…
Sir Giles then explained to El how the Hybrid was created.
He described how they had been injected with a serum known only to a small portion of people as Elysium Essence. Named after Dr Elise, the one who invented this serum.
This serum had been crafted from the remnants of creatures that had roamed Threa during a mysterious epoch referred to as The Lost Era – a time shrouded in myth and largely undocumented in history. The remnants, which included blood, flesh, and even fossilized remains, were believed to possess latent life forces that could be harnessed to create hybrids.
He elaborated that the process of hybridization typically involved children aged three to nine, who had been selected for their potential compatibility with the serum. Success in these transformations had often been linked to the child's lineage, particularly those with ancestral ties to the White Moon Tribe, more commonly known as the Hanwi Tribe.
This ancient tribe, once a prominent civilization, had largely disappeared, having assimilated into the four empires through strategic marriages. The bloodline of the Hanwi Tribe was revered for its unique qualities, and those who possessed a higher degree of this heritage exhibited a significantly increased success rate when subjected to the Elysium Essence.
However, Sir Giles noted that the efficacy of the serum was not solely dependent on bloodline. The compatibility between the child's genetic makeup and the serum's ingredients also played a crucial role in the process.
"And the success rate was only around ten percent from the thousands of children. And I'm one of those successful cases. And before I... um… retired from my position at the Central Region, I once heard there was an organization that reinitiated these experiments again, even kidnapping many kids all across Threa. So, the highest likelihood is that – you are one such case, young man," Sir Giles said, ending his explanation.
"I see…"
"But here's the problem. Do you know what you did after losing consciousness?"
"No, I don't," El shakes his head. However, upon peering at the expressions of the two, which seemed troubled by something, he eventually had a bad feeling about it.
"Did something happen?" El asked.
"Yes, something inside of you is likely triggered by anything that could potentially kill you, like an automatic response to danger. However, there is a likelihood that the thing inside you is still asleep. In any case, you almost endangered Ran and Gill. If not for Celine, who arrived in time, you could have possibly hurt them… or even worse."
"I… Did I really do it? I'm sorry. I don't know…" El's eyes widened.
"That's why. Don't go back first. Stay here in the underside and let me teach you how to control it. After that, you can go on your way. Besides, your problem is secondary right now. The city is currently very dangerous."
"Secondary? Dangerous? What do you mean, sir?" El inquired. If his unconscious state could bring danger to others, what other matters would trouble Sir Giles even more?
"You remember the creatures that disguised themselves as Sill and the others, right?"
"Yes, I remember," El turned solemn at having that mentioned.
"We suspected those creatures had already infested the whole of Mirthwater City by now, not only at the 'underside' but also at the 'upper side'. Thanks to Celine, we managed to whittle all of them from our base using a special potion made from those creatures' hearts. But the rest of the people out there? Not so much. One of us, who had connections with the important personnel in the city, tried to reach the guards or the mayor about such peril, but he never came back. We assume – he is possibly, already dead by now."
…
Seven days later…
At Sir Giles's base on the underside, El currently tightly closed his eyes, meditating under the shade of an odd tree.
It stood like a haunting silhouette against the sun shining brightly in the sky. Its gnarled trunk twisted and contorted into unnatural shapes, with red dry vines creeping around it. The bark, rough and cracked, bore deep grooves that seemed to pulse with dark energy. The leaves, a deep shade of dark green bordering on black, hung heavily from the branches, giving the tree an even more ominous appearance. They shimmered faintly – as if it was infused with a toxic sheen.
Many said the reason behind this was because of the poisoned waters of the 'Underside' that had seeped into its roots, mutating it into a tree never once seen before. Locally, all residents at the underside agreed to refer to this tree as, The Mourning Tree.
In the Underside Region of Mirthwater City, this tree had somehow become a somber refuge for those who had lost hope or faced the inevitability of death. Residents visited it at least once, if possible, to reflect on their lives in gloomy silence. They gathered beneath its dark, twisted branches, contemplating their painful memories and the weight of their struggles. Symbolically, they believed that by sharing their sorrows with the tree, they could leave behind the burdens of their past before awaiting their time to come. They believed the tree stood as a silent witness to their grief, absorbing their anguish and offering a sense of solace in their final moments.
That was how the belief and name of this tree became a remembrance of all the tragedies in the lives of the 'Rodents,' a name given to all people born on the underside.
A few scientists from the capital of Ralrain had once, shown an interest in studying this tree; however, there were no results whatsoever from their efforts, so it was – left alone and abandoned.
So here stood the tree, which one way or another had somehow become a symbol of solace. Or perhaps even.
Hopes.
…
The breeze blew, carrying the stench of dry waste throughout the Underside, rustling against the leaves of the tree and El's hair – who was unfazed by the smell.
All of a sudden, he opened his eyes. Subsequently looking down to his hands, he clenched his fist and then drew a deep breath into his lungs.
"I think it's all good now," he whispered to himself.
…