After we had finished our stew, Tusa emerged from her corner of the room and directed us to place our empty bowls back into the bucket and take our seats. The Goblin resumed her place at the front of our makeshift classroom, once we were all seated quietly she proceeded with the next lecture.
“You have been told that I'm to instruct you lot until every one of you comes of age. Today, I will explain what that means.” We eagerly leaned forward, Tusa's words promised answers to the questions that had been burning up our minds.
“All mythonic beings have a far greater capacity to grow in power and abilities than those who are not bound to a mythos. Part of this power comes from a set of rights we must undertake, which allow us to grow stronger and enter the next stage of our development.” At this Tusa paused, I thought she was waiting for questions. This seemed odd given her earlier treatment of our queries, till I registered that her sharp gaze was actually confirming no one had fallen asleep. When she was content that she still retained her class's attention, she continued her lecture.
“The very first of these rights occurs when we come of age. When this happens you will enter a dream-like state where you must complete a specific challenge. This test is similar in nature to the one Ignis gives us before our birth, which I assume all of you remember.” Eight heads nodded at Tusa and she looked pleased.
“It is required to pass these challenges to ascend to the next tier. These will occur naturally up to your second tier, but if you wish to grow past that point, you will need the help of a shaman to undertake your remaining mythonic rights.”
“What exactly do we need to do to come of age?” I questioned when Tusa paused, deciding now was the best time for me to interject. The small shaman did not look at me, instead turning to begin drawing on the blackboard. I worried she would ignore my question as she had done before. Then she suddenly whirled around to face us again.
“No doubt you have seen the glowing screens with words?” Tusa asked, tapping the board under the image she had just drawn. My eyes widened as I saw, sketched in powdery white lines, a near-perfect replica of the popup windows I had seen since I was reborn.
“Most likely, the ones that you have appeared to you have stated the completion of a milestone as you have grown older. Milestones are the indicators of your growth to your next tier.”
“What tier are we now?” Drazahar asked excitedly.
“You don't have one,” Tusa replied nonchalantly. Seeing our bewildered expression, she gave a heavy sigh.
“You brood as children, unable of taking care of yourselves, thus non-tiered beings. Once you complete your milestones or naturally grow to adulthood, you will become tier zero. Also known as your coming of age.” I heard a gasp echo through the room, I thought the sound had come from me. I realized my brothers and I had all collectively caught our breaths.
“By reaching tier zero, you are able to grow significantly stronger, increase your stats, abilities, and gain skills through experience. Gaining skills is a crucial advantage, as attempting to use a skill when you are untiered is a stupid and dangerous endeavor.”
“If we're not supposed to gain skills until after tier zero, why did you teach us to gather and skin creatures? Isn't that dangerous because it could make us learn a skill?” Drazahr questioned, his brow furrowed in annoyance at our teacher.
“You brood are not tiered. You are unable to gain skills naturally, so teaching you these basic survival techniques will not cause any issues. In fact, they might even help you gain skills after you become tiered.” Tusa explained, and I felt a tingling in my belly. I already knew I could use abilities, like Call Mother, and I even had a technique I could use with The Meek's Stealth. But now I could even gain skills through trying different things. How long did it take to gain a skill? Were there certain requirements? Tusa said our stigmata showed our master skill, did that mean we already had that skill? My racing thoughts were cut off as a popup appeared before me.
Pre-tier Milestone Achieved!
Learn about tiers, racial rights, and growth.
Congratulations!
You have completed the Nineth Pre-tier Milestone!
You are awarded 9% Growth. You are now at 89% growth.
Your attributes and size will be finished adjusting within 10 seconds.
I felt my body shift and grow. I decided to pull up my Milestone list, there was something I needed to confirm.
Milestones
Corporeal Soul: Overpower all your direct siblings in a physical activity. [Completed]
Corporeal Soul: Make your mother favor you over your siblings. Have her focus on your growth and potential. [Completed]
Corporeal Soul: Use a weapon. [Completed]
Vaettir Soul: Witness Inscription and runic magic coinciding together. [Completed]
Vaettir Soul: Gain the ability to speak. [Completed]
Vaettir Soul: Be afflicted by magic. [Completed]
Vaettir Soul: Learn of your Master Skill. [Completed]
Player Soul: You now understand Prana, Qi, and Energy. [Completed]
Player Soul: Learn about tiers, racial rights, and growth. [Completed]
Player Soul: Kill a creature. [Incomplete]
I felt my heart skip a beat as I reviewed the list. there was only one Player milestone left, 'Kill a creature', and I would have all of them completed.
I notice several of my brothers had all grown as well. It appeared that only those of us with Player Souls had grown. That must have meant that the milestone we reached was player specific, it also confirmed our theory that the Player Milestones were the same for all of us.
Tusa tapped her foot, looking somewhat impatient as she stared down at us.
“Are you done? Good! Thank you for the display of what achieving a milestone looks like, and my warmest congratulations on being one step closer to coming of age.” Her tone was far from warm or congratulatory. The shaman sounded more annoyed as if our achieving a milestone in the midst of her lecture was a nuisance. Tusa then clapped her hands together to gain our attention, which she never actually lost. But I guessed she liked appearing as if she was wrangling a rowdy bunch of Goblins.
“We will now move on to our history lesson!” She announced and I once again felt myself leaning forward eagerly.
“All children must learn of our mythos's great history. We belong to the Fire Mythos, which is comprised of five races: Goblins, Hoblins, Orcus, Ograsi, and Shahara. It does not matter where you are on the Isle of Fae, if you are one of these races you belong to the Fire Mythos and are a child of Igfrit.” Tusa turned back to the board and began to draw a shape I didn't recognize. It looked almost like an upside-down triangle, but it was lopsided and had divots, she drew its outline wobbly and organic.
The shape was then segmented into four uneven parts. I realized she had drawn a continent, the new sections most likely countries or maybe territories. Content with her work, Tusa turned back to face us.
https%3A%2F%2Fimages-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773...jbhwpEoWbY [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f068c9da-0225-4213-8b99-7d2e695ac68c/dfgqawx-ff95b2d4-0c8c-4075-bc81-8f7433bfd1b5.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2YwNjhjOWRhLTAyMjUtNDIxMy04Yjk5LTdkMmU2OTVhYzY4Y1wvZGZncWF3eC1mZjk1YjJkNC0wYzhjLTQwNzUtYmM4MS04Zjc0MzNiZmQxYjUucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.hqBIuFUI16QdwcIQa3JeHakxqvcDDtnVljbhwpEoWbY]
“This is the Isle of Fae, our piece of the vaster world of Mundas Diorum. We are located, here!” The shaman pointed a long claw at the territory that covered the bottom left of the Isle of Fae. It had a large cape that jutted out into the vast blackness of the slate, which I assume represented the oceans of our world.
“The Great Demon Desert! This is the place all the hordes of the Fire Mythos call home. However, we were not always wondering hordes, making do with only what we can carry through our barren environment.” At this Tusa smirked, seeing she had a captivated audience.
“Once, this place was the seat of our great conquest! The home of the Ignasian Empire!” She spread her arms wide and her gaze was far off as if imagining it.
“The Fire Mythos was powerful, with legions of warriors, magnificent cities, and powerful magic. We were so strong that we could even subjugate other races to serve us. And all of this led by the mighty Ignas.” Tusa's eyes looked far away, almost wistful. I felt something stir inside me. That name, Ignas, felt familiar as if I had heard it before but couldn't place where.
Tusa seemed to withdraw from her fantasy, her face hardening as she continued.
“But when the Ignasian Empire was at the height of its power, Ignas lost his life in the uprising led by the traitorous Pyrindia. After his death, the empire was thrown into a power struggle, and our enemies gained the strength and number to rival our once great empire.” Tusa drew a circle with clusters of four lines radiating from the top, bottom, left, and right. At its center was a small diamond shape.
“They formed the Sun Mythos,” the shaman said, pointing at the symbol. Then she drew a second, this one was an upside-down triangle, with five lines running through it, two horizontal and three vertical. At the top was a small circle, making it appear like the figure of a person was trapped inside the triangle.
“And, the Sand Mythos. The two new mythoi took advantage of the empire's weakened state, overthrowing our capital city and burning it to the ground.”
“Not long after the empire fell, the gates opened, leading to the Second Creation War. This war was responsible for the eradication of countless races. It crippled the mythoi of the Isle of Fae and devastated the land, to the point new kingdoms could not form for hundreds of years.”
“The Sand and Sun Mythoi were able to restore themselves somewhat, building cities and hives. Afraid that we would rise to be powerful enough to subjugate them again, they attempted to eradicate us. The blood of the Fire Mythos stained the desert red, be they warriors, crafters, or children. The Sun Mythos did not care.”
“Out of this genocide rose an Orcus by the name of Boudrika. Her pain and outrage rang across the desert, drawing hordes from all over to her. For the first time since the Ignasian Empire fell, we were united under one banner, with Boudrika leading the charge. Their shared rage and pain created the first Blood Horde. The horde raged against the armies of the Sand and Sun until they relented and a tenuous truce was called. The Sun Mythos ended their attempt at eradicating us, and the Blood Horde disbanded, dispersing and settling throughout the Great Demon Desert.”
“We are now scattered and disjointed. Our hordes rotate campsites every four months, as dictated by the Sun Mythos, or else we risk a new war. We do not enter the cities ruled by the Sun, or the hives of the Sand. We follow their rules and they leave the hordes to their own devices. So we roam the desert, carving out whatever existence we can manage”
“But,” At this Tusa smiles, the first I had seen since she started her lesson. “Once a year we are allowed to congregate at an oasis.”
“Oasis?” A voice piped up, it was Makadian. “What is the oasis?” Tusa's smile grew wider as if she had been hoping one of us would ask that question.
“The oases are small lush paradises scattered through the Great Demon desert. There are eight main oases that the hordes visit, and around which settlements have been made. You will find hordes from all over the Great Demon Desert there!”
“In a few months' time, we will be traveling to the Bora Oasis. There we will take up residence for four months, then make our trek to where we will erect our next encampment. At least for whoever stays with the horde.” Tusa waved her hand dismissively, but this tidbit of information caught my interest.
“What do you mean? Why wouldn't we stay with the horde?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion. While living in this camp did not sound very promising for a Goblin, wandering off on our own didn't seem like a much better alternative.
“All hordes are not created equal. Some have better craftsmen and warriors. A more distinguished standing in the mythos gives you better picks for campsites. Thus more resources, which result in wealthier clans with more opportunities to learn and grow. While at an oasis you are able to leave your horde and join one with better standing and more opportunities. If you can prove your worth to them.” The older Goblin paused, smiling as if she had heard a joke.
“Unless of course, you wish to branch off and make your own horde. As I'm sure all of you will do with your vast resources.” Tusa cackled at this, clearly finding the idea of any of us creating a horde ridiculous. I did find the concept interesting. So anyone could create a horde if they had the resources to do so. Once Tusa managed to regain her composure, she continued.
“The oases also serve several functions. They are the largest trading hubs we have access to. There you can sell your wares or purchase, valuable and unique items that are normally unavailable to us. You can find work with craftsmen or guilds.” The Goblin paused, smirking at us again.
“Or, if you are strong enough, you can even test your might in the combat arenas. Though I wouldn't recommend it for such punny little Goblins like you.” Tusa snorted and I thought she might fall prey to another fit of giggles, but managed to control herself. I felt annoyed, her displays of contempt toward us felt unnecessary.
“However, the main draw for most is the ability to mate without fear of repercussions.” At this statement, I felt my ears twitch.
“What do you mean?” I replied without thinking. Tusa checked her claws, completely unconcerned as she spoke.
“Members of a horde are not allowed to find mates or have offspring outside the oasis. The only exceptions to that are: you were bound to a mate at an oasis or with permission from your horde chieftain. The second is having a position in your horde where you may take mates freely. For example, as a shaman, I am able to mate with any males I choose within my burrow. In either case, you are free to reproduce.” Tusa spoke so casually as if she were informing us of the weather. I supposed it was a casual fact for those of the Fire Mythos, but it felt like such a strange concept to me.
“Why?” I pressed Tusa, trying to ignore the pit forming in my stomach.
“It is a means of managing family lineages. Your clan and your name are important and it is not something to dilute. It allows different groups to mix and prevents hordes from inbreeding and weakening the races overall. It also encourages the formation of new Hordes as bound couples create new clans.” Tusa paused for a moment, looking hesitant. It seemed she had more to say but wasn't sure if she wanted to continue. Finally, the shaman appeared to make up her mind.
“It is also part of our treaty with the Sun and Sand Mythos. Excessive undocumented growth among the hordes would break the current tenuous peace and lead to war.” The room was silent. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as the knot in my stomach tightened.
Did our parents break the breeding rules by having us? Was this the reason we never saw our father? I cast a hesitant glance over my shoulder, toward the back wall where Gooblis and my mother still stood watching us. I hoped to find some answer in her eyes.
But her expression was stony and distant. Revealing nothing.