*** KINGDOM OF OLLAGON, CLAN TWOTREE COMPOUND, OFFICE OF THE HIGH ELDER ***

*** Daniel ***

That afternoon, Daniel found himself sitting in the office of the High Elder Burrlock. The office was cramp and functional, something Daniel found surprising. There is a small shelf on one side, filled with scrolls and books, a desk with three sturdy chairs facing each other and a huge window behind them. That’s it. No decoration or pictures or statues or anything else otherwise.

“So you were in the army and now you want to come back to the clan,” Elder Burrlock said, eyeing him. The Head Elder was a big man, not as big as Tyler, but his presence made everyone notice him at once. He is nearing fifty, with blue intelligent eyes as hard and as permanent as the Mythril he had been force to peddle in his youth in the royal capital, and as dangerous as the axe that he always carry when he travels. His clothes are rich and the knife at his boot are bejeweled. His full beard is graying like his hair, and Amriel hates him like the plague.

Ironically, Daniel like the guy.

“That is correct, My Kai,” Daniel said. Kai literally means “the one who leads” in Elagani. It is normally used by the kingdom to address someone who is in a higher position than you, or someone who is older, acknowledging the fact that he knows more than you. Basically, a term of respect.

“When did you arrive in the clan compound?”

“I arrive this morning, my kai.”

“And you do not deem it necessary to come here as soon as you arrive?”

Daniel nodded to himself. This is a standard tactic officers used to unbalance new recruits.

‘So it’s true that this bastard actually has experience in the army,’ Daniel thought amused. Amriel remembered that Master Lohan always speculated that Burrlock used to be in the army, but he can never prove it. It is a tactic that Amriel used himself all the time.

“Or maybe he is just an ass,” Simon said, sitting in the other chair and cleaning his glasses.

“Please excuse me, my kai,” Daniel continued, in his most honeyed tongue. “But I am not sure if you remember me. So I deemed it necessary to meet first my family so that I can be reintroduced to the elder. I seek no insult.”

The Elder grunted. “Of course, I remember you, I ain't stupid,” Burrlock said. “I mourned your father’s death. At least, he left a good son behind for the clan. Also, Master Lohan had nothing but praised for you.”

“So he remembered your father at least,” Growled Tubby, who is sitting near the window. “The man that he betrayed.”

Daniel offered his elder the credentials that he was holding. It was a forgery, of course, one he obtained at a great cost in the capital. But nothing in the report is a lie. All the citations and medals and honors listed in the reports are actually given to Amriel. It’s just that Amriel had been missing for the last 5 years and when he came back he found out that he is already a hero. The knight who sacrificed himself to closed the void gates from the void army. They called it the Resurrection War. His own unit he heard, is now in a choice station and proudly call themselves the “Pig Riders.” Daniel can feel Amriel blushing at that memory.

He scanned his own memory about that incident and he chuckled.

“What was that?” Burrlock said, annoyed.

“Nothing, My Kai.”

Burrlock grunted again, and look back at the young man in front of him. Like a true predator, Burrlock can sense another dangerous animal when he sees one. And this man, with his cold green eyes, is one dangerous man. Instinctively, the elder hated the young man. But the clan must come first.

“Look, I acknowledge your credentials. For a young man, you’ve brought honor to the clan with your services to the Army,” Burrlock said, scratching his beard.

“I can hear a BUT coming,” Simon said.

Another one of Amriel’s aspects, a Bum drunk that you can smell across the room, named Greg, burped loudly. “So can I,” He said. The silent giant beauty named Aida held Rex the Chihuahua in her bosom, and they are both nodding.

Only Tubby, the giant one-eyed cat, is sniggering. “He said BUTT… hurhurhur,” Tubby said to himself, laughing like Beavis.

Daniel remained silent and waited.

“But, I cannot give you the post that you wanted,” Burrlock said. “I already have a good head of security for the clan and his second in command is the best trainer for the guard.”

Daniel nodded. He expected this because, despite his skills, Burrlock put more premium to loyalty. He simply did not trust Amriel yet. Daniel expected to start from the bottom and make his way up. “I understand your reasoning, my kai. I will take any other opening then, I just want to serve the clan.”

Burrlock’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t expect this kind of reaction. “I’m glad to hear that,” Burrlock said. “Not many young people today understand that a strong clan helps their future. That is why whatever they are doing for the clan, be it small or big, is very important.”

Burrlock handed Daniel a cup of wine made of blood berries. It is a drink made in the capital and very popular. Daniel took it and gulp it down in one throw, which in this world is the correct etiquette. Sipping wine is an insult to your host since it implies that you don’t trust the drink that is offered to you. “Report to Master Lucio tomorrow morning near the edge of the forest. We are trying to clear as much of the woods in that area to expand our settlement. Also, go to the quartermaster office later so we can give you the necessary supplies to build your new home. The quartermaster will also assign you a plot of land for you to use. Do you have any other questions?” Abruptly, Burrlock stood to end the meeting.

Daniel sighed and stood up as well. “No, my kai. I do not.”

“Good,” Burrlock said. He surprises Daniel when he thumps his barreled chest with a closed fist, the clan sign for greetings. “And welcome back to the clan, Amriel the seventh of twotree.”

Amriel gives the clan sign and bowed before leaving the office. He immediately went to the quartermaster. He gave his credentials and Elder Ergo, the head quartermaster gestured for him to follow. Hey went deeper into the compound until they reach a wooden warehouse. Daniel is familiar with the place because this warehouse is where Amriel and his friends used to play hide and seek.

Inside they met Akton, Elder Ergo’s son, who is sitting at a table and writing something in a scroll. Next to him are more scrolls and an ancient looking abacus. Daniel knew that they are related even before the elder introduce them because they look almost exactly alike. Protruding stomach, vanishing hairline, hook nose, suspicious brown eyes, and a penchant for biting their lips when they are thinking. “Stay here for a moment while we get your thinks.” Elder Ergo ordered.

Daniel nodded and watched them go. He started looking around and noticed a painting of an ugly fat woman on one wall, presumably Master Ergo’s late wife. Below the painting is a small table with an incense stick. The incense is mainly used as an insect repellant, but it is also the closest thing the kingdom has for time keeping. One stick of incense is roughly the equivalent of one hour.

After a while, Daniel started humming and tapping his boots. He is fooling around a bit until his eyes rested to the goddess Shayla, who is standing in one corner, invisible to all except him, and she is looking directly at him. “What?” Daniel asked, slightly annoyed.

Her head turned slightly to one corner, like a cat, and she continued to watch him. “You didn’t even noticed,” She said finally, a slight wonder in her voice. “That you just change with your other spirit.”

Daniel was taken aback, because what the abomi- He means Shayla, had just said was absolutely true. The spirit known as Daniel had taken over because Amriel finds the task of talking to Burrlock tedious at best.

When both of them first awaken inside the cavern known as the Helix, there was a power struggle between the two spirits inside Amriel’s body. Only when they compared notes did they realize that the spirit Daniel was looking for is familiar to Amriel as well. The life essence that Daniel felt was the same radiance that now wraps around a baby girl. Ella.

Daniel’s previous daughter reincarnated into Amriel’s current daughter. Even Shayla was amazed at the coincidence. She concluded that there is some sort of new destiny created that will happen because of the union between their spirits. After all, Shayla proudly admitted that the synchronization of their spirit was something unique and far remarkable. They switch spirit when they need to and took advantage of the knowledge of each. And they only needed 2 hours of sleep each day because of it.

It wasn’t always like this of course. It took years before they become use to each other. Two alphas sharing the same body is never easy. Daniel normally wins any fight when they exerted will power but the stubbornness of Amriel means he can only be in full control for a few hours at most.

But now, they interchange their spirits so naturally that sometimes they are not aware who is actually is in the driver’s seat at any given time. Shayla believes that it is progress in improving their entity. But both Amriel and Daniel find it a bit disturbing.

Daniel’s train of thought is broken when Elder Ergo returned with his son. They were both holding small wooden crates full of supplies. One by one, Elder Ergo in a bored voice, gave detailed info on what Daniel is getting from the clan:

A sack of potato; another half sack of a mixture of carrots, onions and other tubers; a smaller sack of flour; an even smaller mug container made of harden mud that house one for salt, one for pepper, 2 for yam berries and four other spices Daniel is not sure about; He also receives 2 woolen long sleeve shirts, a woolen pants with slim leather for straps, a slipper that is made from a flexible bamboo-like plant called “Arucha”; Four meters of extra linen cloth; Two thicker woolen blankets; half a wheel of black cheese; and lastly two small wooden barrels of seed oil.

Daniel is astounded. With Amriel’s memory, he expected a bit of help and assistance from the clan, but not like this. The clan really gave him a lot of essential supplies that he really needed.

“The clan must be doing well,” muttered Simon, inspecting the goods.

“You also get this,” Elder Ergo said in his raspy voice. His son handed Daniel a wooden round shield and a short iron sword. “Like every clansman, you are now a member of the militia. You and your fellows, my son here included, will train every 1st day of the ten-day week for at least two hours. Do you understand?”

Daniel nodded. “I understand, My kai.”

“Good. Now lastly, Elder Burrlock wants you to sign this.”

Elder Ergo offered him a scroll and Daniel quickly read it. The scroll is giving him access to 1 kabuk of land (approximately 1 hectare). A committee made up of himself, a representative of the elders, and his immediate neighbor, will set markers as boundaries for his new land. Now although the land is hereditary, the land technically still belongs to the clan. What it means is that he still need permission from the clan if he decided to sell it, and if he is proven guilty to a major crime or in a time of a great emergency, the clan has the right to take back his land. Also, he is free to cultivate his land as he sees fit, however, one in every four profit made in the land will be given back to the clan. This is on top of the ten percent harvest that you are obligated to give to the clan warehouse every year.

Daniel shrugged. “Everything seems fair,” He said, smiling. “Where do I sign?”

Elder Ergo is looking at him with an odd expression in his face. “That is a radiance scroll. All you have to do is infuse your radiance and that’s it.”

Now Daniel hesitated. When he was a newbie congressman he personally went against any form of personal data collection like blood and DNA. Radiance collection smack closed to that. But that was not really the point, his radiance signature is completely different from the radiance signature taken by the clan when he was younger. In fact, it will show a completely different person because of the difference. And even if his radiance is still the same, the fact that it is so much purer now and so much more powerful than before will simply generate too many questions he is not prepared to answer.

“Ah… Shayla? Can you hear me?” Daniel asked through his mind. Unlike Amriel, he doesn’t have any problem with the goddess. In fact, he kinda like her.

“Yes,” was her only reply.

“Hey listen,” Daniel said. “I’m kinda in a bind here. If you don’t mind, can you go outside and create a distraction? But don’t show yourself.” Daniel hesitated, then added almost as an afterthought. “Oh, and don’t kill anybody.”

“Good,” Shayla said, as she passes through a wall like a ghost. “Finally, something to do.”

“Is there a problem?” Elder Ergo said, impatiently.

“Nothing. Nothing at all, my kai,” Daniel said hurriedly. “So I just squeeze this scroll really tight, is that it?”

“No no no, you imbecile. You hold it normally, just infuse your radiance in the paper and –”

A huge explosion erupted outside. Window glasses burst inside the room and the wall actually cracked. Daniel and the others staggered, Akton even fell face first in the straw covered floor. When the smoke and debris subsided, Elder Ergo followed by his son, went outside to see what happened.

Tubby was running around the room, excited. Simon meanwhile is cleaning his glasses while shaking his head. “You’re an idiot! This is what you get for asking a mad woman for distraction,” he said exasperated.

Aida next to him is nodding her head sadly. “Idiot.”

Daniel shakes his head as he approached the table. He grabbed the scroll with one hand and started to infuse radiance in his other hand’s fingers. Quickly, he created a new magical circle and updated the complicated runes around it. When he finished, he guided the floating magic circle to the table until it rested there. When the circle started to glow, he gently put the scroll on top of the circle. The circle made the scroll float and revolve around it, and then with a single hand, Daniel begun to tap the sides of the glowing sphere. His hands blurred as he taps the right magical components in time until the scroll was encased in a holo tank-like magical dome. Only then did Daniel infuse his radiance into the scroll. The circle intercepted his radiance and magically change it back to the normal radiance signature that he used to have.

The scroll glowed white once then stop, only then did Daniel dismissed the magical circle and walked briskly outside. The entire “programming” took him exactly 22 seconds. Daniel smiled, remembering that less than 5 years ago, He was a mere newbie in magic. Now he is expertly creating master level magical circle under a minute, how cool was that?

Outside he distinctively heard the increasing incredulous voice of Master Ergo’s son Akton. “What in the source was that?!” He screeches to an equally dumbfounded worker who was nearby.

“A meteorite, sir?” the clan worker suggested helplessly.

Outside the building, just missing the donkey with the cart of Amriel’s supplies, was a small 4 feet deep and 10 feet wide crater. A black stone is embedded in the ground and it is still smoldering. Daniel’s mouth was open.

He closed it immediately before turning to Shayla who is sitting demurely in the cart, one hand resting on her chin while her eyes admired her handiwork.

‘A meteorite? Seriously? You cannot do anything more subtle than that?’ Daniel asked, astounded. Wordlessly he steps next to elder ergo who is talking animatedly with another clan worker and pushed his scroll to the elder’s chest.

The elder looks at him almost absently then to the scroll and nodded.

Shayla just shrugged. ‘At least it’s not a meteor SHOWER.’

Daniel cringed. ‘I guess… (Gulp) thank you is in order, then.’ He thought.

The Goddess accepted his thanks graciously, and the two of them walk out of the compound unnoticed, dragging the donkey and their supplies, while behind them chaos ensued.