Elevation of Mana Chapter 52 Trial

I awoke well before dawn, and I was not alone.  My whole family was there, all of us ready for the coming day.  By a few small magical lights things were checked and rechecked, everything needed to be right, needed to be ready for my travels.

Mother and Auntie Atie sat behind me, each was braiding my hair, putting bead after bead into it.  It wasn't lost on me that the ones they were using were the best we had.  Normally we held back on what wealth we'd share, but it seemed if I was going to go, I was going to go with a fortune on my head.  Copper cast trinkets joined colored ones of every variety my aunt knew how to make, most hidden in the layers between so that nobody would know just what I had, a few cheaper ones on the outside.

As the sky began to lighten my father picked up the rolled bag, and we all rose.  The goodbyes were long, and tearful, but there was a limit on time, one that approached by the minute.  Eventually I was released from hugs and imprecations to be safe, and we walked out of the living home we shared.

Elaya met us at the exit to the village, noticeably not alone.

“I do not hate you Elian, but this must be,” she said.

“I don't particularly like you Elaya, and I know,” I responded.

“If you return it will be to a fight, one that will only end when one of us falls,” she warned.

“Don't worry Elaya, I don't intend such a thing.”

“Good luck,”

“And you,” and with that I left.

My father was coming along too for a bit, and had even produced a nice spear for me, one from the shop he'd added a few decorations to while I'd not been looking.  It occurred to me that he might have been up all night working on it, and I could only smile in thanks.

As we passed through the valley I saw the destruction the battle between Rindal and I had wrought.  Soon the rains would come again and the land would heal, but for now there were still small plums of smoke.  Entire sections of forest were gone, hunting grounds destroyed.  Now it was clear why Elaya decided I had to go, and I couldn't truly blame her for it.

I stood at the lip of the valley, prepared to go as I looked out over what had happened.  It saddened me, but one day I might make it better, one day I might get to sit with my family once more in our home.

As I contemplated several shapes flitted out of the woods.  Larus was there, as was Ninden, so were a few men I didn't know too well, but soon realized were the fathers of the boys who'd supported me.  All wore half-cocked grins.

“Something happening?”  I asked.

“Well, we can't let a boy leave our village alone, certainly you must be a man before that can happen,” Larus said with a booming guffaw.

“The elder will be pissed,” I said, laughing.

“Pah on her,” Ninden said.

“Pah on her,” I agreed.

Paints were smeared on me in the traditional way and our hunt began.  We left the valley, and though normally I wouldn't be carrying so much on my back it slowed us down only a little.  As we ran through  the hills and across the animal paths bits of advice were whispered to me.

“Always keep your word,” one man said in a low tone.

“Defend your people,” Larus advised as we knelt by a stream.  “Though you already know that.”

“Do not forget your family, or your wife,” father told me, as we lay under the stars on the first night.  “They will need you.”

The second day we found tracks, massive ones.  Each of us employed our skills, but I was to lead, and lead I did, following after the large paw-prints in the mud.  Here and there it seemed we might lose it, but the trail always picked back up.

As the day wore on the trail got clearer and clearer, and by high noon we'd finally found it.

I suspected what it was from the first few prints, but there really was no way to confirm until we were upon it.  The bear was just like the one that had attacked the gathering group when I was little, huge, spiked, and angry as it chewed into a deer carcass.

Against another like this I'd first had to reveal my magic, but this time we were the attackers.  Our group split and surrounded.  I led with bolts of potent force, slamming against the defenses of the monster as my fellows looked for an opening.  Kinetic force slammed into the bear, it taking moments more than it needed to bring up its magical defenses.

It roared and turned, charging only to be met with thrown spears from the sides.  Blades of copper on wooden staves slammed into the beast's flanks, and it soon realized that it had been cornered.  It fought, as all things at risk of death do, but bit by bit we weakened it, running it around like any other beast.

Once it was protecting itself from magic I moved to boulders and hunks of dirt ripped up from below, hurling them with heavy force one by one at the magical beast.  The fight was long, and it was hard, but strikes to the legs, to the back, to all the weakest places on its body bled it, and soon it fell wheezing.

All the men looked at me, all of us covered in sweat, and I approached, taking the spear my father had made and carefully angling it before thrusting into the animals chest, aiming for the heart, lungs, and all the vital bit it would need to live.  With a twist I pulled it away, spraying myself with crimson.

There was a cheer, and congratulations all around.  Soon the beast was slaughtered and cooked over a small fire, the choicest bits handed over to me.  As the sun set we all danced, moving around the small fire by ourselves rather than the one in the village, and then we rested, the ritual finally done.

When I awoke the next morning all but my father were gone, along with the beast.  If not for the ashes in the fire, and trampled earth, no sign of it would have appeared.  That was all fine and good.

Slowly that morning we walked to the path that would lead me to the next village over, the one where we got our copper.  There was no talking, no words, just the peaceful sound of our feet on the floor of the jungle.

When I got to the path, now a proper road he stopped, looking over to me.  “Son, I'm proud of you,”

I gave him one final hug, answering in my own way.  “I love you too.  Until we meet again.”

We split there, he heading home and me heading outwards.  Time was not my friend, and sleeping outside and alone was not something I desired to do, so I ran, ran along the twisting road that had grown ever wider over the years, ran from the place I'd been born.  I ran not away, but towards whatever would come next, for this world was still so young, and with a gentle push we could make it so much better for everyone.