Chapter 2 Part 7: Unyielding Bonds

"3 months prior "

- Samoht's entrance-

I kissed my wife and let her know that I would be heading up to the capital for a couple of months while visiting our old friend Alek. My wife Marris, who has long black hair with light red tips, asks why im going down to the coastline.

Visiting that old brute from the war is a very far trip. Well, he asked that I come down and look after his house for a bit because he was expecting more pirates to attack his cargo and his public fleets; it really is a drag of a situation.

So, I guess it is more than just a friendly visit. Toki is going to be six by the time I return. Just ensure he practices his spirit energy more and does not put any more holes in the house anymore.

We might be well off out here in the outlands working with the lords to yield good crop results. However, we still must maintain a good balance in our finances. She nods sarcastically and says do not lecture me on money.

We could live outside the castle nicely, but you couldn't get along with the interior lord and his guards! While that is true, I respond that he is just grimy to be around, and this is much more my line of work now that we are no longer in wartime. I will be heading off now and sending you a carrier message once I arrive at the capital before heading down to Alek's place.

- Two months later – Providence Kingdom

I arrive at the main castle gates right around noon with our large sun passing over before the coming Sun festival. The main gate is packed with hundreds of folks passing in and out, trade wagons and cargo Wyverns passing overhead.

However, they look terrifying and could easily injure the commoner. Reports of them ever hurting someone are lower than the typical street rat leaving anyone injured—such a docile creature with scary features.

Most children fear the Wyverns until they get older or grow up with one; they are truly a beauty to behold. I pass along the guild channels, which are a collection of groups that the government hires to carry out missions from as simple as working in a food kitchen to help the less fortunate to assisting the general army in attacking or defending the kingdom.

It is an excellent way to make good money without being tied down to the regulations of the military system. I talk to a man named Helge, with long blonde hair, roughly 6'7 feet tall.

We were about the same height, except I had more bulk around the legs from carrying heavy objects. Have you seen the Local Lord around? I was told he would like an audience with me before the year ends, and I'll be down near the Dock station for personal matters.

He raises an eyebrow with skepticism asking if it is a good idea that I meet with him. Recalling the last time we met, it almost ended in an all-out fight in the meadows over some dumb politics.

Well, Helge, it was not dumb first off; he wanted to use slaves as simulation dummies to test out his military tactics. Moreover, I refused to assist him in pointlessly getting people killed. Third, he called for my presence, and I just happened to have a business nearby. So, do you know if he is around or not?

Sorry Samoht, but he is in the northern mountain range assisting another lord with some monsters that have been popping up. Rumors are it is coming from the sealed-off demon continent. I raise an eyebrow hastily and respond, "Demons escaping seems like a big deal, friend.

You would think that would acquire larger attention" Perhaps that is why he wanted your attention; regardless, it is just a rumor; he should be back within the next 2 weeks, and you will have your audience with the lord.

Very well, thank you, Helge; I will head out tonight for the Coastline along Alek's territory and might stop by to see the 3rd, Lord Waryn; she is always pleasant to converse with, at least.

I dine in for some lunch before heading out right around 7 pm. I could crash for the night and leave in the morning, but the sooner I meet up with Alek, the sooner I can come back and have an Audience with lord Raiden.

Then I can get back home and prepare Toki for the Spirit exam and hopefully help him avoid some of my youthful mistakes.

I head out on my 5–6-hour trail, and for the most part, it is an uneventful journey. Late-night walks with the Duo-moon make for bright nights as you get closer to the waterlines.

About 4 hours in, and it is roughly 3 am, I expected pure silence aside from bugs and general wolfiness roaming around. To my alarm, I hear a blaring horn and can hear a short burst of "ATTACK" and defend the water line.

I drop my excess items and head up the ridgeline to get a better vantage point of the events going on. Almost pitch blackness befell the entire house line and city structures, and along the coastline, many ships were burning up, and what appeared to be pirate vessels, or at least not our Kingdoms vessels sinking. Im sure Alek is having a grand old time.

As soon as I planned to rush over to the coast to assist, I heard a loud boom that felt as if it shook the earth beneath me, and in what was a pitch-dark night, a gigantic beam of fiery red energy broke through a seemingly invisible wall shooting hundreds of feet into the air.

In that instance, I remember Alek's letter requesting his house be protected rather than him being assisted, so trusting my gut, I dash toward an energy blast that slowly dissipates, and the night sky blackens once more.

However, it is evident by the torn land that a fight has gone on around here. That is when I see a dark figure with a knife to a child's throat no more than 4 or 5 years old.

Everything in me kicks in, and I summon my spirit energy and release "Climbing Stone Wall," shooting a massive pillar of rocking, rupturing from the ground, and slamming into the mysterious shadow. I slid in to catch the falling child noticing cuts and bruises all along his body.

The most telling sign is his burning flesh being hot to the touch. I ask the boy if he is okay, but he is completely drained and can barely talk. It is clear he created that blast in a last effort to escape. Do not worry, little one. I will take it from here.