I had gradually grown accustomed to the concept of qi through our numerous spars. Despite his inability to impart a tangible sense of it—since he himself was unfamiliar with its true nature—he likened it to the concept of mana. According to him, mana was akin to borrowing strength from the world around me, but that analogy fell short. Using qi felt more akin to finally unleashing all my latent strength, no longer constrained by self-imposed limitations.
Nevertheless, my mastery over its subtle nuances remained tenuous at best. Attempts to concentrate it into a single hand proved futile, akin to trying to fill only one lung with air while leaving the other empty.
"Ashoc, prepare yourself. We depart for the human kingdom soon," Master's voice abruptly interrupted my contemplation, pulling me back to the present. "Why? Is my training over?" I inquired, a faint smile belying the melancholic undertone I intended to convey.
"You wish, brat. We're getting you a weapon," he retorted, beginning to dismantle our camp. I moved to remove my weighted clothing, only to be halted by his next statement. "Leave those on. You shall explore with the weights and without accessing your qi. We cannot risk anyone discovering a demon in their midst."
And so, under the guise of human garb and the weight of my training attire, I embarked on my journey, concealing my true nature and the boundless potential that lay within.
"Will this not draw unwanted attention? Walking into town burdened by weights, devoid of mana, and with, ya know, horns?" I queried, skepticism evident in my tone. I couldn't imagine how Master planned to justify these conspicuous anomalies. "Leave the worrying to the adults. Just follow my instructions," he retorted brusquely, extinguishing the campfire with a stomp. "Wear this," he instructed, handing me a long, hooded robe. Its light green hue was marred by dirt and scuff marks. "I will answer any questions about you. Simply refrain from exposing your horns."
Without further explanation, we set off. According to Greg, our path led through a forest, a route we had slowly been traversing, anticipating this day. Along the way, we encountered various mana beasts, each encounter ending with my dispatching them at Master's behest. One particular adversary stood out. A colossal lizard adorned in crimson scales, its eyes gleaming with malevolence. Balanced on two legs and armed with a spear, it displayed a level of skill that belied Master's description of its "limited proficiency." Despite my best efforts, the creature nearly succeeded in ending me on multiple occasions.
Its movements were swift and purposeful, its gaze carrying a deep-seated animosity that felt unnaturally personal. It was as though I had incurred its wrath long before our paths crossed. In contrast, the other creatures we encountered seemed devoid of such intent, their threats appearing more theoretical than real.
"Your combat skills were commendable, save for the momentary hesitation you displayed upon meeting its gaze. You acquitted yourself admirably. However, you must grow accustomed to such challenges. Throughout your life, countless adversaries will seek to end you," Master remarked, his tone devoid of his usual levity, emphasizing the gravity of my training and the perils that lay ahead.
"What an ominous thing to say to a fifteen year old." I shot back, not wanting to think about the implications. "I didn't mean to-" he began to reply.
"Is that fire?" I interjected, catching a scent reminiscent of the campfires Master used to have me light. "What? You smell fire?" Greg's gaze darted around, scanning our surroundings for any sign of fire. After a moment, I pinpointed the source to the northwest. Gesturing in that direction, we hastened our pace, though I struggled to keep up due to the weights and my limited control over qi. The scent grew stronger with each step, eventually becoming so acrid that it stung my nostrils.
Abruptly, Master came to a halt, causing me to stumble as I tried to stop. As I regained my footing, the scene before me unfolded in all its grim reality.
Stretching out before us was a village populated by beings that fit Master's description of elves, under siege by demons. Women and children cried out in terror, their pleas mingling with the clash of steel and the sounds of slaughter. Men fought valiantly, but their efforts were often in vain, as the demons cut them down mercilessly. The ground was littered with severed limbs, and blood flowed more freely than the grass beneath our feet. At the forefront of the chaos stood Zhou and the village chief.
Zhou, only two years older than me, was now ruthlessly attacking and capturing innocents. I couldn't help but wonder, would I have been among the demons here if not for Baomu's intervention? The demons callously threw women and children into cramped cages meant for one, cramming at least four elves into each.
"Anjing!" A hoarse voice rang out, followed by a rapier flying through the air, cleanly decapitating a demon. The wielder, Raquilnt, stood out among the elves. While his physique resembled Master's, it lacked the same level of strength. Despite this, Raquilnt moved with a speed and precision that left the demons reeling, cutting through their ranks with lethal efficiency as he fought his way towards the cages.
Before he could reach them, the chief intercepted him, landing before him with a heavy thud. "I've heard much about you, Raquilnt. It seems the stories were exaggerated," the chief taunted, feigning disappointment. "Foul demon! Release my people and daughter, or you will meet your end like a dog!" Raquilnt retorted, his anger palpable.
"Master, if we assist them, we can turn the tide!" I urged, starting to rise, but Master firmly pulled me back down. "No, Ashoc. Raquilnt's emotions are running high. If we intervene now, especially you, he may mistake us for enemies and attack. Furthermore, that demon is far stronger than Raquilnt. Even if we were to join the fray, I doubt we could defeat him, not with all the other demons around. This battle... is lost. Use this opportunity to observe their tactics," Master whispered, his fist clenched in frustration.
Reluctantly, I complied, focusing on their combat. The chief relied heavily on his body's toughness and sheer strength, taking hits to deliver devastating counterattacks. His eyes constantly scanned the battlefield, as if searching for something. After a brief exchange, he forced Raquilnt back and erupted into laughter.
"You're not entirely incompetent, but you're not my match either, and it appears no reinforcements are on the way. It's time to bring this to a close," the chief remarked, stifling a chuckle. With a sudden burst of speed, he planted his foot and launched himself towards Raquilnt, who narrowly avoided the attack by parrying the chief's blade and sidestepping out of harm's way. Seizing the opportunity, Raquilnt swiftly ensnared the chief in roots, immobilizing him. However, before Raquilnt could deliver the finishing blow, Zhou, who had stealthily approached from behind, plunged a short sword into Raquilnt's chest. With a faint whisper of "An..jin..g," Raquilnt collapsed, life draining from him.
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The captive elves erupted into cries of horror, but amidst the chaos, one voice rang out above the rest. "Father!" it cried, the anguish evident in its cracked voice, though it was soon drowned out by the cacophony of pleas for help.
"Why did you intervene, Zhou? I was enjoying myself," the chief growled, flexing to break free from the spell that bound him. "The scouts have returned, reporting that elven soldiers are advancing. I believed it prudent to retreat before being overwhelmed," Zhou replied, bowing his head slightly. "A wise decision. But mark my words, should you meddle again, I will end you. As for the rest of you, hasten to deliver the goods to our human buyers without tampering with them. The Demon Kings demand a high yield, and any damage will diminish their value. Hold yourself back until we return," the chief ordered, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers, who responded in unison, "Sir!" They quickly set about their tasks under his watchful eye.
The marauders dispersed swiftly, vanishing into the shadows within minutes, leaving behind a village in ruins. Was this the legacy of my people? A legacy of wanton destruction and inflicted trauma upon the innocent? My thoughts drifted to Fahui and the other children I had once attacked alongside Zhou. Could any of them have been among these perpetrators, driven to commit atrocities to avoid becoming victims themselves? Gazing at the devastation around me, my resolve solidified. Their motives are irrelevant; nothing can justify what they'd done.
"...Ashoc. Ashoc!" Master's urgent voice broke through my contemplation. "Calm yourself and breathe," he advised gently, though I sensed a hint of fatigue in his tone. "We must press on toward the human kingdom before the soldiers arrive."
I nodded in agreement, and we resumed our journey. Throughout the trek, my thoughts lingered on the chief's words. Could they be preparing for something?
Before I knew it, we stood before a gate flanked by guards scrutinizing the IDs of those seeking entry. A queue had formed, and the guards appeared visibly on edge. The gate, fortified with spikes atop its frame, seemed formidable. While most awaiting entry appeared composed, a few grew visibly anxious as they got closer to the front, fidgeting in line.
Greg guided me, leading us along the wall until he halted, a hint of resignation in his sigh. He uncovered a concealed entrance and motioned for me to follow. Squeezing through the narrow gap, I emerged on the other side to find Greg in conversation with a woman. As he noticed me, he introduced her. "Ashoc, meet Maya. She guards this area to prevent unauthorized access. Maya, this is Ashoc, my student."
She swept her black hair aside to scrutinize me, her unwavering brown eyes betraying no emotion. "So, you've finally taken on a student, Greg? Is he—" Greg cut her off abruptly. "Is the smithy still in its usual spot?" Maya appeared puzzled by his interruption but responded nonetheless. "Yes, Milo's still there. Are you getting the kid a new weapon?" She glanced at me once more, her gaze lingering.
Greg's curiosity—or perhaps caution—got the better of him. "Why do you keep eyeing the kid like that? You can only see his face, after all." His tone hinted at a mixture of curiosity and defensiveness. "There's something off. He doesn't look that heavy, but just standing there, his feet are sinking quite deeply into the ground. Maybe you should monitor his food intake?" Maya suggested, her tone light but with a lingering suspicion.
Greg chuckled, his smirk returning for the first time since the incident at the elven village. "Coming from you, that's rich. Isn't someone known as the 'Iron Stomach of the Imperial Knights'?" he teased. Maya's cheeks flushed with indignation. "That's different, you jerk! I'm still in shape, and I don't leave deep footprints!" she retorted, clearly irked by Greg's response.
Suppressing a laugh, Greg informed Maya of our plans for the night and the following day. "We'll be staying at a nearby inn tonight and acquiring his weapon early in the morning. Then, we'll be leaving. We don't want to overstay our welcome." Maya took a deep breath and nodded, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say more but chose to remain silent. She discreetly passed a pouch to Greg and bid us farewell.
We traversed a street paved with a silver-hued stone, and fortunately, my steps merely left cracks in the road rather than footprints. The 'Royal Seven' inn came into view, and that's where Master and I headed. Upon entering, the wooden floor protested with creaks and groans under my weight. Directly ahead stood the counter, where a visibly bored innkeeper sat. Between the entrance and the counter, several wooden tables were lined with stools, most of which were occupied. The air inside carried a peculiar scent. The walls were adorned with paintings, albeit not of exceptional quality, each depicting a different individual with a shared hair color theme.
The patrons at the tables were boisterous and jovial, exchanging jokes, but their mirth abruptly ceased when I entered. Whether it was the sound of the wood protesting under my feet or my obscured appearance in the oversized robe, I could not say. The innkeeper, curious about the sudden hush, looked up to find everyone's gaze fixed on me as Master and I approached the counter. The scarred men and women continued to stare in silence until the innkeeper broke the ice. "What brings you two here?" he inquired, his boredom barely concealed.
"We're in need of a room for the night. My nephew and I are quite weary from our journey," Greg replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. He retrieved three brownish coins from the pouch Maya had given him and placed them on the counter.
"This inn primarily accommodates mercenaries and adventurers. I trust that won't be an issue?" the innkeeper remarked, before sliding the coins discreetly into his other hand, beneath the counter.
"Of course, they deserve a safe haven as much as anyone else," Master remarked, loud enough to be overheard. The patrons, seemingly satisfied with the explanation, resumed their previous activities.
Heading up the stairs to our room, which also somehow managed to withstand my current weight, we made it inside. The room was pretty small in size but had enough stuff inside. The bed was in a corner of the room with the foot of it being in front of a small window. There was a lamp near the head of the bed, placed on a small wooden box that had handles on the front. The room had a similar scent to the lobby downstairs but master seemed to either not notice or mind. I hopped onto the farther side of the bed and sunk into it, the four legs of it threatening to give out. Greg settled in on the side nearest the door.
"Get some sleep kid. After getting that weapon, we're leaving again. You can take the training weights off while you sleep." He spoke over his shoulder, as he lay with his back toward me but facing the door.
"Wait. Maya said, 'Finally taken on a student.' But you mentioned other disciples when we'd train, saying they caught on faster." I stopped there, the question implied. "I lied to make you feel competitive. You seemed prideful and my plan worked." He answered.
I let his words sink in and suppressed the emotions welling up inside me, took the weights off and replaced them with the low quality clothes I'd made myself since the ones I escaped in no longer fit. "Remind me to get you clothes as well." He mumbled, before his breaths became rhythmic.
Closing my eyes, my mind became consumed by images of the elven village and the atrocities committed by the demons. The screams of the innocent and the sight of the blood-soaked ground haunted my thoughts, overpowering all else.
I'll never forgive them...or my own powerlessness.