Prelude before the Ascent
[Year 27]
[Foreline Village]
Hadro watched as the book materialised on the Altar a villager soon pointed out after they saw the changes in their system. They took it with reverence because it came from their Patron god.
Of course, they didn't immediately read it, some were absorbed in understanding the changes in the System first before taking a look at the book. However once the changes were digested, the expansion of seven Attributes, they set their eyes on the book.
Since the orcs and humans alike, in the newest generation could read somewhat, they could potentially have copies of the book for everyone to see. Though, the Odigosgraphy fell unto Kasha’s lap first than anyone else, after all, a god’s chosen has more priority than the common folk.
She indulged herself, happy to be able to read it first. She sat down at the many seats at the communal bakery to have some snacks while she read the book. Besides everyone there is curious about the book as well.
“Odigosgraphy… it's not written in suilpo, so it's meant to be for everyone who could read.” Kasha muttered.
She opened the book; the first part was a sentence and numbered words.
Those who follow me in my name, live under my name, shall bow down to all six of my tenets and live it in your heart.
* Thou shall honour your mother and father
* Thou shall not steal
* Thou shall not commit adultery
* Thou shall not murder
* Thou shall love your neighbour
* Thou shall not covet anything from your neighbour
Those that know but do not follow, will see that I will not look on your way.
Kasha gulped, she wondered what the rest of the book entailed. Her eyes traced everything word for word. She read the first part, Bravery and Courage, how she read three hundred men defended against hundreds of thousands of men. The second part is about integrity, How a merchant refuses riches because he already has everything he wants.
About community, where men and women huddled together around children in the most chilling frost. About Compassion and Love, how a man went into war and left behind his dog which the dog waited in the same place it waited, till it died missing its owner.
In the end, Kasha was going through several emotions just reading the book. It served as lessons everyone could learn from and a reference that could be used in their society. To make it better and a more collective society.
Kasha moved the book's pages till she landed on the part of Depravity and Degeneracy. There were no illustrations, just words. But it made Kasha almost puke.
“H-how? How could a human being?”
She closed the book in a hurry, her face showing unease and concern. However, her finger was still stuck on the most recent page she opened. She wanted to forget the words she wanted to forget the putrid imaginations her mind had conjured but it wouldn't let her.
As a woman who lives in a tight and neat community, she saw how Yaks were butchered, chickens were butchered. Even Ikkins on some occasions and yet, she couldn't handle the words on a book?
Maybe it was because of those memories of butchers that gave fuel to her imagination, that she could picture it. Instead of those animals, she saw humans in their steed instead. Kasha took a deep breath and continued reading, she managed to toughen her mind against the tales of the book.
However, she could no longer take it when she saw that in the lowest point of humanity written on words, not even that she could think, in the most damnable ways of punishment, could she handle the story of a mother selling her young child for pleasure at the sight of money, the worst part is that every thought of the child was scribed in that book.
She threw the book on the ground and tears started falling from her eyes, the people who were watching her were confused about her behaviour, some looking at the book and her. A few tried to comfort Kasha as they picked Odigosgraphy and laid it on the table.
“Why… it's cruel… too cruel.”
Kasha was distressed. She was escorted back to her home, where she still lives with her family. The few people who had seen what happened to Kasha didn't even dare open the book despite their curiosity. So they handled it to someone who might be able to read to the end of the book.
Kavo felt the responsibility like a block of rock on his back. He can't help but gulp at the task. Everyone in the village knew each other, so news travelled fast. Kavo can read well since he needed to write down his knowledge as well as keep track of his supplies. So paperwork is necessary.
He shook his head and started the task, his eyes fell on the contents of the book, and he had the same reaction as Kasha finding wonders in the tales written in Odigosgraphy. Until he reached the first chapter of Depravity, his brows furrowed and his mood turned sour.
He could imagine the wounds portrayed in detail that soon he had to look away from the book as well to relax his mind. He inhaled and exhaled deeply contemplating if he should move on. Placing his hand back on the right page, he continued and just a few pages later he had to close the book again.
He stood up and started walking in circles, trying to ease his mind of the words that assaulted his mind and wished for them to disappear from his understanding.
“Evil… thats what it is…”
Kavo whipped back his hair and took a deep breath, finally sitting himself down to continue reading with a more clear mind. He read through different stories of people giving in to pleasure of many kinds.
Be it in the form of gluttony, lust, sloth, greed, pride or even the envy of one’s possession. The story that was told last was not even as depraved as the book described it. A madman who accidentally killed his son in a fit of rage and held him as he felt his life fade away, as a result of his anger.
Kavo finally placed the book down, not even getting to the part of Degeneracy, he didn't dare to do so. He took the book, he didn't know which mind shall be plagued by the tales of which no hero will come, of stories with no lesson but suffering. He placed the book down back at the side of the altar and spoke to the ones guarding it.
Kavo, in his second decade in life, has two children that have wishes to follow the same path as him. He imagined those stories with him and his children and rage and hopelessness overcame him. When he came home after visiting Kasha who was in no condition to speak to others, he went and hugged his twin toddlers who had not even passed their first decade affectionately.
Hadro watched how Odigosgraphy managed to make two of his followers affect their minds, he sighed, it was necessary, to show them the good sight of humanity would only show expectations they would not be able to handle once broken.
They may see fights of epic proportions but they will never see the reasons why, no matter how absurd it is. He had to show it to them, he couldn’t let them only expect the good in people. Especially in a few decades from now, he was sure something bad would happen.
The ravenous waters and its most dangerous monsters are not a blockade that the races of the other continents have to submit to. It was the same back on Earth, despite the danger, that did not stop people from travelling around the world.
Hadro sighed, maybe reading Odigosgraphy was traumatizing for the two chosen, Hadro noted that they are having trouble concentrating sometimes, which is valuable for the two as Kasha enchants items while Kavo is a primitive doctor.
Though, it seems Kavo is taking it better than Kasha. Hadro decided he had to visit Kasha in a dream after this. His thoughts were paused when Allie called him.
“What is it, Allie?”
The Drakin Aiden floated next to Hadro. “There is a new group of humans that came to the Drakin land.”
Hadro was visibly perplexed by the news. He immediately went to the Drakin land, which he compared was near the Southern ridge where snow is almost perpetual. Upon reaching the destination, he saw humans being aided and fed by Drakins.
Hadro swore he looked everywhere for sentient life and was confused about how he missed a few living things, he was about to ascend he shouldn't worry about these things. Yet here he is, he sighed with a hint of frustration.
“Allie, Help me find something around the Southern ridge. If my guess is right, then go near dungeons.”
Allie nodded at Hadro’s instructions and both wandered around the Southern Ridge, the biggest piece of connected mountains in the whole ninth continent even visible from inhabitants of Foreline, dividing the Great Mountains from the rest of the continent.
In their search, Hadro’s suspicion was right. At least three dungeon entrances had suspicions of activity, assuming from what's left of it. Hadro could tell they took advantage of dungeons by their location, no right mind would be next to a murder hole without a plan.
The Drakin Village became populated with migrating humans, it was evident that some of them were preyed on because some prayed to some unknown God, with desperate voices asking for guidance.
Hadro took into account the Drakin Village's proximity to the southern ridge and the great mountains deeming it that their village was in a very dangerous location.
“Allie.”
“Yes?
“Can you protect these people if need be like Zoe did?”
Hadro asked his tone serious, Allie on the other hand nodded. “Yes, yes I would.” she may not have lived the same lives as these Drakins but it would not be a surprise that watching them made her attached.
“Good, I’ll ascend soon so don't hesitate to use the energy on reserves.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Whilst leaving, Hadro stopped on his tracks once he and Allie heard a roar in the distance. Above the Great Mountains, a silhouette soared with its presence screaming danger, Hadro sighed.
He floated in the sky, appearing as if the very air itself was his platform. The air in which soon bloated and burst revealing a red shimmering dragon of enormous size.
Its slitted eyes bore down on Hadro, its wings flapping making gusts of wind split ways. Its gaze intense, throat heated and the fury under seeping.
“My son hasn't reported to me for years. Care to explain why I can't feel his presence anymore?”
A feminine voice rang in Hadro’s head. “He’s probably dead,” he replied honestly.
The Dragon’s slitted eyes opened slowly wide enough till a snap in its head was heard and her menacing gaze slowly lowered from Hadro to the Drakin Village.
The dragon menacingly stared at Hadro, she then dived down the cloud where Hadro followed just as fast. Hadro watched as her destination was the village of Drakins, Hadro didn't want to stop the beast but with her throat gathering heat he had no choice.
Hadro raised his hand on the dragon’s side and with a command the dragon was blasted out of its destination which it promptly landed on the side of the hill ungracefully.
“To confidently answer me you damn god! You killed him didn't you?!”
The dragon looked at Hadro with contempt, Hadro didn't react much, he only killed a single dragon. He probed to be as strong as a deity, though to think that would be this dragon’s son would be slim but the fact that she knew where the Drakin village is nails the suspicion on point.
“Maybe I did, I only killed a singular dragon all my time of existence here.”
The Dragon growled before opening its jaws and letting out flames, Hadro dodged it and didn't rely on his transparent shield. Not that it wasn't reliable, he was sure the dragon flames would shred it. He pointed down and the dragon followed, slamming its entire body to the ground.
Hadro has doubts that he should kill the dragon, its existence might have some weight around that mountain and killing it might have some unknown consequences. The Dragon with its Aura escaped Hadro’s power and was staring at him with hatred.
“Let's not do this, I didn't know that tyrant was your son.”
“Tyrant or not he was my son!”
The Dragon, sure enough, let out another dragonic flame but this time it was not any ordinary flame, it shot out like a light and everything it touched became scorched, naturally this got Hadro dodging.
He has to visit the Great Mountains and see what could be in there. The Dragon went on a rampage, its flames even reached the skies like a beam of light, making clouds disappear. Hadro sighed contemplating whether he should kill the Dragon or not.
Once The Dragon stopped spewing fire, it dashed with its wings towards Hadro, its speed faster than it showed before. Hadro disappeared from his spot, seeing the dragon’s jaw was where he was before.
He brought his palm down and the Dragon slammed onto the ground once again. The air around simultaneously goes down to the ground creating pressure upon the dragon.
“Just stop this madness.”
“Madness? You call this Madness? If I have killed your son would you even spare me?”
“Do you even know your son?! He drove an entire species like servants that don't need to eat! If my son was like that I would've killed him myself!” Hadro spoke with fury, trying to place reason on the dragon.
The Dragon soon stopped fighting against Hadro’s power which promptly stopped as soon as he realised she’d given up.
“He was the last of my critter!”
He could hear the sorrow the Dragon was relaying.
“All of them soon died one by one to a─a damn GOD! You- you bastard! You ate his body didn't you!?”
“I didn't.” Hadro sincerely spoke. “His energy is enough for me to take.”
The Dragon looked Hadro eye to eye, she was still spewing emotions that seemed to burst out at any second but she didn't, she spread her wings and flew back to the Great Mountains. Allie soon went beside Hadro and spoke sheepishly.
“Was that okay?”
“To let her go?” Hadro chuckled. “She was trying to place the blame on me Allie, she has bigger issues to fix.”
Hadro was about to leave when he stopped, remembering something. “Also, be prepared to take her on lest something happen.”
Allie was shocked by my words, placing a massive burden on her by taking on a dragon. Hadro admitted that the Dragon was not going all out if she had, more destruction and chaos would've happened. It wouldn't have ended in a tussle like what happened, despite her grief she was still holding onto reason.
But Hadro cannot be bothered to always check on the dragon, he had to ascend unto a Minor God and time was limited.
“I'm going. Make sure to work with Lazarus to connect the Drakins with Foreline.”
Waiting for the Nefuti people to gather and having them travel close to the gateway that Hadro opened accumulated him enough energy to ascend into a Minor god twice. He couldn't even imagine the amount to ascend into a High Minor God.
Hadro went to his Realm, prepared to start ascending until intuition told him it was a bad idea and an overall rejection of his being.
“I can't ascend here?”
There was only one place he could ascend either in Reality or the Abyss. He wished that he could choose the easiest option and went to Foreline Village, till he met the same rejection, Hadro pursed his lips, this was a hard option to take.
He will miss many things, but he didn't argue with his intuition lest he invoked some kind of injury he didn't know possible. He entered the Abyss in a moment finding that the Aidens had managed to kill a few beasts most of them being giant snakes and large wild cats.
The Nefuti in the past few hours have managed to build a simple totem of worship, a flat altar in which they sacrificed a small game. Hadro was glad they were doing well and hoped it would always be like that.
“Agni.”
“Yes?”
“Guard me.”
Hadro didn't provide any more explanation. He gathered the right amount of energy to convert into a soul point and condensed it absorbing it into his being. Soon enough his consciousness started to lose and he felt like he was in a deep slumber.
***
[Year 27]
[Foreline Village]
Arkum parried a thrust from a spear following a metallic noise, Rei pulled his spear back and continued his attack, his footwork was incredible that he didn't have to think where to land his feet and he still stood stable.
Rei moved with fluidity his moves were comparable to dancing Arkum couldn't help but admire such talent. He placed it upon himself despite his flaws to train the young boy which he found fun as the boy stared at him with focus and determination to win.
Soon enough, with all the fluid movements, Rei used his spear to rely on as he started breathing heavily, “Gramps… ha… I'm tired.” the young boy stated simply.
Arkum nodded, “Go ahead and rest, I’ll always be here so come when you want to.” Arkum knew Rei, when Rei saw Arkum fight the Valovasoar he started to pest him about teaching him about the spear, since then, Rei hasn't missed a day where he trained.
Arkum felt pride whenever he saw the young man become more tone over their time training together, though, he was quite worried when the time when he had to prove himself in a rite of passage. Would everything he taught the boy be enough? That's where he shook his head, he had to give the boy some trust.
Feeling peckish himself, Arkum decided to head to the nearest bakery, he at least wanted to get some meat pie since he heard that today would be the 3rd day of the week. He craved that pie since last week once he tasted it.
“Apparently, the book our patron god has is quite disturbing.”
“Yeah, I've heard that Kasha was unable to think properly for a while because of it.”
“Even Kavo is subjected to it, I'm scared to read it now once they allow us access.”
Though, while sitting there for a snack, he heard some gossip from the others unintentionally, he couldn't help it his senses were stronger and sharper than the normal man, he couldn't help but listen to the topic however.
A new scripture appeared on the altar, a blessing that is sure to help them from their patron god. Arkum let an ear open whilst he snacked on the pie, he was curious about the new scripture but he couldn't read. Time didn't allow him to learn solely because the village needed more bodies that could move.
Now seems to be a good time however, the Council was planning something and till then, he wanted to learn how to read since the time allowed it. Once he finished his snack he headed towards his son’s home. Kamir was at Kavo’s doing some research work with him.
“Hello, Father.” Lofir greeted Arkum.
Arkum nodded, Lofir was Kamir’s wife, and they decided to have two children, which were twins a rare chance to happen so it's mostly celebrated as a sign of good fortune.
“Good afternoon, Lofir. Kamir’s with Kavo again?”
“Yes, he is, the twins are also excited to see you here father.”
“True, though I'm here to bother you Lofir, I wanted to learn how to read.”
“Ah! Is it because of the new scripture?” Lofir asked with her eyes gleaming.
Arkum nodded with a smile. “Exactly, I'm curious what was written.”
Out of nowhere, two boys came into the room and saw Arkum the two boys promptly pointed at him with a howl of awe before rushing towards him without a care in the world that Arkum had to lean forward and catch one of them before they hit the ground.
“Luff, I told you to be careful.” Arkum gently admonished.
“Grandpa!” “Grappa!”
Arkum just smiled however, he had his separate home in the village, but since it was only occupied by him it didn't feel like home anymore since it was lonely, Arkum felt like he was going to be depressed if he stayed there and Kamir was perceptive so he was asked to live with them.
“Yes yes.” Arkum scooped the two together carrying both at each arm, the toddlers were a curious bunch but quite clumsy so they were not introduced to Medicare by Kamir since he feared that the two would somehow destroy something of worth.
The twins hugged their elder and soon started squishing him on the shoulder. Arkum let them be and faced Lofir to continue the conversation.
“Can you?”
“Yes, I can teach you that much. But I won't be here on the 5th day and 6th day, is that okay?”
“Of course, Lofir, I'm just glad you can settle some time for me.”
Arkum let down the two kids, he came here to inform Lofir if he could be taught so he had to come back lest Rei thought he left him in the training grounds. The twins were adamant about making him stay though which got them a scolding from their mother.
He had to finish the training with Rei, who was learning how to attack properly. Last week Arkum taught him how to defend so surely, with the speed he is learning he probably has already learned the skill.
Arkum was astonished by the new update of the system, it didn't go into detail but he could at least where he was lacking.
[Name]: Arkum
[Class]: Spear Master
[Attribute points]: 0
Might─ 210
Strength: 227
Constitution: 210
Dexterity: 215
Cunning─ 127
Intellect: 190
Perception:187
Charisma: 127
Mobility─ 187
Proprioception: 187
Agility: 188
Reflex: 194
Recovery─ 120
Tolerance: 200
Cooldown: 132
Vitality: 120
Endurance─ 192
Resilience:192
Tenacity: 197
Resistance:199
Spirit: 150
Luck: 140
[Traits&Characteristics]
─ [Hawk's eye]
[Titles & Achievement]
─ [The Spear of the Village]
─ [Persistent Hunter]
He stared at the new system interface that used to be very simple back then, but now it was getting specifics and the rules of advancement changed, Arkum felt a little pride at how he had grown. His wide array of skills soon compiled down to a few skills all under the [Class] tab.
He wondered what the others looked like but that would be rude to ask. So he just shrugged and went back to the training grounds to see Rei already there. A little smile reached his cheeks, he was excited at the prospect of another spear master for the village.
Later that day Kasha met Arkum on their way to the communal kitchen where breakfast was being served early in the morning to feed a large part of the village. Orcs, humans and staying elves go here to have breakfast.
“Hello, Kasha how’s teaching?”
“It was satisfying, I feel so useful.”
They sat down together, Kasha came alone whilst Arkum came with the twins. The twins were at least behaving so Arkum was relieved. Whilst they were eating breakfast (it was an omelette with a tangy reddish sauce that the villagers call Atsum and bread with a berry filling) Arkum remembered about Kasha reading the new scripture.
But since she cried whilst reading it he didn't want to tread on her bad memories, so he carefully chose his next words,
“Kasha, what do you think of the new scripture?”
“The… Odigosgraphy?”
Kasha chewed on her egg before answering, Kasha remembered the last two parts but instead of wallowing in bad emotions, she gave an honest comment about it.
“It was… insightful. There are lessons to be learned from it.”
“I see, I wanted to read it but I'm still learning how.”
“Oh─” Kasha remembered that the Odigosgraphy was held back from being copied down and distributed solely because of the last two parts of the book, the Council has yet to decide how to approach the book without disrespecting their Patron God. “Maybe I can read it for you? Then after you learned some words you can read them for yourself.”
Arkum dwelled at the idea, he can't read that much yet but reading it for him by someone isn't bad either.
“I can read it for grappa!” one of the twins, Yuff cheerfully volunteered.
Kasha remembered the details of the book and shook her head. “Not yet for you Yuff.”
“Why…?” Yuff asked dejected.
“Because some parts of the book aren't for kids,” Kasha spoke with no room for negotiation.
Kasha is a teacher and she knows her students well, Yuff as part of the Language class was Kasha’s student and she knew how curious these little critters could get. Often trying to mimic what adults do and sometimes hurting themselves in the process.
“Some of them aren't for kids?” Arkum asked curiously.
Kasha shrank back a bit before nodding, nervously trying to explain it only for the adults to understand, after all, they weren't alone here. “The books don't only have good stories.”
Arkum nodded in understanding, there must be some reason why their Patron God would add such a thing, ever since his first blessing upon the village, it had a purpose not to lead them astray.
One of them was in front of him now, Kasha was blessed and she took on the task of educating the children of the village.
“Well, I’ll bother you when you're free to read the book”
“Okay.”
The whole ate in silence thereafter, Arkum led his grandchildren home to rest or learn from him as well. The children both admire Arkum and their father Kamir, Kamir is a diligent worker who took it upon himself to learn Kavo’s way of Medicare so he could help Arkum.
It was admirable, Arkum is thankful for the way his son and Yuff were showing interest in the way of Medicare same with Luff, however, Luff is also interested in Arkum’s spear mastery. So his interest is conflicted between the two. Being a Physician and a Spearman would require time and effort.
Luff wanted to do both and Kamir was aware of this, Arkum didn't bother to interfere because he knew that Kamir was finding a way for Luff to have his way.
Though out of nowhere, in the morning morrow, all elites of the Village were gathered, from the forges of the orcs to the greatest spearman of the humans.
“Today is the day that the Council of Foreline and Elders of Archwood, will now proceed and tell you all about The Great Campaign, for our Patron God’s task for us. To become One and undivided”