Noticing the conflicted expression on the old shaman’s face, Leone decided to change the topic. He didn’t want his teacher to recall any more painful mories.
"Great Uncle, teach bone reading," Leone said. "What kind of bones are you using? Are they just regular animal bones or must they co from divine beasts?"
"I got these bones from strong monsters," Gundar replied, grateful to the young man for shifting to a different subject. "Monsters on the sa level as the Gryphon guarding this mountain."
Leone blinked once, then twice, after hearing the old man’s words. He was even tempted to ask Gundar where he would find such precious bones! He didn’t expect the materials alone would be so hard to procure.
Perhaps understanding that Leone might find it difficult to collect the sa level of bones, Gundar chuckled. He then explained that the bones of the beasts taken down by his tribe’s hunters would do.
"Ankle bones, toe bones, finger bones, and animal teeth can be used," Gundar stated. "The higher the quality of the bones, the better. It’s just that the stronger the beast, the stronger their magical capacity, and the more useful they are when trying to keep the secrets of the universe."
"And... small bones are also better?" Leone asked.
"Not necessarily," Gundar replied. "But it’s easier to read. The spirits prefer things that are light. Things they can move with ease."
The old shaman reached into a small pouch hanging by his waist and took out several small bones.
Leone leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.
Inside Gundar’s open palm lay several pieces. So were curved, others jagged, and a few oddly smooth. At first glance, they could have passed for tiny stones. But when Leone looked closer, he realized they were polished bones.
"These are astragalus bones," Gundar said, picking one up between his fingers. "Knucklebones. They are often used as the core of a reading."
He flicked it lightly, letting it spin in the air before catching it again with ease.
"They have many sides, and each side carries its own aning," Gundar added. "Unlike finger bones, which are too simple... these bones choose how they land."
Leone raised an eyebrow. "Choose how they land?"
Gundar smiled faintly. "If you believe everything is governed by chance, then you will only see random patterns. But if you believe the world speaks... then you will realize nothing lands without reason."
He returned the bones to his palm, then added a few more pieces. These additions were small fangs mixed with other small bone fragnts Leone couldn’t identify.
"These are the voices that add aning to the reading," Gundar stated. "The fangs speak of danger. The small bones speak of movent. Each piece has a role to play."
Leone’s gaze skimd through the shaman’s palm, then he nodded. "So I just throw them on the ground and guess what they an? That sounds easier than I thought."
Gundar snorted. "If it were that simple, then every fool like you could beco a shaman. Before looking at the bones, you must first learn to listen to them."
"Listen to the bones?" Leone blinked. For a brief mont, he was tempted to ask his Great Uncle if he was fine in the head.
"You’re thinking sothing very rude right now, aren’t you?" Gundar arched an eyebrow.
"O-Of course not, Great Uncle!" Leone replied. "I was just marveling at how sophisticated bone reading is!"
Gundar shook his head helplessly. He knew Leone was just trying to butter him up. Still, the old man couldn’t help but find the boy’s flattery sowhat endearing.
"Fine, I’ll give you an example," Gundar crouched down. "This ti, I’ll try to do a divination for you."
Leone crouched beside him, watching intently as the old man reached into his pouch and pulled out a handful of bones. With a flick of his wrist, Gundar tossed them onto the ground in front of him.
At first, Gundar was still smiling. But as he continued to read the bones, the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a deep frown.
"This..." Gundar muttered under his breath. "It can’t be..."
Leone was starting to feel a little anxious. The old man’s expression made him rember the vision he had seen the first ti he witnessed a bone reading.
He wondered if Gundar was seeing the sa things he had seen in that vision. Part of him wished it was indeed the case. That way, the old shaman could give him crucial information or so advice.
But the other half didn’t want Gundar to see the tragedy that had befallen their tribe.
"Leone..."
"Yes, Great Uncle?"
"I... I can’t read your future," Gundar said in a serious tone. "The spirits refuse to say anything."
"Huh?" For a mont, Leone thought the old shaman was pranking him.
But after careful thought, he realized Gundar had no reason to lie about sothing like this.
"Ah... I think I understand now." Gundar raised his head, eting the young man’s eyes with a serious expression. "You have seen sothing you weren’t supposed to see. Because of that, the spirits are blocking all divinations related to you.
"It seems that if you want the spirits’ guidance, you will have to learn bone reading yourself."
"I saw sothing I wasn’t supposed to see?" Leone muttered.
Gundar nodded. "Sotis, there are things that are ant to happen to catalyze soone’s growth. And while the visions one sees in a divination are never set in stone, it takes a monuntal effort to change that fate.
"There’s an old saying. It says, ’In trying to avoid your destiny, you end up fulfilling it.’ My master once told that only those who can truly wield their own destiny have the power to alter a fixed future. I’ve lived a long life, and frankly... I have never t such a person."
Leone lowered his gaze to the scattered bones on the ground.
When he and Daedalus first t, the grimoire had congratulated him, saying that Leone now possessed the power to hold destiny in his own hands.
Back then, he hadn’t really thought much about it. After all, Daedalus might have just exaggerated a bit in his introduction back then.
But after seeing that tragedy through that vision, Leone wished with all of his heart that he could indeed hold destiny in his own hands.
He would never allow what he saw in that vision to co to pass. If it really happened, the heartbreak would scar him for life.
"Great Uncle, I have a question," Leone said, his tone turning serious. "If, and only if, our tribes were to fight against the middle-ranked tribes... would we be able to win?"
Gundar frowned. "Is this about the tribute?"
"No." Leone shook his head. "I’m asking in general. With everything you’ve seen so far, do you think we stand a chance?"
The old shaman didn’t answer right away. He carefully pondered Leone’s strength, as well as the strength of the people around him.
Then his gaze drifted down to the bones still scattered on the ground. That was when realization hit him.
Perhaps the spirits already knew what would happen in the future. Maybe they refused to let Gundar see the future so that the old man’s life wouldn’t be shortened by the world’s causality if ever he chose to go against fate to help Leone.
"If I base the probability solely on what I saw in your camp right now, then I believe there’s no chance of you winning," Gundar said carefully. "But what I see today can change tomorrow.
"Leone, I’ve been paying close attention to you. I believe I understand a bit of the power you hold. It’s the power of creation. You have the power to create many things, and by doing so, you can change this place to beco sothing that will not be lost to anyone.
"But I will still stand by what I said in the past. You and your kingdom need ti. As long as you can develop safely, the middle-ranked tribes will not be able to touch you."
"Then what if I’m not given that ti?" Leone asked solemnly. "Do we still have the chance to win?"
"I... I don’t know," Gundar replied honestly. "That will depend on whether you can create sothing that prevents them from invading your territory."
Truth be told, Leone felt anxious. The representatives from the middle-ranked tribes would soon arrive at their camp to demand tribute. If paying it settled things, he would pay.
But his instinct was telling him that it wouldn’t be easy.
Little did Leone know that, at that very mont, Ragan and Gromm were already visiting the middle-ranked tribes, one after the other.
The two told their chieftains that the tribes that had gathered in Grimjaw Mountain might have no intentions of paying the tribute they were supposed to hand over within the next few weeks.
Naturally, this didn’t sit well with the middle-ranked tribes. So they decided to send representatives they believed would be able to scare the Alborin Tribe, the Rifervang Tribe, and the Black Wolf Tribe into submission.
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