As usual, Jason's mother was watching out for their return. When she saw the group returning she rushed to Jason, completely ignoring the others.
"You are hurt! Let me see. Are you okay?" Amelina said hurriedly.
With all that had happened Jason had completely forgotten about the wounds he had received. In the time it had taken to get back, they had mostly healed up. However, the red stains across the back of his shirt still remained and made for a worrying sight
"I am fine mum. I put a potion on them and they are all healed up."
"Where have you been? what caused this?" She looked at the two hooded figures with them with a threatening glance.
"Hello, I am Ryanna and this is Helena. We were captured by goblins but your son and husband saved us. We are extremely grateful to them both." Ryanna said in her courteous tone.
"A goblin camp! Are you serious Garion? You let Jason attack a goblin camp!"
Garion attempted to calm his enraged wife but it wasn't very successful.
As his mother berated Garion Ryanna asked Jason "Is there anything I can say to help?"
"No it will be fine, just leave them be."
After a while, Amelina calmed down and they all sat down around the campfire. The driver was currently tending to the horses so wasn't around. Amelina had prepared some food for their return but with extra guests, she started cooking up more.
Both Ryanna and Helena ate in silence. Jason understood that after everything that happened they weren't in the mood to talk much. After they had eaten they moved a little further away to sleep. Amelina offered up her tent but they refused. It was clear they still felt a little wary.
After they went off, Garion was left alone to clean up, a task he had been given as a punishment by Amelina. This left Jason alone with his mother so he asked her what had been on his mind.
"Mum they are beastmen."
"Yes I know your father told me."
"Why is that a problem?"
"Well that means they are probably from the Anark Dominion, the nation of beastmen. The Anark Dominion is at war with the Kingdom of Ovar."
"So we are helping enemies of the kingdom."
"Possibly yes. But even if they are what do you think we should do Jason?" His mother said staring deeply into Jason's eyes.
Jason thought of the situation that he had found them in, the horrible events that had led to them and the potential future they must have feared had Jason not found them.
"I think even if they are we should help them."
"Hmmm, a naïve and ignorant answer." She said looking away, Jason was a little hurt by her words. "But the same one your father and I would give." She said looking at him again.
"Do you know what separates monsters from everything else?" Amelina said with an intense look on her face.
"They don't have souls, right?"
"Yes, that is true. They don't have souls, but why should that matter? I think what really separates them is they don't show any compassion. They don't know how to show kindness to the weak or how to act with selflessness. The terrifying thing is that you will find many in this world who do have a soul and yet share those same characteristics. Just because they have a soul, does that make them any less of a monster? Hate and violence have their place but I hope that you can always remember what separates you from a monster."
Jason mulled over what she had said. While for the most part, he understood what she was saying. He had to admit he didn't fully grasp it. "I will try mum," Jason said as he did he saw his father out of the corner of his eye watching their conversation.
"Good, that's all I can ask." His mother replied.
Jason was tired from the trip to the forest and headed to bed fairly early that evening. As he lay in bed he thought of all of the things he had learnt that day. He knew they were all things he would carry with him as long as he lived.
The next morning Jason was up early, even before his mother and father. With his wounds now fully healed, he decided after all he had seen he needed to get stronger. Not wanting to waste any time in that pursuit he began practicing with his sword. Without his father, he wouldn't have had a chance to help Ryanna and Helena. He knew one day he might have to act alone.
From his experience facing multiple goblins at once, he knew that he needed to learn how to fight smarter. If he was going to face multiple enemies at once he would have to attack and move at the same time. There weren't huge improvements he could make on his own in that regard, but that wouldn't stop him from trying. He was fully focused on his swordplay when he heard someone approaching him from behind. He turned to find it was Ryanna.
"You are very good and from the looks of it you are younger than me," Ryanna said.
"I'm getting close to my 13th birthday."
"I turned 15 a few days ago myself."
"I know," Jason said.
"Oh yes, Helena told me that you can see into our statuses as a Follower."
"Yes, I'd rather not talk too much about that. If you could keep that secret I would appreciate it."
"Don't worry I won't ask or tell. You are not alone in trying to avoid the attention of the Emperor." Jason nodded at her words. Even on his first departure from the village, he could already feel how far the Emperor's dark shadow stretched across the continent.
"I'm really am sorry about everything that happened." Jason let out what he had been feeling since the first moment he had met the girl, despite his words being so clumsy.
In response, she only nodded her head. An awkward silence followed before she spoke. "One of our companions used to teach me how to use the sword too. Sadly I'm not any good at it. In fact, I'm not very good with any weapons. I am somewhat of a disappointment.
"Oh, I'm sure you are good at something you just need to find it."
"Hahahha, thanks that's kind of you to say, but I have spent a great deal of time training with little to show for it," She said. Jason could believe it, to be level 40 at her age would require a lot of effort. She didn't have the fortune of having a 25% boost after all and it was doubly difficult if she wasn't any good with weapons.
As he thought about it, the conversation he had with his mother the previous night came to mind. He wasn't sure if it was the best thing to do but for some reason, he felt it was right, so he didn't stop himself. "Would you let me hold your hand?"
Ryanna's face went a little red and she seemed taken aback by Jason's words. He quickly realised where her confusion stemmed from.
"Hahahaha I didn't mean it that way. I think I can help you if you will let me."
She coughed slightly clearly embarrassed of her own thoughts, which only made Jason laugh more it was very different from the regal front she usually had. "Yes as my saviour I am indebted to you and I will of course trust you." She said hurriedly throwing her words out.
Jason reached out and took her hand as he did he used his [Vision of Rylax] skill.
Name: Ryanna Silvermane
Age: 15
Race: Beastman
Status: None
Level : 40
Titles : Beastman Wizard (+200% mana capacity)
Blessings: None
Affinities (100% Boost): Fire Magic, Water Magic, Earth Magic, Lightning Magic
Incompatibilities(85% Decrease): Weapons, Martial arts
Stats: N/A
Skills: Strong Hands (Bronze) Lv. 1, Great Slash (Bronze) lv. 1
Talents: Martial arts (Bronze) lv. 2, Swordmanship (Bronze) lv.2, Axemanship (Bronze) lv. 1, Speamanship (Bronze) lv. 1, Libran Language (Bronze) Lv. MAX, Basic Arithmetic (Bronze) Lv. MAX, Beast Talk (Bronze) lv. MAX …
Allies: N/A
Stat points: N/A
Skill points: N/A
As Jason looked at her status the problem was immediately obvious. She didn't have any affinity for weapons at all. She was clearly born to use magic. He was impressed by how she had still managed to achieve so much despite her handicap. She evidently had tried her hand at everything. She had even picked up some skills.
"I see the problem. Have you ever considered using magic?" Jason asked. She responded with a dumbfounded expression.
"Magic? You know I am a beastman. We don't use magic."
"What do you mean you don't use magic? You would be an excellent magician."
"That's not possible beastmen have very little mana. Amongst beastmen magic is rather looked down on. I'm not sure what came first but beastmen never use magic."
"Well you should try it. I think you will find it will come to you a lot easier than using a sword or martial arts as you have been."
"How did you know I did martial arts?" she asked confused.
"Sorry, I can't tell you that, I also don't know any magic so I can't teach you, just bare my advice in mind."
"You are a little strange Jason," Ryanna said.
"Hahaha, you aren't wrong. I'm sorry that I might be making you a little uncomfortable."
"No, quite the opposite." She said and she gave a lovely smile that Jason wasn't prepared for. He quickly noticed he was still holding her hand. Removing it quickly it was her turn to smirk at him. He felt a little annoyed at her for making fun of him but before he could say anything she kept talking.
"I will take your advice, my saviour." She said her words dripping with sarcasm. Before her demeanour once again turned serious and she looked out into the distance. "In fact, where we are headed I should be able to test your theory."
"Good, I hope that it works out."
He decided to get back to his training, he didn't fancy being teased by this girl any longer, but rather than leaving, he noticed that she just stood and watched. Jason decided it was best just to ignore her.