I froze, trying to listen to the scream, but nothing followed. I waited a few moments before glancing at Roy. He stood completely still, fully focused on each sound he could hear.
"Did you recognize the voice?" I asked, though even before he answered, I could already tell he was just as clueless.
"No. We should move quickly," he replied flatly, the earlier friendliness disappearing from his tone. Then, without another word, he poured some strange potion over the mutant spider's corpse.
"This will hasten the decay," he explained, after seeing that I got closer to the corpse to figure out the potion's effect. Then, he yanked my blades from the creature's skull and handed them back.
I took them and checked thoroughly. Unfortunately, they were already damaged. Apparently, the Goddess hadn't planned to use high-quality weapons with Her vessel. Either that, or the weapons just couldn't handle the weight of time.
"Elar Avenor. We move," Roy called, already moving ahead.
I nodded and followed. Even just walking through this forest was proving to be good training.
I closed my eyes and focused on other senses. My vessel's hearing was excellent. Despite the thin layer of mud stuck on my bare feet, I could still feel everything beneath them - stones, roots, broken twigs. Maybe I was just starved for the sensation of touch, but I was actually enjoying the walk.
I was trying really hard to separate the layers of sound in the forest. And yet, the creaking of the trunks and the soft rustling of leaves was all I could hear. And of course, my footsteps.
Wait, why can't I hear Roy?
I glanced over and noticed he wasn't walking normally. His heels never touched the ground. He moved on his toes, gliding over the forest floor like he weighed nothing.
I tried copying him, adjusting the way I walked, but no matter how carefully I stepped, the moment my foot touched a stray twig or dry leaf, it cracked like thunder in my ears.
What the hell are these leaves made of? I cursed in my mind.
It didn't take me long to realize that just copying him would not be enough. He was clearly using some other technique or maybe even a spell. There was so much about this world I still did not know.
I thought about asking him, but held back. He'd been on edge ever since we heard that scream, and I didn't want to break his focus. If danger was lurking nearby, I'd rather have him alert and watching the shadows than distracted by my questions.
But nothing happened.
It took us a few hours to reach the tribe, mostly because Roy kept stopping to listen to sounds every couple of minutes.
"Weapons are not allowed within the tribe," Roy said suddenly, extending a hand. He clearly wanted me to hand over my blades.
I wasn't thrilled about the idea, but I couldn't exactly go against the tribe's laws. Not yet.
"Of course," I said, my voice carrying a bit too much enthusiasm. It probably sounded like I loved the idea of being disarmed.
Roy gave me an approving nod, took the weapons, and stepped out of the forest toward the entrance.
The entrance was a tall arch, carved into the wooden fence that encircled the tribe like a quiet warning.
The moment we crossed it, Velmoryns started to gather. Vivien was the first to break from the crowd, running straight into Roy's arms and pulling him into a tight embrace.
"They said you gave your life to protect the others," she whispered, gently stroking his face. Everything about her, her trembling voice, the way her hands clung to him, screamed love and relief.
Roy softened immediately, the tension he'd carried since the forest melting from his expression.
I got uncomfortable. The only one who knew who I was and was supposed to introduce me was busy hugging his wife. Meanwhile, the rest of the Velmoryns were staring at me with suspicion and maybe even hostility.
And the worst part was that I couldn't even blame them. I looked like a lunatic who had crawled out of some cursed swamp. The tattered robe barely covered my body, I was basically half naked. My feet were caked in mud, and my hands and face were smeared with the dried, greenish blood of a monster I couldn't even name.
I considered interrupting Roy and Vivien's little reunion, but he beat me to it, already speaking before I could open my mouth.
"I'm sorry, my love," he murmured, kissing her forehead. Then he lit up, remembering her present. "Did it work? Did you feel anything from the Constitution Essence? I was so happy when we got it. Clearly, He wants our child to be strong and healthy."
He looked like a completely different person - vibrant, joyful. But that light vanished the moment Vivien replied.
"What Constitution Essence?" she asked, her eyes widening in confusion.
Roy didn't answer. His gaze swept the crowd, scanning for the faces of his party members one by one.
Everyone who heard Vivien and Roy's exchange froze. Sensing the brewing conflict, I also got intrigued and excited. Not only was this a good chance to learn more about Velmoryn culture, but it would also elevate Roy's status. Which, of course, was good for me.
"Elriel," Roy called out, locking eyes with one of the scouts from his hunting party. "Why was the Constitution Essence not given to my wife?"
I wasn't sure what the expected custom was. Maybe all the Essences were supposed to go to Vivien if they believed Roy had died. Or maybe they were supposed to keep the rest and only give her the Constitution Essence since he was the one who had claimed it. Either way, it didn't matter because the Velmoryns around us clearly agreed with Roy's logic.
"You had no right to claim it!" Elriel snapped back. "You said we would share everything equally, then took the rarest essence for yourself? That is not just unfair. It is shameful, especially from a Tribe Warrior!"
His voice rose as his anger flared. Then, he pointed at the other party members who had just come, calling them by name.
"We held a vote. The Constitution Essence was to be shared."
None of the others stood behind him, though. In fact, they all stepped back when Roy's gaze swept over them. I was sure they were as guilty as Elriel, but they did not want a conflict with Roy.
Elriel must have noticed the change. His tone softened slightly, clearly trying to defuse the situation.
"I understand you might feel betrayed, but you broke the rules! You can take the rest. The Perception, Agility… all of them. But the Constitution Essence stays with us."
Roy had been quiet until then, letting him speak his piece. But once Elriel finished, Roy finally moved.
"I would have forgiven you had you simply asked," he said quietly, stepping forward and drawing the small blade from his waist. "Had you remembered this hunt was for our Lord, not for essences."
He cut his palm with the blade, blood dripping to the ground.
"But instead, you accused me. You insulted Him. And that, I shall not forgive"
"You won't forgive me?!" Elriel snapped again, regaining the anger he showed earlier. He turned to the other Velmoryns in an attempt to gain their support. "He swore the spoils would be shared, but claimed the Constitution Essence the moment it appeared. Is that fair? Wouldn't you have felt deceived?" he scanned everyone, including me, looking for support.
But there was none.
"I, Tribe Warrior Roy, challenge you, Elriel, to a duel."
I sighed.
Now I understand why Velmoryn numbers are so low. I need to somehow abolish this useless custom.
Velmoryns were supposed to become a pillar of my divine strength. I couldn't let them solve every squabble with bloodshed.
"You may not duel a party member! Not while holding the title of Tribe Warrior." A calm, composed voice silenced the crowd.
It was Aria.
She stepped forward with confidence. Every footstep carried the weight of authority and power, far surpassing everyone gathered. I probed her emotions, and she was furious. Not just angry, but enraged. Still, her expression remained completely calm and neutral.
She's a good actress. I need to be careful around her. I made a mental note that trusting Aria's words should be the last thing on my list, at least until she earned it. Until then, I'd be double-checking every word through the divine connection.
Maybe I stared too long. Or maybe I just stood out. But she turned, locking eyes with me.
She was really beautiful. Now that I had a body that could feel things again, I could sense the pull. She was the only one in the tribe with cyan eyes and no irises. Just glowing, empty pools. And weirdly, instead of being off-putting, I found it extremely attractive.
Her gaze skimmed over me, not showing any reaction. Then she turned back to Roy.
"You must name a champion to fight in your stead," she said. "And I will not support a duel to the death. The first hunt in our God's name shall not end in blood."
Her tone was firm, but I could tell that she was saying whatever would push Roy in the direction she wanted.
Aria believed in me. She did. But not enough to go against Roy or Velmoryn customs just to please her God. Roy, on the other hand, would do anything in God's name. And Aria was already starting to exploit that.
"You're right," Roy said, not missing a beat. He didn't even pause.
He was slowly turning into a fanatic. That could become useful, but it could also be a problem if he ever started interpreting my will on his own.
"Before I name my champion," Roy turned to the other party members, "does any of you have something to say?"
It was a chance. One last opportunity to repent.
They took it.
The entire group stepped forward, their faces lighting up with relief. One by one, they cut their palms and knelt, offering their blood to Roy.
Another peculiar custom.
I was probably the only one here enjoying the sight. This was exactly what I needed - insight into Velmoryn traditions, and a front-row seat to the tribe's two most important figures.
Roy nodded and turned toward us, but before he could speak, Aria cut in.
"Who is this Velmoryn you've brought with you?" she asked, already walking toward me.
The others around me moved aside to give her space.
"I found him in the temp… in the Goddess' ruins," Roy said. "He was in a strange condition at first, but after receiving a blessing, he awoke."
He said it so flatly I felt insulted. Like I was some object he'd stumbled across, not a person.
Aria didn't comment. She stepped closer and stared into my eyes.
"May I examine your mind?" she asked, smiling faintly.
The smile softened her face. Made her look warm, kind. But I knew better.
"If you intend no alteration, you may view my memories and thoughts," I responded after a pause, trying not to sound too relaxed.
I already knew the skill she was going to use. It let her scan a target's thoughts, but it had two requirements. First, she either needed my permission or total dominance. And most importantly, her Willpower had to be higher than mine. It wasn't.
So I just stood there, amused, as she placed her hand on my forehead and her expression twisted in confusion.
"Do you have a mental defense skill?" she asked, her tone still soft and polite. She'd recovered quickly, trying to piece together why it didn't work.
"I don't," I said, shrugging. "I possess the same skill as Elar Roy."
I didn't smile, but I wanted to. I didn't know why I was enjoying it so much, but ever since she tried to manipulate me to get the blessing, something about her rubbed me the wrong way. This meaningless deceit felt like payback. Small, satisfying payback.
Aria glanced at Roy. When he nodded, confirming I really did have the same skill, she had no choice but to back off.
I enjoyed the small win, but it didn't last long.
"Let him stand as your champion," she said, turning smoothly back to Roy. "Perhaps He guided him to us, so we might welcome him as one of our own?"
**
A/N -
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