As the madness and confusion of battle subsided, the first sign of dawn appeared in the sky. The sun's light began showing its early morning glow on the distant horizon. Unless the cloud cover held its glory at bay, it would be light within the hour. As the glow began to soften the night's darkness, the entire scene of devastation and death began to unfold.
As far as the eyes could see, signs of battles were clearly visible along the town's western perimeter. The stinking remains of Geblex mixed with the smell of the dead from those who had fallen.
"First wave, shit," Kyto repeated.
Ben, the guard following them, stood nearby ordering some of the Risen to move the injured and the dead alike. "Did you get a System message?" Kyto asked him.
"No. Nothing has been prompted, just the usual messages after combat," he replied.
"That was the first wave."
"First wave? What do you mean?"
"I am guessing it was the first wave of the Geblex attacking town."
"So, there will be a second?"
"Not sure, but I got an update saying, 'Congratulations, you have survived the first wave of the incursion'."
Ben stood for a moment, staring at Kyto before replying. "Who are you exactly?"
"That may take a little longer to explain than we have time for currently. I will explain all, but not now; I need to find TJ or Captain Reece."
"I have not seen either of them since the fighting finished."
"I am going to look for them with the beast."
Ben just nodded in acceptance.
They left Ben to continue cleaning the horrendous task of the aftermath of the battle and went to find TJ or the Captain.
The cries of the wounded pulled on Kyto to help; it was in his nature to support others, and he felt as though he had to perform what he could. Tiddles walked with Kyto towards the nearest group of injured. There was no sign of either of them, just a mixture of guards and ordinary townspeople who had rallied to the call to protect the town. The forms of the Geblex lay scattered around, and their stench dug at Kyto's nostrils as he stopped to kneel by a man who was groaning in pain.
Kyto scanned the bodies around him as he knelt and realised those who were dead had no visible mana core inside their bodies. The man he knelt beside was injured, but his pool was still strong. Upon viewing the chaos, some injured people’s cores were low but stable. Another man he observed was silent and noticed his core was fading. It appeared that the mana strength was also related to understanding the amount of health a person had, as it disappeared alongside a person’s life essence. He could triage the injured this way and prioritise the healing or medical attention required. Many of those crying in pain were not actually as gravely injured as those quieter.
A member of the guard was knelt by the unconscious man’s side, and Kyto could see that he had been stabbed at least three times with separate stains of blood showing on his jacket. Tiddles was getting looks from those nearby, but many who were out by the perimeter had seen the beast terrorise the Geblex, tearing them limb from limb as they moved around supporting the fighting groups. Most viewed him with awe, but others with visible fear and consternation.
Kyto began to push his strands into the man. He had no reference when healing others, and it was frustrating that he could not focus on the specific wounds. The healing he had performed on Tiddles as he had fought the Geblex for the injuries he sustained was efficient and effective in comparison. His pool continually dropped while he pushed his strands and drew from around him. His strands eventually stopped as the man’s wounds closed, and he switched, focussing on another nearby who was at a lower core level. A throng of people had begun to appear from the township helping the injured, and the cries for a doctor or medic were being shouted as loved ones were discovered amongst the wounded or the dead.
A woman and a young child ran to the body of a man close to Kyto, and he knew he was dead. The woman threw herself on him, both her and her child sobbing and wailing uncontrollably. He tried to ignore the heartache and pain he could feel from their grief and focussed on healing those that he could. Without permission, he drew on survivors or those arriving to help, their energy pools being the sources of accessible mana collection. He kept the mana draw to a minimum as he did not want them to reach levels of exhaustion as he had done with their group when he had saved Tiddles from the dark aura. Kyto was glad that these Geblex were not as lethal in comparison as he would not be able to contend with healing multiple dark aura damage. The time and mana necessary had been insane.
The next man did not take as much mana to heal, and as he did heal, the details of healed injuries were triggered on his display. He was ignoring everything presently, knowing that his and Tiddles' logs would be full of all the combat and healing details. He knew they would have to spend time analysing the facts, but not now. He healed those who may have needed extra help and quickly moved on to the next group. Tiddles followed him, staying by his side as his protector and watcher. Again, there was no sign of TJ or Reece, so after healing a couple of the more seriously wounded, he moved quickly on, others within the township’s community helping those who remained injured. As they moved to the next group, everything changed. He felt the strike, the pain flaring in his lower back, the blade digging deeply into his flesh and felt the damage it had caused immediately. He grunted in pain and fell forward onto his knees.
Tiddles turned and howled at the cloaked figure that had just stabbed him in his back. There was a group of five or six others with the man, and they all stepped back at the beast. "Don't kill him," Kyto grunted out amidst the pain from the wound. He could feel his blood free flowing from where he had been stabbed and the dampness around his lower back as the material of his clothes soaked up his escaping blood. He immediately triggered his strands, and with internal injuries, the process was as efficient as when he healed Tiddles. He could see the tear in his kidney as he closed his eyes, manipulating the healing strands and directing them to the wound. It did not take long for the bleeding to stop and his kidney to be repaired.
Tiddles stood snarling aggressively at the man who had stabbed him. "Let me kill him," Tiddles said.
"No," Kyto replied as he stood back up and rubbed at his back even though he knew nothing was wrong.
"I fucking told you. See, he is a freak." the man said. It was the man called Yen from earlier whom they had first supported. The group with him all stared at him with open mouths. Tiddles growled menacingly at the group.
Kyto turned and looked at Tiddles before looking back at the group. Yen, the man from earlier, stood in front of them, pointing.
"Bastard is a witch or something. There is no way he should be able to get back up after that. Grab him." Yen said.
A man and a woman moved forward, doing as Yen had said when Tiddles stepped in front of Kyto. His face showed his terrifying teeth off in all their glory as he growled a deep, threatening growl.
"Don't?" Kyto said, laying his hand on Tiddles's side.
Tiddles did not move as Kyto stepped beside him and addressed the group.
"What is your problem?" he asked casually.
"You, you fucking witch, how can you not be bleeding out? I just stabbed you in your kidney," Yen said.
"So, you attacked me for no reason?" Kyto asked.
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"Grab him," he said again.
The man and woman had stopped as soon as Tiddles had stood in their way and, by the looks on their faces, were not going to attempt to grab Kyto.
"I said fucking grab him," Yen shouted, his voice angry, temper raised.
"You admit to attacking me and trying to stab me in the kidneys. I am sure the town rules are pretty strong against assaulting another township member." Kyto replied.
"Fuck you. You are a freak or a witch." Yen shouted.
Kyto contemplated responding before replying, "No, I am Enlightened."
"What the hell do you mean Enlightened." Yen snapped.
A larger group had begun to gather as they noticed the incident unfold. Crowds always seemed to form whenever anything happened. Kyto swore that people were like flies, being attracted to a lantern the way they seemed to appear.
"Well, this is going to be interesting," Tiddles said.
"I am Enlightened," he repeated.
"What is an Enlightened?" a woman in the group asked.
"When the System upgrade occurred, I was chosen as an Enlightened," he replied.
"And what is that?" the woman asked.
"That is the bit that is harder to explain," he stated.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Tiddles said to him.
Kyto turned and smiled at him.
"I have a different skill tree than anyone else. After the upgrade, I could pick different skills, and I am now known as a wielder. As a wielder, I can control something known as mana and use it to protect myself and others." he said.
The group stared at him in disbelief, and murmuring began.
"I told you he is a witch. The bastard needs locking up," Yen called again.
A large, burly man walked from the crowd that had gathered.
"Yen. I have known you a long time, but what has he done? All I have witnessed has been him and his beast helping the township." the man asked.
"He stopped me killing him," Yen replied.
Several of the now-formed crowd gasped at this statement, and a couple even laughed at how ridiculous the comment sounded. "Why brag about trying to kill a man?" the burly man replied.
"He should be killed. He is not of this world," Yen said.
A member of the guard pushed through the crowd, stepping forward. "You attacked a man from behind like a coward." The guard said, snarling.
"No, I was proving he was a witch," Yen said defensively.
"Yen. You have been spouting fanatical rubbish for weeks now in the town." the guard replied.
"It did not hurt him, see," Yen said.
"You are bragging about trying to kill another man? "
" No. You fucking idiot, he cannot be killed. I was proving it."
"Could you not have thought of another way to prove something rather than stabbing a man? What if you had been wrong?" The guard asked.
"But I wasn't."
"If you had been?"
"I wasn't, though."
The guard looked at Yen in disbelief that he stood openly agreeing to try to kill another man. He walked up to Yen and grabbed his wrist, twisting and turning it efficiently behind his back. Yen yelped in shock and pain as the guard applied pressure to his wrist.
"What do you think you are fucking doing." Yen cursed.
"Arresting a man for attempted murder."
"What murder?" Yen stammered.
"The one you just admitted to."
"I did not admit to trying to murder anyone. I attacked a freak to prove he is one." Yen's followers began to protest at the guard and stepped forward. Tiddles immediately stepped forward, making them stop.
A woman pushed through the growing throng, looking at Yen. Kyto recognised her, although she was now dressed in regular clothes and not her usual uniform. "I am one of the town's authority, and from what I have just witnessed, you have intentionally tried to harm another member of the township. When we are in the middle of cleaning up the mess that this chaos has caused while many around us are dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Your self-righteous selfishness is abhorrent to perceive." Miss Agnos said.
The guard member began to frog march Yen away from the area, heading back to town. Yen crying in anger at being forced away. Several of his followers began to walk behind, and the guard turned, sweeping his pistol in their direction, making them remain at a distance. Those who had joined the crowd now murmured and commented on what was happening.
"And you, Mr Kyto, you need to also go with the guard as there are currently unanswered questions that we need answers to," she added.
Kyto turned to her and looked at her, smiling. "I will return to the barracks after helping here."
"No. You will be heading back now along with your beast," she said.
Tiddles growled at her comment and stepped towards her threateningly. Her eyes flashed a sign of fear slightly before her resolve stood firm, and she stepped towards Tiddles, "I will not be intimidated by you." poking him on the end of his nose.
"I like her," Tiddles said to Kyto.
Kyto could not help but laugh at the comment.
"Why do you think this is humorous? Some allegations and your comments about being enlightened need to be answered. We all got the System message about welcoming us to the age of the Enlightened, and now you say you are one."
"Yes, I am, and I can explain later, but for now, I need to help the injured," Kyto replied, looking at her.
Several more guards had now arrived amidst the clean-up operation in full swing. The debacle had attracted much more attention than they would ever have thought.
"The doctors and medics are caring for the wounded; I think it is best that you go with the guard back to town," she said.
Tiddles turned to look at Kyto and shrugged his massive shoulders.
"I will go with the guard to keep the peace and stop this escalating, although there may be injured who I could be helping to heal," he stated.
"We will take care of them," she said.
Under Miss Agnos's orders, two guards followed Kyto as he returned to the township's centre. The guards' wary looks and how they held their weapons pointed in Tiddles's direction showed their anxiety. When they saw Tiddles walking alongside Kyto, the streets cleared, opening a path for them.
"So, what now?" Tiddles said as they walked.
"Well, hopefully, TJ or Reece is here, and we can try to get things sorted out."
"Captain Reece is at the barracks." one of the guards following replied, thinking Kyto was asking him.
"That is good to know," Kyto answered.
The morning light now shone into the town square, and Kyto looked over, glancing at the bright reflection off the building's windows, making him squint as he approached. The warmth and hope the light gave after the cold dark of the night’s attacks brought a weak relief to the township.
"Miss Agnos ordered us to bring them here." the guard said to Captain Reece as they entered the barracks block.
Reece sat at the main desk, looking dishevelled and weary. His eyes carried the weight of the town’s loss. He looked over at Kyto and Tiddles, who had been ushered inside. Tiddles’s bulk taking up a considerable amount of the barracks entrance room.
"So, you are the one who I am guessing was stabbed by Yen," he said.
"That would be me," Kyto replied.
"I am starting to see a pattern," Reece replied.
"A pattern?" Kyto questioned.
"I never understood how you healed Gar after the Grylack attack. From the filed reports, he should have been dead or at least seriously scarred, but there were no visible marks on his body, and I do not know any doctor who can produce a salve or tonic that is good for preventing scarring. Then the other day, when Lars was attacked, Pops had reported the wound, and Lars has no visible impairment even though he is wearing a damn bandage still. A wound like that would take weeks to recuperate from, even if you did survive in the first place. And now you have a beast standing at your side that a few hours ago was lying nearly dead just outside this barrack block." he said.
Kyto had not even considered all the actions that he had performed. "I have now made it clear that I am an Enlightened and have a different skill tree."
"What is an Enlightened?" Reece questioned.
"I am not fully sure myself, but I think we have been chosen by whatever controls the System."
The System had always been questioned over the time it had originated. This was the first time anyone could explain what it was or what it stood for, and with the recent upgrades, the rumours abound that something must be controlling it. As per any rumour within the township, there had been fanatics as well as what could only be described as religious zealots. Religion had not existed in society since the Falling, although several people still prayed to deities. It was something Kyto had only witnessed rarely on his previous nomadic travels, and only once arriving at New Talisia did it become more than a fleeting consideration.
"Where is Yen?" Kyto replied.
"Yen is currently in one of the back cells, screaming for your blood and will be dealt with in due course. He has been making statements about Enlightened for weeks, saying that the System must be the devil's work."
Kyto turned his side, showing Reece his blood-stained top and then lifting it, showing that there was no sign of visible injury. Reece's eyes widened slightly in response.
"So, where do you want me?" he asked.
"I don't personally, but I think for your own safety, for now, while we get to the bottom of this, you are safer staying here."
"I would prefer going back home."
"I bet you would, but until we resolve this, I do not want you or the beast out on the streets. Yen has followers, and you met some of them with him."
"I am not concerned by his followers," Kyto replied, patting Tiddles.
"You should be. They are some of the nastiest in the township and are known for being troublemakers. With Yen locked up for now, things should be a little quieter initially, but I do not trust many of them," Reece said flatly.
"Are TJ or Lars around? I need to get a message back to the girls, and where is Sniffer?" Kyto asked.
"I do not know this Sniffer you mention. TJ is out at the main gate, helping repair the damage caused by those monsters. We were breached at several locations and had to repair the inner fencing, but now it’s over, we can take our time and repair it properly."
"That may be a problem."
"Why would it be a problem?"
"I received a message that that was the end of the first wave."
"You are telling me there will be more?"
"I believe so if the System message I received is true."
"Fuck." Reece swore vehemently.