TUF: PREVIEW/DRAFT 11-20 (Patreon)

CAUTION:

This is a very rough draft of the first third or so of the novel, and is not entirely indicative of the quality you might expect of the edited draft.

You can expect the edited draft on the 31st of August in 2025.

Thank you for reading and if you wish to comment your thoughts please use the appropriate Patreon post.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Chief’s cabin was bare as ever, light incense burning, not for the first time, but the only time Daniel had smelled such was during special occasions, the minor festivals, as well as the major festival the day before.

The Chief sat opposite the pair, Shiva staying beside Daniel as his Secret Keeper, while Daniel sat opposite the old, grandmotherly woman, who took the pair in within her sights, her face neutral.

“Explain your ability to me, as clearly as you are able,” the Chief asked, while brewing the earthy tea.

“I have the ability to spread my wings, so to speak-,”

“Clearly,” the Chief interrupted.

“Excuse me.” Daniel cleared his throat. “Okay, I got it. First, Shiva, you use your rage, right?”

“I am a Barbarian,” Shiva confirmed.

“Right, right, so you’re following the way of your rage, and obviously, I’m not. I wouldn’t be any good at it, so I have a different way. So, if I was particularly talented, I could become a Druid, like the Shaman, who is not like Shiva, who is more martial, the Druid uses a particular way of magic. As Shiva grows, as he becomes a veteran, he will better utilise his rage. The Shaman himself has grown, from tricks, all the way to being able to cast such grand spells. Some people, they mix and match between the various abilities, right?”

“No,” the pair replied.

“No?”

“No.”

“Really?” Daniel asked, furrowing his brows.

“One must master a single path,” Shiva stated, as though he had spoken the words a thousand times previously.

“Oh…” Daniel realised this had become more difficult to explain. “Uh, so, basically…”

Didn’t it? He supposed he could just…

“Essentially, instead of following a single path, I am able to traverse multiple at once, though it requires a lot of effort. My growth is slower, but more explosive, I guess? You saw it during the festival, I was finally able to cast some magic, light magic, and I will be able to continue growing more powerful at a similar rate, but I will be able to… I could, instead of growing more powerful overall, I can choose to delay my general growth to become more powerful in a certain other way, for example, learn the ways of a Druid, though starting from the beginning, while also still possessing whatever other abilities I already have.” Daniel wasn’t sure if he was explaining it properly.

“You possess taboo magic?” the Chief asked.

“Apparently, but not quite in the way you think. It’s not from a source that you might know of, or might have existed in any way, though I can’t be too certain. However, I don’t intend to be beholden to them in a way that would threaten the village, even if it means I’ll have to sacrifice it all.”

The Chief took the young man within her sights, pouring him tea, before mixing it together, allowing them all to drink. Daniel winced, not enjoying the taste of the tea, it was too earthy for his liking, but he couldn’t refuse tea, it would offend him on a deeper level to not drink than to drink.

“We must take you to the Supreme Elder,” the Chief said. “She will know what to do.”

“Sure.”

“We must leave today,” the Chief said.

“Can I have a quick bath?” Daniel asked.

“You may bathe at the village we stop at.”

“Alright.” Though he was upset, Daniel prepared, taking his personal effects, donning his cuirass and dagger once more.

“Danyal!” Sal called out, the pair clasping hands, in the Barbarian handshake, where they almost seem to be arm wrestling in the air, though none would embarrass themselves by doing so, for the victor would seem a child. “A marching to the lake!”

“Yeah?” Daniel also greeted Zal, the pair eager to leave, each wearing their cloaks, wielding blades at their side, shortbows, javelins, and a pair of packs made of leather. The group passed him a pair, one half filled, the other completely filled with dried food.

They followed the stream out, heading to the large road, before heading north easterly, making their way along the path, alternating between climbing the hills, and going around them, passing by several nearby villages.

“Hey, Shiva, how come there’s no village on the road?”

“The road is for the towns,” Shiva replied simply. “If the Engwyn march along this path, they shall find the world around enclose them.”

“The Engwyn have tried to march upon our roads, but find themselves unable to deal with more than our frontier villages,” Zal said, his voice full of pride.

“Unable to deal with more than our frontier villages?” Sal asked.

“You know what I meant.”

“They may burn down one or two of our frontier villages, but we gather together to fend them off,” Sal said. “It is the purpose of such villages.”

“Beacons,” Shiva admitted.

“Damn…” Daniel wasn’t sure how that worked, or if that was efficient, but if it worked thus far, who was he to complain?

It was evening by the time they settled at a village some ways off the path, the group offered an open air shelter, and a basin for their bath, for just the one who used his magic to warm up the water to bathe, the soap too hard, barely flowing onto his skin.

‘I need some nice soap…’

Another joined them, from this village to the next village they stopped at during the early evening, swapping out the escorts, the gentle rain keeping them company for longer. The hills shifted from rolling plains to rougher rock, back to gentle hills, all the way until they arrived at a crossroads, the logs towering high above the earthy walls, the gate opening by raising, to reveal the rest of the small world that was the small town.

“Now that’s a fort, man.”

“That is not a fort,” Shiva said. “It is a town.”

“That’s a town?” Daniel asked, pointing to the obvious fortress.

“It is a town within our land,” Shiva stated, and as the gates opened, various large figures loomed over them.

“Oh, come on! Why didn’t I know about these guys?”

CHAPTER TWELVE

They were larger than the Malin he was used to, at least a half head taller, and though they looked like humans with tusks, they at the very least kept the self respect to remain thickly built.

“All this time I could have been found by one of the…” Daniel glanced towards Shiva.

“Yes?”

“What do you call them?”

“Their names?”

“No, like their people. You’re Malin, what are they?”

“Malin.”

“Huh?”

“We are Malin. They are tusked, we are fanged.”

“Oh. So you’re the same people?”

“We bear the pride of our tribes from eras past, but we are the people of the nearby lands, each forced to the hills.”

“Oh…”

The Chief spoke with another Malin, adorned in breatplate over leather, a long cloak reaching down to his knees, a pair of blades at his side. His hair and fur had grown white with age, though his eyes remained sharp.

“The Chief’s brother,” Shiva informed.

“Oh?” Daniel eyed the pair up, the Chief short and small, grandmotherly so, though she had kept up during their journey with little trouble, and her brother was far taller, a head and a half taller, and built as though he could carry his sister upon his back without noticing. “Cool.”

“Bol!” Sal called out, stepping towards a particular Boarin, the pair slapping one another’s palm lightly, the sound echoing across the large walls. “What are you doing here?”

“Got me on duty, they do, all on the wall,” Bol replied, the Boarin about as tall as any other, though a little wider, his forearms about as thick as Daniel’s thighs. He carried a long spear upon his back, the tip seemingly made of bone. “What brings you here?”

“Escorting a friend to the Supreme Elder.” Sal motioned a head towards Daniel, who smiled and nodded towards the Boarin awkwardly. “He’s not an Engwyn.”

“No?”

“No, no.”

“Why are you taking him to the Supreme Elder?”

Sal cleared his throat, glancing around towards the rest of the Boarin. “Supreme Elder business.”

“I’ve got a bottle of-,”

Sal raised a hand, because if it was what he was thinking, he might have accidentally let it slip.

“That serious?”

“Mnn.”

“Mouse quiet,” Bol agreed, for if it was that serious, he’d rather not know either. “Do you need anything from the storage?”

“No, no, we prepared…” Sal turned. “Danyal, do you need a weapon?”

“I’ve got my dagger,” Daniel replied, holding it up. “All I need.”

“Can you get him another?” Sal asked.

“Daggers are no trouble,” Bol assured, and once the Chief finished speaking with the Vice Commander, the Vice Commander allowed them to stay within one of the wooden longhouses to the side, those which were prepared exactly for this moment.

The longhouse was, as one might have expected, long, and a house, more like a ship that had been turned upside down, with a blanket of moss at the top, with windows above the various doors. It was fairly bare within, the wooden smell permeating the air, the centre taken up by the cookery, one side covered in beds and bunks, the other an open area, and all the way to the end, a large serpent nestled against the wall.

“What’s with the…” Daniel motioned his head towards the serpent.

“That is Lady Silver, though she prefers it if we do not bother her.”

Daniel’s entire body remained on edge, but noting the rest of his group unpacked their gear and started to settle themselves within the longhouse, he did the same. Sal glanced over towards Daniel for a moment, and once Bol stepped within the longhouse, the Malin whispered into his ear. The Boarin thought, and Sal leaned in once more to whisper into his ear.

“Danyal,” called the Vice Commander, approaching young man, who looked like an Engwyn, but apparently wasn’t. “You can heat up water with ease?”

“Yes,” Daniel replied.

“Magic?”

“Yeah, a Trick.”

“Tricks?”

“Yes.”

The Vice Commander nodded. “We have some soap from our canine cousins far tot he north, near the mountains. If you are willing to warm the water, chill the drinks, we will hand you a bundle of soap.”

“Deal,” Daniel said, extending out a hand, the Vice Commander reaching for it.

“We will also feast today,” the Chief called, narrowing her eyes towards her elder brother, who narrowed his eyes back.

“Very well.” He shook hands with Danyal. “I am Vice Commander Abal.”

“Daniel.”

“Danee’el?”

“Daniel.”

“Danyal?”

“Close enough.”

“Danyal. Daneeyal. Daniel.”

“That’s it,” Daniel replied, smiling slightly. “Thank you.”

The Vice Commander bowed his head, allowing Daniel to follow him, and as the young man heated the water for the Chief and another, he chilled the water so they could cool their drinks within, and as he did so, the Vice Commander held out a small bundle wrapped in a small sack, tied with string. Daniel unwrapped it, feeling how hard the soap was, though it felt almost like a rock, just like the other soap. He sniffed it, the floral scent filling his nostrils. ‘At least it smells nice! That’s good!’

“Engwyn?” called a voice, of a particular tusked Malin, who marched towards him.

“No,” Daniel replied, his heart pounding as the Malin’s shadow swallowed him whole.

“A friend,” Bol said in their tongue, slapping Daniel’s back, gently, though still rather hard. “Chief Sava brought him.”

“Not an Engwyn?” the Malin asked.

“No,” Bol confirmed, allowing Daniel to step away.

“What a shame.” The woman flexed, built taller and larger than any of the others within, and upon her back she wielded a long blade made of a single piece of carved bone, that looked like it could split Daniel in two.

“Marsha, leave him,” Abal called, patting his heart with his hand twice, letting her know it was safe. “How was the patrol?”

“It will rain in a few days.”

“The Oracle?”

Marsha grunted affirmatively, causing Abal to narrow his eyes, the pair exchanging knowing glances. “Anything else?”

“Yes. She said…”

“What?”

Marsha turned, watching as Daniel disappeared into the doorway. Her eyes then snapped back to the other Vice Commander. She remained silent for a long moment, shaking her head lightly, and Abal acknowledged she did not speak the words upon her mind.

“Whose Marsha?” Daniel whispered into Shiva’s ear.

“Vice Commander Marsha, they call her Mad Marsha.”

“Why?”

“She longs for battle.”

“Ah, I should have assumed.” Daniel swallowed. “Whose the Commander, then?”

Shiva shook his head lightly, then motioned a head to the large silver serpent coiled in slumber to one side, snoozing away lightly.

“Fair.”

“We will speak later.”

“Alright, thanks.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“So you’re telling me, she’s the strongest being in this entire land, and she’s just chilling in the fort, sorry, town?” Daniel asked, glancing aside to Shiva, since the sun’s rays fell from ahead, sometimes threatening to blind him, thankful for the trees.

“Yes,” Shiva replied, the group making their way along the path, through the hilly region that made up their state, the town having made up the half way point towards the lake.

“When you say strongest, how strong are we talking?”

“She could defeat the combined might of the Marshal, Swift Sword, Mad Marsha, and father,” Shiva replied simply.

‘Damn! Both Vice Commanders and those two monsters too?’ Daniel let out a soft sigh. ‘This land, it seems almost like a mixture of high and low fantasy. That being said, it seems like Level 5 is pretty solid. If she can deal with all four of them, and they’re each at least Level 5, probably higher, than she’s definitely crazy powerful. I wonder if she’s as strong as younger dragon?’

“Lady Silver has watched over us for centuries. This land, these hills, was her domain. When we stepped away, those of the tusks, those further north, also fanged, did not wish to accept us. However, before they had settled here, Lady Silver and her kin ruled these hills. If not for Lady Silver, if not for Supreme Elder Kama, whose family ruled the Central Hills for generations, we of the Malin would have long fallen to the Engwyn.”

“Shiva is too modest,” Bol said, stepping behind them. “Without Lady Silver, Elder Kama, we would be able to beat back the Engwyn, though we would suffer greatly for it.”

“In this time?”

“I know what you speak, but do you know of what I speak?” Bol asked. “I speak of the split.”

“A split formed after a season of war but a few years prior? Engwyn has not invaded the land since the parting, and now? They would not. They are too sweet upon one another, the northern Dukes possess much the rest of Engwyn desires, and they are the hardiest of all, those who live in such harsh hills.”

“Your hills,” Bol joked, chuckling haughtily, his giant belly shaking wildly.

“Our hills,” Shiva replied, letting out a long, wanting sigh. “If their war had lasted years…”

“Still, we are fortunate. They are less likely to send the northern folk to war.”

“Are the northern folk that strong?” Daniel asked, suddenly more curious.

“The northern folk and the Frune share the same blood deeper than those of the typical Engwyn,” Shiva stated.

“If you meet an Engwyn, they will flay you for your skin for coppers, and they may do so for the joy of it,” Sal joked. “You meet those Engwyn from the northern hills, or the Frune? One may flip a coin, on one, they have the head of the Engwyn, and they will do the same. The other? The tail end of an Engwyn, who would die beside you as Zal would for me.”

“The Frune are more colourful, their clothing brighter than the sun, but the northernfolk of the Engwyn are still Engwyn,” Shiva said.

“You always speak so well of the Frune, are you friendly with them?”

“Friendly? No. We have spilled one another’s blood now and again. It is that we are not friendly or unfriendly. They may not travel our lands, though their merchants sometimes sell to the frontier villages, but beyond? They are asked to leave, but Engwyn? We may cut off a hand before we force them to leave.”

“I’m rather glad you didn’t cut off my hand when you thought I was an Engwyn.”

“You are really no Engwyn?” Bol asked.

“I’ve never flayed a man for copper, silver, gold, or freely,” Daniel replied.

“Are you Frune?”

“No.”

“You are not Azari, your skin too fair, so from further west?”

“Something like that, actually,” Daniel replied, flashing a wide smile, chuckling lightly. He caught Shiva’s eyes, shrugging his shoulders as the young man continued to chuckle.

They continued to walk, the tree tops providing shade from the sunfall heat, the group continuing along with Bol in tow.

As evening came to them, they settled into the routine, thanking the villagers for their hospitality, Daniel catching suspicious glances and glares, though after offering his magic to them, less suspicious glances and glares.

“Bol, here,” Daniel called, holding out the soap.

“It is your soap, Dani’el, traded with skill.”

“Traded with good fortune, not skill, and I’m feeling awfully safe with everyone around, so have a nice bath,” Daniel said.

“You are not an Engwyn after all,” Bol joked, accepting the soap, bowing his head, letting out an approving snort, before heading to bathe within the river, preferring the cold water of the stream than the basin.

“So why is it that the Malin up north know how to make such good soap?” Daniel asked as he approached Shiva, dropping down beside him as the spices tickled his nostrils, the smell of boar stew causing him to glance around at all the tusked Malin, who seemed to not find this awkward at all.

“They like the feeling of soft, buttery soap, that which smells like flowers,” Shiva replied, as though it were really that simple.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Huh. It’s really that simple?”

“Yes.”

“The wood further north is suited for soap,” Sal informed. “Zal, what was it about the wood there?”

“One day, I will show you,” Zal assured, not in the mood to talk, his ears twitching. He glanced around, feeling a curiousness in the air, but when he sent out his awareness, he could not sense anything peculiar.

“Walk?” Sal asked.

“Hmm,” Zal confirmed. “After the stew.”

“That goes unspoken,” Sal joked, causing Zal to smile.

Daniel noted the tension in Zal, but decided against speaking up, wondering what it was about the wood up north which made decent soap. “You thought about selling soap to the others? The Engwyn and the Frune? Maybe the soap will clean their hearts.”

Shiva choked on his stew, coughing and spluttering to the side, his eyes darting towards Daniel suspiciously, for it was a strangely good joke. “No. They buy their soap from the Frune, who buy theirs from the Azari, who make such great soaps.”

“We need to head to this Azari place.”

“You said you disliked the heat?”

“Yes?”

“You would not like it there.”

“Is it hot?”

“In this season? Yes. In other seasons? Yes, but it is more bearable.”

“That is a shame.” Daniel stared down at his stew, sipping it lightly, the salt prickling his tongue, the spices and herbs dancing alongside the salt. ‘I expected their food to taste worse.’

“You need to eat more, you are too thin,” Shiva said.

A nearby tusked Malin furrowed his whitened brows. “Okay, Shiva.”

“Am I wrong, uncle?”

“No, but you should eat more.”

“You should speak with father.”

“I might, but I still owe him.”

“How much?”

“Enough that I do not wish to head southward.”

Shiva smiled. “At least ten gold?”

The old Malin groaned loudly, affirmatively.

“You may wish to grow close with old Barra here, for he may be able to save you from father.”

“Daniel,” Daniel called out, reaching out a hand.

The tusked Malin slapped the man’s palm with his own, slightly too roughly.

Health: 9 -> 8

“Barra The Black.”

“Why do they call you The Black?”

“Many years ago, my hair was a deep black, but when I lost the chance to marry such a fine woman like Maka, it grew white.”

“Who is Maka?”

“Mother,” Shiva stated, sipping his stew slowly, so he could say no more.

Daniel, taking the hint, glanced towards the old man. “How come you all wield weapons made of bone? I’d imagine they wouldn’t be too good against steel?”

“You make weapons of bone which shatter against steel?”

“Isn’t that… how that works?”

“Some bone, but the bone that can be used to kill Engwyn can be carved into weapons.”

“Oh.” Daniel blinked. ‘Magic bone? Is it denser? How does it work?’

“Your companion, does he come from a land of fools?”

Shiva shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Whoa,” Daniel managed to whisper.

He understood why Shiva called the place they had stepped through a few days ago a town, for that was a town, and this?

At the top of the hill, if one could could demean it with such a word, was a large lake, surrounded by near countless tents, longhouses, cabins, towers, and even smaller forts within the fortress known as Dragon Lake. Within the large lake, a large island, which could easily house a hundred people, instead housed dozens of beavers, which lazed about.

Thousands worked the fields, all along the fields of the hill, the layered hill surrounded on all sides, for miles, in fields, and as Daniel eyed up the area, he realised there must have been thousands of people here, perhaps reaching ten thousand, which, in this world, was apparently quite a feat, for even the town he had passed, which they pretended was not a fort, held hundreds at most, hundreds more outside the town proper.

There were not just those feline Malin, like Shiva, but those who were more canine, boarish, bearish, even, he spotted, a few who were more reptilian, or perhaps…

Daniel’s eyes snapped towards the islet, which shuddered and shifted, the water flooding outwards as the beavers began to stir, peeking open their eyes, before returning back to their slumber, and thus the grey head of a giant turtle, with plates of mossy stone atop its head, emerged, eyes a deep amber.

“Approach!” the turtle demanded, its tone implying that it was not to be refused, its amber eyes firmly upon the young fellow without tusks, furry ears, or a tail.

Daniel’s eyes snapped to Shiva, who pat his back, allowing him to breathe again, as the young man stumbled forward. His heart thundered within his chest, fairly certain that it was not a typical turtle, for he wasn’t sure if turtles which could swallow him whole could possibly exist.

Oh, right.

It’s a fantasy world.

Quest: Convince the Supreme Elder

Reward: A Home

‘Not now!’

“You have come, with a stranger, an Engwyn, to be judged?” Kama asked, her voice reverberating through even Daniel’s guts.

Daniel’s eyes shot to Shiva in alarm, sweat already beginning to form as his heart thundered in his chest, his body freezing, in place and heart.

“No, Elder Kama,” Shiva said, causing the turtle’s eyes to press upon him instead of the Chief. “He glanced around.”

The turtle growled, and with that, all the dozens upon dozens of figures around retreated away, leaving them under the open sky, and the four figures, each like the Malin, except with horns and scales.

“Speak.”

“He uses the taboo magic of another Master, but Daniel claims it is not as we think.”

“A Warlock?” Kama accused.

“Kind of,” Daniel replied, his throat dry and clamping shut, air barely escaping. “Kind of.”

Kama allowed him to clear his throat and take a few moments to compose himself, the young man’s heart threatening to explode. A hand squeezed Daniel’s shoulder, and he turned to face Shiva for a moment, who bowed his head gently.

“You have no need to worry, Daniel.”

“Alright, just, uh, you know,” Daniel said, his voice raspy, breathless, his chest tight, his hands sweaty.

“Do you have a reason to fear?”

“A little, yeah,” Daniel admitted. “I’m a… not of this world.”

“Skyfallen?” Kama asked, causing even the Chief to raise her brows, the four guards to stand a little taller, their eyes narrowing.

“Yeah.”

Kama snarled quietly, her throat rumbling, narrowing her eyes. “What is your unique gift, child?”

“I can, apparently it’s not a thing in this world, but I can… follow many different martial and magical paths, for a cost.”

“What cost?”

“Experience.”

“Experience?” The turtle leaned forward slightly, narrowing her eyes. “Explain.”

“You know how, okay, so Shiva goes to fight in a war. He fights in many battles, and he earns, Experience, right? He-,”

“Yes,” Kama confirmed, narrowing her eyes further.

“Sorry, right, uh….” Daniel shook his head. “So. After some time, he will grow more powerful in some way. Right now, he’s at the start of his journey, after mastering the basics. However, next time, if I’m right, he’ll be able to throw caution to the wind, allowing his opponents to strike him easier, while they attack him easier, but because it’s Shiva, he’s strong, and he can out tough his enemies, it’s better for him. Then, eventually, he’ll become an Expert, because he gains enough Experience. I am the same, but, the Experience is almost more like… silver, gold, that I can collect and then spend in different ways, not just growing more powerful in the way of a Barbarian, but perhaps another way, but also, I can still progress in a similar manner to Shiva, should I so choose.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“In the wrong hands, yeah.”

“Are your hands wrong?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You do not think so, or you do not know so, or you do not believe so?”

“I think I’m a decent enough guy, but absolute power corrupts absolutely, so there might come a time in the future, when I’m as strong as the strongest of warriors, that I allow it to corrupt me. I hope not, personally, but who knows?”

“What is your goal?”

“Right now? Not die here, or at least, for the next few hours, days, months, years. My goal is to live a long life.”

“If you possessed such power, such wealth, what would you do?”

“I’d probably retire.”

“Retire?”

“Yeah. If I’m strong, if I’m rich, I’d retire and… paint, draw, write, not so much sing or dance, maybe I’ll come up with some tabletop games, or some really wonderful… poem, although I don’t think I’m any good at that, maybe explore the world, see the different cultures, and…” Daniel thought about what he would want to do. “Something like that.”

“You do not have a dream to become a noble? A King, perhaps?”

Daniel groaned lightly, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Uh. I don’t think so. I mean, I’d rather be a certain type of King, but it’s not really a King?”

“What is it?”

“A father.”

“A father?”

“Yeah.”

“What?”

“What?”

“You wish to become… just a father?”

“No, not just a father,” Daniel replied, slightly offended. “A good father, obviously. I think… being a dad is really cool.”

Shiva’s eyes fell upon Daniel, his brows furrowed, uncertain of what he was doing. ‘A good father?’

“What does such entail?” Kama asked.

Daniel fell silent for a long while, his eyes falling to the floor, glancing aside, noting the horned figure with scales, before his eyes fell to the sky, then back to the floor. “I guess, on a fundamental level, it’s someone who is a decent person, who raises their children right, provides for them, teaches them well. I think, uh, I’m not a fan of the type of fatherhood that is bring home money, sit at home and just watch the telly, uh, you know, someone who brings back meat but then ignores the rest of their family for hours, or even the kind who works every waking hour and doesn’t spend enough time with his family, though, more noble than the other one, by a large margin. No weird rules, no demanding of respect, no… doing things to your wife that she doesn’t want done, you know? Just… a decent guy, trying his best, putting in effort to raise his kids and cultivate a proper family. I think being a father, a good father, is… yeah, I think there’s nothing better than it in the world, outside of being a good mother, obviously, which is on the same level.”

“What a curious, strange fool you are,” Kama said, after a beat of thought.

“Thank you.”

Kama’s eyes fell upon Shiva, then to the Chief, then returned to Daniel. “If you are so interested in being a father, I have a child for you.”

“Excuse me?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Wrapped within the cloth, the babe’s tiny face peeked out, ugly, wrinkled, the miracle that was the future. They were not Engwyn, nor were they Malin, Daniel assumed, for the child did not seem any different to himself, other than the leaf shaped ears, and their hair was a deep green, rather than black. The child’s eyes were slightly further apart, and seemed larger than a typical babe’s, his nose a touch thinner.

‘It is one of the Snake Lord’s?’ Shiva thought, raising his brows, eyes darting towards the Chief, who remained focused on the babe.

‘What a cute kid,’ Daniel thought.

“Do you intend to take the child as your own?”

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Daniel replied, though his lips twitched slightly into the shadow of a smile.

“You must choose to swear the vows freely, without coercion,” Kama stated firmly.

“If I don’t take the child, you’re going to kill me, right?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No,” Kama confirmed.

“Oh,” Daniel replied, surprised. He looked down at the baby, who was almost entirely still, letting out a cough of a breath, before returning back to slumbering. “I’ll take the baby, but what happened to their mum and dad?”

“They are Angyr,” Kama replied simply.

“They are descended from the Will of the Divine,” Shiva said. “The Angyr are considered the child of Divine Lord’s.”

“A boy or a girl, or are they nothing?” Daniel asked, unsure of how the Angyr worked. If they were the children of the Divine, did they need such mortal concepts?

“A boy,” Kama said.

“Alright, I guess that’s all-, do I need to take any special care for an Angyr?”

“As one would raise another child,” Kama assumed, though there were minor differences, none to be considered.

“Is the baby the reason why the other Angyr came?”

“I do not know, but the boy arrived not a few hours before you, so this must be Fate.”

“Oh?” Daniel didn’t even realise he was smiling so giddily, trying his best to harm his kid. ‘I guess that is quite the coincidence.’

“I intended to give the child to the Angyr, but they caused such trouble,” Kama growled quietly, causing the babe to gasp lightly, pausing for a moment, before the babe returned to sleeping. “You must swear the oaths.”

“Ok.”

“Swear upon the Divine Lord of Order, that you shall take this child as your own,” Kama began.

“I swear-,” Daniel began, pausing a moment as an unseen pressure fell across him, a swirl of pressure running around his chest and heart, causing him to wince. “I swear upon the Divine Lord of Order, that I shall take this child as my own.”

Kama’s amber eyes fell upon one of the figures nearby, armed within their breastplate and long cloaks, who approached the young man and pricked his finger, approaching the child, pausing for a moment as he felt an intense pressure upon his back from the young man. He ignored it, reaching down to the child’s finger, pricking it lightly, drawing a drop of blood as the child awoke, shuddering lightly, before letting out a hack and a cry.

Strength Save

D20 - 1 = 8 (9)

Wis Save

D20 + 0 = 5 (5)

As Daniel tried to step forward, an invisible boots pressed down on him, threatening to crush him under. He dropped onto his hands and knees, his entire body burning as sweat poured through him, coughing out saliva as the force clutched at his heart. His eyes rolled back, the young man threatening to pass out, though it refused to allow him the luxury.

One of the other scaled and horned figures began to mix the blood into a liquid, brushing paint all along his skin, doing the same for the child a moment later, all the while Kama muttered a long prayer, causing the runes to glow, which instantly silenced the child, as the warmth flowed through him, as it did his father.

“Swear it!” Kama demanded at the end of her prayer.

Wis Save

D20 + 0 = 13 (13)

“I-,” Daniel’s throat clogged up, his entire body bound by an unseen rope, which threatened to constrict around his throat like a noose. Daniel cried aloud, roaring as he fought the ancient magics which threatened to kill him, not even feeling the flicker of holy water sprinkling across his skin, but he did notice the blast of water as Kama breathed out, spraying water against his body, as though he were set on fire, for a moment, giving him a chance to breath, before repeating it several times, each time longer and longer, each lasting a second longer, and after ten times, she stopped.

Daniel gasped for air, his lungs screaming for air, and though he could have complained, he was pretty sure she had continued to save his dignity. He struggled onto his feet, the young man drenched, water dripping down under him, flowing out towards the edge of the hill. He winced, feeling the pressure against his chest, around his heart.

Kama turned to face towards the woman who had brought the child. “You will remain with the child.”

“As you command, Lady Kama.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Daniel said, still struggling to breathe.

“Moan.”

“Wonderful to meet you, Moan.” Daniel glanced aside.

Exhaustion Level: 1

‘Yeah, okay, that makes sense,’ Daniel thought, flexing his muscles, finding how hard it was to do so.

Quest Complete!

XP Gained: +100

XP: 25 -> 125

‘Oh? That gave me XP t-,’

Quest Complete!

XP Gained: +100

XP: 125 -> 225

‘Oh? Oh, right. Convince the Supreme Elder. I forgot about that one.’

“You may stay within the Sun House,” Kama said, nodding her head to one of the heavily armoured horned figures.

The Chief remained silent, wondering what the Supreme Elder was thinking, but what did she know of the mind of a dragon turtle? Since he had sworn the vows, and had gone through the pain of even verbalising it when he didn’t need to, there was no justification for them.

As they approached the cabin of yellow, Daniel let out a sigh.

“Is it already so tiresome to be a father?” Shiva joked.

“Shiva…”

“Yes?”

“How is it that I’m an incel with a kid?”

“What?”

“Nothing,” Daniel replied, and though he sighed, Shiva was not blinded to the permanent bashful smile upon Daniel’s lips.

‘He truly wished for this?’

As the group disappeared into the yellow cabin, one of the half dragons turned to Kama, clearing his throat.

“What is it?”

“Did you not promise the child to…”

“To-,” Kama began, only to blink, turned her head towards the east, the sun behind her head as she stared towards the walls, and beyond them. ‘Ah.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“What charisma,” Sal said, rubbing his chin, eyeing up the babe. “Within an hour you managed to seduce one of the Divine Lords?”

The Chief whipped a string towards the young Malin’s arm, with such strength, he winced, the strike blooming the red of soreness.

“What can I say?” Daniel replied, staring down at the baby, who seemed to snooze away so peacefully. He was sleeping in the spirit of the phrase of like a baby. ‘I’ve got a kid?’

Shiva could see the complicated expression upon Daniel’s face, an awkwardness, the doubt, all centred around himself. He was so mesmerised by Daniel’s expressions and his own thoughts, he had yet to show off about being able to see Supreme Elder Kama channel a Divine Vow.

Sal followed Shiva outside, since it seemed he needed to speak, but only after they had stepped half way around the giant lake.

“I did not know,” Shiva admitted.

“He must not have thought to tell you,” Sal said, and after Shiva sighed, he chuckled. “He must not have thought of it, not that he thought of it and did not speak it.”

“I should have known.”

“Why?”

“He trusts me the most, I should return that favour.”

“You are thinking too deeply, Shiv,” Sal said, patting the man’s shoulder, half hugging him from the side as he chuckled. “He does not trouble us with his presence or words, only when he assists us, to show gratitude, and to join during our evening meals, as one expects of him.”

“He speaks with me,” Shiva replied.

Sal sighed, shaking his head. “You know why he behaves such a way.”

Shiva thought about Daniel, and the comment he made which had shocked him. He narrowed his eyes, and suddenly, it all made sense. Not why he remained so distant, so shy, but the look upon his face he had noted.

“What is it?”

“He did not tell me, but he did not fail to tell me,” Shiva admitted finally.

Sal raised a brow, not realising what Shiva was thinking about, but seeing his heart was so light, he smiled. “Shall I ask for drinks?”

“They will bring them soon.”

Sal laughed, and as they returned back to the cabin, they noted Zal’s curious eyes on Daniel, while Bol was scratching his chin.

“Is it healthy for a child to be so small and lean?” Bol asked.

“You’re absolutely right, he needs to be a chubby baby,” Daniel agreed, reaching down to want to tickle the boy, but he was so soundly asleep, so he pulled his finger away almost immediately.

Meanwhile, the Moan remained silent, since they were not the ones to feed the babe. She remained to one side, her priority watching over the babe, but that was not her only task.

Daniel forced himself to stand and follow the group once it was time to eat, but the Chief commanded him to go to sleep after eating within the cabin, since he looked as though he would topple over. Daniel did as she asked, and since the Supreme Elder had been so kind as to blast him with water, he didn’t feel the need to bathe that evening.

“How was the bath?” Shiva asked as the sun peeked across the sky the next morning.

“If I become used to the soap, I may have to request leave from my duties,” Bol joked.

Meanwhile, Daniel floated around his son, who was wrapped within the basket, which was tied around one of the heavily armoured horned and scales figures, though he didn’t recognise this particular figure, who wielded a blade made of silver.

‘They promised he’ll be safe, but…’ Daniel wasn’t sure how he felt about travelling for a whole ten days with a newborn babe through a dangerous land, though they had come across very little trouble on the way. The anxiety which weighed upon his heart caused him to think of the worst, not realising it had already appeared.

As someone muttered something to Kama, she growled quietly, but bowed her head, and as the group prepared to leave, he arrived.

He was tall, light, and handsome. His skin was as pale as untouched snow, locks of gold, like rays of the sun, eyes more like the gold of ancient rulers, his form muscular, carved by an artist’s hands, and it was not just his large wings which cast a shadow upon the group, but his entire presence. The halo around his head was not uniform, but more like liquid music, shifting in the air.

‘What the hell is that?’ Daniel thought, fairly certain what it was, his heart pounding nervously.

“Lady Kama,” called the voice, musical, firm, almost patriarchal, the halo blinking in and out of existence.

“Sir Asura, how do you do?”

“I am well,” the figure admitted.

“Unfortunately…” Kama stretched out her neck awkwardly, glancing aside towards the group which had prepared to leave. “I have surrendered the child to another’s care.”

The angel blinked, eyes now focused upon the young man, who was-,

Hmm?

The angel raised his hand towards Daniel, and effortlessly, the ancient-,

“Sir Asura,” Kama called out, her tone a little deeper, darker, the threat unspoken.

Asura clenched his fist, dispersing the magic, allowing the threads to slip into the world, giving it up instantly. This was her domain, so he would not tread disrespectfully upon it, and if she had reacted in such a way against even him, he would need to at least surrender his curiosity.

“What is your name, child?”

“Who are you talking to?” Daniel asked, standing tall and proud, though his entire body grew slick with a chilly sweat.

Shiva pat Daniel’s side gently. “Respectfully.”

“Excuse me, Sir,” Daniel replied.

“I am Asura.”

‘Not Lord Asura?’ Daniel thought. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Asura.”

“Just Asura, or Sir Asura, if it is more comfortable.”

“Asura,” Daniel began, only to feel the glares from around him. “Sir.”

“I ask that you leave the child within my care.”

“No, Sir.”

“I intend to reward you.”

Quest: Surrender the Child

Reward: Boon of Asura

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I ask politely that you leave the child within my care,” Asura began, though sensing the resistance, and the fact the child knew nothing about him, confirming his suspicions, he realised a simple request was not enough. “It will live a better life within my care. In exchange-,”

“He,” Daniel dared to interrupt.

“Excuse me?”

“You meant to say he would live a better life in your care, my Damien,” Daniel replied.

“…”

“…”

A long moment passed between the pair, the angel taking in the sight of one of the few mortals who had ever spoken disrespectfully, from the likes of Artur, to even other grand figures, like Mordekaiser.

Daniel’s heart pounded, with each passing second, he could feel the figure’s gaze not just upon him, but through him. It was only then he realised.

Asura was definitely the strongest being he had ever met.

Kama was terrifying, that was indisputable, but this figure, he held a wisdom within his eyes that seemed almost ageless. He was uncertain of how old Asura was, but it was definitely older than fifty, older than the hundreds of Lady Silver, and…

Asura, if he wished, could snap his fingers and Daniel would die.

Just like that.

“Very well,” Asura stated, and with that, he turned. “I have other matters to attend to, Lady Kama.”

“If you have other matters, I will not consider it rude for you to leave, and since you are leaving so abruptly, I hope you will forgive me for handing the child away,” Kama called, smirking playfully towards Asura.

“As you say.”

Daniel watched the angel leave. ‘He’s going to kill us on the way back…’

“How fortunate! To see Sir Asura in the flesh!” Bol laughed, his entire body shaking with delight.

“He is even more powerful than I imagined,” Zal admitted, though he hadn’t dared to send out his awareness to sense the being, since it was Asura.

Shiva pulled Daniel to the side. “Sir Asura is as revered as Elder Kama. You must speak with him respectfully.”

“Someone like that, huh?” Daniel replied, though as he thought about it, he narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t he going to kill us on the way back and steal my kid?”

Shiva blinked hard, furrowing his brows. “No.”

“No?”

“Sir Asura is a great figure of the best repute.”

“He is?”

“The best repute,” Shiva confirmed. “Out of all the beings across all lands, Sir Asura is such.”

“Really?” Daniel asked, even more surprised. “I would have sworn he was one of those guys that look good but is actually evil.”

“There are some angels who are so, but not Sir Asura.”

“If I had known, I would have treated him way more respectfully, my bad.”

Shiva pat his back. “You do not have to worry, for Sir Asura would not take such to heart.”

“He’s really just a good guy?”

“Yes. It is Sir Asura.”

“You’re making it sound like he’s the definition of good.”

“He is.”

‘Are they just following his cult of personality?’ Daniel suddenly grew more anxious. ‘I guess I’ll pray that everything goes fine.’

“You did not wish to give the boy up?” Shiva asked. “Sir Asura’s blessing is the envy of all.”

“He’s my son,” Daniel replied, as if that was that.

Shiva slowly nodded his head, watching as Daniel returned back to the boy, a nervousness still displayed upon his shoulders.

Quest Failed!

‘Shouldn’t I wear him?’ Daniel thought, though the boy remained sleeping peacefully. As they made their way out, as the boy cried, the half dragon placed a finger upon their cheek and he quietened.

“What are you doing?”

“I am sending the warmth of magic, which he adores, he is Angyr,” the half dragon replied.

“Oh…” ‘Alright, although if I find out you were hurting him, I’ll-,’

Though his thoughts had started dark, full of anxiety, a whole week later, ten days, they returned back the village, with nothing bothering them the entire way.

‘Oh? He really didn’t come and kill us for Damien?’

The half dragon did not stay long, once they had entered the village, the Chief thanked him, blessing him with kind words, allowing him to retreat away to another village.

“Another village?” Daniel asked.

“It is best for him to settle within the villages, so they enjoy his company, he who has met so many grand figures.”

“How many grand figures.”

“More than I may even know,” Shiva said, his eyes snapping towards the Moan, who picked up the basket and waited.

“I’ll take him, it’s fine,” Daniel said, grasping the basket gently, as though it held the greatest treasure in the world.

Shiva’s eyes darted about, wondering where Layla was, before his eyes fell upon his father, who appeared seemingly from nowhere. He smiled. His smiled dropped when his father smiled in return.

As Daniel settled his son within his cabin, he turned, blinking. ‘Oh, right.’

The Chief thought deeply. “She could just stay within the cabin with you.”

“Yeah, but… it’s a little too… small for the both of us.”

“Why?”

“It doesn’t really have much space for both of us, or another bed.”

“You could-,” the Chief began, though she paused, seeing the stress and embarrassment on his face, she decided against teasing him. “You may move to another long house, since you are an alchemist and require such a space, and we cannot show disrespect to a Moan.”

Upon the return, Daniel had spent a short time with the group, and realised Moan was not a name, but a title, and a fairly well respected one at that. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was, but she was to assist rearing Damien, so Daniel didn’t ask for further elaboration.

While he was dealing with the awkward matter of finding a place for the Moan, Shiva spoke with his father, who had asked if anything interesting had happened off hand, ready to reveal what had happened at hom.

“He sacrificed a blessing from Sir Asura so he could watch over the child?” Riva asked, his brows furrowed in shock.

“Yes.”

Riva remained staring at his son, unsure of how to take his words. Who would pass up on such a thing? A blessing from Sir Asura was one of the greatest in the known world. ‘A damn fool.’

“What did you wish to tell me?” Shiva asked, since his father had called him for one reason or another.

Daniel stretched out his legs, which ached from all the walking, more than ten miles a day, reaching fifteen, over and around various hills, which had ballooned his calves, though they were still barely a fist thick, considering how lean he was now. He had snacked so much during their journey, but he was fairly certain he was still too lean, perhaps even leaner, than when he set off.

‘I guess that’s the way to lose weight? Just walk ten to twenty miles a day around some hills and don’t eat?’ Daniel shook his head.

“Daniel!” Shiva called, a little too loudly. “Come! Quickly!”

“What?” Daniel asked, half in shock, following after the Malin into his family home. “Oh.”

The girl glared at the world ahead, towards the vague forms, settled within her blanket. So tiny. So wrinkled. Her feline ears still as her eyes remained particularly unfocused upon anything in particular.

“Congratulations,” Daniel half whispered, patting Shiva on the shoulders, bowing his head towards Layla, who bowed her head in return. “She looks just like you.”

“Hopefully she has my wisdom too,” Layla said, a playful smile across her lips.

“You are so wise, choosing to marry me,” Shiva said, flexing his muscles, causing Layla to smile, while Daniel stifled a chuckle.

“When was she born?” Daniel asked.

“The tenth.”

“Oh! So our kids are twins then?”

“Our kids?”

Layla noted the dark green hair, the scales around the boy’s neck, those bright green eyes which stared at her, unfocused, innocent. “An Angyr?”

“He’s my body, Damien. Damien, say hello to Layla. Hello, miss Layla. Hello!” Daniel held his son’s tiny wrists, very gently shaking them to greet Layla.

“He was born on the tenth too?” Layla asked.

“He was, he was, my little Damien.” Daniel cooed quietly, gently brushing a thumb along the back of his son’s hand, his own thumb larger than his son’s entire hand.

“An Angyr like him…” Layla thought, eyeing up his features. “Is he a child of the Snake Lord.”

“Snake Lord? He’s my boy!”

“Descended from the will of the Lord of Treachery and Misfortune,” Riva said, his arms crossed.

“So you’re going to be trouble, huh?” Daniel called, tickling his son’s nose, causing his son’s head to jerk lightly towards him. “Look at how handsome you are! You’re definitely going to be a troublemaker!”

Riva remained silent, glancing between the five, from his son, to his daughter in law, to his granddaughter, his first granddaughter, to the stranger and the babe.

The babe.

The same babe who was worth more than Sir Asura’s blessing?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

‘So I need to spend 200 for the Level for Warlock stuff I don’t have, 400 for other Charisma based classes, and 600 for every other class? Not bad, not bad at all. Man, still, 1000 XP times my current Level in order to Level Up is rough for the first few levels, but I think at around… what is it, Level 6, it ends up being better, from the main system? I think it’s something like 350 for the-,’

Daniel inhaled sharply, only just reading the rules for Levelling for the higher Tiers. ‘Ah.’

“What are you thinking of so deeply?” Shiva asked, sipping the last of his stew.

“I thought, man, it’s pretty difficult for those of the lower classes to try to make something of themselves, and that the upper classes are going to have an easy ride of it, but apparently it’s a little more difficult than I expected.’

“Slowly, steadily, we will rise.”

Daniel’s eyes darted to the side, seeing through space and time, towards the letters which were only for his eyes. ‘Ah, so I get everything from that particular Level and that particular option if I spend the 200 XP? I can get both Hex Knight and Sworn Hex in one go, which is nice. So you’re letting me double dip into each Class? That’s nice.’

Daniel’s current weakness, outside of being only Level 1, was his lack of martial prowess, especially in melee. However, if he was able to procure Hex Knight at least, not only would he be able to arm himself with appropriate equipment, from slightly heavier armour, to shields, and something better than a dagger, he would be able to key his martial ability off of Charisma.

‘If I use a longsword now, it’s what, a -1? Once I’m Trained in them, it’s a +1, but with my Charisma, it would be a +6? Wait…’ Daniel’s eyes fluttered. ‘It’s… +5. Right. That’s how you do maths.’

He checked his Defence with a shield and scale armour, which would provide him with 17 Defence, a more than respectable amount of Defence especially at his Level, only outdone by those in full mail, rather than the lighter chain shirt he was able to done.

“I can feel your nerves,” Shiva accused, stretching his neck from side to side, the food well settled within his stomach.

“Shiva…”

“Yes?”

“Are you planning on leaving and adventuring, hunting, or anything like that any time soon?” Daniel asked.

Shiva narrowed his eyes slightly, his lips twitching slightly. “I may leave soon to hunt…”

“I’m thinking, maybe I should step out too. Hunt, earn some XP, Experience, excuse me, and…”

Shiva’s ears twitched, recalling what Daniel had spoken about previously. ‘If he…’

Daniel’s eyes fell upon the sleeping form of his son, who stirred lightly when they did not hush their tone a touch. He reached over, threatening to tickle his son’s tiny foot, but his son’s lungs were too healthy, so he decided against bothering him.

“Your magic is taboo for most mercenary work, though it is less troublesome in Frune, who does not hold as deep a hatred for such taboo magics, for they are Frune.”

“Oh yeah? I suppose that might be the best place to hunt too, then?”

“We could assist in the war, but then your magics would be an issue. We could assist with escorting merchants, or hunting.”

“If we’re talking escorting merchants, how long will we be gone?”

“Months, years if you wish to travel far, far to the east, where the drakkin make their home,” Shiva admitted, his tone hopeful.

“We’re new fathers, we can’t just abandon our children. Even if they won’t remember much around this time, their hearts will. Plus, I want to see Damien grow up, hopefully not too quickly, but I’m sure, since he’s a troublemaker, he will grow up too quickly.”

“We should roam east, where we will be able to hunt various creatures. Though the land is considered Frunish territory, the plains have always been dangerous.”

“How dangerous are we talking?”

“Even though we would be able to settle within those lands, taking them from Frune, the east of the Thunder Wood is dangerous, so dangerous, even Engwyn has found it difficult to settle within the forest and the plains, even when they were victorious against Frune. The various tribes, the beasts that wander, they are too much. There are a few temples which survive within the lands, but their relationship to the world around if very different to those of nations, like Engwyn and Frune.”

“What about this place? Is it a nation?”

“We are considered such, and act as such, but we understand.”

“What do you mean?”

“Our oaths to this land is until we reconquer the lands westward, and return these hills to their rightful owners, from those of the tusks, to others.”

“So this place belonged to the tusked ones and they let you stay?”

“Originally, our tribes all lives around this region, eras ago. We moved, as was the way of life of all people, the same as the Engwyn who arrived to our lands westward, and the Frune. However, we could see it, what the Engwyn wished for, and so we returned to these hills, our ancestral lands, perhaps, but our hearts remained to the west. We gave our word to return when we could, and it is thanks to the dragon turtles, who act as our Supreme Elders, and Lady Silver and her kin, that we all live in some harmony.”

“Some harmony?”

“We fight often, but it is rarely deathly, and we do not when the Engwyn try to invade our lands, or the Frune wish to skirmish, or the many other threats around the hills call for it. The last time we had fought with any seriousness was before father’s memories at least.”

“Oh? That is a long time.”

“He is not that old.”

“How old is he?”

“Over forty, but not fifty.”

“His hair is a little grey for his age, but those muscles make him look ten years younger,” Daniel admitted.

Shiva smiled. “Eastward, we could travel those dangerous lands. With Khal, we could trek more safely, though it would remain dangerous if we do not follow the edge of the hills.”

“What kind of monsters could we kill?”

Shiva let out a satisfied say that said more than enough, his mind passing through countless names. “Thunderlions.”

Daniel blinked. “Thunderlions?”

“Fully grown, it would require six of us to slay. Even father may struggle.”

“Okay, so maybe not them.”

“Their cubs are easier prey, and eager for fights. Mature thunderlions are wiser, and prefer to step away from a fight, so they grow more powerful over time, but the young? They cannot help their hearts.”

‘So we have to kill babies?’ Daniel thought, frowning.

“Their cubs are as large as you or I,” Shiva explained.

“What? Their cubs?” Daniel almost exclaimed, causing him to hear how healthy his sons lungs were once more.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Thunderlions?” Khal replied, rubbing his chin. Somehow, Khal had returned at the perfect time, and though Shiva had heard the reason why, the heaviness within the air caused Daniel to not ask. Khal was glad for it, not wanting to admit that assassins had aimed for his neck, and that he had even allowed one to cut into his shoulder, which twinged every so often. “I could assist.”

“If you would lead,” Shiva called.

“I could. Shall we take Kala and Ran?”

Shiva had already asked Sal and Zal, but hearing the offer, he thought. “Yes. Sal and Zal are busy with ranging.”

Khal nodded his head knowingly.

“Why are they ranging at this time?” Daniel asked.

“The skirmishes will draw Engwyn and Frune to our lands, to our frontier villages, perhaps even to our village.”

“This far? Sounds like a bad idea to me, considering all I know.”

“Do not underestimate the Engwyn or the Frune,” Khal said, narrowing his eyes slightly, rolling a shoulder.

“Or their lack of thought,” Shiva joked.

“Alright, well…” He glanced between the pair. “Are we doing this then?”

“I will inform Kala and Ran,” Khal said, before checking upon his sister and his niece, heading back to his village a short while later.

“We should speak with the Chief,” Shiva said, taking Daniel to her.

The Chief poured them tea once more, this time with red leaves, and as Daniel sipped it, his brows shot up in surprise. ‘Oh!’

The old woman smiled, sipping the tea lightly, glad Khal had brought back the berryleaf tea, which she had rationed for the past few months. “You wish to hunt thunderlions? I grant you permission, but you must follow the laws.”

Shiva bowed his head, reaching into his shirt, pulling out the small piece of paper, handing it to the woman, who read the request, and she reached down into her own shirt, placing her seal upon it, letting it rest as they sipped their tea.

“Why do you wish to go?” the Chief asked.

“To gain more Experience.”

“What do you intend to do with this Experience?”

“I want to grow more powerful, especially when it comes to fighting more face to face, more up close and personal.”

“Do you have a preference for a weapon?”

“A sword is rather romantic,” Daniel replied, a bashful smile across his lips.

“It is,” the Chief admitted. “Expensive, more so than an axe or a spear.”

“Once the potions sell…”

“Will you finish crafting the potions?”

“I planned on crafting a few more for our journey,” Daniel admitted. “The others you can sell.”

“I am certain I will hear complaints that you have left. Layla must enjoy Tricks, instead of spending minutes cleaning the clothing or the lowcloth of the child…” She motioned gently with her hand. “If only the Shaman could learn such.”

“He’s a little too important for cleaning nappies, lowcloths, I think, so I’m happy to do it.” Daniel smiled awkwardly, his lip twitching lightly.

“I wish you great fortune on your journey.”

“Thank you.”

They continued to chat for a short while, before returning. The week passed by, the whole ten days so that he could finish up his alchemy, before finally meeting with the figures he was going to be travelling with for the next few weeks, and potentially, months.

“Kala,” the woman said, built tall and lean, her eyes narrowing upon Daniel, taking in his form. ‘The wind will break him.’

“You must be Daniel!” Ran half exclaimed, grabbing Daniel by his shoulders and almost lifting him up. She was a whole head taller than Daniel, but also twice as wide, not entirely all muscle. Daniel would have been annoyed by the fact that he wasn’t even as thick as her when he had originally arrived, but considering she was also half muscle, and could apparently toss him around like he was a little doll, he made the wise decision to keep his mouth shut.

“Ran, don’t break him,” Kala said, patting the woman on the side, shaking her head.

“Oh! Sorry! I forgot you are not Malin!” Ran picked him up again in order to place him down.

“Yeah, thanks…” He eyed up their gear, each with bows, javelins, shields, blades, and another weapon of varying designs, from the longspear on Shiva’s back, the greatsword on Khal’s and Kala’s, and the giant maul upon Ran’s, which was almost as large as Daniel.

“You are to use magic?” Ran asked, noting the lack of most of his weaponry, other than the daggers.

“Yeah…”

“Hmm,” Ran replied, turning to look to Kala. “He will break from the wind.”

Kala smiled, shaking her head lightly. “You are meant to think it, not say it.”

“I do not like to think it, but I will say it.”

“Thanks…” Daniel frowned. ‘They look capable enough at least…’

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Hey, Bol,” Daniel called, reaching out to slap palms, his hand pulsing and throbbing.

“I did not expect to see you again,” Bol admitted, Khal talking with the Vice Commander, informing him of the situation.

“Yeah, we’re going thunderlion hunting.”

“You? You are too thin!” Bol turned towards his companions., shaking his head. “Ran, you are allowing this?”

“It was his idea.”

“Why?” Bol asked, eye glaring at the young man curiously.

“I need to learn to fight, and I’m hoping that hunting down some creatures will assist with everything, you know, meat, leather, claws, stuff.”

“Thunderlions are dangerous, friend. You should be wary, but since you have not taken Sal, I will consider your wisdom.”

“What’s wrong with Sal?”

“Perhaps I was too hasty in praising you.”

Daniel frowned.

The group settled within one of the many longhouses, Daniel checking his gear, only to recall…

Once dawn arrived, the group made their way eastward, Daniel’s pack four small bars of soap heavier. They continued along the hills, those which caused his calves to burn harder, his feet already aching and swelling. Thankfully the group took breaks often, finding small clearings, small outposts formed of half walls to protect from the elements and the dangers of the world.

“I honestly expected more trouble on the road.”

“Daniel…” Kala groaned, reaching up to rub her forehead.

“Oh.” Daniel smiled awkwardly. “My bad.”

“It is, mostly, safe on the road, but a mile or so away? We must be careful.” Shiva continued to stir the pot, the smell of the food filling the air. “When we eat, trouble may come.”

“Even a dog should eat in peace,” Daniel joked. As the soup was rationed out to each of them.

Tricks: Trick

“What did you do?” Ran asked.

“I just flavoured it,” Daniel replied. “There are some spice where I’m from, that I don’t remember the name of admittedly, that I enjoyed growing up. If you knew where I’m from, you’d understand how funny what I just said was.”

“Why?”

“The joke was that we did not know how to use spices, so…” Daniel just shook his head, smiling to himself. “There’s a lot of historical context, but it doesn’t matter.”

Shiva didn’t want to out his background any further, so dropped the discussion. “Will you flavour my stew?”

“Sure,” Daniel licked his lips, concentrating as he willed forth the gentle magic, flavouring his friend’s stew.

Tricks: Trick

“Ah,” Shiva replied, gasping slightly for air. “It is good. What is it?”

“It’s goat curry, or curry goat, depending on where you’re from, but it’s specifically from a particular region of a different country,” Daniel explained, deciding against speaking what his country did to that country, smiling innocently. “So, uh, this Hill Lord…”

“Hill Lord Thunder.”

“Is he a thunderlion?” Daniel joked.

“No, but he appears to be so.”

“Oh?”

The next evening, the group approached the town, built around the base of the hill, within the valleys, sprawling away from the tiered farms across the hills. Hundreds of tents scattered out, longhouses build between several batches, the large wooden fence enclosing the large town, which did not just house itself within the valley of the hills, but went even beyond.

It was, however, the large spire atop the hill, which loomed over the world, which caught Daniel’s attention.

As they approached the fence, the group stopped, various figures glancing their way, but they did not approach. After a few minutes, a large Malin, with long golden hair, like a mane, marched towards them, a long blade made of stone at his side. He seemed to be in his mid twenties or so.

The man narrowed his eyes, glaring towards Khal, before glancing towards the rest of the group. “Why do you bring an Engwyn into our town?”

“Why does your mother scream my name every night?” Khal replied. “He is no Engwyn.”

The man narrowed his eyes further, while a pair quickly rushed up beside him, having heard of visitors, and not just any visitors, but him.

“Watch your tongue, Khal, should you wish to keep it.”

“Who would take my tongue from me, but your mother?” Khal replied, and within an instant, the pair shifted into their rage, ready to snap at one another, though a hand upon their shoulders from their companions kept them in place.

“Be gone! You are not welcome here.”

“Whose rights are you to deny us?”

“Mine and my own.”

“We have not come for you, but for the Hill Lord.”

The large Malin’s muscles twitched, his face turning into a deeper scowl. He spat upon the floor, flexing, before marching off, waving his hand as if to dismiss them from his mind.

“How are you, Jak?” Khal asked, extending a hand to shake Jak’s forearm, a particular lionly Malin.

“What’s the deal between Khal and the guy?”

“They do not deal.”

“No, I mean, why do they dislike each other, or do they actually like each other?”

“Khal has stated his intention to become a Great Chief, and Rolo is a rival…”

“There is no reason between their hatred,” Kala admitted, shrugging her shoulders.

“Do you have to be careful too?”

“No?” Kala replied, raising a brow.

“Oh, so there’s no beef between you and-,” Daniel cleared his throat. “I mean, there’s no bad intentions, bad… feelings, between anyone else in the family?”

“No,” Kala replied, narrowing her eyes. “Their trouble is between them. We do not have the luxury to focus our displeasure to many.”

“Oh, yeah, fair.” As the group entered the open gateway, though they had been stopped by precedent, Daniel eyed up all the buildings. A field of tents, more than he expected, even from seeing the place from the distance. The longhouses imposed upon him, each waving a flag of yellow, three claw marks of black breaking up the yellow.

A thunderous roar caught Daniel’s attention, and the townfolk around, each who had eyed them up suspiciously, suddenly focused entirely upon the new group.