My first battle came when we were passing through a passage between two platforms.
I was listening to Meris's lectures when someone shouted.
Over the rock platforms, there were lizard gigants that came rushing at the first group.
"Attack!"
The archers couldn't attack them while they were on the walls.
Those who have prana started chanting spells.
The reckless ones wanted to take out a lot of them so they had the side of the rock wall collapse.
I brought out the sword that I carried just in case, but I covered the rear with Meris with a waterball.
The spell materializes a mass of water and shooting it at a fast speed.
Earth spells were dangerous to use in this kind of area so we decided on switching between wind cutter and waterball spells since they would disperse once they hit the target. Flame spells could burn the grass and since it seems like it had not rained. I was mindful enough to do that. Earth spells could make the rocks fall down.
When faced with the prospect of death and danger. Some people didn't think at all.
If this was just me without the experiences of the wraith. I would have fired a spell without watching out for what's around me.
Meris took down five lizards while I shot down two.
The rest took care of them the moment they were close enough for the martial masters to attack them in close range. Some of the lizards however caught up and devoured travelers. The rest who were unlucky got hit by the falling lizards.
I had the prana so I healed those who got wounded while earning some aurums on the side.
The caravan didn't stay in the passage. Those that died had their belongings taken by their party. The rest were cremated and were placed to the side. It was best that there would be no bones left since someone might make an army of the dead.
We left the passage and entered the lowlands again. Most of the caravan was tired of the fighting.
Recuperating our losses was something that we need to do before we continue traveling.
The group decided on making a wagon fort with most of the merchant caravan in the middle of the said fort.
The rest were on the side where they set up their tents. The rest of the mercenaries stayed away as well.
Everyone had a circle and we were on the side of the could-chant.
"I was supposed to be a martial master."
"Don't bother, you are more interested in the control of prana anyways."
I couldn't argue with that.
It came to me that chasing the path of the martial masters was not meant for me.
The abilities that I have as someone in the six-layer power martial master was not mine but the wraith.
Even then I was always curious about how to control prana.
I have such a large reservoir, but it seems that I might as well have wasted it.
It's only because of the wraith that I could somehow have a bit of skill now.
I was in an advanced layer of prana.
Those who have bloomed could reach the advanced layer as long as they worked hard.
There are factors such as how much prana one could have inside the body.
Meris was terrifying that she was above me in the layer of prana. Not to mention that according to her she was already reaching the sixth layer of power.
A sixth-layered mage was a terrible opponent.
I only have the physique of a sixth-layer martial master and the skills of the wraith.
I am stuck on this physique, but there are no rules stating that mages can be weak.
If they cover themselves with a thick barrier of prana.
If they could rain down hellfire on the field.
What could someone with that physique do?
Martial masters could cover themselves by using the six layers as their skin.
But those who have command of prana can disturb them.
Of course, to fight someone who has mastered a style with that kind of layer of power is dangerous.
Those who have mana are often called the dragons of the field.
Martial Masters, those who have reached a certain status called Slayers in the field. They slay monsters, and their greatest glory is to slay a dragon. And there are only a few Dragons in the world that are considered monsters.
Dragons… are wise and old. I wonder how many are still alive today?
Ah, there was that red dragon that I heard appear.
"Imagining things again?"
"Nothing like that. By the way Meris, how was my chanting?"
"Terrible. You have no talent."
I felt like I was bricked for a moment.
"For serious though."
"I understand why you want to go to the academy to learn now," she said while her eyes were on a book. She couldn't even care about the blade of grass on the nose's bridge. "Your control over your control really is terrible. You know the basics but all you do is chant the words and let the words of power do it for you."
"I am…not that old and as talented as you."
"My people usually call me young."
"Beautiful, I understand, but Meris you really easily let go of your mask."
"It came to me that you have a bastardly side on you, Kiran. Which made me understand that you cannot even take your eyes on someone's chest… Good gracious, you really are lost. It is good that you realize your mistake at such a young age!"
"Yes, yes, I did that's why I ask you to forgive me for my lecherous gaze, teacher."
"Hmm, a teacher, I like the sound of that, Kiran. Call me that now, at least that would make me willing to teach you in my free time."
My habits do not die-hard. I had such thoughts when I unknowingly travel my gaze to Meris. As I thought of my hard-to-kill habits, I saw a fellow that had been following the same route.
"Bren Wido, you doing okay?"
"Tough luck, but I haven't hit any shit of that. So Meris, you okay if I sit here?"
"Fine."
I looked at the two of them.
"You two know each other?"
"Been fighting with Meris for a few years. I might not have the ears, but Meris and I were taught from the same folks."
"Childhood friends then?"
Meris stuck her tongue out. "That's right. Still, don't be fooled by Bred, he's as old as me."
"You two have a thing before?"
Bren and Meris looked at me as if I was some bug they found on the dirt.
"Meris…she's a good friend but not one I'd sleep with. She has the taste of royals, clinging to that idea that she'll meet a—"
"Continue those words and I'll burn that coat of yours, Bren."
Bren lifted his hands. "Anyway, small world this is, so do you want to travel?"
Meris eyed them. "Your group died?"
"Told that they should listen to me. I haven't lived long enough to understand how the world works."
"Ignorant till the end, eh?"
"I take that as a yes then."
Bren sat down with us. I noticed that he only carries a sleeping bag unlike us who were packed.
"Don't worry about him, he's one of those who sleep without a tent."
"Oh, I see."
"I heard you talking that you'll go to the Academy. Going to try and knock on that six-layer?"
"Yeah."
"And you friend, you're already at the sixth-layer, eh?"
Meris stared alongside Bren. I calmed my mind and answered. "My physique is strange, and I think you can see why."
"Your body's feeding on your prana. That's not something the Academy can deal with. It gives you strength in exchange for the large reservoir of prana that you have. No wonder Meris wanted to accompany you."
"Why didn't you?"
"This is Meris," Bren laughed. "I'd pity anyone who tries to attack her. But hmm, you do have quite a stir in your soul, that is a terrible curse there friend, a great price that comes with a great gift. You won't have the chance to knock on the heroic layer of power."
The seventh layer, the layer of power that is close to God.
The layer where those Slayers, Dragons, and the mythical ones stand.
I had no intention of ever approaching that layer anyway.
"I know."
"Well, if you are looking to protect yourself, I understand. But if you are just trying to refine your control of prana and the life force so you attend the Academy then it is viable."
"Do you think that I can do it?"
"Why not? Your physique is already enough. But I can't see you going against those who have mastered the Flow, the Strafe, and the Volatile. Hmm, you are trained, but you are lacking in some ways. So it's better if you study how to control your prana wisely."
I felt like I was being stripped naked by every word that he says.
Those that are long-lived were truly wise.
"Now it is just creepy how you can see through me."
"Didn't mean nothing to it, even Meris didn't stop me."
"I have no place to stop you. It's better that he knows it."
"See?" Bren tiredly smiles. "Anyway, I won't pry further on your condition. It's nothing special compared to some of the people of the world lately."
"How so?"
Bren sat cross-legged. He told me of what he heard lately.
They have been calling the people, no, the generation as the generation of wonder for their strange abilities and talents. It was a supernatural power that only belongs to them. Some have the bodies of a monster, some are born with such an eccentric power that makes them dangerous.
"Ah, that reminds me, when I was in Archduchy, I heard that the Iron Woman had given birth. She's one of those who have greater control over frost and wind that it's like she was meant for it. A shame that she has been tainted by someone who is lesser than her. Don't you agree?"
I nodded. "Yes, a woman like her should have not done something like that, even for money. Then again, she does care for the child that she had given birth to. A strange one, then again, she is one of the eccentrics of this generation."
"She knows her, huh. Never thought I'd hear her name here."
"She's known as a great warrior over the Empire. She is part of the generation of wonders. She could have become Queen, Empress, but of all the people that she decided. It had to be the Archduke of Ortiz."
I forced her into that. I got hold of what she was weak against, made use of a binding contract to sleep with the so-called woman of Iron that everyone wanted. All for the sake of having my ego boosted and my junk wet. Then again, I think she wanted to believe that I was not the trash that she wanted to see. I was useful to her in the end, at least she could command power and help her family at the same time. It was a marriage of convenience, a marriage that she thought could not care less until Roselia was born. If this was before, I would have done everything to use Roselia for my own selfish means.
But I do not have the heart to do that.
Is pressing forward, abandoning my name, and letting go really running away?
Perhaps, but hearing it from Bren, and how he says my title with such disgust made it clear how awful I was.
It made me afraid knowing that there might be people who could recognize me.
Then again, there are only a few who knows what I looked like.
Ten years is a long time.
Time flew so fast that I have no one.
I have nothing left other than this new name and new life.
"You look like ate shit."
"Ah, well, just a shame that a fine woman like that has to sleep with a piece of shit."
"Hmm, who knows what really happens?" Bren said. "It's not my business anyhow."
I nodded stiffly. There was a great wind that came from the west.
I wonder how what we will meet in this journey?