
¡°You know what? You go ahead.¡± Hector said, letting out a huff¡ªhe couldn¡¯t ask his friend to risk his life for a simple hunch. No, he could do this alone. The cooldown on the [Street Reader] was still active, so there was no chance of that being much help. ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out Lincoln, just head back to Mr Pennybrooks for now. Something is not right.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll¡ª¡±
¡°Hello, there young ones. Are you enjoying the festival?¡± The voice pulled on Hector¡¯s nerves like a string. His heart leapt in his chest as in front of them stood a brown-haired initiate. His eyes were heavy with bags as he scratched the back of his head, ruffling his dark red robes. ¡°You looked a little tense, so I thought I would come and see if everything was alright.¡±
Hector swallowed hard, unable to move the fear lodged in his throat, tightening his airways. His hands clawed at his pants as the words he wanted to say seemed stuck. Unable to move. Unable to help.
¡°Nope, just a little lost, is all?¡± Lincoln said, chuckling. He took a step back and placed a hand on Hector¡¯s back. ¡°Me and my friend are just looking for our friends is all.¡±
The man brought a hand¡ªscarred with sagging burns¡ªto his face and scratched his stubble. ¡°Lost. I can believe that.¡± The man let out a small yawn, rubbing at his eyes as his gaze moved past the two of them. ¡°I¡¯ve almost got myself lost a few times and I¡¯ve been coming to the festival for years.¡±
Hector let out a raspy chuckle, sparing a glance back at the crowd¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford to waste time on this sleepy idiot. Behind him, one of the many Middlec guards poked his friend and signalled to a cluster of people. There, Hector spotted white hair and shorts. He only glimpsed a part of the brown shorts that the person wore¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean it was her.
¡°Something got your attention, friend. Where was it you said you were going again?¡± The initiate asked, placing a hand into the breast pocket of his robes.
System, what are his stats?
Fighting him would be a major screwup. But if he could at least use his Talent to buy a few precious seconds, then that would be good. Several shouts came from behind as the guards appeared to spot what they were looking for. If that was Mirae, he was running out of time¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let them get to her.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 4]
Talent: None
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Crap
Chapter 32: Who would you sacrifice?
Red and yellow confetti bounced off Hector¡¯s shoulder as he stood frozen. The initiate was Gravity Forging Four. Not one. Not two. Four. How was he meant to handle that? His tongue became numb, the saliva in his mouth stale. He couldn¡¯t fight this man¡ªhe would lose.
What kind of dumb luck do I have to have to run into you?
But he couldn¡¯t give up. Hollow at first, a feeling welled up in his chest. Mirae was in danger¡ªhe couldn¡¯t risk believing it wasn¡¯t her. The consequences were too dangerous. The feeling surged through his veins, starting as nothing but a slow dribble. Small and weak. Before bursting forth in a deluge of drunk courage.
The plan was over. Everything was about to go up in smoke¡ªin a way, it already had. With the guards on such high alert, doing anything would be difficult. Hector only hoped that Emela and the others had noticed.
¡°Lincoln, let¡¯s head back that way,¡± Hector said, moving the boy¡¯s hand from his back and gesturing behind him. ¡°I think they might have gone that way.¡± Even though the wrench that was the guards screwed them, there was no reason to make things chaotic. They still had time to think. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Initiate, we¡¯ll be going now.¡±
The man yawned, pulling out a small waterskin from the breast pocket of his robes. ¡°Hold on now, you haven¡¯t even answered my question.¡± His gaze moved past them¡ªhe was no doubt watching the guards. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be running from them, would you?¡± He took a swig from his waterskin before letting out another small yawn. ¡°I need to stop losing. It¡¯s messing up my sleep.¡±
Lincoln chuckled. ¡°Yeah, you caught us. Just playing hide and seek with the city guard.¡±
The man chuckled, slipping the waterskin back into the breast of his robes. ¡°Actually, young ones, could you do me a favour and remove those masks? I can¡¯t quite see your faces.¡±
He knows what¡¯s up; he¡¯s just stalling for time. I have to do this now.
Hector spared one more glance behind him. His blood ran cold. There, with her back against a stall display and two guards bearing down on her like rabid dogs, was Mirae. The vendor¡ªa young blond-haired woman¡ªmade no move to help. Not that she needed to. The woman didn¡¯t know Mirae from any other slum rat, but Hector still wished she would do something, anything, scream even. Anything to distract them.
¡°Listen, children, I¡¯ve had a long night.¡± The initiate said, stifling another yawn. ¡°I¡¯ve had a long day, too. So, if you could just¡ª¡±
¡°I hope whatever distraction you¡¯ve got is good enough,¡± Hector said, nodding at Lincoln.
¡°Hector, don¡¯t¡ª¡±
Before he could finish talking, energy surged through Hector¡¯s legs, whipping and crackling at his muscles as static coated his skin. He shot off the ground, raising a knee. The initiate, predictably, held up a hand to block¡ªeven though Hector charged out of nowhere, the man was three minor realms above him and a mercenary at that. Of course, he would be quick. But Hector wasn¡¯t attacking.
He angled himself onto the block, pressing his weight against the resistance before launching off. Hector arced back like a javelin, floating briefly over the cobblestone before slamming down and breaking into a mad sprint. People gasped, his shoulder smacking into some, shunting them out of the way. They were unimportant.
¡°Hey,¡± he heard the initiate call. But a dull explosion went off and people screamed. The subtle smell of sulfur tickled his nose as it sailed by in the wind. The group of guards¡ªthankfully even the one he was sprinting towards¡ªlooked over.
Whatever Lincoln had done was hopefully enough to get himself out of trouble; Hector didn¡¯t want to trade one problem for another. His mind focused. He¡¯d rush in, grab Mirae, and squeeze through a side alley¡ªat least, that was the plan. His legs thrummed with energy as the cobblestone rushed by underfoot. Who would he go for out of the two?
System, scan both of them now.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [Momentum Strike [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
Talent Fragment: [2-Common]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 3]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
One guard was only a minor realm above him, and the other had a Talent to boot, but Hector wouldn¡¯t have the time to take it from him. Even though it would be good if he could, it was the first Talent he¡¯d seen in the wild for some time.
The group of guards that had broken off from the two who cornered his sister began shouting. Pointing at Hector, one levied his spear and made to intercept him. He wouldn¡¯t be able to. Hector gritted his teeth as he willed the energy crackling through his leg muscles to intensify. He burst forward, swerving, ducking, and sliding by, narrowly avoiding panicked festival-goers.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Whipping by confetti dazzled his vision. He shot past the intercepting guard, leaping off the cobblestone. In front of Hector, the Gravity Forging three guard narrowed his eyes, levelling his spear at him.
Hector tugged on [Resonant Shout]. Energy built up in his throat, swirling in and ballooning into a dense ball before exploding from his mouth in a silent shout. The air rippled as waves of silent sound slammed forward. The guard shook. His spear buckled, and he let out a scream.
The man collapsed on the cobblestone, his polearm clattering to his side. Hector¡¯s foot slammed into the man¡¯s back. Vaulting off it, he sailed through the air. He angled his foot, not his knee¡ªthe Orion Leaping Strike should be enough to deal with this guy.
Hector¡¯s foot sliced through the air. Confetti whipped all around from the momentum of it. With a heavy thud, the bottom of his sandal slammed into the man¡¯s chest. The force of the blow sent the guard off his feet and crashing onto the cobblestone, like his friend.
Hector swivelled, sparing a glance at where he had left Lincoln. Smoke covered the area, a dull haze of white obscuring whatever was going on¡ªit was a good distraction. Grabbing Mirae¡¯s hand, he pulled her along. He needed to make it to that alley.
¡°Hector, I¡¯m sorry. I thought I could¡ª¡±
¡°Just keep running. Let¡¯s talk about it later,¡± he said, pumping his legs. Through their grip, Hector could feel Mirae staggering. She couldn¡¯t keep up¡ªeven if they were the same minor realm, with [Spark Capacitor] active, he was difficult to match. The sound of guards¡¯ footfalls pounding against the cobblestone sent anxiety flooding through his chest.
I¡¯m sorry Mirae, this might hurt a bit.
He yanked her forward. She let out a pained scream. Hector grunted as her weight slipped into his arms. His feet continued to pound against the cobblestone amidst the shouts of guards and the screams of festival-goers. Down the path, the smoke screen parted as the sleepy initiate bolted out. He locked eyes with Hector and shook his head.
Not wanting to see what the man did next¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be good for him¡ªHector charged forward, passing between two stalls. Their walls forced him to throw Mirae to the ground, landing on her feet. He hurried her forward, not even looking back¡ªyou were more likely to get caught when you looked back.
Wood and fabric tugged at his clothes. His heart hammered in his chest, filling his ears as the confetti bounced off him. ¡°They are going down the tight space, head around,¡± a guard called from behind.
I need to¡ªthere should be another alley across from here. We are going to have to keep squeezing by to get to the center.
He pushed on Mirae¡¯s back, but jerked to a stop as his foot got caught. A loose piece of wood¡ªhe would not get caught because of a simple piece of wood. With a grunt, he tugged. A crack split the air. The stall wall sagged. Not his problem.
Bursting out into another main path, Hector scooped Mirae up into his arms. Pumping his legs, he charged across the street. Many people on this path stood staring in the direction Hector had come from, probably wondering what was going on over there. He swerved by a few, his shoulder slamming into others, causing them to let out shouts. He thought himself lucky none of them were Mana-cultivators.
With another thud, he threw Mirae to the ground as they squeezed between more stalls. ¡°Go left up ahead,¡± Hector said, licking his lips. The taste of salt filled his mouth as confetti bounced off his mask. This intersection between the stalls should give them some cover.
I¡¯m going to have to lose the mask. It¡¯s far too recognizable. It¡¯s a shame.
Having slipped his mask off, Hector felt the weight of the wood in his hand as he continued to pick his steps carefully¡ªhe didn¡¯t need to get his foot stuck again. With a soft sigh, squeezing his eyes shut, he threw the mask over his shoulder. He heard it clatter onto the cobblestone.
My clothes should blend in well enough with any other slum rat, thankfully.
He pinched and tugged at his shirt as he slipped down an even tighter alley. This was getting frustrating. Hector reached to his waist and massaged the pouches. Had this all been worth it? Maybe? He just had to avoid capture to make sure.
Wymon yawned as he reached into the breast pocket of his robe¡ªthe only useful thing about wearing these annoying things around. He took out the water skin and sighed, looking down the alleyway that the two young slum rats had run down. He took a swig.
The taste of peach wine fizzled against his tongue¡ªthankfully Batterbees had enough in stock or this would be a long day. He gulped, swishing the flask around and looking back down the path to where the smoke bomb had gone off. It was a neat trick. Slum rats rarely had many tricks.
He slid the water skin back into his robe, turning away from the alley. Peter and Ana¡ªmildly useful squad mates¡ªwalked over. Peter gripped the sword hanging at the waist of his robes. Running a hand through his brown hair, he peaked over Wymon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°D-did they get away?¡± His uselessly large muscles tensed as he glanced about¡ªthey were probably more scared of him; the oaf just couldn¡¯t see it.
¡°Yeah. Bolted down the side alley,¡± Wymon said, stifling another yawn as he flicked away the falling confetti. How High Nest¡ªthe so-called elders of the Phoenix Company¡ªdidn¡¯t see this as a waste stumped him.
¡°And you let them get away,¡± Ana said, narrowing her annoyingly observant brown eyes, questioning his every move. ¡°Surely you could have caught them. You even let the other one get away.¡±
Better they get away than be butchered by the guards for trying to live.
Wymon yawned as Ana brushed a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear. It was one of many falling from her struggling bun. She didn¡¯t have long enough hair to attempt pulling that off.
¡°They weren¡¯t important,¡± Wymon said. ¡°I doubt the Night¡¯s Raven would be out pickpocketing, just before launching an attack.¡±
¡°W-What would they be doing, captain?¡± Peter asked, throwing the odd, nervous glance at every passerby. Wymon had to give it to him. He was alert. Even if it came from pure cowardice.
¡°Beats me. If I knew, I would be where they are.¡±
Ana looked off, watching as the few guards left searched through the crowd¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t find them. Those children should be long gone. If they were smart, and slum rats tended to be smart. She sighed, the silk of her robes ruffling as she turned back to him. ¡°You could have at least helped them. Look at those idiots.¡± She said, pointing to a guard.
The man had stopped a woman¡ªmerchant blood; most likely, a noble would have had him strung up¡ªand searched through her purse. What was he even looking for? The woman clearly didn¡¯t need to pickpocket.
¡°Trust me, it¡¯s for the best,¡± Wymon said, fighting back the urge to reach for his water skin. ¡°Anyway, we should probably be heading to the center of the festival. Can¡¯t keep group leader Kain waiting after all.¡±
¡°I still don¡¯t get it, sir,¡± Peter said, blinking confetti from his lashes.
¡°Get what?¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t us coming out in force this year make it so that the Night¡¯s Raven doesn¡¯t attack? How are we supposed to catch any of them?¡±
Wymon raised an eyebrow. Seems the day had more than one surprise for him. Peter was actually using his brain¡ªsure, he waited till after weeks of preparation and the start of the operation, but he¡¯d used it. ¡°Who do you think tipped us off?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Peter said, shrugging and sheepishly scratching the back of his head.
Well, that was short-lived. But wonders never cease.
¡°Ana, care to enlighten our dear Peter,¡± Wymon said, yawning. He sputtered as confetti flew into his mouth, sticking to his tongue.
¡°You need to get more sleep, Captain. But yes, I don¡¯t mind.¡± She rested one hand on her hip, pointing the other at a small family of five passing by. ¡°These slum¡ªI mean, people and others like them are important to us. They are our weakness and our treasure. The Night¡¯s Raven has threatened them to challenge us, thinking they can lure us here and cause destruction. But we will show them how wrong they are.¡±
Close as always, yet just missing the mark. But what can you expect from a noble?
Ana turned to Wymon, resting both hands on her hips and puffing out her chest. Was she proud of just about understanding an assignment? She probably thought that her explanation was praiseworthy. Well, he¡¯d have to disappoint her.
¡°Come on, you two idiots. We need to get going,¡± he said, reaching into his robes and brushing his scarred fingers across the water skin. There was no way he was giving her any validation. She¡¯d probably take it to mean she¡¯d achieved something.
Chapter 33: Do we have to keep making sacrifices?
Hector huffed, wiping sweat from his brow as he shimmied between two stalls, his heart hammering in his chest. Were they still chasing? They had to be. There was no way they would let them get away just like that. But they couldn¡¯t use the alleyways like them¡ªhe¡¯d have the same problem himself when he got older. Yet that didn¡¯t mean they would let some children get away.
¡°Mirae, are you alright?¡± he asked, ducking under a thick wooden support beam connecting two stalls. ¡°We should be close now. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± she said. Hector caught a glimpse of a smile as she glanced back. What was she so happy about?
He placed a hand on her back, damp with sweat, ushering her forward¡ªthey might have lost them, but there was no reason to slow down. ¡°Are you doing okay, Mirae?¡±
¡°I did it,¡± she whispered, letting out a small chuckle and hopping over a block of stone. Hector stepped over it. It was lucky for him he didn¡¯t get his foot caught on something like that.
¡°What did you do, Mirae?¡± Hector asked, bracing himself against one of the stalls, the fabric tightening against his weight. It wouldn¡¯t collapse¡ªnothing in the Hilda festival would be left standing if it was that fragile.
¡°Nothing, nothing. I will tell you about it later; you wouldn¡¯t believe me anyway,¡± she said, walking forward, practically skipping.
Why wouldn¡¯t I believe her? Though, if it relates to her Talent, that would make sense. I haven¡¯t exactly got a good track record of believing her with stuff like that before the system came.
Hector grunted, coming to a stop just behind Mirae as she paused. Looking over her head, he watched as the crowd of people moved by with ease¡ªthe people here in the center hadn¡¯t been aware of the little disturbance they¡¯d caused. Hector rested a hand on Mirae¡¯s shoulder as confetti fluttered around them.
Mr. Pennybrook¡¯s stall should be a few paces down the path. Hector craned his neck over Mirae, his gaze bouncing from a bearded man to a young boy, and finally to a drunken fool throwing up behind a stall¡ªthat would have not been fun to step in. There were no guards to be seen. Good. They had gotten lucky; the whole thing had been lucky so far. If that squad of guards had had a captain among them, they wouldn¡¯t have made it back.
¡°Are we sure it¡¯s safe to go out there?¡± Mirae asked, tilting her head back, locking her purple eyes with Hector¡¯s own. ¡°I don¡¯t see any guards.¡±
He wanted to nod, but something told him to wait. He took a breath, training his eyes on the crowd as people strolled by in a mist of confetti. Finally, after a few minutes, he jolted. His eyes locked onto the person he wished to see the least right now.
There, at the back of a group of boys¡ªthough they tried to carry themselves as men¡ªwas Adrian. Strange. The would-be king of the dumps was actually following behind someone else, instead of leading his usual dump guard. What had happened?
¡°Hector, isn¡¯t that...?¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Adrian. But it seems he¡¯s had a little run-in with Scoda. At least that¡¯s the only thing I can think of.¡±
¡°Scoda?¡± Mirae asked, leaning against a support post of the stall that made up one side of the alleyway. Her small hands gripped the wood, and she frowned, picking confetti off her lips. ¡°Is that another dojo?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s a new gang that¡¯s moved in. I had a run-in with one of their members at the dump. And Adrian spends a lot of time there.¡±
Mirae brushed a strand of white hair behind her ear, raising an eyebrow as she continued to watch the group. ¡°Did you hurt them?¡±
What kind of question was that and why was that her first one? He wasn¡¯t that violent. Though... there had been quite the theme recently. ¡°She deserved it; she was picking on someone. And I think they are connected with the Collar Gang.¡±
¡°So you attacked her because she was part of the Collar Gang? Hector, what are you doing? That¡¯s not how we were raised.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what I¡ª¡± The words dried in Hector¡¯s mouth, evaporating to nothing as his heart leapt. Coming out of an alleyway a few stalls down, a confident grin adorning his face, was Lincoln. Bad, this was very bad. Hector couldn¡¯t speak about the others¡ªScoda gang¡¯s street antics weren¡¯t exactly known to him¡ªbut Adrian would definitely cause some issues. He¡¯d never miss an opportunity to screw them over.
¡°What, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Mirae asked. She turned to Hector, followed his gaze, and frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not good. We have to warn him?¡±
How am I meant to do that without putting you at risk? I can¡¯t. I...
Lincoln strolled down the path, his mask long gone, unaware of the trouble he was walking into. Adrian, breaking off from a conversation with a blond-haired boy within his group, spotted Lincoln. A cruel smile tore across his lips.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Clenching his fist, Hector looked at Mirae. His show-stopping Talents were on a cooldown at the moment, the leftover power inside him not enough to make a difference, but he had the other two. Hector pursed his lips. A few stalls down was Mr. Pennybrook¡¯s stall; if he could go out before and get their attention and give Mirae time to get there, that could work. Though, a much crueller idea surfaced: what if he just waited till they had already started attacking Lincoln?
That would guarantee that they wouldn¡¯t spot Mirae. He shook his head. Resting a hand on her shoulder, he let out a sigh. No. If she found out he did something like that, she¡¯d never forgive him.
Besides, I¡¯ve already abandoned him once today. I can¡¯t make this into a habit. It wouldn¡¯t be right. And as much as my dad annoys me, I can¡¯t help but think he¡¯d say I took the easy way out.
¡°Mirae, I¡¯m going out there.¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± she said, gripping the ends of her shirt. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you shouldn¡¯t, but you need to be careful. Alright?¡±
He nodded. ¡°When I go out there, I want you to make your way to Mr. Pennybrook¡¯s.¡± Hector tried to crouch, but the space was too tight, so he had to stick with bending forward a little. He then held her gaze, ruffling her hair, and causing her to frown. ¡°Don¡¯t come out once you are in there, alright? Just sit tight.¡±
¡°I will.¡± Mirae moved his hand from her head and held it between her own. She looked over her shoulder, sighing. ¡°There are four of them and only two of you. Make sure you run as soon as you get the opportunity.¡±
¡°I will make sure I try to.¡±
¡°Hector.¡±
¡°Alright, I promise,¡± he said, pulling his hands from her, squeezing past, and taking a breath. The smell of fried dough with a hint of warm apple tickled his nose. He eyed the four boys as they closed in on Lincoln. He still hadn¡¯t seen them. How could he be so blind?
System, scan the stats of those three boys. I want to see what I¡¯m dealing with.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 1]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°The other two are mortals, with no Talents.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
So aside from Adrian, the other two are mortal. Maybe Lincoln won¡¯t need my help. But then again, these aren¡¯t the usual starving dogs. They look pretty well-fed.
Taking one last look behind him, nodding¡ªhe hoped he wouldn¡¯t regret this¡ªHector ran out of the alleyway, leaving Mirae behind. He ducked past people, hopping from one foot to the next, to the next, weaving through the crowd and closing in.
¡°Lincoln. I can¡¯t believe we meet here of all places,¡± Adrian said, his distant voice snaking to Hector¡¯s ears; it was like a beast who¡¯d found a new toy. ¡°My friends and I were just looking for something fun to do, and here you are.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have time for this, Adrian. Get out of my way,¡± Lincoln said. Hector¡¯s sandaled feet beat against the cobblestone. He swerved around one last person and had them in his sights. Lincoln was slowly backing up as Adrian stood at the front of the group, a smug look on his ugly face¡ªit probably felt good to be in his old position.
¡°What¡¯s your hate with worm?¡± asked an older boy. The wind tousled his brown hair as confetti whipped by. He had a scowl on his face, like the entire thing was a waste of his time. Scratching his cheek, he tapped Adrian on the shoulder. ¡°This better be worth you stopping us; we are meant to meet Claire soon.¡±
¡°It should be,¡± the blond-haired boy Adrian spoke to earlier said, smiling and placing his hands in his pockets. Watching Lincoln with a curious gaze, he gestured to him. ¡°He¡¯s the one who¡¯s been kicking Adrian¡¯s ass for a while now. He even joined our dojo, hoping to become a Mana cultivator and actually win for once. But still nothing.¡±
¡°So it¡¯s a childish grudge then,¡± the older boy said.
The blond one shrugged, looking at the third member of the group. A short boy with a messy mop of black hair whipping in the wind and collecting confetti. The boy shook his head and said nothing.
¡°It wasn¡¯t him,¡± Adrian said, scowling.
¡°Then who was it?¡± the older boy asked. But before Adrian could answer, Hector¡¯s sandaled feet slapped off the ground. As he flew through the air, he raised his leg and kicked out, slamming his foot into the back of the older boy.
The force sent the boy flying forward, twisting in a bundle of limbs before slamming onto the cobblestone with a thud. Hector dropped to his feet, standing right next to Adrian with a smile. ¡°Hey Adrian, fancy meeting you here.¡±
The two boys from the group jumped back. Adrian froze, and Lincoln let out a stifled chuckle¡ªhe was mad. But they could talk about it later.
¡°Ghost,¡± Adrian spat, raising his fist and squaring his stance. ¡°You messed up big this time. You don¡¯t even know what you just did.¡±
I ambushed someone. Again. I feel like this is becoming a bad habit. But I can¡¯t waste time talking; the guards are still looking for us, and I don¡¯t need to get caught because I was fighting Adrian of all people. I can do that anytime.
¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± Hector shot forward, lashing out with two swift punches. The gut shot crippled Adrian. The second to the side of the head put him on the ground. Jumping away from the other two of Adrian¡¯s group, he moved past Adrian¡ªnow cradling his head on the floor¡ªand stepped up to Lincoln. ¡°We¡¯ll talk later, okay?¡±
Lincoln raised an eyebrow and let out a deep sigh¡ªit would be a long conversation. But he got into a lowered stance. Confetti whipped around as Adrian and his new leader got off the floor. Hector spared a glance at Mirae. The alleyway he had come from was now abandoned, and a few stalls down, he saw a plume of white hair picking through the crowd. Good.
The older boy rolled his shoulders, his face red with anger as he locked eyes with Hector. ¡°Who the hell is this?¡±
¡°Ghost, the one that¡¯s...¡± Hector held back a smile as the words struggled out of Adrian¡¯s mouth. ¡°He¡¯s the one that¡¯s been giving me problems.¡±
¡°I can see why,¡± the older boy said. ¡°If he was sneak-attacking you like that all the time, he¡¯d be quite difficult to deal with.¡±
¡°Yeah. He has been.¡±
There he goes again, lying. Well, at least some things don¡¯t change.
¡°Boys, I¡¯m thinking we break those legs of his so he can¡¯t run around sneaking up on others. Call it a public service. What do you think?¡±
The two others cheered, while Adrian hesitated¡ªlooks like the beatings were finally taking hold.
This would probably be a good time to run.
Chapter 34: What Is A Life Worth To You?
Festival-goers stopped and watched, taking in the sight. Many of them were too drunk to know what was going on. But entertainment was entertainment, so they wouldn¡¯t care¡ªIt was just some more slum rats fighting.
¡°So, are we splitting them?¡± Lincoln said, grunting. He looked from each boy to the next, sizing them up. ¡°I could take the blond, and shorter one. While you get the big one and Adrian.¡±
Does he not see how screwed we are right now? These aren¡¯t the usual dump guards. And that guy got up a little too casually, for my liking. I mean, who rolls their shoulders after getting up off the ground?
Hector took a step back, signalling for Lincoln to do the same. Confetti flicked by, whipping at his eyes as the gathering crowd watched on. Lincoln raised a brow, giving him a questioning look as he followed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We can take these guys.¡±
¡°It seems Ghost is scared Adrian,¡± the older boy said. Chuckling, he rested a hand on Adrian¡¯s shoulder, pointing the other at Hector, ¡°He really is a coward, sneak attacking someone, then running away with his tail in between his legs.¡±
Adrian¡ªnot one to displease his new leader¡ªchuckled. He looked between the older boy and the two others. ¡°I think he is scared of the name Scoda. Him and his other dump friend are just cowards picking on those weaker than them.¡±
Is he dumb? Why would I fear some random gang that just popped up the other day?
The blond boy chuckled, ¡°So you are saying you¡¯re weaker than them, Adrian? I mean, they¡¯ve been kicking your hide for years.¡±
Adrian blushed and lowered his head. Hector almost felt sorry for him. He¡¯d walked right into that one. Life was hard being a dog at the bottom of the pack.
¡°It¡¯s not them I¡¯m worried about,¡± Hector said, his voice barely a whisper. Scanning around the growing crowd, he didn¡¯t spot any guards. But that could all change in moments. If they were to get cornered now, the chance of an escape to Mr Pennybrook¡¯s stall would be low, if not impossible.
¡°Alright lads, enough playing around. We can¡¯t keep Claire waiting. You know what she¡¯ll do if we make her wait too long,¡± the older boy said. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap this up.¡±
He kicked off the ground, darting forward like a bolt. The surrounding confetti whipped by as he launched forward with a jab. Hector jerked to the side, ducking and sweeping a foot out, slamming it into the older boy¡¯s shin. The boy chuckled¡ªHe was a bit harder to deal with when he was ready for an attack.
Hector dove out of the way as Adrian charged forward with a kick. Then another. Then another. Leaping back from the final one, twisting through the air, Hector hoped to a stop. Lincoln charged forward, leaping off the ground, twisting his body and kicking down. The blow landed squarely on Adrian¡¯s head¡ªthe second time that empty space had been targeted¡ªdropping him to his knees.
Adrian¡¯s knees then buckled underneath him as he collapsed to the floor¡ªHe was not going to be happy when he woke up. The older boy looked at Adrian, kissed his teeth and swung at Lincoln. The blow grazed him, sending him stumbling back.
The other two boys closed in¡ªHector could see where this was going. He reached forward, grabbing Lincoln¡¯s hand, pulling him back. ¡°We need to go now,¡± he said amidst the cheering of the crowd¡ªNo wonder the nobles looked down on the common folk. If street fights were a valid form of entertainment for them, that left a lot to be desired.
As Hector went to breakthrough the crowd¡¯s encirclement. A scream tore through the festival. Moments later, several feet down the path, a figure shot through a stall and slammed into the cobblestone. The people that were in its path now lay, on the cobblestone, on their sides, clutching at broken limbs.
The air of the festival seemed to still as many fell quiet. The figure got to his feet. It was a man dressed in black robes, accented with gold. Two large black tentacles, writhing and undulating, whipped from his back as he stood with a scowl on his face. Red eyes, hazy with power, stared at something Hector couldn¡¯t see.
What is that man?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 6]
Talent: [Void Embrace[?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
Talent Fragment: [2-Rare]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Rare¡ªtwo tiers above any Hector had seen before¡ªstanding in front of him. It would be great if this wasn¡¯t one of the most dangerous people Hector had ever seen. The tentacles on the man¡¯s back lashed at the air, turning the confetti into black ash as it passed. What were those tentacles? To be able to do that to the confetti¡
Lincoln tugged on Hector¡¯s hand, narrowing his eyes as their gazes met. ¡°We should probably head the other way. I don¡¯t know what that man is, but it¡¯s not good news.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Well, I wasn¡¯t exactly planning to run head first towards him. Even if he¡¯s got a rare Talent.
Hector nodded. In the strained silence¡ªbroken only by fragments of distant music¡ªa voice suddenly spoke. ¡°Oh, Draken. Is this really the path you¡¯ve chosen? Giving up on your brothers, your sisters in arms and instead suckling on the teet of your pathetic masters.¡± A man garbed in dark red robes stepped out from the destruction of the stall. In his hands were two daggers, with flames licking across their surface, giving off a small haze of heat.
¡°You know nothing, Wymon. Nothing. You are but a sheep used by these dammed nobles. Slaughtering beasts and losing your lives all for their amusement. You think yourself lucky, but you aren¡¯t. You are a fool¡¯s aspiration, a decoration piece.¡±
The red-robed man¡ªWymon¡ªsnorted, raising his daggers. ¡°At least I have a purpose. What about you? I keep the fragile peace that is left while you seek to open up old wounds and have us all sacrificed for your misguided beliefs.¡±
A woman with a blond bun stepped next to Wymon, holding a long metal whip. Frost danced across the surface of the whip, icicles filtering to the cobblestone as it swayed. She spoke into Wymon¡¯s ear. He nodded, lowering his stance. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are planning, but your friend won¡¯t make it to his objective.¡±
The black-robed man, Draken, chuckled. Hector¡ªtaking the time to slowly back up¡ªfelt his skin crawl at the man¡¯s laughter. ¡°Just like you, Wymon, always plowing straight ahead, not thinking about what you can¡¯t see.¡±
The man shot forward, a tentacle on his back lashed out, the air quaking in its wake. Wymon raised his dagger. A metallic clang followed, and he was knocked back, his figure slamming through a stall.
Another tentacle on Draken¡¯s back whipped at the blond-haired lady. She ducked, lashing out with her whip. Draken dodged, sidestepping, and kicking out at her. The blow staggered her as she gasped.
Wymon shot out of the stall, daggers blazing, lunging forward with two practiced strikes. One jabbed into the man¡¯s side. He let out a scream, tentacles flailing. The second went for his chest but was stopped as chitinous plates erupted from his torso, blocking the blow, knocking him back. Draken skidded to a stop on the cobblestone, dropping to a knee and clutching his side. After a moment, he removed his hand. Wiggling flesh moved into place and the wound was closed.
Alright, nope. I¡¯ve seen enough. If this goes on, we could be caught in the crossfire.
Hector swivelled on his feet, dragging Lincoln with him as they bolted in the opposite direction. Those around him¡ªthe sober ones anyway¡ªsaw this and turned. Screams erupted as the silence that had gripped the area moments before evaporated. Confetti rushed past Hector¡¯s eyes as he made his way around people and headed towards Mr Pennybrook¡¯s stall.
¡°What in the Great Lake is that!¡± Lincoln yelled from behind, his sandals slapping against the cobblestone. ¡°Have you ever seen anything like that before?¡±
¡°Of course not!¡± Hector replied, weaving in between two people¡ªthe speed of normal people left a lot to be desired. ¡°Mana cultivators don¡¯t just grow tentacles from their back, well, not those in the Gravity Forging realm, anyway.¡±
Eventually, they came to a stop outside the stall. Panicked festivalgoers rushed by, jolting them and bouncing off. Hector paid no mind to them and bundled into the stall, Lincoln trailing behind.
The sounds from the outside were immediately dulled as the effect of the noise-damping talismans kicked in. The screams and shouts, now a dull din in the background. Hector moved through the tight aisles ducking, underneath a lamp as he made his way further in. ¡°Mirae. Mirae! Are you here?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Her voice came from further in, past the till section and in the backrooms. A wave of calm washed over Hector at the sound of her voice, only to be drained as he remembered what was going on outside.
He rushed forward, elbow knocking into a shell as he moved with purpose. In moments, he stood at the door to the backroom. Mirae sat on her chair, with her elbows on the table and her hands in her hair. Sandwiches were stacked neatly a short distance away from her.
Mr Pennybrook, stood towards the side of the room, peeking out a small hole in the side of the stall¡¯s fabric, tapping his foot. He glanced back at Hector. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there? What¡¯s with all the screaming?¡±
Mirae hopped off the chair, scurrying over to Hector, slamming into his chest. Her arms gripped him tight as she let out muffled sobs. ¡°I was so worried. I thought those boys had done something to you. But you¡¯re alright. You¡¯re alright.¡±
Hector rubbed her head. She didn¡¯t move his hand away this time. Mr. Pennybrook stepped over to the chest in the corner of the room, bent down, and pried it open. He reached inside, snagging a few talismans Hector couldn¡¯t make out¡ªnot that he¡¯d know what they were even if he could see them. ¡°So?¡± Mr. Pennybrook asked, closing the chest. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there? What boys? And where are Marcus and his cousin?¡±
Hector frowned, brushing a hand through Mirae¡¯s hair, and cradling her head as Lincoln stopped behind him. Mr. Pennybook nodded at him. ¡°Marcus should be alright,¡± Hector said. ¡°He¡¯s on the east side of the festival. But we won¡¯t be. Some Phoenix Company guys are fighting¡ I don¡¯t know why. But it¡¯s serious. Stalls are being destroyed and people are getting hurt. We have to go.¡±
Mr. Pennybook¡¯s face dropped, like he¡¯d just been told he¡¯d lost a praised pet. He looked from Hector to Lincoln. ¡°This is true?¡±
Lincoln nodded¡ªactually taking the situation seriously. Scratching at the back of his head, he let out a deep sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will spread here, but it¡¯s getting pretty messy. Hector¡¯s right, it¡¯s not safe here for us. We have to leave.¡±
Mr Pennybrook¡¯s eyes flickered. He turned and rushed back over to the chest, dropping to a knee and prying it back open. The hinges creaked under the speed. He scooped a hand in and picked up a bundle of talismans before snapping it back shut and hopping to his feet.
He rushed over to Hector¡ªpractically tripping¡ªand held out two talismans for him. Mirea briefly moved her head from Hector¡¯s chest, eyeing the contents in Mr. Pennybrook¡¯s hand. Hector took one and held it up to his eye. Energy hummed from the lines that ran across its wooden surface, snaking through like blood through veins.
¡°That Is a stone-skin talisman,¡± Mr. Pennybrook said, reaching a hand past Hector and handing another talisman to Lincoln, who accepted it with apparent confusion. ¡°You will need it if things are as dangerous as you say.¡±
Hector frowned, placing the talisman in his pocket and taking the second one that Mr. Pennybrook was handing to him. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look,¡± the man said, noticing Hector¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not going to charge you for them, but I need you children safe. Give one to Marcus and his cousin.¡± He handed a second talisman to Lincoln.
Paying you back is the last thing I¡¯m worried about. I want to know what you''re planning.
¡°Sir, what about you? Are you not coming with us? Why don¡¯t you just give it to him yourself?¡± Hector asked, slotting the second one into his other pocket.
The mans eyes lowered, as he bit his lower lip. ¡°I could be about to do something really stupid. If this goes wrong. Tell him I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°What are you going to do?¡±
Chapter 35: Why are there always new problems?
Mr. Penneybrook¡ªholding another unfamiliar talisman¡ªsighed as he looked past Hector, gazing at the stall behind him. The screams and wails outside, dulled by the sound-damping talismans, carried through the stall¡¯s fabric. The man shook his head. ¡°I need to stay and protect them,¡± he said, eyes hardening, as he glanced back at the chest where he kept the talismans. ¡°It¡¯s all that¡¯s important right now.¡±
More than your own son or nephew¡ªwhat¡¯s so special about some damn talismans? You can¡¯t eat them.
¡°But, sir, what about Marcus? Surely he¡¯s¡ª ¡°
¡°You will take care of him,¡± the man said, cutting Hector off. ¡°While I do my best here to make sure we don¡¯t lose our future.¡± He moved towards the chest, his steps shaky, and stood over it, staring. ¡°I can¡¯t lose all this. You have to understand. Marcus will understand.¡±
¡°I think the old man¡¯s lost it,¡± Lincoln whispered next to Hector¡¯s ear. He hadn¡¯t lost it, but he was definitely prioritizing the wrong thing. What was with the adults in their lives, always thinking they knew what was best. They didn¡¯t. They were just as unsure as them¡ªthis fact was true even in Hector¡¯s old world.
¡°Mr Pennybrook.¡±
¡°Go!¡± the man, shaking with emotion, yelled, startling Hector. ¡°You children can¡¯t afford to waste any more time.¡± Mirae tensed, gripping the fabric of Hector¡¯s shirt as she deepened her hug.
Hector turned, moving Mirae along with him, facing the exit to the room. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we are going to go. It¡¯s gonna be fine.¡± He, brushing his hand through Mirae¡¯s hair, looked up at Lincoln. ¡°It¡¯s pointless. He¡¯s not going to listen. We have to find the others.¡±
¡°We tried,¡± Lincoln said, shrugging and placing a hand in his pocket. ¡°We have these now, anyway.¡± He inclined his head to his trousers. ¡°When we find Marcus, we will just tell him what happened. It¡¯s not our fault.¡±
It kinda would be. If I didn¡¯t have Mirae, I would be tempted to try to drag him out. But that could do more harm than good.
Hector nodded. The light, flickering softly from the various lanterns, wobbled as the ground shook. They needed to go¡ªwhatever was happening outside was getting worse.
Hector pushed Mirae forward, looking back one more time. Mr. Pennybrook was frantically running around the room, placing heavy wall talismans¡ªapparently very useful for reinforcing a structure, at least that¡¯s what Marcus had once said¡ªin every corner of the stall.
Hector took a step and stopped, grabbing onto the door frame and frowning as he moved forward. The man cared so much about his wares that he was willing to risk his life for it. Why? It didn¡¯t make much sense to Hector. You couldn¡¯t bring someone back to life with any of this. Was the man that scared of losing a few talismans? Surely he had more at the shop.
He needs to learn to cut his losses. But then again, who knows, maybe I would be doing the same if I were in his shoes.
Leaving the room behind, his heart heavy as he thought about how Marcus would react, Hector sighed. They had to go back out there, but if he was honest. It was probably better to be out in the open. At least you might see something coming¡ªthe speed those guys were fighting at it was a little hard to keep track of things, for him anyway.
Mirae turned to him, a nervous smile on her face. Hector nodded, but as she went to speak, an ominous aura, thick and oozing, like a slug sliding under his skin, washed over him. The slimy essence invaded his body, making his skin spasm. Hector, gagging, reached for Mirae as a look of sickness overcame her features.
Lincoln¡¯s eyes went wide as he looked at Hector, his whole body trembling. An instant later, a roar ripped through the space, shredding the air and slamming into Hector¡¯s ears. He dropped to one knee, clutching his head in pain as the world began to spin. A second reverberation sent him to the ground, screaming as the sound tore his mind apart.
Lincoln and Mirae¡ªboth affected by the terrible sound¡ªwrithed on the floor in pain. Gritting his teeth, mind thick with fog, Hector tried to crawl towards his sister. Hector fought through the pain just to get a little closure, but then all at once the sound stopped, silence flooded in, and his ears were left ringing.
What in the hell was that? I¡¯ve never heard anything like that before¡ Mirae.
He scurried forward, scooping his arms underneath Mirae and pulling her to his chest. The girl groaned, clearly in pain, but she wasn¡¯t hurt physically. ¡°Hey, Hey. Look at me,¡± Hector said, snapping his fingers as her eyes aimlessly wandered around in their sockets. ¡°Just focus on my voice.¡±
Finally, after a moment, her eyes focused, and she looked at Hector and gave him a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯m alright, you don¡¯t need to worry. How is everyone else?¡±
Hector smiled, glancing away from her. Lincoln, shaking a little, was on his hands and knees. He let out several curses, bringing his hand to his chest and letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°That is not how you get someone¡¯s attention.¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
I don¡¯t think whatever that was is looking for attention.
Hector looked back at the backroom of the stall. The ominous feeling still pervaded the air, but it had lessened some. No movement came from the back room. Was Mr Pennybrook okay? He should be¡ªit had been bad, but not enough to kill someone, surely.
¡°I¡¯ll go check on the old man,¡± Lincoln said, getting to his feet with a wobble, and staggering past Hector.
Hector focused back on Mirae. She seemed a lot better. Hector smiled at her, and straining a little, got her back to her feet. He climbed to his feet a moment later. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±
¡°Not the best, but I think I should feel fine.¡±
The screams, which had been silent until now, sounded again¡ªthe sound-dampening talismans dulled most of it though. But even with that, they seemed more intense. Something was wrong. ¡°The man is fine,¡± Lincoln said, stepping out of the backroom, and shaking his head. ¡°He¡¯s back to protecting his room. It¡¯s best we go now.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Hector said, clenching his fist. The lights on the stall¡¯s canopy shook. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but whatever that was, it sounded like it would be a lot worse than two mana-cultivators fighting. Maybe even a mana-beast, a big one.¡±
Lincoln chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous; how would it get past the great lake for one and two, how would it get past the city walls?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°Trust me, it¡¯s not a mana-beast.¡± Lincoln, arms tense as he clutched at the talismans in his pocket, walked past Hector, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°A mana-beast would be long dead before it set foot in the city. I can promise you that.¡±
Hector pursed his lips. Mana-beasts¡ªcreatures charged with mana that lived beyond the great lake¡ªweren¡¯t rare, but you would definitely not see one in the city unless it was in chains. Was Lincoln right? Perhaps. But then, what was it? He¡¯d never heard of a beast roar doing anything like that.
Hector nodded, gesturing towards the exit. He wanted to help Mr. Pennybrook, but he had to get Mirae out of here first. Once she was safe, they would come back and force him out. Lincoln moved, and Hector followed, Mirae trailing behind. They threaded through the cramped aisle, ducking under swaying lanterns.
They exited the stall, walking out into the open air, bracing for what they would find. They froze. The path, which had once been a bustling stall-choked walkway, was completely destroyed. Wood and cloth from what used to be different vendors lay scattered. Broken and torn. The confetti had stopped falling, and screams strangled the air from various directions¡ªthe festival was in ruins.
All around the area, various festivalgoers groaned in pain, some holding their heads, others clutching at broken limbs. A man, red-faced and huffing, sprinted down the street. Vomit stained his clothes, but that seemed to be the least of his worries.
What is he¡ª
A creature, its black tentacles writhing from its back, burst out of a shattered stall, tearing the fabric to shreds as it slammed onto the cobblestone. Spider-web-like cracks spread from its obsidian paws as it locked onto the man¡ªthough Hector wasn¡¯t sure how, as it had no eyes. Just rows of sharp white razor-like teeth littering its wide mouth.
The man looked back¡ªa mistake¡ªtripped over his feet, and tumbled to the ground. The creature exploded forward, bounding across the cobblestone and over to the man in several leaps. The creature stopped, tilted its head, and snapped down on his leg with a sickening crunch.
¡°What in the great lake is that thing?¡± Lincoln yelled, as nearby people, eyes wide with fear, screamed.
¡°Isn¡¯t that a Mana-beast?¡± Hector asked, tugging Mirae and moving her behind him.
¡°No. Mana-beast don¡¯t look like that.¡±
¡°How do you know?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen pictures in books, alright. And none of them look anything like that.¡±
Hector¡¯s brow tightened as he scanned the area. What was that thing? And were there more?
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///: Acquiring target stats¡ Identifying outlier¡
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///
Creature Type: Void Hunger
Cultivation level:[Rank-1] = [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [2-Uncommon]
///
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That thing has talent fragments, but how? It doesn¡¯t even have a Talent. What is a Void Hunger?
Whatever the creature was, it was only a minor realm above him. The only problem was Hector had never seen or fought anything like it. Just because it was a single realm higher didn¡¯t mean it would be a close fight.
Hector turned to Lincoln, standing transfixed on the beast, and rested a hand on his arm, shaking him. ¡°We need to go.¡± He was in no position to save the man, especially with Mirae around. If there were more than one Void Hunger in the area, he would be putting Mirae at risk.
Lincoln, his eyes locked onto the creature, nodded. ¡°Yeah, we should get out of here. I don¡¯t exactly fancy being turned into minced meat.¡± He turned to Hector, licking his lips as his eyes darted from left to right. ¡°It¡¯s after that, man. We should use the distraction to sneak the other way.¡±
Hector frowned¡ªit wasn¡¯t a bad plan, but it was callous, almost barbaric. He glanced at Mirae, who had an appalled look on her face. Hector, taking her hand, sighed and looked back at the man being eaten alive by the creature. ¡°It¡¯s the easy way out, but I can¡¯t risk your life. Mirae, we¡¯re going to have to go with Lincoln¡¯s idea.¡±
Mirae groaned but nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a coward¡¯s excuse. I almost don¡¯t want to say it, but we are too weak to help him.¡± She said, sniffling as she wiped a tear falling down her cheek.
¡°If he had only been a faster runner,¡± Lincoln said, scratching his head.
Lincoln, this really is not the time.
Some people, freed from their fear, scrambled to their feet, tripping over themselves as they pushed past others. A bold bearded man knocked an old lady to the floor as he ran for his life. He was a coward for sure, but could Hector blame him? He was a mortal, and Hector was sort of doing the same.
They, as one, began to walk back, careful to not catch the Void Hunger¡¯s attention as it ate. The poor man screamed as it moved up his body, crunching on him like lettuce.
Hector gulped, shielding Mirae¡¯s eyes as he moved her along. A few broken stalls down, wood and fabric exploded as another beast crashed onto the cobblestone. More than a few paces behind it were two white-robed guards. They scurried over the remains of the stall, poles angled toward the beast.
It snarled, batting a paw at one of the poles that thrusted towards it. Sparks flying as claw contacted metal. The creature jumped back. Swivelled. And began running down the path, tentacles lashing out as the guards chased it.
Hector froze, heart hammering in his chest, and pulled Mirae to a stop. Lincoln backed up, stumbling on a piece of wood. It was coming towards them.
You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.
Chapter 36: Can You Save Yourself First?
¡°Lincoln, activate the talisman!¡± Hector yelled, reaching a hand into his pocket, grabbing his own and willing it to activate. A balloon of energy formed from it, exploding into a thick membrane that coated his entire body. It wobbled before settling across his body.
¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me twice,¡± Lincoln said, activating his own. Hector handed another talisman of the three or four he¡¯d been given to Mirae. She took it and gripped it in her small, trembling hands.
¡°You activate it when I say, alright? Not a moment before,¡± Hector said, turning back to the creature bounding towards them. Its claws scratched at the cobblestone each time it moved. Mirae let out a sound¡ªhopefully, she understood what she needed to do.
Hector didn¡¯t know how long these talismans would last. And if it wasn¡¯t long enough, he didn¡¯t want hers running out when she needed it the most. He took a step forward, his sandaled feet crushing splintered wood. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just run? I mean, the guards are coming this way, and we don¡¯t exactly have a good reason for the coin pouches we have on us,¡± Lincoln said.
¡°That is the least of my worries, Lincoln,¡± Hector said, getting into his fighting stance. ¡°We need to keep that thing off, Mirae. If it¡¯s running from the guards, it shouldn¡¯t waste much time on us.¡± Hector, gulping, gestured behind them. ¡°It¡¯s that one I¡¯m worried about¡ªit could catch us off guard or team up with its friend. Then the guards won¡¯t be much help at all.¡±
Lincoln frowned, lowering his stance and moving next to Hector, blocking Mirae. ¡°You better not abandon me again. I don¡¯t feel like being a snack all by myself this time, alright.¡±
¡°If we make it through this, I will make it up to you. I promise,¡± Hector said, licking his lips and tasting salt. The groans of the injured nearby came to his ear, but listening to that would do him no good¡ªhe wasn¡¯t a healer or a hero; he just needed to keep his family safe.
The creature reached them and Hector barreled forward, Lincoln at his side. He needed to make sure it was as far away from Mirae as possible. With a grunt, narrowly avoiding a lashing tentacle, Hector barreled into it, slamming it.
It screeched, raising a paw and swiping for him. Lincoln was there, swivelling through the air and delivering a devastating heel kick. The paw was knocked back. Hector kicked off, raising a knee and whipping out, delivering an Orion Leaping Strike to its obsidian black, featureless face. It staggered.
While Hector sprinted to the creature¡¯s back, Lincoln rushed forward with three quick blows. Little effect. Grunting, Hector exploded off the cobblestone, raising a knee, and slammed his foot into the beast¡¯s hide. It staggered forward, stumbling. A tentacle shot from its back, thick and pulsing, crunching down into the cobblestone, steadying it. Hector stepped back over to Lincoln, lowering his stance and raising his fists. The creature growled, baring its teeth, its tentacles whipping through the air.
Heavy footsteps beat off the cobblestone. The two white-robed guards charged forward, not even paying them any attention, and thrust forward with their polearms. While the creature lunged forward, swinging a paw at the two, Hector and Lincoln, relaxing a little, shuffled back¡ªhe and Lincoln had done all they needed to; the guards could take over.
¡°Are you alright?¡± Hector asked Mirae, as he stepped over, keeping half his attention on the fight between the guards and the beast. Lincoln flanked him, kicking at broken fragments of wood, as his gaze traveled around the destroyed path.
She nodded, running over. ¡°What way do we go now?¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably best to go in the direction that they came from,¡± Hector said, watching the guards fight. The two had managed to push it back, but the beast was getting closer to its friend. If it joined in, Hector didn¡¯t like the guards¡¯ chances.
¡°Yeah, perhaps.¡± Lincoln crossed his arms, frowning as he watched a woman crawl across the cobblestone, her legs broken. He muttered something¡ªhe must not have wanted Hector to hear, as he was especially quiet.
¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± Hector said, grabbing Mirae¡¯s hand, and moving in the direction the guards had come from. Lincoln trailed behind him, constantly looking over his shoulder. That was a good thing since Hector couldn¡¯t watch both his front and back at the same time. You never knew when another creature could pop out.
Hector felt a tug on his hand as he hurried. He glanced back, raising a brow at Mirae. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
She didn¡¯t speak, instead pointing off to the side. The wind buffeted a destroyed stall nearby. Hector turned¡ªhis heart dropped. Off in the distance, near the center of the festival, was another one of the creatures. But bigger. Much bigger. Thick black tentacles lashing through the air, it loomed over everything, easily five stories tall.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
///: Acquiring target stats¡
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/// Creature Type: Void Ravager
Cultivation level: [Core Formation-1]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [5-Legendary]
///
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Hector¡¯s mind whirled. There was no way that thing just appeared out of thin air. But yet here it was, right in front of him.
That can¡¯t be real, right? It can¡¯t be.
While Hector stood frozen, Lincoln bumped into his back, staggering. ¡°What¡¯s the holdup¡ªby the Great Lake? What is that?¡±
¡°I think you might be right, Lincoln. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a mana beast.¡± Hector looked down the path where the guards were still fighting the smaller creatures. The men were now losing. At this rate, they would kill the guards and pick a new target.
Lincoln dropped to his knees, slamming his fist onto the cobblestone. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it is anymore. I hate this; we just came to do one simple thing, and now we are going to die for it. How is that fair?¡±
¡°Lincoln, we aren¡¯t going to die.¡±
The boy looked up, eyes red, scowling. ¡°Do you think we can outrun that thing? Are you serious? For all you know, there could be a whole army of those smaller ones nearby.¡±
Hector opened his mouth, but no words came out. Mirae¡¯s warm hand squeezed his as she took a step closer, her shaking form reinforcing what he had to do. A cool breeze ruffled his hair, carrying with it the smell of sweet bread and urine. His heart, slowly settling, leapt as the stall a little ways down the street from them exploded into fragments of wood and cloth as another Void Hunger scurried out onto the cobblestone, claws clattering. It lowered its head, sniffing at the ground.
Just great, another one. But it¡¯s funny. The only thing that scares me right now is losing Mirae. I wonder why? I know I¡¯m scared, but it¡¯s not paralyzing.
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///: ¡°If the user cannot maintain a certain threshold of clear-headedness, he will not be able to use the system functions.¡±
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Well, damn. We¡¯ll have to talk about that little revelation later.
Frowning, Hector released Mirae¡¯s warm hand and stepped towards the beast. His heart sank as he looked back at Lincoln. His friend hadn¡¯t moved, still kneeling and staring at the cobblestone with vacant eyes¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be much help right now, but hopefully, he could buy the boy some time to get himself together.
As Hector turned back to the beast, its featureless face looked up. Sunlight danced across its obsidian skin as Hector gritted his teeth, tightening his fist. It had found him. Sure, there were people nearby¡ªbut the beast seemed trained on him.
¡°Mirae, you stay with Lincoln, okay?¡± Hector said, forcing a tight smile. The water building on the edge of his sister¡¯s eyes made him waver, but he had to do this; no one else would. ¡°You will be alright.¡± His gaze drifted down the pathway to where the two guards still fought the two beasts. One guard¡¯s arm hung at an odd angle, but he still fought on¡ªHector had to respect that kind of persistence.
Turning, Hector darted forward, crossing the distance to the beast in moments. The creature opened its razor-filled jaw and roared, snapping towards his chest, forcing him to leap to the side. He crunched onto his shoulder, rolled, and kicked off the cold cobblestone. He felt the air whip past his cheek as he twisted away from the beast¡¯s tentacle and lashed forward with an Orion Leaping Strike straight to the beast¡¯s side.
Hector¡¯s kick sent the creature staggering, its screech echoing off the stones as it skittered backwards. He pulled on [Quickening Brace], feeling time slow to a crawl as he watched the beast, tracking and plotting the path its paw would take as it went to readjust itself¡ªThere, it was a misdirect; it would go with the tentacle first.
The world around him snapped back into motion. He flung his body backwards, his hands smacking and pushing off the cold cobblestone as the creature¡¯s tentacle cracked down where he¡¯d been moments before. He then kicked off the stone, twisting his body through the air and channelling his momentum into a devastating kick. His heel connected with the creature¡¯s head, and he felt the impact shudder through his leg as it slammed into the ground with a sickening crack.
He pushed off the ugly thing¡¯s head, twisting out of the way as a tentacle whipped by his face. Pain exploded in his side as a second tentacle he hadn¡¯t seen slammed into him, cracking into the stone skin membrane. The impact sent him flying, slamming him into the cobblestone. Loose pieces of wood splintering against his back.
¡°Hector!¡± His sister¡¯s voice cut through his mild daze as he pushed himself up into a seated position and coughed¡ªit had definitely knocked the wind out of him. A careless mistake. Dangerous even. Hector let out a shaky breath, feeling the cool wind against his arms. If he made more mistakes like that, Mirae would be next¡ªafter the beast finished chewing on him.
Hector¡¯s ear twitched as familiar footsteps echoed off the cobblestone behind him. ¡°That looked like it actually hurt,¡± Lincoln said, his voice causing Hector¡¯s shoulders to relax¡ªit had taken that idiot more than long enough to get himself together. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll need a hand?¡±
Chuckling, Hector placed a hand on his knee and clambered shakily to his feet. ¡°You know, I think I¡¯ve had enough fun with it alone. But this is probably a two-man job.¡±
¡°Oh really? Then I guess you won¡¯t mind if I cut in.¡±
Hector fought back a smile as his friend stepped next to him and lowered his stance. Lincoln thumbed over his shoulder to the fight still going on behind. ¡°By the way, we might want to hurry this up; I don¡¯t think the guards can hold on much longer.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the idea,¡± Hector said, his sandaled feet scraping across the cobblestone as he got into his fighting stance. He eyed the Void Hunger as it slowly stalked towards him and Lincoln¡ªit seemed to welcome the extra challenge.
¡°You know it¡¯s funny, Lincoln. I think we can actually beat it. It should actually be on its last legs.¡±
Lincoln grunted in response, but Hector knew that was enough¡ªhis friend would follow his lead¡ªno words needed.
Tightening his fist, he got ready to charge. But his eyes went wide as something blurred into the side of the creature, taking it off its feet and slamming it into a destroyed stall. The impact sent a plume of torn cloth and wooden shrapnel into the air, and Hector found himself tracking pieces of debris as they tumbled through the destruction.
What the hell was that?
Chapter 37: Are aftermaths always painful?
Hector¡¯s gaze drifted to where the blur had come from, and he paused as the man hopped from one broken stall to the next, each leap carrying him a great distance. He was dressed in dark red robes that fluttered as he moved. In his hand was a javelin with flames licking across its surface, and on his back were several more. The most eye-catching thing about him was his red hair¡ªnot like Jodie¡¯s, but an actual red like fire.
¡°Core Formation,¡± Hector muttered, glancing at Lincoln, who looked just as confused as he did. The robes identified the man as part of the Phoenix Company, but the hair¡ªwhich would take on the colour of one¡¯s affinity upon reaching that stage¡ªplaced him in the Core Formation.
System, scan him.
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///: Acquiring target stats¡
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///
Cultivation level: [Core Formation-1]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
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I was right; he is a Core Formation. He must be here to deal with that thing.
The man raised his arm, flames raging across it as he launched another javelin. It shot through the air, whistling with speed, and slammed into one of the Void Hungers fighting the two guards, pinning it to the stone. A second javelin followed a moment later, crunching into the obsidian flesh of the other beast and pinning its head to the ground.
Both creatures continued to writhe for a moment until the javelins exploded in flame, immolating their flesh. Hector cringed as they let out their final pained cries¡ªa feeling of wrongness washing over him, though much weaker than the one pervading the area.
¡°Lincoln, he¡¯s in the Core Formation realm,¡± Hector said, grabbing Mirae¡¯s shaky hand as she came to stand next to him. Her presence was a comfort.
¡°Yeah, I think so,¡± Lincoln replied. The man cracked onto the cobblestone a few feet in front of them and reached out. The stall rubble where he had slammed the Void Hunger that Hector had been fighting shook; flames licked at a smouldering corpse, and then he pulled back. Out from the wreckage, the javelin snapped and smacked into his waiting palms¡ªhe was definitely in the Core Formation realm.
The man looked at them, gave a curt nod, and spared a glance at the creature looming in the center of the festival. His face tightened, and he launched off the ground, soaring over to the two guards, where he collected his other two javelins.
¡°I think we might actually be alright,¡± Lincoln said, grabbing Hector¡¯s arm¡ªhis finger pinching into his skin as he shook him. ¡°With a Core Formation here, they should be more than able to deal with that big one.¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Although impressive, the Core Formation cultivator was the least of his concerns. Those corpses had fragments on them¡ªat least he hoped they did. If he could extract even a few, that would be one seed, at the very least.
Hector scanned the area. The Core Formation man said something to one guard before leaping away toward the Void Ravager in the center of the festival. Hector¡¯s eyebrows bunched as he watched the guards hobble further down the stone path¡ªweren¡¯t they supposed to help someone?
Although the guards weren¡¯t healers, they could surely provide some first aid. He sighed, his eyes moving to the smouldering stall wreckage as he shook his head. It didn¡¯t matter; he needed those fragments, and if they weren¡¯t around, extraction would be even easier.
¡°Lincoln, stay here. I¡¯m going to check it out.¡± Warmth left his hand as he let go of Mirae¡¯s and gestured toward the stall. ¡°I want to get a closer look.¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t you already get a look when it was trying to kill you all those times?¡± Lincoln said, crossing his arms and letting his gaze flicker between Hector and the surroundings. Quiet sobs still littered the area as a few people moved around, helping others. ¡°Maybe we should get out of here. Just because there¡¯s a Core Formation doesn¡¯t guarantee how this fight will go.¡±
He was right, but still¡ªwhen am I going to get another chance like this? And what about Mirae¡
He looked back at his sister, who trembled slightly as the wind buffeted her white hair. She reached out to clamp it down, stopping the loose strands from getting into her face. It was dangerous, but no more so than walking blindly in any direction, hoping not to run into another one.
¡°Do you guys trust me?¡± Hector asked, looking between the two of them.
Mirae nodded.
¡°I do, but I have my concerns¡ªespecially after what happened earlier,¡± Lincoln said, kicking a loose piece of wood aside. He looked up to meet Hector¡¯s eyes. ¡°But I know why you did it. So¡¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
It wasn¡¯t a full yes, which Hector would have preferred, but it was enough for now. ¡°Good, so just follow me.¡± Hector took Mirae¡¯s hand with a tight grip and led them toward the stall. They stopped a few feet from the corpse¡ªa burnt husk that smelt of sulfur and decay. Hector, letting go of Mirae¡¯s hand, brought his own hand over his nose as he squinted.
¡°This thing didn¡¯t smell that bad when we were fighting it, did it?¡± he asked, looking at Lincoln. The boy¡¯s eyes scanned the beast before he shrugged.
¡°I don¡¯t think so, but then again, I was too busy trying not to become its next meal to really give it a proper whiff.¡± He sighed and rested his hand on his hip. Raising an eyebrow, he gave Hector a questioning look as he backed up. ¡°So what did you want from this thing, anyway?¡±
Hector stepped forward, the wood of his sandals cracking against the debris as he picked through the wreckage. ¡°Not much. I just wanted to see what it was that we were actually fighting.¡±
¡°And you couldn¡¯t do that from here?¡±
System, are the fragments still present?
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///: ¡°Yes, but they are currently in the process of decay. If they are not extracted now, they shall be lost.¡±
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Okay, that¡¯s good. It¡¯s not a waste, but I¡¯ll need to make this fast.
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///: ¡°The target does not have a soul space, so fragments can be extracted from the target without leaving this plane. Just place your hand on it.¡±
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It doesn¡¯t have a soul space. Why? Is it because it¡¯s dead?
Hector dropped to his knees and placed his hand on the Void Hunger¡¯s rough, obsidian skin. It brushed against his palm, almost scratching it¡ªlike the bark of an old, long-dead tree.
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///: ¡°Void entities do not have souls. They are creatures of pure oblivion. It is unknown why, but they do develop Talent fragments, though most never manifest into full Talents. That is all I can tell you for now.¡±
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Oh. Okay. System, extract talents.
An energy pulsed through Hector¡¯s hand, and a moment later, something reacted. The power slipped through his veins, his skin rippling as it flowed into him. It was as if someone had just poured sugar into his arteries.
¡°Hector, are you all right?¡± Mirae said, stepping forward and cracking a piece of wood with her foot. ¡°It¡¯s not coming back, is it?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Hector replied, pushing off from his thigh and coming to his feet.
Lincoln gave him a queer look, placing a hand on the back of his head. ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± he asked, glancing behind him. Various people around the festival shambled about¡ªmany injured, with wounds dripping blood onto the floor. ¡°I hope you did, because I think we should get going.¡±
Hector looked off into the distance. The Void Ravager at the center of the festival was on a rampage, its tentacles whipping about as it fought off attacks from people that Hector couldn¡¯t make out at this distance. ¡°Yeah, I just want to have a look at the other two creatures. I think there is something I¡¯ve come to understand.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± Lincoln said, looking back at him. His gaze made Hector fidget. It was as if Lincoln were searching for something¡ªHector wasn¡¯t very good at lying to his friends, and Lincoln probably picked up on it. ¡°Alright, if you think you¡¯re onto something, then let¡¯s go check them out. But as soon as you¡¯re done, we need to get moving.¡±
Hector nodded, crunching across the debris as he reached for Mirae¡¯s hand. She gripped it tightly, and he gave her a reassuring smile, which seemed to steady her shaking. He reminded himself he was doing this for her.
¡°Now let¡¯s go see what these two have. Hopefully, the fragments won¡¯t have decayed by the time I can extract them.¡±
Emela pursed her lips behind her mask. Crossing her arms, she scanned the area and took in the destruction the creature had wrought. It was now frozen¡ªa husk of what it had been when it rampaged through the festival earlier.
Nyx, standing a short distance away on the cobblestone, turned to her, her face hidden by a simple black mask. ¡°I don¡¯t think these are mana beasts, mistress.¡± A second creature¡ªits tentacles now limp¡ªlay a short distance away, its carcass crushing the stall beneath it.
¡°That much is obvious. The wrongness these creatures give off is nothing like I¡¯ve ever experienced,¡± Emela said, tapping her foot on the beast¡¯s skin. Although frozen, the obsidian-like surface still emanated an eerie, unnatural feeling¡ªlike a perversion of life.
¡°Perhaps we should ask Mistress Cathrine. Maybe she would know what they are,¡± Nyx suggested, cleaning her hands on her leather pants and stepping over.
Emela scoffed, jumping off the beast and bouncing onto the cobblestone. Shaking her head, she sighed¡ªit was a nice thought, but it wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°If I told them I was anywhere near this place, they¡¯d lock me up for at least a month. It might not be fully in the slums, but the festival is still too far from the centre of Middlec for their liking.¡±
Nyx nodded, glancing over as a man shambled out from a destroyed stall. He had a large cut on his back, with splinters of wood clinging to his blood-soaked shirt, yet he seemed unconcerned. His focus was fixed on the stall. He dropped to his knees with a thud and began sobbing. ¡°Why, why¡¡±
¡°Mistress, should we?¡± Nyx asked, gesturing toward the poor man.
Emela shook her head. It wasn¡¯t her place¡ªshe could give him some coin, but she doubted it could bring back what he¡¯d lost. Licking her lips, her warm breath brushing her cheek, Emela looked away. There was no need to watch.
Around the path, similar scenes played out. Wails filled the air as people questioned the meaning behind it all. But Emela knew the reason: they were too weak. How could they ever hope to defend themselves against a creature that treated them like food?
The air whipped as someone cracked onto the cobblestone. Turning to see who, Emela discovered a woman with green hair rustling gently in the wind, standing over the corpse of the creature that had crushed the stall. The woman frowned at the beast, biting her lip before turning to Emela and Nyx.
¡°You killed this thing,¡± she said, gesturing toward the corpse.
Emela nodded and took a confident step forward. Playing coy would only put her at a disadvantage¡ªshe had to go full-on noble, irony and all. Nyx moved in front of Emela, taking up a defensive stance.
The woman tilted her head and brought a finger to her red lips. ¡°Strange¡ªchildren so young, able to take out a creature of the void with such ease. And two of them, no less.¡± She glanced past Emela to the creature¡¯s body behind her. ¡°I see. A Frostkeep, and a blessed blood at that. Interesting.¡±
A smile tugged at the woman¡¯s lips as the wind ruffled her hair. She reached into her robes, and Emela tensed. Her heart quickened. If this woman was who she thought she was, they were in trouble.
Chapter 38: Do you think youve seen it all?
The woman chuckled, seemingly finding her reaction funny, as she pulled a scroll from her robe. ¡°Relax little one, you may think me a Glademoore, but I left my family long ago. So, in a way, I can understand your situation.¡±
Sure you do.
Emela shuffled further away from Nyx, making sure there was a good distance between them. If this woman attacked¡ªand there was no guarantee she wouldn¡¯t¡ªit would be best to avoid both of them getting taken out at the same time.
The woman sighed, tapping the scroll on her palm as she appeared to be contemplating something. The sobs from the surrounding people continued, and Emela resisted the urge to look. This woman was in the Core Formation realm. And If things went south, the cries of a few mortals would be the least of her worries.
¡°Take this,¡± the woman said, throwing the scroll to Emela. It whipped through the air, clattering to the ground at her feet. Emela didn¡¯t look at it. The woman shrugged. ¡°If you decide to accept, ask for Acalla. I know what you are going through, young one, trust me.¡±
With that, the woman launched into the air, cracking the cobblestone. She leapt from shattered stall to shattered stall, making her way to the center of the festival.
¡°Wasn¡¯t she part of the Phoenix company?¡± Nyx said, reaching down to pick up the scroll.
¡°She had the robes of a member. She must be someone with some rank if she¡¯s in the Core Formation realm.¡± Emela said, directing her attention into the distance, to the center of the festival.
There, a larger version of the creatures she and Nyx had been fighting, stood, tentacles whipping around as it fought back the encroaching groups of Mana Cultivators. The air shook with violent roars as the feeling of wrongness it gave off spread all the way over here. It was truly something that didn¡¯t belong, but she couldn¡¯t figure out why.
Maybe there will be something in the family library about what these things are.
¡°Do you think the others are alright?¡± Nyx asked, sliding the scroll into her pocket and turning to Emela. She bunched her black brows as her blue eyes squinted towards the beast. ¡°You don¡¯t think they were anywhere near that creature, do you?¡±
Emela shook her head¡ªshe didn¡¯t know and wouldn¡¯t unless she went over there herself. The groans from a nearby stall carried on the wind. Her heart grew heavier with every pained cry, but she set her jaw and focused on the beast. She needed to get stronger, or she would end up like these people one day. Alone and weak, dying in a way that was out of her control¡ªthat was not what she wanted, that was not freedom.
¡°Come on, Nyx?¡± Emela said, walking down the path. Her footsteps echoed off the cobblestone as she moved gracefully towards the center. Another reason she couldn¡¯t waste time on these people. First, she had to make sure her friends were alright.
Nyx nodded, trailing behind silently.
Wymon frowned as he knelt on the cobblestone. One hand at his hip whilst the other hung at his side, twitching¡ªhe really wanted to take a swig. Just one small sip from his waterskin and everything would be alright.
¡°He got away again, sir,¡± Ana said weakly from his side. The woman lay on the ground, her back propped up against a shattered box that was now a mostly pile of broken wood. Blood trickled from the side of her mouth as she looked off to the beast that dominated the horizon.
¡°Yeah, he did, lucky fool. I almost had him, too.¡± Wymon said, looking back at her, and resting a hand on her shoulder, ¡°Are you going to be alright?¡±
¡°Sorry, sir, it¡¯s my fault. If I had been a bit more capable, we would have caught him,¡± she said, letting out a cough, splattering blood onto her dark red robes. Her gaze moved from the horizon and focused on him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what I asked.¡± Wymon shook his head and put his hand into his robes, feeling for a pill¡ªwhy were these children always so difficult and headstrong? His fingers brushed across a smooth, round surface. The texture sent a wave of relief through him. He had one. Pulling his hand back, a red pill clutched between his fingers, he frowned at Ana. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±
The girl groaned, weakly opening her mouth, barely enough to fit the pill. Wymon popped it in and watched as she swallowed with a gulp. A few seconds later, her skin took on a red hue. Sweat droplets pooled on her forehead before tracing a long line down her face and dripping off her chin. It had worked¡ªhe¡¯d need to make sure he got a few more pills when they returned to base.
¡°How are you feeling now?¡± He asked, shuffling forward and rummaging around some rubble. He¡¯d seen something just now that looked like a talisman, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. There were a lot of talisman stalls around the festival.
¡°Much better, thank you, sir,¡± she said, letting out a breath. Wood cracked and shifted beneath her as she adjusted herself. He threw a glance over his shoulder and raised a hand to stop her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sir?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
¡°One, I¡¯m looking for something, and two. You just ate a recovery pill. You know what happens when you push yourself too hard.¡± He turned back to the debris in front of him and continued rooting around. Wood chunks and cloth soaked in liquid, with chunks of food sticking to them, shuffled around as he spent a few more seconds searching. Eventually, he sighed. Accepting the fact that it must have just been a trick of the eye¡ªhe really needed to get some proper sleep.
¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± Ana said, grunting as she got to her feet. Splinters of wood clattered to the ground as she stepped over, crunching debris beneath her boots.
¡°No, annoyingly not.¡± Wymon dusted his hands off, pushing off the ground, and clambering to his feet with a grunt. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter much. We have more important things to worry about.¡±
Ana looked away from him, her brown eyes moving to the enormous creature in the distance as she let out a shaky breath. ¡°How did they even manage to summon a void beast? Especially a rank 4 at that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, but I guess that¡¯s why Draken was so intent on stopping us from catching his little friend.¡±
¡°Do you think Peter is alright?¡±
Wymon sighed, his gaze drifting to some shifting rubble. A piece fell off the moving pile. One, then another, then another. Till, eventually, a man clawed out of the small hill of debris, letting out a triumphant shout¡ªWymon could only imagine what that must¡¯ve felt like, to finally be free. Ana looked at Wymon, raising a brow as her brown eyes scanned him. He sighed. ¡°Yeah, he can be a bit dense at times. But the boy is alert and has a good head on his shoulders. If things got crazy, I have no doubt he would have gotten out of there.¡±
Ana sighed, lowering her head, and bringing a finger to her lip. Wymon shrugged. She was thinking about the wrong thing. As a member of the Claw group, they had a job to do, and the first thing was to get these citizens out of the area¡ªthe Phoenix Company had just been dealt a blow. Now was the time for damage control.
¡°Ana, go help that man over there,¡± Wymon said, pointing at the man who had just freed himself from the rubble. ¡°I¡¯ll sweep the streets, getting others out. We need to move these people away from the center festival.¡±
¡°Yes sir,¡± the girl said nodding, shaking loose a strand of blond hair, which she quickly placed behind her ear. She then strode away, crunching wood under her feet, as she moved towards the man.
Okay, first, I should probably look for those lightly wounded¡ª
A loud crash stalled his thoughts as a small void creature smashed through the wreckage of a stall a few feet down the path. It lashed about, jerking, tentacles flailing, as it tried to get something¡ªno, someone off its back. Wymon¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight as he tried to process what he was seeing. For a moment he¡¯d thought it was a Core Formation mana cultivator, but no¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t have even taken a moment to defeat a creature like that.
He continued to watch as the girl, ginger hair whipping around, kept delivering blow after blow to the creature¡¯s back, dodging from side to side every time a tentacle got close to taking her out. Wymon¡¯s mouth hung agape. His tongue almost fell out of his mouth. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. The speed at which those tentacles moved even gave him some trouble.
He reached for the mana armaments¡ªtwin fire blades forged by the company¡¯s Curlian smiths¡ªthat hung at his side. This person was definitely proving to be a challenge for the creature, but she was hardly doing enough damage to it. He¡¯d have to get involved now or risk others getting hurt.
It¡¯s just not my day today. All I wanted to do was have a drink and go to sleep. Yet here I am.
Wymon held back a yawn, kicking off from the ground, the cobblestone blurring beneath him as he closed the gap between him and the creature. The girl, a high-level Mana-Cultivator most likely, continued to pummel the beast. But a jerk from the creature slamming its hind legs onto the cobblestone sent her falling off of it.
The fall was unnatural. It was like watching a cat drop off a table, but it knew how to organise its body mid-fall. The girl dodged another tentacle, aiming for her chest, and whipped out with a kick as the beast paw barreled towards her, knocking it back.
Who is this child? Is she a noble perhaps, but no Flamelight heirs were said to be in the area today?
Wymon skidded to a stop, boots scraping against the ground, before he used the momentum to launch into the air, slicing at tentacles that came his way. The blades sliced through the thick meat. Cooking the flesh, causing the stink of sulfur to explode through the air. The beast roared, rasing back on its hind legs as he land with a soft thud onto the cobblestone.
¡°Get back!¡± He yelled, sparing a glance at the girl. But paused as he noticed her eyes¡ªthey flickered with an iridescent white light, not natural in the slightest. His body moved on his own, raising his twin blades and a force exploded into them, knocking him back.
He flipped through the air, sliding to a stop on the stone. The girl weaved through the beast¡¯s tentacles, delivering ineffective blow after ineffective blow. The beast continued to lash out, screeching as its attacks failed to find its mark. Its attacks would never land. Those eyes¡ªhe¡¯d seen them only once before.
But if she has what I think, she most likely isn¡¯t a high level Mana Cultvator, she is probably not even a noble.
No noble wore rags like that. Those were the clothes of someone who lived in the slum. And if she was a slum dweller, this could be a huge opportunity. He shot forward as the beast raised its paw to slam down on the girl.
She wouldn¡¯t need the help, but it was time to end this fight. The beast¡¯s paw fell. He swivelled to the right, boots scraping along the cobblestone before he launched off the ground, delivering two quick strikes. The first sunk into the side of the creature¡¯s paw, sizzling flesh. The second slammed near the top of its leg, causing the creature to let out a roar.
A tentacle whipped out, slamming towards him. He dug the dagger in deeper, gripping its handle and pulling himself forward as the beast reeled back. Wrenching the dagger free, he swivelled into the air, launching back down and puncturing the beast¡¯s head with the blades.
He pulled on the mana inside him, willing it into his weapons. Fire erupted from the puncture wounds, as flames poured from the Wymon¡¯s blades into the creature¡¯s skull, searing whatever was in there and releasing the stink of sulfur. The beast¡¯s body shook, and he kicked off its head, flipping through the air and landing on the cobblestone as the creature collapsed to the ground. Dead.
His chest heaved, rising and falling, as he held his swords out in front of him. The girl, ginger hair fluttering in the gentle breeze, glanced at him. The chaotic call of the true horror at the center of the festival was but a distant din. Wymon paid it no mind as he lowered his daggers and approached the girl.
I can only hope she is receptive.
Chapter 39: Dont you love a good reunion?
¡°What¡¯s your name, girl?¡± Wymon asked. With her back facing him, the young woman rested one hand on her hip as she stared at the beast. It lay slumped on the cobblestone with various knife wounds, dry and cracked, running along its body. It wasn¡¯t the cleanest job. But Wymon had done his best. ¡°So,¡± he asked, sheathing the knives into their scabbards on either side of his waist.
The girl glanced back at him, white flecks of light drifting from her eyes. Her irises began to go back to a natural blue colour. Wymon had heard stories, even caught a glimpse once, but to see another with battle intent, right before him, was insane¡ªhe would have to report it as soon as he got back to base.
¡°Jodie. Why do you ask?¡± the girl¡ªJodie¡ªsaid, looking Wymon up and down. He got the feeling she was trying to determine whether he was a threat. Not surprising. Slum rats didn¡¯t have the best relationship with those in authority.
¡°Do you have a last name?¡±
¡°Meldish,¡± she said, turning to him with the sound of debris scraping against her feet. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. The beast attacked me first.¡±
Wymon let out a dry chuckle and held back a yawn. His hand twitched as he resisted the urge to grab the water skin in his inside robe pocket. The sound of Ana¡¯s footsteps was faint but she would be here soon. ¡°I just wanted to know. You are quite special, you know.¡±
¡°Not really. I¡¯m just an average slum rat, nothing special here.¡± She didn¡¯t take her eyes off him for a moment. Wymon could understand her suspicion, but it hurt his pride a little. Normally, he was the one judging people.
¡°Do you know what you just did, little one?¡± He said, taking a step forward. She took one back. ¡°Ah,¡± Wymon wrung his hands, raising one to his mouth as he stifled another yawn. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you really are special. Have you heard of battle intent?¡±
The hair on Wymon¡¯s neck pricked as Jodie ran her eyes up and down him before she replied. ¡°No. I¡¯ve never heard of it. Why is it important?¡±
Yes, you are a one-in-a-million find, with the potential to fight those high above your realm. It¡¯s more than a little important.
¡°You could say that,¡± Wymon said, looking off to the side. A piece of white fabric rolled past, carried by the wind. He frowned. It looked to be the sleeve of a guard. He could only hope the poor soul it used to be attached to was still alive. ¡°Have you ever considered joining a mercenary group? If they found out what you possess, you could¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine. I have my dojo already.¡±
¡°Umm,¡± Wymon wet his lips, thinking about a different angle of attack when footsteps approached from behind. He glanced over and spotted Ana. Her bob bounced, throwing loose strands of blond hair all over the place as she ran down the cobblestone path. He turned back to Jodie. ¡°Give it some thought, young one. The Phoenix company would love to have someone as capable as yourself.¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine where I am. Thank you for the offer though¡¡±
¡°Wymon. The name is Wymon,¡± He said, stepping to the side as Ana came to a stop, whip hanging loosely in her hands. Glancing up at him, her brown eyes analysing him the way they always did, she frowned. Wymon let out a sigh. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±
¡°Nothing, sir.¡± She jerked her chin towards the dead void creature, ¡°is it dead?¡±
¡°What does it look like to you?¡±
Ana turned to Jodie, and Wymon felt a headache building as the woman studied the girl with her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t recognise you? Why are you, as a noble, dressed like that?¡±
¡°Ana¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a noble,¡± Jodie said, crossing her arms. ¡°I¡¯m just a standard Mana Cultivator.¡±
Ana¡¯s mouth fell open as she looked from Jodie to Wymon, giving him a questioning gaze. He simply shrugged. The girl had battle intent, but there was no reason to talk about that now. After all, they still had a job to do¡ªwhich was getting harder the longer they stayed here doing nothing.
¡°Alright, Ana. How is the man I asked you to take care of earlier?¡± He moved his attention down the path. Blood ran down the man¡¯s face as he lay propped up against a broken wooden crate. He didn¡¯t look too much better, as he held a hand over his chest.
¡°He should be fine, for the most part. His wounds look a lot worse than they are,¡± she said, grabbing the other end of her whip. She began rolling it together and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how we are going to help most of these people. We need a healer. If only mortals could use recovery pills.¡±
¡°You should get to the others,¡± Wymon said. He took a last glance at the Void beast before turning away. ¡°And Jodie please¡ª¡±
¡°Jodie! There you are.¡±
Wymon turned in the direction of the voice and watched as a boy with long brown hair tied up and decorated with splinters of wood clambered over the broken stall. Dressed in a suit¡ªstrange for a slum rat¡ªand smart shoes, the boy looked frazzled. Were the two of them friends? Another boy, dressed in the same manner as the first, struggled behind.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Who are these children?
The girl still focused on him, even as her friends drew close. Forcing a smile, he turned away and signalled for Ana to follow. She was guarded against them. It made sense. So it was probably best to leave them to catch up, but he would have to come to collect them when he¡¯d rescued the others. He had no plans of leaving children to fight for themselves, even if one of them had battle intent.
Hector, holding Mirae¡¯s warm hand, glanced back at the large Void Ravager. The creature was still in the center of the festival and hadn¡¯t moved¡ªthe Core Formation cultivators were doing their jobs.
He hurried Mirae along, throwing a glance to Lincoln¡ªthe boy¡¯s head was still on a swivel, looking for any threat that might approach. But the Phoenix Company and, in some respect, the guards had done well. They hadn¡¯t run into any Void creatures as they moved away from the center.
But it couldn¡¯t hurt to keep an eye out. A man poked his head out from one of the few stalls left standing in the festival. He glanced at Hector, and Hector waved. But the man, eyes thick with fear, jerked back inside as another roar from the Void Ravager¡ªdistant as it was¡ªtore through the street.
Pulling Mirae along, Hector hurried his feet along. But paused as he spotted something. A short distance away, in between the wreckage of what seemed to be an incense stall, was the body of a creature. It wasn¡¯t moving¡ªsomething these creatures refused to do on their own. It was most likely dead.
¡°Do you want to go and take a look at that one as well?¡± Lincoln asked as he came to a stop next to Hector. His hand was still in his pocket. No doubt clutching the Stone Skin talisman. The one they¡¯d activated earlier was still shielding them, but it had faded considerably¡ªit was unclear how much more damage it could take.
¡°I just want a quick look, and besides,¡± Hector said, making his way towards it. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen any others in a while. So I think things are starting to calm down.¡± A faint roar from the center of the festival punctuated his sentence. Hector chuckled and continued onto the beast¡¯s corpse¡ªhe¡¯d said enough.
This should be my 8th uncommon fragment, just two more, and I should be able to make two seeds.
Hector let go of Mirae¡¯s hand, crunching over wood and stone as he closed in on the body. ¡°Be careful, Hector,¡± Mirae said, balling up her fists. He gave her a firm nod, before picking his way closer. The creature¡¯s wounds weren¡¯t bad, at least as far as he could tell. A Core Formation cultivator had probably killed it in one hit as they made their way to the center.
System, extract the fragment.
Hector knelt, placing a hand on the icy obsidian skin of the beast. An icy feeling of wrongness washed over his hand like he¡¯d put it into some running water made mostly of slime. He¡¯d gotten used to this and knew the system¡¯s reply before it even spoke.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Error. Fragments have decayed beyond the claimable state. Please find a more suitable target.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Thought so. I was too late, unfortunately. Damn. I guess eight will have to do for now.
¡°Is everything alright Hector?¡± Mirae asked, stepping closer, splintering wood under her sandaled feet. ¡°Is it alright if we go now?¡±
¡°Yeah, we can,¡± he said, placing a hand on his knee and pushing himself to his feet. ¡°Everything alright, Lincoln?¡± The boy was looking off into the distance, seemingly focused on something.
¡°I think that¡¯s Jodie. I might be mistaken. But¡ well. How many gingers do we know?¡± Lincoln said, raising a hand and pointing.
Following his finger, Hector¡¯s eyes widened, and he subconsciously took a step forward. He¡¯d been hoping, praying even¡ªnot that the old religions existed in this world¡ªthat his friend was okay.
Hector grabbed Mirae¡¯s hand and signalled Lincoln to follow as they picked through the stall wreckage and around the beast, making their way towards her.
Two young boys in suits stood next to her. Delworth and Marcus were fine, too. He let out another sigh. The only ones left were Emela and Nyx. Those two were in a higher realm than everyone in the group, so he did not doubt that they would be okay.
¡°Jodie!¡± Hector yelled, waving his arms. Mirae joined him, raising her little arms and hollering at them. Lincoln let out a chuckle as he trailed behind. ¡°What, what¡¯s up?¡± Hector asked, turning to him.
¡°Oh nothing, you two are just acting as if we hadn¡¯t seen them in years. It¡¯s been a few hours at most.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯ll try not to look so happy that my friends are still alive next time,¡± Hector said, shaking his head and turning away from him. He really did know how to say the stupidest things sometimes. Was he not happy to see they had all made it out alright?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not¡ You know what, never mind. I just hope that we didn¡¯t all just risk our lives for nothing. The farm would have been a lot safer option.¡±
What is your damn obsession with that farm?
Hector continued walking, not responding to Lincoln¡¯s remarks. It wouldn¡¯t help if he did¡ªnow was not the time to be having more arguments. People, some injured, some not, milled about picking up rubble as they tried to help others. Some walked around lost, clearly in a state of shock.
¡°Do you think the entire festival was hit this badly?¡± Lincoln asked, turning his ear to a few conversations.
Hector rubbed a thumb over the back of Mirea¡¯s hand. More to soothe himself than her. She gave him a reassuring smile. His heart warming as he let out a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But that thing is only in the center of the festival. So I would assume not.¡± Hector had considered using its name, but he didn¡¯t exactly have a good reason for knowing what it was called. He could barely explain why he had to look at the Void hungers as is.
A few moments they came to a halt as Jodie, Marcus, and Delworth walked over. ¡°By the great lake, I¡¯m glad you guys are alright. Even you Lincoln.¡± Jodie said, waking forward and embracing Hector. The hug was tight, perhaps a little too much¡ªhow worried had she been?
¡°Thanks,¡± Lincoln said, with a scoff moving past them and walking over to Marcus. Giving the boy a light jab on the shoulder, Lincoln smiled. ¡°Not gonna lie. I thought you would have wet yourself when the black beasts arrived. I¡¯m glad to see I was wrong.¡± Lincoln let out a laugh, and Marcus chuckled. It was strained and forced¡ªLincoln¡¯s jokes often landed like that.
¡°It¡¯s good to see you,¡± Hector said, patting Jodie on the back. Her hug loosened, and she bent down to embrace Mirae. Hector turned to Marcus, biting his lip as he considered what he was about to say. ¡°You guys alright?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine. Not much happened,¡± Delworth said. ¡°Jodie is strong.¡±
¡°Yeah, she really saved our butts earlier,¡± Marcus said, stepping over to Hector, raising a hand and going for a handshake. ¡°You should have seen her.¡±
Ever the businessman, Marcus. Ever the businessman. But wait. What did she do?
As Hector shook Marcus¡¯ hand, he glanced down at Jodie before turning his attention back to Marcus. That could wait. One thing at a time¡ªand this was more important. ¡°Marcus, I have something to tell you.¡±
Chapter 40: What are friends for, exactly?
¡°So Mr. Pennybrook is still there,¡± Jodie said, taking a bite out of the candy apple. Hector cringed as her teeth cracked into its surface¡ªshe¡¯d found it on the floor and just started chewing. Not sanitary. ¡°We have to go back and get him, then.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lincoln asked, looking off to the side. He shook his head and turned to her. ¡°The old man gave us the talismans so we could escape. He was convinced he could save his stall.¡±
Well, that was before these void creatures showed up. Before that, he believed that he just had to keep the stall safe from two high-level Mana Cultivators.
¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we should leave him,¡± Jodie said, standing up sharply from the crate on which she sat. The apple clattered to her side, bouncing across the cobblestone. Hector stepped forward, and she glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you agree with this selfish idiot.¡±
¡°No,¡± Hector said, glancing behind him at Mirae. She stood off to the side with Marcus¡ªhe hadn¡¯t taken the news of his father staying behind too well. ¡°It could be too dangerous to go back there and we¡¯d be going against his wishes.¡±
¡°So what?¡±
¡°So we should leave,¡± Lincoln said, kicking a loose piece of wood. ¡°Have you forgotten that we¡¯re walking around with other people¡¯s money?¡±
¡°I swear by the great lake Lincoln. If you don¡¯t shut up, I¡¯m going to come over there and make you shut up.¡± Jodie snapped, Hector struggled to hold her back as she pushed towards Lincoln¡ªif she really wanted to hurt him, Hector had no doubt he¡¯d be unable to stop her.
¡°Guys, guys,¡± Hector said, resetting his hands on Jodie¡¯s shoulders and pushing. She stepped back and looked off to the side with a scowl on her face. ¡°Lincoln is right,¡± Her eyes snapped to him and Hector hurried out his next words. ¡°But we can¡¯t leave him either. My plan was¡ªand still is to escort those of us who can¡¯t fight out, then come back. We can get Mr. Pennybrook out of here, then.¡±
¡°Hector,¡± Lincoln said, his face morphing into one of shock. ¡°Have you seen what¡¯s going on? I mean, look at that thing.¡± Lincoln pointed towards the center of the festival, to the Void Ravager.
¡°And,¡± Jodie said with a look of disgust. People looked over, many seeming curious as to why they were arguing. ¡°The Core Formation mana cultivators have it locked down. I can tell that much from here,¡± she said, her blue eyes wide as she shook her head.
Are you guys kidding me? This is not the time to be arguing.
¡°Listen to me!¡± Hector yelled, channelling the little mana he had into his shout. The two of them paused and focused on him. ¡°I get what you are both saying. But all I want right now is to get Mirae out of here safely. I don¡¯t care about anything else right now. If we lose the money, that¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t care. I just need her safe.¡±
Some people looked over, pointing. Others moved further away, not wanting to get involved in whatever was going on with them¡ªhe couldn¡¯t blame them. Jodie sighed, bending down and picking up her apple. She dusted it off, scowling at Lincoln, and taking an aggressive bite out of its flesh. Lincoln shook his head and walked off to the side, kicking at random rubble.
I wish Emela was here. She would know what to do with you two numbskulls.
Hector sighed and shook his head, making his way over to Marcus, Mirae, and Delworth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Marcus. I¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s not your fault. This is something my dad wanted to do. I can¡¯t blame you for that.¡± Marcus turned to Delworth. ¡°We can¡¯t do much for him as we are. We should head back to the shop?¡±
Delworth nodded.
¡°I don¡¯t get it. What¡¯s at the shop?¡± Hector asked, grabbing Mirae¡¯s hand. The roars of the distant Void Ravager sent a tingle down his back. The thing was taking its sweet time to die.
¡°Noting, but Uncle Samuel is there. He, especially with some talismans, should be able to get Dad out of there.¡±
¡°What, how?¡± Hector asked as something caught his eye. A few feet away, and with a child in her arms, a woman walked down the path. Her dress, no doubt once a sight to behold, was in tatters. Ruined with long cuts and dirt splotches. ¡°Poor sod.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Marcus looked towards the woman and frowned, before turning back to Hector. ¡°My uncle is or should be, Gravity Forging three. With some talismans, he should be fine¡ I think.¡±
¡°Wait, your uncle is a Cultivator. Why have you never brought him up?¡± Hector said, looking between Delworth and Marcus.
¡°He¡¯s not really important. He doesn¡¯t involve himself in the family business.¡±
¡°But he¡¯s a Mana Cultivator. Surely that means something to your dad. Why was he not here?¡±
¡°Why? How would that help sell talismans?¡± Delworth asked, tilting his head to one side.
¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t, but it could have helped to keep them safe,¡± Hector replied. But from the confused look on Delworth¡¯s face, that his line of thinking wasn¡¯t logical to the boy.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
¡°My Uncle stayed behind to manage the shop,¡± Marcus said. Picking at a loose thread at the end of his blazer sleeve. ¡°He¡¯s not very good at selling things. But talismans can mostly sell themselves if people know what they do. So it made sense¡ªat the time.¡±
¡°But¡ Nevermind.¡± Hector let out a breath and turned. Jodie had returned to sitting on her crate, eyeing Lincoln as she bit into her apple. Lincoln, for his part, stared off to the side, watching a family of four slowly make their way towards a growing crowd¡ªsome Pheonix Company members had apparently started gathering everyone in a group to make their way out.
Hector thought it was risky, but then again, he wouldn¡¯t be joining them. ¡°What did Jodie do?¡± Hector asked, running his eye over her¡ªshe had good battle insight but that was it. Right?
¡°It was amazing. She is strong.¡± Delworth said, his face lighting up. ¡°She fought the tentacle monster alone.¡±
¡°She what?¡± Hector¡¯s head snapped to Delworth¡ªsure he¡¯d done the same, but he¡¯d had Talents. She didn¡¯t.
¡°Yeah,¡± Marcus said, nodding. His eyes went distant; as if he were reliving the moment. ¡°She was awesome. It couldn¡¯t lay a finger on her. I didn¡¯t even know she could move like that. Is that what she¡¯s like during training?¡±
Not with me
¡°Sister Jodie did that,¡± Mirae said, joining Hector in staring wide-eyed at the ginger-haired girl. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise she was that strong.¡±
Has she been holding back on me? No, she¡¯s not like that. She hates losing. Then what gives? System, scan her.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Then what the hell gives? If what these guys are saying is true, she was fighting on a higher level than she should be able to.
¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to ask her about it?¡± Hector said, reaching for Mirea¡¯s hand. His sister didn¡¯t take it. Instead, she looked off down the stone path, watching as two figures strolled down the cobblestone. One in a black mask and one in a blue and white one. The pair stood out like sore thumbs when compared to the panicked and shambling people near them¡ªthough it made sense.
I knew they would be alright. A Gravity Forging five and four should have no problem dealing with a Void Hunger, especially with Emela having a Talent.
¡°Look, it¡¯s Emela,¡± Mirae said, letting out a small cheer. She turned, running back over to Jodie and dragging the girl to her feet. Mirae then pulled her over, while Hector shook his head in dismay. She must have been worried¡ªafter all, he was the only one who knew their actual strength.
The two girls walked down the path, eventually coming to a stop in front of the group, as Mirae and Jodie approached. ¡°You two still have your masks on?¡± Jodie asked, stopping just short of the girls.
¡°Were we not supposed to?¡± Emela asked, turning her head towards Hector. She waved at him and he waved back, walking over with a smile. Emela turned back to Jodie. ¡°What happened to your mask?¡±
¡°Oh, I lost that in a fight with that thing,¡± Jodie pointed to the corpse of the Void Hunger. Its obsidian black skin sparkled in the sunlight. It would be almost beautiful if Hector didn¡¯t know how it smelt and how it felt.
¡°You fought that thing? Alone?¡± Emela turned to Nyx, then back to Jodie. ¡°How is that even possible?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to know,¡± Hector said, walking over, smiling at Emela and nodding at Nyx. The distant roars from the Void Ravager rung in the background¡ªit was crazy that the fight was still going. ¡°Have you been holding back on me in training?¡± Hector lightly punched Jodie in the arm, letting out a chuckle.
Jodie shrugged, getting on her tiptoes and looking around. ¡°I can¡¯t see him now. But, no, I haven¡¯t been holding back on you. The guy I¡¯m looking for seemed to know what was going on.¡±
¡°With you?¡± Hector said, crossing his arms. ¡°What did he say?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t remember exactly. But he said I had something called battle intent.¡± Jodie stopped looking around and brought the candy apple to her mouth and took a bite out of it. ¡°He said that If I wanted to, I could join the Phoenix Company.¡±
¡°What, that¡¯s crazy,¡± Hector said, feeling his heart lurch¡ªit would suck if she left, but he couldn¡¯t blame her. It would be a good way to escape the slums. ¡°So, are you going to go?¡± He asked, his voice cracking a little.
¡°Heavens no,¡± Jodie said, scrunching her brow. ¡°Why would I go and do that? I already have the dojo to think of. Plus, I wouldn¡¯t know anyone, and I¡¯d have to leave you guys and my family behind. I¡¯m not doing that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great to hear,¡± Mirae said, wrapping her little arms around Jodie¡¯s waist. ¡°I would hate to lose you. Though I know it would be an enormous opportunity.¡±
¡°A big one,¡± Hector said, feeling his shoulders relax a little. He glanced at Emela, meeting her eye. What did she think about the offer? She was strong enough, she could probably join herself.
If she thought something of it, she wasn¡¯t telling him. She simply regarded Jodie for a second before turning to him. ¡°And what about you two?¡± She gestured to Mirae. ¡°Did you run into any of these beasts along the way?¡±
¡°Yeah, a few,¡± Lincoln said, walking over. He made sure to step away from Jodie as he stepped into position next to Hector. ¡°We didn¡¯t kill any, though. These guys are tough as hell. Though we got close.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± she said, looking from Lincoln to Hector. ¡°If you didn¡¯t kill it, what happened to it?¡±
Hector shrugged, glancing to the side, and looking off to the Void Ravager at the center of the festival. His gaze lingered on the creature, trying to make out the figures that were fighting it. But they were too far away. ¡°A Core Formation Mana-Cultivator killed it before we could finish it off.¡±
¡°Same thing happened to me,¡± Jodie said, chewing on the last bits of her apple. ¡°Well, the kill-stealing part. I don¡¯t think the guy was in the Core Formation realm.¡±
¡°It seems all our fights were interrupted, thankfully,¡± Emela said, resting a hand on her chest. Hector held back a smirk¡ªhe had no doubt she had killed a creature given her level of strength. Though he didn¡¯t understand why she was keeping it hidden.
Perhaps she found a pill in the dump like me. Though, it would have to have been a lot of them to get her so high. Plus, Nyx is as well. Maybe they have a connection or something.
¡°Well, now that everyone is here, we should probably get going,¡± Hector said. His gaze drifted to the growing crowd of survivors of the festival. This would be one to remember in the coming years.
A large roar pierced through the festival, and Hector¡¯s attention snapped to the off the festival¡¯s center. There, the Void Ravager roared, as a large arc of flame, dwarfing the beast, slashed towards it. The arc sliced clean through its body, separating all that it was. The display of power was awesome. Whoever that was, was certainly a high-level Mana Cultivator.
Hector let out a sigh. He hadn¡¯t realised he was holding as the knot in his stomach loosened. He turned to his friend and nodded. They were safe, and it was time to go home. ¡°We should meet up tomorrow to go over what we¡¯ve all collected.¡±
Chapter 41: Do we need to have a rest day?
Hector walked home in silence. Lincoln had followed him and Mirae for a while, but eventually, he broke off, heading to his house, leaving Hector and Mirae to walk alone.
Hector spoke very few words to Mirae as they trudged the familiar streets of the Sirius Quarter home. A lot of people were out today¡ªmany probably came from the festival.
He paid them no mind. His thoughts were a mess. The general chatter was but a distant din as he let his feet guide him home. He had a lot to consider.
He and his friends needed to meet up to split the earnings and figure out if they had enough to help his dad. And Hector needed to talk with Mirae. The stuff she¡¯d seen today was too much¡ªhe would probably be a wreck if it wasn¡¯t for the system and the adrenalin.
But that was another thing. The system. It apparently was regulating his emotions, somehow. Was that something to worry about? Was he in danger? It didn¡¯t feel like it, but still. Was he even in control?
He looked down at Mirae, watching as her long white hair bounced and swayed in the wind. It curled around her shoulder and washed over her face, hiding her features.
Hector couldn¡¯t see it, but he didn¡¯t doubt that she was worried¡ªtoday had to have been too much for her. But then again, she was a Mana Cultivator now. This could be only the beginning of the horrors she would see.
Eventually, after a few silent moments, and greeting a few neighbours. Some of them were overly eager to ask them what had happened¡ªnot everyone had been lucky enough to go to the festival. After all, they were poor.
In all rights, Hector should have been at the dump scavenging, trying to stave off said poverty. The two of them made it to the crumbling building they called home. Pushing past the rotting gate. He trudged up the dirt path, dappled with stone. Hector sighed.
He slumped down onto a tree stump, resting just to the side of their front door, which led straight into their kitchen. Mirae shambled over and rested her head on his shoulder, sobbing as her body shook. ¡°What just happened, Hector? What were those things?¡±
Hector raised a hand and rested it on her head. The words he wanted to say juggled around his mind, jostling to come out. They wouldn¡¯t be right, no matter the order they came out in. How could he even explain what had happened? He didn¡¯t even fully understand himself.
But in the end, he closed his eyes, feeling Mirae¡¯s presence on his shoulder, and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t hurt you. As long as I¡¯m here, they never will.¡±
¡°But you won¡¯t always be there,¡± Mirae said. As he went to speak, Mirae cut him off. ¡°I need to get stronger. I can¡¯t be your weak little sister forever. What happens when something happens to you? Who is going to take care of you?¡±
¡°I¡¡± Hector brushed her forehead and let out a sigh as he watched a beetle crawl across the dirt, scavenging. It had such a simple life. He ran his tongue across his bottom lip and turned his gaze to the sky. His sister was right, he wouldn¡¯t always be around. When that time came, what could she do? ¡°Mirae, I have something to talk to you about. It¡¯s about you getting stronger and it¡¯s about your Talent.¡±
¡°My what?¡± She said, taking her head off his shoulder and turning to face him. Her purple eyes, puffy from her sobbing, looked at him with confusion. ¡°What is a Talent?¡±
¡°Well¡ª¡±
The front gate crashed open¡ªnot doing wonders for its already failing integrity. And there stood their father. Heaving as his chest rose and fell, staring at the two. The look in his eyes morphed from worry to what Hector could only assume was relief, and he rushed towards them.
¡°By the Great Lake. Thank the heavens you¡¯re both alright.¡± He stopped short before them and bent down, scooping Mirae into a bear hug, delivering kiss after kiss to her face. ¡°Thank the heavens, thank the heavens. I¡¯d thought I¡¯d lost you.¡± Tears streamed down his face as he turned to Hector.
His father then dropped to one knee, wrapping one arm around Hector and holding Mirae in the other. Practically squeezing the life out of him. Mirae squirmed in their father¡¯s grasp, and Hector forced back a chuckle as a sense of warmth washed through him¡ªHis father hadn¡¯t acted like this in a while. But he wouldn¡¯t complain.
¡°Father, it¡¯s alright,¡± Mirae said, tapping his back. ¡°You don¡¯t need to squeeze the life out of us.¡±
At her words, their father loosened his grip and chuckled. ¡°When I heard what happened, I almost died. You don¡¯t know how worried I was.¡±
¡°No, but I can certainly feel it,¡± Hector said, letting out a chuckle. The wind rustled through his father¡¯s hair as Hector tracked the wrinkles on the man¡¯s face. It seemed like he¡¯d aged a few years. ¡°Wait, shouldn¡¯t you be at work?¡±
¡°What would be the point of work if something happened to you?¡± He said, resting a hand on Mira¡¯s head. ¡°All I do. Everything is for the two of you. Nothing else matters.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Hector went to say something but found that the words wouldn¡¯t come. His lips parted, and he scanned his father¡¯s face, looking for something.
In many ways, it was how Hector felt about both of them, but to have him say it so plainly. It caught Hector off guard¡ªhis father rarely did anything that caught him off guard.
¡°Alright then,¡± his father said, releasing the two of them. ¡°Let¡¯s get inside.¡±
Hector ran his tongue across his bottom lip and sighed. He had to make sure they were all okay. His father pushed open the door and waved him and Mirae inside.
Hector got to his feet, sparing a glance at the garden gate before walking into the house, into the kitchen. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to protect everyone yet, and the system was his only way forward.
¡°You good, Hector?¡± His father asked as Hector trudged over to the kitchen table.
Hector nodded and pulled a seat out from underneath the table. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day, that¡¯s all.¡±
Mirae pulled out the chair next to him and slumped down. Fiddling with her fingers, her gaze flickered between the two. Hector smiled at her as she spoke. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe the things we¡¯ve seen today, Father. It was unheard of.¡±
¡°Oh really? Tell me about it.¡± Hector¡¯s father said. Hector¡¯s lips twitched into a frown as the man walked over to the cupboard. Pulling it open, he gripped the bottle inside and grabbed the glass next to it. ¡°Sorry guys, but I need to celebrate. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±
What the hell is wrong with you? We are finally having a good moment and you pull this crap.
Hector loved his father. Even the part of him that didn¡¯t come from this world loved the man. But his behaviour. It was idiotic.
Did he not know the damage he was doing to himself? Sure, he was a cultivator¡ªwhisky that wasn¡¯t infused with mana wouldn¡¯t do much¡ªbut that didn¡¯t excuse the behaviour.
Hector pushed himself from the table, his chair scraping against the aged wooden floor. As he stood, Mirae glanced up at him and raised a brow.
She didn¡¯t deserve this, but he wouldn¡¯t stay and watch. He wouldn¡¯t watch his father poison this moment. He wouldn¡¯t watch his father poison himself.
¡°I just realised I have something to do,¡± Hector said, lifting his hand and resting it atop Mirae¡¯s head. He brushed his thumb across her forehead, turning to his dad with a frown.
¡°No, stay. We were just about to¡ª¡±
¡°Sorry, Dad. Please, it¡¯s important.¡± Hector said, stepping out of the way of his chair and sliding it underneath the table.
The bottle of whisky thumped against the table¡¯s wooden surface as Hector¡¯s father placed it down. He paused and looked at Mirae before regarding Hector. ¡°Alright, Mirae can fill me in. You go, do what you have to do. But¡ª¡±
¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± Hector swivelled on his heel and strode out of the room. Taking a deep breath with every step. He loved his dad. But this was becoming ridiculous. Besides, he didn¡¯t have all day to sit and talk. Because of his father and his pride, Hector had to find some way to save this family.
He marched through the hallway, frowning at chipped wooden planks and peeling paint that revealed a colony of mildew behind it. The house was falling apart day by day and they couldn¡¯t afford to fix it with money.
His hands moved to his waist, to one of the coin pouches that hung there, hidden beneath his shirt. Would this be enough to pay the debt and fix up the house?
Upon reaching the end of the hallway¡ªwalking straight past his room¡ªHector pushed the back door open and walked into the back garden. Large square plant boxes sat on either side of the garden¡ªbuilt by him and his father years ago.
Growing in the boxes was Mirae¡¯s pride and joy. Flowers. Tall, beautiful and well cared for. An assortment of vegetables also crowded around the side of the box, placed so they didn¡¯t get in the way of the flowers¡¯ growth¡ªMirae had her favourites.
They were the most well-kept part of the garden. The rest of the area was in a state of disarray. Piles of junk dotted the area. Scraps of various materials that Hector had collected over the years and forgotten to do something with.
Hector walked forward, avoiding the scrap and making his way to the shed¡ªa place he¡¯d come to a lot less lately¡ªhis workshop.
Pushing open the heavy wood door, something he¡¯d felt was necessary at the time to keep in the noise, Hector walked inside and let out a sigh. He grabbed the edge of the door and closed it. Finally, some peace.
He walked over to the workbench at the side of the room, placed his hands against it and let his weight rest against it. What had happened today? How had today even happened? It was meant to be a quick and simple job, but no. They had almost died.
He brought one hand up, combing it through his white hair. Hector¡¯s gaze moved to the ceiling of the shed¡ªcobwebs and mildew mingled¡ªas he thought back on today.
There had been so many times that it could have all gone wrong. The Pheonix Company¡¯s Mana Cultivator, the void beasts, the guards chasing Mirae. They had escaped too many close calls.
¡°By the Great Lake. What did I get everyone caught up in?¡± His hand dropped to his side as his gaze wandered around the shed. To the back, several large planks of wood leaned against the wall¡ªthe dump had been good to him the day he grabbed them.
Hector absent-mindedly walked over to the planks, picking one up. He needed to process everything, but he also didn¡¯t want to sit and stew.
He looked back over to the workbench, to the shelf of equipment hanging just above it. Was everything there? He sure hoped so, as he¡¯d rather not leave this shed¡ªhe needed this time alone.
He tucked the plank under his arm and made his way back over to the bench. The plank was heavy in his arm and the weight was good. The physical exertion¡ªthough not as intense as it would be if he was a mortal¡ªmade it so he was at least doing something.
He rested the wood on the workbench with a soft thump. Dust that had gathered over the last few days scattered in a cloud of smoke as he examined the wood.
What could he do with this?
He needed to fix the gate that was falling apart, but the floorboard in his room was also a problem. If he was honest, the list could go on and on. But he only had so much wood¡ªuntil he went to the dump, anyway.
The dump. The only legitimate way he had to make money, and something he hadn¡¯t done today. Hector brought a hand to his waist, gripping a pouch and unclasping it. He raised the pouch to his eye as he weighed it in his hand. He¡¯d ruined someone¡¯s day-to-day¡ªbefore the void beasts anyway¡ªall for this small pouch of coin.
Was this all really worth it?
He shook his head and went to put it back when a knock came from the door. ¡°Son, can we talk for a moment?¡± Hector¡¯s heart lurched in his chest.
Chapter 42: Is now a good time to talk?
Oh crap.
Hector¡¯s hand moved by itself, chucking the coin pouch over the workbench and thudding it into the back wall. There was a dull thump as Hector reached up and grabbed a hammer off the top shelf. The door creaked open further, as his dad stepped in, and Hector brought the hammer down onto the wood.
¡°Sorry to barge in on you. I felt we needed to talk about what happened.¡±
¡°What happened?¡± Hector asked, hammering the wood and looking for a nail or something similar. There was only so long he could pretend to be doing something before his dad stepped closer and realised he was just hammering at wood¡ªhe could be an idiot, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. He¡¯d know Hector was hiding something.
¡°Hector, don¡¯t be like that. Listen¡ How do I put this?¡±
Hector glanced over his shoulder while his father took a tentative step forward. The man wrung his hands as he looked off to the side, distracted. That was good. Hector looked back at the shelf, his eyes scanning it rapidly. His heart lurched, relief washing over him as he spotted what he was looking for.
A rusty nail sat on the corner edge of the shelf, perfectly within reach. Its surface was more brown than the iron colour it¡¯d probably been before. But it would do. ¡°Hector, could you please look at me? I feel like I¡¯m talking to a wall here.¡±
¡°Yeah, Dad. Sorry,¡± Hector said, reaching for the nail. He turned his hand, regarding his father, as the man tried to speak. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have anything to talk about, though. I¡¯m fine, trust me.¡± His hand brushed across the nail. He clamped down on it and brought it down to the board as he held his father¡¯s gaze.
¡°You worked the wood already?¡± His father asked, stepping forward.
¡°Dad, it¡¯s fine.¡± Hector shielded the wood with his body. What questions would his father ask? He didn¡¯t know. But it was better if he could stay on the other side of the shed. ¡°I can do it by myself.¡±
His father stopped, lowering a hesitant hand. A frown spread across his lips as he looked to the ground. ¡°I know I messed up just now. I¡¯ve been drinking a lot lately, haven¡¯t I.¡±
¡°Not to be rude, Dad. But only you could answer that question,¡± Hector said, turning back to the piece of wood and hammering in the nail¡ªit would be a pain to remove later at this rate. The dull thuds of the hammer echoed around the room as they stood silently for a moment.
Eventually, Hector sighed, resting the hammer on the workbench just to the side of the wood. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Dad? Seriously.¡±
His father stepped over to the shed wall, leaning against it. The wood creaked against his weight as he let out a shaky breath. ¡°Do you know I¡¯ve been working at that damn refinery for ten years now? Ten painful years.¡±
Hector turned and leaned back against the workbench, crossing his arms. His gaze ran up and down his father, from his tattered brown boots to his torn brown trousers. Time aged and tore his black shirt, and his face¡ªonce youthful and happy¡ªwas withered. ¡°I know, Dad.¡±
¡°But, I stay.¡± His father said. The man¡¯s brown eyes shimmered with purpose. Hector¡¯s heart tightened as a wave of emotion coiled in his chest. ¡°I stay, so you don¡¯t have to worry. I stay so that you can cultivate and get the life you are destined for. A life away from this slum, hell. Hopefully, a life away from this city.¡±
Hector wrinkled his nose. His gaze moved to the hammer resting on the desk. Time had worn its handle, leaving holes and cracks that would probably break it in the future. Wasn¡¯t this house his life? If his dad was working for something, was Hector really worth this kind of investment? His father¡¯s happiness. Was it worth Hector¡¯s future?
His dad sighed and looked off to the one window in the shed. His gaze lingered on it, perhaps taking in the garden beyond. ¡°I won¡¯t burden you with the things I have to carry. It¡¯s my job, not yours.¡±
¡°And who decided that?¡± Hector snapped as a wave of annoyance flooded him.
His father¡¯s gaze turned towards him, eyes steely and stern. ¡°Hector. Careful.¡±
Hector went to speak but paused. He inhaled, letting the air fill his lungs, holding it and releasing it. The turbulence in his mind calmed if just a little¡ªmost of it still focused on how the man could be so selfish. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Mum isn¡¯t here. We should pull together, protecting each other. You can¡¯t do this alone.¡±
His father pushed off the wall and shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t get it. I have to protect you, and today proves that even more.¡±
¡°Today? How? I kept Mirae safe. I kept myself safe. You should be proud, Mum would be.¡±
¡°You have no idea what your mother would think,¡± His father said, voice dropping. ¡°You barely knew her. Hell, I barely¡¡± The man paused, letting out a sigh.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
¡°What, Dad? What?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing Hector. Forget I said anything.¡±
Hector pushed off the workbench, his hands dropping to his side. His heart thundered in his chest. What did his dad mean? What was he going to say? ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you talk about mum?¡±
¡°Take care, Hector,¡± His dad said, waving him off and walking to the shed door. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to work the wood before you use it. I¡¯m not sure what your plans were with that one nail. But the wood needs working.¡±
¡°Dad,¡± Hector pleaded as the man stepped out of the shed, closing the door behind him and finishing the conversation. Hector¡¯s heart tightened as he turned and slammed a fist down onto the workbench. Why the hell did his dad have to keep so much from him?
The nail stuck out of the wood¡ªbarely a few inches deep¡ªand Hector placed a finger on it. This wasn¡¯t achieving much. He was procrastinating. If he was going to waste time, it would be better to do it in the Talent Garden space. The house, even though it was pretty bad, could wait.
He picked up the hammer, sliding the hook underneath the nail and wrenched it up with a pop. The wood creaked under the pressure but didn¡¯t crack as tiny splinters jutted out of the freshly formed hole. His dad was right; he needed to work the wood.
Shaking his head, he placed the hammer and the nail on the shelf and plucked up the wood. Moving back over to the stack of planks he¡¯d got it from earlier, Hector lent the wood against them and made for the door. He would have to come back to this another time. Right now, he had to keep growing Talents.
Pushing open the shed door, Hector walked out into the back garden. He made his way around the scrap piles¡ªsomething he¡¯d need to come back to in the future¡ªand made his way inside the house, heading to his room.
Upon walking inside and sliding the door closed behind him, Hector paused. There, down the hall in front of his room door, was Mirae. She stood, twiddling her thumbs as she stared pensively at the ground. Hector could feel a mini-lecture coming along¡ªthere was a lot of that going on today.
¡°Mirae, is everything alright?¡± Hector said, strolling up to her. The old floorboards creaked as he moved, groaning under his weight. Was it really wise to put off the repairs?
¡°Ah, there you are. Dad said you were in the shed, but I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± Mirae said, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±
Hector chuckled, raising a hand and patting her head. Her soft white hair ruffled under his touch. He laughed as Mire squirmed and slapped his hand away. ¡°I just asked you that. Just say what¡¯s on your mind. And before you ask, no, Dad has not told me about his debt.¡±
Mirae sighed, slumping her shoulder and leaning against his door. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would. He¡¯s too stubborn sometimes. Even for me,¡± she let out a sad chuckle. ¡°But I didn¡¯t really have much hope of that. I¡¯m actually here for what you said earlier. You know about that thing¡ I think you called it a Talent.¡±
Hector sighed, closing his eyes and dropping his hands to his side. ¡°Yeah, now is probably as good a time as any. Let¡¯s not talk out here,¡± Hector said, raising a hand and gently nudging her out of the way. He opened the door and stepped inside his room, holding the door ajar for his sister. ¡°Come on then, little one. We have a lot to talk about.¡±
As Mirae stepped into the room, a nagging feeling that he¡¯d forgotten something played in his mind. But whatever it was. It could wait.
Acalla rested her hands on her hip as her dark red robes fluttered in the wind. She admired the large void beast, its form crushing several of what used to be stalls¡ªa few mortals had been caught under its weight. How had this happened? Something this large from the void should have been so rare that it was almost impossible. So how had the Night¡¯s Raven done it?
The smell of sulfur wafted through the air as flames gently licked at the giant wound splitting its corpse¡ªSimon was a pain to deal with, but he was not the third company commander without reason. She shook her head. It had taken her, John, Anton, and Rozala far too long to take the beast down. But he came along and killed it in a single stroke. An overbearing, obnoxious, and flashy stroke. But a single stroke nonetheless.
To the side of the freshly formed clearing in the festival was a group of Middlec city guards talking to the lower-ranking members of her company. Many guards had died today, and the city council would no doubt raise a stink about it¡ªthe old fools hated it when their cheap investments were ruined. They would demand to know who let this happen.
She didn¡¯t even fully know what happened. The Night¡¯s Raven had lured the company here, but why? The sounds of footsteps approached from behind her, a good few feet away. She glanced behind her. There, entering the festival clearing, was Silkmon¡ªa good girl and a capable assistant. The girl¡¯s robes fluttered as the wind ruffled them. Her eyes were dark as she approached. Was the report that bad?
¡°Silkmon, did you find Damond?¡± She asked, turning to face the girl as she approached. Acalla combed a loose strand of green hair behind her ear¡ªshe¡¯d need to get it cut soon. It was getting a tad bit long.
¡°No, High Captain. I didn¡¯t, but I received the field report from the captain of the Claw group.¡± Silkmon said, bowing.
Acalla waved the girl to stand, creasing her brow. Claw group wasn¡¯t that Kain¡¯s group¡ªone of her better students. A smile came to her face as she thought of the man. She¡¯d have to catch up with him. She hadn¡¯t had time since returning to the city.
Though perhaps their reunion wouldn¡¯t be so happy. ¡°Weren¡¯t Kain and Asomond in charge of guarding the center today?¡± Acalla asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.¡±
Silkmon¡¯s brown hair fluttered in the wind as she nodded. ¡°They were High Captain.¡±
¡°Bring them both to see me.¡± What a situation to be in, and on her first day back. One of the two would have to take the brunt of the punishment¡ªnot that they deserved it. But you could hardly sufficiently punish a Core Formation realm Cultivator. The cost would not be worth it.
Silkmon nodded, turning on her heels and walking over loose chunks of debris as she went to find the two. Various guards and company members watched the girl leave. Acalla smiled. The girl paid them no mind, ever dutiful, ever focused.
Acalla turned, taking in the void beast¡¯s corpse again. Lower-ranking company members poked at it, some commenting on its size. They joked and laughed¡ªit was like it hadn¡¯t almost killed most of them.
The body of the beast took on a white sheen. Glowing whiter and whiter before turning into a stream of light. The stream flew through the air, travelling down towards an outstretched hand and the ring that decorated the hand¡ªa storage ring.
She glanced at the holder of the ring and frowned. Simon Flamelight¡ªan annoying smile hung on his lips. Why did she have to come back today? It was going to be a long day.
Chapter 43: Why do the annoying ones seem to come in pairs?
Acalla turned away, hoping to find something to get her out of this situation. A few Initiates walked around, pulling corpses from smashed stalls. Some bodies were so mangled they were more impressions of a person than the real thing. Did the Initiates need some guidance? An inspiring speech or two might not go amiss¡ªnot that she had one in the quiver. But improvising was a skill.
No, I would probably do more harm than good. The last thing I need right now is Initiates falling over themselves to impress me.
Simon spoke to a few of the Initiates that had been around the beast. His gaze flickered to her now and then, making her skin crawl. The man was probably thinking of some way to embarrass her. She wasn¡¯t a Glademoor¡ªnot in name¡ªanymore. Instead, taking up the last name Green, like all those who had abandoned the Glademoor family before her.
But Simon, the arse, still thought it prudent to embarrass her as if they were somehow in competition. Was he not receiving enough love at home? She bit into her bottom lip and continued scanning the area. A light smile came to her face. Over by what remained of a softberry stand stood John¡ªSimon¡¯s cousin¡ªone of the more reasonable Flamelights.
Thank the heavens. Hopefully, if that nuisance comes over, he¡¯ll show some restraint in front of his cousin.
John¡¯s actions in the fight earlier flowed through her mind as she stepped over to the man. Groups of Initiates would fall silent as she passed, their chatter dying like snuffed candles. She inwardly sighed. It was something she¡¯d wanted to avoid¡ªdrawing too much attention could be bad when in such a disastrous situation.
She nodded her head as John spotted her. Her fellow cultivator nodded, back turning to his second¡ªa person who filled the same role Silkmon did for her¡ªto say something. She came to a stop before him as he was finishing. ¡°That¡¯s not good. The High Nest is going to throw a fit,¡± He said, pinching his nose and resting one hand on his hip.
Acalla¡¯s gaze flickered to the scroll clutched in the second¡¯s hand. Was that the casualty report? She kissed her teeth. She hadn¡¯t read it before sending Silkmon off. A minor error on her part. ¡°How bad is it?¡± Acalla asked, pointing her chin at the scroll.
John¡¯s fiery red hair shimmered in the soft wind, each strand licking through the air like a flame. Practically alive. What aspected fire mana did to the hair of a mana cultivator was interesting, to say the least. ¡°Depends on your perspective,¡± John said. ¡°A few dead mortals¡ªat least three hundred so far. And some annoying losses for the city guard, about twenty of them.¡±
Is that it? I¡¯d thought it would be much worse by the look on his face. Since when did John care so much for the mortals? They¡¯d have those numbers again in twenty to thirty years.
She raised a questioning brow, causing John to shake his head. ¡°The deaths aren¡¯t the problem. It¡¯s the disappearances.¡±
¡°Disappearances?¡± Acalla asked.
¡°It seems we know now why they would want us here in force. And we arrogantly accepted, not even questioning their motives.¡±
¡°Are you suggesting that we were the targets?¡± Acalla asked, her brow creasing. Around the clearing, the Initiates continued their grisly duty. Had there been more of them? She couldn¡¯t say¡ªthe life of an Initiate was hardly her priority.
¡°Us, the guards and the civilians. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if those bastards took the street cats.¡± John let out a breath. Wisps of fire mana flickered through the air as they left his mouth. ¡°It was a trap. One we thought we needn¡¯t worry about. But it cost us.¡±
¡°The losses?¡± Acalla asked, directing her attention to John¡¯s second. The man fidgeted under her gaze and patted down his dark red robes as he looked at John¡ªshe may be a Core Formation cultivator, but protocol still mattered.
¡°Tell her,¡± John said, looking off to the side. Acalla followed his gaze. She frowned and rolled her eyes. Walking directly towards them, Simon had a carefree smile on his face and looked as if the sun was shining out of his backside. Typical.
¡°Ahem. We estimate that at least four hundred mortals were taken,¡± said the second, ¡°as well as roughly forty guards and about fifty Initiates.¡±
¡°What!¡± Acalla¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Fifty. How in the heavens did they take fifty of our people without us noticing?¡±
The second gulped as he stepped back under the pressure of her gaze. ¡°That¡¯s still being investigated, ma¡¯am. Though we hope to have leads by the end of the day.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a headache, I know,¡± John said, crossing his arms. A group of Initiates hurried by, carrying several bodies on a stretcher. Several of the corpses¡¯ limbs were smashed and faces ruined. John stared at them. What was he thinking? They¡¯d both been mortals once¡ªover 60 years ago, in her case¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t still die. ¡°This was all so senseless,¡± John sighed, ¡°how could High Nest not see this coming?¡±
I mean, we hardly did. But those old men should know better by now. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
John stood in silence for a moment. Acalla, not wanting to disturb his thoughts, said nothing. Eventually¡ªas Simon stopped just next to them¡ªhe looked up. ¡°Thanks for the save, cousin,¡± John said, reaching for a handshake.
Simon accepted. Smiling at the man before turning to her. ¡°Acalla, weren¡¯t you lucky I was in the area when I was?¡±
In the area. You were supposed to be guarding it. What are you talking about?
¡°Yes, Simon. We were lucky to have you nearby,¡± Acalla said, looking at John. The man shook his head in dismay as he released his cousin¡¯s hand. Acalla took a breath and regarded Simon. He, unlike them, had lively red robes, distinguishing him as the commander¡ªHe was in charge of all four High captains in the third company. ¡°Have you heard the report?¡±
¡°No, not as of yet. I was hoping you two would fill me in.¡± He said, raising his nose. He wanted to look down at her, and Acalla wasn¡¯t about to be offended. How had he even gotten the position? A yes, connection, as well as cultivating prowess. The lucky fool had made it to Core Formation six already.
¡°Right,¡± Acalla said, gesturing to John¡¯s second. ¡°He was just filling us in. Apparently, we¡¯ve lost fifty Initiates.¡± The words hurt, coming out of her mouth like spitting up glass. How had they lost so many?
Simon let out a sigh. ¡°That is a shame. Seems we will have to up the recruitment drive later this year.¡±
Acalla frowned, looking at him in confusion. John did the same. She looked from him to the ruins of the festival beyond. Crows hawking and hungry circled overhead. Did this man not see what had happened?
They never change, do they?
¡°Though we will need someone to blame this on,¡± Simon said. The man¡¯s eyes sparkled as he spotted something behind her. ¡°Here comes a suitable scapegoat. Captain Kain!¡±
Acalla frowned and followed his gaze. Dark red robes swaying in the wind, Captain Kain trailed behind Silkmon. His eyes seemed to become darker with each step as he approached, and Acalla¡¯s chest tightened. This was not a good way to meet an old student.
¡°Ma¡¯am. I have brought Kain but could not find Asomond.¡± Silkmon said, coming to a stop at Acalla¡¯s side.
¡°High captains, Commander,¡± Kain said, the scar that ran under his left eye twitching as he spoke. ¡°The situation is not good.¡±
¡°We¡¯re aware. Young Kain,¡± Simon said lazily, waving a hand dismissively at Kain¡¯s words. ¡°But what¡¯s done is done. Now is the time for smoothing things over.¡±
¡°Yes sir,¡± Kain said, ¡°But before that. I bring troubling news. I hope you can listen.¡±
Acalla raised an eyebrow. What had gotten him so worked up? Aside from the fact he seemed to be aware that he¡¯d be sacrificed to the city council. She crossed her arms, focusing on Kain as his gaze flickered between them.
¡°Asomond was taken.¡±
Well, heavens.
Emela sighed as she and Nyx walked through the Halls of the Frostkeep manor, heading towards the study of Instructor Shallowcold. They had got back to the manor earlier enough. Not needing to explain where they had been to the guards¡ªif you were late, the family needed to know why. It is not like that really increased security. Was the night more conducive to a successful plot?
Emela, turning her head to Nyx, regarded the girl as they walked down the soft Ice blue rug that ran throughout the manor¡ªEmela couldn¡¯t imagine how none cultivators even cleaned something like this. Nyx walked in silence, as usual. What was she thinking about?
I wonder if Nyx is concerned with our talk yesterday and today with that Glademoor¡ªwell, ex-Glademoor woman¡¯s offer.
Emela reached for one of the two blond ponytails resting on her chest and fiddled with its end as she walked. She rubbed the strands between her fingers as images of those creatures played in her mind. What were they? They stunk when they were killed, that was for sure. She¡¯d learnt a lot over her seventeen years. But she¡¯d never seen or heard about a beast matching that description. What had the Glademoor woman called it? She couldn¡¯t remember.
The torches hanging on the wall glowed with warm blue light¡ªthe aspected mana stones would keep them burning for quite some time. The light sparks of blue flame flickered through the air, dancing with each other before petering out. Emela let out a breath. ¡°Do you think the others made it back home alright, Nyx?¡±
Nyx¡¯s short black bob swayed as she nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t see why they wouldn¡¯t. The Phoenix company killed all of those creatures, and the City Guard no doubt increased its presence on the street to keep the slum dwellers in check.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they are safe, though, does it?¡± Emela said, pulling at a loose strand of split blond hair. ¡°But you¡¯re right. There is no reason to believe anything has gone wrong with them. I think¡ª¡±
¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t the family failure, Emela,¡± an annoying voice Emela could not mistake said.
By the Great Lake. Why did you have to appear now? I¡¯m already having a rough enough day as is.
Noella strode down the hallway. Her blond hair, now in obnoxiously large curls, swayed as she walked. A cruel smile hung on her crooked, thin lips. She had something she wanted to show off. Her whole character said that much. Was it her hair? No, it looked tasteless at best, and that was Emela being generous.
Behind her annoying little half-sister walked the equally annoying maid, Matilda. The pair looked like two fools marching to show off some of their hapless ideas. Emela came to a stop and crossed her arms. Nyx stopped at her side.
¡°What do you want now, Noella? I don¡¯t have time for this. I need to go see the instructor,¡± Emela said, running her eyes up and down Noella as she came to a stop before her.
¡°Why would you do that? It would just be wasting the instructor¡¯s time.¡± Noella chuckled, her hair bouncing at each shake of her body. ¡°No. You should be off in the kitchen learning how to be a good wife for your¡ª¡± She stifled back another laugh. ¡°Your Muddust husband.¡±
We aren¡¯t married yet. You damn toad.
¡°What do you want, Mirae?¡± Emela asked. A group of lower-ranking housemaids scuttled past, whispering to each other as they walked. A few lowered their eyes, faces reddening with unconcealed shame. Were they talking about her? ¡°You¡¯re causing a scene. Noella, get to your point or leave me be.¡±
¡°Now, now, dear sister. You should really pay more attention to your betters.¡± Noella shook her head in faux dismay and let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to show you, but you were lucky enough to cross my path. So I might as well grace you with its sight.¡±
¡°With what?¡±
¡°This,¡± she said, beckoning Matilda forward. In the girl¡¯s hands rested an exquisitely designed sword. Its beautiful gold hilt sparkled in the blue hallway light, encrusted with an assortment of jewels. It gave off a certain charm. The blade, its edges humming with a blue light, sat and dared you to look at it. Why did she have such a fine work of craftsmanship?
Noella turned, plucking the beautiful sword from Matilda¡¯s hand and raised her arm, pointing the sword to the sky. ¡°Father gave me a Mana Armament.¡±
Chapter 44: How hard is it to be an older sibling?
The glossy blue sword gripped between Noella¡¯s greasy, ugly fingers glowed with an iridescent light as the idiot supplied mana to it. A Mana Armament¡ªweapons or armour made by Curlian smiths¡ªthe weapon had probably cost the family a lot. What did she do to deserve such a weapon?
Emela¡¯s frown deepened as she took a step forward and narrowed her eyes at her younger half-sister. ¡°Why did you get that?¡± Emela asked. Her heart thumped in her chest, blood subtly bulging through the veins in her neck. ¡°Did father happen to take the time to give a reason?¡±
Noella sneered, letting out a chuckle and covering her mouth with her other hand. ¡°Aside from the fact that, unlike you. I¡¯m a genius who the family didn¡¯t have to waste a bunch of resources on just to get to Gravity Forging Five. Oh, I don¡¯t know. Perhaps he just loves me, unlike you, the unlovable cur.¡±
Running her tongue along her front teeth, Emela turned to Nyx. The black-haired maid gave her a look that spoke volumes. Noella was pushing it, but Emela wasn¡¯t strong enough to put her in her place. Especially not now that she had a Mana Armament.
¡°You should be licking the Mistress¡¯s boots,¡± Matilda said, raising her nose at Emela. If it were anyone else, Matilda would be cowering silently in the back, but not in front of Emela. It didn¡¯t help that Matilda was just two cultivation stages below her¡ªshe wasn¡¯t as talented as Nyx, but she had her worth.
Emela ignored the girl and focused on Noella. ¡°When did this happen?¡±
¡°Oh, earlier today. It was a surprise for me after I had just finished a nice twelve-hour meditation session,¡± she said, letting out a chuckle. Emela¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°Oh, sorry, I forgot. You can barely meditate for two hours. You poor thing.¡±
Emela shot forward. But Nyx was there, blocking her. ¡°Calm down, Mistress,¡± she said, her voice tight. ¡°She wants you riled up. It wouldn¡¯t end well for you.¡±
Noella stood there, mana sword held at her side, as she ran a finger across the cruel smile hanging on her lips. ¡°The Instructor isn¡¯t here this time, sister. What do you say?¡±
Emela scoffed. The idiot thought she was as dumb as her, though she had almost stooped to that level. Emela shook her head, raising a hand and resting it on Nyx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thank you, Nyx.¡± Nyx glanced back at her and nodded.
¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now, Noella, if that was all,¡± Emela said, stepping to the side and moving past Noella and Matilda. Nyx trailed behind. Noella¡¯s face morphed with confusion as she looked at Matilda.
Placing a hand on her chest, Emela let out a breath. What had she been thinking? Though that was it. She hadn¡¯t been thinking; she was just reacting¡ªa good way to get herself hurt. It was a stupid move, but the toad could really get under her skin sometimes. Nyx stepped next to her, her face as blank as ever. Emela sighed, ¡°Why did he have to give her a Mana Armanemt?¡±
¡°I fear. It¡¯s just the beginning, Mistress. With your departure to the Muddust family, a lot more resources will open up for your siblings. Especially the ones with some signs of talent.¡±
Emela sighed. ¡°I suppose so.¡± Noella was a toad, but she¡¯d been right about one thing. The family had put a lot of effort into raising Emela¡¯s cultivation level to what it was now. But did that mean they should hate her for it? She hadn¡¯t asked them to. They¡¯d decided for her.
The crackle of the torches filled the silence as the pleasant smell of lavender swept down the hallway. They were near the east wing gardens, and the flowers should be in full bloom¡ªthe summer heat would be doing them wonders. The idea of taking a quick break crossed her mind. It would be nice to lie in the grass and watch the sunset, if but for a moment. She¡¯d not had the time lately. But could she? No. The Instructor would kill her if she found her lounging.
¡°Isn¡¯t that Claymore, Mistress,¡± Nyx said, inclining her head. Down the hall, standing by the stone arched windows that looked out into the east gardens, stood two boys. Arms flailing widely, his face scrunched up in a frown. One boy¡ªClaymore, Emela¡¯s younger brother¡ªargued passionately.
¡°How can you say the sour beans are better than deep honey apples?¡± Claymore said, spittle flying from his mouth. Emela chuckled¡ªher little brother could be a bit too passionate about the most pointless things.
¡°I didn¡¯t say that it was better. Just that a more refined palate is needed to handle deep honey apples.¡± The taller boy¡ªBrom, her third half-brother¡ªsaid. Dressed in a simple white robe, he leaned against the marble wall with a calm smile. His short blonde hair swayed gently in the wind as he shook his head. ¡°I mean, be serious. What is there to enjoy about something as basic as a sour bean?¡±
Claymore¡¯s face tightened as he puffed out his cheeks. Emela, stepping closer, called out to the two before her younger brother could dive right into a diatribe. ¡°Claymore, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been eating sour beans behind mother¡¯s back. What will she say when she finds out?¡± Emela said with a light chuckle.
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Claymore froze and turned to her like a deer sensing a predator. His mouth fell open, and he stammered. ¡°I-I haven¡¯t been eating any. I was just talking to Brom about them. That¡¯s it,¡± the boy said, gripping the sleeves of his white dress shirt.
Brom shook his head. ¡°Emela, our younger brother, seems to be adamant about liking such base foods,¡± Brom said, waving a bejewelled hand¡ªhe was one of the more flamboyant members of the family.
¡°Oh. But was it not you, Brom,¡± Emela said, ¡°who said, one¡¯s taste is a gateway to one¡¯s heart and thus no one should judge it?¡±
Brom turned to her and tilted his head, then tilted it again. He looked to the ceiling as if in careful thought, and Emela smiled. She¡¯d caught him out once more¡ªit wasn¡¯t hard to catch someone who loved to act as if they were an intellectual. That wasn¡¯t to say he wasn¡¯t smart, just not as smart as he thought.
¡°You raise a good point, sister,¡± Brom said before turning to Claymore. ¡°While I think your palate could use some work, it would be wrong of me to assume to know a better taste when I am not you. I hope you can forgive me, dear brother.¡± He folded his arms, resting one elbow on the back of his other hand, and brought a finger to his lips as he waited for a response from Claymore.
The young one looked at Emela, and she inclined her head to Brom. Her brother knew what to do. She wouldn¡¯t have to tell him twice. Claymore stomped his little feet and turned to Brom with a look of defeat¡ªit wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d actually lost. If anything, her younger brother appeared more upset that he didn¡¯t get to say his piece.
¡°While I don¡¯t fully understand what you said¡¡± Claymore¡¯s gaze flickered to her, and Emela urged him on. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t judge each other.¡±
¡°There, we go,¡± Emela said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that better?¡± She stepped forward and hugged her brother from behind, giving him a soft kiss on the head. ¡°What are you doing out here, anyway? Shouldn¡¯t you be studying?¡±
¡°I was, but the master Ulgan was called away,¡± Claymore said, chuckling as Emela tickled him. ¡°Stop that¡ªBut then I ran into Brom, and he wasn¡¯t doing anything, so I started chatting with him.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll inform you that, in fact, I was doing something,¡± Brom said, rolling his eyes. ¡°It just wasn¡¯t that important, and I felt you looked a little lonely, so I acquiesced.¡±
¡°You weren¡¯t doing anything.¡± Emela and Claymore said in unison.
¡°Oh, Nyx, you¡¯re here,¡± Claymore said, wriggling out of Emela¡¯s grip and stepping over to the maid. ¡°Did you go with Emela out to the city today?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Nyx said, giving Claymore a bow. ¡°I did.¡±
¡°So what were you doing before our dear brother stopped you?¡± Emela asked Brom. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to pry, but there were very few places that you could find Brom in the manor that wasn¡¯t the library or his jewellery room.
Perhaps I should ask him if he¡¯s heard of those creatures¡ªno, that would expose the fact that I was near the festival, at the very least.
¡°Oh, nothing important. I was just running some errands for Drion.¡±
¡°Errands?¡± She asked. Down the hall, a maid exited one of the rooms with a stack of towels in her hands, her face one of frustration. What was wrong with her? Not that the worries of the help were her problem. ¡°Why would he send you on an errand?¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t sent. I was asked,¡± Brom said, adjusting himself against the marble wall. ¡°And if you must know. He asked me, as it seems the city council is in quite a huff at the moment. He didn¡¯t say why, though.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Emela turned to Nyx, and they both shared a look before Emela turned back to Brom. ¡°When did he leave?¡± Drion being the oldest, it made sense that he¡¯d go¡ªthe city could hardly expect a Mana Ignition cultivator like her father to heed their call.
¡°Not long ago.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
I wonder if the family will have to get involved in this matter. Surely, the Phoenix Company can handle it themselves. If anything, the Flamelights would want that to be the case.
¡°Anyway, where are you two going?¡± Brom brought a bejewelled hand up and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°I feel I haven¡¯t seen you in the library as much as I should have as of late.¡±
¡°Well¡ª¡±
Before she could answer, heavy footsteps falling in unison sounded down the hall. The maid, still carrying the towels, pressed herself against the wall before she could turn the corner as a column of guards rounded it. They marched quickly down the hall. Spears in hand and shields on their backs. The blue crystal-like helmets they wore shimmered in the sunset, and they moved through the hall.
Emela and the group stepped aside¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t hurt them, but it wouldn¡¯t do to get in the way of the manor guards when they were marching somewhere.
¡°I wonder where they are going,¡± Emela muttered as the group of nine men and women marched by. The thundering of their boots caused several doors along the hallway to open as curious maids stuck their heads out to look.
¡°If I had to take a guess, I¡¯d say they¡¯re heading to the main hall,¡± Brom said, craning his neck down the hallway. I mean, it is in that direction.
Hector smiled as Mirae took a seat on the edge of his bed. It didn¡¯t creak under her weight like it did his own; evidently, she didn¡¯t weigh nearly as much as him. He strolled across the creaky floorboards, avoiding the loose wooden plank as he did. A cool breeze blew through the room, the scent of the sewer tickling his nose. Had it not been cleaned yet?
I suppose with the festival on. They had other priorities to deal with.
¡°So, what are these Talents?¡± Mirae asked as Hector took a seat on his bed. It creaked under his weight, the wood groaning in protest. What sounded like a snap came from the back of the bed, but it held firm. He let out a sigh. Should he have stayed in the workshop?
¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start, sis,¡± he said, rubbing his sweaty palm on his pants. ¡°It¡¯s not really something that you can just jump into. Or maybe that¡¯s just the easiest way to do it.¡±
Mirae nodded, perking up as he spoke. Her purple eyes almost sparkled as she looked at him. She absent-mindedly smoothed out his sheets¡ªeven now, she was still trying to take care of him.
¡°Alright, here we go,¡± he said, letting out a deep breath. ¡°Also, what we talk about right now has to be kept a secret between the two of us. You understand.¡± The cool breeze gently brushed across his ankle. Was it wise to leave the window open?
Mirae nodded as Hector stood up and closed the window. Dimming the noise coming from outside. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk about your talent. [Dreams of Time]¡±
Chapter 45: Isnt it always fun to learn new things?
Hector sat back on the bed, bracing himself on his knees. ¡°A Talent is something a lot of people have. Well, not a lot. Actually, they seem pretty rare,¡± Hector said, frowning. He drew a circle on the ground with the toe of his sandals as he took a moment. ¡°They are things that make people special.¡±
¡°Special? How do they make people special?¡± Mirae said, widening her purple eyes.
¡°Well, yours,¡± he said, bringing up Mirae¡¯s stat screen.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [None]
Talent: [Dreams of Time [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
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He mentally clicked on the Talent, bringing up its description.
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///: Dreams of Time: Allows the user to dream of the future, though they cannot control what they see or when it occurs. Furthermore, they are limited to only seeing a maximum of 30 years into the future. Increased stacks of [Dreams of Time] can enhance this ability.
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¡°Yours allows you to see up to a maximum of thirty years into the future,¡± Hector said, ¡°though what you see can¡¯t be controlled.¡±
Mirae pursed her lips as she looked off to the side. ¡°Is that all it does?¡±
¡°I mean, it¡¯s pretty strong¡ªit¡¯s the highest tier I know about. I think. And thirty years is a pretty long time.¡±
The bed creaked a little as Mirae leaned back, her eyes moving to the ceiling. ¡°And what other tiers are there?¡±
¡°I think there are about five tiers in total. I¡¯m not too sure, my Talent just gives me information on them.¡± He was lying, but there was no use bombarding her with everything at once. She needed to focus on her Talent. At least for now. ¡°The ranks go from common, uncommon, rare, legendary, and all the way to mystic.¡±
¡°And what rank is mine?¡±
¡°Yours is a Mystic rank Talent.¡± Hector glanced to the side of the room. His gaze ran down the pile of trash sitting in the corner. The cracks and crevices running through trash were like a ravine on a mountain. It would be nice to get away from all this one day.
¡°Hector,¡± Mirae said, pulling him back from his daydreaming. He turned to her and perked up. She subtly shook her head. ¡°Are you alright?¡±
¡°Yes. What was I saying?¡±
¡°You said my Talent was a mystic-ranked talent,¡± Mirae said, tucking a strand of white hair behind her ear. ¡°But I don¡¯t get it. Does that mean that this entire time you knew I had something like this? But you still choose not to believe me all those times.¡±
Hector chuckled, getting to his feet and stretching. His back let out two satisfying pops as he sighed. ¡°I only awakened my Talent recently the other day. I only put everything together later on. So I kinda owe you an apology.¡±
¡°By the lake you do,¡± Mirae said. ¡°Do you know how many times I¡¯ve had to sit in this house knowing you were going out to get hurt? Or that something bad was going to happen. Just for you to say, it was just a bad dream.¡±
You¡¯d think I would have learned to see a pattern. But then again, when wasn¡¯t something going wrong in the slums?
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Hector said, lowering his head. He should have put more faith in her back then. Even though he had changed, he still technically did all those things.
Mirae huffed, but let out a sigh. Was all forgiven? Perhaps, but only time could tell. Hector moved back over to the window and peeked through the old wooden shutters. The streets had quietened as night set in. Old men coming back from a day¡¯s labour somewhere laughed and chatted. One who was rather short stumbled on his feet¡ªthe alcohol was probably catching up with him. Drinking before, during, and after work was a normal thing. Especially when the water could make you sick if a cultivator didn¡¯t purify it.
¡°But, you said your Talent awakened just recently,¡± Mirae said, fiddling with her thumbs. ¡°Do you know what triggered it? I believe mine awakened when I was about nine.¡±
Six years ago¡ªthat seems about right.
She¡¯d had a pretty bad dream back then and woke up screaming during the night. When he and his father got to her, she said she couldn¡¯t remember what the dream was about. But it was really scary. Mirae hadn¡¯t had the dream since. Was it a vision?
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, turning back to her. ¡°If I did, I would probably try to replicate it.¡±
¡°Hmmm..¡± Mirae brought a finger to her lip, and Hector moved back over to the bed, the wood creaking underfoot as he did. She often thought about things a bit too much, especially when she thought she could help. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should. We don¡¯t know how bad it could be.¡±
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
¡°Well, I don¡¯t know how to.¡± Hector sat back on the bed with a thud and rested his hands on his knees. ¡°Anyway. I really want to focus on helping you use your Talent.¡±
She glanced up at him, her lips tight and her brow creasing. ¡°How do you plan to do that?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve spent a lot of time with my Talent over the days. It¡¯s not that hard to use, and I think I¡¯m getting quite good at it.¡±
¡°Is that why you¡¯ve been leaving the house randomly lately? Were you going out there looking for Talents?¡±
Hector swallowed, his neck heating up a bit. Seemed she¡¯d been watching him. He¡¯d need to be a bit more careful in the future. It was one thing to have his sister notice him, but if it was someone else, they may ask a bit too many questions¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t like anyone was worrying about what a random slum rat was doing. But it didn¡¯t hurt to be careful.
¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± he said, glancing at the creases in his sheets, tracking the folds ¡°If your Talent is anything like mine. I think we could work something out.¡±
¡°So what do I do?¡±
¡°Well, first I¡¯d like to ask you what it¡¯s like when you activate your Talent. Do you feel any sensations of any kind?¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I feel anything if I¡¯m honest. It kind of just happens.¡± Mirae frowned in thought, bringing a finger to her lip. ¡°If I had to say something, it¡¯s like I start out dreaming normally, then something just snaps.¡±
Sounds similar to a lucid dream. Perhaps it could work the same way. Maybe all that time wasted on the internet back on earth will actually be helpful.
¡°Have you noticed any common things when you fall into those dreams?¡± Hector said, ¡°Like do you notice your fingers looking strange?¡±
Mirae held out her hands, wiggling her fingers. She had chipped nails, with white lines running across them¡ªback on earth. Someone had told Hector that they¡¯d form when you didn¡¯t drink enough milk. ¡°I don¡¯t remember too much. But I don¡¯t really remember my fingers looking strange,¡± Mirae said.
¡°Alright, I see,¡± Hector said. Drunk shouts came from outside. More people heading to the tavern down the street, no doubt. Hector glanced at the window as he considered his next words. ¡°When I use my Talent, it feels almost like I¡¯m tugging on something. Does that bring anything up for you?¡±
¡°Hmmmm¡¡± Mirae scrunched her eyes and tapped a finger on her leg. The floorboards creaked in the hallway, and Hector glanced at the door. Was his father going back to the kitchen? Or perhaps he was heading out again. Mirae turned to the door, then back to him. ¡°I can¡¯t say I feel a tugging sensation. I will have to keep an eye out for the things you are describing. Maybe because I¡¯ve never consciously tried to use it, I¡¯ve never noticed.¡±
¡°That could be it,¡± Hector said, resting a hand on his sheets and leaning back.
Or maybe your Talent is just tricky to use. I mean she¡¯s the first person I¡¯ve spoken to that even knows about their Talent. Perhaps with the Talent¡¯s effects often being minor, people don¡¯t really notice them. That or using a Talent requires awakening.
¡°Though, Hector, there is something I would like to bring up concerning my Talent, as you call it,¡± Mirae said, fidgeting with her thumbs. She lowered her eyes, directing her gaze at his sheets. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s kind of the reason I left Mr. Pennybrook¡¯s stall.¡±
¡°You had another vision.¡±
Mirae nodded, and Hector let out a heavy sigh. He scratched his head and gestured for her to continue. Her Talent was both a benefit and a problem, in the sense that he couldn¡¯t control what she would do, given the advanced information she had access to.
¡°In it, I saw you being captured by the guards. It was terrible, and worst of all. Lincoln, left you to be captured. He didn¡¯t even try to help.¡±
¡°He did?¡± Hector raised an eyebrow¡ªit was ironic since he¡¯d technically done the same to Lincoln. Was Hector as bad a friend as he thought? Or did they just both think alike in that matter? Though he believed Lincoln could get himself out of that situation. Did Lincoln think the same? ¡°What happened after I was caught?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s kind of blurry, and I didn¡¯t see that far ahead,¡± Mirae said with a frown. She fiddled with the end of her brown shorts as her gaze moved to the window. ¡°I also saw someone tell the guards something. But I think they did it sometime before you were captured. They might have tipped them off.¡±
Hector frowned. What did this mean? Did someone betray them? Did someone outside the group know about the plan? While they had already picked a few pockets by the time Mirae arrived, Hector was pretty sure that no one had noticed by that point. Or maybe they had, and he¡¯d not noticed. Either way, it was something to consider.
¡°Did you see what the person that tipped them off looked like?¡± Hector asked, leaning in closer. A few strands of his white hair fell over his eye and he moved them to the side. ¡°Anything that could give us a hint?¡±
¡°No, but it was only one person. That¡¯s all I can say for certain.¡±
¡°Not much to go on, then. Damn,¡± Hector pushed off the bed and started pacing up and down his room. The floorboards underfoot creaked. He made sure to avoid the loose ones sticking up out of the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this in the back of my mind for now, Mirae, thank you.¡±
She nodded, giving him a thin smile. That answer was the best he could give her at the moment. Could he run around and start accusing or questioning his friend when he didn¡¯t even know how or what had happened? No. He also couldn¡¯t tell them that Mirae could see the future. That would open too many questions.
¡°Do you trust me, Mirae?¡±
She tilted her head to the side, her hair falling over her shoulder as she let out a sigh. ¡°Do I seriously need to answer that question?¡± Mirae asked.
Hector pursed his lip and let out a laugh. ¡°I suppose not,¡± he said, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I¡ª¡±
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///: ¡°All Talent saplings have finished growing. Please enter the Talent Garden space to collect them, and plant new Talents..¡±
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Hector paused. His eyes scanned over the system message. His heart fluttered a little as he read the text. This was good news, with everything going on; from the void beast to the pickpocketing operation¡ªat least the start of it, the end not so much¡ªhe¡¯d put the Talent growth to the back of his mind.
¡°Mirae, I¡¯ve got something to do,¡± Hector said, giving her an apologetic smile. ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, we can continue the conversation about the Talents later?¡±
Mirae nodded and pushed off the bed, hopping to her feet. ¡°Are you going to look for more Talents?¡±
¡°Not exactly, but I will be meditating for a while,¡± Hector said.
¡°Alright, well, I¡¯m going to start dinner. So, I¡¯ll come and get you when it¡¯s done. I don¡¯t care if you are meditating at that time. Got it. So make sure you finish up before it¡¯s ready.¡±
Hector chuckled. Walking forward, he raised a hand and ruffled Mirae¡¯s hair. Who was the older one, exactly? It¡¯s not like he couldn¡¯t look after himself, but Mirae seemed adamant about doing it. He had to thank her for that.
She slapped his hand away, puffing out her cheeks and shaking her head before turning and walking to the door. It creaked as she pulled it open, glancing back at him. ¡°For the record, I do trust you. Sometimes, more than I trust myself.¡±
¡°Well, that might be overdoing it a bit. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Hector said with a chuckle.
¡°Mirae, you have a visitor!¡± Their father¡¯s voice boomed down the hallway before she could respond. Mirae cocked her head to the side, frowning. But shrugged, waving goodbye to Hector and leaving the room.
Chapter 46: Can you really have too much choice?
Who could that be at this time of the day?
The old creaky room door slid closed as Mirae left the room. Hector made his way over to the window and peeked through the shutters. The streets were now mostly empty. A few of the homeless¡ªa group who somehow suffered more than the average slum dweller¡ªmilled about. Perhaps they were looking for somewhere to sleep.
Down the street, a faint glow could be seen coming from just around the corner. The Tavern¡ªa place Hector still couldn¡¯t go¡ªwas probably in full swing as more of those who worked day shifts got down to drinking. It was a wonder his dad wasn¡¯t in there. That was at least something he appreciated about his father in this world. He always tried to be at home when he could.
Hector let the shutters slap close as he moved away. The muffled voices of Mirae, his father, and what sounded like old lady Margaret came from the kitchen. It was a surprise that the old bird even left her house, though it was nice that she visited. Margaret was always nice to him.
The floorboards creaked underfoot as he moved over to his bed, bent down, and reached underneath it, gripping the meditation mat. It scraped across the wood as he pulled it out, wrenching it into the air. It flew and slapped onto the floor, skidding to a stop neatly in the center of the room. Hector glanced at the system notification that still hovered at the side of his vision.
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///: ¡°All Talent saplings have finished growing. Please enter Talent Garden space to collect them, and plant new Talents.¡±
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I would say it took long enough. But I¡¯d be lying if I said I had a lot of time to sit around and wait for it. I wonder what the Systems got for me this time.
Hector walked over to the mat and bent down, grunting¡ªan old habit¡ªas he reached for the straps of his sandals. He undid them and kicked his shoes off, sending them clattering to the side of the room. He then sat on the mat. A sense of calm washed over him. There was something so peaceful about being in either the soulscape or the Talent Garden.
He rolled his shoulder, feeling the calm within himself. ¡°System begin the Talent Garden space.¡±
The world melted away once again, and a moment later, Hector stood in the void. The waters of the void sloshed against his ankle. Comforting. He moved his feet; the water glowed its usual blue as he did.
He smiled and then directed his attention to the marble pedestals and the Talent plants resting atop them standing in front of him. ¡°Seems I wasn¡¯t so lucky this time,¡± Hector said, walking towards them, water sloshing at his feet.
Of the three pots, only one had three Talents sprouting from its Talent tree. The other two trees had one Talent each. Was it a great haul? No. But it was better than nothing. He chose the pedestal at the end first. A small wave rippled against the pedestal as he stopped in front of it.
Raising a hand, Hector reached out and touched it. Much like last time, the plant disappeared into golden flecks. Slowly at first, one fleck at a time, until they all fell away like a swarm of golden butterflies. Three glowing white Talents were left floating in the air in front of him.
He reached for the first one, moving his hand around it, then pulling back. The words of the system popped up as his eyes wandered around the scrawl decorating the Talent¡¯s surface.
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///: Fearbolt: ¡°The Talent holder forms a ball of fear in their palm, that they can then hurl at a target. Upon contact, temporary fear is induced.¡±
Cooldown is 3 hours. Increased stacks of Fearbolt can enhance Talent.
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Not exactly what I¡¯m looking for, but it could be good if I need to stun someone quickly. Or at the very least, get away again. Even so, does that make it worth keeping? Though, that¡¯s the Talent right now. I have no idea what it will be like in the later ranks.
Hector released the skill, leaving it to float off to the side. He frowned for a moment as he considered the Text. ¡°System, would it be possible to add the Rank of the Talent so that I can see at a glance what it is? It could be a problem in the future when I gather more and have to just assume.¡± His gaze drifted up towards the inky black void. The Talents wouldn¡¯t be as easy to discern when they were up there. It was like trying to tell the colour of a star from its light alone.
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///: ¡°It was deemed as a non-priority. But that can be done.¡±
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¡°Thank you.¡± He said, reaching for the next Talent.
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///: Personal Purification: [Common] ¡°The holder of this Talent can neutralise harmful substances inside one¡¯s body. Up to a limit. A substance that is deemed harmful to the body will be processed.¡±
¡°Cooldown is 6 hours. Increased stacks of Personal Purification can enhance Talent¡±
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Hector¡¯s lips pulled into a smile as his mind went back to the pill. He still didn¡¯t know exactly what it did, and it was most likely defective. After all, no one would throw away a perfectly good pill. The one thing that had stopped him from using it¡ªdespite the possible benefits¡ªwas the risk of harm.
Not only that, but eating a low-grade pill with too many impurities could stunt your growth and limit the ability to channel mana outside the body. Not something people would normally worry about, as you weren¡¯t allowed to sell pills below average grade¡ªnot legally, anyway.
But with this Talent, things had changed. Hector ran his finger along the Talent¡¯s smooth surface, his skin gliding across it with zero resistance. He had to use this one if only to eat the pill. He didn¡¯t know how effective the pill would be once purified, but it was better than nothing.
His heart fluttered as he pushed the Talent to the side, then reached for the last Talent of this first tree. So far, he¡¯d had quite a good bag. The [Fearbolt] Talent had its uses, but the purification one was a showstopper. Would it allow him to take pills without worrying about their effects¡ªprovided he actually found another one?
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Would he find another one? The dump was many things, but it was hardly a gold mine. It was more likely Hector would find the shell of a pill than the whole thing. The talent gave off a low hum as he reached for it¡ªsome of the only noise in the void aside from the sloshing water.
He cupped it in his hands and pulled it towards him, as the system¡¯s words formed before of him. Just in front of the Talent.
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///: Growth Touch: [Common] ¡°The Talent holder, once they have placed their hand on a suitable surface, can increase the growth of low-lying plants around them. The plants will grow until dense shrubbery is formed, creating difficult terrain to move through. This Talent is limited to a certain distance around the Talent holder. The shrubbery disappears after 1 hour¡±
¡°Cooldown is 4 hours. Increased stacks of Growth Touch can enhance Talent¡±
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Hector ran his tongue across his front teeth as he re-read the words. It wasn¡¯t bad. But for him, it was useless. He sighed, pushing the Talent off to the side, as he turned to the last two pedestals. The bag had just gotten considerably worse. What could he use the last Talent for? Mirea may benefit from it in her garden¡ªfor an hour, anyway. But that wasn¡¯t exactly his main focus right now.
He stepped over to the second podium, water sloshing at his feet and touched the plant. Which fell away in a shower of gold, just like the previous. This Talent wasn¡¯t as exciting either. The bar had been set by the purification Talent. And the Talent, [Stone Throw], turned out to be simple. It would allow him to rip a rock free from the earth and hit someone with it. Not amazing.
Sure he did not doubt that higher ranks would be something to think about. But right now, there was no difference between him using that Talent and him picking up a brick off the floor and throwing it at someone. Besides, he didn¡¯t have an unlimited amount of Talent he could use at one time.
Sighing, Hector pushed the [Stone Throw] Talent off to the side and moved over to the last pedestal. One Talent sat atop the Talent tree swaying gently¡ªwhere exactly did that wind come from? The void was empty for the most part. He reached towards the Talent but paused before he could touch it.
This would be the last one, for today anyway. He wouldn¡¯t have the time to sit and boost the growth speed tonight, as he needed to cultivate. It was slow, but it was something he had to do. And tomorrow, he had to go meet his friends.
His heart tightened. It needed to be something good. Though, if he was honest [Personal Purification] was already a lot. Could he ask for much more?
Hector placed a hand on the Talent tree and it fell away in a shower of gold, leaving one Talent floating in the space above the pot. The white Talent hummed with a soft light as if inviting him to hold it. Hector reached forward and grabbed it, bringing it towards his chest as his eyes scanned over the scrawl writhing on its surface.
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///: Awakened Soul: [Common] ¡°The Talent holder¡¯s soulscape is expanded, allowing the holder to draw in more Chaotic mana motes from the environment. With this, the holder¡¯s ability to draw in mana is essentially doubled. ¡±
¡°Passive. Increased stacks of Awakened Soul can enhance Talent¡±
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Hmmmmm¡
Hector took a step back, releasing the Talent and letting it float in front of him. He regarded it. The shimmering white surface had suddenly become the most beautiful thing he¡¯d ever seen. The way it floated in the air. Serene. Calm. Unearthly. Was this it? The Talent that he¡¯d been hoping for.
A bubble of excitement grew in his chest as his lips peeled back into a smile. This was the actual showstopper. This Talent would allow him to change his future.
Hector almost told the system to close the space right there and then, but caught himself. All three plant pots were now empty, and he had four Talents floating off to the side. He couldn¡¯t just leave them like that. He let out a shaky breath, plucking [Awakened Soul] out of the air then and moving it under his arm, as he made his way over to his cluster of Talents.
Which one would he re-plant? It could only be two. Because if he was right, he should have eight fragments that he collected. ¡°System, can I get a list of all the fragments I have so far?¡±
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///: Loading list¡
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| Mystic - 2
| Uncommon - 8
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Ah, yeah. I had eight uncommon fragments, didn¡¯t I? Shame. If I had snagged a rare, I could have at least got a few uncommon Talents out of this. Well, it can¡¯t be helped. With these eight, I should be able to make one seed using five of them.
¡°System,¡± Hector said, smiling, eager to get this over and done with. As soon as he finished here, it would be time to start the most productive cultivation session he¡¯d ever had. ¡°Bring me five of the uncommon fragments.¡±
He released the [Awakened Soul] Talent, letting it float off. It moved over to the other four Talents, stopping next to them, forming a neat file. The Talents all hummed with a subtle light.
Hector glanced to the sky, watching as a line of lights zipped through the void. The lines dipped, falling towards him. The lights¡ªfragments¡ªglowed a subtle green as they got closer, stopping just before him and rotating in a circle. It wasn¡¯t surprising that they were a different colour. After all, it was how you could identify the rank in Talnets so it made sense that it carried over to the fragments.
He raised a hand, holding his palm out flat. The circle of fragments moved, stopping over his palm and hovering in place. Hector shifted, water rippling at his feet as he took it in. It was a shame they wouldn¡¯t form an uncommon seed. He was so close, yet so far.
¡°System,¡± Hector said, clenching his other hand into a fist, as it hung at his side. ¡°Fuse them into a Talent seed.¡±
The hovering fragment shook before racing forward and slamming into each other with a crack. The smell of oil went up his nose as a subtle heat radiated out onto his palm. Tightening and squeezing, the cluster of fragments glowed brighter as lights snaked from the core before falling back in, leaving a white trail. The trails formed repeatedly until they all formed the shape of a seed.
With a pop, releasing a ring of white light, a new Talent seed hovered just above Hector¡¯s palm. He raised his other hand, grabbing the seed in both. Did those lines and the way they formed have anything to do with the scrawl he saw on a normal Talent? Water sloshed at his feet as he made his way back over to the plant pots.
He stuck his hand in, moving the soil around. It cracked with electricity as he gently dug deeper in. Small mounds of soil, speckled with blue light, gathered at the pot¡¯s edge as he did. Why didn¡¯t he feel anything? A jolt, a spark, he felt none of the things he come to understand he¡¯d feel when he touched something electrical. Was it even electricity?
He brought his hand back and regarded the hole. It was more than deep enough and would have to do for now. Placing the seed in, feeling its smooth surface slip from his grip, Hector sighed. He covered the seed with soil, obscuring its white light. He¡¯d water it when the other two were planted, now it was time to see which Talent he¡¯d keep.
The five glowing white Talents floated in the air, giving off a subtle hum. White light flickered off their surface, dappling Hector¡¯s T-shirt with patterns of light. He trudged over to them, water splashing as he did. Small waves accented with blue rippled off from his steps into the distant void. He regarded the Talents. Which one would he choose? He had two in mind that he was not losing; so that only left the [Fearbolt], [Growth Touch], and [Stone Throw].
None of them were bad, per se. But they didn¡¯t have as much utility as Hector would have liked. While the growth skill might be good for Mirae, it would only help so much and, who knew when he was going to get another two¡ªthough that was true for all his Talents.
He raised a hand and held his face. Last time he¡¯d almost got rid of a Talent that had proved vital. He couldn¡¯t make the same mistake. There was only one Talent that could be used no matter the situation, not needing a suitable environment or rocks around. [Fearbolt], that would be the Talent Hector would keep.
With a wave of his hand, the three Talents he was keeping shot off into the air. Leaving behind the two he¡¯d planted. He then spent the next few minutes converting them into seeds before planting them.
He dusted his hands off with a few slaps¡ªthere was no dirt on them; it was just what made sense. With the seeds planted, he could now focus on more important things.
¡°Hector!¡± Mirea¡¯s voice boomed through the void. ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner.¡± His smile cracked his lips. He¡¯d timed it perfectly. Things were looking up. His chest swelled as images of him drawing in heaps of chaotic mana came to mind. As soon as dinner was finished, it would all truly begin.
Chapter 47: What did we learn today?
In the end, Hector didn¡¯t dive straight into cultivating like he wanted to. He had to join, rather reluctantly, his family as they entertained their guest, Margaret. The old lady, as usual, was a treat to be around and gave them some much-needed normalcy. It had been too tense over the past few days.
A bonus to her visit was that their father didn¡¯t drink. Perhaps he wanted to keep up appearances, or maybe he was worried about being judged too harshly by an elder of the community. It wasn¡¯t clear. But Hector was happy for it either way.
After he¡¯d eaten¡ªgrim-grain, as usual. Though Margaret brought some plum flakes¡ªHector made his way back to his room, telling his family he was heading to cultivate. Mirae informed him she¡¯d be doing the same after she¡¯d finished cleaning up the kitchen. He debated helping her with the cleaning. His sister needed time to cultivate as well. But he thought better of it.
He would strengthen those around him. But he had to help himself before he could help anyone else.
¡°Alright,¡± Hector said, dusting off his trousers, as he took a seat on his meditation mat¡ªhe¡¯d finally be using it for its intended purpose. ¡°How many days has it been since I¡¯ve actually sat down and cultivated? I don¡¯t know.¡±
Hector, closing his eyes, calmed his breath as he brought his attention within himself. The blood flowed through his veins, following the gentle beat of his heart. There, between the beats, between the calm, he found what he was looking for. He followed it, losing himself in the rhythm.
Moments later, he blinked and found himself in his soulscape. Water rested at his ankles, and he moved his feet and sighed, sloshing it around. Part of him expected to see the pedestals, with the Talent trees sitting atop them. But no, he wasn¡¯t in the Talent garden space.
¡°There you are,¡± he said, smiling as he turned. There, a few paces away from him, floating casually in the air, was a cluster of light. The light was made of at least a hundred mana motes that he¡¯d gathered over the past four years. They jostled as they all moved around each other, vibrating and giving off a subtle light.
That is four years¡¯ worth of work. I don¡¯t know whether to be depressed or somewhat impressed that I¡¯ve kept going for so long.
Hector shook his head and let out a sigh. White strands of hair fell over his eyes, obscuring his vision. He¡¯d have to cut it soon. It was becoming a problem. Taking a breath, he looked off into the void. Would it work? [Awakened Soul], was the sort of Talent he¡¯d been hoping to get. It had to work.
¡°System!¡± Hector called into the endless void of his soulscape. ¡°I would like to bind to the [Awakened Soul] Talent.¡± The water at his feet rippled as the void shook and he glanced to the sky.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Request has been acknowledged. Your manipulation energy has been consumed. You will be notified when it is next available.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The Talent arced through the void, shooting towards him. A line of white light traced behind it like a shooting star. Hector paused. He¡¯d never seen a shooting star back on Earth, nor had he ever seen one over the skies of Middlec. But now he had his own personal show right here in his soulscape. It was kind of amazing.
The Talent levelled out as it descended, soaring towards him. It closed the distance in almost an instant, flashing to a stop before him. He then reached forward, and it moved closer before he cupped his hand around it and brought the Talent into his chest.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Talent: [Awakened Soul], has been bound.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Warm energy spread out from his chest, washing through him. It was as if he¡¯d just gained a part of himself that he never knew existed. His mind went to the system, willing his status screen to open. It would be good to see what had changed, even if it was just one thing.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector Jacaranda
¡ª¡ª¡ª
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 1]
Spirit Root: Moon
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
STATS
©À©¤ Body ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( I )
©À©¤ Mind ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
©¸©¤ Spirit ©¦ Tier 0 ©¦ Level ( - )
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
EQUIPMENT
©¸©¤ None
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
TALENTS
©À©¤ Hearty Body [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3) ¡ª Quickening Brace [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)
©À©¤ Spark Capacitor [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3) ¡ª Resonant Shout [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)
©¸©¤ Awakened Soul [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3) ¡ª Street Reader [C] +0 [?¡ð¡ð] (1/3)
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
TECHNIQUES:
©¸©¤ [Orion Fist] (Journeyman: 90%) ¡ª [Orion Leaping Strike] (Novice: 20%)
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
That¡¯s not too bad if I do say so myself. I¡¯ve come a long way from that simple [Tough Body] Talent. And it hasn¡¯t even been that long.
Hector smiled, letting the warmth flow away as he made his way over to the Lagrange point and sat beneath the cluster of his affinited mana motes. The water rippled as he took a seat and glanced around the void. This was it.
He¡¯d meditated so many times before¡ªat least the Hector he¡¯d been before the transmigration occurred did. But somehow this one was the most nerve-wracking. If this didn¡¯t work, then everything would amount to nothing. Sure he could keep getting Talent after Talent. But how far would that take him? In the end, he¡¯d just die to someone in a higher realm¡ªor of old age, but that was unlikely in the slum.
No. If this didn¡¯t work then, there was nothing he could do about it¡ªnot that he knew of, anyway. But still. Hector glanced up, focusing on the void. The chaotic mana motes could come from any direction, but they would always originate from the sky of the void.
Slow and sometimes one at a time. Easily counted. Easily lamented. It was never enough to get him to where he should be¡ªmore importantly, where he deserved to be. But most of all, the amount would never be enough to keep up with his friends. Would this supposed increase keep him in line with them?
Hector¡¯s gut knotted as he rested his hands on his knee, one finger tapping continuously. Right now, nothing had happened yet. He didn¡¯t know if it would be a significant change or a small one. There was an odd comfort in that. But what did he really have to worry about?
From when he¡¯d taken his lumps as a child, to the first time he used [Quickening Brace] on that street thug. All the way to when he¡¯d put two guards on the ground, with abilities he¡¯d never dreamed of before. In all these times, the system had never failed him.
Sure, the skill could go on to cooldown, but it was predictable. Hector placed his hand to the side and ran it through the waters of the soulscape. The liquid passed through his fingers in a gentle stream. Calm. Smooth. The system, in a way, had his back¡ªeven if it would change his emotions so he could use it. He let out a breath.
One, two, three, four, five, six¡
As he counted higher and higher, his heartbeat slowed. He breathed to the rhythm, letting his breath fall on every second number. But he paused as the system screen popped up before him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Host, a primary analysis of your soulscape has returned several anomalous results. Having conducted a deeper scan of your soulscape and thus your spirit root, it has been concluded that there appears to be an artificial restriction put in place.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector frowned as he read the message and read it again. He didn¡¯t understand what the system meant by an artificial restriction. Was that normal? If not, how had it gotten there? He wet his lips, his gaze becoming unfocused as he processed the information¡ªat least tried to. Was this the reason his cultivation was so slow? This restriction.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me this before?¡± Hector asked. If he had known before, perhaps he could have done something¡ªthough what exactly wasn¡¯t clear. Perhaps Kamble knew something. He lowered his eyes. The calm waters were a stark contrast to the mess of his mind.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°A full scan of your soulscape could not be conducted from outside its boundaries.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°I see.¡± Hector combed his fingers through his hair. On one hand, this confirmed that the system wasn¡¯t as pervasive as he¡¯d thought. From the sounds of it, the system didn¡¯t have full access to every part of him. That could be a good thing¡ªmaybe. But it meant it was limited. Which presented a problem.
¡°System,¡± Hector said, voice tight. This could be a breakthrough, point. If there was a restriction, there had to be a way to lift it, and that would mean he wasn¡¯t destined to be terrible at cultivation after all. ¡°Can you lift this restriction?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Unfortunately, the restriction can not be lifted.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The words hit him like a brick, sending shock waves through his body as his breath caught in his chest. Would this mean the Talent would be useless? Would this mean his cultivation speed would be unaffected? Hector pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a breath. There was a restriction on his spirit root and the system couldn¡¯t lift it. What now?
Perhaps this was why he was feeling so tense. Perhaps this was why, for once, he doubted the system. He didn¡¯t know how this restriction got there and who or what had placed it on him.
¡°System, will this restriction limit the Talent in any way? Also, do you know how this restriction even got there?¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°There is no indication of how the restriction was placed on the host¡¯s spirit root. As for how the Talent will be affected, that is not clear.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector¡¯s heart dropped, and he frowned. The water rippled at his thigh as he shifted his weight. This was all a mess. He now had another problem on his growing list, and this new one couldn¡¯t be solved¡ªat least from the sounds of it¡ªby getting another Talent. Who knew in what other way having his spirit root restricted affected him?
Could he even advance to the Core Formation realm¡ªif he made it that far? He didn¡¯t know how it worked¡ªit¡¯s not like he had a friend or a member of his family in the Core Formation¡ªbut having your spirit root restricted would most likely affect that, right?
Raising a hand and placing it on his chest, Hector took several deep breaths. The air filled his lungs as his hectic thoughts calmed. He glanced down, reaching for the purple tooth necklace that rested against his chest. A wave of calm washed over him, as he gripped the necklace tight, knuckles whitening. What was done was done.
He glanced up to the Lagrange point and the affinited mana motes that jostled around each other. The whole thing was a dense cluster of energy that he¡¯d built up over the years, and he hadn¡¯t got this far by overthinking things. He let out a breath.
Right now, all he could do was cultivate. If the Talent worked, he¡¯d have his answer. If it didn¡¯t, nothing changed. But at least now he knew why¡ªand with some luck, he could do something about it.
Calming his mind, Hector took another deep breath. He closed his eyes and then slowly released his breath, pulling on the void as he did.
It responded.
The ground shook, shaking the water, sending small waves splashing onto Hector¡¯s chest. What was happening?
He pushed on¡ªstopping now could harm his cultivation. Whatever was happening was not normal.
Something was wrong.
Chapter 48: Did you know Talents could do that?
Hector gritted his teeth as the void continued to shake, churning up small waves that rocked him. What was going on? He glanced to the sky of his soulscape. Was the absorption phase even working?
No chaotic mana motes could be seen, but that wasn¡¯t unusual¡ªwith him not exactly being the most competent cultivator. It made sense. A loud crack came from the distance, and a sharp pain assaulted Hector¡¯s mind. He grabbed his head, groaning in pain. What was going on?
¡°System, why is my soulscape reacting like this?¡± He pleaded. It had found the restriction. Perhaps it could tell him what was going on.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Your mana channels are not equipped to handle an increase in mana and thus require adaptation. But it is not clear if they will be able to adapt in time, or whether your soul will collapse before then.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
By the great lake I¡¯m going to die, aren¡¯t I? My Talent will actually get me killed. What in the hell?
Hector¡¯s heart rattled in his chest like a caged animal as he fought back the growing pain in his head. It throbbed and throbbed, sending waves of pain flooding through his body. He curled into himself¡ªnot that it helped at all.
When he had first started cultivating, it was pleasant and easy, but Kamble had always reminded him to stay calm. If a cultivator wasn¡¯t calm, they would be forced from cultivation or cause damage to their soul¡ªthat usually meant death or, at the very least, severe injury.
But it was impossible to always remain calm. With the average life of a slum dweller, if gangs weren¡¯t trying to kill you, then hunger was. If someone didn¡¯t want to steal from you, then the guards would probably come around and take something. To be in the slums was to invite some sort of problem. And problems led to stress and distraction.
Kamble knew this, and so his cultivation method had a cycle of peace built into it. A method you could follow that would ensure that you could at least calm yourself before beginning cultivation¡ªIn his excitement, Hector had only done one step. The counting method.
¡°What does the day bring?¡± He said, reciting the first line of the method. ¡°Hope. What does the future see? The past.¡± He gritted his teeth as lightning cracked across the void. A deafening boom rocked the soulscape as a sharp pain shot through his chest. ¡°Where do all paths lead? To Victory. And victory belongs to the excellent.¡±
He pulled on the void even harder, screaming as he strained against its force. The soulscape¡¯s shaking intensified. Water shook, the sky screamed, and the air quaked. The wind whipped all around.
Why wasn¡¯t it working? The method had never failed to calm him in the past¡ªa few times he¡¯d even got an extra mote out of that day¡¯s cultivation. A wave crashed into his chest, rocking him. His hand shot out as he steadied himself. Okay, that hadn¡¯t worked. What else could he do?
Releasing it could be an option, but would its outcome be worse than just staying and fighting through? It wasn¡¯t clear. He adjusted himself as waves continued to assault him. Hector wet his lips as he considered his options. A crack of thunder tore across the void, lighting his features.
In life, the more you try to control something, the worse it could become. He¡¯d learnt that the hard way. Hector let out a breath, pushing Kamble¡¯s methods to the back of his mind. He¡¯d have to believe in himself now.
A sharp pain crackled across his chest as he slammed his hands into his soul¡¯s waters. He needed to let go, and so he did. He gave into the force releasing the absorption method. The sky continued to shake. Thunder roared overhead, and the waves continued to tear into him. Nothing changed. The only difference was he was no longer in control.
It¡¯s going to be okay, Hector. You didn¡¯t come all this way to simply die in cultivation. It¡¯s going to be alright. Your family needs you and you are stronger than you think.
The words did very little to calm his increasing heart rate¡ªIt was a wonder it hadn¡¯t given out underneath all the strain. A deafening crack slammed across the void and pain erupted in his mind. He clawed at his skull, waves slapping into him as his vision blurred. Were these his last moments?
As his mind fogged with thoughts of his family and friends, he caught onto something. It was dense and swarming overhead. He strained his neck, looking up into the void. There, mana motes whizzed across the sky in loose clusters of light. There were a lot of them, all moving so fast he couldn¡¯t count.
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He had to capture them. Something inside him screamed for him to do so.
Fighting back the pain, Hector imagined a ring forming around himself. He imagined it circling, spinning. The ring would draw them all in. And so it did. Chaotic mana motes fell from the sky. They fell like comets, shooting down in a trail of blazing white.
Hector pulled even harder.
Even as water rocked him, Hector pushed through the pain and summoned the mana motes to him. The motes whizzed around. Some shot off into the distant void, while others bounced off each other, shooting back off into the void sky. But Hector never stopped rotating the circle.
After a few agonizing moments, the orbit was ready. He had filled as much as he could and he needed to start the capture phase. It was time to tighten the circle. Thunder boomed overhead. Lightning arced across the sky. Hector gritted his teeth and pulled on the ring of motes that now orbited him, shrinking the circle.
The system message popped up in front of him. Hector winced. Did it have to turn up now?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°The Talent [Awakened Soul ] has been activated. The soulscape should stabilise shortly.¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
At the system¡¯s word, the void slowed. The waves weakened, and the lightning stopped. Hector hadn¡¯t noticed before, but cracks of purple littered the void¡¯s sky. But they were closing now. Slowly, but they were closing.
The ring of mana motes continued to spin around him. They jostled in his orbit as the ring tightened¡ªhe¡¯d need to keep increasing the pressure or risk them shooting off. But he let out a breath. The Talent had actually worked. He hadn¡¯t had the chance to absorb anything yet¡ªhe¡¯d have to deal with the ones he¡¯d captured first. But the system¡¯s word was as good as gold. It had worked.
I guess I don¡¯t need to worry about death or crippling. I should add my affinity to this and get them to the Lagrange point.
The waters of his soul gradually lost their blue colour as the waves calmed. As Hector sat, the water lowered back down to his thigh, falling still. The soulscape was on the mend. Hector wasn¡¯t sure if what he was feeling was real or imagined. But his soulscape was bigger somehow. The void still looked like the void. But it had grown. Was this the Talent?
He continued orbiting the mana motes. Many of them, taking on the pale blue of his affinity, and becoming moon-based mana motes. Once he¡¯d finished doing that to all of them, he could move on to the next step. But then suddenly, Mirae¡¯s voice burst through the void.
¡°Hector, it¡¯s morning now. Time to¡¡± Her voice stalled. She¡¯d probably noticed him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been meditating all night. Hector. By the great lake.¡± She sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Lincoln you are going to take a moment.¡±
The door thudded closed as it sounded like Mirae had left the room. Hector frowned. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that it was morning¡ªlosing track of time during cultivation was easy. But why was Lincoln here, and so early?
He can¡¯t be here to count the money. We agreed to do that later on today.
---
Hector walked into the kitchen. The floorboards creaked as he moved, the wood seemingly more battered than he¡¯d recalled. He hadn¡¯t fully reached the second level of gravity forging, but the effects of his recent cultivation were apparent. The pain had been immense, but it was worth it¡ªhe¡¯d never achieved so much growth in one session.
The system had told him it was only because of his soul almost breaking. He would not get anywhere close to that many chaotic mana motes in a normal session. A smile cracked his lips. Would it be worth it to upgrade the Talent, or would that kill him? He shook his head, stopping by the kitchen door.
Hector glanced behind him to Mirae. His sister stood next to the kitchen counter. In her hand was a mallet¡ªone Hector had made himself. She used it to beat a lump of dough that she was working with. Grim grain was a tough nut. Hector smiled. ¡°Is he outside?¡±
She glanced at him, puffing a loose strand of white hair away from her eyes. Lowering her hand, she rested the mallet on the worn wooden tabletop. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s standing by the gate. I asked if he wanted to come inside, but he said no. I think something might be wrong with him.¡±
Hector frowned as he kissed his teeth. He wasn¡¯t annoyed, per se, but Lincoln had been acting strange for the last few days. Today Hector intended to find out what was wrong. He reached for the door handle. ¡°I¡¯m going to see what¡¯s up with him. Hopefully, it won¡¯t take too long. Also, has Dad already left for work?¡±
Mirae nodded. She reached for a heap of flour and dusted a little on the dough. Glancing back at him, she paused. ¡°He left rather early today. I think he¡¯s still upset about yesterday. And¡ªI¡¯m not sure¡ªbut he may be a little hurt about us whispering in your room.¡±
¡°Oh, come on,¡± Hector said, ¡°He¡¯s not that sensitive. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s just a problem at work.¡±
Mirae dropped a brow as if to ask if Hector was that na?ve. Hector waved her off and pulled the door open. He stepped out into the front garden; the sun shining down, warming his cheeks. It was a clear day today. Not a cloud in the sky. It was as if yesterday was nothing but a bad dream.
Lincoln stood by the rickety old gate, which was still worse for wear from yesterday. He looked up as Hector glanced over and cracked a playful smile. ¡°What are you doing up this early? Did your mom kick you out of the house or something?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Lincoln chuckled. Pushing off the fence, he strode towards Hector. ¡°Said I needed to stop wasting time and go find a wife,¡± Lincoln said, reaching out a hand.
Hector grabbed it and gave it a firm shake. ¡°She¡¯s right. But I¡¯m not too sure there is a woman alive that would want you,¡± Hector said with a snort.
The two of them burst out laughing. Lincoln gave Hector a light jab in the arm and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. Isn¡¯t every girl you interact with a friend?¡±
¡°And that¡¯s all I need. My young child, the path I walk is a lonely one.¡± Hector stroked his non-existent beard¡ªgrowing one had been difficult in both lives. The two of them barked another laugh and gradually fell silent.
Someone on the other side of the fence cursed. They grumbled about someone stealing money from them¡ªa typical day in the slum.
After an awkward few seconds of quiet, Lincoln spoke up. He focused on Hector¡¯s eyes with a look Hector rarely saw. Determination. Lincoln wet his lips and wrung his hands. ¡°Hector, I have to talk to you.¡±
Chapter 49: Why dont we explore our surroundings a bit more?
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Hector asked, crossing his arms. ¡°Though I will say; I¡¯ve been meaning to talk to you as well.¡± Hector took a step back. A loose piece of cobblestone crumbled under his sandals as he shifted his weight.
Lincoln squinted and lowered his head. Was he confused why he¡¯d asked? Hector shook his head. The boy hadn¡¯t exactly had the best poker face in the past few days. Something was wrong, that much was obvious.
¡°Let¡¯s talk about your thing first. Mine can wait a little longer,¡± Hector said. There was no point bringing up something Lincoln might ask, anyway. Perhaps Hector could finally learn why his friend was so obsessed with the farm. More shouts came from the other side of the fence as drunks rambled at each other.
¡°Alright,¡± Lincoln said, ¡°but not here.¡± He looked over his shoulder, towards the fence. Was someone waiting on the other side? More drunk shouts came from the street, followed by a thud and what sounded like someone dropping to the ground. Lincoln turned and walked towards the gate, glancing back over his shoulder to Hector. ¡°Are you coming?¡±
I hope someone didn¡¯t just get knocked out right in front of the house. It will be a pain if I have to drag someone down the street again. It is far too early for this nonsense.
Hector glanced behind him to the kitchen window. There Mirae stood, mallet in hand. He waved at her and mouthed, be back soon. She nodded and mouthed be careful.
Walking towards the gate, Hector gestured for Lincoln to continue. The boy pulled the old gate open with a creak. A bolt at the side of the gate popped and metal clattered to the dirt. ¡°Was that important?¡± Lincoln asked, gesturing to the bolt.
Hector sighed. Perhaps he should have fixed the gate yesterday. But Hector shook his head and urged Lincoln through. He pulled up the now lopsided gate¡ªbarely even serving its function. He¡¯d definitely fix it when he got back.
On the side of the road, a few feet away from Hector, was a homeless man. His face was gaunt, cheekbones on full display. The man hadn¡¯t had a good meal in a while. Hector stepped over to him. The smell of alcohol immediately assaulted his enhanced senses. How did he have the money to drink, yet couldn¡¯t eat?
Hector glanced around. Whoever had done this was long gone. ¡°Can you help me with him?¡± Hector asked Lincoln, gesturing to the man. ¡°I¡¯d rather him not wake up next to my house.¡±
Or anywhere near Mirae.
Lincoln rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°You are far too kind for your own good. We should just leave him,¡± he said, dragging his feet along the cobblestone. Loose rock kicked up by him bounced off the man¡¯s body.
¡°I don¡¯t see how me not wanting him in front of my house is kind. But alright.¡± Hector bent down, grabbing the man by his ankles, while Lincoln grabbed the man by the wrists. The two of them lifted him with relative ease¡ªthey were cultivators and he was emaciated. Hector could have done it alone. But it was quicker this way. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡±
¡°Not here,¡± Lincoln said. What was with all the secrets? People walked by, many frowning as they watched the two of them lug the man through the streets. Lincoln tightened his lips and whistled. ¡°So where are we dumping this guy?¡±
Somewhere nice to wake up would be good.
Hector frowned, contemplating his options. He glanced at the people who watched him, giving them a smile. Where would be a good place to leave him? Not that there was a good place in the slums¡ªbut somewhere he would be moderately comfortable.
The two continued to walk down the street until they came to an alley. It was dry and seemed to get very little foot traffic. The man wouldn¡¯t be disturbed here. ¡°Let¡¯s place him here.¡± With a plop, they slumped the man onto the ground. Hector adjusted him so that his head was leaning against the wall, but he still fell to the side. That would not be a comfortable sleep.
¡°I just had a thought. Did we even check if he¡¯s alive?¡±
Hector shook his head. At the end of the day, it didn¡¯t matter too much. If he was, there wasn¡¯t much either of them could do about it. The street cleaner would pick him up when they came by. Though, at the back of his mind, Hector could hear Mirae¡¯s voice telling him to do more.
Bending down next to the man, raising a hand and resting his two fingers on his neck, Hector checked for a pulse. A faint heartbeat replied. ¡°He¡¯s good,¡± Hector said, getting back to his feet. ¡°Shall we?¡± He gestured for Lincoln to carry on walking.
The two of them left the man and made their way back into the disarray of the main streets. Houses too old to stand under their own weight leaned to the side. The building would topple someday soon, and the street cleaners would have a busy day. Hector glanced toward the sky as the warmth of the sun washed over his face. His skin prickled with satisfaction. At least they still had the sun.
Hector glanced at Lincoln from the corner of his eye. ¡°Did your mom get many customers yesterday?¡± The answer was obvious, but if she was busy, then it would have been really bad.
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Lincoln nodded, then shook his head. ¡°You should have seen it. The wounds I saw yesterday, I¡¯d never seen anything like it. My mom even had to call for help from her two apprentices. I think every healer in the slum was making money.¡± Lincoln¡¯s lips wobbled. It was as if he wanted to smile, but at least he had the good sense not to look too happy at the suffering of others.
¡°That¡¯s horrible. I can¡¯t imagine how many people lost their lives yesterday,¡± Hector said, stepping to the side. An old woman pushing a cart of carvings trundled by. She gave him a smile, her whole body shaking as she walked. ¡°Who knows how many people lost family?¡±
¡°Yeah, I wonder where those things even came from,¡± Lincoln said, bringing a finger to his lip. ¡°They looked nothing like a mana beast, and they just appeared inside the city. It was as if they came out of thin air.¡±
Almost as if they were summoned. But that would take a crazy amount of mana, and why would anyone even want that?
¡°Do you think it has anything to do with that tentacle guy?¡± Hector asked. ¡°The one that was fighting the Phoenix Company initiate.¡±
¡°Could do.¡± Lincoln nodded as they turned down a side street. Where was he taking him? ¡°I mean, he had tentacles on his back. The creatures did too, so they might be connected.¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s more than a might. But I wonder how.¡±
Lincoln shrugged. Their sandals clattered rhythmically on the cobblestone as they continued to walk. The streets were becoming less familiar now. But Hector recognised them. If he continued down this road, he would end up in the Hay quarter¡ªnot the best name. It was the area of the slums that was responsible for farming, and it was huge.
¡°Lincoln, where are we going?¡± Hector asked. On the other side of the street, two Farmhands, dressed in their usual green robes, talked to a vendor. They didn¡¯t have a look of arrogance as they talked to the man, and seemed to be getting on well. Hammond¡ªthe Farmhand that had attacked Delworth¡ªand his friends were definitely not normal.
How had they already gained cultivation? These two farmhands didn¡¯t have any. Lincoln smiled at him. ¡°Trust me. I know what you are thinking. But I¡¯m not going to drag you to rob a farm. I just want to show you something.¡±
Hector nodded. What could he have to show him in the Hay quarter that didn¡¯t have to do with trying to rob a farm? Hector wanted to turn around, but after what happened yesterday, he owed Lincoln. No matter what Mirae said; this reality was the one that played out. So, he had to live with its consequences.
The two continued to walk. The tapping on cobblestones became the slapping of dirt. Hector hadn¡¯t been to the Hay quarter before. He¡¯d never needed to. The houses became smaller as they left the Sirius quarter. They also spread out much more. Gardens became more frequent, and Hector even spotted a few chickens clucking around people¡¯s front yards.
They could afford animals around here. Lincoln gave Hector a knowing smile. Was this even considered part of the slums? Hector doubted it. He glanced around, spotting a couple of guards walking down the street. He lowered his gaze. They were not in the slum. Guards rarely patrolled the slums like this.
The guards eyed the two of them. Hector tensed. Would they stop them? The scratching of their feet on the dirt continued. The guards continued. Lincoln chuckled once they were out of earshot, slapping Hector on the back.
¡°They look a lot scarier when they aren¡¯t being torn apart by those creatures,¡± Lincoln said. He grinned, throwing a look over his shoulders. His lips tightened, and he shook his head. ¡°It was crazy, and things have just gotten worse.¡±
¡°Worse? How do you mean?¡± Hector asked. He glanced over his shoulder, squinting against the sunlight. The guards continued to walk down the dirt path.
¡°Yeah. The attack yesterday seems to have them rattled.¡±
¡°The guards?¡± Hector asked, raising an eyebrow. Had they suffered that much?
Lincoln nodded. ¡°I hear they are rounding up people that were near the center of the festival.¡±
¡°How are they doing that?¡± Hector asked. ¡°And wouldn¡¯t that mean that they would be looking for us, too?¡±
¡°Hey, it¡¯s what I heard. I didn¡¯t say it was true.¡± The two of them turned onto a side path. The trees had become more numerous now. They lined the path, choking it, their leaves letting through dappled sunlight. ¡°Besides,¡± Lincoln continued, ¡°we weren¡¯t anywhere near the center. Not really.¡±
¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± Hector said. Glancing up at the canopy, he took a moment to appreciate its colours. The Sirius quarter didn¡¯t have trees¡ªnot ones this big, anyway. He¡¯d need to take some time to visit the Hay quarter more in the future.
Mirae would probably love it around here.
To the side of the path were white and pink flowers. The wind rustled them gently, carrying an aroma that Hector rather liked. He had an urge to stop and pick one, but thought better of it. Mirae would just tell him he was harming the flowers.
He continued to walk, craning his neck. Past a particularly old-looking tree, what looked like a small patch of purple coated the ground. Hector reached to his neck, grabbing his necklace. How had he not been here before?
¡°Hey, Lincoln, look at those,¡± Hector said, pointing to the patch of flowers just past the trees.
Lincoln glanced over and nodded. He didn¡¯t pause, continuing to march on. ¡°They¡¯re nice,¡± he said, glancing back at Hector. A coy smile came to his lips. ¡°What, do you like flowers now or something?¡±
Sighing, Hector dropped his hand. It wasn¡¯t like he hated flowers, but he wouldn¡¯t want any for himself. Though, something about those flowers just struck a chord with him. Mirae would understand. ¡°Nah, I was just thinking my sister would like them.¡±
Hector slowed his pace as Lincoln continued. ¡°Lincoln, can I say something?¡±
The boy glanced over his shoulder and frowned. ¡°Is something wrong? Don¡¯t tell me that our little walk has got you emotional.¡±
Nah, I just feel like I would be sweeping this under the rug if I didn¡¯t say it.
¡°No,¡± Hector said, shaking his head. He glanced off to the side, taking a moment to organise his thoughts. A bird flew by, chirping as it darted through the trees. Hector turned back to Lincoln. ¡°I wanted to apologise for what I put you through yesterday.¡±
Lincoln stopped, smiling as he turned to Hector. ¡°Where is this coming from? Ah, you mean¡ it¡¯s fine, trust me.¡±
Hector raised an eyebrow. Taking a step closer, he searched Lincoln¡¯s face for a trace of a lie. He found nothing. ¡°Really,¡± Hector said, brushing off a fallen leaf on his head. Hector looked up, sunlight blinding him for a second. He turned back to Lincoln. ¡°If I were in your shoes, I would be fuming.¡±
Lincoln laughed and turned back around, waving for Hector to follow. ¡°I was, but I¡¯m over it now. Besides, you¡¯re gonna pay me back?¡±
¡°I am?¡±
Chapter 50: What does it take to change our minds?
Hector stopped. What did he mean by that? If Lincoln was going to use this as a reason to attack the farm, that wasn¡¯t going to work. Hector crossed his arms and squinted. ¡°What are you planning?¡±
Lincoln raised his hands in defence. ¡°Trust me. You started making it up to me the moment you decided you¡¯d follow me.¡±
Hector glanced around, adjusting his sandals in the dirt. Were they not meant to be here? Nothing looked out of place. The trees were normal and there was nothing to stop someone from walking over there.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re good. All I meant was the fact that you are coming with me to have a look means a lot to me.¡±
¡°Hmmm¡ I see.¡± Hector took a deep breath and gestured for Lincoln to continue¡ªhe¡¯d come this far. It was clear where they were going now. But why they were going there was still unclear. If all he had to do was follow Lincoln, then there was no harm in it.
Hector trailed behind Lincoln, admiring the surroundings as they went. The smell of the Hay Quarter was something to be envied. The life of this place. Frowning, Hector¡¯s mind wandered. The Glademoors had no doubt helped to make all this possible. They, much like the Frostkeep family, had an unusual affinity for their aspect. In this case, plants.
Shaking his head, Hector continued to follow. What was it that made them all so special¡ªaside from the years and years of resources piling up in their vaults?
A few moments later, and after forcing their way through some shrubs, Hector and Lincoln stopped by a tree. In front of them, across a small field, stood a barn. It seemed typical for this area¡ªhe and Lincoln had walked past a few on the way over.
Hector gestured towards it with his head. ¡°What am I looking at right now?¡± he asked. Was this why Lincoln was so obsessed with the farm, this barn?
Lincoln¡¯s eyes locked onto it. The sun glimmered across their brown as they didn¡¯t budge. ¡°That¡¯s it, Hector. In that barn are more resources than we would know what to do with.¡±
¡°Lincoln.¡±
¡°No. Listen.¡± Lincoln turned to him and grabbed his shoulder, eyes wide with excitement. ¡°I can tell you, hand on my heart, that in there, there are more than enough resources to pay back your father¡¯s debt twice over.¡±
Hector looked to the ground, focusing on a patch of grass as it swayed in the wind. What if Lincoln was right? If what he said was true and in that barn, there were enough resources to repay his father¡¯s debt, could Hector refuse?
Shaking his head, Hector turned back to Lincoln. ¡°How can you be sure that the resources in there could repay my father¡¯s debt? Did you see something?¡±
Lincoln took a step back, resting himself against a tree and crossing his arms. He looked off to the side and puffed out a breath. ¡°To tell you the truth, I wasn¡¯t too sure. I knew farms were bound to have some wealth. But I could never prove it.¡±
Hector scrunched his brow. He took a step towards the barn but made sure to stay in the tree line. Leaves fell by, some brushing against his face, as the wind blew through the tree branches. Attacking a farm could be dangerous¡ªthough it would be safer than outright pickpocketing.
It just involved a bit more violence. Hector shook his head. He wouldn¡¯t consider it, he couldn¡¯t.
¡°We can¡¯t attack the farm, Lincoln, you know that,¡± Hector said, glancing back at him. He looked him over, wondering what he was thinking. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t even know who owns this farm, or how deeply they¡¯re connected to the Glademoors.¡±
Lincoln scoffed and pushed off the tree, stepping over to stand next to Hector. He watched the barn for a few moments before speaking. ¡°I know who owns that barn. Or at the very least, who works it. Besides, I think you¡¯re forgetting something.¡±
Hector crossed his arms and regarded Lincoln with a critical eye. Where was he going with this?
¡°Are you really sorry about what you did at the festival?¡± Lincoln asked.
¡°You said all was forgiven, Lincoln.¡± Hector¡¯s voice chilled. Was he really going to pull that on him? ¡°You said that me following you here was more than enough.¡±
Lincoln looked off to the side and shrugged, rocking his head from side to side. ¡°I did. And it is. But I feel like this would go a long way to proving it. You know, backing up your words with actions.¡±
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¡°That¡¯s crappy, Lincoln, and you know it.¡±
¡°And you leaving me to a Phoenix Company initiate is just as bad. Maybe a little worse.¡±
Hector¡¯s eyes lowered, focusing on the ground. The grass swayed subtly in the gentle breeze. He¡¯d left him to a fate that could have gone horribly wrong if Lincoln hadn¡¯t been prepared.
But from what Mirae said, Lincoln would have done the same¡ªwhich was seeming more and more true by the minute. Hector shook his head. The two of them couldn¡¯t raid a farm alone, that would be just handing themselves over to the guards.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lincoln said, almost as if he¡¯d heard Hector¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I don¡¯t want the two of us to raid it alone. I want your help to convince our friends. Then we can go from there.¡± Lincoln then raised a finger, stifling the words Hector was about to say.
¡°I know. Jodie won¡¯t even consider it. But there is a reason I brought you here.¡± He moved his finger and pointed it at the barn. ¡°They¡¯re coming now.¡±
Hector watched where Lincoln was pointing. He watched as the barn door burst open, and he watched as two Farmhands dragged out a sack splotched with red. Was it a farm animal? They dragged the sack across the dirt and slumped it down, then stood, waiting for something.
A few minutes later, wheels rolling down the dirt path from the barn, a donkey and a cart appeared. The animal pulled it along, chasing a carrot on a stick, oblivious to its destination. Hector frowned. He recognised the Farmhand with the stick. It was one of the boys he and Lincoln had fought the other day.
Hector turned to Lincoln and raised a brow. Did he know what was going on? Lincoln tapped his finger against his lip and pointed, signalling for him to continue watching.
As the cart drew to a stop in front of the barn, the two Farmhands went forward to greet it. They exchanged words¡ªnone of which Hector could hear. Then the two boys moved to the back of the cart, one of them climbing in.
The boy bent down and dragged something. Hector¡¯s eyes went wide when he saw it. He was dragging a person, gagged and bound. With the help of the second boy, they dragged the person from the back of the cart.
The cart driver hopped off his seat, down onto the dirt, and walked over to the sack the two had carried out of the barn. He hoisted it over his shoulder¡ªhis cultivation making it easy¡ªand walked to the back of the cart. Tossing the body in, he said something to the two boys as they entered the barn with the bound individual. The two of them nodded.
The cart driver then hopped into the driver¡¯s seat and steered the cart back down the dirt road. Hector turned to Lincoln. What had he just witnessed? Were they kidnapping and killing people?
¡°As I said, you won¡¯t have a problem convincing Jodie,¡± Lincoln said with a smile. He dusted a leaf off his shoulder as he stepped back over to the tree. ¡°Whatever is going on in there, it¡¯s not good. But it could also explain how they got their cultivation.¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Hector asked, stepping further into the tree line. A low crack came from above, followed by a thud as a tree branch landed next to him. Hector snapped his head up, looking at where the branch had come from. A squirrel sat munching on something. Hector turned back to Lincoln. ¡°You can¡¯t be talking about what I think you are.¡±
Lincoln¡¯s lips peeled into a crooked smile. ¡°You¡¯re right on the money. I think somehow they are sacrificing those people and gaining power from it.¡± He looked off to the side, shaking his head. ¡°But they are definitely making a profit from it. After all, if they were just strengthening themselves, why would their cultivation be so low?¡°
¡°Lincoln,¡± Hector said, his mouth falling open. ¡°How long have you been watching this?¡±
¡°Since that incident with Hammond,¡± Lincoln said, shrugging. ¡°I got curious. Why would a group of Farmhands want someone like Delworth, and why did they have cultivation?¡±
¡°And you found this out just by watching?¡± Hector asked. How could he just watch and do nothing? ¡°Hadn¡¯t you thought of going to the guards or something?¡±
¡°Oh, come on,¡± Lincoln laughed, pulling a small bag from his pocket. ¡°You think the guards are gonna believe a slum rat like me over some Farmhands? Don¡¯t mess around.¡± Soft crunching came from Lincoln as he began chewing something. ¡°Besides, I saw this as an opportunity¡ªDo you want some?¡± he said, holding out the small cloth bag containing breadsticks.
¡°No,¡± Hector said, waving him off. Part of him was disappointed in his friend, but another part of him saw his reasoning. No guard would believe them over the Farmhands, and if those guys were making a profit, it would be in that barn.
¡°So, what do you say?¡± Lincoln said, crunching on another breadstick. ¡°I think it would be more than worth the shot. And as Jodie likes to say, we would all benefit.¡±
Hector stepped over to a tree, turning and leaning his back against it, biting his lower lip. One thing didn¡¯t add up. If Lincoln didn¡¯t know about this until two days ago, why was he so interested in the farm beforehand?
¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Hector said. ¡°You¡¯ve been talking about the farm since the other day at the dump. You didn¡¯t know about this before, so why were you so interested?¡±
A coy smile appeared on Lincoln¡¯s face. Crunching another breadstick, he shrugged. ¡°I wanted to see what¡¯s inside, and selling a few stolen goods could be easy in the slums. Food is hard to come by, after all.¡±
Hector raised a brow. That had to be one of the dumbest reasons, but somehow also uniquely Lincoln. Hector shook his head, wiping his palms on his trousers and gazing off to the barn. He didn¡¯t have a choice anymore, did he? He owed Lincoln and there were people who needed saving¡ªit was a convenient excuse, but it was the one he would go with.
He lazily turned his head back to Lincoln and let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you convince them.¡± He pushed his back off the tree and rolled his shoulders. ¡°But I don¡¯t make any promises about whether I¡¯ll be able to convince them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s more than alright,¡± Lincoln said, pushing off of the tree. He fished out one more breadstick, placing it between his lips and sliding the cloth back into his pocket. ¡°But I think everyone will come around.¡± He crunched on the breadstick, smiling.
A crack came from the side, followed by the rustling of bushes. Hector¡¯s head snapped to the sound, and there he found a Farmhand walking out of the bushes, staring at them with a look of confusion.
¡°You two shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± he said with a sneer.
Well, damn.
Chapter 51: Why is it just one thing after another?
Eyes shooting to Lincoln, Hector clenched his fist and tensed. How would they play this? They didn¡¯t exactly have a good reason to be standing here just a few paces from a barn, watching. Hector glanced back to the Farmhand, analysing him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [Tough Body [??¡ð] (2/3)]
Talent Fragment: [2-Common]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Well, things had just gotten a little more complicated. Hector went to speak, but Lincoln beat him to it. His friend darted forward, closing the distance between him and the Farmhand in an instant. His fist snapped forward.
The Farmhand jerked back, stepping out of the way, snarling. He raised a fist, and cracked it across Lincoln¡¯s cheek, sending him staggering, stumbling on twigs. That was unexpected. Hector needed to do something.
He darted forward. The Farmhand lowered his stance and snarled again. Did he think it would go the same way? Hector tugged on the [Resonant Shout], feeling the power build in his throat. It swirled to life, pulsing, then exploding out of his mouth.
The air rippled as wave after wave slammed into the Farmhand, dropping him to his knees, clutching his head. Not wasting a moment, Hector closed in and his foot snapped out, slamming onto the Farmhand¡¯s skull, knocking him unconscious.
Well, that went better than I thought it would.
Hector turned his head to Lincoln, who walked over, massaging his cheek. ¡°Got you good, didn¡¯t he?¡± Hector said with a smile.
¡°Yeah, sure did.¡± Holding a hand to his cheek, Lincoln¡¯s eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Hector. ¡°What happened to him just now?¡±
Dropping to a knee, Hector placed two fingers on the boy¡¯s neck, making sure he hadn¡¯t killed him. ¡°What do you mean, I knocked him out?¡± Hector replied. A low pulse beat against his fingertips and Hector got back to his feet. That was good enough.
¡°That¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Lincoln said. ¡°You did something to him just now. I saw it. The way he dropped before you even touched him. What was that?¡±
Ah, crap. I got a little overzealous. But it¡¯s the better option. I¡¯d rather risk Lincoln seeing than attracting more attention to ourselves with a drawn-out fight. But what do I say now?
Hector crossed his arms, taking a breath. ¡°It¡¯s something I want to talk about. But not now, especially not with this,¡± Hector gestured towards the unconscious Farmhand. ¡°We have to deal with him first.¡±
Lincoln frowned, looking off to the side, then shaking his head. Shrugging, he turned back to Hector. ¡°We all have our secrets, and I can¡¯t fault you for that. But I look forward to when you are ready to share.¡±
Hector nodded. Wind ruffled the back of his neck, and he turned his head, searching through the thick foliage. Was this guy alone? He stepped forward, circling the Farmhand. They couldn¡¯t just leave him here. When he woke up, he¡¯d probably head straight to the barn.
¡°We are going to have to bring this guy with us,¡± Hector said, squatting and patting down the Farmhand. There was a chance he might have something on him¡ªeven Hector carried a few coins with him, and who knows? Maybe there was something that could give them a clue about what was going on in that barn.
¡°Huh?¡± Lincoln said, stepping over and looking down at Hector. ¡°What¡¯s the point of that? Can¡¯t we just dump him somewhere like we did with the guy this morning?¡±
¡°And risk him letting them know they were being watched? If you want to hit that place, then we can¡¯t have them know that someone is coming, also it could put the person they just brought inside at risk.¡± Hector said, raising a brow. His hand slipped into the Farmhand¡¯s breast pocket and he pulled out a few, jingling, silver coins.
Lincoln whistled. Hector glanced up at him with a smile, then flicked one coin at Lincoln and slid the other two into his pocket. Whatever they were doing in there, it was profitable. Hector got back to his feet, dusting off his knees, then slapping his hands clean. ¡°So, do you want to carry him, or should I?¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯re the one who wants to bring him with us,¡± Lincoln said, ¡°but we¡¯re going to have to strip him first. The last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves.¡±
Yeah. It¡¯s not like walking through the Hay Quarter with a half-naked Farmhand is going to be any less suspicious.
¡°We can¡¯t go back the way we came,¡± Hector said, stepping over to the boy¡¯s head. Should one of them wear his robes? Then, if asked, they could just say they were taking him to a healer. That might work. Hector turned his head to Lincoln, smiling as he bent down and began undoing his sandals. ¡°I have an idea.¡±
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I should carry him. I need the Talent fragments, and that¡¯s the best way to get them without Lincoln seeing them.
¡°Well, this should be good,¡± Lincoln sighed, shaking his head.
***
After Hector had swapped his clothes with the Farmhand¡¯s, he used the rope that had tightened his trousers to restrain their new hostage. Scooping the boy up, he and Lincoln then moved through the Hay Quarter, sticking to the bushes as much as possible.
It was tough. Many times Hector had gotten the Farmhand¡¯s robes caught on a loose branch. But thankfully avoiding people was actually easy, one because the Hay Quarter was so large and two, because he had the [Street Reader] Talent.
Avoiding people was simple when you knew where they were going to be.
Finally, after a few splats in mud puddles, dirtying the robes, and dropping their hostage a few times, they made it back to the Sirius Quarter and immediately moved into the alleyways. Once there, Hector changed his clothes back, opting to unrestrain the Farmhand, then re-restrain him with fabric torn from the boy¡¯s green robes¡ªthey could have probably found some rope lying around, but they didn¡¯t have the time to go searching.
In the end, the Farmhand sat slumped unconscious against the slick wall of an old house in the alleyway. Black viscous liquid dripped from a hole in the house wall, splashing down into a thick puddle, with a plop, a few feet from the boy.
¡°Should we move him?¡± Lincoln asked, turning his head toward Hector. ¡°I don¡¯t want to pick him up if he¡¯s going to be covered in that stuff.¡±
Hector cringed as the stale smell of urine and something else wafted from the black puddle. He swallowed, pushing down the rising bile and pinching his nose. ¡°Nah, I think he¡¯s already got some on his back. Won¡¯t really make much difference now. Besides, I wasn¡¯t aware you¡¯d be carrying him,¡± he said nasally.
¡°Well, I can¡¯t make you do everything, can I?¡± Lincoln said, taking a few steps down the alleyway, glancing around and frowning. ¡°We are in this together now¡ªHector. I think we might have taken a bad turn.¡±
¡°Is that some guilt I hear in your voice, and what do you mean?¡± Hector glanced around the alleyway. They couldn¡¯t walk the main street with their hostage, that would draw far too much attention to them. So they had chosen the side streets. Hector shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t see much difference between this and anywhere else.¡±
Lincoln sighed, scratching at his sideburns as he stepped back over. ¡°I keep telling you. You need to get out more and talk to people. Staying inside all day cultivating is not good for your social skills and street smarts.¡±
Hector shook his head, rolling his eyes. Unlike Lincoln, who progressed faster in cultivation over the years. Hector actually had to put in the hard work. So he¡¯d have to be forgiven if he could actually prioritize what was important. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Hector asked.
Lincoln crossed his arms. ¡°Not really a problem, just some annoyances we might have to deal with as we continue.¡±
The sound of distant chatter and noise from the main street drifted into the alleyway. So they were in a gang¡¯s territory. Hector shrugged. Minor gangs still carved a small place for themselves in the shadow of the Collar gang¡ªthough it was a pathetic existence, and they only ever targeted those they thought were weak.
¡°Should we head back to the main street?¡± Hector asked, his sandalled feet slapping off the wet stone as he stepped over to the Farmhand. ¡°It could be a¡ª¡±
¡°No, we don¡¯t need to,¡± Lincoln said. His hands hesitated next to his trousers¡¯ pocket. ¡°They¡¯re a problem, but only for your typical mortal. And maybe an untrained cultivator.¡± Lincoln shook his head and tutted, folding his arms. He wanted to eat his breadsticks.
It was probably a good idea to hold off on that, at least until they got somewhere cleaner. A small rat scuttled by, racing to the other end of the alleyway and disappearing around the corner. Hector reached down and grabbed the Farmhand. Heaving him up, battling against the smell, he slumped the boy onto his shoulder¡ªthere was no longer a need for a princess-carry.
I now have the fragments. But I wonder if I¡¯ll have a chance to take the Talent later. I wouldn¡¯t say no to another [Tough Body]
He glanced at the Farmhand¡¯s face, pockmarks scarred its surface. Years of suffering through puberty. It was hard to believe that this guy was involved in someone¡¯s death; he looked so peaceful. But then again, looks could be deceiving.
Adjusting the Farmhand, Hector walked deeper into the alleyway, Lincoln trailing a few feet behind, looking over his shoulder. Was he always this antsy or had sneaking around just made him more paranoid? Hector peeked around the corner as he got to a T junction at the end of the path. It was clear.
¡°The old brewery is this way, right?¡± Hector said, gesturing to the left turn. The smell of rotten fruit and crap tickled his nose. He frowned, lifting his foot, checking he hadn¡¯t stepped into anything. ¡°I hope we aren¡¯t going to be too late.¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s this way,¡± Lincoln said, stepping past Hector.
The two of them continued walking. Only a few words, mostly confirmations of directions as they walked, came from Lincoln. After a while, they pulled up to a rather large courtyard in the back alleys.
It joined up with four different alleyways, each going in a different direction. Hector paused as he stepped into the courtyard. Clotheslines hung from house to house, connecting them like spider webs. The cobblestone jutted up in places, sticking up at awkward angles¡ªthe place needed some repair.
A strange smile came to Lincoln¡¯s lips as he glanced back at Hector, stepping over a small river of brown liquid that flowed by. Ducking under a clothesline¡ªmanoeuvring the Farmhand out of the way¡ªHector searched for what direction they would take next.
¡°Hey, what are you two doing back here?¡± said a bearded man as he stepped under a clothesline, pushing past a scraggy blanket as a door slapped shut behind him. ¡°This area is only for the Rough Rollers. If you ain¡¯t got an invite, I¡¯m gonna need to see some coin.¡±
The man cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders¡ªwas that supposed to be intimidating? The clothesline, draped in scraggy old blankets, flapped behind him. Hector glanced at Lincoln. This wasn¡¯t too bad¡ªit was just one mortal who didn¡¯t know who had just stepped onto their turf.
¡°Listen, sir,¡± Lincoln said, raising his hands. ¡°We are just passing through. There¡¯s no need to turn this into a whole thing¡¡±
Lincoln trailed off as two more men stepped out from underneath the blankets, scowling. To Hector¡¯s right, another two guys stepped out from underneath some more hanging blankets and on his left. One man stood holding open a door as two men walked by him. He followed them a moment later.
Well, this has gotten a little out of hand. How should Lincoln and I split these fools this time?
Lincoln chuckled, glancing back at Hector and shaking his head¡ªit¡¯s not like they didn¡¯t expect this. Hector adjusted the Farmhand on his shoulder, moving over to a wall, dropping to one knee and resting the boy against it. Something dripped nearby, splashing into a puddle.
Hector tapped the Farmhand¡¯s head and hopped to his feet. It looked like this wouldn¡¯t be ending peacefully. ¡°System, scan them all,¡± he whispered.
Chapter 52: Where are we going again?
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: ¡°Unable to find any Talents on any of the targets¡±
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Hector sighed, stepping next to Lincoln and scratching his cheek. The group of men gathered in front of them forming a circle, with the bearded man at the front. Flapping gently on the clothesline, the blankets shook as a light breeze rolled in.
Eight men in total¡ªit would be a nice even split. Lincoln would take four, He¡¯d take four. While they had more muscle than the average slum dweller, they wouldn¡¯t be much of a threat, providing something didn¡¯t happen.
Lincoln nodded to him, then turned back to the man. ¡°You don¡¯t want to do this, friend. We are Mana Cultivators. This won¡¯t end well for you.¡±
The man let out a rancorous laugh, gripping his stomach as his meaty fingers rubbed dirt along his shirt. ¡°Children like you wouldn¡¯t be a match for us, even if you are cultivators,¡± a cruel smile spread across his lips. ¡°We¡¯ve had experience.¡±
What the hell does that mean? Have they just been attacking untrained cultivators?
Hector glanced around at the men that stood in the courtyard. Had they attacked unwitting children in the past? Had they attacked his fellow disciples? He¡¯d heard nothing about that.
¡°Alright, you clearly want to talk this out,¡± the bearded man said. ¡°But I would rather search you, make sure you aren¡¯t hiding anything. Lads, grab them and pick up the sleeping one. If nothing else, he could make some good cannon fodder.¡±
The men stalked forward on his command.
I should give Lincoln the slightly bigger fish this time. It¡¯s only fair.
¡°I take the right. You take the left,¡± Hector whispered to Lincoln. Sizing up the four on his right. At least they took them seriously¡ªsending one or two would have just been an insult.
Lincoln nodded, swiping his thumb across his nose. ¡°Try not to hurt them too badly. We don¡¯t need another Adrian situation.¡±
Oh, come on. That was a bad day. I¡¯m not some psychopath. At least I don¡¯t think I am.
Kicking up loose rocks, Lincoln shot forward, charging towards the four men¡ªincluding their bearded leader¡ªon his left, who went wide-eyed.
Not to be outdone, Hector shot forward. He closed the distance in an instant, leaping off the stone and slamming forward with a double kick. The first man raised his arms, crossing them for a block.
Hector slipped past, slamming one heel into the man¡¯s chest, twisting and swiping the other foot across his jaw. With a snap, the man flopped to the side like a sack of potatoes and bounced off the cobblestone. Though Hector didn¡¯t get to appreciate his work for long.
The second man tackled forward, his shoulder slamming into Hector¡¯s gut, knocking the air from his lungs. Slamming him onto the cobblestone, the man reeled back and threw jab after jab. Hector braced his arms, blocking each blow.
Well, this is getting a little annoying.
Hector made out the third and fourth men, both holding long sticks in their hands. Were weapons really necessary? Though they were fighting cultivators. So it made sense that they¡¯d want some advantage.
Pulling on [Quickening Brace] time slowed to a crawl. Those men were going to start pummeling the moment the one on top of him gave them the opening. That wouldn¡¯t be too good¡ªat least not for Hector.
Well. I was never one to play fair.
He jabbed out at the man¡¯s throat, crunching into it as time snapped back into motion. Hector¡¯s fist then cracked across the man¡¯s jaw, sending the man reeling, as Hector lashed out with two kicks. One to the gut of the third and one to the hand of the fourth.
The rod fell from the fourth¡¯s hand, spinning through the air. Hector snatched it as he pushed off the stone and leapt to his feet. His body moving faster than he could think.
With a dull crack, he brought the rod down onto the head of the fourth man. Spun and ducked. The third man¡¯s stick swung wide, causing the man to stumble forward. Hector moved in a blur.
He slammed the butt of the rod into the man¡¯s gut, causing the man to wince. As he bent over, Hector¡¯s knee was there, cracking into his nose, crushing it and sending the man flopping back, slamming onto the cobblestone like a slab of meat.
Spinning again, he swung his rod, cracking it across the head of the fourth. Sending him crumbling to the ground¡ªnothing more than a pile of splayed-out limbs. Hector spared the second man a glance as the man clung to his throat, trying to breathe.
Stepping over, Hector whipped his foot up and slammed his heel into the man¡¯s head, knocking him unconscious. The first man lay still on the floor, so Hector turned to Lincoln, who held the bearded man by his very beard. The other three men lay unconscious, scattered around him.
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On his knees, the bearded man¡¯s eyes were wide with terror as he stared at Lincoln. ¡°You should have listened to me,¡± Lincoln said, with a carefree smile. ¡°Let this be a lesson. Just because you can beat one Gravity Forging realm cultivator doesn¡¯t mean you should challenge everyone you come across. Some of us pack more of a punch than others.¡±
The man took his eyes off Lincoln for a moment to look at the surroundings, but as he did, Lincoln¡¯s hand whipped out. It cracked into the side of the man¡¯s neck, knocking him unconscious. Lincoln then threw the man to the side, thudding him onto the wet stone.
He landed right in the brown river. Hector cringed slightly as it flowed through the man¡¯s beard.
¡°I gotta say, I was a little excited,¡± Lincoln said, patting Hector on his shoulder. ¡°When they said they¡¯d fought cultivators in the past, I thought this would have been a challenge. But it was only so-so.¡±
Hector regarded the fallen gangsters and shook his head. Who had they attacked in the past? Whoever it was would probably not bring it up. It was rather embarrassing to be beaten by a mortal, especially if you were part of a dojo.
Though I don¡¯t see why. There isn¡¯t much you can do when you get ganged up on. For most people, anyway.
¡°They must have gotten lucky,¡± Hector said, ¡°Though that¡¯s what we are assuming, not everyone is like us.¡±
¡°Is that a little pride I hear from Kamble¡¯s star pupil?¡± Lincoln said, letting out a laugh. ¡°Either way, we should get going.¡±
Hector nodded. The Farmhand was still out cold against the wall. Part of Hector wondered if he was faking¡ªbut what would be the point of that?
He bent down and scooped him over his shoulder, adjusting him to make sure he didn¡¯t fall off. Hector scrunched his nose as an unspeakable stink crawled up it. A rat scurried by, splashing through thick black puddles and darting out of sight.
They needed to find somewhere better to put this guy when they placed him down. It should have been bearable, but somehow the smell was getting worse.
¡°Oi,¡± Lincoln called.
Hector turned, ducking under a blanket and frowning as Lincoln stood in the middle of the courtyard, shaking his head. ¡°What happened?¡± Hector asked, adjusting the Farmhand on his shoulder.
¡°The idiot wasn¡¯t as knocked out as I¡¯d thought he was,¡± Lincoln said, biting his lower lip. A look of annoyance flashed across his features. ¡°And he held his face in the crap river for so long. How did he do that without gagging?¡±
Hector¡¯s gaze snapped to where the bearded man had once been. So he wasn¡¯t unconscious. ¡°Did you hold back or something?¡± Hector asked, stepping next to Lincoln, his gaze lingering on the direction the bearded man had fled.
¡°No, I hit him good and proper. He must have had a thicker skull than I¡¯d realised.¡± Lincoln said, shaking his head.
¡°Well, it¡¯s not our problem anymore,¡± Hector shrugged his free shoulder. ¡°Which way is it now?¡±
¡°No, but it is our problem. Guys like that will definitely want revenge.¡± Lincoln dragged a blanket out of the way as he headed down an alleyway. Hector was close behind. ¡°Now, if he¡¯d stayed on the ground, that could have shown that he didn¡¯t want any more trouble. But as it is, he could be watching us. Or have someone else watch us while he goes and gets reinforcements.¡±
Hector stepped over another small river running across the alleyway, this time filled with black liquid rather than brown. ¡°You think he¡¯ll come back for another beating?¡±
Lincoln glanced back and nodded. ¡°Idiots like him always do.¡± Lincoln waved his hand dismissively in the air. ¡°You would know this if you left your house and spent more time in the streets¡ªlike me.¡±
¡°I love you, Lincoln,¡± Hector said, smirking, ¡°But when it comes to life choices, I think I¡¯ll stick to my gut. I mean, how often is it that you miss practice at the dojo?¡±
Lincoln fell silent and hopped over a collapsed crate. Laughing, Hector shook his head.
¡°Besides,¡± Hector said, throwing a glance over his shoulder. The alleyway was quiet. A dull noise from the central street flittered in, but nothing but dripping of rotten liquids and the smell of filth greeted him. ¡°We can just keep our heads on a swivel. If we spot anything suspicious, we can deal with it when it pops up.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad,¡± Lincoln said, falling in line with him. The boy threw a glance over his shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll catch up for a while. So I¡¯d say keep an eye on the windows.¡±
Hector glanced up at the houses and their open windows. Many of them were open¡ªonly the heavens knew how, with the stink of this place. It was worse than Digby Street. He adjusted the Farmhand on his shoulder.
In one window, a young woman sat, with her cheek resting on her palm, her thin arm propped up on the window frame. She didn¡¯t look like she was watching them, just staring out at the world¡ªif she was anything like the average slum dweller, she was waiting for the hunger to end.
The two of them continued to walk through the winding alleyways, occasionally backtracking to make sure they weren¡¯t being followed. Lincoln and Hector shared very few words during this time. They had wordlessly come to the agreement that it was better to stay focused on not bringing too much trouble down onto their heads.
Hector and Lincoln did swap from time to time. With Lincoln hoisting the Farmhand over his shoulder and looking rather uncomfortable doing it. But in the end, he¡¯d said he didn¡¯t want Hector doing all the work, and Hector was more than happy to let him help.
They had to stop at one point. Some hooligan decided that the afternoon was a good time to try to rob someone in a dark alley¡ªthough Hector couldn¡¯t say the man wasn¡¯t an opportunist.
He just picked the wrong time.
Hector gave the mugger a dirt nap and sent the victim swiftly on his way. The delay was minimal, with little fanfare. They kept their eyes about them until they pulled up to the end of the last alleyway.
Hector watched as Lincoln paused, resting a hand on the tattered stone of a house. He braced against it, looking back at Hector. ¡°Well, this is it.¡±
Hector sighed, adjusting the Farmhand on his shoulder as he took in the sight outside of the alleyway. A large, decrepit building loomed tall in front of him. The old brewery. Its roof was partially collapsed, ravaged by time. Large, aged, and rotted wooden tankards poked through the side of it.
¡°Took us long enough,¡± Hector said, stepping next to Lincoln. ¡°Do you think¡ª¡±
¡°You and your group better get out of here, lad, unless you want a beating.¡±
Hector paused, his head snapping towards the voice. Outside the alleyway, a few feet from the entrance of the brewery. A large, weathered man stood with a group of others, dwarfing those around him. He had a scar on his left eye and was dressed in leather armour. He wouldn¡¯t look out of place among a mercenary group.
Hector¡¯s eyes went wide when he saw one in particular. Standing not too far from the large man. The bearded man stood, his eyes shifting around nonstop. Next to him, with a calm expression, a brown-haired man with a lazy eye rested a hand on his shoulder and whispered something.
The bearded man¡¯s head dropped.
¡°Well, it seems they knew where we were going,¡± Lincoln said, dragging a palm down his face. ¡°Figures. At least Jodie is already here.¡±
Chapter 53: Do you actually know how to fight?
A cool wind subtly blew by Hector¡¯s neck, ruffling his white hair. He bounced the Farmhand on his shoulder, eyes scanning the area.
How had the man gotten here before them? Did they somehow work out which direction they were going in and plan ahead? That was a lot of foresight, and from their short meeting, Hector assumed that it wasn¡¯t something the bearded man could do.
But what did this leather-bound man gain from being here? He couldn¡¯t just want to help an ally; gangs weren¡¯t typically that close. System scan him.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Acquiring target stats¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///
Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
///
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°Mana Cultivator,¡± Hector mumbled under his breath. He threw a glance at Lincoln. The boy shrugged. Hector sighed. ¡°Well, we knew this could happen when he got away. And it¡¯s only¡ª¡±
Lincoln¡¯s finger shot up, pressing them against his own lips, shushing Hector. ¡°Last time we said that, a bunch of them poured out of nowhere. We shouldn¡¯t jinx it.¡±
How superstitious. Next, he¡¯s going to blame it on the underwear that he¡¯s wearing.
Hector adjusted the Farmhand on his shoulder and walked forward. ¡°Come on then. There is no point in delaying it. Besides, who knows? It might not turn into a fight.¡±
Lincoln rolled his eyes and followed behind¡ªso much doubt.
Hector walked over. The afternoon sun had slowly begun its descent. The old abandoned brewery drew long shadows, sticking to the houses that made up this back street.
One man from the group looked over and frowned, tapping the person next to him on the shoulder. The person also frowned and did the same next to him until it reached the leather-bound man.
¡°Ah, great, more people have turned up. What is this, a children¡¯s home?¡± He said, resting one hand on his hip. The man brought a finger to his mouth and picked at something. ¡°Are these more friends of yours?¡±
Jodie turned as the man gestured behind her. That was a mistake, which thankfully the man didn¡¯t use to sneak a punch. ¡°Hector, Lincoln,¡± she said, a smile blooming on her face. It faded as her eyes locked onto Hector¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±
Well, this is going to be fun to explain. But it seems like I¡¯ll at least have some time to figure it out.
¡°I¡¯ll tell you in a sec,¡± Hector said, stopping just behind her. Standing next to a side wall, looking rather bored, Emela and Nyx watched on. Hector waved at them.
Emela waved back, pushing off the wall and making her way over, Nyx following behind.
The leather-bound man flinched as they approached, reflexively taking a slight step back. Most seemed not to notice, but it was clear as day to Hector. The man had some experience. At the very least, he knew these two were stronger than him.
¡°So, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Hector said, crunching a piece of glass beneath his sandals, as he bounced the Farmhand to a comfortable position on his shoulder.
¡°These guys told us we have to pay up. Or leave,¡± Jodie said, her head snapping towards the man. Her eyes were fierce and filled with accusation. ¡°But I told him you can¡¯t just claim this place.¡±
I mean, there is no rule saying they can¡¯t.
From the corner of his eye, Hector watched as the bearded man hobbled over and whispered something into the leather-bound man¡¯s ear. The man¡¯s face contorted into a sneer, and he locked eyes with Hector.
¡°You are the one that ambushed John and his boys. Brave,¡± the leather-bound man said, shaking his head. He tapped the bearded man¡¯s¡ªJohn¡¯s¡ªshoulder and shoved him back in line. ¡°What were you looking to take my supply of Ham?¡±
Huh. While that sounds like it would be really good to eat. I wouldn¡¯t even have anywhere to keep it. I don¡¯t have a freezing array.
The man must have found the look on his face unconvincing as he sneered. ¡°These Ham pills are difficult to come by. Very few people can hold deals with the Collar gang like we do. So I would back off unless you want trouble on your head.¡± The man¡¯s eyes flickered to Emela and Nyx.
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¡°Huh? I thought you were talking about meat.¡± Lincoln said, scratching the back of his neck.
Marcus shook his head. He brought a finger to his lip in thought and nodded, figuring something out. ¡°I¡¯d heard a customer mention it the other day in my dad¡¯s store. It¡¯s apparently a pill that¡¯s quite good for increasing your cultivation, but it¡¯s hard to get, and only a desperate idiot would take it.¡± Delworth nodded in agreement.
Marcus flinched back as he noticed the glare from the leather-bound man. ¡°Watch what you say, twerp. I¡¯m going easy on you.¡±
Ah, the Collar gang. Why am I not surprised? I wonder how Marcus¡¯ dad is doing. I¡¯ll have to ask him when this farce is done.
¡°It was self-defence,¡± he glanced at John, ¡°I didn¡¯t attack you,¡± Hector said, resting the Farmhand down on the floor. Thankfully, this time it was relatively clean. He stepped in front of the leather-bound man. ¡°We¡¯re paying you. So you can get lost or¡¡± Hector threw a gaze at John.
¡°You got a big mouth twerp,¡± the leather-bound man said, cracking his knuckles. He threw a quick look at John. Wetting his lips. ¡°You attacked someone, under my protection, and that won¡¯t slide. He tells me you¡¯re a cultivator. So how about a spar? You win. We get out of your way. But if I win, you leave all your valuables behind.¡±
Ah crap, we are carrying the loot from the festival. Dammit. But you know what? It should be fine. I¡¯ll just¡
¡°The ladies can¡¯t fight,¡± the leather-bound man said, interrupting Hector¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m a gentleman, you see.¡±
Hector resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Did he take them for fools? He just didn¡¯t want to get stomped out by Emela or Nyx. Coward.
¡°Alright,¡± Hector said, shaking his head. He dusted off his hands¡ªnot that they were really dirty and gestured to the side. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. It¡¯s just a spar. As long as you stick to your word, that is.¡±
The leather-bound man and John shared a glance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m well-respected and a man of my word.¡± Sniggers erupted from his men. ¡°Shut it, you idiots. You wouldn¡¯t recognise class if it hit you over the head.¡±
The man waved a bejewelled hand dismissively and followed Hector into an open space. They stopped a few feet from the group, facing each other.
¡°So any rules for this spar?¡± Hector asked.
¡°I¡¯d imagine no weapons since it is only a spar,¡± Emela said, stepping in between Jodie and Lincoln. A window in one of the houses that made up this back, street slammed shut. Emela didn¡¯t blink. ¡°But that¡¯s just a suggestion.¡±
¡°No. Nothing like that,¡± the man said. He gave her a strained smile before turning back to Hector. ¡°All I ask is that no one else gets involved. We wouldn¡¯t want this turning into an all-out brawl.¡± He gave Hector a toothy smile.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Delworth asked Marcus.
Marcus shrugged, glancing from Emela to the man.
¡°I¡¯m game,¡± Hector said. The man was up to something, but whatever it was, Hector was pretty sure he could handle it.
If he plans to ambush me with another wooden stick. He will be in for a rude awakening. I should have kept the stick I used on those other guys. Damn.
¡°So,¡± the man said, combing his fingers through his short brown hair. ¡°Are you ready to get this show on the road?¡±
I should feel him out first. If this guy is or was a mercenary, he¡¯s not going to be easy to deal with. Especially given I¡¯m a minor realm in cultivation behind. So a warm-up it is.
¡°More than ready,¡± Hector said, dragging his tongue across his bottom lip.
A subtle breeze blew through, ruffling their clothes, and when it stopped, the two of them cracked forward like a whip, kicking up loose chunks of stone.
Hector threw two quick jabs, one at the gut. Blocked. And one at the liver. Blocked. The man smiled, snapping a fist towards Hector¡¯s side.
It was a feint. No point blocking, Hector could practically smell him gearing up for the second one. He took a step back, sucking in his stomach, eyeing the man¡¯s other fist. Which proved to be wise.
It whistled forward. Hector ducked underneath the blow. He stepped forward, jerking away from the man¡¯s elbow, arriving at his side. Hector jabbed a fist into the man¡¯s rib, the blow thudding against his armour.
The man let out a roar and spun wildly. Hector jumped back. It was a good hit, but not where he¡¯d wanted it. Just a bit lower and he would have hit the less guarded area. The man seemed to know this.
¡°You¡¯re good,¡± he snarled.
And you aren¡¯t nearly as tough as I thought.
Hector darted forward, sweeping under a jab and blocking a kick. He stepped back, the man raining blow after blow on Hector¡¯s raised forearms. The fight¡¯s intensity had increased. Hector ducked, sweeping his leg out to hook the man¡¯s ankle.
He jumped.
Hector smiled. Power exploded through his legs. He snapped up, fist slamming straight into the man¡¯s gut, knocking him back. But the man, not even flinching, shot back at Hector, like a boomerang. Slamming his knee forward.
Hector crossed his arm. Pain exploded like a wave of heat as he staggered back, crunching stone beneath his sandals. Even as he steadied himself, the man was at his side. He swung a jab. Hector dodged, slipping away like a hot knife through butter.
Veins on the man¡¯s neck, black and pulsating, bulged as his eye became slightly red. Hector drew in a sharp breath. What was going on here? He¡¯d heard of people getting too into a fight, but this was a bit too much.
His movements are becoming a lot more aggressive. A little erratic even. I should draw him in more; with that rage, I doubt he¡¯s going to be thinking too clearly. But something is wrong; I¡¯ll need to end this soon.
Hector shot forward, the man following suit. He swung, going high. So Hector slipped to the side, jerking out of the way as the man clawed at him. He drew a sharp breath and channelled the Orion Fist technique.
Fist after fist rained down onto the man¡¯s shoulder, back, and rib, peppering it with low thuds. The leather blocked most of them, but not all. The man let out a roar, slipping past one of Hector¡¯s blows.
He slammed forward with his shoulder.
Pain exploded through Hector¡¯s chest. His feet left the floor, then air was forced out of his lungs as he smacked his back onto the cobblestone. He¡¯d perhaps drawn him in a bit too close.
The man let out a roar. Saliva trickled from the side of his mouth as his head snapped down and his eyes locked onto Hector.
¡°He hasn¡¯t fully digested the pills,¡± a voice mumbled from the side. Hector couldn¡¯t spare the time to see who had said that¡ªand it didn¡¯t really matter.
Hector resisted the urge to laugh. It made sense why Marcus said they were desperate idiots.
Hector jumped to his feet and leapt to the side, slamming onto his shoulder as he rolled out of the way. The leather-bound man tore past, skidding to a stop and charging at him again.
The air whistled as his hand swiped by Hector¡¯s head. The man¡¯s fist shot forward and slammed straight into Hector¡¯s gut. But the expected pain didn¡¯t come. Instead, a tug pulled at the back of Hector¡¯s mind. [Hearty Body] had activated.
Leaping back, narrowly evading a grab for his throat, Hector skidded across the stone. Watching as a cruel smile spread across the leather-bound man¡¯s lips. His hand slipped to a holster at his side and, with a click, he pulled free a small knife.
Well, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m too surprised. Though, this gives me a way to end things quickly.
Chapter 54: What do you fear?
Hector stood across from the man, studying his features. The reddened eyes¡ªborderline bleeding if they got any worse, and the man¡¯s blackened veins that trailed up his neck like vines. They pulsated underneath his skin like a colony of worms digging through his flesh.
A bird called overhead, its cry shrill and grating. Hector¡¯s eyes flickered to the knife in the man¡¯s grip. The blade was short, its edge sharp. Not something a regular slum dweller would have access to¡ªIf they were lucky, a sharpened metal rod would be all they¡¯d get. This man was not ordinary.
But then, what was he doing here? Perhaps a mercenary that couldn¡¯t quite cut it in the wilds. So, he pathetically came to the slums to carve out a small slice of pie with his meagre resources.
It didn¡¯t matter in the end.
He¡¯s working with the Collar gang. Or at least he¡¯s buying from them, while that doesn¡¯t make him guilty. It¡¯s still a little annoying. But I¡¯m not going to lose control again. I can¡¯t afford to, especially not now.
The man charged forward, teeth bared and knife held at his side. In his blind rage, he instantly cut the distance between him and Hector. The knife slashed through the air with a sharp hiss.
Hector jerked to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. But another slash angled for his throat. He dived out of the way, rolling on his shoulder and hopping to his feet. He swivelled, dodging to the side as the knife cut through where he¡¯d stood seconds before.
He couldn¡¯t keep dodging. His chest heaved as his lungs burned. But unlike him, the man appeared unfazed, the rage in his eyes not dying down one bit. If anything, it grew.
Another miss, and another dodge. Hector stumbled to the side, his chest rising and falling. He could smell the opportunity coming. With each swing, the man left himself that much more open, as rage built.
¡°Is that all you can do, boy? Run. Run and hide. You¡¯re weak,¡± the man roared, charging at Hector.
And there it was. Hector charged forward, reaching into his mind and pulling on the thrum of power that waited within. Electrical energy buzzed down his leg, snaking through his muscles like lighting as he activated [Spark Capacitor].
His legs blurred, the world almost shifting by as he shot past the man, circling to his back. He stepped to the side as the man spun, slicing the blade along with him, its edge biting into Hector¡¯s arm, cutting a layer of flesh.
But Hector bit back the pain. It was a necessary sacrifice.
Hector¡¯s leg whipped up, even as the leather-bound man¡¯s arm continued past. He then slammed his heel down, cracking it onto the man¡¯s collarbone¡ªjust above the armour¡ªwith a crunch, staggering him. As the man stumbled back, Hector reached forward and grabbed his wrist, twisting.
The knife slipped free. Hector ducked under the man¡¯s arm, snatching it from the air. Leaping off the ground, he twisted and kicked backwards. His foot crunched into the man¡¯s nose.
He staggered again. Hector was on him in moments, propelled by the electricity buzzing through his legs. He slammed the butt of the knife onto the man¡¯s head with a crunch, then lept into the air, slamming his heels with two quick thuds into the man¡¯s chest.
The blows took the man off his feet, sending him slamming into the cobblestone. Crows called overhead. He didn¡¯t get back up.
Hector lowered his stance and waited. But nothing happened. Murmurs came from behind him. No one moved.
¡°I-Is he dead?¡± Marcus asked. It was a good question, but not one Hector was about to check himself.
A man with brown, scruffy hair stumbled forward. He had a lazy eye that drifted to the side as he shakily walked over to his leader. He glanced at Hector, but shrank back as he made eye contact. Was he that scary?
I suppose they just watched me dispatch someone they feared. And if I can do that to him, they are probably wondering what I can do to them. Though some of them should know that already.
Hector turned his head, gazing back at the crowd. The John¡ªthe bearded man¡ªhad slunk off at some point. Perhaps he could see where this was going and didn¡¯t want to stay for another beating. Not that Hector had planned to hurt him.
Emela stepped forward, Nyx a pace behind. ¡°That was a splendid fight. You handled yourself well,¡± she said. Her eyes flickering to the knife in his grasp, a flash of emotion passed through them. ¡°I take it you are going to be keeping that?¡±
Hector held the knife up, its blade glinting in the afternoon rays. It was a splendid make¡ªas far as his slum self was concerned. Back on earth, it would probably need to be sharpened for a good three days.
¡°I think I will,¡± He said, lowering the knife.
A sigh of relief caught his attention. He looked over at the lazy-eyed man, who knelt next to his leader with a small smile. ¡°He¡¯s just unconscious,¡± the man said. ¡°A pill or two when he wakes up should do the trick.¡±
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Hector stepped over, squinting down at the man. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking this,¡± he said, holding the knife up, ¡°and the holster. Also, mind if I see this pill you are talking about.¡±
Something had enraged the leather-bound man. Hector had a strong hunch that it was the Ham pills that the man had mentioned earlier. If that was the case, he could take one too.
The lazy-eyed man looked from him to the crowd behind. He gulped, a trickle of sweat crawling down the side of his brow. The man¡¯s eyes lingered on the crowd for a moment, his eyes seemingly pleading for someone to help.
¡°B-But you only wanted the brewery. You said we could leave if we lost,¡± he said. The man¡¯s body shook. It was as if each word had taken some strength to say.
¡°Hector, I¡¯d advise against using those pills,¡± Emela said, brushing one of her two ponytails over her shoulder. ¡°If that¡¯s what it does to someone, you would be a fool to take it.¡±
¡°S-She¡¯s right,¡± the lazy-eyed man stammered.
Well, I have something he doesn¡¯t, so I¡¯d be more than fine. Not like I¡¯m going to tell them that, though.
¡°I just want to see it all. It¡¯s better to know what these things look like,¡± Hector said. He gestured to the holster with his eyes, and the lazy-eyed man began undoing it. ¡°So?¡±
As the lazy-eyed man went to speak, a roar came from behind. The bearded man slammed through the crowd, throwing Delworth to the side like a slab of meat, and lunging toward Hector with a long sharpened wooden rod.
Its tip glinted in the sun. But before the man could close the distance, Lincoln was there. His legs swept out, taking the bearded man off his feet. Even as the man fell, Lincoln spun and plucked the rod from his hand.
He whipped his leg up, and with a crack, slammed his heel into the man¡¯s back, causing the man to bounce off the cobblestone with a thud. Flopping still a moment later, he lay unmoving.
¡°Well. I¡¯ll give him that. He¡¯s kind of brave, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lincoln looked around the crowd with an expectant eye.
A few of the men let out murmurs of agreement, more out of fear than anything. Hector shook his head. Twice today, they¡¯d crushed the man. Hopefully, this lesson would stick.
¡°So, about my pills,¡± Hector said, turning his head back to the lazy-eyed man. He held the holster up with shaky hands, eyes darting around. He wanted to run. Hector couldn¡¯t blame him. It really wasn¡¯t their day.
¡°Y-Yes,¡± He said, as Hector took the holster from him. The man then placed a shaky hand into his breast pocket and pulled out three black pills. Their surface swirled with red lines, like little red snakes swimming through blacked water. ¡°This is all I have.¡±
That¡¯s all you have, but what about everybody else? But no, I don¡¯t know whether these pills will work with my Talent. So there is no point hoarding a bunch.
Hector plucked the pills from the man¡¯s hand and slipped them into his trouser pocket. He then secured the holster around his waist, moving the coin pouches to the side as he slid the holster¡¯s strap above the rope that held his trousers in place.
¡°You know, you can all leave now?¡± He said, raising a questioning brow at the small crowd of gang members that continued to watch.
At his words, they all burst into motion. Some slipped into the alleyways, not looking back, while others picked up their leader and the bearded man. Hobbling into the back alleys like defeated dogs.
¡°What are you planning to do with those?¡± Lincoln asked, gesturing his head toward Hector¡¯s pocket as he stepped over.
¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I just wanted to see them at first. But now I think I might sell them. Who knows,¡± Hector said. Though he didn¡¯t fully commit himself to that plan. He¡¯d seen what it could do to a person. He didn¡¯t want to be the one to put that kind of burden on them.
¡°You¡¯d better not take that,¡± Jodie said, crossing her arm. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to take you as a serious rival if you use cheap methods that drive you insane. It¡¯s pathetic.¡±
Hector chuckled. Marcus grunted as he helped Delworth to his feet, the boy not minding at all that he¡¯d been thrown to the side. Hector shrugged and turned his head towards the brewery. There was no point fussing over Delworth. The boy hadn¡¯t even reacted much when his arm was broken.
The large, heavy wooden doors to the abandoned brewery loomed in front of them. Chips and splinters marred their surface. One-half of the doors looked like they would crumble. The termite-infested surface wanted to fall at any minute.
But that could be said for most houses in the slums. ¡°Alright,¡± Hector said, turning his head back to the group. ¡°Let¡¯s count up the festival earnings. Me and Lincoln also have something to discuss.¡±
The group walked into the abandoned brewery. Their footsteps bounced off the decayed walls and echoed off into the sky. Dust drifted through the air, lazy and calm. Stirred only by the movement of people as they walked by.
Large rotting beams held up what remained of the roof, though many of them held up nothing at all. While others lay broken across the floor toward the back of the brewery, termites infesting their corpses.
Time had not been kind to this building. And yet it still stood. The walls, while rotting, still stood. The beams while corroding still stood. It was a testament to the effort put in by the builders.
¡°This place is terrible.¡±
Hector¡¯s head snapped to Delworth. The boy looked around, scoffing as he patted the dust off of the arm of his blazer. Not one ounce of reverence in his eyes. Did he not see how crazy it was that this place was even standing?
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s bad. It probably should have been knocked down a while ago,¡± Marcus said, nodding. The boy held his hands close to his chest, careful not to touch anything. He was like a clean freak walking through a trash pile.
Some people just don¡¯t know how to appreciate a good thing. Not that I can blame them. If either of these two had been near the dump, they would probably collapse.
Jodie, shaking her head, stepped past Hector. ¡°We need something to count on. Look for a table or something.¡± Near one of the large beams that held up the roof was a cluster of boxes. Jodie, noticing them, grabbed one, pulling it free with a crack.
The box fell apart in her hand. Wood chunks splintered into the dirt, crumbling into a pile on her feet. A rat scooted by, its skinny legs skittering across the floor as it dived into a shadow. Hector shook his head, turning his head and smiling at Emela.
She nodded, letting out a small chuckle. She no doubt understood the beauty of the building, and the time it had weather. Plus, with her uncanny ability to stay clean, a bit of dust wouldn¡¯t bother her.
A sharp crack came from the side wall. Hector¡¯s head snapped towards the sound. Lincoln, with a bright smile on his face, crashed through box after box as he skipped down a stack of them. How had he even gotten up there?
With a final faint thump, Lincoln landed on his feet at the base of the stack. Wooden splinters and dust swirled all around as he gripped a sturdy, large plank of wood above his head.
¡°I found something,¡± he said. A proud look adorning his features.
Hector¡¯s eyes went wide. A sturdier-looking crate tumbled behind Lincoln, down the now pile of broken wood. Crunching as it went, before slamming into one of the large wooden brewing towers that ran along the wall, hitting it like it was a bowling pin.
Wood groaned as Hector tensed.
Chapter 55: Can you forgive something like that?
Hector¡¯s eyes went wide as the tower leaned to the side. One of the wooden legs holding the tower popped, sending wood spitting across the dirt before it split clean in half. The brewing vat groaned as it pitched forward.
A rush of wind accompanied its fall as Hector¡¯s hair whipped around him; the tankard slammed into the floor, exploding into a shower of debris and large splinters of wood. The rotten smell of aged ale slithered through the air.
Marcus gagged, leaning on Delworth, whose eyes were wide with wonder. Hector was unimpressed. A slight tinge of annoyance bubbled in his chest. He clenched his fist, his head snapping to Lincoln.
¡°What in the name of the great lake is wrong with you, Lincoln?¡± He yelled, his voice twinging. ¡°Do you have any idea how old that is? It¡¯s been here longer than any of us, and you did that to it.¡± Hector pointed a trembling finger at the ruins of the tankard.
¡°Sorry,¡± Lincoln said. His cheeks, quickly gathering dust, went red.
¡°Wasn¡¯t it going to fall, anyway?¡± Delworth asked. He rested one hand on Marcus¡¯ shoulder while using the other to rub his back. ¡°Keep it in. You¡¯ll become dehydrated if you throw up.¡±
Marcus fanned his hand, taking deep breaths as he slowly turned towards Hector. ¡°It should have fallen a long time ago. If anything, this place is slightly safer now. Why does it matter that it was old?¡±
How can these two not see the history that has just been lost? Did they not care about the things that would be lost? You know what, never mind.
Hector set his jaw. Emela, standing next to him, shook her head with exasperation while Nyx, who stood just behind, was as calm as ever. It was sad, but what was done was done. No one else seemed to care about it.
Jodie stalked over to Lincoln, crunching over wooden splinters¡ªthe old ones now joined with the new ones they had created. She snatched the large wooden plank from Lincoln. ¡°Give me that, before you break the one useful piece we¡¯ve found, you idiot.¡±
She moved it under her arms, her nails biting into its surface to secure it in her grip. It looked like someone trying to carry a foldable garden table, only with a lot more ease.
¡°You know what, let¡¯s just get the coins counted,¡± Hector said, massaging his forehead and gesturing to an open spot on the dirt. Jodie huffed, placing the plank on the floor as best she could without breaking it.
¡°As I said outside, Lincoln and I also have something to talk about,¡± Hector said as they all gathered around the board. Lincoln gave Hector an appreciative nod. Not that he needed to. They¡¯d already agreed on how this was going to go.
¡°Not a problem, I hope,¡± Emela said, meeting Hector¡¯s gaze.
He shook his head, then reached for the pouches at his belt. His fingers played with the strings as he spared a glance at the pouches the others pulled out. There wasn¡¯t as much as he¡¯d thought there would be.
Is this going to be enough? If it isn¡¯t, Lincoln¡¯s plan might be the only chance I have left.
¡°Here¡¯s ours,¡± Jodie said. Several small pouches thumped onto the wooden board.
¡°And ours,¡± Emela said, throwing one pouch onto the board. It thumped with a clink. They mustn¡¯t have had a good time of it.
Hector resisted the urge to sigh.
Lincoln threw his down, and Hector threw his own. With four soft thuds, the pouches clinked next to each other. Hector couldn¡¯t help it. A sigh passed through his lips. His head hung as he dropped to one knee and began opening the pouches.
¡°I kinda had to do the actual taking part by myself,¡± Jodie said, crossing her arms. Hector raised an eyebrow and glanced up at her. She shrugged and gestured towards Delworth and Marcus. ¡°These two were useless to the point of almost being a danger. Delworth even went up to someone and just asked if he could pickpocket them.¡± She shook her head and sighed.
¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad for us,¡± Emela said, jerking her head towards Nyx. ¡°She did most of it, if I¡¯m honest. I didn¡¯t really know what I was doing.¡±
Makes sense. Somehow, I can¡¯t imagine Emela actually doing much. I should have known she would struggle with that. I¡¯m glad that Nyx was there. Then again¡ªwhen isn¡¯t Nyx nearby?
Hector picked up the coin pouches, spilling their contents over the board. The coins bounced off each other with satisfying clinks. Hector raised a hand to his mouth, rubbing at his cheeks. It wasn¡¯t looking good.
Glancing up at each of them, he jerked his head at Lincoln. ¡°It went well for us. Well, until the Phoenix company showed up. Then I had to save Mirae.¡±
¡°What?¡± they all said in unison. Lincoln shrugged.
¡°Is she an Idiot? What was she doing, outside?¡± Jodie asked
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¡°Jodie!¡± Emela hissed.
¡°What?¡± Jodie replied. ¡°That was something stupid to do. I mean, didn¡¯t you hear what he just said? The Phoenix company was there. They almost caught her.¡±
¡°It was the guards that almost caught her, actually,¡± Lincoln said, smiling at Jodie.
Hector shot a glare at him. Did he need to aggravate her? As for what Jodie said, Hector couldn¡¯t blame her. That was just how she was, and she didn¡¯t exactly know why Mirae had left the stall. But he couldn¡¯t exactly tell her.
I don¡¯t even know if I should tell them. I¡¯m going to need to come up with a plausible excuse at some point.
Hector picked up a silver coin off the board. The afternoon light flickered off it as he held it up in the air. He glanced back down at the board. There weren¡¯t many of these. Most of them seemed to be bronze. It wasn¡¯t looking good.
He jolted¡ªhadn¡¯t he had another pouch? His hand shot to his waist as he fumbled for it. Where had he last¡ªthe shed!
You¡¯re kidding me. I can¡¯t believe that I left it in the damn shed. If I hadn¡¯t gotten so worked up with Dad¡ oh no, Dad. What if he finds it? How am I going to explain this to him? I¡¯m such an idiot.
¡°Everything alright, Hector?¡± Emela asked, tilting her head to the side. She shifted on her feet as she regarded him.
Hector nodded, his heart hammering in his chest. He let out a breath, feeling it as it left his lungs. He¡¯d have to deal with that problem later. ¡°It¡¯s all fine. I¡¯m just a little worried about the amount is all,¡± He said, glancing down at the rest of the coins. A crate clattered behind him, followed by squeaking. Hector shook his head; there were about seventeen silver coins.
A bunch of bronze made up most of the pile. But they would hardly amount to much. Maybe one silver if he was lucky.
¡°What do you mean?¡± She asked, crouching down to his level. A frown flickered across Nyx¡¯s features, but Hector paid it no mind. Emela brushed a loose strand of pale blond hair behind her ear. ¡°Do you not think this will be enough? How much more do you think you will need?¡±
Hector shook his head, raising a hand and combing it through his white hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, ¡°but a lot more than this.¡±
They all fell quiet. The sound of dripping water on some far-off wall filled the silence. Stale ale and the rancid smell of rotten wood drifted in, and Marcus¡¯ nose scrunched as his face paled a little.
I don¡¯t know the size of my dad¡¯s debt. But I doubt the collar gang would be this riled up over anything less than a couple of gold. So this seventeen, plus the three I got from the Farmhand over there¡ It¡¯s not gonna cut it.
The boy lay against one of the large pillars that held up what remained of the brewery¡¯s roof. He was still unconscious. At this point, Hector was a little worried he was in a coma, but he doubted it. That could only mean one thing.
Well, I can deal with him after the count is done. It will tie in well with what Lincoln and I have to say¡ªand probably smooth things over as well.
The group had wordlessly agreed to talk about their hostage after the count. Hector was thankful for that.
Lincoln¡¯s plan might actually be the only way forward. I can¡¯t believe this is what we¡¯ve come to. Damn.
The coins continued to clink in the silence. When Hector was done, he counted eighteen silver and thirty bronze. Two of those silvers were made up of bronze. It wasn¡¯t looking good.
¡°Alright then,¡± Hector said, climbing to his feet. He dusted off his knees and clapped the dust off his hands as they all focused on him. He gave Lincoln a sharp nod and moved over to the pillar where the Farmhand lay.
One more ride, then¡ªshall we?
Hector bent down, hefting the Farmhand over his shoulder and walked back over to the board. With a thud, he plopped the Farmhand onto the dirt, a little way from the board. Delworth got onto his knees and began scooping the coins into different bags.
Patting the Farmhand on the shoulder, Hector let out a breath. ¡°As you can tell, this is a Farmhand. One that Lincoln and I borrowed¡¡±
¡°We kidnapped him,¡± Lincoln said. He puffed out his cheeks and rolled the air around inside them.
¡°You what!?¡± Emela snapped. ¡°I thought you just found him. What have you done, Hector?¡±
Where would we just find an unconscious Farmhand? They aren¡¯t wild berries.
Hector shook his head, meeting her eyes. ¡°It was not without reason. If I didn¡¯t need to take him with us, I wouldn¡¯t have. Besides, once you hear what Lincoln and I have to say, you¡¯ll understand.¡±
A silence settled between the group. The caws of the crows outside, loud and piercing, pervaded the air. Jodie raised an eyebrow as she subtly shook her head. ¡°Well then, go on.¡±
Hector bent down and whispered into the Farmhand¡¯s ear. ¡°You can drop the act. I know you¡¯re awake. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be forced to get physical¡¡±
¡°Hector,¡± Emela said in warning. He held up a hand¡ªwhat he said and did were too different things, but this guy didn¡¯t know that.
¡°One¡ Two¡¡±
¡°Alright, alright.¡± The Farmhand¡¯s eyes went wide as he looked around the group. His body shook when he spotted Hector from the corner of his eye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t hurt me.¡±
Well, this is a far cry from the guy who almost dropped Lincoln. I guess now that he is surrounded, that confidence has dropped.
¡°This guy,¡± Hector said, pushing off the dirt and getting to his feet, ¡°Was patrolling a barn that Lincoln and I believe could be involved in demonic cultivation.¡± He glanced at his friends; various reactions flittered across their faces. None of them were good.
¡°You went to the farm?¡± Emela asked, frowning. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t? What were you thinking?¡±
¡°He was being a good friend,¡± Lincoln said. Emela shot him a look, daring him to say something else. He fell silent and hung his head.
¡°I did, and I¡¯m glad I did,¡± Hector said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s bad, guys. People are actually dying. Never mind the fact that we went to the farm.¡±
Emela went to say something, but paused. Her mouth fell open as her tongue rolled around her cheeks in disbelief, and she frowned. Hector shook his head. ¡°Tell them,¡± he said, nudging the Farmhand with his foot.
The Farmhand glanced up at Hector, his brows creasing in a frown. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he said, looking at his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ I don¡¯t know what you are talking about?¡± His face contorted with a look of confusion as he looked back up at Hector.
¡°Now is not the time to be keeping secrets. We¡¯ve seen the bodies,¡± Hector said. His fist clenched at his side¡ªdid this Farmhand take them for idiots? ¡°How do you even explain your cultivation? Someone at your rank should not be Gravity Forging two.¡±
The boy¡¯s head fell, and he muttered something. Jodie raised an eyebrow to Hector, and he shrugged. With a sigh, the Farmhand looked back up, his eyes shifting between them. ¡°You¡¯ve got to believe me. If I could say I would. It¡¯s just that¡ when I think of¡¡± His brow creased. A dull look briefly crossed through his eyes. ¡°When I think of it, I can¡¯t remember a thing, but one thing I know is: That place is horrifying. I can¡¯t go back. Please, you¡¯ve got to help me.¡±
The boy sobbed softly into his bound hands. Hector looked at his friends. What was going on with this guy? Did he want them to feel sorry for him? He had to be joking, right?
Chapter 56: Did he do what I think?
Hector turned his head to Lincoln and raised an eyebrow. What were they supposed to do here? If things had gone as planned, this guy would have spilt all the information he had rather than sitting here sobbing. Lincoln shook his head.
Marcus stepped forward and bent down, raising a hand to comfort the Farmhand. Hector reached out to stop him but decided against it. With everyone present, the boy couldn¡¯t do much to hurt Marcus¡ªnot without suffering for it, anyway.
¡°What do you mean, you don¡¯t remember?¡± Marcus asked, resting a hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder. His lips budded into a soft smile as he tilted his head to meet the boy¡¯s eyes. Why was he treating this guy like he wasn¡¯t a murderer? Hector couldn¡¯t understand¡ªbut then again, Marcus hadn¡¯t seen the body.
¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know,¡± the boy mumbled. A tear crawled down his cheek and splashed onto his torn robes. ¡°It¡¯s like I know what I want to say, but the moment I try, everything just leaves.¡± He sobbed, lowering his head into his bound hands.
How the hell does that work exactly? I mean, assuming he is telling the truth¡ªwhich is a big if¡ªhow would that even work?
Marcus glanced up at Hector. What did he want him to do? It wasn¡¯t like Hector knew what was going on. Hector sighed. ¡°Well, he¡¯s not as helpful as I¡¯d hoped, but it kind of leads me into what I wanted to say.¡± He paused, knowing he had to say this right, or it could make things difficult.
¡°I want to rescue the people this guy and his friend have kidnapped,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but I want to save them. I can¡¯t have people dying while I sit here knowing I could do something about it,¡± he sighed. ¡°Though I¡¯d be lying if I said that was the only reason.¡±
There was no way to say this next part and sound like a hero¡ªnot that he wanted to be one. It would only sour his proposition. ¡°Lincoln and I also believe that they are making a profit somehow,¡± Hector continued, glancing at Lincoln, ¡°and attacking the farm could help us gather the money we need to pay off my dad¡¯s debt¡ªand then some.¡±
Several cracks rang out around the brewery, followed by vicious squeaking. The group fell silent. The Farmhand¡¯s sobs and the whipping wind snaking through the open roof were the only sounds.
Hector glanced at his friends¡ªMarcus and Jodie. What were they thinking? And Emela and Nyx¡ªhad he stepped too far? Judging by their faces¡ªJodie¡¯s lips pulled into a tight frown¡ªthe reaction was mixed.
¡°You absolute idiot, lying piece of dump trash,¡± Jodie yelled. She took a step forward, her shoes crunching on the wooden board beneath her feet. ¡°We agreed, Hector. We bloody well agreed. And now you pull this.¡±
¡°Jodie¡ª¡±
Her head snapped toward Lincoln, cutting off his words as fire burned behind her eyes. ¡°Not another word, Lincoln¡ªif you open your mouth before I¡¯m done, you¡¯ll be picking your teeth up off the ground.¡±
Lincoln shrank back, glancing at Hector. Hector held his gaze. He wasn¡¯t about to say anything; that would only let the argument spiral, and they were already burning enough time.
Jodie flopped her head back, her ginger hair cascading over her shoulder, and she sighed. ¡°Angry doesn¡¯t even come close to what I¡¯m feeling right now. I hate being treated like a fool. I¡¯m not one. You brought us to the Hilda Festival,¡± she said, lowering her head. She met his gaze. ¡°You brought us there knowing full well that you planned to go to the farm, anyway.¡±
¡°Jodie, no. That¡¯s not what happened,¡± Hector said, narrowing his eyes at her. He¡¯d never do that to them¡ªnever. It was just a coincidence. I was only being a good friend. He glanced over at Emela, who subtly shook her head, her eyes falling to the floor.
¡°Oh. It¡¯s not,¡± Jodie continued. ¡°Then, Hector, please enlighten us. What were you doing at that bloody farm when we agreed we wouldn¡¯t go there¡ªdid you just trip and fall into the Hay Quarter?¡± she yelled.
Marcus got up and stepped in front of Jodie. ¡°Calm down. I get that you¡¯re angry, but it¡¯s not helping. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a good reason,¡± he said, turning to look back at Hector. Delworth nodded along.
Hector sighed, dragging his hand down his face. The subtle taste of salt prickled at the tip of his tongue as he wet his cracked lips. ¡°Lincoln said he had something to show me, so I went along¡ªI owed him one.¡±
¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± Jodie said, scowling at Lincoln. The look in her eyes said it all¡ªshe still hadn¡¯t gotten over yesterday. If anything, she was looking for an excuse to deck him. ¡°And so what?¡± she snapped, turning back to Hector. ¡°You just followed along, knowing full well where he was taking you.¡±
Hector¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor. She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but she wasn¡¯t right either. At first, he really didn¡¯t know what to expect, but as things unfolded, the signs became clear. He had an excuse¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t one she¡¯d like. ¡°I was just being a good friend. I abandoned him yesterday, and I owed him.¡±
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¡°You did, did you?¡± Jodie shook her head and turned away. She walked over to a pile of crates, swinging her leg back and then crashing her foot into them. The crates exploded in a shower of splinters as she let out a roar of anger.
Better the crates than Lincoln.
Emela stepped forward, glancing down at the Farmhand. The boy stared wide-eyed at Jodie, occasionally looking around as if to make sure he wasn¡¯t the only one witnessing what was happening.
¡°I don¡¯t care that you lied, Hector,¡± Emela said.
¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Sorry.¡± She coughed into her fist. ¡°That you went to the farm,¡± she corrected, ¡°but I¡¯m more concerned about these demonic cultivators and what they¡¯re doing. Shouldn¡¯t we be taking this information to the guards?¡±
They all fell silent as Emela looked around in confusion. ¡°What?¡± she asked, glancing at Hector. He could relate¡ªhe¡¯d asked Lincoln the same thing in a moment of naivety. Nyx stepped forward¡ªas usual¡ªand whispered in her ear. ¡°Ah, I see. Never mind,¡± Emela said.
Hector shook his head. They were getting a little off-topic. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry, and rightfully so, but Lincoln and I saw someone being dragged in there this morning. I want to save them, and I need your help, guys.¡±
¡°I¡¯d love to help, I really would¡¡± Emela said, glancing at one of the large windows of the decaying brewery. The window was mostly shattered¡ªonly a few panes clung to their frame while the rest lay scattered on the ground. ¡°The sun is going down soon, and I have to leave. Nyx can stay, though.¡±
Emela gestured to the girl behind her. Nyx¡¯s face fell¡ªone of the first times Hector had seen any emotion from her. She grabbed Emela by the arm and led her away, the two of them walking toward the brewery¡¯s entrance.
¡°So, you want to do this tonight?¡± Lincoln asked, scratching the back of his neck. He glanced over at Jodie. It would be an understatement to say that if they went tonight, things would be tense. But Jodie always put what was important first. Hector could count on that.
He nodded, glancing over at Emela and Nyx. ¡°I hadn¡¯t intended to, but the quicker we do this, the sooner we can put a stop to what they¡¯re doing¡ªand save whoever it was tonight before the worst happens.¡±
Lincoln nodded.
Marcus stepped over, Delworth a pace behind him. ¡°We won¡¯t be able to help with the task tonight. We aren¡¯t fighters, after all,¡± he said, glancing down at the Farmhand, who sat between them. ¡°I hope you can understand¡ªit¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to.¡±
¡°It¡¯s all right, Marcus,¡± Hector said, resting a hand on his shoulder. Marcus was one of the few people Hector could count on to trust him, no matter what. That kind of loyalty was a luxury he didn¡¯t have with many others¡ªand any doubt would be a detriment.
I guess it will have to be me, Jodie, Lincoln, and hopefully Nyx tonight. It would be great to have the backing of someone in Gravity Forging Four.
He glanced over at Emela and Nyx, who were having a heated discussion in the corner¡ªmore a case of Emela talking at Nyx while the girl nodded.
¡°We can take the coins with us,¡± Marcus said. ¡°I take it you guys will be heading straight there? We can hold on to them for safekeeping.¡±
Hector nodded at the suggestion. He was right¡ªif they went home now, there would be a bunch of questions they wouldn¡¯t have answers to. Who knew how long this would all take? And it wasn¡¯t like they¡¯d even split the earnings yet.
¡°Thanks, Marcus¡ªthough, about the split¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯s all right. We didn¡¯t know how much your dad¡¯s debt is,¡± Marcus said, ¡°but before you and Lincoln turned up¡ªand before that gang arrived¡ªwe¡¯d already agreed to give seventy percent to you. Emela even offered all of her remaining percentage to you.¡±
¡°She did,¡± Hector said, glancing back at her as she and Nyx continued to talk. He smiled. ¡°It means a lot. I appreciate it,¡± he added, nodding at Jodie as she returned¡ªnoticeably calmer.
¡°Well, we couldn¡¯t leave you out in the lurch,¡± she said. ¡°Even though what you did was crappy, I know why,¡± she shot a glance at Lincoln, ¡°and I understand. It¡¯s just annoying, that¡¯s all. I¡¯m pissed, but I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Hector muttered. He glanced at Lincoln, who gave him a weak smile. Hector held back a sigh. It had worked for the most part¡ªand they were raiding the farm tonight¡ªbut something still itched at the back of his mind.
He had no evidence, but it was funny how Lincoln got what he wanted in the end, even after everyone had initially agreed. He couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly used. Still, Lincoln couldn¡¯t have known that Hector would abandon him¡ªor that a situation would force him to.
Or did he? Hector turned his head, smiling at Emela as she walked back over with Nyx in tow¡ªher face returning to its usual calm. His gaze then flickered over to Jodie and Marcus. They were all his friends, but did he put more stock in Lincoln than in the rest of them?
Perhaps sometimes he let himself get too swept up in the boy¡¯s antics. He¡¯d have to keep watch for that.
If Hector was honest with himself, he¡¯d gotten swept up in a lot so far. In retrospect, the pickpocketing operation was stupid¡ªit bordered on a get-rich-quick scheme that didn¡¯t even go well.
A snap came from the back of the brewery as the wind swept through the building. Hector placed a hand on his chin and rubbed it. He needed to reassess their options. Once his dad¡¯s debt was paid, he¡¯d have to find a way to earn a reliable income.
He had a system and advantages that no one else in the world possessed. A cough brought him back to his thoughts. He glanced up to find Jodie gesturing to the tied-up Farmhand. ¡°What are we going to do with him?¡±
That was a good question. Hector bent down and looked into the boy¡¯s eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go back to the farm, right?¡± The boy nodded, and Hector smiled. ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to need some information from you, then. For starters, why is your cultivation so high?¡±
The boy shuddered, his eyes falling to the floor. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but they said I had to take them. They said it would make me better than I was. They said it would make me great¡ªmore than just a pig.¡±
¡°Who said that to you?¡± Hector asked. The boy¡¯s words gave him a hunch, but he needed confirmation.
A dull look passed over the boy¡¯s eyes as he shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t remember. I wish I could say.¡±
Hector sighed, clenching his fist. How were they making him forget? It was as if anything that might expose them or offer a clear, usable hint would simply slip from the boy¡¯s mind¡ªand that dull look that passed through his eyes.
The boy was either a phenomenal actor or something else was going on. ¡°Can you at least say what they made you take? Is that how you got so strong?¡± Hector asked.
The boy nodded. ¡°They gave me several Ham pills.¡± The Farmhand shivered as his gaze lowered to the dirt.
¡°These Ham pills¡ªagain¡ªwhat do they have to do with the farm? Wait, don¡¯t tell¡ He wouldn¡¯t.¡± Hector clenched his fist and sighed as his body shook.
Chapter 57: (Interlude) How long will I have to tolerate these mortal pigs?
Hammond raised a hand, blocking the rays of the afternoon sun. He let out a sigh as he shielded his eyes and glanced around at the inhabitants of the Papyrus Quarter. In a word, they were disgusting, little more than sad animals going about their pathetic lives.
They paled compared to someone as chosen as him, someone as favoured as him. He glanced back at Marlon¡ªa lucky one, indeed. Hammond had chosen him, after all. Hammond needed followers and their help to awaken the egg.
The sacrifices would not gather themselves. ¡°Why is it again we came to this dump of a quarter?¡± Hammond asked, cringing in disgust as one of the filthy animals stumbled out of a brothel. Such a pointless endeavour¡ªbut then again, most of the things these lesser creatures did were pointless.
¡°We¡¯ve been too active in the Sirius Quarter lately,¡± Marlon said. His brown eyes shifted around as his short brown hair tousled in the wind. Hammond nodded. It was pointless to move when they¡¯d found such a good feeding ground for the egg.
But Marlon was sometimes right¡ªnot as much as Hammond, but it was enough to at least humour him. Besides, Marlon understood how important the egg was to their success, to Hammond¡¯s greatness. He wouldn¡¯t do anything to jeopardise that. He was a smart boy.
Hammond¡¯s gaze continued to wander as he waited for the guidance of the seed¡ªa gift given to him by the egg. It gave him and his fellows power as long as they fed it. Hammond scowled as a beggar, teeth rotting out of his mouth, clamoured for spare coin.
The seed did not respond, of course not. How could someone so pathetic have any potential for the egg to make use of?
He would have been lucky to become the egg¡¯s power, my power. But he can¡¯t even serve as the runoff we sell those collar gang idiots. Perhaps I should end his suffering. He¡¯d no doubt appreciate it.
¡°I¡¯m not picking up anything, Marlon,¡± Thomas, a fellow Farmhand and someone also lucky enough to be picked by Hammond, said. His head turned from side to side, a frown crossing his features. He¡¯d taken to the egg¡¯s gift almost as well as Hammond himself.
Though, that was a given as someone picked by him. Hammond had smiled when the egg had told him how much potential he had. Finally, someone had seen him for what he was. It had given him authority and kept him in its heart. Hammond scowled as a small child assisted a hanger-on. They, the old, occupied unnecessary space.
When the egg hatched and bestowed upon him greatness that he could hardly imagine, all this would change. These pigs would finally become of some use and those hangers-on. He would get rid of them unless they proved useful to his growing kingdom.
Hammond moved around the bustling quarter, the air slithering with the chatter of hapless mortals. The stink of the unwashed forced him to cover his nose a few times. He¡¯d have cut them down right there if it wouldn¡¯t have drawn too much attention.
Marlon said they didn¡¯t need any more of that, and Hammond saw the logic in it. The last thing he needed was to talk to the city guard. They¡¯d accept any lie he told¡ªthey always did, but it would still be an annoyance.
He stopped, his feet crushing a flower that lay on the cobblestone. The footfall of others ruined its wilted petals, shredded and torn. Flowers and other plants were the only beautiful thing about this world, and these pigs treated them like this.
As he turned his head to ask Marlon what his plan was, a tight spike pulled at his chest. It didn¡¯t hurt. The pain was dull and muted, more a call for attention than anything else. But Hammond listened. The seed¡¯s pull was never to be ignored.
He rested a hand on his chest, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. The seed hummed, urging him forward, so he moved, the pull growing as he did. ¡°Hammond, do you feel that?¡± Thomas asked.
Hammond set his jaw and continued. He opened his eyes as the pull intensified, practically dragging him forward. He had no time for Thomas¡¯ pointless question, someone with as much potential as him¡ªof course, he could feel it.
That is why you will never come close to my height, Thomas. Far too eager to question, you should just feel and follow. Nothing more, nothing less.
A wave of energy rocked his body. It shook him, sending snakes of ecstasy lashing from his chest. The seed had found someone. The taste of honey pulled at his lips. Whoever the seed had found had a lot of potential indeed¡ªfar more than the last few.
¡°Come on,¡± Hammond said, waving his hand forward. They needed to stick close. He didn¡¯t have time to get distracted.
Hammond rushed forward, almost sprinting. He slammed into something, the force barely fazing him. A girl bounced off his stomach. He snarled and looked down as she scrambled around pathetically on the cobblestone, trying to get to her feet.
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¡°Sorry, sir. I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± she said, stumbling to her feet with a limp. Her dirty brown hair was a mess of dirt and sticks. Her ugly, weak smile drew attention to the various scars that ran along her features.
¡°Did you not see me walking, you moron?¡± Hammond said as the girl struggled to fix the cloth sack she used for clothes. Hammond scowled. She was an eyesore. ¡°Get out of here, before I lose my patience, pig.¡±
The girl nodded, limping away, her pathetic form shaking as she did. What a waste of resources. Hammond turned, sniffing the air. The scent grew stronger. The seed inside him shook, and he smiled¡ªthey were getting close.
A cart rattled by, splashing dirt behind it as the donkey pulling it neighed. A woman pressed herself against one of the support beams, holding up the small porch of a brothel, making eyes at Hammond. Disgusting. He powered forward, shoes slapping against the stone.
He strolled past the brothel and rounded the corner, the two other Farmhands trailing behind. The seed hummed in his chest. The pull grew as he stepped around the corner of the building. There, further in the alleyway, was a boy.
His ginger hair clung to his forehead as he panted, arms resting on his knees. He spat. A glob of saliva smacked into the dirt. His head turned as he glanced towards Hammond. The boy frowned as the two other Farmhands rounded the corner. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± he asked, pushing off his knees and straightening his back.
Hammond fought back the smile wrestling to break out across his lips. The seed¡¯s pull softened in his chest but hummed subtly. He¡¯d found the target. Hammond took a step forward, eyeing the boy. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± the boy said, taking a step back. Was he trying to run? Surely not¡ªthat would be stupid. He¡¯d miss his chance to be more than the pig he was born as.
¡°You heard me,¡± Hammond said, stopping before him. ¡°What is your name? I have something for you that I think could very well change your life. Don¡¯t you want to be important?¡±
The boy glanced back. Hammond raised a brow. What was he looking for? He¡¯d never make it out of the alleyway before Hammond could catch him, so what was the point? The boy turned back, his eyes narrowing. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t need to be important.¡±
You are more of a fool than I thought. But, luckily, it¡¯s no longer up to you.
Hammond smiled. His gaze flickered to the other two Farmhands beside him, and he nodded. He didn¡¯t need to waste time anymore, not like the other day with that swine from the marketplace. Hammond was stronger now.
He pulled on the seed. His legs kicked off the stone as he shot at the boy. This would be over quickly. Hammond¡¯s hand whipped out, chopping for the boy¡¯s neck. The boy staggered back as Hammond¡¯s attack went wide. The ginger-haired boy turned to run.
Too slow. Hammond shot forward, cobblestone cracking underfoot as he moved. He was on the boy in seconds, his hand chopping down. But Hammond¡¯s eyes went wide as the boy raised a hand, blocking it with a slap.
The ginger-haired boy used the momentum to push himself forward.
¡°We¡¯re meant to be doing this quietly,¡± Marlon yelled from behind. He was a fool. Hammond was stronger now. If he wanted something, all he had to do was take it.
He pulled on the seed in his chest. It responded, energy bubbling at his back. It writhed underneath his skin, undulating with power. A sharp rip tore through the alleyway as Hammond continued to give chase to the boy.
The seed had given him more power. A tentacle whipped at his back. It was like an extra limb; it was beautiful. The tentacle shot forward, wrapping around the boy¡¯s arm and pulling him back with a sharp tug. He let out a scream.
Hammond stepped to the side as the body moved past. With a smack, Hammond chopped his hand down onto the boy¡¯s neck. He slammed into the cobblestone with a heavy thud. The fool shouldn¡¯t have run.
The ginger-haired boy, eyes closed, lay motionless, but the seed could still sense his potential. The boy wasn¡¯t dead. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± Marlon said, shrinking back as the black tentacle whipped through the air.
Hammond narrowed his eyes. He did what was best. He did what was right¡ªhow could someone as lowly as him understand? ¡°You think you could have done better?¡±
¡°No,¡± Marlon said, his feet scuffing across the dirt as he stepped back. ¡°I just think you put us all at¡ª¡±
¡°Shut up,¡± Hammond snapped, cutting him off. He took a step forward, leering at Marlon. The tentacle at Hammond¡¯s back snaked forward, twitching as it moved towards the foolish idiot. ¡°Just because I listen to you from time to time, don¡¯t think that you can tell me what to do.¡±
Marlon gulped, lowering his head. Towards the back of the alleyway, Thomas¡¯ eyes seemed to almost glow as he watched. The boy kept his gaze on the tentacle¡ªas he should. Hammond smiled. This proved his chosen status and his divine nature. At least one of these two idiots could see it.
He had been too kind to these fools. Yes, he had given them power, but they had grown brave. Marlon¡¯s questioning of him proved that. He couldn¡¯t have this happen again. He wouldn¡¯t¡ªfrom now on, it was time they knew their place in the dirt.
Only he and the egg were to rule. These few Farmhands would be the lucky pigs that got to stand by his side. Hammond brushed past, slamming his elbow into Marlon as he walked by. He glanced to his side, looking at Marlon from the corner of his eye. ¡°Pick the boy up. We are returning to the barn.¡±
Marlon went to speak. Hammond¡¯s tentacle flinched. He wanted Marlon to talk, to give him a reason to put him in the dirt. He hadn¡¯t reminded them of the tools they were, and with his seed growing in strength, he was itching to test it out.
In the end, Marlon didn¡¯t say a thing. He bent down and scooped the boy into his arms. Hammond tutted and turned around, walking past Thomas, who still kept his focus on the tentacle.
Hammond smiled as he pulled the tentacle back into his body.
It wasn¡¯t the time for the world to see his greatness. But they would soon know of him. The egg would make sure of that. He would make sure of that. He was becoming perfection incarnate, and he couldn¡¯t wait to be seen.
A crunch came from beneath Hammond¡¯s feet. He glanced down at the flower poking out from underneath his boots. It was still beautiful, but it was not like him. Hammond had attained something this small thing could never.
Freedom¡ and he would never waste it. He walked forward, placing the flower in the back of his mind. They had found a perfect sacrifice, and the egg was waiting. Hammond glanced at the unconscious boy in Marlon¡¯s arms and smiled.
Chapter 58: Whats new in my garden?
Hector shook his head, grabbing Marcus¡¯ outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake. It was unfortunate that his friend couldn¡¯t come with them, but it was to be expected¡ªhe wasn¡¯t a fighter.
¡°Keep those coins safe, alright?¡± Hector said, releasing Marcus¡¯ hand. He then patted Delworth on the shoulder, pulling his lips into a tight smile. ¡°And you get home safe; I¡¯d hate to have to save you again,¡± he said with a slight chuckle.
Delworth lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble I caused,¡± he turned his head towards Marcus. ¡°Thank you for helping me meet such nice people.¡±
Marcus shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Not really like I planned for it to happen, but it turned out well in the end, anyway. So I won¡¯t complain.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Emela said. Hector turned his head towards her. She and Nyx stood to the side, saying their goodbyes for the night. The entire atmosphere was a tad bit morbid if Hector thought about it.
With what Delworth had said, it was like they were going off to war. Though, in a way, they kind of were. It wasn¡¯t often that your average cultivator went off to raid a farm controlled by demonic cultivators¡ªnot in the city of Middlec, anyway.
We will be fine. I¡¯m sure about that. At most, we can just run away once things get a bit too dicey. It¡¯s not like we have to fight to the death or anything.
Hector turned his attention to one of the far walls of the abandoned brewery. The smell of stale, rancid ale continued to slither through the air. Lincoln sat, his back firmly pressed up against one of the supporting pillars.
He¡¯d chosen to take the time to rest and mentally prepare himself. He also wanted to get a little cultivation in beforehand. There was no guarantee that he¡¯d break through, but every little bit would help. Plus, they needed to wait till the dead of night before they could leave, and that was a while away.
Jodie, much like Lincoln, was also meditating. She sat on the other far wall¡ªwhich was actually roofed. Though if that was a good thing or not could be left up to debate; after all, you never knew when it would collapse.
The two hadn¡¯t made up since earlier. Hector doubted they¡¯d make up for a while. Too many wounds too quickly. If lives weren¡¯t on the line, he¡¯d have preferred they not be around each other. But thankfully, they could both put aside their differences and work together.
Nodding at Marcus, Hector stepped past him and made his way over to Emela and Nyx. He nodded at the both of them as he walked over. ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t stay?¡± Hector asked, with a slight pleading in his voice.
It would be an understatement to say that having a Gravity Forging five around would help a lot. A mouse skittered by. And the dripping from a far-off wall caused Hector¡¯s ears to twitch. Emela gave him a weak smile.
¡°I would love to, trust me,¡± she said, brushing one of her ponytails behind her. ¡°But I just can¡¯t. Maybe in the future, who knows?¡±
Nyx shot her a look. Hector pretended not to notice. The girl was doing a lot today; it was as if something had happened between the two of them¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t say, though. And it wasn¡¯t like he needed them to.
¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± Hector said with a heavy sigh. He rested his hands on his hips.
Footsteps came from behind him, and he turned his head. Marcus and Delworth walked over, both holding a few of the coin pouches. Hector spared a look behind them, checking on the Farmhand.
The boy hadn¡¯t so much as moved since his little breakdown. While Hector didn¡¯t fully trust him, he didn¡¯t see a need to force anything else out of him. That would just be pointless.
A cough caught Hector¡¯s attention. He turned back towards Emela, as she lowered her hand. ¡°We should get going now,¡± she said, gesturing to Marcus and Delworth. ¡°Remember what we talked about? You need to focus on your safety. If it gets rough, get out of there.¡± Emela gave a pointed look at Nyx.
The girl nodded. They all then said their goodbyes, the three leaving through the front of the brewery. Emela had agreed to walk Delworth and Marcus home before making her way back, so Hector wasn¡¯t too worried about his weaker friend¡¯s journey.
¡°I¡¯ll stay on watch. You should go join the other and cultivate, it¡¯s best your mind is prepared for what we may fight,¡± Nyx said. She then turned and walked over to one of the pillars. She leapt off the ground, scaling it effortlessly, before jumping onto the broken-down walls of the brewery and finding a place to sit deep in some shadows.
I wonder if she¡¯ll ever open up to anyone else. The way she sees the world must be quite interesting. But then again, maybe I just don¡¯t know enough about her, so I¡¯m filling in blanks that aren¡¯t there.
Hector turned away, crunching across the dirt and coming to a stop by a small pile of crates. He deliberated, climbing to the top of them. But after what happened to Lincoln, that seemed more than unnecessary. He spared a last glance at the Farmhand before sitting down in a meditative position.
Nyx had been right. He needed to prepare. He glanced up at the fading sunlight. Its rays trickled into the room like curtains of light washing over the rotten wood that littered the place. He wouldn¡¯t break through to the second level in the hours they had until the raid. But he could grab another Talent.
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Hector closed his eyes and fell into the Talent Garden.
Once there, feet sloshing through the water, Hector made his way over to the three marble pedestals and sat down. It had been twenty-four hours already since he planted them, so he had another twenty-four to go. But with the fourfold boost he could give them, he should have another set by the time they need to leave.
¡°Alright, I hope I can get something good, because I¡¯m going to need all the help I can get.¡± Hector closed his eyes. A wave of calm washed over him, flowing deep through his bones like he was drinking a fresh glass of water.
Then the mana flowed.
Hector sat, his mind clear, and focused. It was as peaceful as ever. Why couldn¡¯t it always be like this? After some time, Hector¡¯s eyes flicked open. He looked up to find a system message blinking before him.
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///: Talent sapling requires watering, do so before they perish.
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Hector grunted as he got to his feet. He looked over the plants, raising an eyebrow. What was the system talking about? They looked as healthy as could be. But then again, what did he know? If they dropped dead, the next second, he¡¯d be just as confused.
Alright, I best get to it. It¡¯s a miracle that you guys are still alive.
He¡¯d exceeded the recommended watering time by some hours. The timer suggested that the plants would probably die any minute, and he didn¡¯t want to test that to see what it would look like.
As Hector got to work, the sound of skittering echoed around the void. His back prickled, like there were thousands of ants running along it.
The rats were out again. Were they crawling over him? No, if they were, that would have pulled him out.
But the idea of it. Their tiny, scale-like feet clambering over him as they took bits out of his skin. Hector¡¯s heart rattled in his chest¡ªeven as the water ball formed above the plant, Hector¡¯s mind reeled with the thought.
No, it¡¯s fine. If anything happens, I¡¯m sure Nyx will handle it. I just have to focus. I¡¯m almost done.
He¡¯d been in here for three hours already. With three more, he¡¯d be done and would have three new Talents to choose from.
After a few minutes, Hector finished watering the last plant, water dripping from its leaves. A system message popped up before him.
He jerked and staggered back, resting a hand on his chest as he let out a breath. The skittering had stopped, but he was still a little on edge.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: The system has met the requirement for another system upgrade. Please standby as it is initiated¡ (0%)
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With a smile, Hector pumped his fist. He¡¯d done it¡ªnot for a lack of trying. Even so, he¡¯d gotten another upgrade to his system. The last one had brought the Talent Garden. What would this one bring?
Hector took a breath, and walked back over to the middle marble pedestal, reaching down to the water, and bracing himself on the bottom as he took a seat. He grunted, getting comfortable, as the cool liquid splashed over his lap.
It had taken the last upgrade a while to complete. There was no timer on this one either, so who knew how long it was going to take? He shook his head, resting his hands on his knees. There was no point thinking about it¡ªnot until it was closer, anyway.
Closing his eyes, Hector fell back into a meditative state as time flowed by again. His mind drifting¡ and drifting¡ like a boat on a calm sea.
An unknown amount of time later, a sharp tug, quick and forceful, pulled his mind back to the surface. His eyes snapped open, and he glanced up, smiling at what he found. It wasn¡¯t a great haul, but it was good. Four Talents in total across all three plants.
He pushed off the ground and climbed to his feet. The waters of his soul slicked off of him like it was a duck¡¯s back. He stepped forward, his hand brushing across the first plant.
What would this one be? He¡¯d love for another one that could help him in his cultivation, but something that would be useful in the battle to come would also be good.
The plant fell apart in a shower of gold, leaving two Talents floating in front of him. His eyes, wide with excitement, scanned over them both. He needed something good. It had to be something good.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
///: Spark Capacitor (Common): Once every 6 hours, the user may activate this talent. Once active, the users¡¯ legs are charged with energy, allowing them to move faster when running.
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///: Spark Capacitor (Common): Once every 6 hours, the user may activate this talent. Once active, the users¡¯ legs are charged with energy, allowing them to move faster when running.
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Oh, boy. Two. I got two of the same¡ wait a minute, doesn¡¯t this mean I can upgrade [Spark Capacitor] to Uncommon? Oh, this is perfect.
Hector resisted the urge to jump as he waved his hands to the side to send the Talents away. He¡¯d merge them in a second. First, he¡¯d have to see what else he got from these plants. But what would a merged [Spark Capacitor] even make?
He moved over to the next plant, brushing it with a finger and watching intently as it dispersed into a shower of golden flakes, leaving behind a single floating Talent.
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///: Tracker¡¯s Charm (Common): Once every six hours you can track a particular scent. You can tell how strong it is, allowing you to determine age, as well as the direction the scent you are tracking is going.
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His face fell. It was the same Talent he¡¯d already sacrificed once before. He sighed; it was a good thing in a way. At least he now had a simple choice to make about which Talent he¡¯d plant next.
Hector flicked his hand to the side. The Talent shot off with a whoosh, joining the other two he¡¯d picked a moment before. He then sloshed over to the last pedestal, taking deep breaths, and throwing glances at the two [Spark Capacitor] Talents.
No matter what came out of this Talent tree, it would never be as good as an uncommon Talent. But then again, maybe it would be more useful. But somehow, Hector doubted that. He reached forward, brushing his finger across the plant¡¯s surface, and it exploded into a shower of golden light.
The Talent floated silently in the air; its swirling surface giving off the characteristic white light of a common Talent. Hector focused on it. The system message popped up a second later.
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///: Static Field (Common): (Passive) A constant electrical charge is maintained around the user, granting several buffs. 1. Enemies struggle to move around you because of the charge in the air. 2. You can flow through water with ease and suffer less in wet conditions. 3. Using metal weapons against the user becomes difficult as charges flow through it.
Note: It can be willed on and off.
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Okay, Maybe I was a little wrong.
Chapter 59: Dont you love a good synergy?
The soul water at Hector¡¯s feet shook, ripples flowing gently across its surface as he took a step forward. He reached up and grabbed the Talent from the air. Common tier. He hadn¡¯t even upgraded it, and it was already so powerful.
The system must have been holding out on me. How did it keep something like this away from me? If that¡¯s even how it works.
The swirling symbols along its surface seemed to hum with an unknown power. Hector¡¯s hands tightened around the Talent, his knuckles almost going white.
Should I fuse with it now?
He shook his head.
How was that even a question? His lips quirked, curling into a smile¡ªthis Talent was a must-have. He moved the Talent towards his chest. He pressed it against the fabric, overcoming its resistance as it phased through his clothing.
A rush of energy, crackling and fierce, shot through his body. It moved through his veins, swimming through his organs, zapping against his skin. This. This was power.
Hector clenched his fist as sparks of lightning crackled between his fingers and small bolts jumped through his skin. Smiling, Hector took a breath. The static field manifested centered on him. The whole thing was about two of him, laying flat on the ground in diameter.
Ho, ho. This is awesome. Is this what it feels like to be in the Core Formation realm? Probably not, but I imagine that it¡¯s close.
¡°All of you should hurry. We seem to have some eyes on us,¡± Nyx¡¯s voice rattled through the Talent Garden, shaking the water at Hector¡¯s feet. He glanced off into the void, the inky blackness stretching on to infinity.
Hector kissed his teeth. ¡°System, can you start the merge of the [Spark Capacitor] Talents?¡± he asked, making his way over to the [Tracker¡¯s Charm] Talent. He would hopefully have time to convert and plant this before they had to leave.
Water sloshed at his feet as he brought the Talent over to the middle plant pot. He scooped the dirt out, going as quickly as he could. But caught himself. He still needed to convert it. With a sigh, he willed the whirlpool to form underneath him.
The tendrils of water shot out, slamming into the surface of the Talent with a screech. The smell of wet dirt trickled into the air, and Hector scrunched his nose. He frowned, glancing back into the void as if he could see the others walking around.
Come on. Come on.
A few moments later, he had a freshly formed seed in hand. He jammed it into the dirt¡ªsparks of energy zipping over its surface¡ªand Hector began covering the Talent seed. He hurried his hands, shovelling as much dirt as he could onto it.
After covering it, he watered it. He threw a glance toward the void above him. There, whizzing around in a circle, were the three [Spark Capacitor] Talents. They spun with such speed that it looked like a white circle had formed above him.
Eventually, the circle collapsed in an explosion of white light, flowing out into the void. It moved like a wave, disappearing towards the black horizon. Hector smiled as his new uncommon Talent lowered towards him.
He turned his head to the water ball floating above the brown pot, squeezing out the last bit. Hector then stepped back. The water ball disappeared in a puff of mist, and he held his hands out.
The new Talent¡ªits surface a shimmering green¡ªfell into his waiting hands with a soft tap. He smiled hastily, reading the system message as it popped up.
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///: Volt Runner: Electrical energy fills the user¡¯s legs. The user can move three times as fast and all their attacks cause a static build-up. The build-up can be used to flinch a target at any time, provided the target is still in range. Duration: 1-hour / Cooldown: 2-hours.
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¡°Hector,¡± Lincoln¡¯s voice reverberated through the Talent Garden. ¡°Come on. We have to go.¡±
Hector¡¯s chest tightened. But he was more excited than anything else. This Talent synergized excellently with the one that he¡¯d just got. With this¡ªfor at least an hour anyway¡ªhe¡¯d be an electrical beast on the battlefield.
He pumped his fist, as the Talent merged back into his chest. He hadn¡¯t even noticed it leave when it went to merge with the other two.
Hector took one last glance at the single Talent pot and shook his head. He¡¯d been far too slow. At the very least, he should have planted the Talents before doing anything else. Now he¡¯d be missing valuable time to get them grown.
He settled back onto the ground, water washing onto his lap. Hector then tracked the feeling in his chest and followed it. His time in the Talent Garden had been an enormous benefit this time, but he¡¯d been far too distracted with the actual Talents.
When he wasn¡¯t in the Talent Garden, he could still look at the Talents he¡¯d acquired. He didn¡¯t need to waste valuable time looking at them before planting the seeds.
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Hector¡¯s eyes flickered open. The soft moonlight draped his form as Lincoln stood to his side. The boy focused on the brewery door, not even looking at Hector as he rose¡ªhe didn¡¯t need to.
¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Hector asked Nyx, as she and Jodie made their way over.
¡°The gangs are back. We need to go.¡± She turned her head to the Farmhand. ¡°What are we doing with him?¡±
Hector frowned. That was a good question. They couldn¡¯t leave him here, that would be basically throwing him to the wolves¡ªnot that he wasn¡¯t guilty in his own way. But the boy also didn¡¯t want to go back to the farm. So what would they do?
Walking towards the Farmhand, Hector glanced at Lincoln. ¡°I¡¯ll carry him. We can leave him somewhere along the way. With him tied up, even if he escapes, we should still make it to the Farm before he can warn them,¡± Hector said, dropping to a knee before the boy.
¡°I won¡¯t,¡± the boy said. Desperation coloured his features.
¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Hector scooped him up and threw him over his shoulders with a soft thump along with the ruffling of fabric. The cooled night air whipped around the upper level of the brewery, rattling the rotting wood. Hector stepped back over to his friends. ¡°So, how are we getting out of here?¡±
Nyx walked away, her black leather jacket swaying as she moved. ¡°We¡¯ll be going through here,¡± she said, pushing a box out of the way. She bent down and pulled at a metal grate screeching as it moved.
¡°You want us to go through the sewer?¡± Lincoln asked as they all stepped over. He turned his head to Hector and jerked his chin toward the sewer entrance. ¡°She¡¯s got to be joking, right?¡±
¡°What?¡± Jodie asked, crossing her arms. ¡°I thought someone like you would be more than accustomed to sneaking around in the dirt and muck.¡±
Lincoln shot her a look but cowered away when she returned it. Nyx shook her head. She stepped forward and stepped out, falling straight into the hole. A moment later, her voice echoed up from the darkness. ¡°Are you coming or what? Whoever comes last, close the grate after you.¡±
I guess she¡¯s not joking. Well, I¡¯ve had worse stuff on me in the dump. This shouldn¡¯t be anything different.
Hector stepped forward, brushing past Lincoln. ¡°Try not to scream, Farmhand,¡± He said. Before the boy could respond, Hector stepped into the hole. The ground rushed by him as darkness swallowed him.
A second later, he thudded onto the ground with a grunt. Hector blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. But even then, the only useful light source was the dim light coming from the opening above him. ¡°You should step aside; unless you feel like catching everyone,¡± Nyx said. She stood nearby, steeped in shadow.
Hector nodded in agreement and stepped out of the way, moving further into the darkness. ¡°It stinks down here,¡± the Farmhand said, squirming on Hector¡¯s back.
¡°Hold your breath or get used to it,¡± Hector said, bouncing the boy into a better position on his shoulder. ¡°We aren¡¯t doing this for fun.¡±
The Farmhand was right, though. It stunk. The smell of stale urine and something else was strong down here. There was also a strong undertone of ale that was hard to miss. The walk wouldn¡¯t be pleasant.
Lincoln jumped through the hole a moment later, and Jodie followed a few seconds later. Hector turned his head to Nyx, breathing through his mouth as much as possible. ¡°So, do you know which way we are going?¡±
¡°Just follow me; listen out for my voice. If you get lost, it¡¯s going to waste time.¡±
I guess I¡¯ll just take that as a yes then. She really isn¡¯t one to mince words, is she?
Hector nodded, moving past Lincoln and following behind Nyx as she moved through the dark. As they left, they heard shuffling above as people began moving into the brewery. Was it the same gang? Surely not. They¡¯d scared the last group away¡ªeven if Nyx seemed to think they¡¯d returned. It was most likely some other vultures.
It was not odd for others to try their luck. People always thought they could do what others couldn¡¯t.
As they moved through the sewers, Nyx would occasionally say a few words. Hector kept his ears peeled, listening and following her voice as he moved. The smell didn¡¯t get any better as they moved. If anything, it got worse¡ªmore fresh.
Lincoln complained from time to time. But it did nothing to change their situation. Eventually, he stopped, and they continued walking in mostly silence. Hector wondered if Nyx had something that allowed her to see in the dark¡ªJodie had proved that Talents weren¡¯t the only thing in this world.
But then again. With her cultivation level, it was just as likely she was using echolocation¡ªafter all, as you progressed, your senses got pretty sensitive. Hector made a promise to himself that he¡¯d give that a go when he got to her level. If everything went well, it wouldn¡¯t be too long now.
After who knows how long, Nyx stopped under another grate. A curtain of moonlight shone down, glittering across the surface of a puddle of muck beneath it. It was an oddly beautiful sight.
¡°Are¡ªAre we done?¡± Lincoln asked, letting out a cough before retching. He¡¯d probably collapse at some point. It would be best if this was how they were going to leave the sewer.
¡°Yes,¡± Nyx said, stepping forward. She exploded up, smashing through the grate. After a few moments of silence, she spoke. ¡°It¡¯s clear. Come up.¡±
Hector walked forward. ¡°You ready, Farmhand?¡±
¡°Thank the Great Lake. We¡¯re done.¡± The Farmhand replied, his voice stifled. He wasn¡¯t doing too well himself, it seemed. It could have been worse, though¡ªhe no doubt knew that.
Hector chuckled, bent his knees, and exploded up. He soared out of the sewer, slapping down onto the concrete next to Nyx, his sandals squelching as he stepped to the side. The night air brushed against his cheek, causing him to bristle.
I¡¯m going to have to wash my feet thoroughly when I get back. I hope I don¡¯t get some sort of infection.
From what Hector could see, they¡¯d come out at the edge of the Sirius Quarter. The lower houses and the trees of the Hay Quarter were just a stone¡¯s throw away from where they stood, coated in a thin layer of white light from the moon.
Jodie and Lincoln leapt out of the sewers a few seconds later.
Just a few feet away, a rundown incense shop loomed. The wood on its features jutted out at random angles, sharp and crooked. Much like everything else in the slum, it looked like it would collapse at any second. Hector sighed. It would have to do.
¡°One sec,¡± Hector said, walking over to the store.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jodie asked.
Hector didn¡¯t turn back. He stepped up to the store, dropped to one knee, and with a grunt placed the Farmhand up against its rotten wooden wall¡ªhe was careful to avoid any large splinters.
¡°You¡¯re going to stay here.¡± Hector glanced around. The streets were empty at this time of night, the hooting of owls being the primary sound. They were on the outskirts of Sirius; the gangs would be less active here. The Farmhand should be fine here. Maybe.
Hector softly tapped him on the cheek. ¡°If you¡¯re still here when we get back, hopefully, I¡¯ll come with good news.¡±
Before the Farmhand could reply, Hector made his way back over to the group. ¡°Is he going to be alright?¡± Lincoln asked, looking past Hector. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should leave him somewhere else?¡±
¡°Nah. We have to get to the barn, and quick. Having him around would just slow us down.¡± Hector nodded at Nyx and Jodie. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. We have a barn to raid.¡±
Chapter 60: Whats that noise?
The moon hung low in the sky, its light reflecting off Hector¡¯s arms, giving them a soft glow. He pushed through the bush, branches cracking around him, and stepped out into the open. A few paces behind him, Nyx followed, frowning.
¡°This is it?¡± she asked, her gaze wandering around the barn before them. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªnot that Hector had any idea what much would look like. But it was where everything went down. ¡°You¡¯re sure they are in there?¡±
Hector went to speak but was cut off. Someone inside the barn let out a muffled scream, then fell quiet. It was long and drawn out like someone was being butchered in there. Jodie stepped out of the bush with a frown.
Her hands twitched as her gaze shifted between Hector and the barn. She wanted to charge in there. He couldn¡¯t blame her¡ªhe did, too. As Lincoln stepped from the bush, Hector walked towards the barn.
The others followed behind him. The hoots of owls in the nearby trees filled the silence, their calls ringing hollow against the screams. Hector stopped. He turned to the three behind him and gestured to the barn.
¡°How do you think we should get inside?¡± he asked. He¡¯d had half a mind to charge in there and start swinging. But doing that would be more than a risk. Who knew how the Farmhands would be in there? No. They would save those actions for when things got desperate.
Though it could be argued that it already had.
Jodie stepped forward, running her hand along the barn wall, pushing against it and shaking her head, her ginger hair swaying in the wind. ¡°I think that there should be a loose panel somewhere. This place looks pretty old. I doubt these demonic cultivators would be too focused on housekeeping, given what they are up to.¡±
They all nodded. Hector considered activating his street reader Talent but decided to hold off for now. The chances of there being an army of Farmhand goons all cramped up in the barn were unlikely. It would also be better to save it for their escape.
Stepping away and placing his hand on the barn wall, Hector¡ªand everyone else¡ªsearched for a loose panel. Thankfully, the search didn¡¯t take them long, and a few moments later, Hector jerked to a stop.
His hand brushed across a jutted-out piece of wood, its surface gnarled with rot. It didn¡¯t look too different from something that he¡¯d find in his room. He really needed to fix that when he got home. He turned back to the others and raised a hand.
¡°I think I¡¯ve found something,¡± he said. Another hollow scream came from inside the barn. Jodie came over and bent down before glancing up at him.
¡°Yeah. This should be more than enough,¡± she said, slipping her fingers underneath the wood. ¡°So, who¡¯s going in first? Because I doubt ripping this out will be quiet.¡±
¡°I will,¡± Nyx said, stepping forward. Hector stepped aside as the girl crouched next to Jodie, her black bob blowing gently in the wind. ¡°Do it.¡±
Jodie nodded. With a grunt, she yanked the wood free with a sharp crack. Hector¡¯s head snapped from side to side.
Did anyone hear that?
From the silence that followed, he took that as a no.
Nyx shuffled inside, Lincoln after her. Jodie''s blue eyes locked onto Hector and she jerked her head to the entrance. The wind rustled through some nearby trees. He eventually sighed, dropped onto all fours, and shuffled through the hole.
It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to go in. But he¡¯d rather have done it last. It was always the guy in the middle that got attacked first.
As he shuffled through the darkness, his hand scuffing across the dirt, then padding onto some hay, Hector took in his surroundings. It wasn¡¯t what he expected to see. Instead of altars and candles, as he got to his feet, all he saw was the typical inside of a barn.
They stood in what seemed to be an area to store the hay bales. A large stack of them loomed next to him; another set was on his right. ¡°Do you see anything?¡± he asked, getting into a low crouch and moving next to Lincoln.
¡°Yeah, you see that,¡± Lincoln said, raising a finger and pointing in front. A few paces away in the center of the barn¡ªmore towards the back, two Farmhands sat. They were around a small table playing a game of cards.
Well, I guess just guarding an evil base can be hard. But if those two are here, where are the prisoners?
As if on cue, a scream rang out amidst the darkness, shrill and blood-curdling. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯s going to take this time?¡± one Farmhand asked, throwing down a card on the table. ¡°I raise you ten.¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you, mate,¡± the other replied. ¡°H¡¡± he trailed off. ¡°What were we talking about?¡±
Hector could barely hear them. Jodie shuffled in behind, scooting across the dirt. Hector nodded at her before creeping forward to move next to Nyx.
But as he did, the face of one guard dropped. ¡°Someone is here,¡± he said, standing up from the table and reaching for a pitchfork that stood nearby. The other one followed suit.
What? How the heck did they know? I don¡¯t think we even made that much noise. Outside was probably the loudest we¡¯ve been.
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Hector then shook his head as it dawned on him. It seemed the Farmhand they¡¯d kidnapped hadn¡¯t been lying. He¡¯d said he couldn¡¯t tell them what was going on because he¡¯d just forget. Apparently, that would happen whether he was aware he was being listened to or not. Scary.
¡°I¡¯m going in,¡± Nyx said. Before Hector could say anything, she shot forward, leaping over the small fence and darting straight at the Farmhands.
Hector glanced back at the other two. That was unexpected, but given the situation, probably the best course of action. ¡°You two hang back. If anyone tries to ambush us¡ well, you know what to do.¡±
They nodded at him. Hector sprang to his feet, charging toward the fence and leaping over it. Up ahead, Nyx swerved between the two boys as they jabbed pitchforks at her, their tips missing her¡ªthough it was close.
Hector didn¡¯t want to find out how his [Hearty Body] Talent would react to him being run through. Though he doubted it would be too great. The ground blurred underneath him. One Farmhand spotted him as he closed in. ¡°Samson, another one,¡± he yelled.
But it was too late. Hector exploded off the floor, sailing forward. His foot slammed into the shoulder of the Farmhand closest to him. Then his other foot followed, taking the boy off his feet as he hit him with an Orion leaping strike.
System scan them.
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Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
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Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 2]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
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The boy bounced off the floor, manoeuvring his pitchfork as he fell. He rolled to a stop and then leapt to his feet, barely fazed. Hector gritted his teeth. More cultivators at Gravity Forging Two. They¡¯d probably been eating a lot of those Ham pills.
A snap came from the side. Hector didn¡¯t look. Nyx had it handled; he needed to focus on not getting run through. The Farmhand yelled, charging forward. Hector dived in, stepping to the side just as the fork was inches from his face.
The Farmhands were cultivators, but their stance was weak, and confidence was lacking. They weren¡¯t trained fighters. His palm slammed forward, thudding against the boy¡¯s stomach. He staggered back. Hector shot to the side, raising his leg and slamming a powerful kick into the boy''s shoulder.
The Farmhand let out a yelp. Hector''s eyes tightened as the boy¡¯s arm tensed up. He circled to his back, lashing out with blow after blow. Crashing his fist into the boy¡¯s back like he was a training bag.
The Farmhand dropped the pitchfork. Hector jumped, swinging his foot forward with a crack straight into the boy¡¯s skull. With a thud, he crumpled to his knees, slamming down onto the dirt in a puff of dust a moment later.
Hector glanced around as his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He slowly drank in the air. ¡°Is that all of them?¡± he asked, turning his head to Nyx. She stood next to the other Farmhand, now unconscious, and his broken pitchfork to her side.
¡°As far as I can see,¡± she replied.
Another scream tore through the night, not as muffled as outside, but still muffled. Jodie and Lincoln made their way over. She regarded the unconscious Farmhands on the floor. ¡°You two made quick work of them.¡±
Hector nodded. It was easy. They lacked training. Against normal people, the two Farmhands would have been quite scary, but against them¡ Jodie turned her head to Nyx and frowned. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you could even fight like that.¡±
¡°I just know some basics,¡± Nyx replied, stepping away. She moved over to the Farmhands¡¯ table, looking over to the cards, then her gaze seemed to move past them to something beyond the table. She raised her hand and pointed a little in front of where the two had been sitting. ¡°I think the screams are coming from that basement.¡±
¡°Basics?¡± Jodie muttered. ¡°That looked like a lot more than basics.¡±
¡°Barns don¡¯t have basements.¡± Lincoln turned his head to Hector. ¡°Do they? I mean, I haven¡¯t exactly been in a bunch.¡±
¡°How am I meant to know?¡± Hector asked, shaking his head. He stepped over to where Nyx was pointing. Hector raised an eyebrow as he scanned over the trapdoor leading into this supposed basement. It was the only part of this place that appeared exceptionally well-maintained.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lincoln said. He shrugged, glancing around. ¡°I thought you¡¯d know a bit more. You used to always go to the center of the city with your dad.¡± He stepped to the side as Jodie moved to get a better look at the trapdoor. ¡°I thought you might have some idea.¡±
¡°No.¡± Hector shook his head. He¡¯d been to central Middlec with his father a few times, but that was just to see his dad¡¯s friends¡ªmore like drinking buddies. But they never really talked about anything that interesting.
Another scream sounded through the barn. Hector glanced up at the others. They were wasting time. He dropped to one knee and pulled on the handle. The trapdoor slid up with ease, barely making a squeak.
¡°I guess I¡¯ll be going first,¡± he said. No one spoke up, so he nodded. In the dark, there was a ladder going down. At the bottom, the torchlight flickered, its warm glow washing off the walls. At the very least, they wouldn¡¯t be walking in the dark.
Hector climbed onto the ladder and moved down. With each step, his heartbeat rose a notch. What would they even find down there? A scream cut through his thoughts and he glanced up. Above him, Lincoln continued climbing. Hector didn¡¯t doubt that if he stopped, his friend would step on his fingers. He hurried his movements, almost sliding down the ladder.
With a thud, he landed at the bottom. Torches lined the walls of the cave tunnel that ran out before him. Their gentle warmth warmed his cheeks. He stepped forward, his footsteps echoing down the space.
¡°Everything alright?¡± Lincoln said, walking up next to him.
Hector nodded. He placed a hand on the walls, running it along the rough stone. This didn¡¯t look natural¡ªit seemed as if it had been dug out. Four people wide and about two of him in height; this ¡®cave tunnel¡¯ was surely a bit too big.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jodie asked. Walking over to Hector.
He turned his head back to her. Behind, Nyx stepped off the ladder and looked at him. He wet his lips, the stale air coating the tip of his tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this formed naturally. But I can¡¯t see how they would have dug this out.¡±
¡°They probably hand help,¡± Jodie said, stepping past Hector. She took a few steps further into the tunnel. ¡°It seems to go on for a while. So if they dug this out by hand, it must have taken months. Years even.¡± She turned back to them.
A scream split the air, cutting her off before she could speak. It was like a knife through Hector¡¯s heart. What were they doing down there? He moved past Jodie, not even checking to see if the others were following. This had to end, now.
He marched through the dark. Up ahead, heavy footsteps sounded. More Farmhands. Were they on patrol? He glanced back. Nyx and Lincoln were behind him, with Jodie bringing up the rear. He swallowed.
He¡¯d been hesitant to use his Talents, as that would be another thing to explain later. But they were in the stronghold of demonic cultivators now. They needed to be alive to ask questions. He doubted that he could handle these guys as easily as the two upstairs.
Chapter 61: Are our lives important to strangers?
The torch lights flickered across Hector¡¯s cheeks. He glanced between his friends, licking his lips. They couldn¡¯t afford to get too caught up in a fight. It had to end quickly. ¡°I¡¯d suggest we ambush them¡ªbut it won¡¯t work in a space like this. Instead, I¡¯m just going to charge straight down the tunnel.¡±
Lincoln frowned. He turned his head to Nyx¡ªJodie would probably ignore anything he had to say. ¡°That can¡¯t be a good idea, right?¡± He said, getting on his tiptoes and peering past Hector. ¡°By that logic, we would have to keep running full sprint down the entire tunnel just to catch everyone off guard.¡± He dropped back to his feet. ¡°Hector, I agree with you, but that¡¯s a lot.¡±
Nyx shifted on her feet and turned her head to Hector, raising an eyebrow. Did she see it the same way Lincoln did? Surely not. With her Gravity Forging Four cultivation, a run down this tunnel would hardly slow her down.
Hector turned, taking a step forward, crunching dirt beneath his feet. ¡°Just keep up.¡± He kicked off, taking off into a light sprint down the tunnel. Lincoln had voiced protest, but Hector didn¡¯t doubt he¡¯d keep up. They didn¡¯t have time to argue. Lives were at stake.
As Hector moved down the tunnel, his rapid footsteps echoing off the walls, the Farmhands came into view. There were four of them; three in their typical green robes and the fourth¡ Hector almost paused as he saw the boys¡¯ clothes.
Scruffy brown pants, a brown shirt overlaid with a torn brown jacket. That wasn¡¯t a Farmhand. As Hector moved down the tunnel, the four of them paused, a look of confusion passing over all of their faces.
They were probably wondering who he was with and why he was running down the hall. Not that they¡¯d figure it out before they were put into the dirt.
¡°Hey you, what are you¡¡± The Farmhand froze as Hector leapt off the ground, aiming a foot straight at his chest.
One foot slammed down, then the second taking the boy off his feet. He flew back, slamming into the dirt, his back thudding against the dirt. Hector swivelled, his fist blurring forward. But the scruffy-looking boy blocked it.
Hector leapt back. The air whipped past his ear as he dodged the boy¡¯s follow-up punch. This one had some teeth.
¡°I take it he¡¯s not one of yours then,¡± the boy said. His eyes ran up and down Hector as if trying to figure out if he¡¯d seen him before. One farmhand moved next to the boy, while the others went to assist his friend.
Lincoln walked next to Hector, Jodie, and Nyx a few paces behind. ¡°I take it your ambushing plan worked,¡± Lincoln said. Hector resisted the urge to punch him. Now was not the time.
¡°Do you guys just let anyone in?¡± the scruffy-haired boy asked. Before anyone could reply, Hector shot forward, crunching the dirt beneath him. The scruffy boy raised his arms. Hector pulled back.
He would just block again. Hector stepped to the side. Lincoln and Jodie blurred past him, gunning for the other Farmhands. Divide and conquer it was. The scruffy-haired boy glanced at them. Bad choice.
Hector shot forward, slamming his palm towards the boy¡¯s nose. The boy jerked to the side, practically falling over his feet. Hector raised an arm and whipped his fist down, slamming it into the boy¡¯s block with a thud.
The boy braced and pushed Hector back. He then darted forward and grabbed Hector¡¯s wrist. With a crack, he slammed his forehead into Hector¡¯s.
Stars danced in Hector¡¯s vision as he staggered back. The boy closed in again, but Nyx was there, knee smashing into the boy¡¯s block. He stepped back, skidding to a stop as he stared wide-eyed at Nyx. The boy¡¯s lips split into a grin as he raised a hand and beckoned her forward.
This guy is not a Farmhand. If he is, then I¡¯m the king of this world. Who the hell is he and what is he doing here? System scan him.
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///: Acquiring target stats¡
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Cultivation level: [Gravity Forging - 3]
Talent: [None]
Talent Fragment: [None]
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Hector shook his head. It all made sense now¡ªwell, at least his strength did. Gravity Forging Three. That could have gone a lot worse. But if he¡¯d used his Talent, the boy wouldn¡¯t be so smug.
Nyx shot forward, her heel slicing through the air like a knife. The boy sidestepped, throwing several wild punches at Nyx. She ducked by them, practically swimming through them, taking careful steps back as she moved.
She slapped one fist aside. Ducking under the second blow, and slammed her palm forward. The boy leapt back, holding his stomach as he staggered to a stop. The torchlight flickered across his features. He shook his head, spitting on the floor before launching back in.
A scream split the air, raw and desperate. Hector glanced past the fighting and down the tunnel. It came from further in. He glanced back at Nyx. She was holding back, that much Hector could tell.
Fine. I guess I can¡¯t keep holding back. She¡¯s keeping her strength hidden, even¡ª
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A grunt sounded in the hallway. Hector¡¯s head snapped to Lincoln, who was on the floor with a ¡®Farmhand¡¯ about to stomp on his chest. Hector barely thought. He pulled on both his new Talents.
The air soaked with static in an instant, electrical energy buzzing all around as tiny blue motes of energy floated about. That same static buzzed down his legs, energising his muscles. It was like a dam had burst.
The world blurred around Hector. He was on the Farmhand in seconds. His fist shifted. The Farmhand flew off his feet, smacking into the dirt, static buzzing off his cheeks. Hector¡¯s head snapped to the second, locked in a fight with Jodie.
The world shifted around him again. His foot whipped up and crashed into the boy¡¯s stomach. The Farmhand shuffled back, his face tight as his teeth chattered. Jodie stepped away, a look of confusion overtaking her features.
Hector stepped forward. His fist blurred again, slamming into the Farmhands¡¯ stomach. He hit him at least five times, static building as he did. The boy went to swing for him. But it was slow. Almost as if he wanted Hector to dodge, and so he did.
He ducked under the blow, and with a whip of wind, Hector¡¯s foot cracked into the side of the boy¡¯s head. Static exploded across his body as he flew to the right. He slammed onto his back, spasming on the dirt.
¡°Hector,¡± Jodie said. He took off again, leaving the last Farmhand to the two of them. He didn¡¯t have time to let Nyx play about anymore.
His legs pumped. The scruffy-haired boy and Nyx separated. Now was a good chance for him. He was next to the boy, and before he could realise it, Hector¡¯s fist crashed into his side. The boy staggered back, a look of confusion on his face as he grabbed at his rib.
Hector exploded off the dirt, feet aiming straight at the boy¡¯s chest. He¡¯d try to dodge, but Hector wouldn¡¯t let him. He willed the little static that was in the boy¡¯s body to erupt. The boy paused in discomfort. That was enough.
Hector¡¯s foot slammed into his chest, then his second whipped around, his heel slamming straight into the boy¡¯s cheek. His head snapped to the side. Hector landed, spun on his heel and his fist blurred, cracking straight into the boy¡¯s chin, and taking him off his feet. He slammed into the dirt, twitching as static exploded all over his body.
Nyx looked at Hector, her eyes wide with confusion. Even though she¡¯d held back, he¡¯d still taken the boy down with relative ease. It was something that someone at his level shouldn¡¯t be able to do. She would have some questions for him, but she wouldn¡¯t get her answer¡ªnot unless she felt like sharing her own.
Hector stepped next to the scruffy boy. The chattering of his teeth was beginning to fade, but Hector couldn¡¯t have him getting up. Not yet anyway. Hector¡¯s foot cracked across the boy¡¯s face, knocking him unconscious. He then glanced up.
Jodie had dealt with the last Farmhand¡ªprobably an actual one¡ªand the other two lay unconscious nearby. Jodie glanced at him. He could guess what she wanted to ask. The air just over a meter around him still buzzed with static energy from [Static Field], and [Volt Runner] would still be active for an hour. Her question would have to wait.
¡°Search them,¡± Hector said, dropping to one knee. He patted down the scruffy boy¡¯s clothes, snaking through the folds. Static arced off his body into the air. Hector¡¯s finger slipped into a pocket, brushing against some metal. He pulled his hand back, and with it, around six silver coins.
If Hammond is making these Ham pills, like I think, then is this guy one of the people who buys them? But who is he?
Hector slipped the coins into his pocket with a light clink. Nyx stepped next to him, the edge of her shadow flickering in the torchlight. Hector turned his head, glancing up at her. The static buzzed around the air. None of it affected her. He didn¡¯t want it to.
Nyx said nothing. Her eye moved from him and she looked further down the tunnel, keeping any thoughts she had to herself. That was probably for the best. Hector placed a hand on his knee and pushed off, getting to his feet. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± He asked Jodie as she walked over, Lincoln trailing behind.
She nodded. ¡°One of them had this key on them,¡± she said, holding up an iron key. It glistened in the torchlight, its surface slightly rusted in places. It looked part well cared for and part decayed. Whoever had owned it had struggled to keep the corrosion at bay.
It was pretty moist down here. That no doubt played a part in it. Hector moved forward, taking the key from Jodie¡¯s hands. A scream split the air, and Hector frowned, his gaze moving further down the tunnel. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Jodie went to say something, but Hector held up his hand. She fell silent. ¡°I will answer all your questions once everyone is safe.¡±
He stepped past her, moving further down the hallway. Jodie¡¯s head fell. She looked to Lincoln and frowned; as if wondering what he knew about it. Lincoln shrugged. Hector ignored them and shook his head. He hadn¡¯t even told Lincoln about what he could do.
And I still don¡¯t plan to. The question is, what would even be a good lie in this situation? In the future, the things I can do will be even more exaggerated. What will I say then?
The four of them continued walking down the tunnel in a strained silence. The screams and the crackle of torches were the only sound. Hector kept his pace even. It wasn¡¯t quite a walk or a run. Lincoln had been right. They couldn¡¯t just run, full sprint, down the tunnel¡ªeven if Hector wanted to.
They passed by a few turns as they walked down the tunnel, but took none of them. The screams didn¡¯t come from them. No. The screams came from one place¡ªand it was further in. Finally, they reached the origin of the screams. Well, the door behind which the screams were located.
¡°Do you think the key goes in here?¡± Lincoln asked, turning to Hector.
Hector sighed, running a hand through his hair. It might, but that didn¡¯t matter. The door seemed sturdy, but he didn¡¯t doubt that he, or at the very least Nyx, could get through it if they tried hard enough. A scream more shrill than the last few Hector had heard came through the door.
Whoever they were torturing before had probably expired. They¡¯d moved on to someone else. Hector fished the key from his pocket, holding his breath as he slipped it into the lock¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. The lock clicked and Hector let out a sigh, pushing open the door.
He practically fell while charging into the room, not even wondering if there was anyone else who could be a threat. He stopped as he stepped a few paces into what looked to be a prison. Cells ran along either side of the walkway. The smell of faeces and urine coated the air.
Groaning came from further in; sounds of desperation and pleading. ¡°Please, I want to go home,¡± a voice said. Hector walked further down the path, the other trailing behind him. His face morphed into one of disgust. Many of the cells had bodies in them.
Dead.
Behind, something slammed into one cell. Hector turned. Jodie stood, her knuckles white as she gripped the bars, her eyes wide with a look of horror. ¡°Sasha. Hey, Sash. Wake up,¡± she cried, shaking the cell door.
No, it couldn¡¯t be Sasha. They¡¯d only trained together the other day. She couldn¡¯t be here. Hector hurried over, shoving Jodie to the side and slipping the key into the cell lock. The door swung open, and he rushed inside, dropping to his knees.
It was her.
Her skin, once filled with life, was now dried and flaky. Sasha¡¯s green eyes, once vibrant, and able to draw your attention from across the dojo, were now dull and grey. Blood pooled from her ears, dripping onto Hector¡¯s arm as he cradled her head.
¡°It¡¯s not her, right?¡± Jodie said, her voice weak, cracking as she spoke. She dropped to her knees with a puff of dust.
Torchlight flickered across the cells as water dripped from somewhere. Hector went to speak, but another scream came from further in. It was so close. Sasha was dead; they¡¯d have to grieve her later. Right now, they needed to save at least one person.