My reflexes kicked in as someone from behind tried to kick the side of my head. I rolled into a fighting stance and right in front of me was that girl from the tree. Why is she attacking me?
I created ice daggers in my hands as the girl attacked furiously. She was attacking with all four of her limbs, she's fighting like an animal. I can't even get an attack in. We push each other back and she reaches out to her back to try and get something, confused as she looks back. I take my chance and grapple her to the ground and pin her in a rear triangle choke hold.
"I am not the enemy, I found you in a tree. You're safe. I'm not here to fight, do you understand my tongue?" I said as I breathed heavily. The girl is breathing heavily as well but what's strange is that I can't hear her breathing at all? Is she a trained assassin that was imprisoned in that tree? What are the possibilities of something like that happening? Who is she?
I felt a small nod on my leg and I let go, I sat in front of her. She tries to speak but nothing comes out, no noise, no lip smack. She looks surprised herself and looks up at me in confusion and worry. She looks at her hands and tries to talk again. But nothing comes out.
What the hell? She can't talk? "Can you talk?" I ask, it felt silly to ask since im watching her try but still...
She shakes her head, at least she understands the human tongue. What should I do now? "My name is Faith, what's your name?"
The girl stares blankly and grabs a nearby stick. She wrote 'I don't remember'. I look at her as she looks puzzled. Did she lose her memories? This is bad
I spoke my next words in the Mythical tongue and I can practically see the question marks floating around her. This at least removes off one suspicion she isn't a mythical creature and most likely a human. She wasn't born from that tree but trapped inside? She looks too young , maybe 10 or 12 by the looks of it. She couldn't have been trapped inside that tree for long?
" What do you remember?"
She looks at the floor thinking hard, a minute passes, five minutes passes, ten minutes passes and she finally starts writing. 'Meeting you'
She really can't remember anything, her parents must be looking for her. I might as well go back to windkeep, there should be a request in WindKeep if any children have gone missing. I stand up and look over to the girl "follow me, i'll see if anyones trying to look for you"
I smile and so does she, I start walking towards the city. I didn't realize I was this deep into the forest, the city must be at least over 16000 meters away. This is going to be a very long walk.
****
Whenever I see a monster try to attack us I'll just pin cushion them with my ice.
She tried to ask me some questions along the walk but it was difficult to understand someone who cannot talk. She looked frustrated, not with me but with herself. I reassure her that it's fine. I gave her one of my empty notebooks with a quill that has some ink in it. I didn't want to leave my stuff behind in case someone was to steal it. So i brought it along
After a few more minutes of walking the girl gave me my notebook back but flipped to a page full of questions. She sure is talkative for someone who is mute.
The questions are as followed:
1. "Where are we?"
2. "How do you make that ice?"
3. "Can I make ice like you?"
4. "Can you teach me to do that ice stuff?"
5. "Can you tell me about yourself?"
6. "Do you know why I can't talk?"
7. "How did you find me?"
8. "Who am I?"
9. "I'm sorry for attacking you, I felt like I was in danger"
10. "Are there people actually looking for me?"
"Well to answer your first question, if you want to know what Realm we are in. We are in the Warrior Realm, specifically. In this realm we are in the forest by a city named WindKeep. " I make sure she follows beside me as I answer her questions. " I make the ice, why use my Ziel, do you know what that is?"
I look beside me and she shakes her head, so she only remembers how to read, write, and I guess speak.
"No you cannot make ice like me unless you buy an imbued item."
She tilts her head to the words imbued item and I internally sign in my head. Maybe there's an art that can cure this memory loss. If I take her to my aunt... no I'm already here, maybe I can find someone who is amazing with Support Arts.
"Later I can teach the Arts if you really want but if you're from this Realm you might as well as become a knight instead of a mage." She nods as I continue
"Well as I said, my name is Faith Law. I can use the ice element annnd I have over five siblings. My brothers Tazamaki and Kaz are so talented and I wanted to catch up to them, currently training with their new sensei. I'm kinda jealous so I thought that I might as well get some real world experience since I didn't find a new sensei like them. I guess my current goal is finding a certain blacksmith. ``I stopped my rambling as I saw another monster preparing to attack us. The small rabbit jumped off the tree, breaking the branch it was just on.
I create an ice sword as I slash towards the rabbit. It tried to position itself midair to jump off my sword but I created an ice arrow from its side, I launched the arrow. A direct shot to its head, the rabbit hangs from the tree with an arrow to its head. I look over to the girl to see if she's alright, man she needs a name. I'll call her mute in my head for now. "You okay?" I ask and mute nods.
"Uhh, where was I... ``I look over the page and mute poke my arm. I look over to see her hold her 6 fingers up. I turn to the book, I'm on question six. "Thanks, I do not know why you cannot talk but I believe it has to do with you being in that tree. Maybe if I have some time I'll look around to see what that tree is exactly"
She tilts her head to my answer " I'll explain, I found you in the tree, the one with the hole in the house. I was chopping wood and I found you inside it, after that I made a bed and laid you down"
"I don't know who you are, that's why we're going to the city to see if anyone puts out a request forum looking for you. Maybe a friend or a family member is waiting for you in windkeep, I nudged her shoulder and she smiled. My eyes change to pink until I look back at the notebook.
"Ok next question, it's fine. You don't need to apologize. Like you said you thought you were in danger. By the way, the way you fought was interesting"
"Last question, I don't wanna bring your hopes up but hopefully someone in windkeep is looking for you. And hey if no one is there looking for you, wanna stay with me?" She nods with this determined look in her eyes.
What am I thinking, I'm not sure if I can even take care of myself. But I cant leave this child all alone, what if someone made them into a slave or forced them into child labor. Yup! I've decided that if mute doesn't have anyone to go to she can rely on me!
We continue to 'talk' but it's more like a one way conversation but I guess that's how it goes when the other person cannot talk. I started telling her the stories my father would tell me, the days of his adventure.
***
I slid my headband over my eyes once I spotted the walls of the city. The city of WindKeep was built in the middle of this forest. I don't know much of this city exactly but I do remember hearing in class that the strongest mage known as Red lived here when it was still a small town. After I see the guards I speak to them for a bit before entering the city.
I grab mute's hand and smile at her, I start heading towards the adventuring guild. I ignore everyone staring at me while I search around the quest board. No quests about looking for a small girl, strange...
I ask the staff and they claim that no one made a missing persons report. I left after thanking them, I ask the common folk if they know mute but no one knows her. I can tell that it's getting to her, before we entered the city she looked excited but now she doesn't look so good.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I recommended that we should eat at some tavern and mute reluctantly agreed. Once her order came, that cloud of sadness that was hovering over her completed disappeared as she happily ate. We ate in comfortable silence, what should I do now? There was no quest for missing people and nobody recognized mute either. I can't go back on my word and not take her with me.
Once I finished eating a realization hits me, I can't hear when mute puts her cup of juice down. Early today I couldn't hear her steps throughout the forest, the leaves in the forest were dry. Is she unconsciously using an art? No, I cant see any Ziel being manipulated...
That means she's cursed, holy shit! Is that why she was outside the city? No cant be, someone would have reacted to seeing her if they did forbid her from coming back.
She slams her cup as she finishes her juice, with a toothy grin she looks up at me. I smile back and pay for the food, before I leave I look back at the waitress and ask.
"Is there a store that sells books in this city?"
"Ay, it's the building by King Rele's castle"
I thank her once more before walking to the store. I'm hoping that I can find a book on that tree and maybe a book about curses. I notice mute slowed her pace and I turn back, she's watching the children playing around. "Wanna play with them?"
She shakes her head and I start walking towards the store. Once we made it there it isn't as big as I was hoping but it will due. I great the old man inside, I presume he's the owner. I search around for a few minutes but I can't find anything on the Mythical Realm. Not even any fiction stories, I give up after searching through all of the shelves again. I start searching around for a handbook on curses but no luck. Damn, this was a waste of time.
I was about to leave until I saw mute reading on the floor. I looked over her shoulder and it was a book about Muto, guardian angel of both Warrior's and Mage's. I ruffle her hair "come on, bring the book with you" she stands up smiling and I pay for the book. It was so cheap, only 100 gold Talons.
I left the city with mute as we walked to the house I made. I carry mute home as it slowly becomes darker.
How can I communicate with her without the ink and paper?
***
It was the next day already, so instead of eating meat in the morning I decided it would be best to look around for some plant to eat. This forest is full of plant food.
I found mute awake when I came back from collecting the fruits and vegetables around this area. After she was fully awake I brought her with me by a running river I found early. I was showing mute how to clean the plants, after a few minutes I asked her something.
" Like I said you can stay with me if you'd like" she looks at me and nods before looking back at the river.
" Since you don't have a name that you remember, you should select yourself a name. Think about it and tell me when you have my notebook"
She nods again.
We leave the river after cleaning all of the fruits and vegetables. Once we got to the house mute went inside the house. I made myself a couple of ice cubes before chewing on it.
I wonder what kind of name she'll pick, Fyevarra? Aoth? Amafrey? Zora? I wonder.
She came out with my notebook and flipped to an empty page with one sentence on it. Can you decide?
"Eh? You want me to decide? But why?"
She flips the notebook over and quickly writes 'i can't think of anything' oh, I see so she can't even decide a name for herself. Should I say mute? I mean I’ve been calling her that in my head but will she even like it? It's probably a safer choice to not pick that name if she doesn't like that.
"If you don't like it shake your head, got it?" She nods. I walk her over to a table with the fruits and vegetables all over it. I grabbed an apple and bit into it, mute copies my actions.
"Aoth?" She shakes her head
"Zora?" She shakes her head
"Fyevarra?" She shakes her head, picky girl
"Amafrey?" She stares at my apple intensely before shaking her head again. For a minute there I actually thought she liked the name.
The only other name that I can think of that isnt Mute is "Mara?" Once again she declines the name, I hang my head as I finish the apple.
"What about...Mute?" A long shot but it's the only other name that I can actually think of on the spot. Once again she stares at the apple in her hand before she nods.
Eh! Really!? She likes the name mute? " So you want to be called mute?" She nods her head as she picks up another apple and bites into it. Strange girl.
***
A couple of days have passed since she selected her name. I sent three letters to my family. One was asking for help from mother and telling her how I was doing. The other 2 were for my brothers. Tazamaki went to the Human Realm to train with his new sensei and my other brother Kaz left home to train in the Spellcaster Realm with his new sensei.
I bought Mute more clothing options because what she was wearing was too thin. Even though the cold doesn't affect me, I can see her breath in the air now.
She enjoyed having new clothing, she even hugged me which was nice. I made a plate of ice that is reflective so that she can see herself. She loved it.
***
Later that day she asked me again if I can teach her the arts. It wouldn't hurt to teach her plus she'll need to defend herself in case I'm not around.
I remember spotting a meadow nearby so I took to the empty field full of grass. It was about 30 meters away from the house, wasn't too far.
After we got comfortable I first explained that the arts come in 4 different forms.
Offensive, which is obvious... casting the arts for attacking the enemy
Support, casting the arts for defensive or healing purposes. You can even cast some arts to buff yourself or debuff the enemy
Inferential, any art that doesn't fit in the category of support or offensive like from illusions / invisibility / summoning / or even Art circles
Finally, there is Blessing / Pedigree. This art is about gaining arts from your respected God, hence the name blessing. Pedigree is the use of certain arts that usually only your bloodline can use. There are many Clans with pedigree and there are certain clans that are stronger than others.
Now you need Ziel to use the arts, it's the thing that fuels the art. There are two ways to use Ziel, the soul of one's self or the soul of the realm. Humans and Mythical Creatures are the only ones that can use the soul of the realms while the demon and angels can only use their souls.
Since Ziel is everywhere, humans can manipulate to create the Arts. But they cannot create it or store it in their body, it's one of many rules that the gods have put in place.
Demons and Angels use their own soul to create Ziel and are allowed to store it, see using one's soul to make Ziel burn time out of your lifespan. What I mean is to gain a certain amount of Ziel you must sacrifice days out of your life. This isn't a drawback since demons and angels live about two thousand years, but that’s my opinion.
At first, mute was confused when I said sacrificing time to gain more Ziel. She thought that if you sacrifice 5 years of your life for a giant attack, will that work? It doesn’t work like that, I paused to think to myself. I start explaining it in a way that mute can understand.
Let's say every time you sacrifice 2 days in your lifespan and you'll gain 200 Ziel. Your soul itself puts a limit of 200 Ziel since your body cannot handle a lot of stored Ziel at once. For now you have a couple of Arts that cost around 5 to 20 Ziel, the art you favor or practice the most will slowly become cheaper from 20 Ziel to 10 Ziel and maybe even to 5 Ziel with more proficiency in that Art. So demons or angels cannot expand their pool of Ziel but they can decrease the cost of the Arts.
When mute finally understood I continued on with my mini-lesson.
Since humans cannot store Ziel inside of themselves or create Ziel inside them, they control and manipulate it. But this eats up their stamina just like training the body would, the more you 'train' your manipulation, the more area you can manipulate around you. Usually, a beginner mage would have a diameter of 2 meters around themselves, the more you train the bigger the area expands.
The way humans manipulate the soul of the realm is by incantations or by pulling the strands of the soul. I don’t like using incantations so I prefer using the ladder, when I was explaining it to her it dawned on me that mute can't talk so she can't even use incantations. I feel bad that I forgot even though I've been living with her for over a month. Sorry, Mute I apologized in my mind but that's good for me since I'm not proficient in it.
Anyways I tried to teach her the easiest Art that allows the user to see the strands of the Realms soul. I guided her middle finger to grab the strand and to pull on it, once the strand snapped Mute’s eyes widened as she saw a world covered in blue strands. My eyes turn pink as I smile, she looks all around her as she pokes and touches the strands.
When she finally calmed herself down I asked her how many colors she could see and she said one.
Not surprising
She saw a bunch of blue strands covering the sky and all around us. I explained to her that these strands are physical manifestations of the soul of the realm, hence the name ‘the soul of the realm’. The way you move and manipulate the string can cast certain Arts. I told her to pluck it and when she plucked the blue string, a ball of light hovered over her hand.
The more advanced the Arts are, the more strands you need to manipulate or control; I explained to her that to use higher levels of Arts you must rank up the magician ladder. Currently, she would be ranked ‘soul’ and she’ll know when she ranks up when she sees different color strands mixed in with the blue.
On a later date I will tell her more about using advanced arts. Maybe when she ranks up.
After I asked her for a summary on what I just said, I started searching my memories for a ‘soul’ ranked Art and immediately remembered one of them, one of my favorite ones called ‘Hand of Sight’ popped in my mind. I stopped using it a while ago but it's useful.
Once I am satisfied with her summary, I make sure she's watching while I explain what I’m doing, with your middle finger you’ll pull the blue strand up, and you must have the object around you in mind. You’ll switch from your middle finger to your pinky finger and push down, as soon as the art works the strand will snap.
As soon as my cord snapped an apple appeared in my hand, I threw it to her, it was the apple she didn't finish this morning. I explain what the art does exactly; the art is called ‘Hand of Sight’ it will teleport any object in your casting range into the palm of your hand. As long as you know the general direction of that object it will be summoned in your hand. Once I am finished with my explanation I tell her to try it herself.
I made a ball of ice and put it behind her. If she succeeds, the ball of ice will enter the palm of her hand. She breathes in and breathes out and tries it immediately, once the cord snaps under her fingers the ball of ice enters her hand. She looks at me then at the ball of ice in her hand then back at me, I smile as wide as her before she embraces me in a hug. Even though it wasn't really a huge accomplishment, it was something big for her, and I decided to celebrate it with food from the city instead of just hunting for the food in that giant forest.
I slid on the headband over my eyes and ran with Mute to the city of WindKeep. I made a road of ice as I froze the bottom of her shoes as I slid her down the slippery road of ice. It only took us 7 minutes to make it to WindKeep.
We searched for a nearby tavern and celebrated with some good food. I paid for the entire tarven. The adventurers and the citizens that were inside were pleased with this and we started celebrating together.
I never told them why we celebrated but everyone was happy that night. Mute was having fun listening to the adventures story about their quests. She was all smiles throughout the entire night.