Chapter 6: One with a Mission

“An honour to meet you, Lord Valery. I’ve heard a lot of your feats from Master. Master sends his regards.”

Shisha greeted the old man. She bowed a little.

“Ha ha, it’s good to hear something from him in years. So you’re Shisha? Likewise. I remembered he mentioned you from his few letters. No need to be so formal. It’s good to see Kyosei’s first apprentice… oh, nice companion you have there.”

He referred to her lynx.

- That’s some cat… a lynx, eh…

Aveon pondered.

“This is Tasha, my trustworthy companion. I hope you don’t mind me bringing her along.”

“Not at all. And this is my grandson, Averon.”

“Ah, nice to meet you, young… hm?”

She noticed something unique of the boy.

- This child… young yet well-trained… no, more so…

“…Young Averon. Averon, nice name… name of the legendary hero.”

She smiled. Averon was almost captivated.

- Hm? That smile reminds me of my Emperor… she is… wait, legendary hero?

“Nice to meet you, Lady Shisha. Thank you.”

“Come on in, we’ll discuss further in a much proper place.”

“Thank you Lord Valery.”

“Hah! Just call me Heinz. Since you’re his apprentice, we’re like family… though I shudder at having you call me Uncle… hah!”

She was in the waiting room near the entrance, with several guards. Now old Heinz led her in into the large living room reserved for guest. He told the maids to prepare light refreshments.

They entered the large room, with couches and seats surrounding a knee-high table. All around had ornaments fitting for a knight; shields and swords, even armors, some paintings of battle and wall decorations. On top of the wall, was written,

ACT JUSTLY, WITH HONOUR.

NEVER YIELD TO TYRANNY.

NEVER COMMIT OR ALLOW TYRANNY.

COMMIT TO TRAINING.

THAT IS TRUE KNIGHT.

Shisha observed the writings, a smile was on her. Old Heinz noticed her reaction.

“How true. How beautiful.”

“Hmm… Your Master inspired me to write it.”

“Is that so? I’m honoured… hm,hm…”

- Somehow, these two might be similar to each other…

Old Heinz gestured her to take a seat. They sat facing each other. The lynx took her place below, and started to sleep.

“So Shisha, tell this old man about yourself. It’s best to know each other first before going on to a more serious topic, since I have the impression it’s not that urgent… important, but not something that can be rushed. Is that right?”

“Yes, you’re right, Lord Va-”

“-Heinz.”

“If you insist, Heinz-sama. Master told me to be respectful to you in a very serious way.”

“Hah! He’s still too serious a man, I see.”

“Ah, I forgot. He told me to give you this… gift.”

She presented him a small package from her bag pack. She opened it in front of him.

It was a root, with ground around it in the package. Averon was impressed.

“Wow… that looks quite old.”

“Ah, very rare and high-quality ginseng, I see… Goodness, Kyosei… he still remembers...”

He smiled, reminiscing his past.

“…How old is this one?”

“Around 190 years… it’s full of life force, though it might not be so in another decade. He told me to prepare it for you should you forgot how to do it.”

“Ha! He did teach me how, but I often forgot the steps…”

“He told me even though you’re like that, you’re someone he considered his rival.”

“Yes, yes… of course. I’m the strongest among the Great Knights, afterall… ah, that’s arrogance. Please excuse this old man. Enough with him, tell me about yourself.”

She wrapped the package, and put it aside on the table.

“Of course. My full name is Shisha Valarov. Originally of Arcadian descent, but I was born and raised in the continent of Erlin. It’s halfway around the world, so I never step a foot in my homeland. My mother raised me to become one of high affinity with nature, and my father was a warrior with talent, so I was trained in combat early on. We did not stay long in one place, so you could say we were Nomads, in a way…”

She noticed a young maid came with refreshments.

“Excuse me, Master. Green tea, honey and some refreshments.”

It was cookies and fruits.

“That was fast, well done Sitka.”

“My Master’s pleasure is my joy. Please excuse me…”

She placed the plates and filled the tea for the three of them.

“Please help yourself, Lady Shisha.”

“Thank you… Miss Sitka.”

She nodded politely and excused herself. Shisha simply gazed at the cookies.

“Ah, please help yourself. No need to restrain yourself so much.”

“Thank you, Heinz-sama!”

She helped herself with the cookies, while Averon ignored them and took some pieces of fruits and dipped it in honey. They both took some honey and mix it with the tea and sipped some.

The whole scene was as if they were of one mind, with little different preference.

She continued.

“… We stumbled onto a very cruel ruler. True to their virtue, my parents rallied the people against that ruler, and it was during that time that we met my Master, who was living by himself deep in the mountain. It was he who led the people to arm and took out that hideous ruler out of the country. To this day, people remembered him and my parents as the heroes of the people.”

“I see. How so very typical of him. He did mention something like that… What was the name of the country…?”

“Thiaren, a highland country near Armuld.”

“Ah yes, Thiaren.”

“In the map, it was below the Kingdom. It’s small and new so most map outside Erlin Continent didn’t have the name.”

- Hm? Rebellion of Thiaren? Didn’t that happened 10… ah, adding up… 16, 17… years ago? She looked like 14 or 15.

Averon thought, yet he did not object.

“How old are you, Lady Shisha?”

THUK!

He was pounded by his grandfather.

“Auuu… Grandpa…”

“I’m sorry for his rudeness. He’s still quite young, you see.”

“It’s fine, Heinz-sama. I appear this young since I inherited Master’s Secret Technique… but please keep it a secret. Master told me I can trust you like I would himself.”

“I thought so. A technique that keep your appearance that way… Life Force Regalis.”

“Yes. I was told to only teach this technique to my one chosen apprentice, in the future.”

“Ah, teach many, one inherits all, the wicked shall not live.”

“Yes. I’m inheritor of all his technique, though I’m still lacking in many ways.”

“Inheritor… wicked not live… what’s that, Grandpa?”

“It’s a policy of Masters of the East, you may teach one or many, but only one may inherit all techniques including the secret technique, considered to be the core symbol of chosen successor.”

“Why only one, Grandpa?”

“To ensure quality, and also prevent inner conflict. Is that right, Lady Shisha?”

“Just Shisha will do, Heinz-sama. It is as you say.”

“What about the wicked not live?”

“Wicked not live mean that those who you train, should he be corrupted with power, should be killed before he brings anyone harm, or at least, should lose all his power by destroying their inner Mana processing centre. Did you comprehend, Averon?”

“I see. I see. It’ll bring danger to everyone if someone who cannot control his power from his own evil desire to be let loose in the society. Power brings temptation, afterall.”

“Good, good. That’s my grandson. So eloquent. Ah, speaking of Life Force Regalis reminds me of that time I ask him to teach me…”

“Yes, he did mention you asked him.”

“He didn’t teach you, Grandpa? Not even you?”

“Haha no… he said I’m already strong as it is… and my inner power may run in conflict with his style, thus endangering my life, possibly our different power would destroy each other.”

“Eh…”

...

“It is as you say, Heinz-sama. Master told me you were as strong as him back then… it would not be good to take such risk just to achieve his style. Both of you have different style, but just as powerful.”

“Hah, though it was possible he can’t stand a man like me to succeed him. Hahaha.”

“That’s not true at all. He said many times he still wish he could meet you when you’re younger… by 20+ years.”

“Hah he just doesn’t like a grown-up man to be his apprentice afterall. Well, all is well anyway… during the war I wish many time he would come to my aid… well, since he was busy with this Thiaren issue… Speaking of Thiaren, I heard they had a new King… well, 15 years ago when rebellion ended, who refused to call himself one.”

“Ah, that’s my father.”

“Eh..!!”

“I see… Valarov… yes, it sounds familiar.”

They continued their conversation, with old Heinz telling stories of him and Kyosei… their adventure together for four years. Both of them saved each other many times, travelling through the most dangerous lands of Cestia and Vrien Empire, fighting monsters of many kinds, sneaking through the well-guarded city and port and even running away from the pursuit of the Empire’s assassins, who hunted them very adeptly like an Eagle. They were nightmares.

They went on to Averon, who told them of his ambition to be the strongest, to fight demons and tyranny, and that his grandfather inspired him to be better everyday. Old Heinz was content beyond words.

Shisha was impressed.

“Demons, huh… I’ve met some human whom I would call demon myself, but I haven’t seen many demons aside from Growlers and some Skeleton warriors from the remnants of war in Erlin.”

“There are some powerful ones out there. Vampire for one.”

“Aren’t they just a legend, Heinz-sama?”

“Had I not met one, I would think so too.”

“You met one?!”

Both Averon and Shisha said, almost shouted.

“Yes, it was years after I parted with your Master. She was strong indeed. She called me “Boy” even when I was in my 40s. Now what was her name…?”

“She didn’t suck your blood, Grandpa?”

“Hah! She said she was tempted to, but she just had her fill, so she let me go. We did spend a few days together… in a dungeon.”

“What… how did you end up in a dungeon with a Vampire?”

“Oh, simple. I was tracking some very vicious criminals in some old ruins. We fought a mortal battle and when it was down to just two of them, the ground collapse. When I came to, the two criminals had their blood sucked dry. They looked like dried fish, you see.”

“Wow…”

“Scary… she didn’t harm you, Heinz-sama?”

“No, in fact, she rescued me from the rubble. She said she took the men’s life since they tried to force themselves onto her while she was sleeping.”

“Reasonable enough.”

“What do you mean… forced… onto… Grandpa?”

In times like this, Averon feigned ignorance.

“Haha! You’ll know soon enough, Averon my boy. Remember the things I taught you, and never be like those criminals ever.”

“Huh? Alright… So the Vampire’s not evil, Grandpa?”

“… At least to me, no. Perhaps not all the same, and we should not generalize.”

“Em.”

“Agreed, Heinz-sama.”

“So Shisha… now that we’re acquainted, do tell me this “Mission” Kyosei mentioned.”

“Yes. Master gave me a mission, in regards to unfamiliar irregularity here in Cestia.”

“Mana Fluctuation?”

Mana Fluctuation was the term for influx of Mana usually originated from a very large number of Magical creatures migrating… usually the fairies, common during large battle that affects their land.

“No, not Mana fluctuation… As you know, Heinz-sama… Mana usually came from within us, processed from Nature… air, water, earth, fire… for five years now, Master sensed certain irregularity of Nature coming from Cestia… not Mana, but in its unprocessed form, Nature.”

“You’re saying Kyosei could sense it all the way there?”

“Master could only sense it when he was in deep meditation, though even then, it was barely so. It was the surrounding nature that helped him sensed it. He said it was something they were excited about, yet at the same time, afraid.”

“How…? From such distance. What could it possibly be?”

“A very powerful being, enough for Nature to inform us Sages of its existence. Though never in our history, one existed to be sensed so far out across the continent by nature.”

-Huh?

“Sages?”

“Ah, young Averon didn’t know…”

“It’s not something you should tell others, afterall. I didn’t even tell my sons.”

“You mean Sages from the books? From the fairy tales?”

“No, it was not fairy tales… though we’re so few almost everyone thought we are… young Averon, can you keep this a secret from everyone?”

“Of course I can!”

“Let’s return to this… irregularity. What do we know?”

“If I could list it down, Heinz-sama… First, we know that this irregularity itself is not evil or oppressive in nature… It could be neutral, most likely. Second, what makes the nature afraid? Master deduced it was not afraid of the power itself, but what could come along with the existence of that power… what could it be? We can only guess… Third, it was possible this power only came to being into this world five years ago… or at least that was when it became active… and finally, Forth… if we managed to sense it from that far out, it was possible for others to sense it as well. It might become dangerous should such power falls onto the wrong hands…”

“Vrien Empire, for one.”

“As Master said so as well.”

- Irregularity of nature in its unprocessed form… afraid of what could come along… demons? …five years ago… hey… isn’t that…

...

“Me?”

Averon accidently said out loud.

Both of them looked at the child, then laughed inwardly.

“Yes, it could be dangerous should such power falls onto a child’s hand.”

“Hey..!”

“Haha Averon, if such power falls onto your hand, what would you do?”

“I will use them to destroy tyranny… and demons… who’re evil. I’ll leave that vampire alone if she did nothing wrong.”

“Hah! My boy… be careful not to be obsessed with vanquishing evil. Some people become crooked that way. They only believe in their own way of doing things.”

“I won’t, Grandpa. I’ll always remember your teachings.”

“That’s my grandson! …Ehem, so Shisha, what’s your plan?”

“Yes, Heinz-sama… It might take some time… perhaps a few months if not a year. Detecting something so faint a presence requires me to go into deep meditation, something best done in a high place, quiet and late at night… perhaps on hills where I would have a good view of my surroundings… or the giant trees I could see out there. With Crest being the highest land aside from lands in Vrien, this place would be best for now. I’m hoping to get your help in this, Heinz-sama… I’m not familiar enough with this continent. Not to mention I rarely go into city or town. Though I will understand it if you cannot… I’m thinking of registering into the guilds, with all its benefits.”

“Now, now… don’t say it like that. It sounds as if we’re strangers. Of course we’ll help you in any way we can. First, you can… you must stay here. Make yourself at home. I was serious when I said we’re like family. Your Master and I are like brothers, perhaps of even deeper bond. And you as his first apprentice, won’t that make you my niece?”

“I can’t possibly impose myself…”

“No, no… think of it as though you’re doing me a favour… my grandson here is really studious in nature. While I’m not around, maybe you could show him how to do things? He’s a quick learner. I won’t force you though. Think of it as playing around with him. Those his age didn’t mature as fast as him.”

“I probably won’t be able to teach him much, is that alright?”

“Like I said, think of it as playing around with him. I’ll be teaching him myself when I had the time, so don’t worry. Ah yes, if you wish to go around the city he could help you with that.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes, he’s no ordinary five year-old. Aren’t you, Averon?”

Grandpa Heinz patted his head. Averon breathed in with pride, with fist on his chest. He played his act as a child so much; he started to act like one unconsciously.

Shisha was taken aback by their warm welcome. It reminded her of her family when she returned from the mountain after such a long time.

“Thank you, Heinz-sama… and you too, young Averon.”

She said so with a smile.