Titen's POV
We exited the room with the four village elders and the temple, outside we were greeted by a group of people. Amongst them was Nelly with a picnic basket that I could smell even from a distance, and the rest were people to whom I was acquitted. There were five of them other than Nelly, the other person I recognised was old man Donavan. He is the village's blacksmith, and next to him was his assistant Johnny. The next two were Nelly's friends and one of them was someone who I never expected to be here, it was Nelly's mother. When our eyes met, she looked away in disgust, she was probably forced to come here by her daughter.
Master Ryden was the first to head down the stairs and I followed suit. As I went down the steps, I could not help but think that today was my last day here. Tomorrow I will be travelling the world, something I could not do back in Metallum. Those castle walls were my world, I could never see anything beyond them. My every move was monitored, my grandfather said it was for my own protection from rebels. I was his captive that could move around in his house, but although here in Amplexum I am still a captive whose movements are limited.
The environment is better than that of the castle, maybe this is what my mother wanted for me. Freedom, even a little bit of it. She always wanted her son to be able to play like the other kids and be normal. She probably wanted to live long enough to see me play around with friends and at least travel the country she loved. The only time I could leave the castle was when we travelled to Ishigami Island, to visit our family burial grounds.
"Titen are you well?" Nelly asked.
"No!" It seemed everyone was shocked by my honest answer, even Master Ryden. "What I mean is that I do not know how to thank you all for all these years, because I have nothing."
"It is okay child." Said elder Chris after he creeped up from behind me. "Everyone here wants to thank you and congratulate you on your future endeavours, after all nobody here is sure if you will ever return here."
I see this was elder Chris's plan to lure them and add sentimental value to my departure, it is a shame the people of Amplexum do not know how calculating he can be. I guess I will have to play along because the only people who know that this is his plan are me, Master Ryden and Nelly's mother. He smiles with a gentle smile that he does not give to anyone unless he wants you to do something, whether you want to or not. Talk about a conflict of character, benevolent at a moment and malevolent the next. This man's mind is fire and ice, I wish I could have seen him angry or in his youth. Most surprising of characters I have ever seen, but I am sure I will find someone freakier than him one day. I had already decided to play along in his grand scheme as well as Master Ryden.
"Thank you all." I said with a bow. We walked to the edge of the village where the Oracle was standing stationary. I looked back at everyone I was leaving behind today. I could see that Nelly was sad, our eyes met, and she looked like there was something else she wanted to say but held her tongue. "Nelly!" I shouted to the top of my lungs from a distance. "Thank you most of all, and don't forget the promise."
I lifted my shirt and showed my abs with a smile on my face. Nelly somehow cried and had a nosebleed at the same time, then she collapsed right there in front of everyone. Everyone was not surprised they started to walk back to the village. I followed behind the Oracle as we walked past the barrier for the second time ever since I've been to Amplexus. It was easier to leave the barrier when you are accompanied by the person who created it. We made it to the other side and were greeted by a convoy of carriages and a lot of security detail.
I looked at the Oracle and she did the same, I wanted to ask her whether this was protocol or did she see my family attacking today. If that was the case, I wouldn't have left the barrier, so it must be protocol.
"Are you not coming with me?" I asked the Oracle.
"This barrier did not only protect you but also the world's most powerful healers, the Creed's medical bay and the strongest swordsman in the world. I cannot leave it unguarded under any circumstances." she said in her charming soft voice.
"So, who are my escorts?"
My question was heard by the man in yellow attire with brown hair, the brown was lighter compared to my brunette hair.
"My name is Dakila Stastny, ranked Elementa high-tier level of the Elemental Creed. I am the captain of the Flash Tyrant. This sorry excuse of people." as he said that he pointed to the five people behind him.
I bowed my head at the man with a large chi and introduced myself, "My name is Titen of house Terragon.", At the mutter of my house name the entire atmosphere of the convoy changed egregiously. "It's a pleasure to meet you." I finished up and looked him in the eye and extended my forehead. This was a gesture familiar with Stastny's people, Fulgurians love being greeted with the Mano gesture as it is a sign of deep respect that isn't taken lightly.
Dakila smiled at me for greeting him his people's way and extended his right hand. I took it gently and pressed it on my forehead.
"You must know a lot about Fulgurian culture Titen of house Terragon." The atmosphere was no longer stale anymore, I guess everyone truly respected this man.
"Surely you jest, everyone all over the world knows about the Mano gesture." After saying this Jaime looked at me weirdly for a second but returned to normal.
He came in close to my ear and whispered, "Everyone when dealing with a Fulgurian greets with a Bating Fulgur."
I guess he knew whether this is common knowledge or a select few know that I'm oblivious to the outside world. I got closer to his ear and whispered back. "Thank you for the lesson."
"You're welcome Titen. On the trip, you will indoctrinate on any questions you have." He whispered with his gentle voice in my ear.
I turned to the Oracle and bowed to her; she did the same to me. I walked towards the coach thus approaching the SORRY EXCUSE OF PEOPLE. I gestured towards them with the Bating Fulgur, the man in the front of the group greeted me first and then the rest followed except one. I sensed Capitaneus Dakila increased his chi and shot a look at the individual until she bowed. There were five carriages each manned with five to six people wearing in my opinion disguises. They were busy surveying the area, I understand why everyone is on high alert. I'm also waiting for something to happen. Naturally on a mission Creed warriors are always on guard but even I can sense that these people are scared. I can't blame them, their only hope of killing one of my immortal family members is a fourteen year old. We also have to consider that the casualties would be high. I'm sure only Captain Dakila could survive my father if he ran away but that is unlikely. No Captain in the Creed would just watch his men die and no one escapes my father.
The lead man spoke, "Hello my name is Nimuel of house Ocampo, rank Elementiss mid-tier level, it's a pleasure to meet the hero who will save us all."
"Hero!?" I was astounded because I can describe myself as many things as possible like weapons, traitors, scum but never did I think that someone would call me a hero other than….
"Yes, haven't you ever heard the saying 'Heroes are made by the times' before?" the ash haired noble interjected while I was in my thoughts.
I looked at him thoroughly as he was grinning at me, he wore light plating armour made from silver over his yellow barong attire. "Thank you very much Ocampo but you surely must be mistaken about me." I spoke.
"That's what I said to him as well." The woman who clearly didn't like me the moment she saw me. She walked closer to me, and our eyes connected, the look she gave me was not something new to me. I never look away when someone gives me that look, it serves as a reminder to me that people truly hate the Terragons. I may be the youngest of the Terragons but to these people who give me that look, the sins of the father are the sins of the son. The woman though beautiful behind the scowl had amazing amber eyes, long flint coloured hair and wore a well-tailored goldenrod coloured military dress and medallion pants. It is not unheard-of for people to wear military attire with their Pallium.
"Maya, tread carefully." Dakila spoke sharply.
"I just don't understand why this mission is catalogued as a S class mission, when all we are doing is escorting a noble brat." The woman spat and looked her leader straight in the eyes with anger on her face. The way she speaks to her leader and with the large amount of chi I'm sensing from her, I can tell she is the second in command of the Flash Tyrant.
"Legatus Maya, I said to tread carefully." Those words were followed with Dakila raising his chi to an astounding level that made everyone including Maya to cave in.
"He is royalty, Maya." A loud voice yelps, probably to ease the mood of the situation between Maya and Dakila.
"Isa, what was that?" Maya responded and looked at the woman wearing a Pallium over her flaxen Ichacahuipilli armour plated in silver. Her face and cherry hair were a little hidden in her Bestia mitram of an eagle, she also wore the same pants as Maya. Well now that I am paying attention, they are all wearing the same pants.
"Well, don't you know who his mother is." The woman Isa replied. The girl in her late twenties said with a smile larger than life, with no fear of her commanding officer. She looked my way and waved at me. "Hello, my name is Isa Bautista, it's a pleasure to meet you. Oh, I almost forgot. Elementiss, rank mid-tier."
I waved back to Isa. She carried herself like a noble but spoke so nonchalantly that you would assume she was a commoner. I have a good affinity to seek out nobles no matter how much they try to conceal their statue. It was something grandfather taught me to do, because nobles love to leave their nobility for a while and everything that comes with it and blend in amongst commoners. This is an essential skill I would have needed when I wanted to flush out and kill nobles, but now this skill is useful to know more about a person just by looking at them.
"My name is Hong Hanh Nguyĕn…. Uhm rank Elementiss mid-tier." A girl mumbled behind Isa.
"Hello, nice to meet you." I replied.
Hong wore flaxen Ichacahuipilli armour that was pink for some reason. I thought the theme of the Flash Tyrants was shades of yellow, and for someone who doesn't want to stand out. Hong made a bad choice with the pink.
"Ahh! Nice to meet you as well." Hong replied nervously.
"My name is Nguyĕn van Nam, rank Elementiss mid-tier." A man wearing glasses said with a distasteful tone. His tone earned him a mean look from his leader which he averted by looking at the carriages and soldiers to his left.
"Nice to meet you, Nam." I said to the man with weird spectacles that hugged his face. He wore light silver armour underneath his yellow vest.
Now that everyone introduced themselves, I already knew much about the Flash Tyrants. Their leader Capitaneus Dakila Stastny is an adopted protege of the Stastny house, his skin tone is a little too light to be from Nakmaan which has high temperatures all year long. Second in command, Legatus. Maya not much is known about her except she is ex-military. Nimuel Ocampo is a high ranking noble as well as Isa, Hong and Nam are maybe low ranking nobles. I don't know much about the Nguyĕn family name. All of their chi's are massive , I don't think I could survive a fight against all of them, nevertheless one of them. The Flash Tyrants, will they be able to stop one of my family members if they attack the convoy.
"It's an honour to meet all of you, not that I'm in a rush but...."
"Of course, we must make it in time for the exam. It is a one-day trip." Dakila interrupted. "Let's be on our way."
As he said that he gestured towards a carriage, in front of the carriage that was mine was a brilliant carriage that looked like a fancy box fit for a nobility. This carriage must be the decoy, the reason being other than standing out there was also the fact that what I presume to be my twin. I could not see much of his face, but his hair was the same length as mine but the colour a little bit lighter than mine. I climbed into the carriage I was led to , which was the same as the rest of the convoy, bland but well built. Nimuel and Isa followed me inside the carriage and took a seat opposite me.
Once everyone was seated in their carriage, the convoy started to move away from the village. The question I want an answer to is whether I will miss this place. In a day's time I will be in Electrium.
"So Titen, how do you maintain your long hair?" Isa asked.
"Yeah, it's so long and smooth."
"Thank you Nimuel, but I'm afraid there isn't anything special. I just wash it and comb it."
"I guess you must have good hair in your family."
In my family? I guess she's seen them before.
"Do you mind if I ask something?"
"Ask away!" Nimuel answered on behalf of Isa. I looked at him and smiled but returned my gaze to Isa. She returned it with her own glare, it was her way of telling to ask away.
"Which of my family members have you met before?"
At the final word of my question, Isa's calm face fell into a moment of sadness.
"I knew your mother, princess Ayame and your…"
She was shaking for some reason as she went silent and looked down at her feet, she was cripple by fear only two people could traumatise a warrior of Isa status.
"Your father, Reitess Terragon ." Isa said with a stern and determined look as she said my father's name, a name I haven't heard from someone's mouth in a while.
I knew it but there is more to the story, should I press despite the emotional turmoil my questions could cause her. Why should I care about her emotional state? It's because her emotional state will affect her mental state. I might not find any useful information about my father from her, the only information I will get from her is how much she hates my father.
"He is not a very friendly person is he?" I said jokily.
"No, he wasn't a person I would consider bad or good. He was someone blank, no emotion at all. A feature I think made him more scary, some say he is like a tool that is only good at destroying. I think it all depends on the intentions of the tool's owner."
The owner of my father has bad intentions, and he has no intention of stopping and isn't afraid to use my father at will. He showcased that as he put my father in charge of the borders of our Metallum, all those who attempted to enter or exit were slaughtered by the strongest Terragon. My father served as a reminder of our house's power, not only those who wished to invade Metallum but our own people knew his power. The power of the Perdita blades that granted him instant recuperation and false immortality, made him more of a treat. How can you defeat someone who is immortal and grows stronger as he fights a strong opponent.
"Then what would you consider me, good or bad?" I asked.
My question seemed to have taken her aback.
"I don't know, I understand why you fight with us and we are the good guys but….."
"I'm not one of the good guys either." I interrupted.
"Yes, you are not."
I could see Nimuel wanting to interject and say something but he held his tongue and lowered his head,probably going into thinking. He lifted his head and said, "He will be one of us after he passes the exam."
"That's not what I mean, Nimuel!" Her eyes then fell on mine, I knew what she meant and by the look she was giving me she knew as well. "Nevermind."
"What do you mean nevermind? I want to know your question." Nimuel professed as he grabbed Isa's hand gently. Isa was taken aback by this for a second and then composed herself and looked outside.
"Fine, I will tell Nimuel." I said and Isa just looked outside of her window with her hand balancing her chin."What Isa was trying to say is that I have my own agenda for fighting for the Creed just like everyone else of course, but my agenda isn't as pure as yours. Mine is revenge, what Isa is worried about is that after defeating my immortal family I will be the only immortal Terragon left. What will I do afterwards with all that power, Nimuel?"
"You will use it to fight with the Creed."
"Maybe or I might want to finish my Family's mission and take over the world.'' For the first time I saw Nimuel's face turn serious.
"That is true but I know you wouldn't do it, you may not believe it but I have a good eye for people." He pointed to his eye. "And my eye tells me there is good in you Titen."
He genuinely meant that well then Nimuel then your eye isn't as good as you claim it to be. There is no good in me, my grandfather taught me otherwise. "Thank you Nimuel."
"You won't let it fall will you?" Isa said this as she crept up close to me to study my face.
My heart was beating fast as if I was preparing to defend myself but I quickly lowered it by controlling my breathing. We stared at each other. "Are you even a human kid?"
"I believe so."
"Your reactions and speech sounds rehearsed, and it's very good. I wonder what kind of training you had?, kid"
"Does it sound like that to you as well?" Nimuel professed.
"I guess even an idiot like you can recognize these sorts of things."
"What's that supposed to mean? Isa." Nimuel asked with playfulness in his voice.
"I'm just shocked."
"Me too" I interjected, but I know otherwise. This man though he's not the strongest, I can tell Nimuel is a killer and a very good one.
"You too! Titen. You also think I'm an idiot?"
"No."
"Yes!" Isa interjected.
"You are not Titen!"
"Does it matter, you are an idiot, hahaha!" Isa burst into laughter until she was nearly in tears. Nimuel and Isa are close but I think Isa wants them to be closer. I don't think Nimuel wants that though, maybe that he doesn't want her to know his real colours.
The two of them went on arguing back and forth about who was the bigger idiot for an hour. The carriage came to a stop and Nimuel and Isa got up and left my carriage. They were selectively changing people in carriages,most were guards and two were my decoys.
I glanced out at the window and saw one of my decoys, it was a girl with brown hair . 'Will they be able to fool them?' is what, playing in my mind. I also don't think my family will attack me on this trip, it's too early.
Grandfather would want to wait a little bit more, so he will send his spies to assess my power at the exam.
The last people who I wanted to enter the carriage did.
Nimuel's POV
Today is the day I meet the warrior, Capitaneus Dakila told me about. He said to be mindful of him even though he is 10 years my junior.
"We are an hour away till we make it to the Amplexum!" A loud voice came from outside the carriage which contained me, Maya and Hong. I sat in front of Hong, she was this cute petite girl who liked to dress only in pink. She is quite pleasant but odd, she doesn't like to stand out but always draws attention to herself. Next to her was Legatus Maya, she is so awesome and strong but has quite the temper. I respect her with all my might but that temper really doesn't make her approachable.
I wanted to be in a carriage with at least the Capitaneus or Isa not the two people who you never know what they will do next. I guess it's too late to complain since we've already spent an entire day together.
"Legatus Maya." Hong whispered.
"What is it?"
"Who is this boy we are going to fetch?"
"Didn't you read the report Hong?"
"No!"
"Why not!?"
"It was too long for me, I figured I would ask you or my brother."
The Legatus sighed and looked at me, which was her giving me an order to answer. Hong is too shy to talk to men, but not women even if they are Legatus Maya. That is a shock to me since I would literally talk to anyone else.
"He's name is Titen Terragon, son of the late princess of Metallum and Raitess Terragon, one of the lead usurpers of Metallum. The Creed set out on a rescue mission 4 years ago to retrieve the princess and the prince. Only the prince was saved."
"I remember 4 years ago when they announced the princess of Metallums death. I was very sad, I still am. So the prince or should I say Titen Terragon is the only one who can stop all five usurpers."
"Not stop them Hong, he is the only one that can kill them." Lgt. Maya spoke like she wanted to defecate. "We need him, do you understand that Hong."
By saying those three words and looking at her face when you said it, I just knew that she was an activist against this plan. Well it was no secret that Lgt. Maya was among the people who did not like the plan of using a Terragon child to fight the Terragons as our current course of action in this war.
"Do you believe that Maya, you're the commanding officer? So I should be asking you about Legatus."
Lgt. Maya looked deeply at Hong like she asked her a question one would assume she has been waiting her entire life to be asked.
"No Hong! I don't think we should be wasting our time protecting the child in our most sacred and secret lands. I already know where you stand."
She was talking to me.
"Indeed I stand with the higher ups on this matter."
"I was expecting more from you especially since your older sister died four years ago on that rescue mission."
"Forgive me Legatus but by carrying on with the intended plan, I would be honouring my elder sister's sacrifice. This is what she would have wanted of me, I know it for sure."
"How can you agree with them?"
"I don't agree with them, it's just there isn't much of another viable solution. Sealing away the Terragons is the only plan after that, and I don't think that is a plan that will work. How many strong people have we lost to attempts on reclaiming the castle."
"Spoken like a true weakling and not a warrior. Those people died in the fight for peace."
I hate that ideology, that is not what the fight for peace is all about, it's not what the Creed is about. I also can't blame Maya for her opinion. Her brother died along with my sister four years ago, I just think she believes her brother died following stupid orders.
"All I am saying Legatus, is that fighting for a draw and trying to seal them away is reckless since we don't know how long a seal will hold but if we can support Titen. I know it is not what you want to hear, but give him a chance. One day everyone will see that this kid is a hero, right now we are just at the making of a hero."
There was silence in our carriage
"Wow second Legatus, I never knew you could be so serious about anything. And you sounded stoic and brave, so stoic and brave that you completely forgot that Maya might kill you if she wanted." Hong said while playing with a rope from her dress.
"Oh she's right, talking back at Maya is like looking a red chest gorilla in its eyes."
"It can't be that shocking?" I asked jokingly while also catching a glimpse of Legatus Maya, she looked mad at me then her attention was taken by the window next to her.
"I guess I am quite shocked since you are very stupid around Isa and the rest of the gang." Hong further proceeded this time with eye contact.
The Gang? Wow I guess I have a lot to know about my teammate for a year now.
"Care to keep my secret from the rest of the gang Hong." I smiled at her and this in turn made her look away from me.
The journey continued until we made it to the village. The envoy was long and with good security, you would think we were expecting a noble or something.
Wait, how can I forget that this boy we are fetching is far more important than some noble, he's royalty after all. Now we must just wait for him to appear and our way back to the Creed will begin shortly after.
************
Titen's Pov
My time with Isa and Nimuel in our carriage was to come to a halt. I'm assuming that we will take a break and leave in the hour, but assuming only makes an ass out of me. Shall I ask Nimuel?
"I'm assuming our time together has ended?"
"You presume correctly, boy." Isa looked anxiously at the door and Nimuel, while she spoke to me. Her face looked contorted as if she was in pain.
"Yeah, you'll probably be paired up with Hong and someone else— but between you and me, kid— if you're in the same carriage as Maya. Jump out the carriage or stay quiet." He whispers with one hand covering his mouth.
The door opens, giving Nimuel a shock of his life, because speak of the devil and he or in this case, she might appear.
The Legatus scans the carriage, locking eyes with me for only a second before her focus falls on Nimuel. I know that look, it's the look of someone who lost what they'd consider everything— because of my family. People have been looking at me with those eyes ever since I was born, they all direct their hatred at me—is it because they know it's hopeless to direct it at the villains who happen to be my family.
"Why are the two of you not out of the cart already?" she asked with a cool and calm tone, one I was not expecting.
"I was waiting for Nimuel to open the door like a gentleman for me and court me to the ground."
Nimuel was still shaken at the appearance of the devil. "I …I…I was still talking to Titen."
"About what?"
Gulp, the nervous man clears his throat. "About the umm…what it means to be a hero and I was giving him advice on how to make smart decisions." Nimuel gains composure and winks at me for successfully thinking up an excuse to throw off the beast. "But we will leave now."
The man steps out carefully not to mistakenly touch the woman in front of him blocking the exit. He extends his hand to Isa who immediately takes it and rushes past him once she hits the ground.
Nimuel turned to me as he was about to say something. He was interrupted
"Get moving" she hissed, forcing Nimuel back into fright
"Of course ma'am, immediately." The return of shaken Nimuel couldn't be more melancholy for me as I saw him manoeuvring around the Legatus as if he should have left as quickly as Isa.
I stood to also make my ascension to the ground by also manoeuvring and being on my way, if only that was my life. A hand blocked my path, guess whose?. If you guessed the flint haired angry Legatus —you're not quite off.
She crept closer to my face until her breath touched my hair. "You are not going anywhere Terragon scum." she spat, "You and your decoys must remain in the coaches until nightfall, so if you need to go to the little boys room—you'll have to wait."
Seeing as I left the village two hours after sunrise and we have been travelling for six hours now, I guess I'm going to have to wait for five hours.
"Thank you for informing me about that, Legatus Maya—will I also eat at night?"
"Unfortunately, you just have to wait 30 minutes or so— while the men prepare the food."
I've never seen anyone so displeased with the fact that I also get to eat. I'm lying, maybe the old hag back at the village destroyed a vein every time I chewed. "That's good news, thank you Legatus." I returned to my seating position making sure not to take my eye away from the beast that is stalking me openly. I could feel tension in the air and it made me wonder "Is there anything else?"
"What is your family's plan to get you out of this?"
"I don't know what you are referring to, I haven't had outside contact in four years."
My reply did nothing but anger her to the point where her chi began to rise. The bloodlust was intelligible to my senses then it disappeared.
"Do you want to know my orders in case of an attack?"
"To retrieve me at all costs…"
"Wrong!" She interrupted with a grin I never thought could be possible with her face, and made me see her beauty for the first time.
"And kill me if retrieval is not a feasible option, but you won't care either way. Will you Legatus Maya?"
"I won't indeed." she grinned, maniacally at that.
"Well then! it's best I not try to escape or fight, don't you agree?" I adjusted myself to straighten my back.
Though the outside view was covered by the mosaic window of the coach. The narrative it told was beautiful, I didn't have time to admire or notice it thanks to two people.
It was a woman holding a suckling child at her breast. This child wasn't drinking milk from its mother but lightning from a goddess. This is the story of the origins of Fulgurian affinities, how their goddess- goddess Fulga gave her followers the flash and lighting affinities.
It speaks of how the demi-god Kespa drank from his mother's milk and gave power to all Fulgurians. He is the origin of their Artems and Creos. From the left breast he suckled on, it allowed him to bestow the power of flash which made them move fast. The right, the power of lightning and manipulate it.
Other nations have similar tales as to how they were formed or how we gained the power of affinities.
Legatus Maya—still observing me for some sort of reaction, left when she noticed that the mosaic window had all my attention. Two guards stood guard at the coach door, one of them closed it and there was finally peace and quiet.