Chapter 47 - Welcome To The J—Desert!

Jiran dreamed of flying through the sky over a forested valley that housed a strange civilization. They sang to him as he flew, waving their arms. Or were those branches? The fluttering of a question in his consciousness pulled him to the ground where soft dirt swallowed him. New sensations grabbed at his mind as his body demanded he wake.

Nope. Five more minutes. Ugh, why am I so hot? And my mouth is dry.

Sweat coated his body to the extent that even his bedroll was soaked. He ran his dry tongue across the inside of his mouth in a futile effort to draw out some saliva. His eyes fluttered open to see the thick canvas roof of his tent. Light pounded into the heavy material, brightening the space more than usual. He sniffed the air, detecting a clean, earthy aroma devoid of a single hint of the salty sea.

A Shaping doused him from head to toe in cool water eliciting a sigh of relief. He brought his hand to his mouth and poured water down his throat until his thirst was satiated.

That’s better.

The air vibrated imperceptibly and suddenly Lenton was beside him. He sat in the air with a stack of books beside him—one in his hands. He wore a light outfit that looked suited to the unusual heat. After reading a few more lines, he slammed the book shut and it floated to sit atop the stack.

“About damn time,” Lenton’s sharp words snapped Jiran from his dreamlike state. Memories flooded into his mind bringing with them a plethora of questions.

“Master Filibree. What happened? Who was that huge man? Why did you put me to sleep?” Lenton sighed, not immediately answering his questions. When he finally spoke, there was a weight to his words that was in opposition to his typical, flippant demeanor.

“That man, was Emperor Dominus, the Devourer and somehow, you played a pivotal role in rescuing the children he was looking for while uncovering an illegal mining operation. You also managed to destroy a priceless obfuscation formation and caught the attention of one of the three people in the entire empire I can’t protect you from!” Lenton closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths until he was back in control of himself.

“On the bright side, I believe I have discovered the nature of your curse,” Jiran’s attention was suddenly sharper than ever before as he stared hungrily at his mentor.

“I’ll not be telling you, fool boy. Figure it out for yourself.”

What?! Stingy! Fine, I’m sure if I think about it hard enough I can figure it out.

“Now that Dominus is interested in you, there is almost nothing I can do to keep him from seizing you.”

Jiran gulped as he pictured that flying disaster grabbing him by his head and whisking him away while everyone watched, helpless to resist.

“Such an outcome is unacceptable since you have yet to assist me in anything worthwhile. Hence, I will need to call in a favor to keep him off our backs. We will remain here. Specifically, you will remain here and stay out of trouble until our envoy arrives,” The steel in his voice brooked no argument and the severity of the situation caused Jiran to nod reluctantly.

“Yes, Master Filibree,” Jiran’s eyes flew open in sudden panic as he realized being stuck in the camp would turn deadly in just a few short days. “May I still leave to hunt?”

“Yes-yes fear not. I’ll not stand between you and your bloodlust,” Lenton fanned his hand gently back and forth while his eyes rolled.

I wish I could tell him. Sure, fighting is exhilarating but it’s not like I enjoy killing so much I would throw myself at beasts two tiers above me time and again just for a little rush. Oh yeah, killing. I should probably tell him about that.

“I killed people,” Jiran’s eyes fell to the floor as he waited for any potential recrimination. He didn’t feel guilty in any way for killing those slavers. It was the memories from another world that told him killing humans was unforgivable and he had no idea how Lenton would react.

“Don’t be daft,” Lenton’s voice turned kind and understanding while still holding the undertones of flinty resolve.

“Madra is not a kind or forgiving mother. She challenges us all and takes from any who hesitate to protect what is theirs. Those who would stab their fellows in the back while they fend off the threats Madra pushes upon us are no more than beasts wearing the skin of a human. History has taught us to give them no quarter, as a betrayal during a beast siege often leads to the death of thousands. When you find the vile and the wicked, strike them down without remorse lest they doom us all.”

That’s definitely one way to look at it. Those men were evil. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if I was the only thing standing between a beast and a village. They would strike and then laugh while everyone I protected was butchered.

Jiran clenched his fist, feeling deep down that Lenton’s words were right. In a world like Madra, there was no room for prisons and cushy life sentences. The idea of a life sentence triggered a question that demanded an answer. “How did you convince the emperor not to take me?”

“Simple, I ran! He was more interested in returning those… kids to safety. I know that crafty bastard well enough though. Once he puts the pieces together and realizes how large a role you played, he’ll be back for you. Luckily, whatever you did to destroy the formation appeared like it was done by an entire host of high tier individuals. The mana signatures were quite varied.”

“Mana signatures?”

Lenton tsked while shaking his head. “It’s quite refreshing to have a mystery to solve, isn’t it? Fathers above know you’ve given me enough of them lately,” His words may have sounded harsh but Jiran spotted the gleam of excitement in the old man’s eyes.

He’s actually excited by that. Maybe once I spend a thousand years, or however old he is, learning, then every little unsolved question will become a gem to me too.

Jiran noticed Lenton fingering the corner of one of his books and knew his time was running short.

Quickly, before he leaves.

“I got some kind of ability called Active Dual Mind, it’s not a skill or technique. Do you know anything about it or why I would have gotten it?”

“That is a common acclamation granted by the Voice to those who succeed in particularly difficult tasks. Congratulations,” Lenton said with a dry tone. “That’s enough questions for today. Do not fool yourself into believing the situation behind us. You will be paying the price for your exploits one way or another. Perhaps in the future, you will consider the wider implications of your actions before you enact them.”

Lenton vanished, leaving Jiran alone to consider the significance of his words.

All this because of the stupid timer. It all goes back to that crab on the beach. I thought I was getting my revenge but it turns out the damn crab got the last laugh. Who knows, maybe it’s all related to my curse. Lenton hinted as much. Maybe no matter what I do, trouble will come and find me. No use thinking like that. Time to take a look at something more positive.

Molding + 3

True Origin of Fire + 3

True Origin of Water + 2

True Origin of Wind + 2

Gas Manipulation + 1

Mana Siphon + 9

NAME: Jiran of Feylon

RACE: Human

AGE: 8

WEIGHT: 112.51 kg > 120.83 kg

STATUS: Active Dual Mind / Manaseed

TIMER: 83:17:24

TIER: 2

GROWTH: 109.04 %

MANA: 2.5

CONCENTRATION: 2.5

STRENGTH: 40.3 > 41.8

AGILITY: 40.3 > 41.8

ENDURANCE: 40.3 > 41.8

DURABILITY: 40.3 > 41.8

WISDOM: 40.3 > 41.8

INTELLIGENCE: 40.3 > 41.8

SKILLS:

Molding - Mana Expansion lvl 67 > 73

Shaping lvl 36 > 47

TECHNIQUES:

Forcing lvl 35 > 36

Coating - Adaptive Elemental Aegis lvl 46 > 50

Revelation lvl 1

True Origin of Fire lvl 11 > 17

True Origin of Lightning lvl 20 > 21

True Origin of Ice lvl 16 > 18

True Origin of Water lvl 1 > 3

True Origin of Wind lvl 1 > 3

Gas Manipulation lvl 11 > 12

Acid Manipulation lvl 1

Metal Manipulation lvl 6

Light Manipulation lvl 10 > 12

Restoration lvl 14 > 15

Mana Siphon lvl 5 > 16

OTHER:

UNIQUE - Foresight

Woah, is that another acclamation? Manaseed? I wonder what it does. Hmm, no details when I focus on it. Dang, I wish I would have seen that earlier so I could ask him about it.

So many other little changes. Sure feels nice to know all my efforts are being rewarded. One hundred and twenty kilograms… that’s nearly two hundred and sixty pounds! If I get much heavier, how am I going to stop myself from sinking into the ground?

It's so cool that my increased strength, endurance, and durability leave me feeling even lighter than I used to, despite how heavy I am now. I’m so close to fifty in shaping too! I need to make that my top priority, I can’t wait to see what subskill options I get.

Jiran felt a pulse of anticipation burn through him at the idea of pushing his skills and techniques further. Since he was going to be stuck in camp for a while, what better time than now to work on all the magic he’d been unable to play with in the last few days. He hopped to his feet and they instantly sank a couple centimeters into the soft, granular ground beneath the canvas floor. He flexed his toes and felt fine grains of sand shifting under the fabric.

Are we on the beach?

Jiran dressed in the lightest clothes he could find in his bag from the seamstress and then opened his tent flap and walked outside. He immediately stopped and looked at the landscape with his jaw hanging open.

W-when did we travel to a desert?!

Jiran stumbled forward with squinted eyes and scanned their new environment, shaking his head. Small bushes dotted the landscape and far in the distance—beyond rising dunes, were low, rocky hills. The suns beat down upon the ground mercilessly leaving behind a dry heat that scorched his nostrils with each breath. His skin already tingled from the few seconds of exposure.

Samris waved to him from a familiar table full of foodstuffs and Jiran headed his direction in a daze. A small fruit sailed through the air and he nimbly snatched it. His stomach grumbled as soon as the piletear was grasped in his hand. He wasted no time taking a large bite. Sweet juices packed with flavor and density flowed across his taste buds.

He closed his eyes and moaned. A gentle breeze shifted his hair as the desert heat washed over him.

This place isn’t so bad.

He came out of his moment of bliss to see Samris walking away from the camp. He motioned Jiran to follow him and together they walked a good distance before Samris began to speak in his low whisper.

“You’ve had an exciting week,” Jiran couldn’t help but release a bark of laughter at Samris’s raised eyebrows and slight grin.

“That’s for sure! The plains full of tier four beasts, working on Lenton’s cube, an underground cave system, and then straight into slavery and a bandit warlord. I even met an emperor!” Jiran took a moment to let all the craziness sink in before asking a question of his own. “How’s Niya doing?”

“She’s not advancing as quickly as you did. That’s no surprise as her heart does not lay upon the battlefield. However, she is determined and stubborn. Those qualities are pulling her forward well enough,” They walked for several minutes in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

“Did you want to talk to me about something?” Jiran wondered.

Samris let out a long sigh before squaring his shoulders.

“Our paths will diverge soon. You are destined for a place I do not belong. Perhaps, when you are done in Skorahda, we will meet again.”

“Skorahda? Isn’t that the capital of The Mashraha metropole? Is that where we are, the Mashraha desert?” Jiran’s questions were met with a quick nod that sent Samris’s long hair fluttering in the warm wind.

Incredible. I’m going to get to explore a desert. A magical desert! I bet there’s ancient ruins buried beneath the sand. Maybe crystals packed with a new kind of density. Or even talking beasts! Wait! Focus, Jiran. Play with magic first then explore the desert. One thing at a time. Wait, paths diverging? Is Samris leaving?

“You really won’t join us if we go to the capital?”

“I cannot.” Jiran waited but Samris failed to divulge any further details.

Is he not allowed in cities because of how much damage his voice could cause? That’s messed up. Understandable, but still. No wonder he calls it a curse.

“Are you going back to Feylon then?”

“That is my home now. I will defend her and inform your uncle of Niya’s whereabouts. Protect your cousin well, Jiran. A man without a family is but a shell, destined to crack upon the rocks of Madra’s peaks.”

This is so wrong. I’ve got to do something about this. Samris should be allowed to go anywhere he wants. The way he said that, it’s like he’s not allowed to see his own family. Is that really the case? All because of his curse?

“Thank you, Samris. You’ve done so much for me and now for Niya too,” Jiran’s feelings of gratitude bubbled to the surface and he bowed before the man who had helped his journey begin.

I’d be dead if I never met him. I’ll pay him back by discovering a cure for his curse. I swear it. Whatever it takes. I’ll help him.

A hand on his shoulder stood Jiran upright. They shared a look that spoke more than words ever could before they walked back to camp in silence. Jiran found Niya laying in the sand under the shade of her tent. He prodded her with his foot and she groaned while holding her side.

One of her eyes peeled open and the second she realized it was him standing above her, she shot to her knees and grasped at his shirt. She looked up at him with a scrunched frown. Her hair was a matted, greasy mess and sand had wormed its way into every crack and crevice of her skin. Tears streamed down her cheeks creating little rivers in the dirt caked to them.

“Jiran, please. You have to help me! I’m so dirty, please make another bath. I’ll do anything you say,” He waited with a stony glare just long enough for despair to droop her head.

“Sure, a bath sounds nice,” Her face snapped up and she leaped to her feet and pumped her fists in the air displaying just how much of a dramatic act her begging had been. Jiran chuckled and gave her a playful push—enjoying her typical antics. He picked a spot nearby and dug out the sand before packing the area down and flooding it with cool water.

With a shared laugh they scrambled to be the first to jump in. A gasp escaped Jiran as cold water seized his lungs. Niya dove under, coming up a second later with a sloppy grin. “Ahhh, oh my voice, this is so amazing. Samris has beast blood in him, I swear. How can anyone be so cruel to a child without ever speaking a word?”

“I’m glad you two are getting along so well.”

“Getting along?! Did you hear anything I just said?”

Jiran just chuckled before changing the subject. “How’s your molding progressing?”

Niya grumbled something that he couldn’t quite catch. He raised his eyebrows and gave her a hard stare. “Don’t make me drain this tub.”

“Rude! It’s already level thirty-seven. I’m doing just fine, thank you very much!” A bang echoed through the camp and Jiran craned his neck to see Samris picking up a platter of food that had spilled across the table.

Odd, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drop anything before.

He turned back to Niya and gave her a big grin. “That’s really good progress! What are you stuck on?”

“What makes you think I’m stuck?”

He only had to raise a single eyebrow for her to relent with a snort.

“I don’t know why I’m stuck. If I knew that, I wouldn’t be stuck!”

“Fair point. Have you unlocked forcing yet?”

“Yes, I don’t like it though. It hurts.” Niya pursed her lips in a perfect display of childish petulance.

She needs to get the last few levels in molding to unlock her subskill. I know exactly how to motivate her.

“Think of it as a good opportunity to learn how to heal yourself with mana.”

Her eyes lit up like First Mother rising in the sky.

“How does that work?”

“Until you have shaping at tier two, your only option, that I know of, is to hold mana inside an injury and it will heal more rapidly. Make sure you’re not using the automated version of molding whenever possible as that really doesn’t teach you anything useful.”

Jiran heard another bang and looked over to see Samris had dropped the same platter again.

Is he sick or something? Can higher tier people even get sick?

“Anyways, Use forcing on your bones in small bursts. Then use your mana to heal the damage.” Jiran continued.

“Why on the bones?”

“Because they can handle the abuse better than anything else inside your body.”

Her jaw dropped into a perfect O-shape. After several seconds, she recovered and snapped her mouth shut before dropping her head completely under the water to hide. When she came up for air, Jiran struck the final blow.

“Let’s spar tomorrow! I can’t wait to see what you’ve learned from Samris so far.”

“Sure…” She replied while her eyes avoided his like her life depended on it.

“Great! I’m looking forward to it. Well, I’m going to get some more food and then practice shaping. Enjoy the bath.”

“Thanks,” She mumbled quietly as he left.

Food, then it’s time to crack that cube wide open. Today is the day I solve it. I can feel it.