Updated!

Chapter 9: Death's New Hand

Cassandra Kraiser’s POV:

The room is silent. Not a word could be heard, making it as if no one were there at all even though the room is filled with kings and a large number of high nobleman families, some with ties to the central continent. Even some local guild masters, very famous ones in the region, are also gathered, as the room is filled with a large assortment of men and women from around the continent who can be gathered in such a short time.

All the group’s leaders are all sitting around a long wooden table that had been crudely cut out of dark, dead Baum wood. It’s a large, dark-plant monster species that can be found in the surrounding magical forests around Jheroki Mountains. The dark wood gave the table a dark and ominous feel to it, very similar to what I and everyone else in the room are now feeling.

Sitting in the middle of the table is a magical viewing crystal that was given to us by a high nobleman. He had received it from his travels in the central continent and bought some of their lucrative inventions back to the kingdom. The purer the crystal, the clearer the picture will be. Although the picture was fuzzy, everything could initially be made out well. I can’t imagine the amount of wealth it took to afford something like this. Even though this room is filled with some of the best military minds on the continent, they cannot describe what we are all seeing.

According to what we were just told, one of the higher noble clans of the Elliot family was using this device to film the event at the colosseum a couple of days ago. It was to show some of his affiliates in the central continent the renowned Aldus that had taken to fame greatly after his father’s death while also attaining the legendary Frost Sword. Apparently, like many other rising adventurers in the out landing human colonies, Aldus gained attention for his talents in swordsmanship. If one shows promise, they may even get a chance to live in one of the central continents massive inner cities and join a prestigious guild or sword academy affiliated with his or her class. Truly there are so many opportunities to go to the central continent, but it is easier said than done....

Even though this video was originally meant to view Aldus and the other vassals, the entire room’s focus is on somebody else entirely...

‘Who in the world is that?’

Though the room is silent right now, I can still remember the screams and cries echoing from the crowd, watching the horrific scene that is playing back to everyone in the dark room right now. The light from the blurry crystal image illuminated the large, dark room as I can see the white’s of everyone’s eyes as their mouths were wide open at the scenes displayed on the blurry blue light. I looked down and I can hear Lucy and Lori talking to one another, so I ushered them to be quiet......‘This is important!’

I hated the idea of even coming to this disgusting kingdom the moment I heard of the duel request, but who am I to express my opinion against the king’s orders. Aldain is a disturbing kingdom that wasn’t founded very long ago if I recall. They need the profit from duel requests and had been challenging neighboring kingdoms to gain wealth as their national wealth was crumbling away due to poor management. The King of Aldain was a former Earl that somehow obtained quite a bit a power, thus, became a king after defeating one of the local dungeons. He gained affinity in the new unconquered land and laid his claim to it, though what he did with his power is truly more grotesque than what I want to say.....

Throughout the moving, blurry images that flashed on the display, it would show brief appearances of a masked man. Slowing the speed of the image down as much as it could go a small white dot appearing as quick as lighting had somehow managed to stop a violent punch to a poor unguarded elf woman. 'I must say I was quite happy the moment I saw this masked man appear. I despise watching grotesque acts of violence on the unwilling, while saying it was a warm-up before the match to show off prowess? It’s truly sickening!'

They aren’t treated well in my kingdom but here......here is really bad for them........ It’s as if the entire Aldain Kingdom is drowning itself in morbid abuse towards others. I couldn’t bear to watch and tried to shield Lucy’s eyes as Lori and Cana couldn’t bear to watch anymore. ’I.....I wish I could have done something.’

Thinking back to the shame I had been feeling, I remembered that my feelings then just like now quickly turned into a completely different one. I like everyone else gathered around this long dark wooden table, were in awe of this masked man.

After appearing with a flash, he suppressed Ponchius’s, monstrous blow with only one hand. Some words were said and before anyone else knew what happened, Ponchius disappeared from the coliseum. I remember a few days ago at the moment, I thought he had made the large man truly vanish. ‘After that........anyone that stepped towards the masked man to attack him were mercilessly cut down.’

He showed such displays of strength and raw speed, we originally thought he was a was like some berserker, even though he was wearing a white scarf and quite odd clothing. ‘He was clearly a man of undeniable strength….I’m from a noble household who always thought to be quite strong for a knight while also being a woman. This person shattered those ideas of strength……..but the masked individual also showed magic that had never been seen before this day.’

He can actually..... cast magic without any incantations. Something thought to only be possible for the 12 Grand Sages. Each image displayed in the circle showed a masked man appearing and reappearing throughout the colosseum at will, wreaking havoc to whatever poor soul unlucky enough to enter his sight.

Flashes of him beheading a person, taking on the large bright flames of an ancient whip.......... he crushed each and every one of his opponents as if he was toying with children. After finishing them off, he would even take their weapons as prizes. He appeared to be standing in front of 2 demi-humans on the coliseum floor however. The sand and dirt were dyed a dark, blood-soaked tint and even the great Aldus, who was said to be a great rising star in this continent, was immediately dealt with and dismembered flawlessly.

He killed or dismembered each and every one of the two dueling kingdom’s party at today’s match. He did take down some of the strongest in our kingdom, and did it so simply no one in the room is speaking. He appeared to do all of this all while standing in front of two unknown slaves.....'Why?'

“By the Goddess Freya...”

“He....He can also use magic?”

“Ugh…… he tore his arm off!”

Standby priests and guild masters, some who weren’t at the event, voiced their shock at the horrific scene that plagued everyone from that day.

“How is Aldus’s condition anyway?”

One of the older high-esteemed guild masters from the region in the room inquired.

“His condition has stabilized, but his time as a warrior is finished.”

King Asher had finally spoken up. Before rushing back from the incident he told us all to wait outside of the city gates while he investigates everything. I along with the other personal knights stood and protected the king’s children while the rest of the royal kings went with King Asher. The moment he came back, he held his children and wife in his arms and began talking to them. Lucy had only said he was glad they were safe, but I feel as though he saw something since he hasn’t spoken since. He just kept staring at the dark table wood and didn’t even take notice to the moving images above.

“I....I heard Beast Arm Ponchius landed in one of the colosseum’s private seating rooms.“

“.....Yes. His condition is quite bad as well......but had managed to survive the fall.”

“The fall?”

The King of Aldain had spoken up, asking in response to the other higher noble out of curiosity.

“Yes.....it appears he fell from the sky. It was too blurry in the image to see and due to all the sand and dust flying around, well we know now that he was punched into the sky and didn’t land for at least a minute later.”

“”“........”””

Everyone remained quiet and continued watching the unbelievable site we had already witnessed. What strength can this person actually have? We just couldn’t determine who the man was, nor why he had stopped this duel between kingdoms. No one could answer these questions.

“He’s clearly over level 100.”

“What? How can that be? How could someone pass the Level-100-barrier without us noticing?”

“......Maybe he’s from the central continent..”

One of the higher nobles in a black robe sitting at the table questioned.“....You think this is someone from the Central Continent?”

The King of Aldain then spoke again louder.

“We of the Elliot family have thoroughly investigated the remnants of the coliseum and have determined this to be a high possibility. “

“........”

“....Why would someone from the central continent come out to the outskirts of the world? We’re still a new kingdom, so why would someone there come just to wreak havoc?”

“The powers shown by this masked individual shows......much to be considered. He is not only a being of immense strength and fighting ability, but he is someone who shows to have truly mastered magic....possibly at an Arch mage level.”

“Come now, you’re not answering my question! Why would someone like that come to our kingdom and do this?!”

“You’re not listening.....the remnants of what we found at the colosseum is eye-opening."

“.......”

Everyone in the room became quiet and forgets to look at the crystal showing images of whoever was holding it running. They were apparently running for their lives on the display. I remember that day so well.... The man in dark clothing from the Elliot family then continued his findings.

“The large rock that was carved to be the colosseum’s floor seems to be completely destroyed. From what we’ve seen, that large black scythe he was holding left the surrounding rock and area that was touched by it to emit toxic mists.......many of ours that investigated the affected rocks became sick and collapsed. “

Everyone in the room sat in awe of that statement. All of us who were present that day remember the sight of that large weapon of death. The moment the masked man pulled it out of his inventory, I felt it.......the pain of my skin stinging like it was touched by a thousand pointy knives. My skin crawled and it was as if my eyes were drawn right into the darkness that surrounds the large dreadful weapon. He used the weapon’s bottom to smash the ground floor, collapsing the whole colosseum. Many have died and are currently being investigated, but the majority seemed to be monsters and many of Aldain’s guard. Truly so many have died by this man, and he did it so easily.

“So....that area is actually toxic now? What was that scythe? It looked like a dark legendary weapon of some kind.’

“Yes.... we believe it to be quite the strong weapon to have such effects. We’re quite interested in his weapon’s power actually as it seems to be quite immeasurable by our data. Compared to many of the legendary relics and items I have come to see in my travels, I have witnessed weapons that could take down entire kingdoms in a day.......but according to what my men with the appraiser skills said is that, ‘The weapon is truly.......terrifying.’“

The man from the Elliot family man spoke back to the King and then we all looked at the end of the video cutting out and the room becoming dark.

“.......So it’s someone who possibly defeated a dungeon and acquired a strong weapon? It’s not war from the central colonies?”

The Aldain King asked quite nervously. The power that was displayed there was just that fierce; the inner colonies were said to have powers that are truly frightening. It was as if saying they lived in a completely different world.

“No.....we believe his level to be quite high. We could not seem to view his status as he must have been much higher than the appraiser’s level.”

“....He could be something like a demon or an intelligent monster?”

One of the men in the room asked this and it was actually something that could be possible. The masked man on the display moved and took down his opponents ruthlessly and showed monstrous power. Something that the demon race has always shown to be known for.

“No.....we know from the appraisal that he is at least human.”

“You say that, but we found the body of a priest that was from the Asher kingdom and he had his heart ripped out of his chest........He wasn’t like that before the duel started!”

“......”

Everyone’s still quiet trying to figure out and understand who this man could be. I didn’t even know that about the priest.... I keep hearing Lucy and Cana talking and they need to seriously keep it down. I quietly scolded them but they just smiled back at me....’Uh...children will always be children I suppose.’

“I believe that we should get a guard of both our kingdoms and hunt this mad man down at once! He may be high level but if we surround him get him while he’s not looking we will cut him down!!! Call all available guilds in the area and we will hunt down this masked man, the man who killed my son!!”

“Yah!”

“AHhhh!!!!”

Many of the men surrounding King Aldain screamed in unison. However as many yelled and tried to rally together, one remained seated in his chair at the end of the table and all he did was look at the dark wooden table. King Asher continued to remain quiet for some time, seeming to be thinking about something very deep.

“I do not know believe that would be a wise decision!”

King Asher then spoke again and the room became quiet at his strong words. His voice had aged, but it still has much wisdom behind them. You could hear the sounds of his deep voice coming through his beard.

“Father! What are you talking about?! He ruined my personal knights!!!! Do you realize how much we paid to have them join us?! They are ruined now!!!“

“Dominic.......you as well as everyone in this room should listen to my words........do not pursue this enemy!"

“ What are you saying!! We must take revenge for the Asher Kingdom! We cannot look weak to the other kingdoms! Even if he is from the central continent we cannot let this hypocrisy stand!”

“King Asher?! Are you saying you’re not going to join us in hunting down this heathen?!....This...This monster!?”

“....I do not wish to see more blood fall for this act. I warned Dominic and his men that stepping into the ring could ultimately meet their end. But they did not care. Such brutality.......any and everyone that stepped up to this masked man were easily and immediately destroyed.......I do not wish to see more violence for the words of seeking out revenge.”

“.....You...You’re kidding?”

Prince Asher seems to be in shock and very angry.

“Psh...Don’t tell me you’re afraid of one man, Asher? You....said to be an acclaimed warrior comparable to the heroes?! Hah! That’s a load of garbage now I see. What a joke!! What you see this person to truly be that powerful he scares you into cowardice?!!!”

“...Yes....I have chosen to consider him a dangerous being.”

“Father...You’re....You’re scared?”

Everyone in the surroundings couldn’t see how such a famed King from many years ago had gone to the point of submission before a foe he had never even faced. I can understand being afraid of a monster like that, but......for a king or a knight to stand down in fear....to....show fear in the eyes of an opponent. It makes our kingdom look rather......weak...Though....I’m kind of happy he doesn’t want to chase after that white-haired man....I can't imagine trying to attack him.

“I only choose what I believe......After the colosseum was destroyed, I met the masked man and somehow survived.....I took some of my elite guards and looked through the desolated area that was left in his destruction....I had thought since such a person could freely use magic and jump from place to place that he may have already been long gone.........I and my men had met a small guard from the Aldain kingdom and ventured into the broken parts of the dungeon where they wanted to look for someone...”

Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing....Even Lucy had stopped playing to listen.

”....We ventured in and found the same white-haired man with the same group of slaves he had been appearing to stand in front of from before. I believe he may have been protecting them. Before I had any chance to say anything, the guards rushed him. Twenty of the best royal knights from my kingdom and 10 of those men from Aldain........all mercifully killed before my eyes as if it was as simple as flicking his wrist. Their bodies were lifted off the ground by the white haired man’s magic and moments later, their eyes had burst from their skulls...... killing them all.....

He killed them all so quickly, he showed no hesitation at all for who they were......Letting me know he is not someone who has no regard to killing those in power just because of their title.... If I had been standing only a few steps forward....I would have met a same end that day.”

Everyone in the room was shocked in awe of this statement. No magic was heard of that was so grotesque and could do something like he described. Well....nothing about that man is normal. But that is just shocking to hear. He showed such dazzling magic it wouldn’t be weird to assume he could do horribly things with them. If he truly was someone from the central continent, I could believe what the King was saying. They say that people there are on a completely different level than us in the eastern continent.

“Fine...those who wish to follow this will’s of a coward can stay with this fool. Those who wish to capture the bastard follow me and be paid with enough gold to match your weight!!!”

Many cheered and followed King Aldain out of the war room. It then became quiet again and only a few higher nobles and guildsman were left present in the room still going over the images of the magic crystal. They appeared to be trying to find out any information on where this man could have been. ‘I....don’t know what to believe about this person. Though he mercilessly slaughtered people in the colosseum and caused so much destruction........he seemed have saved those small slaves so....that has to count for something right?’

The King then walked over to me and put his hand on his daughter’s head and rubbed it back and forth. He really does cherish his daughter Lucy.

The King then went to go speak with Dominic and find his wife Liriana. He warned me to keep a close eye on Lucy and then left the large room and tried to talk Dominic down from his hysteria. Though I haven’t seen Olivia, Lucy’s older sister, for some time.

“Psstttt......Hey, Cassandra.”

Lucy kept looking up at me with Cana and seemed kind of excited about something.

“Hey.....I want to go find that masked man and make him my next servant.”

“........”

‘.....What did she just say?’

“Don’t give me that look. You don’t think he’s dangerous do you?”

“Obviously that masked man is dangerous Lucy!.....We cannot go looking for him at all! You heard your father’s orders to Dominic didn’t you?!.....That is a very bad idea!”

“He’s not bad though.....didn’t you see he saved those demi-humans? A bad man wouldn’t jump in front of a girl from being hurt would they? He jumped and saved demi-humans which means he must love them as much as I do!”

“Lucy......we can’t. That person.....we know nothing about that person and he could possibly even be a monster like that man from before had said.”

“No.....Lori said based on her Acquire skill she could see bits and pieces of his status. His name is Vali and he’s a human just like us!”

“You....Lori, you could see something like that?”

“Mmhmm. And Cana can here can even find the masked man!”

‘......’ I was speechless. How can this little girl think she could find him?!

“I love demi-humans! They can do such amazing things!!!”

All I can then hear is the little princess I was sworn to protect skipping away and laughing. She looked like a girl that had found a new toy. I was partly curious about the man in the mask as well as very frightened of such a man. But I too had some own curiosities about such a person.....She said he was a human? Who got to be so strong, I wonder how. Me and her other servants followed behind her not knowing how to react to her always enthusiastic spirit.

Vali’s POV:

Such a cool and cold sensation. Splashing the water on my dirty face, I then submerged my face into the crystal blue river. We weren’t that far away from where I and Hlökk met Lily earlier today. The sun was still out but I can’t be sure what time it is. Judging by the placement of the sun it’s getting close to evening and I might be a little late for my curfew tonight.

Though I doubt my mother will think much about me breaking curfew if she finds out what I’ve done. I don’t want her to know that I killed so many people. I’ve killed one person in front of her already and I don’t think I can bear that look from before she gave me. From the woman who has unconditionally accepted me, I don’t want to scare her as much as I already have. She truly is such a blessing in my life.

Taking my face out of the cold river water I wash off dirt and blood from everything that had happened. My arms were still shaking and I was having trouble breathing. After appearing in the vast open forest I tried to give the small sick girl in my arms to the elf with the bruised neck to walk away and vomit but she showed initial confusion. The elf as well as the girl in my arms started to show signs of panic as if I was just simply going to leave them there.

"Ah...Ehh..."

The small girl in my arms would make noises as she was handed away from me. She struggled with some words but I think ultimately it just hurt her to talk very much. I couldn't see how she wanted to be so close to me right now, but I guess anywhere is better than that cage. It's a lot like Lilly acted as well.

I swore I just needed to wash myself and I’d be right back. I gave them each things to clean their dirty bodies with as well as some cloth to dry off.....I’ll need to try sowing some clothes for each of them when they’re done.....There’s no way they should go back to those gross rags they’ve been forced to wear up until now.They didn’t really talk much to me at first; I guess they are still scared of me from everything I had done. I told them I was going to hunt some food for dinner and that they should each clean up before I got back....

Since I needed to wash the blood off my face and honestly get away for a moment. I had never lost control like that and used death magic to such an extent before.....it......changes a person. I can with my magic feel the pulses and life forces in my hands and I crushed them into oblivion. Within a moment, their souls were extinguished from this earth, like a small candle being blown out and never to be lit again.

Just like those men that had all left this world. The power of death magic is truly a terrifying thing and doesn’t feel good to use at all. It gives one the feeling of crushing an existence within your hands…..just feels weird is all. The blood was finally taken off my face and my eyes had apparently gone back to their normal color. I.....I didn’t notice the person who was looking back up at myself....Killing isn’t something that ever feels good but this felt.....worse somehow. Those men, every one of them there deserved death but.....How can I explain something like this to my mom?.....Kaylan.....Ugh...I don’t know what is right or wrong.

Looking up I could see something in the distance. It looks like a rabbit just.....bigger. It had an odd color to it too.

There standing just several meters away was an odd purple rabbit. It had a large golden stone on its forehead and three horns.

Wow.....this is an odd looking rabbit. It even has a large, white beard. It is a tad bit larger than the other horned-rabbits I’ve seen before and I came to find my attention drawn to this large rabbit.It just sat there eating grass off the ground not paying any attention to me.....

’Ya know....now that I think about it I haven’t met much horned rabbits since I absorbed the Lord of the Forest. After receiving that title, I feel like monsters in this area natural try to avoid me. As if they each have like a unique presence sense that lets them know of danger or maybe the Title just has to do with the area. Hlökk just claimed that there were many ways to erase your presence and there are several different ways to do it and only a small number of ways to do it correctly. I slowly approached the purple bunny and used Flicker to dash into its direction.

Bam!

I just slammed into a tree that was roughly several meters away from where the rabbit was. I felt dizzy as something felt very odd before hitting that tree. I couldn't quite make it out.

‘Ummm.....what was that?’

Looking up, I couldn’t find where the purple rabbit is. I just couldn’t see anything to be honest. Then using my radar I turned around and found the same purple rabbit to be eating grass again rather nonchalantly. It then sat up, leaned back on its hind legs and puffy tail and started filling its belly........What?

‘Ok.....does this peculiar monster not even see me as a threat?’

I used spatial magic and appeared in front of it, flashing my arm in his direction to take its head off literally and then moments before my arm crashes into the earth, the large purple blur escaped my swing. ‘Ok....Seriously, what the hell is this thing?!'

I don’t know what this thing is, but it’s clearly not a normal horned-rabbit......I start to look around my surroundings since I swear I can hear someone laughing in the distance. But I don’t care....I feel as if the world itself is mocking me, so I will find that stupid rabbit and eat it!!!!I turn around and find the same rascally rabbit eating some grass and looking up at me. It kicked its back leg and a small spark came out of its furry foot. ‘It.......It’s toying with me, does he?... Uh I am so going to eat you, rabbit!!’

I wonder if this is how that bald guy on Looney Toons felt when chasing rabbits. I get it now.....They’re cocky

‘I think this rabbit might have an emergency escape skill that is somehow teleporting himself away. But it is honestly at the point of being faster than my spatial magic as I can’t keep up with this annoying purple monster’s speed.’

I pretended to look away and whistle then appeared behind him and swung but to no avail as the purple monster again disappeared moments before grabbing him and again evading my capture.

Hearing more laughter I turn around but I didn’t see anyone there. Somehow just want to end this hunt now as I just want to get this meal started already. I activated my Death’s Grip and the rabbit started violently shaking in the air. But what came after was really quite odd. As it was in the air a version of Flicker was happening and causing multiple purpled rabbits to appear in the sky. It looked like it was trying to escape but the one thing about death’s grip is that as long as something is within my field of vision and doesn’t have a proper resistance made up......they will meet death.

The rabbit slowly stopped shaking in the air and came to a slow and solemn stop. It had finally stopped breathing and the forest then remained quiet. I jogged over to the rabbit and started cutting up the fur and meet and got ready to take it back to where everyone else was. I still needed to wait on Hlökk as said should anything happen to Lily we should all meet up right at that same tree we first met.

I acquired the heart of the strange purple monster and then remembered something that I have still yet to do. I had gone to the trouble of collecting that priest’s heart who was in the coliseum earlier today.....if he’s a priest he......he could very well have a healing ability. If he has a healing ability, then my mom and ......that girl. Their wounds could be healed, hopefully. If those wounds cannot be healed by my hands, the pain that kingdom will face will be much worse than what I am already planning....

I don’t know what I’m becoming in this world but I hope that it’s at least one who can protect a few women and children. ‘It’s not like I’m going to war for anyone....but....if its right in front of my eyes I, should do something! I can’t sit and watch.’

Thinking this I bit into the two hearts as blood began to seep out of my teeth and cover my mouth. I am scared to eat the heart of a human because I.....I honestly don’t want to become a monster in this world......Someone who seeks out enemies and devours them all to attain strength isn’t something I set out to do. But....my powers draw me to do such things now....’I....I have to do this for Kaylan. I have to find her in this horrible, horrible world. I use to think it was a fairy tail but......this place is nothing like those in the story books.’

Biting through the hearts I actually thought to myself how the taste.....wasn’t that much different from one another. ‘...Weird.’

You have acquired a new skill!

Freya’s Soul Recovery

You have acquired a new skill!

Lightning Step

‘........’

A small smile came to my face as I had acquired a skill that could meet the qualifications of what I had been looking for, a skill to heal my mother. It is at Beginner Level one but it said it could heal small bruises and sores. The other skill after acquiring it was something similar to increasing my cognitive functions with a high cost of 1400 MP.

It appears to be a skill that leaves small lightning sparks behind as you increase your speed by a huge margin too. But even though it cost 1400 to use, it looks like the cost of keeping it stagnant is impossible for me now. The skill takes massive amounts of magic points to maintain and even if this is something that I think could be useful in the future. It is not something I’m worried about right now. I put back on my black shirt and noticed not any blood had been left on it which seemed convenient. It must have something to do with the fabric.

I tied up some of the furs and carried the meat back to the large tree by the river....Returning back everyone just stared back up at me with no words. They were no all clean and sitting down with cloth covering them a lot like a towel would. ‘I guess my appearance does look a bit odd heh.’

“Hey guys sorry I’m late.....Did everyone get cleaned up ok?”

Other than the small sick girl nodding no one really spoke back.

I looked over and noticed that Noah was sitting next to the two Elven women. The small sick girl from before was still being held by Tiffania and they were all sitting around the other elf with a broken leg. It showed that all of their levels were 1 or 2. The two elves were both at level 1 and looked to be in their low to mid twenties.. In this world many demi-human species age much differently than humans. But she also told me most slaves in the kingdom get their levels forced back to 1 upon becoming a slave. Apparently there is a magic ritual that can even do that.

They all didn’t look like they wanted to talk to me. They didn’t really talk to each other much either and maybe that’s simply due to the situation.

Before I got to finish that thought a loud banging sound echoed in the forest and birds flew from their nests in fear of the loud noise. Something had crashed into the back of my head and knocked mc completely over. The sound and weight was enough to honestly crack the bones of a normal human. Though I inherited these bones from a higher undead......I feel as though this hurts way more than it should.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

“...Wow....that bird is scary.”

“Mmhmm.”

Loud noises kept banging as large forces kept hitting me in my back and shoulders and I could hear that cat girl talk.

“Did you think it was funny to leave us at the colosseum you idiot!....I had to sneak out Lily and I wasn’t suppose to show my valkyrie form.....I had to take down 3 shady characters who tried to kidnap her and could have descended! Then I get back and everyone’s practically half-naked!.......”

Looking up Hlökk was beating me in the back and a small frail little girl climbed onto my back. The small girl couldn’t walk and coughed really hard when she climbed on top of my back.

I could hear her weak heartbeat starting to rush as the small weightless figure sat on my back.

Apparently the small sick girl I had saved from that hell saw Hlökk in her purple bird form and came to my rescue. Though her body was so weak and sickly she got on my back and started growling like a guard dog.....well she does look to be from a dog race. This action stopped Hlökk from hitting me with her large spear that was floating in mid air.

“Grrr. Do....Don’t hurt...hi..m please…cough.”

“I....I wasn’t....”

“Noah!!!!”

Hlökk and the small girl were interrupted as loud cry from Lily had the boy from before had erupted and stopped their quarrel.

“....Li....LILY!!!!....Ho...how?!”

The two siblings hugged and cried in each other’s arms seeming to think they would never see each other again. ‘This really is a sad world.’

Their hugging made the others calmed their nerves a bit from all that has happened. I got up and carefully picked up the small dog girl on my back.

“Hey.....it’s ok Hlökk beats me up from time to time.....you don’t have to be so scared. You shouldn’t be over exerting yourself right now anyway.”

I brushed my hands across the scarred girl's now clean hair but her one ear is still rough to the touch. I see a small haggard tail coming out from the bottom of the towel that’s wrapped around her and pieces of flakes are falling off it.

The image of this broken girl was truly heart breaking as this small frail child has barely in skin showing anymore. Most of it is bruised or showing some of the same signs of the skin disease on her face......This girl seemed to be in her final moments when I found her.

My words had brought everyone’s eyes back to me and I couldn’t notice because I was staring into the eyes of this small frail child. She looked back at me and I gave her a smile to let her know I didn’t mind staring back at her. Even though she seemed nervous her eyes didn’t move away from mine.....not once. I placed my arm on her cheek and began to activate Freya’s Soul Recovery.......

A rainbow light came from my hands and washed over the small child’s space and body and everyone made sounds of gasps. They weren’t sure what I was doing but they knew it had to be some kind of magic.

What appeared after the Freya’s Soul recovery was the same girl and the same scaring all over her face. Her color seemed to have changed slightly and I could honestly feel the tone of her heartbeat fluctuating better. Her breathing was steady too.

“....eh...it doesn’t hurt when I breathe....”

Everyone gasped.

“You....you have healing magic!”

The elf with the broken leg exclaimed loudly. I didn’t listen and kept performing Freya Soul Recovery.

I put in larger amounts of mana

Congratulations! Freya Soul Recovery has just advanced to Beginner Level 2

Healing from the Goddess’s teaching on soul recovery has been increased greatly! Healing magic will heal minor wounds and sours much more quickly. Small cuts can now be healed easily and the soul itself will feel to be truly cleansed!

I kept applying more and more magic on the small girl.

Lights kept flickering and enveloping her and all she did was sit there staring up into my eyes. She didn’t say any words, nor did those around me. They just saw me stare intently at the little girl in my arms and me who had taken so much interest in her. Their faces showed they had no idea what I was planning.

Congratulations! Freya Soul Recovery has just advanced to Beginner Level 3

Your affinity for healing magic has increased greatly! Wounds and open sores will be washed away and skin will naturally become more beautiful. The magic given by the Goddess of Beauty will cleanse your soul to eternal fairness!

‘This sounds interesting...’

I started applying large chunks of my mana and small pieces of skin started to show under the purple bruised parts of her tiny shoulders.......‘What....is is....it working!’

I then applied more of my magic and the light just kept blinding the surroundings in a rainbow color. The little girl just closed her eyes and let the lights wash over her. She probably didn’t care what had happened to her at this point. I’m not sure if she trusted me and that is why she protected me, but I know that she looks as if she has decided whatever happens to her at this point is in my hands. She lied there in my arms fully accepting my hands touching over her bruised body. She just accepted whatever fate I had for her.......I have to keep trying.

Congratulations!

Freya Soul Recovery has just advanced to Beginner Level 4

Congratulations!

You have advanced to Beginner Level 5

Congratulations!

You have advanced to Beginner level 6

I don’t know how much time passed. Or what was going on in the heads of those that surrounded me and this small girl. The sun did start to set but I didn’t care. All I could think about was this small girl and my mother at home. If I can heal this girl........if it’s possible to heal this girl’s wounds.......I should be able to cure my mother!’ Notifications kept flying through my vision

Congratulations!

You have advanced to Beginner Level 10. It has now switched over to Intermediate Level 1.

You can now heal illness and cure acute disease. The powerful healing magic from Freya will wash over the wounds from battle and be healed down to one’s soul. To have a beautiful self, one must have a beautiful soul!

Healing affects to Illness and Disease can be increased by the addition of some soul stones.

Your healing magic has become much stronger due to your increase in affection with Goddess Freya!

Before I knew it my mana had been completely drained. I used much more available MP than the skill originally required but that was due to magic manipulation. I was able to use the skill to much higher tier’s then normally would let me by just acquiring the skill.

Who knows how much time has passed and by the time I had looked down at the girl something began to happen. The wounds all down her body were now showing white skin with small peach fuz coming off of it. Her lower body which was once completely bruised and shown such bad coloration from before was now a very white peachy color. I had thrown out all my magic and the skin that was completely gone on her face had now grown back but showed that her face still had some minor wounds of some remaining scars.....’I guess even with my magic I couldn’t completely heal this little girl.’

“Her...her skin has been healed!”

The elf Tiffania with the burnt throat began exclaiming in a gargled voice and looked at the small child in my arms in astonishment.

“You....you have such a strong healing ability!”

The other elf with a broken leg and large chest exclaimed as if not being able to understand the use of simple magic. I thought elves had much more magic affinity.

“So....this is something else you acquired from your fight.”Hlökk finally broke the silence and the little girl looked up at the small purple bird on my shoulder.

“eh....my....my face is different! Cough...Cough....and my whole body feels, different”

The small girl began to feel her face with her small clean hands and couldn’t believe what she had felt. She didn’t have any idea how to react to what I had done for her.....’wait.....what did that ability say again?’

“Hlökk!....What’s a soul stone?”

“...just a stone that some higher level monsters drop. They are sold in places and hold quite a bit of magic power depending on the monster.”

I walked over to that weird rabbit and with my claws I tore out the small diamond shaped gem inside the dead rabbits head.

“Hey Lily....can I see that cloak your wearing?”

“Ah...aw ok Vali”

I asked for the small cloak in Lily’s hands but she seemed quite hesitant to give it back. She seemed to like wearing it.’...Seriously what is this girl saying now, this cloak is creepy.’ She did however smile back at me when I put it on.

“Huh!”

Her brother seemed irritated by this though.After gaining a large magic boost and mp per minute I again tried to use Freya’s Soul Recovery on this small child in my arms while holding the dark yellow colored gem in my other hand. I held it up to her and used the skill.

A bright, beautiful ambient light shined much larger than before and I could feel as though I was literally using my own soul to chip away at the dirt and grime covering her. I feel like....... our souls were actually touching.

“Unbelievable! Her wounds have all gone now!”

“Ah!”

“Wow....si sir are you a famous wizard?”

The two elves, and Lily had crowded around and kept looking at the small girl who’s name I don’t know and just stared at her in amazement which only made her now pale white cheeks turn a nice rosey color.....Looking down at her big brown eyes that now shined in a different color than before, I could see this little girl was beautiful. She had small and delicate features but it was difficult not to be charmed by her cuteness. Though her left ear is still gone her right one shows to have a different texture than before. It shows to be slightly furry and a darker more healthier shade of brown. Her hair seemed glossy and she is honestly inrecognizable to her old self.

“eh....my....my face...”

The little girl started to cry and I jumped from where I was and started spinning the girl around in the air.

“YES!....Haha...YES!.....Ah this is truly amazing!!!!!”

I jumped up and couldn’t hold in my excitement. My magic had somehow healed this horribly wounded and sick girl and I can even hear the sounds of her cough have left. I somehow healed a long standing illness with only a little time of hard work and all I could think about was my mother back home......‘I’m so happy I could just dance right here!’.

I started spinning with the girl in my hands and she looked back at me without saying a word but she is smiling. Such a beautiful smile I hadn’t seen before. She just smiled back at me without saying anything, as if being swept up by the moment as well; she couldn't even see why I was so happy. She simply stared back at me and tried to smile. I could see however small tears forming in her eyes. We were both quite happy we didn't know how to act.

Everyone continued staring at us with odd faces besides Hlökk and Lily and after I realized I was making a fool of myself I started to cook for everyone.

I let the small puppy girl sit with Hlökk and the elves while I prepared a meal. Lily had sat close to Noah who was sitting beside one of the elves. I felt a strong gaze coming from the two elven maidens but I ignored it for now. I really need to get some food in these kids quickly as I really think I may have gotten to these children just in time, they need something in their stomachs.

I cooked the rabbit meat and grilled vegetables with spices I’ve been collecting and even some I bought at that store. Luckily I bought some equipment for camping and making a fire was as simple as snapping my fingers. The food preparation went by fast and during the time Lily walked over to see what I was cooking. She kind of got in the way at first but I didn’t mind.

I even tried to pat the small girls cute ears but she flinched greatly at my action until she noticed I wasn’t going to hurt her. Seriously their image of me must be bad. After I patted her head she just closed her eyes and smiled. Her white fluffy tail started to wag back and forth and I’m starting to think these kids might have more animal traits than human ones.

I look over and Noah is just staring wide eyed at me.

“So um, we all get to eat?”

“Mhmm I’m actually finished now so…..let’s all eat up.”

I put everything on the small wooden plates and bowls I had purchased and let everyone fill their stomachs. I may have to go catch another monster later as that rabbit was big it may not be enough to feed all these people.

I sat down and got a bowl and helped the small girl with her meal. It’s not that I doubt she couldn’t feed herself. She’s just real weak right now and exerting herself isn’t good at all.

I started to to take small portions of the soup in a spoon and blow on it like I had for my siblings in the past. I brought it up to the girl in my arms mouth and she just awkwardly accepted me feeding her.

“…mmm”

She started to smile and wag her short fluffy tail. When she opened her eyes she still had tears in them from before and continued to eat from the spoon.

Everyone else just looked at the food oddly as if still trying to figure me out entirely. I guess if you saw someone brutally murder a bunch of people then cook a meal for them that’d be strange. Also, since I’m from the same race from the one’s who have abused them for so long, it’s not rare that they would take some time to warm up to me.....I hope.

“So good mister Vali!” - Lily

“Oh mmm!” - Noah

“This is deriochhious!! Eat something!” -Tiffania

One after another they took bites from their soup. The sounds from their stomachs overpowered their thoughts. They ate away at the tender rabbit meat and all closed their eyes as if enjoying something for the first time in years.

“Ahh....”

“Mm...it’s hot....but it’s soooo goooooood!’

“Eh...its....it’s good I guess.”

The two elven maidens and the boy ate their meals.

I went over to the two elves and used my recovery on her throat to and then the one with the broken leg. Sure enough my magic had recovered enough and apparently is even enough to mend broken bone now......it’s as good as new.

“Ah....my...my leg......th...thank you sir!”

“I......it’s healed...............I....thank you. Really thank you. You’ve saved my sister and I haven’t even thanked you yet appropriately. You’re...a very kind man.”

The elves didn’t know how to react to my actions but I didn’t have a reply for them and just walked to where Hlökk had been sitting. I continued feeding the small girl in my arms who continued to peek back up at me……Her body may be practically as good as new but it was still too weak to do much else right now. ‘She needed help doing the most basics of things....I swear I’m going to kill the bastards who stared all of this one day!’

Sitting there quietly feeding the small girl she looked back up at me and smiled. Her tail’s fur is even back to being quite fluffy, and has somehow managed to be healed as well. The simple site of this does however make me smile....

Everyone ate in the quiet light of our fire in the woods and just simply enjoyed in the meal. Not much words were said, it was just peaceful except for the sounds of them guzzling water and meat until their bellies became plump. We all ate until we just lied there and stared at the fire together.....

First peaceful night I’ve had in such a long time. The moon was big tonight and the stars shined down on us all there, still strangers....... just sharing a meal together.

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Walking through the forest, it’s the next day after the colosseum incident.. I’m heading through the large, lush forest and it’s truly thick. After around a day of walking I see it....The cabin in the middle of the forest.

Walking up to the house I hear a large crashing sound and within moments I see my mother standing at the front door. She looked flushed but truly excited to see me. She also seemed troubled.

“Ah Vali.....You’re back.......Listen uh......Loki came by and left something for you.....”

‘Eh.....did she say Loki visited.....’

At that moment a small silver figure ran from between my mother’s legs out from her furry tails and starts running into my direction. ‘What.....What is that?

Is.....is that a dog? ...NO......that’s a wolf.’

Moments before realizing this, a small silver wolf pup pounces on me and the weight of this small dog is seriously something to be reckoned with.....This small dog felt like it weighed thousands of pounds with its tiny body. I could honestly feel my back being pushed down into the earth. It had tiny horns that looked like inverted Nike checks on its forehead and looked kind of odd.

Before I have a chance to do anything, it begins to lick me playfully in my face and chest, though I feel much painful stings as his claws are too sharp. I know this because it is ripping my skin which should be sturdy with ease. I picked up the odd silver pup and hold it over me and its long grey tail begins to wag around. Luckily I had given the small sick girl to the elf women as to not alert my mom initially and tell her what had happened.

ruf....ruf.....Ruf.....!

The dog kept barking and I honestly don’t know what to say to what was happening right now.

“Ooohh”

“….Loki?!”

“……”

The small girl and the elves looked at me lying on the ground and the small girl the elf had been holding looked up and stared at the cabin and my mom. Her eyes ventured around and showed excitement in everything she saw.

And just like that we had arrived back at our cabin home and things seemed to be getting exciting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we all were sitting around the cabin and about to introduce each other, I made a crack about Loki being a pain and leaving me with this......weird wolf dog and it had clearly done some work on the house. It’s small but it is really....really curious.

“Seriously Loki is such a pain......what was he thinking giving me this thing?”

“Oh......I thought you’d like it! In fairy tails, the heroes always need their trusted companions hmmm!”

And just like that the sound a familiar and annoying voice came into my ears. I turned around and standing there in a shiny white suite embroidered in gold appeared in the kitchen. His long bluish-white hair is done up in a weirdly figured pony tail and he enters into the cabin wearing modern odd clothes.

“Uhhh.....Loki...”

Before I do anything, I lunge in his direction to deliver a shot right to his open face before he has a chance to react.

BAM!!!!!

The sound of my arm coming into contact with an invisible wall in front of Loki echoes in my ear drums and he’s just sitting there smiling with his eyes closed as if he didn’t even notice.....’Uh this asshole’

“Ah ah ah.....touchy touchy. Is that any way to treat the God who blessed you. Cherished you. And brought you to this world?”

“....Funny. Those were some of the reasons why I was trying to punch you.”

Loki then laughed again and I stared to notice something......The surroundings were completely still and nothing was moving. I looked around and noticed all the slaves including my mom and the small wolf were.....frozen?

“What’s happening?”

“Oh....this is a simple space I have designed for us to speak.”

“A....space?”

“Why yes.....you didn’t think spatial magic just meant jumping from one place to another did you? Why it has all kinds of uses. Like now we are currently in a space I have created that moves at the rate of roughly 1000000 times that of the outside world. So it is just that us in this world move at a roughly quicker pace than those around us. Time moves at different paces according to where one is. Isn’t science and magic wonderful?”He began to clap and I could see he was happy with himself.....’Uh....he really is rambunctious.’

“Now then how did you like my gift?”

“Your gift looks like it destroyed my house.”

“Ah yes......I see that.....But isn’t it natural for a dog owner to train him? You should get on that right away, you know. This one is going to be quite strong!”

“........What?”

“Why this dog here is actually a wolf. I made him personally and used quite a bit of magic to have him made. His hair is made from a particular sky imoogi that is found in the western continent. It is quite strong and durable. His claws I found from a strange ore on a distant planet....And his eyes mhmhmhm. “

He just kept laughing marveling at his apparent creation and clapping.

“Though the grandness of my creation is it comes with a small added feature! It like you has the ability Demonic Absorption!!!”

“This dog has the same ability as I do?”

What is this guy’s game? This wolf essentially has the same ability as I do....Why would Loki give me an animal like this?

“Why yes....as he grows you shall too. I hope you will treat this little mutt well.....I put quite a bit of effort into creating him.....I expect you already know what to name him yes?”

As I looked at the small, silver furry animal I thought to myself over all the history and knowledge of my world. In the mythologies Loki had created a large wolf that was to one day kill and devour Odin towards the end of the world....His name....was Fenrir.

“......Fenrir?”

“Oh, splendid!! So you have been keeping up!”

He clapped his hands and continued his flamboyant charades.

“So....you’ve been looking into our own Norse Mythologies?”

“Why yes......Your world is rather interesting on some of its prophecies on our own beliefs........truly interesting.”

“...How so?”

I wasn’t going to hide it. I was rather curious about some of the things Loki had gone to find out for all this time....He had truly been gone for such a long time. What did he find out?

“Hmm....Do you know the history to this world Kayle?”

“No....not really? I wonder whose fault that is.”

Sensing we had some things to discuss, he just nonchalantly continued.

“Well this planet is originally a broken off piece of an Ancient celestial being known as a titan. This entire planet is a part of its body. It is truly marvelous and interesting place…..though.....We God’s cannot make something so beautiful ourselves.....”

Loki lowered his head and started to walk around.

“You know Kayle........I have traveled to your world once before you know.”

He started to walk with me and went outside. Loki then stepped closer towards a bush right next to the house to admire a flower that had been hanging off of it....what was he getting at?’

“I was utterly amazed at the wondrous and beautiful world you had come from.”

“....it’s not really that special.”

It’s true....all I ever had known was pain from that world. I didn’t have a lot of good memories to pull out but they were ones that honestly kept me going for so long.

“If only you knew child. The beautiful colors and feel of ever expanding life......it was truly magnificent. The ambience had shined and made colors our kind had never seen before. I and all the other Gods in attendance marveled at the beauty of your world. It was like staring off into a trillion different canvases and seeing an infinite number of works of art by a true master......’

As he continued, I listened to his thoughts on the world I came from.

“Each of us marveled in such beauty as we got lost in it and even planned on calling it home once. Though not much is really known I had to search for so long through books from different kingdoms, even books from old dead Gods, and even some from an old lizard king.”

“I don’t understand...”

“Well Kayle…….when the Gods of this world came and visited yours apparently many Gods saw it as a new paradise. We enjoyed our stay and even had a large effect on the local inhabitants there. Afterwards.......I read in books that many Gods had run-ins with large winged creatures that shot down from the skies of your planet and laid waste to many gods there. Since we weren’t even aware of the existence of other beings as powerful as us in your world.....Naturally we stepped up and tried to lay claim to the whole place.”

Everything he was saying was so much to fathom. He is a being that is truly old and may be telling me histories of my own world. I kept quiet and just thought about what he kept saying.

“Though we have pride in our strength.......We were easily dealt with and banished.... I later read stories from old books from some of the beings who had survived and you want to know what I found. An old lizard king not really a God mind you....but something close took his minions there without us knowing and ruined everything. The lizard-men reproduce quite quickly you see and apparently this race was causing some sort of a disturbance with the local population......Not long afterwards it was said a large dark winged being showed up and vanquished the lizard king with a large black sword engulfed in fire.”

“Dinosaurs.........you’re talking about dinosaurs?”

I was shocked; I honestly didn’t expect a lame Sci-fi explanation to why the dinosaurs died out.....This sounds kind of stupid.

“Yes....very good. After the lizard king and his minions were destroyed some had escaped, I guess as a way to wash away all our corruption from the place, those winged creatures must have decided to flood the entire place.......If you could only see just how beautiful the world was back then.....Breath taking.....in a trillion different ways. Truly it was a masterpiece and there were even some colors to have vanished from your world as well I’ve found. It’s as if they were all washed away with the damages that we........meddling God’s had caused.....”

Loki continued to play with the flowers in his hand looking displeased then looked back up at me seriously.

“..............”

.....I really didn’t think that was what Loki had gone to investigate.

“So....that is what you found out after being gone so long?”

I said that in annoyance to show him my agitation......'Um, Loki? '

He just waved his hands back and forth.

“What do you take me for?! I’ve learned much more things that have piqued my interest....For instance......Your parents were something that truly troubled me for some time.”

“What you mean like my father must have been a demon.”

‘I’ve come to terms with this and have pushed it back into my brain.’

“No.....I’m much more interested in who your mother was!”

End of Chapter.

More dialogue later...