Chapter 44 - The appearance of a Hero

According to Reynold several groups from the Order remained somewhere around the border, searching for whatever clues they hoped to find.

"Whatever it is, it has to be quite important considering everything else that's going on... By the way, what have you been doing there?"

For some time since Reynold had started his rant, Tormen fiddled around with his glasses. He'd taken out the lenses before proceeding to carve into them using a sharp piece of metal as an utensil. A flurry of lines that could hardly be distinguished from ordinary scratches joined the already present lines on the backside of the glasses, turning into an indecipherable mess for Reynold. The front retained its undamaged appearance, as Tormen shaved off layer after layer until only a thin sheet of glass was left. It was flexible like a piece of paper, yet surprisingly durable from the way Tormen was handling it without too much care.

"I turned them into contacts... or something similar to that effect."

"Huh, I guess even someone like you cares about his appearance."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Anyways, I'm off to take a stroll and get some much-needed privacy."

When Reynold left the house, the two familiar jin passed by. He didn't choose to stay behind because of them, and after giving a quick nod, he went into the nearby woods to take care of his business.

"Honored Tormen. The nuisance has been dealt with and we can now properly welcome you to our small village. Please, follow us."

Without waiting for Reynold to return, the group of three headed to the mansion. The interior of it looked as one would have expected by seeing the outside. To Tormen it appeared more like a glorified cavern than anything even remotely resembling the expansive mansions he'd seen before. Lacking any form of furnishings, the three chose the middle of one large room to seat themselves on the ground. As a token of consideration, a stack of hay and leaves had been placed to make it as comfortable to Tormen as it was possible.

"I'm sorry but we have little to offer to you. I doubt that any food we'd be able to provide you would be to your satisfaction."

"No worries. I can take care of myself just fine and you're right that I'm not too fond of raw meat."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now, Honored Tormen, you've been quite adamant about refusing any form of compensation, but both the Young Master and I would feel very wronged by leaving things as they are."

"I'm honest with you when I say that I'm more than satisfied by being allowed entrance into your territory. I already consider myself quite fortunate since few outsiders are ever allowed around here."

"Times are changing." The attendant gazed outside the hole, which could barely be considered as a window. "You can see that our people have grown rather accustomed to the visits of outsiders and don't feel as threatened by their presence anymore. It's a necessity with the way things are now. As such, simply letting you stay here isn't much of a problem nor some kind of privilege worthy as your compensation."

Subsequently, the attendant and Tormen went back and forth about his reward, exchanging polite words without much progress while Zzuurr observed them intently, listening to what they were talking about.

"Then if I may be so presumptuous..." Tormen eventually relented, much to the attendant's relief. But that relief disappeared as quickly as it had appeared when he heard Tormen's request.

"May I visit one of your temples? I know that only a few of your own people are allowed passage and-"

"I apologize, but that is absolutely out of the question."

As if a switch was flicked, all politeness and compliance disappeared from the attendant. His tired eyes furrowed in a menace that only disappeared after Zzuurr had focused his attention on him. What followed after was an exchange between the two in their native tongue, which resulted in a hefty argument.

"There's no need to oblige my selfish request." Tormen quickly intervened as even he could feel the tension between them. "I was merely interested and it isn't anything important. What I've said earlier still holds, I don't need compensation."

"It's. Fine." Zzuurr answered with broken words.

"No, it's not! I'm sorry Tormen, but we have to drop this matter. Young Master you too. This is something you can yet decide."

"It's! Fine!"

The roar of an angered beast filled the room with an unexpected shaking, questioning the stability of the mansion they were in. The attendant stared at his Young Master in astonishment, and traces of confusion, wondering what had overcome him.

"If. Not. Tormen. I. Dead. Bastard would now lead. Unacceptable. Unforgivable! If. Not. Tormen. All! Lost!!"

"I understand that very well, Young Master. The traitor might have been in collusion with the eledyn, and I have no doubt regarding the merit of Tormen's action! But this is..."

The exchange of aggressive snarling continued, leaving the attendant helpless on how to deal with his matter. There was no convincing Zzuurr since he considered this a chance to finally offer Tormen repayment after he'd refused any previous rewards of silver and gold.

"'...Very well." The attendant sighed heavily in defeat. "Honored Tormen, I think I can allow you to visit the temple, but whether you'll be permitted entry won't be for us to decide and there's little hope for you regarding that. As long as you're satisfied with that..."

"Of course, that's more than enough! I have to apologize, I know that I've put you on the spot, but my curiosity got the better of me."

"Yes, I'm well aware of the extent of human's childlike curiosity. I can't find fault with it, but it does lead to extremes. Please keep that in mind for the future as well as the nature of your requests.

Reaching an agreement, the discussion came to an end. Tormen rejoined with Reynold in their lodging, informing him about his plans. After some thinking, the latter decided it was the best choice for him to follow Tormen, where he was under the protection of the jin until he'd come to some conclusions about his own situation.

In a small garden somewhere within Rydenna, a group of children, who didn't have to follow after the rules laid out for the older inhabitants, gathered together. They circled around one particular boy that was the focus of everyone's attention.

"Wow! You have such beautiful scales! How can they shine so blue! I think even my father's can't compare to them!"

"What scales? Look at his fangs and those muscles! Aren't we supposed to be the same age?"

"What are you both talking about? Why would he have any of those when he has such clear spheres! I can even see myself in them, wow!"

"You are all blind! Fangs? Spheres? Scales? He is not some monster! How could he be one? With such a cute and handsome face! And that hair! How is it so much prettier than mine!? Are you sure you are not a girl?"

"Lilia! Be mindful of your words!" The sole adult among the group of children reprimanded the little human girl who had last spoken up.

"I'm sorry. But if someone would have fangs, scales, and spheres, he'd look like a monster, no?"

In response to her words, the children agreed, regardless of their race, as their blather in the Divine Language continued unfettered. Nonetheless, their custodian took it upon herself to reprimand her usage of words until she focused on the matter at hand.

"Alright everyone, calm down. You are making him feel embarrassed by all your ogling. If you don't like something, you have to say it, understand?" Her last words were directed at the young boy that meekly nodded in response.

"Then, how about you introduce yourself?"

"...Hello. I'm Ray."

The boy said, hiding his arms beneath his back as he fiddled nervously with his fingers. His feet remained restless on the ground, tapping in place as he was on the verge of running away at any moment.

"And?"

"And..." The boy stuttered as he fell into silence. He thought about what else to say, so he pondered with all his might and scoured his memories on how to introduce oneself. But there was little he could come up with except for one small thing.

"Hello. I'm Ray and I'm two years old."

"Ehh!?!?"

The entire group of children exclaimed in disbelief and their staring intensified much to Ray's dismay.

"You're lying!" Everyone agreed on the same as they dubiously ceased him up, each wondering why he'd told such an obvious lie. Although their guardian was trying to calm the children down, so she could offer an explanation, it was to no avail and her patience finally reached its limit.

"Quiet!" She raised her voice, also concerned about Ray, who was clearly troubled and pushed into a corner by the doubtful looks of his peers that questioned him endlessly about why he'd been bad and lied.

"Ray isn't lying."

"But Sister, there's no way he's just two years old! He looks just as old as me, so that makes him ten years old!"

"And yet, the truth is that he is two years old. Listen up carefully, children. Ray here is a hero that has been sent by the gods!"

"A hero?" The children blurted out in unison, the expressions on their faces turning into looks of doubt and amazement. They had all read and heard of tales that depicted valiant heroes that fought demons and devils to save the world and its inhabitants. To hear that Ray had been declared as such by their trusted guardian filled them with such curiosity that they ceased their turmoil and listen to what their Guardian had to say.

"That's right, a hero! To some of you, Ray will appear as the fiercest jin, the mightiest rykul or a mesmerizing eledyn! To others, he will be a steadfast human or a wise and proud foren! You could say that Ray appears as the light you each feel most comfortable with. That's why it's no surprise he looks different to each of you."

A much bigger chaos than before ensued, engulfing Ray in the intense gazes of the children once more. Each of them spoke over the other, making them incomprehensible as they asked him for varying questions about his appearance. But Ray had never had the chance to answer, as they confirmed the truth by talking amongst themselves. The children were far too busy on their own chatter to pay attention to anything else, much less Ray's mutter, despite the discussion being about him.

"I'm not some hero..."

"What is the point of lying to me, Aiyla? Just tell me already where you've been hiding a second one from me for all these years."

"Dyren, the answer won't change. He's the same Armin and I picked up two years ago."

"Does he look like a two-year-old to you!?"

"I told you that it's normal to him, but you just won't get it in your stupid head."

Some distance away from the small garden, Dyren and Aiyla were in a heated conversation. After Dyren's initial return from Alliza two years ago, he'd only spent a short time in Rydenna to reunite with Aiyla. It had taken him some time to recover from his shock before Aiyla could even begin her explanation. As a result, he'd put all the blame on Armin for not explaining himself properly. Since then he was repeatedly sent on scouting missions all across the different territories of the races, so he had never had the chance to give his piece of mind to Armin or pay many visits to Aiyla and her new child.

Aiyla and Dyren themselves had known each other for a long time. The two grew up in Rydenna under Armin's guidance before choosing to join the Third Order. Thus, it was only natural for Dyren to be concerned about the sudden appearance of some son of hers.

"Fine. It's hard to believe but I guess you're telling the truth. Well, at least you don't have to bother with his crying any longer, am I right?"

"...Yeah, sure..."

"What's wrong? Your complaints were just as incessant as his crying. I thought you'd be elated that he grew out of that much faster than normal brats."

"It's just..." The hesitation that was plainly written across her face couldn't be hidden even if she tried to. Anxiety and worry mixed into the unique appearance Dyren had slowly grown accustomed to seeing on her face instead of her usual fiery temper.

"You've really become a mother, haven't you... Spit it out, what's wrong? Don't think I can help?"

"...I guess I can tell you. But don't speak about this to anyone else. Under no circumstances. The priests have put a strict restriction on this information but you should be one of those that will find out sooner or later."

"You flatter me."

"I-, that wasn't-, ugh...whatever. Anyways, it's precisely about Ray's unnatural growth. I've been told his physical maturation correlates with the reason for his existence. In other words, the calamity he's bound to face one day is approaching too fast, and as a result, his growth is sped up as per the decree of the gods."

"That is news best to keep silent about... But you don't need to worry too much, Aiyla. He's growing up a little bit faster than usual, so what? Armin is also here and I'm sure Eri should return from her trial soon as well. Maybe we don't even need Ray. Or are you afraid of your baby boy becoming independent of his mother too quickly?"

"Maybe..." The lackluster response was not what Dyren had expected, but he probably should have had. Before these two years, that remark alone would have surely earned him some running exercise.

"Speaking of trials, have you heard?" Aiyla continued, the worry on her face increasing the number of furrows substantially. "They want Ray to take his first trial within this year! When he reaches three years of age, maybe even before that! Eri was sixteen when she'd had her first, and even Armin was barely twelve years old... I know the priests are worried about his growth but aren't they too impatient? No matter what he looks like, he's still two."

Dyren could only sigh at a loss for words. He didn't know how to cheer her up or even talk to her anymore. The usual bickering, albeit annoying at times, occurred no more. In its place was a worried mother, to whom, Dyren felt some distance that wasn't there before.

"A child... I guess that means a change in priorities, even if there's no blood between them. Who'd think the man to tame her would be a brat..." He said not too quiet, but Aiyla was unable to hear him as she gazed at the children playing in the garden. Worried, she looked at her son that remained all by himself. The children that had approached him earlier had either lost interest or were unable to gain his attention.

At some point, Ray realized that he was being watched. The somewhat lonely expression on his face was immediately replaced by utter joy as he ran over to the two.

"Uncle Dyren!" He shouted excitedly as he flung himself around his waist.

"Wow, easy there boy! You remember me...?"

"Of course!"

If Dyren didn't believe Aiyla's story about his age before, he certainly did now. Because the last time the two had met, he'd held Ray in his arms as a toddler. Yet, somehow, he was able to remember him, even recognize his appearance and be elated by it for some reason.

"I would never forget soaring with you through the air! That was so fun! The stars were also so close, I thought I could almost grab them!"

"Ah...yeah...we did that, didn't we...?"

"Dyren. What is he talking about?" Next to him, Aiyla was staring at him with a smile so gentle that it radiated sheer menace.

"Well... you remember how you asked me to take of him for a day back then? I kinda got bored, like really bored, so I took a stroll with Ray. But don't worry, he really liked it and kept giggling the entire time!"

As he'd feared, Aiyla wasn't too happy with his response. She could almost see before her eyes how Dyren was recklessly jumping from roof to roof, all the while holding a toddler in his hands that he could have dropped at any given moment. Even if her imagination was exaggerating things, she was certain the truth wasn't too far off. When he was confronted with the anger of a tiger, Dyren hastily attempted to explain himself.

"Wait, Aiyla, I can explain. I had very good reasons, you see..."

He took a deep breath to calm himself down. But instead of opening his mouth to give an explanation, he grabbed Ray by the arm. With the gust of the wind, Dyren dragged the grinning boy behind him as he carried them into the distance, leaving behind a disgruntled Aiyla, who was torn on whether to commence chasing or not.