Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 64: Feast (3.)

"Do you want to return to the Silent Forest now?" Magnus asked, his voice soft.

Perched on his neck, the three-inch worm nodded, its movement causing Magnus’s brows to furrow in concern. Through their unique bond, Magnus could sense more than just Vorax’s determination; a storm of anger raged within the small creature, churning like a tempestuous sea. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Vorax possessed remarkable intelligence. After the recent trial, the creature had come to a sobering realization: it was still too weak to effectively protect its master. This understanding fueled its burning desire to grow stronger, to become the shield Magnus deserved.

Magnus sighed, accepting Vorax’s resolve. He hadn’t intended to keep the creature confined for much longer anyway. In fact, he had planned to release Vorax the following day.

His own plans included a visit to the Silent Forest for training. While his Conceptual Manipulation magic held immense potential, Magnus had barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. He could influence wind direction and alter simple probabilities, like shifting the rat’s luck earlier, but beyond that, his understanding remained limited.

The true depths of his ability, how to effectively wield it in combat and other situations, remained a mystery. He hoped the Silent Forest, with its varied environments and challenges, would provide the perfect testing ground for his burgeoning powers.

Since his own path aligned with Vorax’s desire, there was no reason to hold the creature back. "Okay, buddy," Magnus said, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "Stay safe."

He knew, with a touch of irony, that Vorax would likely be safer in the wilderness than under his protection. As a Celestial beast, albeit at its lowest stage of development, Vorax represented a valuable prize. Coupled with Magnus’s own limited strength, they were vulnerable to those seeking to exploit them. A greedy individual wouldn’t hesitate to snatch a young Celestial beast, still malleable and easy to train.

Magnus considered himself fortunate. His territory resided in a forgotten corner of the Beastlands’ periphery, minimizing the chance of encountering powerful individuals who could recognize Vorax’s true nature. The risk wasn’t zero, but it was significantly reduced.

Within the vast expanse of the Silent Forest, however, Vorax had the opportunity to grow in power while remaining undetected. Its heightened senses and intelligence would allow it to avoid stronger opponents and navigate the dangers of the wild. Magnus trusted Vorax’s ability to survive and thrive in this challenging environment.

Responding to Magnus’s words of caution, Vorax emitted a soft, whimpering sound, a gesture of affection that warmed Magnus’s heart. He reached out, petting the creature’s head before gently tossing its small body towards the wall.

Mid-flight, Vorax began to expand rapidly. By the time it landed, it had transformed into its combat form, a formidable creature ready to face the challenges of the Silent Forest. Without hesitation, it burrowed into the earth, disappearing beneath the surface.

Magnus watched as the ground trembled in Vorax’s wake, a clear indication of the creature’s speed and power. A cloud of dust marked its subterranean journey towards the Silent Forest.

"Lord Magnus is truly fortunate to have a Celestial beast as a companion," a voice suddenly echoed from behind him. It was Kael, emerging from the shadows.

Magnus wasn’t startled. He had sensed Kael’s approach, despite the veil of shadow magic the assassin employed. The link between Magnus and his summon allowed him to detect them from considerable distances, unless they were concealed within a space completely isolated from the outside world.

"You could say that," Magnus replied, his gaze still fixed on the dust cloud marking Vorax’s progress. He acknowledged the role of luck in acquiring Vorax. But it was his decision to invest all his attribute points into luck that had led to this fortunate circumstance.

"You left the feast already?" Magnus inquired, finally turning to face Kael.

"Yes," Kael responded, his voice unusually subdued.

"Hmm, I see," Magnus murmured, sensing something amiss. "Why is that?"

"I don’t know," Kael admitted, a somber tone coloring his words. "I managed to socialize with many people, but the atmosphere...it wasn’t for me. People were drinking, attempting to appear joyful, but I could sense the pain they were trying to drown in alcohol, lost in the fleeting moment."

Magnus frowned. Kael’s observation rang true. The recent trial and the losses suffered during Gaylord’s ambush still weighed heavily on the people. Such grief didn’t simply vanish overnight.

For instance, Augustus who maintained a cheerful facade, going about his days as if life continued as normal. Magnus knew, however, that beneath the surface, the old man carried a heavy burden of sorrow. The wounds of loss ran deep, and healing took time.

Each time Magnus looked into the old man’s eyes, really deep into them, he could easily see the pain residing there. Magnus knew it wasn’t just Augustus; plenty of others were hiding their pain behind a mask of normalcy, going about their days as if everything was fine.

And like tonight, many drowned their sorrows in alcohol.

"Anyway," Kael added, lowering his gaze to avoid Magnus’s eyes, "feasts like this aren’t really my thing."

Magnus’s eyebrows knitted together. He sensed that Kael wasn’t telling him everything, but he decided not to push.

"Come here, come stand with me," Magnus said, motioning for Kael to come closer.

Kael stepped forward, standing beside Magnus. Together, they gazed over the wall at the desolate landscape below, bathed in moonlight, wrapped in silent contemplation.

The quiet lingered briefly before Magnus finally broke it. "What do you see when you look down this path?" he asked suddenly.

Kael was taken aback by this question. ’Why is Lord Magnus asking such a question?’ he wondered but answered nonetheless.

"A vast expanse of land," Kael replied.

"No," Magnus responded.

"A desolate, broken expanse of land, maybe?" Kael speculated, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Close to the answer," Magnus said with a smile. "Do you know what I see? I see a land of opportunities and possibilities."

He explained, "A land broken over time by disasters and various events, healed over time, broken again, healed again—and yet it hasn’t lost its beauty, its grace, or its potential. It’s still full of life and the possibility of nurturing life," Magnus said, gesturing toward the vast expanse before them.

Kael’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. How did Magnus know about this land’s history of being repeatedly broken and healed? Apart from the recent trial a few days ago, it hadn’t looked that bad before, certainly not a bit broken. So what was Magnus talking about?

Unbeknownst to Kael, Magnus had witnessed this piece of land’s history when he bonded with the Lord’s Seal. He had seen everything it had endured over time. It was surprising that it could still sustain life. Many would assume it to be barren, but it wasn’t.

"Lord Magnus, why are you telling me all of this?" Kael asked, perplexed.

"Because you have more in common with this land than you know, as do many others out there," Magnus said, causing Kael’s eyebrows to knit together in confusion.

"A lot of us are like this land, broken many times by life’s challenges and other hardships, yet within us lies the potential for a promising future—a chance for a new beginning—but only if we allow it," Magnus said, turning away from the wall to face Kael.

"You see, Kael, you are like this land more than you can ever imagine. I might not know what you’ve been through, and I can’t even begin to imagine it. I can’t tell you I understand your feelings or experiences, but what I do know is that deep down, there’s still life within you. Don’t let it be extinguished because of the past," Magnus said before turning away.

Before departing, he patted Kael on the shoulder and said, "I’m here whenever you want to talk," with a gentle smile.

Kael lowered his eyes to the ground. Magnus could see his internal struggle but continued on his way. Before he could leave, Kael said, "Lord Magnus, please stop."

Magnus halted but didn’t turn to face Kael.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it," Kael said.

"No problem," Magnus replied and then walked away, leaving Kael alone by the wall.

Meanwhile, Kael remained there, staring over the wall, tears suddenly streaming down his face.

"Carlos," he whispered, his eyes red with pain, though he quickly wiped them away, a look of determination overtaking his features as his gaze fixed firmly ahead.

"I’ll kill him," he murmured under his breath clenching his fist until it turns white.

-

Meanwhile, unaware of this vow, Magnus made his way out of the area. The feast continued, with music, dancing, clinking wine glasses, and loud, drunken chatter filling the air. But Magnus ignored all of this as he headed straight toward his house.

Upon arriving, he went directly to his room, immediately lying down on his bed with his head facing the ceiling.

The sounds of the feast were distant, allowing him to drift into a restful sleep without disturbance. It had been quite a long day, and he was exhausted.