"Alright then. We will be expecting all of them outside the encampment, in---, well, two hours' time from now. You can all leave, since the meeting is over."
"---."
With the meeting concluded and ceased, the numerous village chiefs left the tent at Rowen's words, so as to return and notify their own villages about the gathering of the men.
Yet while alone in the tent, old Wan glanced at the face of the seated young man, which became heavy and grave, giving off the feeling of serious contemplation, for he appeared lost in his own thoughts.
"Sigh---! If I could raise my rank, then I would not be forced to do this. If I would just be one or two ranks stronger, I could simply take most of the bandits on my own."
"In war---, aham! In war, the power of a single person can rarely count, as the enemy will always take measures to match or put you in a disadvantageous position. Either way, if these villagers want to continue living in these regions, they need to be something more---, than just some wild mountain locals."
But at the young Captain's sigh and lamentation, the old man at his side, old Wan, delivered a cough to attract the young man's attention, as he bought up a simple statement to the youth's attention, for he was trying to remind him on not over exhausting himself with too many problems, which by all means, could not be immediately resolved.
----------------------------------------
But while the meeting of the village Chiefs and the Captain was over, the movement inside the encampment was ever hastier, since the selection of those that could be sent to the training was in the process of occurring.
"Again? This feels as though I have barely slept. And still---."
Yet, at the same time, little Levis was beginning to rise from his brief slumber, while being full of energy as though having slept for a full day.
"This sensation of complete power---, it is all too strange. And, why is my body so sensitive to everything."
Nevertheless, while giving himself a close observance, the peculiarities of his conditions were easy to spot, since he was sure that he had never felt this energetic in his life. Even so, it was his own senses which were putting him off, for even a brief of air over his skin, felt a tad more prominent, than what he had felt a few days ago.
"This is good, yes, this is good. With how I feel, I could probably run over a mountain and back---, over and--, back-, back?! No! Why can I do this? Am I sick? Is this the last moment of strength before dying that Grandma Hel has spoken off? No---, no--, no-, no, this should not be it. As she had not mentioned that "breathing" could make one feel good. And why is my heart so loud?"
[Sigh---------! Kid! You will reach nowhere if you are to proceed as you are right now.]
“Eh! Yes---, what? Who is it?”
But in the midst of his ramblings which were coming out of his insecurity, and as he was moving closer to panic, out of the blue, a voice came to be heard by him. Yet as he turned around to see the owner of the voice, whom he had answered involuntarily, he was shocked to glance at no one, for the was no man or woman inside his tent, more over the entrance was unopened. Given all the above, a questioning and doubtful frown appeared on his face, while trying to look for the speaker of the voice.
[You will attain nothing if you continue as you are right now. You first need to understand what is happening with your body. Only then, you will start to understand your present circumstance.]
“What?! Who is talking? Show your face?”
But as the voice came to him, little Levis's gaze darted frantically left and right, up and down, so as to see, who the speaker was. But he only felt at an even bigger loss for words, as the voice seemed to be coming from nowhere.
[No need to search, since I am nowhere for you to see, after all, I am in your head right now.]
“What!?”
“In---, my--, head-? Ah---, mm--, am-, am I sick in the head. Is this the sickness of the head that Grandma Hel was speaking off when Grandpa was talking all by himself?!”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
And to the proclamation of the voice, little Levis's reaction was obviously one of shock, as he was not able to comprehend the meaning of his words directly, but as moments passed, his face gradually became one of dread and anxiety, as mentions that he had heard from his Grandmother, resurfaced into his mind.
[What sickness? You are the one who is sick! I am not part of your subconscious consciousness, you damn brat! I just reside in your head, that is all.]
“Reside? You mean---, you live in my head.”
[Yes.]
“Then---, can you go out from my head?”
[Y---, yo--, yo-, you. Sigh! You brat! Do you think I am here because I want to be?]
“Then why are you in my head?”
[I was just about to explain myself to you, but you had to do this whole idiotic scene---. Anyhow, do not freak out anymore, since I am about to explain what is occurring to your body, so focus and do not lose your temper, alright?]
“Very well, mister Sickness.”
[You damn impetuous brat! You are now asking for a beating.]
[Now, now, now. Let us all calm down, and take a deep breath.]
[You stay out of it, do not make this situation more complicated than it already is!]
[The matter is already problematic. So how much more difficult can it get with me here? It is you who can not keep your temper in check, so I will do the first introduction and then you can move to the second part.]
[Alright. After all, it is better if you idiots clash with one another. Maybe he will acclimate towards you, so explain the situation. I will convey the cultivation aspect afterwards.]
“Two---, two voices!!! Who are you? Another sickness?! What is going on here?”
Although, in light of his first shock subsiding, giving his initial fright, at the hearing of the second voice which was communicating with the first one, little Levis's face became one of withe paleness, as fear and nervousness were gripping him ever so tightly, at the bizarre situation which was ensuing and overwhelming him more and more by the breath he was taking.
[Aha---, aha--, aha-, aha, aha! No! Do not fear my little chosen one, for I am your Master.]
“Master?!"
[Yes! From now on, you shall address me as Master, for we will now embark on our marvellous journey of advent---!]
"What!!! I am no one's animal. I know what masters are. They are those people that treat other people like animals. Grandpa has told me all about them.”
[What?! Animals? You mean slaves. No, no, no, not as such. This is the kind where Masters hand their knowledge and craft to their pupil, you know?]
“Pupil? You mean like Aunt Healer and Grandma Hel?”
[Yes, something as such!? Ahamm---! Fate has put us to be Master and disciple, as I was---, I was--, I was-, I was?!]
[Traveling.] - [ [Do not tell everything, or we will be here for ages to come, as this kid appears to be really slow in understanding things.] ]
[ [Alright.] ] - [Yes, travelling. And as I was in my journey, by a miracle of fate, which had worked in its mysterious ways, the two of us had been drawn together towards one another, destined to become Master and disciple.]
"---."
"------."
"---------."
“Fate?”
[Yes, fate! As I was resting at the river, you arrived to me, dying and ready to leave from your body, and so I saved you, giving you a second life, although, in exchange, I had to do a very---, secret technique--, and forsaken my body, now only my mind-, the soul remains to guide you.]
[ [You talk about the fate of the universe and its mystery but still lie in the face of your chosen one.] ]
“You----! Wait what did you do--, say-, wait. I died!!!”
[Yes.]
“Wait---. What--? Wait-. What!? Why was I dying? Wait, how?!”
[Calm down, do not panic my disciple. Eh, wait! Tell me, did you not feel the arrow in your chest? When I took you, an arrow was already piercing right through you, and well, had it been a sliver higher, it would have punctured your heart, killing you prematurely of our meeting, so it is of no wonder that fate has drawn the two of us. Now examine your garments, so you can see the front and back of the said predicament.]
Just as told, little Levis, took off his upper garment, and begin to inspect it, marking the numerous cuts and holes in it, but a particular puncture spot stood out, as it could be clearly seen as it pierced both the front and back of his tunic in a perfect manner.
“How did this happen?”
[You are asking me? I should be the one to ask you! But fate is clearly at work, for it had wanted you to come to me and become my disciple. So let us proceed with the formalities and become master and disciple.]
"---."
"------."
"---------."
[Oyyy! Why have you gone silent? Greet me as your master, that is the normal way, right?] - [ [Right?] ]
[ [I think so. I do not remember well, but that should be the case.] ]
Nonetheless, as he was still bewildered by the strangeness of all the things that were ensuing, the boy became unsure of what to think, or make of the unknown voices, as he started to look blankly at the cloth in its hands as though he was lost in his own world, not carrying for the voice that was waiting for him to make a move, or express his sentiment.
[So chosen one, relentless one! Greet me as your master and I shall guide you toward the myriad of things that you can not even imagine.]
“Can you wait?”