"Do you want to go for another round?" Rina said. But before Julian could answer, a sharp knock jolted them awake from their ti together.
Rina sighed as she stood and adjusted herself before heading to the door. As she moved, Dena who was lying beside Julian, smiled knowingly.
"Your husband is back," she said with a soft chuckle.
Rina paused by the door and glanced back at Julian with a faint grin. "Well, Julian, I guess that ans you have to leave now."
Julian sighed, stretching as he stood. "I guess so," he muttered with a smirk playing on his lips. Without another word, he teleported out of the room, reappearing outside the village, amidst the dense forest.
The cool night air brushed against his naked skin, and he let out a amused laugh. "The things n do for pussy," he chuckled to himself.
With a satisfied grin, he began dressing and teleported back into Hanu's room. His sudden appearance startled Hanu, who jumped in surprise.
"Big brother, how did you just appear out of nowhere?" Hanu asked, his eyes widening in curiosity.
Julian chuckled. "It's called magic, Hanu," he replied, ruffling the boy's hair. "But where were you? I didn't see you the whole evening."
Hanu's face brightened as he responded, "I was with father. He was teaching the rules of the tribe."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "The rules of the tribe? Tell , what did he say?"
Hanu explained, "He said all the children are the face of the god, and once they reach 18, they have to perform a ritual that will make them holy and real mbers of the tribe."
"Interesting," Julian said, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.
I am sure they are hiding sothing, he thought, his curiosity piqued by the weird culture of the Nu tribe.
Julian leaned forward. "So, has anyone turned 18 recently?" he asked.
Hanu nodded eagerly. "Yes, brother Harith! He turned 18 just a week before I t you."
Julian's interest deepened. "Oh? And has he gone through that ritual yet?"
Hanu shook his head with a hint of confusion on his face. "Not yet. Father hasn't told anything about it. I even asked Grandma, but she didn't tell either."
Sothing's definitely being kept hidden. This ritual must hold more significance than they're letting on. Julian thought.
Julian shook his head, dismissing his thoughts before saying, "Alright, Hanu, let's get so rest." He laid down on the floor, making himself comfortable.
Hanu looked at him curiously and asked, "Big brother, why don't you sleep on the bed?"
Julian smiled softly, "Hanu, you have already helped enough by bringing here, I feel at peace sleeping on the floor," he replied.
Hanu smiled back, pleased by Julian's answer. "Okay, brother. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Julian replied as he closed his eye, trying to fall asleep. Continue your saga on empire
He shifted and turned but was still unable to sleep. Frustrated, he stood silently and made his way through the house.
As he walked a few steps, he suddenly heard an unusual sound—a sharp clack clack, like the sound of a blade striking a hard surface. His senses sharpened instantly, and he paused, trying to locate the source of the sound.
It's coming from the kitchen, he thought, the sound making his heart pound rapidly.
With careful steps, he silently made his way toward the source of the sound. He held his breath, listening for any other movent in the quiet night.
The clack clack continued, growing even clearer as he neared the kitchen door.
The kitchen door lood just ahead, barely visible in the dark night. With each steps he took, the sound seed to grow louder and more frantic.
He could almost feel the temperature drop around him as he reached for the handle. With a swift pull, the door creaked open, revealing the shadowy interior... but there was nothing there.
Just as his eyes scanned the room, the sound stopped, replaced by an eerie, suffocating silence.
Suddenly, a cold whisper echoed from behind him. "You are not supposed to be here..."
Julian's heart stopped for a mont as he slowly turned around, his body visibly trembling in fear. He saw a figure standing in the dim light of the hallway. His eyes narrowed, and he recognized Aria, Hanu's grandmother.
Her presence was ghostly, almost otherworldly, as she seed to blend perfectly with the shadows. Her piercing eyes locked onto Julian with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice carrying a tone that was both sharp and unsettling.
Julian felt a chill run through him, as if an invisible hand had gently brushed his skin.
"I..." he began, but the words got stuck in his throat. The room seed to grow colder. "I was... just... passing through," he stamred, trying to maintain his composure.
Aria stepped closer, her movents like a shadow slipping across the floor.
"Do not wander alone at night," she warned, her voice low whisper. "You might see things that you don't want to."
Her gaze never wavered and Julian's blood ran cold as Aria's words echoed in the silent darkness. The darkness around them seed to grow deeper, as if the shadows themselves were listening.
Julian's heart raced, and despite his usual confidence, he couldn't shake the overwhelming fear and uncertainty creeping up his consciousness.
He took a step back, "What... what do you an?" he asked, his voice shaky, unable to hide the fear from his words.
She didn't answer imdiately, instead turned her gaze towards the dark hallway, her expression unreadable. For a long mont, all Julian could hear was the sound of his own breath.
Finally, she spoke. "The night reveals many things... things best left unseen. Go back to your room, boy."
Her warning hung in the air and she slowly faded back into the shadows, her figure disappearing as if swallowed whole by the darkness.
Julian quickly made his way through the hallway. When he finally reached Hanu's room, he didn't waste a second and slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind him.
He made his way to the bed, where Hanu was still sleeping peacefully, and laid down beside him.
His body trembled slightly as the lingering fear crept through him, his mind racing with thoughts of the strange encounter.
What is happening? he thought, trying to make sense of the overwhelming emotions. I'm an Archmage... why do I feel such fear?
As an Arch Mage, Julian was well capable of controlling his emotion. So, the fear was sothing he had not felt or dealt with in a long ti. There was hardly anything that could induce such fear in him.
But tonight was different. Sothing felt off. His usual confidence began to slip, replaced by a cold unease.
He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself, pushing away the unsettling feeling. Slowly, his heartbeat began to calm, and the tightness in his chest started to release.
Focus, Julian. He closed his eyes for a mont, channeling his mana. The mana surged through him, calming and nourishing his tensed state.
"Well, that was sothing," he muttered to himself, a chuckle escaping his lips as he relaxed in the bed.
I am pretty sure my senses were influenced, he thought, trying to explain the sudden fear that had washed over him.
That sound... He closed his eyes, focusing intently on the mory. clack clack. The rhythmic strike of a blade on a hard surface. It's the blade striking on hard surface... like cutting flesh...
"Domain of Isolation," he called.
An invisible wave of mana rippled outward, covering the whole house. His senses extended, picking up every disturbance.
Julian's focus sharpened as he heard a low whisper of quiet, trembling voices.
"...he's our son," a woman said, her voice shaky, filled with uncertainty.
Julian's eyes narrowed in concentration,.
"...Dakota, it's sothing that has been going on in our tribe for ages. We can't omit our child from this." The other voice, deeper and more resolute reached his ear.
Dakota's voice rang out again, filled with hesitation and emotion. "...Amir, how can... you do this?"
What are they talking about? Julian's mind raced, trying to make sense of the words that were being spoken.
The ntion of "son" and the tension in Dakota's voice suggested sothing was being forced upon her, sothing she didn't fully agree with.
Amir voice rose, "Do not act like you are not a mber of the tribe. You are the wife of the patriarch of the Nu tribe. How can you suggest we omit the traditions?" His words were harsh with a mix of anger and frustration.
Dakota's voice trembled as she tried to speak, "Amir..." , but she was imdiately cut off as Amir shouted.
"Enough! Do not pester on this topic anymore! Tomorrow we will perform the ritual, and that is final!"
The conversation ended abruptly and the room fell silent once more.
User Comments
0 comments from readers