Chapter 94: preparation 2

Devein’s eyes narrowed. “There are no shortcuts to strength. No gift without toil. You will rise only by practice, by discipline, by the will to endure. Remember, children—we are the abandoned of Orion. None will save us but ourselves.”

Xerxez lifted his head, brows furrowed. “Elder Devein… why is Wendlock’s way so different from Thallerion’s? Why did my people never teach this spirit energy?”

“Yeah,” Matheros echoed. “Why hide such power?”

Devein’s face darkened. “After the Cyprioxians took root in Thallerion, all magic was forbidden. Necromancy, crafting of enchanted weapons—even the study of spirit energy itself was condemned.”

“Cyprioxians?” Xerxez asked, eyes fixed on him.

“They are worshippers of Crux,” Devein explained slowly, “a holy entity who blesses only those who walk in rigid righteousness. To them, magic corrupts the human vessel. They call it a violation of the sacred flesh.”

Matheros snorted inwardly. So that’s why the Thallerion priests always seemed so dull. Empty halls, endless sermons. No wonder I hated those long prayers.

Xerxez’s curiosity sparked hotter. “But then… why do you still practice magic here, if it’s said to ruin the body?”

Devein gave a low laugh, shaking his head. “Child, you mistake them. The Crux clergy call it corruption not because magic destroys flesh, but because it strays from the path their god demands. They seek purity, obedience. Not truth.”

He leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“We broke away from them. For when Orion vanished, Cypriox came offering ’light’ to the forgotten. A light that blinded them. So they cast away all other knowledge, raised temples to their god, and silenced the hunters of demons and beasts. They called it peace—but it was chains.”

Xerxez shivered. His grandfather’s voice echoed in memory: Once we hunted monsters, side by side with Orion. But when he vanished, the people laid down their blades.

The boy whispered aloud, “So… the separation of Thallerion came because Orion disappeared?”

Devein tilted his head. “You are sharp for one so young. Tell me, boy—who taught you so much of history?”

Matheros chuckled silently, shaking his head. Hah. This cousin of mine… always digging into ’adult tales’ he overheard from the old ones. He knows more than he should.

Xerxez only clenched the blue crystal tighter, his heart burning. One bubble. Just one? But I will not stay weak. One day, I will hold enough spirit energy to crush Hedromus myself.

“Hahaha, look, the prince of Thallerion, a twelve years old, got only one bubble inside the crystal. Well it is normal for a young like him, compare to you Matheros who train always as a warrior.”

“Huh?” They pondered.

’How that possible? The Crystal produce a tiny bubbles inside. Xerxez’s crystal create only one bubble. While mine, there are 4 bubbles.’

’ As Me and Xerxez befriended with elder Devein, he said, my body possess spirit energy level 2, because I am already a warrior, I already have experiences in real combat, but unfortunately, Xerxez, even his solo adventure in hunting birds nest, still got no improvement on his spirit energy. Maybe, he had no so much effort of snatching eggs. Haha, I know it… hunting bird nest is too easy. Nothing too special.’

’But, elder shaman, named Devein in Wendlock, said, we can defeat a beast, but first, we must learn how to control spirit energy, before fighting to the Ursa beasts.’

’Aye, indeed, I learn to control my spirit energy in my body. But, poor Xerxez, he can’t even upgrade to level 1 spirit energy. Devein said, once we can control this spirit energy, even a twig can break a bone.’

’According to elder Devein, after Orion left, Thallerion ancestors discovered the copy of book of Orion, that book is one of the twelve weapons of Orion. But, after Orion disappeared, the content of the original book, erased magically. Luckily, the previous user of the book, wrote the knowledge he gained, and shared it to his colleagues, that’s how the magical weapons originated. Though, only few people could understand the process of the book. Many of the crucial information was omitted by the writer, only the knowledge how to control the spirit energy and how to apply it using the physical weapons.’

“Elder, what we should do to level up faster?”

“Hmm, both of you listen carefully…in life, there is no shortcut way to gain success, all you have to do, practice. We, the abandoned people, we have to rely on our own efforts, strength, and mind.”

“Uhm, Elder Devein, why does Thallerion people are different with the method here in Wendlock?” Xerxez asked.

“Yeah, why it is so different?” The young warrior pondered too.

’Come to think, my father didn’t know about teaching spiritual energy as a power or strength? Most people in Thallerion rely on physical strength alone.’

“Well…after the Cyprioxian emerged in Thallerion, all people was reprimanded to avoid practicing magic, necromancy, and even crafting of magical weapons.”

“Who are they?” The prince look firmly at the elder face.

“They are a believer of Crux entity, a holy entity that will bless according to the righteousness of human. Magic is a forbidden aspect, Crux entity hated it, as they believed, it ruin, holy body of a human.”

’Actually, Thallerion has Crux religion, the Cyprioxian church was established so many centuries ago, it was so creepy the last time I visit the church, and so boring!’

“Why did you practice magic here if magic can ruin the body?” Xerxez continued.

“No, What the Crux entity mean, aligning with magic, mean you are not following the holy path, Crux are preparing for.”

“We, separate ourselves because of the religion, after the Orion left, Cypriox came as a light to the forgotten people. Removing all aspects of magic practices, and prioritizing the religious beliefs… follow their god, is a foundation of peaceful life.”

“But, grandpa told me, we were hunter of demons and beasts, back then. He said, Orion entity vanished, so people stop hunting too. Did your separation in Thallerion also a result of the disappearance of Orion?” Xerxez composed.

’Why is Xerxez, so knowledgeable about Thallerion history? Maybe, his grandpa told everything about adult story…ehh?’

“That’s a good question… Well, the practices of spirit energy was originated through the book of Orion, but Cyprioxian stop us. Ordered to destroy our books and manuals, because they said, Orion was no longer existed. Hence, they said, we have to stop, following the Orion. Those Hypocrites!!!! They don’t really understand, what we’re doing…yet… they believed we were doing evil practices?”

“But—but… I think there is no wrong of practicing the lesson for the spirit energy… hehehee…I want to use spirit energy to give justice for the people in Thallerion… if I could do it now, I will fight.”

“Enough, you think, if you have level 2 spirit energy, you can defeat the Ursa beasts? You are 15 years old now, right? And that level 2 spirit energy at your age was incredibly rare.”

Elder Devein saw the dagger hilt decorated with precious stone.

“Ahh…Young prince, who gave you that dagger, did your father gifted you that?”

“No, actually, I just found it, during my hunting.”

’I thought, king Cerceux was the one, gifted him with that high-valued treasure? Hahahahah, I never thought, his hunting journey can find such valuable dagger, he might become rich, if he continue hunting. Eh? By the way, is elder Devein has interest with treasure, too?’

“Can I see it ?”

’Huh…ehh, he is seemingly interested? Don’t tell me, he will trick, Xerxez to get the treasure, hmm? Not suprise! I know…I know, it was bad…thinking adult people as most cunning, when talk about treasure..ehh? Xerxez , don’t be fool… that’s an adult trick. Hehehe, I will not let that happen.’

“Okay, elder Devein.” The dagger glinted from the moment it move in the sheath. “Here.”

’How innocent the kid was, he is just smiling. Unaware of adults tricks?’

“When I was young… I heard the legend of 12 weapons of Orion.” Devein said upon his hand grip the dagger. “One of them, called…the dagger of Orion… they said… all weapons of Orion decorated with precious gems.”

’Oh now, looks like he assumed the dagger, belong to the Orion’s weapons, ehh? Why does Xerxez didn’t tell, he got a treasure there? Maybe, I can find one for me. I mean, a weapon just for me too.’

“Dagger of Orion?” The boy gasped in suprise, and pondered.

’Dagger of Orion? I never heard it before from old people in Thallerion. But anyway, this prince didnt tell something about his treasure hunting?’

“Hey, Xerxez, I thought, we were bestfriends, why are you not sharing your treasure hunting…huh?” Matheros whispered loudly, even elder Devein hear it.

“Huh? hehe… I was grounded for two days, that day.” He reasoned out.

“Yes, ahem… uhm…young prince, if you don’t mind…can I get this dagger of yours? My fellow elders notice it, since you’ve been arrived in Wendlock…we wanted to inspect your dagger…just to verify one thing …and we assumed …this is the lost, Dagger of Orion.”

“Whoa!!” The boy amazed.

“Wait, wait…”

’Hahahah, like what I’ve said, adult cunning always on the run, this dagger is pure high-valued treasure…no doubts, adult people will be interested.’

“That’s Xerxez belonging! I knew it!!!! Did other elders planned it… to trick the young prince, ehh?”

“What are you talking about? If you can’t trust them, you can come with me.”

“Brother, why are you talking like that? You offended elder Devein.” The prince furrowed his brow.

’If the elders borrows it… he is really ignorant. If they will find out… it was a real Dagger of Orion…huh! I’m sure, elders will not give it back, ehh?’

’If I were Xerxez…I will not allow it. C’mon… Orion is the powerful entity… how come they can just trust the dagger to a kid like Xerxez ehh? I can’t trust elders method, they have more talk rather than actions.’

“Ow, well, that’s a great deal, then, let just ask Xerxez first, if he will agree.”

’Please don’t agree! If only I had a telepathic, I will talk to young prince to refuse. My eyes, twitching at him, hoping he could understand me.’

“Brother, I think there is no problem if they want to borrow my dagger.” The boy contemplated.

*******

’But now…I was now 22 years old. But, the elders stopping us to revolt against the Moonatorians. I trained myself, pushing my self to reach the level they are labeling of. But, I couldn’t able to reach the level 5 spirit energy, though a bit more training… perhaps elders will let me do a move to fight against the invaders.’

’My father Alexunther and the leaders back then, said, we will going to avenge our family, our lands, our people , and the throne. In the forest, all children, young warriors, train everyday. I, as the new leader in the training camp, I teach them how to control our spirit energy by the guidance of the elders.’

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