Chapter 196
Over the Summit (II)
The dishes were laid out flatly on the table--your standard fare of plain, unseasoned rice, so boiled ga at (mostly hare), a few veggies strewn about in a haphazard salad, and... well, that was it. There was a lot of it, yes, but that was it.
The kids didn't stand on ceremony, digging in right away and slowly slurping the combo of rice, 'salad', and a few pieces of chopped at.
"This is Rayce, by the way," Lilia finally introduced the young man who sat rather motionless, the look in his eyes... vacant. I don't know whether it was because being possessed by a demon did sothing to his psyche that cannot be undone or because he learned soone he trusted was using him, but I know that either of those things would have probably done in.
"Nice to et you, Rayce," I said.
"--hm? Ah, yes, nice... to et you too. Thank you for saving , too. Miss Lilia has explained what happened." His voice was rather monotonous and dry, as though soone had sapped all his will to live.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," I said, taking a spoonful of rice. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm... fine," he replied.
"Oh, I kind of doubt that."
"Hm?"
"If I'd undergone sothing like that," I said. "You'd see screaming at the top of my lungs and trying to eat lumber. No--I guess, compared to that, you are doing fine."
His lips creased into the faintest of smiles for a mont as he finally reached for the spoon and started slowly eating.
"We've arranged for the Captain's--I an, Thrall's funeral," Lilia said. "Though we know the truth behind it all... these people probably don't need to. I imagine, though, with the Captain gone and Zhu and I leaving soon, this place won't be a ho for many much longer. What about you, Mister Lu? Are you leaving soon, too?"
"Hm," I nodded. "This wasn't our destination, after all."
"Ah. Crossing the mountain. Will be challenging."
"Did you ever cross it?"
"No. The north is... well, let's say I don't envy you needing to go there," she said. "Most of what I heard of the place paints it as a monster-infested wasteland."
"Encouraging."
"Ha ha, I apologize; not all of it. There's the Silvercrest City, which, purportedly, is sothing of a bastion. Tall, silver spires jut into the sky, the holy glow of an all-encompassing barrier keeping the darkness at bay. Entry fee, however, is rather... hefty."
"Perhaps they'll let us in for free on account of how adorable the kids are?"
"Pfft," as Lilia and Zhu stifled their laughs, I caught the kids digging their heads even deeper into the al, as though they were feasting on so truly heavenly dishes. I rely smiled, taking a bite as well. "They just might, to be honest."
"Where is your hotown, if you don't mind asking?"
"Oh, not at all," she said. "We'll be scurrying far eastward, beyond the Heavenly Plains. Our little shamanic paradise is wedged inside a deeply hidden valley that only those who can control mana can even see. But... there's, uhm, there's a bit of an issue..."
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Hm?
Oh-oh. I don't like the sound of that.
At all.
"What issue?" I queried carefully.
"Rayce," Right...? "I'm afraid he cannot co back with us."
"... why?"
"Though Zhu and I are more than understanding of his circumstances and would have imdiately allowed him reentry," she said. "Our Elders... won't be as understanding. To them, all that will matter is that he did break our laws--and he did escape and evade pursuit, even slaying a few Shamans in the process. I'm afraid that, if we take him back with us, he'd be captured and executed within a few days."
"Can't you explain it first and convince them?"
"... have you ever tried convincing an old, stubborn ox of sothing new that they should embrace?"
"Fair point. So, why are you bringing this up?" Please don't let it be that she wants to take the kid with --
"Though asking you to take him in is perhaps too much, I implore that you at least help him cross to the Silvercrest City. Once there, I've explained to him what to do and how to keep living. Don't worry--we'll provide him with enough resources to pay his own entry fee."
Right.
Well, at least she's not asking to adopt him.
"We'll add an additional inscription to the original three, Word of Enduring."
"We'll do it." As always, it wasn't who spoke up--it was Long Tao. Honestly, it was like an automatically triggered phrase that was uttered every ti sobody offered him sothing of interest. She glanced over at oddly, and I rely sighed.
"We'll do it," I added, 'I guess' inwardly.
"Thank you!" she smiled, seeming genuinely relieved.
I glanced over at the young man yet again, who looked as though none of this had anything to do with him. Though I was sympathetic, I was also kind of annoyed--not with him, of course, but with Long Tao. I have this sneaking feeling that this won't be nearly as simple or as smooth as it's presented...
Right.
Creator's Eyes.
Best make sure that there aren't any 'residual' effects leftover from the possession... or trying to be made a literal vessel for so sociopath...
Wow.
Poor kid.
[--Creator's Eyes Used]
[Target: Rayce Lotten]
[Age: 22]
[Talent: middle-Myth]
[Cultivation Realm: None]
[Cultivation thod: None]
[Cultivation Arts: None]
[...]
[Shamanic Tier: 4-Circle Magi]
[Known Shamanic Arts: Singular Focus, Enduring Winds, Silent Touch...]
[Shamanic Calling: Enchanter]
[Enchanter: an extrely rare and difficult calling, pursued only by those of immaculate bond with Mana Energy. Though it sacrifices a great deal of personal power and strength, its utilitarian nature ensures that all those around the Enchanter are empowered greatly]
[...]
[Traits]
[Depressed (Epic) -- recent events have caused the target to fall into a near-catatonic state of depression. Engage with caution]
[Energy-Attuned (Epic) -- a naturally enriched body that more easily augnts energy. Usually requires anywhere from a quarter to half less energy to execute arts or spells. The caveat is that the person is susceptible to Energy Poisoning]
[Shamanic Imprint (Legendary) -- a leftover imprint from an experienced Shaman that was pressed onto the target upon birth. Though originally ant to guide the body's growth in a specific way so as to create a perfect vessel, since the Shaman has died, the imprint has beco a pruning mark, allowing for execution of higher-tiered spells even if the Shaman hasn't yet reached the required Circle for them]
[Frail (Common) -- more prone to sickness, breaking of bones, and infections]
[Demonic Trace (???) -- a vessel that endured the crucible of Demonic Possession. The faint trace of leftover energy is an enigma; perhaps it may beco a deciding boon or an eternal bane...]
[...]
[Assessing suitability...]
[Special Marks found]
[Mark of an Eternal Survivor (Primordial) -- a twice-enduring vessel that has undergone the baptism of two independent rituals. Though it has caused frailty in the flesh, it has also forced the creation of alternate energy pathways throughout the body]
[...]
[Recomndation: due to the combination of the target's innate as well as imprinted talents, it has created a strange--though vaguely unstable--combinations that had only been seen twice or thrice in Shamanic world. As the target is a mortal with a fast-depleting lifespan, it is recomnded that the host locate a Rebirthing Feather, which would allow the target to repeat rebirths. Rebirthing Feathers can be gained as gifts from the good graces of the Phoenix Race]
[...]
[Final Assessnt: an unraveling enigma, the target's future is extrely unstable. The combined list of causes and effects battling within and without creates endless potential outcos. If the Host can alleviate the most pressing concerns--depression, limited lifespan, and frailty of mortal flesh—it is possible that the target may beco the Shamanic equivalent of the Emperor--a Godking]
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