The Anima dissipated from the compressed water, the ocean thinned around the island, the waves of Morinfair waged war on the area again, and the boundary blurred. Soon, with a roar of victory, Morinfair would claim the lost land and embrace the island. And Ewan only wished it happened sooner.
The soulless inched closer to the edge of the tribe, stumbling and staggering through the vined foliage, tirelessly slogging forth. Before long they would sink their brittle teeth into warm and bloody flesh, and their bony claws would tear the living apart…
It was Ewan’s command, yet he wished to avoid it if he could, for the attack on the tribe was his bluff. Any bloodshed and death would cement his conflict with Algernon, and unless Ewan killed him now, his threat would hang over his head for the days to come.
He couldn’t be the only one worried about the rogue predator in the shadows, however, as his small numbers posed a bigger risk to the tribe. And as he hoped indeed, with the added nudge from the suggestion, Algernon caved. “Stop…please stop,” he said. “I concede.”
“Wise decision, Sir,” Ewan said and halted the skeletons’ advance, recovering his Dark-Anima with the coins. “I ask you again to be patient for a little longer, we’ll be out of your hair very soon.”
…
…
…
The skeletons’ threat to the tribe balanced Algernon’s threat to Ewan and Nana, and the strained quiet stood on the stable scale, rigged with powder keg. The forest regained its normality, the snowstorm picked up, and its wind howled to celebrate the freedom when the blurred boundary flickered and died for good.
Tides of Morinfair burst into the barricaded area, flooded the beach, and gushed into the forest, scarfing all in its way. When chaos engulfed the woods and the tribe, when the waves shattered and devoured the skeletons, Nana popped out of the water amidst the raging waves.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Algernon, let’s meet again someday.” Ewan grabbed Nana and shot away with her, his words echoing in his trail.
Seconds of flight at his highest thrust brought them to the Stormfalcon as Ewan opened a gap in its defense shield and landed on the top deck, dropping Nana on his side.
“Boss!” Kidd dashed over with a clownish smile, wagging his metaphorical tail.
“Sir, Ma’am.” Lance greeted and came over with Stefan.
“Any hiccups?” Stefan asked.
“Yeah, a big one,” Ewan said. “Nyte, anchors up, fire the thrusters, keep on the water.” And the Stormfalcon blasted off after the blaring rattles of the chain, sailing away from the island, leaving the chaotic ocean behind in its frothy trail.
“Are we getting chased, Sir?” Lance asked.
Ewan gazed at the span of the island shrinking over the horizon, eyeing the old but stable figure hovering in the air. Morinfair had wreaked havoc on the tribe, and Algernon contested it for the ownership of the island, and the battle waged on.
“It should be fine, Morinfair will keep him busy,” Ewan said.
When he turned around, a roar exploded from that aged figure, erupting the waters beneath him, its shockwave even rippling the waves that Stormfalcon broke.
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“You really angered him,” Nana said, staring at the mayhem they left behind.
“I barely did anything, most of it was the ocean,” Ewan said. “He should be happy he’s free now, his tribe can get out of the island.”
“Ask for a reward when we meet next time then,” Nana said with a chuckle.
“I won't need to ask the next time we meet,” Ewan said.
“Where are we going, Ewan?” Stefan asked.
“We’ll decide that later, let’s leave this area first,” Ewan said, then turned to Nana. “Go freshen up and change, get some sleep if you want.”
“Where’s your room?” she asked.
“Leave it to me, Boss,” Kidd said, still holding his foolish grin. “Sae’sa, I’m Kidd, Boss’s first follower. Oh, I also have a surname now, so I’m Kidd Yales. I also have a younger brother, Walyn Yales, he’s a bit shy.”
“Do the introductions later,” Ewan said and kicked his ass, sending him away with the giggling Nana.
…..
Stormfalcon, Bridge.
“That’s the gist of it,” Ewan said once he briefed the three about what transpired on the island, emphasizing his read of the Whispered, from their interactions to their combat style. “Stefan, you’ve had ample time to think about it. Will you go through with it, or will you wait? I can't guarantee anything, but we’ll try to find another path of Asheva for you if you don’t want this.”
“The longer I wait, the worse my chances are. And what if the next one asks for even more?” Stefan said, tightening his grip on the armrest, inhaling a lungful. “Ewan, I need this, please take my eyes.”
“Okay then,” Ewan said and hovered the crystal ball containing the Whispered inheritance towards Stefan. “Smear your blood on it. If you’re qualified, it should transfer all the inheritance to you.”
Stefan gave a strained nod, ripped the hangnail of his finger with his teeth, and rubbed the trickling blood on the glassy ball, reddening the refraction.
“Will he succeed?” Lance asked.
“He should be able to, he has a strong soul,” Ewan said, creating a soundproof dome around Stefan to prevent interference. “Despite all that I said, it’s a good fit for him. He’ll just have to lose his eyes for its price.”
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Status: Healthy
Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist
Name: Ewan Ayres
Species: Human
Vitality: 7.0
Spirit: 25.5
Anima: [Fire – 25.5 | Ice – 25.5 | Blood – 25.5 | Mystic: 25.5 | Dark: 25.5]
Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]
Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
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Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]
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Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-4] [Grade-D]
Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].
Storage: Journal; Elementalist—The Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon’s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients; Lantern.
Novas: 24,285
Crelith: 1,014