Chương 196: Over the Summit (II)

The dishes were laid out flatly on the table--your standard fare of plain, unseasoned rice, some boiled game meat (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 meat.

"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 something to his psyche that cannot be undone or because he learned someone he trusted was using him, but I know that either of those things would have probably done me in.

"Nice to meet you, Rayce," I said.

"--hm? Ah, yes, nice... to meet you too. Thank you for saving me, too. Miss Lilia has explained what happened." His voice was rather monotonous and dry, as though someone 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 something like that," I said.

"You'd see me 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 moment as he finally reached for the spoon and started slowly eating.

"We've arranged for the Captain's--I mean, 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 home 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 something 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 meal, as though they were feasting on some truly heavenly dishes. I merely smiled, taking a bite as well.

"They just might, to be honest."

"Where is your hometown, if you don't mind me 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..." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. 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 come back with us."

"... why?"

"Though Zhu and I are more than understanding of his circumstances and would have immediately 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 something new that they should embrace?"

"Fair point. So, why are you bringing this up?" Please don't let it be that she wants me to take the kid with me--"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 me 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 me who spoke up--it was Long Tao. Honestly, it was like an automatically triggered phrase that was uttered every time somebody offered him something of interest. She glanced over at me oddly, and I merely 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 some sociopath... Wow. Poor kid. [--Creator's Eyes Used] [Target: Rayce Lotten] [Age: 22] [Talent: middle-Myth] [Cultivation Realm: None] [Cultivation Method: None] [Cultivation Arts: None] [...] [Shamanic Tier: 4-Circle Magi] [Known Shamanic Arts: Singular Focus, Enduring Winds, Silent Touch...] [Shamanic Calling: Enchanter] [Enchanter: an extremely 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 augments 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 meant 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 become 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 become 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] [...] [Recommendation: 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 recommended 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 Assessment: an unraveling enigma, the target's future is extremely unstable. The combined list of causes and effects battling within and without creates endless potential outcomes. If the Host can alleviate the most pressing concerns--depression, limited lifespan, and frailty of mortal flesh—it is possible that the target may become the Shamanic equivalent of the Emperor--a Godking]