Wake up...wake up..... Is he dead? .... I don't know... I bet he's dead?... The neighborhood children conversed amongst themselves.
"You´re right Lora. I think he is dead." John said, nodding his head in agreement.
"Oh, shut up, John. You'd say anything to look good in front of Lora. He´s not dead," Devin stated, irritated with the constant bootlicking John did to appease Lora.
"You shut up, Devin! You'd be dead too if you fell from the clouds!" John countered angrily.
"Oh, stop it, you two, and someone fetch a stick," Kevin said with a scuff, not caring about the constant bickering between the two.
"A stick? What are you going to do with that...?" Taila asked, staring at Kevin with her puppy dog eyes.
"I think he´s going to poke him with it to see if the stranger reacts," Lora said. "What a brilliant idea, Lora...."
Poke, poke the children proceeded to poke the strange man.
"Is he even Human? Look at him... he gives me this strange feeling. Lora exclaimed before asking. John, can you go fetch Sister Adah to help him," Lora said in a sweet melodious voice.
"Yes," John said, speeding off amid the small town searching for his sister Adah. The Common and Mid district were quiet in the afternoon sun, but John's sudden urgency shattered that peace like glass. He tore through the market square, scattering fruit baskets and startling a pair of goats tethered near the well. A vendor shouted after him as apples rolled into the gutter, but John didn't stop; he couldn't. His heart pounded in his chest like war drums.
"Move! Out of the way!" he barked, weaving through clusters of townsfolk. Children playing by the bakery leapt aside with surprised yelps, and an old man nearly dropped his walking stick as John brushed past. Each thud of his worn sandals on the cobblestones echoed his frantic heartbeat. He risked a quick glance back, half expecting to see Lora or Kevin urging him on, but there was only the receding hum of the market. The image of the pale, motionless man under the Elder Tree fueled his sprint, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. What if he wasn't just unconscious? What if he was... worse?
He sprinted down the alley between the apothecary and the blacksmith's forge, where smoke and the clang of iron filled the air. The metallic tang of molten steel mixed with the sweet, cloying smell of medicinal herbs. His shoulder slammed into a stack of wooden crates, sending one crashing to the ground, but he didn't take the time to look back. As John sprinted through the town, the lively chatter of market vendors faded into a distant hum. The scent of fresh bread from the bakery mingled with the earthy aroma of the nearby Druid stalls, but he barely noticed. His mind was racing, consumed by thoughts of the golden-eyed stranger. What had happened to him? Would Lora and the others be safe? All he could think about was the strange man with golden eyes, the man who made Lora's voice tremble.
The temple came into view at the top of the hill, its worn stone walls rising like a bastion above the rest of the buildings, not including the main castle. The towering spire caught the sunlight, casting long shadows over the path as John ascended the stone steps two at a time, lungs burning, legs threatening to give out. Each step was a desperate plea for Sister Adah's help, a silent prayer that he wasn't too late. He skidded to a halt outside the temple, breathless and wide-eyed. "Come on, John!" he muttered to himself, shaking off the doubt that threatened to creep in. He could hear the faint murmur of town folk discussing the "hooligan running around, tearing up the district", but he ignored them. This was more important.
Without hesitation, he threw open the heavy wooden doors with a loud BANG, the noise echoing through the hallowed chamber like thunder, sending echoes down the ancient walls, whispering secrets of countless generations. He hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the path he had just run. But the urgency in his heart pushed him forward. "Sister Adah! Sister Adah!!!" he cried, his voice ricocheting off the vaulted ceilings. Dozens of robed acolytes turned, startled by his entrance. A few dropped their scrolls. The scent of incense hung thick in the air, almost choking in contrast to the open sky John had just left behind. As the acolytes turned to look at him, their surprised expressions mirrored his own panic. "Sister Adah!" he shouted again, urgency lacing his voice. What if he was too late? What if the man was dead? What if Lora and his friends were hurt by the strange energy coming from the strange man?
He ran past the women's shower area. A memory flashed across his mind about last year's fire that caused the death of some students and faculty due to how difficult it was to hear in the Men's area. Unbeknownst to John, Sister Adah felt as if someone was watching her as she showered. A shiver of unease traced its way down her spine, a prickle of mana on her skin indicating an unwanted presence. So she hid in the corner of the steam room, the steam swirling around her like a misty veil, obscuring her form. Her senses, honed by years of intense magical training, were on high alert. She could feel the vibrations of approaching footsteps, too heavy for an acolyte, too bold for a student. A low growl rumbled in her throat. She was ready to punish the perv, who dared to gaze at her naked body.
John entered the lady's washroom with caution, calling out for her. What he didn't expect was that Sister Adah was waiting for him, a terrifying figure shrouded in steam, mana crackling around her. Gathering mana in her palm, Sister Adah yelled out, "Trying to peek on me is the first and last mistake you'll ever make!" Instead of launching the swirling mass of energy directly, she threw it, a calculated decision. Throwing it would limit the amount of damage the attack would cause. She wanted to hurt the bastard, not take down the entire spiral. At worst, she thought the perv would be half dead and the blast would be somewhat contained, due to the arrays and wards.
BbBbBbBoOoOoOoOmMmMmM!!! The sound of the huge explosion coming from the Learning Center startled the entire Kingdom of Kongo. Buildings shook, and distant shouts erupted across the city as citizens looked towards the spire. Within seconds, guards stormed to the point of the sound of origin. General Kar, a formidable Beastman whose presence alone could quell riots, was among the first to arrive, his stern face etched with concern. They found half the third-floor classrooms destroyed, along with the female's washroom, a gaping hole where a wall once stood. The air still crackled with residual mana, and dust motes danced in the shafts of light piercing the shattered roof.
After searching the area, they found John shivering in the corner stall, crying, and Sister Adah, who was wrapped in a blanket, an apologetic expression on her face that was battling with lingering fury. "Adah, what is the meaning of this?! You openly attacked a student on school grounds. Out of all the children, you attacked Lil John at that?! Do you think you're a God or something? The Queen will have your title for this if not your head. I hope you have a reasonable excuse for blowing up half the upper hall as well?!" General Kar said furiously, his voice a low growl, while waiting for Sister Adah to come out of her shock. At the same time, he was rather impressed that she managed to destroy several magic-fortified walls. Such raw power, even if misdirected, was a rare sight.
'Oh no, what did I just do?!' Adah thought frantically. The reality of her actions crashed over her, extinguishing the last embers of her misplaced anger. 'What do I do now? I hope little John isn't severely hurt. How would the children look at me now, knowing that I almost severely injured or killed John? The Queen may have my title for this. Where would I go if I were kicked out of the kingdom? How do I respond to this mistake?' Her mind raced, a whirlwind of regret and panic, so consumed that she had subconsciously ignored General Kars' questions. She hugged the blanket tighter, wishing it could make her disappear.
"General Kar, why is this kid so important? Many teachers have punished or killed students on school grounds, according to reports. So, what makes this runt special?" First Lieutenant asked confusedly, with his hand on his chin. He gestured to the trembling John, clearly unimpressed by the boy's current state. "Kar sighed before explaining, Lieutenant, you haven't been with us long, so I'll pretend I didn't hear that comment about the young master. You see, John wasn't just an ordinary kid. His Father, Big John, is the top adviser to the Queen and is rumored to be a not-so-hidden heir to the throne. Since Queen Nandi has never taken a husband, meaning any child, bastard child born, has a solid chance at the crown. Big John, or acting king, as many people call him, but never to his face, is the second greatest influential person in the entire kingdom and has almost as much power as the queen herself. Generally speaking. If he had the backing of most nobles in Kongo and wanted to stage a coup, he could potentially suppress Queen Nandi. Of course, that's only if the Queen doesn't have any hidden means, but what king or queen would be without one or many?" Kar finished, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage, a clear warning in his eyes to the Lieutenant.
General Kar knelt on one knee to be eye level with Lil John, to console him before asking a few questions, his voice softening slightly. "Are you OK, Lil John? What were you doing peeking at Sister Adah? We received a report that you were running through the city like a wild boar. So, the question is, were you seeking help or rushing to be a little perv?"
Lil Jon instantly remembered his mission. He sprang up to his feet, making it seem like he wasn´t just a snot-nosed weeping mess a moment ago. His voice, though still a little shaky, gained a newfound urgency. "Sister Adah!!! Shortly after the loud explosion, my friends and I saw something crash near the Elder Tree. When we checked it out. It was a man who gave off a weird feeling when approached, and we couldn´t find his shadow! We were unable to make out whether he was alive or not, so I rushed here to get you."
Bowing Lil John said apologetic, without taking a breath, ¨I´m sorry for not knocking and scaring you! ¨
"Couldn´t find his shadow? Is he a Lunatic? Did he have any Luna markings, jewelry, or visible tattoos?" General Kar asked curiously, his brow furrowing at the mention of a shadowless man. The concept was unsettling. "His clothes were ripped and smoking, but there weren´t any visible markings, jewelry, or tattoos."
Lil Jon replied. "He does, however, have darkness and shadow attributes. His energy density seems to be on par with the elders. Except he´s a lower tier.
Is that even possible?" A Guard asked questionably. Receiving looks from his fellow that told him to close his shut his mouth before he invites trouble to the squad.
Sister Adah, shaking off her guilt, interrupted, shouting, "Boys don´t get sidetracked! We still have a patient to attend to." Her professional demeanor quickly reasserted, overriding her embarrassment. "Right!" General Kar ordered, snapping to attention. "Knights, assemble the medical cartage and escort the Sister and Lil John to the scene of the accident." The Guards, still snickering under their breath about the incident with Sister Adah and Lil John, quickly moved to obey.
......…..
Shortly after arriving at the Elder Tree, the guards set a perimeter around the strange man, their expressions a mix of awe and trepidation. Sister Adah approached her patient as safely and cautiously as possible to assess the situation. Even from a distance, the air around the strange man hummed with an unsettling energy, a faint chill emanating from his prone form. Only Sister Adah was able to approach the stranger with a strong feeling of overwhelming chaos, a sensation that tightened her stomach and made her hair stand on end. Even General Kar´s fur stood up when in close quarters, though he was not fearful but alert to the possible threat emanating from the stranger. His senses, usually so reliable, were screaming conflicting warnings.
"Calm down, little kitten. No need to get your fur in a bunch," Sister Adah said playfully, her voice surprisingly light, cutting through the tension. While scratching behind General Kar´s ear, causing him to purr and move in a cat-like behavior, a deep, rumbling sound filled the clearing.
"Is the captain purring?... I believe he is." The guards laughed among themselves, a rare moment of levity amidst the strange circumstances. General Kar has never shown any emotion to them other than a stern guiding hand. Despite being a descendant of Bastet, more commonly known as a Species known as Beastmen. His stern demeanor rarely cracked.
Quickly remembering where he was, General Kar snapped back into his stern disposition, the purr instantly ceasing. With an embarrassed expression on his face, General Kar sternly ordered the guards to prepare the medical wagon for transportation. That didn´t stop the guards from snickering amongst each other.
One guard dared to whisper, "I guess there´s a little kitten in there after all".
General Kar's ears were twitching in anger as he yelled, "What did you say?!?! Stop snickering and get back to work!" He glared daggers at the offending guards, whose grin quickly vanished. The threat of intensive physical training was palpable in his eyes. General Kar turned around and asked Sister Adah about the strange man's status.
Focused on her patient, Sister Adah didn't look back to address General Kar. I performed non-magic medical assessments and determined that he is not in any immediate signs of danger. He seems to be in an extreme state of exhaustion, but strangely, he has mana. Let's load him up in the medical cart and take him to the recovery bay.
¨You heard the lady! Load him up. ¨ General Kar commanded
Little did they know the stranger had briefly gained consciousness for a moment. Just right before Sister Adah approached him. Before losing it again.
"Where am I? Why can't I move my body?" The stranger thought with blurry vision and extreme fatigue. His senses were dulled, his limbs heavy and unresponsive. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes. Before losing consciousness again, the man saw a beautifully shaped bronze silhouette moving towards him. The figure seemed to glow, a beacon of warmth in the encroaching darkness. When the figure came within arm's reach, he started to feel warm, a comforting heat that spread through his aching body, before drifting back into an unconscious state. He felt a profound sense of relief, a release from the struggle, as the darkness consumed him once more. I want to