Fully focused on any sound that could mean Elines return, I pushed the handle down and held my breath when:
CHIRP!
I let go of it while jumping up on the spot. A loud sound came just from the outside. Sounds of many animals would be heard. I looked from the window towards the spot where it all happened not too long ago. I saw many birds of the same color as the defeated bird standing around it in a circle.
One smaller bird poked at the fallen body, while the others stood in silent vigil. Their moment was interrupted by an intruder. A predator named Hole Badger, with brown, extremely resilient fur and a long, thin body that was barely larger than the bird's own, was attracted by the scent of blood and wanted to have an easy meal.
The birds started to attack it frantically from all sides, poking it, but no matter how many times they tried, no blood was shed; its hide endured all attacks and arrived before the corpse with the smallest bird relentlessly refusing to budge, shielding the dead body with its own.
Undisturbed, it opened a seemingly small mouth wider than expected, revealing many dozens of sharp teeth ready to bite down on its small prey. Unfortunately for him, there was another deadly enemy present that he did not account for. I appeared behind it swiftly but quietly. Holding a knife that I borrowed from the kitchen after I was unable to just sit there and look at this tragedy.
Stab! —KIEEEKK— The blade pierced its back, making it release a loud shriek. It spared me a glance and then quickly started running away, leaving a bloody trail behind, desperately trying to save its life.
But its luck has run out. The moment I saw it as an enemy, its fate was sealed. For I was not taught how to show mercy.
I chased after it, catching up after a nearby bush; it let out another noise when there was no escape. Biting at me but failing to land any attack, unlike me. My reach was longer, and it was smaller than any of my normal opponents. I found many openings that I could exploit. I stabbed it. once, twice, then more, and like in trance continued till it was unrecognizable.
As I stood over the creature’s lifeless form, its blood on my hands, I felt a strange mix of triumph and emptiness settle over me.
The small bird chirped at my side, but its voice felt distant, like a memory. I was exhausted, yet my mind raced, haunted by echoes of past struggles—struggles that had only ever led me to more violence.
"Huff huff well... you are welcome.”
I got up and returned with him flying around me to his companions; thankfully, none of them showed fright or hostility.
Taking a gamble, I started digging a hole with the stick under the tree where it had its last battle.
With the hole being deep enough, I turned towards the birds; all of them were now on the ground again around their deceased family member. Slowly approaching, they made way for me. The small bird that had its head down observed me without even blinking. I gently lifted the corpse and followed the birds to their makeshift grave, where we buried it in silence. Suddenly, the small bird flew onto my shoulder and nuzzled my cheek.
It then let out a loud chirp, and all of them disappeared into the sky. That was the end of our short encounter; only one budget-sized grave needs to be dug now...
As I walked back to the house, the battle frenzy I was under faded, leaving behind a hollow ache in my chest. The bird's gratitude had stirred something unfamiliar—an ache that was not entirely unpleasant. I returned, exhausted but determined, collapsing onto the soft bed where Eline’s care would soon bring me back from the edge once more.
The days blend together in a haze of sleep, warmth, and quiet murmurs from Eline. Her special soup became a strange comfort, the savory broth soothing more than just hunger. I would drift in and out of sleep, the crackling of the hearth and her soft footsteps the only sounds, like whispers of a life I never thought I'd experience.
Each day, I felt strength return to my limbs, yet something else, too—a sense of calm that almost felt... safe. And safety, I realized, was something I was learning to feel.
I slowly found it easier to talk to Eline, managing to ask her about her always covered eye, and she only told me that it was an old injury and not to worry about it.
Rain began to drum softly on the roof. I watched the water droplets race down the window, some merging together to reach the bottom faster than the rest. The flow of time continued, and five days went by, and I made a full recovery from my physical and mental fatigue.
The sun was shining brightly upon us as we were sitting on my favorite bench, where I received theoretical lessons about Ether and the world in general, from the currency used and the prices of things to how to act in front of people with higher status. Some things I already knew, but most were new to me.
It was a bit overwhelming at first; Aster really left out many details when she told me about the outside world. To her credit, she had been in a desperate situation herself, only guessing we were in foxfolk territory near the human kingdom of New Elisium.
After the lesson, unease settled over me as I realized I hadn’t received my story. Eline noticed my distraction but dismissed it, claiming exhaustion. Then Eline grasped my overall knowledge and even comprehension, which she praised. We had lunch and cleaned up the house. Afterwards, we started another lesson about the basics of reading and writing in the afternoon. It was the first time I held a proper pencil and paper, but that was not the only way I could write things here.
Eline stood barefoot again in front of a solid, dark brown Earth wall she erected and used a soft blue stone fragment to write on it the alphabet.
After the long lessons were over, Eline inquired, and I told her my habit of listening to a story after each lesson. As Eline spoke about the Ether, the land, and customs of this world, I felt a restless pull within me—a longing to understand the forces that shaped this place and its people. I had lived my life as a stranger, first in captivity and now here, yet I knew so little of what lay beyond the walls of my past.
So, when Eline hinted at the story of the first kingdom, I couldn’t resist. ‘Can you tell me the tale?’ I asked, leaning forward. She chuckled, seeming to relish my eagerness, and began weaving the myth.
Eline began,
Long ago, after the Golden Goddess placed the twelve races on this world, they lived on one massive landmass. Yet it was far from peaceful. Most races fought, and some, like humans, were nearly wiped out.
The Goddess saw this and sent a hero, a man not only powerful on the battlefield but also a great strategist and diplomat, who, with the help of his allies and houses from all races, unified most of them and made peace with the rest.
A age of prosperity followed; the once weakest race of humans prospered and grew in numbers at an almost unmatched rate, while the other races were also prospering alongside them. With only minor setbacks and conflicts even after Leonidases death, his wifes and their children continued to adhere to his teachings of peace and cooperation.
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But nothing lasts forever; after 300 years, an unfit ruler was appointed and, together with the human church of the goddess Lumine, declared humans superior to other races and started to oppress them. The once prosperous kingdom of Elisium was in internal turmoil, and all problems were blamed on "subhumans.”.
Like a punishment from the heavens, a great disaster followed. Across the continent, holes tore open, releasing monsters that hunted everything in sight, transforming the land around their lairs."
The monster's power seemed to rise the closer they emerged to the capital. Countless souls perished before they succeeded in fighting off most outbreaks and even entered the openings, where they found rare resources and a great concentration of Ether that helped them combat the monstrous invaders.
As the situation started to stabilize, the deities prepared another trial for us. With massive earthquakes and many disasters, the central landmass shattered and split into countless smaller islands.
Over the years the islands started forming what we now know as the great spiral that is composed from the tree island rings, each having four major massive islands.
We are currently on one of those islands that formed from landmass furthest from the ancient capital and has to face relatively weak monsters upon outbreaks; it is located at the very tail of the great spiral.
On these islands, new tribes and nations formed, some in isolation, as the Ether-infused seas and skies produced extreme weather, making ocean travel nearly impossible. The ether causes incredible waves and storms, and anything outside the island's natural protective barrier is quickly destroyed.
The only way to travel between them is the underground and underwater dungeon that connects all the islands in the great spiral.
But since it is getting late, that is a tale for another time
“Ooo nooo, I have so many questions, just a little bit longer.”
“Not a chance, Leon; wash up and rest first.”
“ Yes yes… sigh, I wanted to hear more.“
A couple of days later, training ground in the garden:
“Patience is soil in which the tallest tree can grow over time, Leo.”
“You always say that, Eline.”
“Very well, we begin training tomorrow then.”
She smiled dangerously at me, making me sweat a little. I already regretted pestering her for it, but it was too late to turn back.
The next day, I stood outside, nervous but ready. Eline was stern, her softness replaced by an intensity I hadn’t seen before. ‘Running,’ she commanded.
I blinked, but her look left no room for argument.
“You have strength, but your endurance needs work. Ten laps around the garden.”
And so, I ran.
Each step is a testament to the strength I had gained and the road I had yet to travel.
She just smiled—a chilling look that made me wonder where the gentle Eline had gone.
Each lap left me more breathless than the last; Eline’s gaze never wavered. By the tenth, I barely stumbled across the finish line, my legs trembling.
Upon finishing, I collapsed in front of the house, just in time for Eline to go out and call me in for dinner. I told her there is no chance for me to eat in this state and that I cannot walk, but upon her insistent and piercing gaze, I slowly entered the house and managed to eat, albeit with a bit of an upset stomach.
That is what I get for pestering her. After a quick wash-up, I sank into the soft embrace of my bed. The day had been peaceful, but as sleep overtook me, shadows of my past began to creep in, dragging me back into the darkness of my memories.
I saw my cell as cold water splashed on me. The usual guards took me like an animal from my cell and brought me deeper underground into a strangely decorated room with lines and unknown symbols everywhere, including the floor.
In the middle was a circular stone table on which they laid me down and strapped me, and after pressing some buttons on its side, my limbs could not move; they were held in place by some invisible force.
The usual bastard, clad in black but with a white mask and dark eyes shining with malice, came with some others and started to look at something that I could not see but that I could hear clearly.
“Subject *58 still had only a weak reaction; even after all those stimulants, no awakening is perceived.”
“Infuse him more. Give him twice the amount that last time.”
“But sir, that is too much of an increase; his body will not be able to handle that Ether input.”
“Do not question me; he has good resistance, and they are on my ass for more results; we are pressed for time; if he dies, then simply dispose of him; there is no use harvesting his parts in this state; then if there is time, proceed with subject *138. After that, come and join me on the surface.”
Am I just some resource that will be harvested? No, I have not even enough value and will be thrown out with trash after my death... 138… That is Poppy, no, I can not let them, even when we are not as close as I am with Aster, I do not want her to suffer; I must endure.
Shortly after, the table started shining bright orange, and I felt almost unbearable heat entering my skin and proceeding into the most inner parts of my body. The pain was unbearable after what felt like eternity. I started to slowly lose consciousness.
“… Still no reaction, the seeds are still dormant, and his heart seems to be giving up... I think the problem is with the donor veins again; we may have been too ambitious with this one. Oh well, at least the others show promise.”
“Should I stop?”
“No, he is a failure just continue on your own and record anything unusual; we can use the data to improve other subjects.
I am going to the surface to calm the nerves of our so-dear overseers; they are nervous because of the funding…
This room alone eats up tens of Ether coins each day just to operate at minimum capacity. Sigh, the ancient technology is always so power hungry.
“I understand; leave it to me!”
Then one of them left. I was in agony that almost made me faint. Rage became my only thought.
The heat seared through my veins, turning my screams into ragged gasps. Their voices droned above me, distant and cruel, as I struggled against the invisible force pinning me. 'No,' I growled, a guttural sound rising unbidden. Something inside me stirred—fury and defiance.
I hate them, I hate them, Just like that, they will discard me and make others suffer too…
….
….
….
*n*
*no*
*NO!*
*NO!!!*
I resisted the force holding me down and managed to look at the remaining torturer; he was drinking something from a small glass wail while having one hand on a strange device when he was interrupted by my semi-feral roar as the lights started flickering.
Some beeping noises could be heard, and my second most hated jailor started frantically pressing some buttons, which seemed to turn the machine off. He was thinking out loud as he muttered in a frantic manner.
Damn it, what was that? Did I press something accidentally again, or was it a malfunction?
I knew this would happen sooner or later when he insisted on using this ancient junk.
Sigh, hopefully no one noticed. If the professor catches me drinking again, he will punish me severely.
I will pretend he just somehow survived the whole length of the procedure and is critical; there is no need to agitate the boss even more today.
It was just a sudden spike in Ether, but since he is still alive, I will let him take care of it once he returns; he wants to test his favorite toy anyway.-
Then, as I heard his mumbling, I slowly started to lose consciousness again.