The world almost stood still.
The fusion of fire and air with the crisp smell of a roast.
Nothing made sense for a second in the world.
Penta had immobilized himself from a whip that was hurling at speeds people could only dream of.
It was vicious as it was quick.
Everyone was once again reminded of what a true ranked shaman can produce.
She was surprised by his stationary move but he was struck.
"..."
The world resumed and everyone who felt it were surprised but the ones who saw were even more impressed.
Penta was shot into a wall at the far end of the fighting ground.
Kaya and Sana were completely unable to keep up to what had happened.
Worry simply overcame them.
The world suddenly felt as though it was coming down and they were in a place so cruel to kill her honorable brother.
The Chief was impressed but simply began the welcome.
"As you can see, we allow such interactions. You are but students and will remain as such until you prove to be better."
He looked around with a steady but piercing gaze before continuing with a smile.
"You are welcomed into the tribe but we must work for our place in the tribe."
He suddenly shot out something that turned into 100 raging water bullets homing in on every single new student, one each regardless of distance.
They turned into small symbols that attached itself to their clothes. It looked like a cloud of sorts.
"You've each been given a tribal symbol. It indicates the degree to which you are allowed access into The Tribal Sanctuaries.
Now grow and learn children."
Kaya was standing still while Little Sana was on the verge of tears but they both stood still.
There was a force pushing down on every single student since the tribal symbols had attached to their clothes.
They all felt the pressure.
It was as though a powerful weight was holding them.
The Chief was just about to disappear but he suddenly heard a sound in the distance as he smiled ever so slightly as he left.
Penta had stood up despite the pressure.
He cracked the ground with his forceful push but suddenly the pressure had disappeared.
The chief had left them in awe.
Penta however felt very uncomfortable. That Natasha had made sure to hold back but the force behind it was not what he had expected. None of the other students could have survived a hit that hard.
'The chief knows as well.
I don't like old dudes standing from a high ceiling pissing on me and especially not with those two getting involved.' Penta was frustrated and he especially showed it on his face.
However, he soon regained his calm and reminded himself of what to do in the shortest time.
'Smile now ya prick. Just wait but now there's two on my list.' An abysmally dark purple roach slithered around his eyes as he thought.
Suddenly remembering where he was he ran back.
Having had already shown his speed. He simply shot as though a bullet would and appeared near his two little sisters that immediately had fallen down in tears.
"Hey, hey, I'm fine see?" He whispered gently as he pats their unknowing heads.
The two girls reacted in sobbing tears and jumped onto him crying.
Everyone nearby had been surprised to see him unharmed even after what they witnessed.
Natasha was also surprised but hid it well. She couldn't help but simply snort to make her presence known.
Penta had turned towards her and simply put on a nice face.
"Yes, miss. This was all a misunderstanding. See I was recently injured in the head and had been acting weird ever since. I am so happy you knocked that sense back." Penta smiled and had his hands in the air harmlessly.
His sisters quieted down embarrassed slightly but mostly glad their brother was okay.
The idiot trio stopped being surprised at his recovery. The man fought beasts for chow.
'Of course, he can handle that. Why am I not surprised.' The trio felt this weird resonance ever since having collectively been beat into porters.
They had started thinking in unison at times. When shock and similar experiences were nurturing this weird link unwillingly.
"It's good that you understand the rules. Now that you have all received your badges, follow the Tribal Guides."
Laurence had cut in at this time.
"You will be assigned to your respective sections in the tribe. You will be guided but not handheld. A tribe is a society and understand that it is also one where we live. Do not dirty it and you will grow."
His last line had almost sounded like a threat. Fine lines were drawn.
Evermore simply staid quiet while avoiding star gaze from Karu.
Griss to his aunt while Faren was invisible at this point.
Kazen finally cleared his throat and advised them but one thing.
"Spend your time to learn more than regret a failure."
The Elders each individually disappeared.
Penta believed that last line and so did a few who went from looking interested at Penta before forgetting him.
The guides had shown them where the new recruits stayed while handing them a map of their location that could appear from their wrist through a bracelet.
Their homes were nothing great. Four walls and an entrance. A little garden out back and a sturdy feeling to it all.
"Are these safe?" Penta asked Karu. Being of a slightly more protective nature since entering the tribe.
Nonetheless, once the Elders had disappeared Penta made sure to glare long enough for the three to follow. The guides didn't care and simply showed the way.
Karu nodded.
"They are encased by large protective totemic lines."
"Karu. I have absolutely no idea what that is." Penta suddenly felt intrigued.
"They are based on the foundation that you control your energies through symbolism and integrate them into the world." Karu replied.
However, Penta was surprised at the level of thoughts Karu was at.
"Wonderful news and where do you learn of these?" Penta asked slightly more eager.
"The Sanctuary of Knowledge of course."
"Getting in?"
"Simple, use tribe merits, and get what you want."
"Work for books!?"
"Basically."
"Freebies for newbies?"
"Absolutely forbidden."
"Wait what?" Penta was confused. Any establishment to get people hooked would always advertise the benefits. Like a store that sold weapons. Penta had long built the idea that a world of strength was ruled by weapon dealers.
People bought weapons just like people buy people.
Business, service, favor, secret, contact.
Only the currency was an interaction between people for an agreed goal.
"There is one rule in this entire tribe that is to be respected by all its members and staff. It is the only one that they share a common bond in. The Sanctuary of Knowledge is to be respected." Griss expressed this time.
Penta was even more curious now as to what was so great about that place.
"Show the way!" Penta said as he grabbed his sisters and simply cradled them as he started walking.
They saw this coming.
"You two rest, I'm sorry I made you. We can eat once we get there." Penta gently said with a genuine smile.
The trio was a little pissed at him being so nice to them.
Only for the simple reason that they were still being used as guides and not friends.
"What are you three looking stupid for? Let's get to eat, sooner we get there, the sooner we eat!" Penta said while walking ahead.
They realized one thing knowing him so long yet it was the one thing they unanimously admired in him. Penta only ate beast meat and a lot of it.
He ate beasts as though they were readily available grocery produce.
Their bodies loved them for it as they were usually charged heavily in the tribe and so rationed.
Hunting them is risky when you are weak. Accumulating power and knowledge leads to eventually growing from prey to predator. They all knew it.
Leaving Penta meant leaving a huge supply for them. He ate in pallets compared to them.
They went after they're guts and stomachs.
-Mirage Feast-
"You think he's caused any trouble since leaving?"
It was but the first day of his leave but Sasha and Celia were gossiping and the conversation turned towards him.
"You think he can stay "normal" for a second? I give him today to get into a mess before going to eat."
"That soon? Aren't you harsh on your little boyfriend." Sasha mumbled but Celia clearly heard.
"The hell you mean?" Celia raised her fist with some menacing eyes before sighing.
"He's not my little boyfriend but he is little." Celia said but Sasha heard otherwise.
"You went that far!? Was it that disappointing?" She gasped and intrigued.
"What!? No! I wouldn't!" Celia said getting mad before explaining.
"He is way younger than me! He also calls himself one years old? You think he is okay?" Celia cried out.
"Wait you mean literally thinks he is one?" Sasha couldn't believe it.
"Isn't he crazy! I mean why would we be together. He has so many reasons to leave." Celia said but her voice did not say those words how she pretended to feel.
Sasha caught on yet only smiled while Celia ran away embarrassed.
"A delusional one year old? Or was he messing with her. Or is she crazy?" Sasha's rambling's were off the chart as she mumbled out her thoughts. She took Celia's words very seriously.
-Santuary of Knowledge.-
A beautiful portrait was painted on the earth.
An archaic yet well-maintained building stood with its immense doors.
It had archways as though each one was a gate to another world.
It smelled of an odor like that of a memory of smell rather than its smell.
"This is beautiful." Kaya saw her world change from meeting this building.
The majesty was incredible to her while Sana was excited about what was inside.
Penta stared at it.
"How do you gain merits?" He asked.
"You gain achievements from doing tasks depending on the way you handle it. You exchange those and you gain merits."
"Merits like?"
"Beginner level access to the tribal encyclopedia."
Penta was surprised at the words used and couldn't understand it as it was his first time hearing it.
"Hmmm. Are there any merits for killing beasts?" Penta grinned and asked.
The trio looked at him and simply pointed towards an office like structure.
The tribe to him so far seemed farfetched.
It didn't have that rustic feeling nor a feeling of pure discrimination. It had the likeness and feel to a city. School, housing, offices.
It had many establishments and it thrived from it. This was the very basic foundation of a city but a city nurturing elites or at least compared to the common man.
Penta couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.
He started liking his trio of knowledge and backup porters.
"Off we go then. Let's eat soon!" Penta smiled and said while they went off into this city-like tribe containing the unknown and their mystery.