Chapter 008. Meeting

Caelum tilted his head upon noting apparent Miroh’s reluctancy. The guy look like he would rather eat his own turd rather than go with him. But the reason was unknown to him.

"You said you wanted to talk to the organizer right?"

‘It’s not because of the organizer.’

Miroh said to himself still put off by that green haired. Now that he regain a clear head, she actually left him there and messed his tyrfing that’s now sucking up all of his aurora.

If not for that giant cavalier suddenly appearing and following him soundlessly until all valkyries were killed, he’d probably be those valkyries’ cannon fodder in no time.

“Uh. I think I don’t really need to speak to the leader. You can go ahead, I’ll stay here.” Something tells him that he’ll probably meet that person once he agrees. And he’s still slightly irritated to promise that he would not say something regrettable.

“That’s not wise, greenie. I think there’s something going on with your tyrfing.”

The tyrfing was motionless while emitting a soft hum in his hand, but it was obviously taking a lot of aurora because of how bright the blue flame was flickering.

It’s luminesce isn’t such a great thing after all.

”Ha. I’ll just die then.”

”No, greenie! Ayla will definitely fix it! If she won’t, Keid will force her to do it. She’s terrified of Keid even if she won’t admit it!” Caelum started blabbing, which will definitely merit him several beatings from the said person if heard.

Caelum then began his unconscious habit of getting too worked up with other people in his moment. “I was being sarcastic.” Miroh wheezed, “you’re gonna to kill me before I can do it. I can’t breathe!” He coughed furiously once he was able to tear off Caelum’s arms around his neck

‘What’s with these people’s crazy habit of manhandling weak people?’

“Ah. I’m sorry did I shook you too much? Wait. Never mind that—“

Caelum suddenly tugged Miroh roughly by the back of his shirt in panic. “We have to go now! I need to go to the meeting before spears hit the ground!”

Miroh was unable to react on time before they were already zooming on their way to the meeting place.

This seems to be a recurring case for the day that he quickly learned to just follow the flow, no matter how expeditious the further it goes.

...

With the guidance of a passing soldier, they were able to luckily locate the area where they set up a temporary base easily.

It seems to be more busy here than the other side. Steel parts and other things were routinely carried by soldiers out of wagons, while the sound of something being hammered came from the people assembling some kind of a contraption skillfully.

It’s very courageous of them to just settle like this out in the open with the threat of leviaths at any time. Leviaths are very sensitive to loud noises such fact made Miroh uneasy. Of course, he knows that this people are more than capable to afford this leniency, but still…

Miroh’s thoughts were disrupted upon hearing Caelum’s troubled sigh. It sounds like a complicated problem for it to be that heavy.

”Is there any problem, sir?” Miroh asked tentatively. They suddenly stopped just several yards away from the tent’s entrance.

”Can you feel my hands trembling? Is my face pale enough?” Caelum suddenly asked Miroh with a pinched expression.

“Ah. You look very energetic, sir Caelum...” Miroh started, but was interrupted by Caelum’s distraught howl.

”Greenie, I’m sorry but I won’t be able to guide you further from here. That crazy girl will definitely chase me with her spear.” Caelum hold Miroh's shoulders while looking down forlornly. His shoulders were dramatically slouched as if he was accepting his ill fate.

“Ah, why? But it’s right there.” Miroh didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his position, glancing at the inconspicuous tent doubtfully. There’s no sign of anything life threatening as the tent remains very still.

“That’s the problem. It’s very quiet.” Caelum whispered shakily.

The tent’s flaps suddenly pulled back and a white figure emerged out with an irritated scowl. ”Are you gonna talk shit in front of me or come inside peacefully?”

Caelum, who may or may not have flinched at the voice, instantly looked relieve at the remark, and mentally patted his chest seeing Ayla unarmed. Thank goodness, no altercation will happen this time.

“Will come, will come! Let’s go, greenie.” Caelum still shoot Ayla a grin full of fluttery, skittering toward the entrance and pass the unmoving white figure.

The white figure is none other than Ayla with her all white attire. Miroh was finally able to get a good look of the woman in front of him.

Her unnatural green hair was wildly curled at the ends, falling past her shoulder and eyes as bright as molten emerald. Any hint of color would pop out because of her extremely pale skin.

He can’t help but marvel how similar their eye color is, but didn’t think more of this thought as it was out of his business to mention such candid remark to a stranger.

He eyed the woman warily, but ultimately looked down once her eyes flickered on him.

“Excuse me…” He gave a stiff nod as greeting and was about to enter the tent while making himself as small as possible. Ah, his courage had melted away at some point.

“Hold it.”

Ayla then starts to frown as if something is seriously troubling her while gazing at the person in front of her, which made Miroh assume it was an expression of hostility.

Miroh immediately halted like he was taking military exercise. “Is something the matter?” Miroh accidentally stuttered, taking a huge step back defensively when Ayla slowly walked toward him with an inquisitive look.

Ayla realized that she might have come across as rude and fixed her posture. “I’m sorry. But I can see something’s wrong with your aurora.” She finally remarked.

“Hoo, Veggie, are you seriously going against Hamal? In an arm wrestling?” Caelum’s boisterous laugh can be heard, which was filled with incredulity.

“…”

Ayla took a deep breath before letting out a hopeless sigh. She move to the side to let him in. “Let’s go inside first. It’s discourteous to let you hang on the door.”

They entered the tent with Vega and Caelum already hurling insults to each other like automated guns.

Caelum was egging Vega to concede defeat.

“Shush! Bastard, don’t distract me.” Vega’s face was distorted and flushed from exerting to much strength in her hand. Her teeth were clenched too hard that everyone thought they’ll break.

Vega suddenly exerted a burst of strength, creating a swift advantage against Hamal and ultimately toppling his arm on the table roughly.

”Ha! I win!” She throw her hands in the air and jump up from her seat with a shout amidst her heavy breathing.

Hamal wasn’t upset nor did his face show any sign of overexertion or pain compared to the exhausted Vega. He return to steeping tea at the small tray quietly.

Everybody wonders if they witness Vega’s losing victory, but wisely didn’t mention anything.

Caelum sighed after the excitement dwindle, placing his hands on his hips. “You’re seriously playing arm wrestling right here?”

She shoot him a glare. Caelum really can’t shut up and not annoy someone for a second. “We got bored waiting for your dusty ass to arrive.”

Vega then cleared her throat innocently and fixed her expression upon noticing another person in the room.

“And who might you be? I don’t think I have seen you before.” She directed her question to Miroh.

Caelum took this as his cue to introduce, putting his arm over Miroh’s shoulder casually like they were the closest friends. “He’s the part-timer Keid brought in for this run. I made him come with me since his concern is related to someone here.”

“Ni-nice…to meet you. My name is Miroh. I’m a cadet in the Black Winter moon under Chief tactician Keid’s instruction.” He fumbled at first, but was able to gather his wits and give a respectful bow in the end.

Vega and Hamal unknowingly clapped briefly as if appreciating the guy amidst his apparent struggle. He look very uncomfortable in the eyes of these strangers.

“Hello, My name is Vega. I’m the party organizer, or leader you could say of this run. Well, I’m more of a researcher than anything.” Vega started brightly, dispelling Miroh’s worries of an intimidating impression greatly.

“Yes! Please take care of me!” He shouted energetically.

“That’s Ayla and Hamal. They may look mean, but are actually soft boiled eggs once you get to know them.”

Ayla and Hamal merely turn their eyes away at the offhanded way they were introduced.

“So what seems to be the problem?” It was Vega who asked.

“He have some concerns regarding his tyrfing since someone decided to tinker on it recklessly.” Caelum emphasized on the word ‘someone’, looking at Ayla meaningfully.

Ayla rolled her eyes at Caelum’s intention, unbothered by the urgent gazes suddenly on her way. “I already know something’s strange about him.”

She paused then continued, “but it’s not worthy of concern.”

“WORTHY OF CONCERN?!”

“…”

Everybody flinched, startled at Miroh’s unexpected outburst. Rather than anger, it was more like he was aggrieved at Ayla’s indifference to his precarious situation.

Oh, how he wanted to put this frustration into words until he had enough. She was the one who started this entire mess without his consent!

”He-hey, Greenie, let’s calm down okay. How about we sit down and have a civil conversation without drawing blood.” Caelum hastily guided Miroh on a seat, massaging his shoulders.

He shouldn’t have stupidly provoked the fearless woman. Now look what happened.

Sensing the turbulent mood in the room, Hamal wordlessly placed a cup of tea in front of Miroh like an efficient butler.

Caelum nervously glance at the unmoving Ayla. He can’t decided whether it was good that their tent is still intact after that.

At this moment, Vega showcase her leadership capabilities and responsibly preside over the conversation.

“Okay, let’s all calm down. Uh, Miroh was it? How about drinking the tea first?”

Vega only continued once Miroh had drank his tea. “We must have a clear understanding behind the story.”

Vega felt an incoming headache realizing they have yet another issue to solve. And they just called Keid an hour ago.

Ayla furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief. “Are you saying that I am wrong? I was the one who forcefully tampered the tyrfing so of couse I would also know what could have happened.”

“Wait, wait!” Vega groaned, rubbing her temples in exhasperation. “Ayla. You touched a military-grade tyrfing? I told you not to mess with things that isn’t ours!”

This isn’t an ordinary issue they can solve instantly!

Ayla wore a look of protest like their accusations were unsound. “As I was saying, his tyrfing absorbing his aurora isn’t a cause of concern. In fact, I just discover an interesting fact that may explain it.”

She waited for some violent reactions in order to not be interrupted again. Satisfied that there’s none, she observe Miroh carefully. “His body already possess a huge amount of aurora from that start. I think this may be the reason why he can’t calibrate with his tyrfing until now.”

They wore a look of surprise at Ayla’s casual remark. As wielders of tyrfings themselves, it’s common knowledge that the tyrfings imbued the aurora are what give people the ability to possess aurora in their body and cultivate it until such time it became an intangible part in their body.

Each aurora circulates in the wielder’s body like a perpetual motion. How much aurora a person can take from the weapon after calibrating is directly proportional to the strength they exert externally.

“That’s impossible! If that’s true then…” Vega didn’t continue her words as she could only stare at Miroh like he was the greatest enigma next to the origin of leviaths.

Everyone aside from Miroh understood the implication of Ayla’s words.

Is Miroh somehow related to Ayla? Or is there any connection between their extraordinary powers that could lead them somewhere?

Vega’s face light up as she saw endless possibilities suddenly opening up for her, giving a pleasant rush of excitement.

A perfect source material landed on their lap!

Only Miroh isn’t the least bit convinced by Ayla’s words. He can’t feel any aurora in him before nor did it show any indications. If he have aurora before then nobody should know it better than himself.

”How can you be so sure?” He asked warily.

Caelum cleared his throat as the atmosphere suddenly sunk in an undeniable tension. “I think we should help clear the confusion for the part-timer. It would be easier for all of us, no?”

Everyone’s expression drop in a grimace as they watch Ayla stare at Miroh without any fluctuation in her expression. They have varied ideas at Caelum proposition, but remained tight-lipped at this conjecture.

Because in the end, it is Ayla’s decision whether she’ll tell him or not.

But Ayla has no problem telling the person her vague identity. This might actually place them in an advantage right off the bar.

“Who do you think can manipulate tyrfings other than its wielder?” She throw a rhetoric question back with a mischievous grin.

She find it amusing, by the way her eyes naturally curved at the ends, seeing Miroh’s face went a series of expressions until realization sink in.

Of course. The wielder is only the wielder in the eyes of the tyrfing in front of its creator.

And who’s the creator?

Humanity didn’t even have to second guess.

“Magnus.”

Miroh barely whispered, while looking at Ayla dumbfounded. It seems like he just heard a big secret that should not have been pried.