Chapter 145

Lykan

A Second Awakening Day

Lykan was impressed to find that his knowledge of the traditional routes taken by the inspectors was still accurate. Despite how much time had passed since his first Awakening day. He had lived and experienced fourteen years of life. In fact, more of his life now had been awakened, than the time required to lead up to his awakening. That odd fact dawned on him, as he came to the village and saw that everyone was preparing.

The fact that the towns folk were preparing for the Awakening Ceremony was a good thing, as it meant Marsh would not miss out. Who knew the next time the inspectors would be around to read and more importantly record everyone’s status.

With the recent advantages that Marsh received, it was almost certain that he would not be considered a null. That or even if he had previously been a null, his status would have likely changed.

Technically Lykan had the Master Analyze skill, which should be more than enough to perform the Awakening ritual. But there was more to it, at least that was what he thought. There had to be, as he felt something awaken within him when the man with white robes and golden trim touched his hand. There was a distinct flow of energy, at least for a second.

But something was off about the memory. How could he remember the flow of energy so distinctly if he was a null? How could such a thing be possible. Was it just a skill that had been advanced enough to take on some magical properties?

A few of Lykan’s healing poultices felt like they had energy coursing through them. But they were under the skill category? Also, he was certain that those who had been tasked with being in charge of the Awakening ceremonies had their Analyze as a magical ability, or a skill that was used to complement a magical ability. Regardless, he was curious about how the Awakening procedure would commence.

Was it a surge of energy like he distantly remembered. Or was there just a skill component? As it stood, he could not currently see any Skills or Magical abilities listed on Marsh or anyone else for that matter. Most of this was likely due to his skill being so low. It was currently set to Novice, and likely would stay there.

Lykan for his part often forgot he had such a skill available to him. Thus, using it was almost impossible. Even Brenna seemed to avoid pressing him to use the skill. Likely due to how much tension it has caused his life over the past fourteen years.

Fourteen. Again, the number just sounded odd to Lykan. Two complete seven-year cycles? Why seven-year cycles? Well seven seemed to be a special number for some reason. Seven was the number of years it took Lykan to become a Veteran of Valor, complete his first dungeon and even achieve a perfect body. Then a second set of seven years was required to get him to this point, he had a friend, a true companion. One who he cherished every moment with. One who would drop everything she had for a future, to journey with him randomly.

The best part was, when they came across Marsh it never even dawned on the pair that they would abandon him. Instead, the only conversation they had was how long to stay after they found a suitable home.

Fortunately, Brenna had managed to find a family of farmers who would take him in. When they first heard the story, they found the whole thing extraordinary. But once the male farmer, who happened to be a retired city guard analyzed all three of them his expression changed.

He could see the bonuses that each of them had. Even the fact that the boy was now well and ahead of his peers in terms of physical attributes.

The only true concern was of course whether the boy with so many talents would be conscripted immediately into Ajimal the Great’s army. Or whether he would be allowed to work the fields for a few summers. Either way the farmers stood to gain quite a bit. They would be paid quite handsomely for providing a boy who could become a shaman, or higher in the army.

While Lykan was hesitant to save the boy from one life threatening course of actions, only to release him to the throes of the army. There was not much the two of them could do. Unless the boy was a nullthere would be no way he could follow them. Also, it was only noted a little too late that the boy couldn’t become a null. At least that did not seem to be the case anymore.

Only once the family decided to take on Marsh did Lykan, and Brenna provide a large down payment as well. They offered over one hundred gold pieces, a nearly astronomical amount given the state of the war. Of course, Lykan had to provide the money when no one was around to see the exchange happen.

See Lykan and Brenna were foragers mostly. Other than getting a few basic needs like spools of cloth, they were able to make do with everything they found. Also, the village that Marsh had once called home had hundreds of inhabitants. Even poor inhabitants will have a lot of money when every resource is pooled together.

Lykan had been the one to go back at night and pilfer the town. Well not only did he pilfer the town, but he buried the dead, and released the corrupted qi in a way that burned away the impurities. He wanted nothing bad to happen from leaving behind the corrupted stones unattended. So rather than fret over it, he informed Brenna and made a night of it. He was back and ready for travels well before the boy even awoke. Given that the pair went at Marsh’s speed, Lykan was able to go back multiple times to ensure everything was taken care of and that the qi would no longer be corrupted when it went back to the ground.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bells on the town hall rang out loudly, letting everyone know that the Awakening Ceremony was about to commence.

Lykan and Brenna of course heard the sounds that the bells made, even though they were well outside the village limits. Their masterful Perception let them hear the village well before the trees gave way enough to reveal the small-town splendor of the place.

In a way looking at the village caused a wave of nostalgia to wash over Lykan. He had noticed that Brenna gave him extra leeway when dealing with the village. Never questioning his want to stay. Instead, she seemed to be willing to stay here if he was, something he was immensely grateful for. He was especially happy that he didn’t have to tell her.

By this point he was beginning to suspect that she had some way of reading his mind. Or maybe lots of minds, normally this would be concerning, but he felt nothing but love from her. Love and an intense want to be equal to him. And she was, without a doubt she was the person that he felt the closest too in a long time.

Even now, most people would likely ask questions about why they weren’t in the village observing the festivities. The real reason for staying here at the southern exit was twofold. The first was that they were outsiders. Their being at the festivity would be both awkward and a reminder that Marsh didn’t quite belong. That alone was enough for the pair to avoid the festivities all together.

The second reason was one that drove a spike of fear into him. The fact that a child might be announced as a null and be forced to wander the world alone. He could not do that to another child. If he were a village chief or an elder, he would fight for every child who was pronounced a null and take them under his wing personally.

Of course, he knew this would mean that he would be considered a criminal at best, and a man looking to overthrow the established order.

He had hoped that things would be different with Ajimal the Great taking over the lands. But if anything, Ajimal feared the Cerusians, the invisible Mage Killers, more than anyone. This fact wasn’t too surprising as Lykan had found out from one of the villagers that Khanion, one of Ajimal’s elite generals was killed in his sleep by a Cerusian.

For his part Lykan was unafraid of the mage killers, mainly because he thought the whole idea was more myth than fact. He had heard the few stories Aren told of her childhood, how she had been taken in by a secretive group. But looking around, Lykan didn’t see anyone here. At least he didn’t see anyone that was doing what he and Brenna were doing, which was waiting far enough out to see if any nulls were announced. Then when the nulls were taken to the edge of the territory, they would be set loose to die in the wilderness.

The whole process was barbaric, but at the same time, Lykan couldn’t help but feel drawn to this place and time.

“You know. I feel good about what we’ve done.” Lykan admitted. His words feeling horse against vocal cords that had not been used to speak in hours.

“Same.”

Silence.

Finally, after a beat, Brenna continued the conversation. “Do you think there will be one of them?”

“A null?”

Nodding, “yes, a null.”

Thinking about it, Lykan pondered for a moment, but then sat back a bit. “I don’t know. Sort of hard to say.”

Hearing that Brenna just looked at Lykan for a moment, before turning her gaze back to the gates.

That look of hers always caused concerns for him, as he never quite knew what she was thinking. Honestly most of what Brenna did was beyond him, as she seemed more emotionally intelligent than he could ever hope to be. Still despite her brilliance she decided to stick with him. Just that thought alone made him happy.

Finally, after a moment he continued. “I think I would at least rather wait, than let one child get lost in the woods.”

Brenna just looked at him and smiled coyly. “I think you know more about this moment than you are aware of.”

Hearing that Lykan just looked at her, as if she had told him a particularly complex puzzle. Perhaps she had, as even he couldn’t understand why he was here. By all accounts, their moral obligation was done. Well more than done. The boy they had come with Marsh had been taken in by two honest hard-working members of society who were happy for the chance to take in a boy.

Also, it was clear that Marsh had more than enough accolades to not be considered a null by the gods.

Thus, he was fine.

Now the only reason they would have to say is to make sure nothing unwanted happened to another child of the village.

Ding. Dong. Ding.

The sound letting everyone know that the celebration was over rang out.

They waited for a minute, but nothing happened.

“I guess that is all?” Brenna suggested as she stood up and stretched.

Lykan watched her stretch with part of his peripheral vision, seeing her body was something he hoped he would never take for granted. Still, he couldn’t help but sit for a few more minutes.

Brenna of course was quiet, leaving everything to Lykan. Even her gaze was gentle as she just watched him sit and stare at the exit.

Finally, an hour had passed, and the sun was close to setting, when Lykan stood up to do his own set of stretching. Just when he was about to admit his mistake that he had waited too long, he saw three figures approach the southern gate.

Two soldiers held a little girl who was being dragged out the southern gate.

The girl was disheveled to say the least. It appeared that she had tried to run at one point, as her pretty dress and clothes were torn in places. She had blood and scratch marks that were readily apparent to Lykan’s heightened senses.

Seeing the bruises Lykan felt a rage bubbling up inside him. He was about to kill the two guards, when a gentle hand placed on his wrist caused him to shift his attention.

“It’s okay. She is alive. You can heal and treat her wounds. Best part is she can come with us to our dungeons so we know we can get her the accolades she needs to change her fate. She will be fine. We just need to let her have this moment, then we will all leave.”

Brenna, always the voice of logic and reason caused the searing rage that had been boiling over inside him to quell.

“Okay.”

Lykan said. With that one word, he accepted the fact that these two guards would live another day. That the village would not know of their involvement at all in the changing of a village daughter’s fate.

At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, not everything goes as planned, nor as intended.