Chapter 38: Knowledge

"I believe in intuitions and inspirations...I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am."

― Albert Einstein

"When you reach the end of what you should know, you will be at the beginning of what you should sense." ― Kahlil Gibrán, Sand and Foam

"If you want to annoy a poet, explain his poetry." ― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

***

Bewildered and surprised by Volcom's last remark, Xenia and the other two kids witnessed Volcom chewing on the Balmackian's flesh. He left them with mouths agape, disgusted by the fact that Volcom just cannibalized a dead person. However, recalling the words spoken by Volcom, Xenia quickly put the pieces together. Now understanding what was going on and what was the purpose of consuming human flesh, Xenia remained silent. Although he now has an understanding of the reason for his father's dreadful action, a bunch of questions has been added to the previous unanswered queries.

"I'm unveiling secrets of the past and they are all crazy!"

When he was done, just like how Baron and Astolf dealt with the intense excruciating pain, Volcom was writhing in agony. He was down on the muddy ground, enduring the muscle contraption that numbs and causes aching all over his body.

"I think your dad's stomach got upset after eating human flesh, Xenia!"

He has never seen his father look so vulnerable and helpless against something he could not fight. In his eyes, his father was having the backlash of consuming human meat. It goes against human rationality and seeing one commit such an atrocious act was seen as inhumane and rotten to its core.

"D-Dad, are you okay?"

For a minute, Xenia pondered his thoughts.

"Might this be an aftereffect for making the ability his?! If so, doesn't this mean his body is rejecting the gift?! Also, History class taught us that gifts were an inborn trait?!"

Xenia grew up thinking that the ability of a gifted person possessed is given upon birth. However, if this "gift" is the same gift he knew and he was in the same world, just gone back to the past, then all of his knowledge about history seems to be questionable.

Volcom burst with rage and they all became witnesses to him as he grows

his nails like the Balmackian have. His body hair began to thicken and grow really fast.

Like a wild beast in movies and stories, Volcom turned into a werewolf.

After the intense challenge of getting used to the "gift", Volcom easily stood up on his paws-like feet and howled through the bloody night. Time swiftly passed by, and the earlier sunlight-lit path turned to a bloody sight, although still somehow bright and gleaming.

Terrified at the appearance of Volcom, Thaniel, and Arlan immediately hid

in the dark and behind trees with their tails between their legs like scared dogs.

"Look at how human flesh turned your father into, Xenia! It has made him a monster!"

Unlike the brothers who were cowering behind trees, who were peering to the sides, Xenia remained observant and silent in front of the huge gnarling beast. A stout monster with protruding teeth from both sides of his pair of sharp teeth and intimidating posture, Volcom's wooly hand with dark harrowing nails reached out for Xenia.

Arlan and Thaniel closed their eyes to avoid watching the end of their friend at the hands of his own monstrous father.

And when they thought that Xenia was done for, the kid himself giggled and spoke.

"I knew you would not lose your rationality, Dad. You're one hell of a tough person to crack!"

"Oh, you sound like an old fart, Xenia!" His father replied with a scary tone. Maybe that's just how his voice was whenever he was in his beast form.

"Phew! I'm glad that Xenia's still alive! I expected your father to rip you to shreds and eat your heart out!"

"That's only in movies, idiot."

"Movies?"

"Oh, they are like stories told on big screens."

"Whatever it is."

"But did eating human flesh really turn your father into a wolf-like monster?" Arlan curiously asked while feeling the soft fur on Volcom's whole body. Even his face was covered in fluffy uncombed fur.

"Kids, it's a long story and I am not someone who is good at explaining, but please bear with me."

The three kids prepared themselves, although Xenia has an explanation of it himself. However, realizing that everything he was told about the past was wrong, even though he was doubting the knowledge he currently has. Only those that actually lived through it all have knowledge of what exactly is and how everything happened.

"Xenia, you must be wondering why we did not get hit by those red beacons earlier." His son nodded, and he continued, "The reason is that only Balmackians are the real inheritors. By inheritors, I mean the gifts given by a god. So, basically, we are not Balmackians but outsiders. Your mother and I came here way too long ago. The people of this island deemed us monsters due to the fact that ever since we arrived, all of the animals on this island mysteriously died. Of course, except for Bandit and Mischief's parents, thus giving birth to the two of your pets."

"Oh, now I know why the townspeople kept persecuting your family. By the way, we were hit by those red beacons, does that mean we have the same gift as you have, Mr. Volcom?"

"The ability you could have through your gifts will vary. One may have the power to be super strong. Arlan might be able to manipulate air or fire or water. Or even time itself. However, the possibility of wielding such a god-like power is impossible. If one possessed such a gift, you must acquire it at all costs!"

"But can one have multiple gifts at once?"

Volcom shook his head, "unfortunately, I haven't seen people having two gifts or more at once. Because, kids, you must learn that once a non-inheritor kills a Balmackian or someone who has a gift and then consumes them for their ability, the person that will inherit the gift will be burdened by physical scars and emotional traumas."

In a world where the ability to absorb the powers of others is coveted above all else. The strong will prey on the weak to gain an advantage. Those who possessed the power will be feared and respected in the distant future, but they must also bear the physical and emotional scars of their actions. It would not always be this way. As years pass by, "gifts" will be common and some breakthroughs will occur as the world changes. These gifted people will soon be seen as unnecessary evils.

The power is not without its consequences. Those who wish to absorb the power of others must either eat the flesh or an organ.

"I think I kinda get why no one has ever possessed two gifts at once before."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Because when one gift is absorbed by multiple personalities from before, the emotional and physical scars stockpiles, thus creating more unbearable burdens. A mind can only handle an exact amount of stress and pain."

"An accurate answer! As expected of my son! Because of these "gifts" people will begin to kill each other for power. There will be wars among men and bloodbaths on barren lands. It is only a matter of time before hell rises above the surface of our land."

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