《The Tempestatem》Chapter VII | More Questions Answered
Advertisement
When it came to mythical herbs in the World of Transition, some burned with more ferocity than the rest. With the rarer kind, all it required was a flame within inches of its surface. In a well-sized room, and atop a table at the centre, sat a wooden bowl. The vapours carried with it a pleasant aroma and a certain kind of magic. These herbs were the healing kind, powerful enough to manage even the direst of physical injuries.
An old man spread the vapours with his hand, his sapphire eyes wizened with time. He wore a long white beard and a moustache shorter in length. With a black kimono attired over a faded, white undergarment, it would have been easy for people from the other world to have mistaken him as Japanese. His features certainly attested to it.
In time, he had managed to heal almost every injury that Gale had suffered in battle. It was a recipe that took nearly a thousand years to master. When the boy awakened, he met a pair of gentle eyes in a man kind enough to help him sit upright.
Gale remembered little from his battle against Noah Oblique, the Relictan Lord that had beaten him to the point of near death. He rubbed his eyes, and slowly observed the man that now stood before him, frail in appearance but with a certain quality of strength.
“I am Zane Morgul,” said the man, introducing himself with a heavy voice. He pointed at Gale’s sword, placed in another corner of the room, sheathed in a scabbard of fine make. “It’s dangerous to walk around with a sword unsheathed at all times; I took the liberty to forge a scabbard befitting Bane.”
The name retrieved some of the boy’s memories, especially the decapitation. Then again, not one of the Relictan soldiers had survived to begin with. He looked at his hands; they were clean, and yet, the stench of blood persisted.
“You called my sword by a name,” said Gale curiously. “How did you come to know of it?”
“I have seen it pass hands many times, having lived as long as I have,” said Zane. “You’re a better fit than most.”
“I see,” said Gale, slow with his words. “Thank you for the scabbard.”
“I found you unconscious not far from the Relictan soldiers you had encountered,” said Zane. “It was not meant to happen, not within the Path of Wielders.”
Advertisement
Zane poured his visitor a cup of green tea. He served it alongside a plate of steamed buns; something Gale hadn’t encountered throughout his life in the other world. When the latter bit into it, a sweet flavour burst into existence, heightening its taste. Gale’s palate urged for more, and in that moment, the boy realized just how hungry he had been. He smiled, finding the tea just as exquisite in taste.
“Thank you,” said Gale. “This was a good meal.”
“It’s the least an old man can do,” said Zane. “Think nothing of it.”
As Zane cleared the table, Gale investigated the place that currently sheltered him. With shelved swords, lances, and shields of different type and origin, it looked more like a shop that the old man’s home. When Zane returned to take a seat opposite the boy, nervous energy overcame the latter.
“It may be rude of me to be so direct,” started Gale. “But I have some questions.”
“Anyone who ever visits this place for the first time always does,” said Zane. “I’ll try my best to answer them.”
“I’ll order them in terms of importance then,” said Gale with a nod. “First, is it normal for the Godvildian kind to not feel emotions of any kind?”
Zane eyed the boy with some curiosity; it was not a question he had expected. The old man stroked his beard and assessed the boy for everything he was worth. He made a mental note to discuss the matter with Aaron later.
“No,” said Zane. “As a Godvildian myself, I do feel different emotions. Everyone in this world does.”
“Intriguing,” said Gale. “Then, are there other races in this world similar to what I just described?”
Zane shook his head, affirming much of what Gale had suspected to begin with. It was a change that first began after his passing in the other world, his old one. In fact, it was probably the last time he had felt free enough to feel whatever it was his emotions demanded of him. He stared at his hands once more and noticed a mild tremble, wondering if his death had cost him his humanity also.
“And there is this odd thing I’ve noticed, about my getting stronger through battle,” said Gale. “Does this have something to do with Ehedus?”
“This realm maintains its balance by the presence of two warring gods,” said Zane. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are at war against each other. They derive their power from bloodshed and bless those that use their abilities in combat with greater strength.”
Advertisement
“I’d like you to expand upon that explanation.”
“You do know your questions, boy,” said Zane with a chuckle. “Mioverold, as this world was once called, formerly housed several races — some more powerful than the rest. What you see today would pale in comparison, and there are but three great races that call it home now.”
“Godvildian, Relictan, and?” asked Gale, following up on his own suggestion.
“The Noxun, worshipers of Bahä, a fierce kind with ideologies that we could never fully understand,” revealed Zane. “You’re right about the other two, and the Relictan, well, they are different.”
“How so?” said Gale, accepting a second cup of tea.
“It started with the Lords,” explained Zane. “Unlike the Godvildian or Noxun, the Relictan kind had several warriors that worshiped both Ehedus and Bahä. But they weren’t rewarded as kindly as we were. It eventually forced them to resort to something else altogether, something not very peaceful.”
“And that is?”
Zane raised an eyebrow, uncertain about the words that would follow. He had often restricted his explanations with those new to the World of Transitions. The silence grew to foster an odd sense of unease, but the boy refused to relent in his pursuit of information.
“Cannibalism,” said Zane, morbid in his expression. “They are known to eat defeated warriors; it helped them become stronger by means of theft. A treaty was signed after Godvildian interference; Noah’s appearance in the Path of Wielders, it could be interpreted as their unwillingness to stand by what was agreed upon.”
“I suppose that’s useful knowledge.”
Zane almost responded but caught something that held his tongue instead. Information about the Relictan soldiers, it was a revelation that would have startled most, and yet the boy sat untroubled.
“Say, do you have any other questions?” said Zane. “I have a feeling we might be a little short on time.”
“For some reason, that seems to be happening rather frequently,” said Gale, laughing aloud. “Just one more then, who is Bane?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say much,” admitted Zane. “Little is known about him, but the short description would define him as a spirit residing within the confines of your blade. Historians believe him to have been a powerful wielder from the olden times.”
“Is there anyone else who can help with more?”
Zane shook his head and noticed immediately that the answer had disappointed the boy. He quickly broke into a smile in an effort to comfort Gale.
“You needn’t worry,” encouraged Zane. “In time, the sword will tell you its story.”
While the conversation held promise of continuation, the sound of their teacups rattling against the table put it to an abrupt end. A violent rush of wind intrusively upset what was inside, and as the boy rose in preparation of what was to come, Zane raised his hand in protest. The latter directed the boy’s attention to the door, where two men stood, lightning and thunder behind them.
“I’m sorry about doing this without warning, Gale,” said Zane. “But your questions about yourself, they are best answered with experimentation. I believe that it was the case in your battle against Noah also.”
Despite the confusion, Gale could not help but agree with the insight.
“I’ve never seen a wielder fresh from the other world stand toe-to-toe against a Relictan Lord, let alone stand the victor,” continued Zane. “You could say that there are questions around you we would like answered ourselves.”
“And your impatience led to the idea of using me as a guinea pig,” said Gale without feeling. “Just tell me one thing, did I come here at a bad time?”
“I’m afraid so,” said Zane. “But trust me when I say that doing it this way was not our intention; it’s the quickest way to understand if your potential stands to aid us in what’s to come.”
Gale stood upright, strapping the sword that had come to become an extension of his body. He walked past the threshold, two men on either side, and looked back at the man that had rescued him.
“I never had a chance to ask,” said Gale from a distance. “Who are you?”
“Just an ordinary blacksmith,” said Zane with a smile. “Someone who hopes to see you again soon enough.”
Advertisement
Set in Stone
Book 1 in the Set in Stones series Some events in life are predetermined and impossible to alter. When Athena Laurent returns to England after two years of absence, she's tasked to find a Pack, somewhere in the North. Her mission will bring a group of people together who - when the time was right - were always destined to meet. But how can they trust, like, or even love each other when their first instinct is to lie? "Can you imagine it? Three werewolves, a vampire, a human, a hunter, a werecat, and a hybrid in one room? We thought we would destroy each other, but we couldn't have been more wrong." Although Athena thinks she's destined to be alone forever, Fate has other plans. In a journey full of surprises, she must recognize friend from foe. Who can she trust? And who is determined to bring her down? Follow Athena and her fellow outcasts. They will have to join forces to achieve their individual goals. They have never met before, but Fate has connected them since birth. Now, the time has come to unite and become what they were always meant to be. Friends. Family. A pack. Because only then, they can change the world. --------------------------------------------------------- Book 1: finished (10-1-2022) Book 2: currently being written. Release date will me sometime in March 2022.
8 204A Lonely Tree
Have you ever wondered how wonders are made? Thought about the stories behind a flying mountain, a desolate castle, or an underwater labyrinth; all filled to the brim with monsters, traps and treasure? This is the story of a lonely tree using everything at its disposal to live long enough to become one of the greats. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 271Fallen Lotus: The Legends of Xiao Xue
Aeons passed in this primal realm. Great empires rose… And fell. Divine beings of unimaginable power battled tirelessly. Plotting and scheming with inhumane ferocity. Swathes of destruction rose in their transient wakes. The blood of the innocent pooled as immortal lakes They ruled these primordial lands, where the brave – or the foolish – go to test their prowess. . . . Xiao Xue didn’t seek much. Carefree as a wild ant thrush, A simple existence in quietude should have sufficed. But the schemes of the ancestral divinities would not permit such. Xiao Xue now walks down a bloody path, Fraught with wrath. With pain and mindless bloodbaths. This is the tale of a reincarnated pacifist… Going. Rogue. ... Cover art by Xiaoyu Wang on Artstation
8 120Sound of Music(nalu, gruvia, jerza,galevy)
Spin off of CBS but they are all living the lives of successful celebrities!! Find out what happens! I don't own Fairy tail...Note: there will be music and someone singing in every chapter.(I don't not own the music used in these chapters)
8 184Dear Spellbook (Rewrite)
Live. Study. Repeat. Tal never saw himself as an adventurer, but the call to adventure never much cared for his opinion. Despite his best efforts, his search for answers on the murder of his parents ever draws him into danger. Accompanied by a group of seasoned warriors, thus far Tal has gotten by on his own meager magical talents, but when one day he wakes up to find himself back in his bed of the night before, he is faced with a challenge he must conquer alone. What to expect: This story was born of an attempt to create in world lore reasons for many of the mechanics and tropes of D&D, but you do not need to know of them to enjoy the story. It's a single POV time loop story with slow paced progression fantasy elements. The story is not one of fast-paced power ups and non-stop action, but as it progresses, the action picks up. There is a lot of magic system exploration on a system built to unify the diverse magic of D&D into one cohesive magic system. The setting is an original world with familiar races and monsters but with new unique origins and motivations. Book 1 is complete. Book 2 is complete and coming out M-W-F. The complete book 2 is available on Patreon
8 157Allah's Plan For You & Me
This book is about Islamic teachings and other topics.Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "Seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim. Indeed, Allah loves those who strive in their quest for knowledge."
8 194