Farmer or Cultivator? Why not both?-Chapter 30: The hole at home

Ren narrated his meeting with the great shaman Evo, and although they did not believe him at first, they came to. Of course Ren had no reason to lie, and he had been quite energetic with describing his meet with the eccentric man, what they found difficult to believe was the part where Ren described the shaman using magic in public. The use of magic was not terribly shunned in the holy city, but the great art was believed to be much too holy, revered as a direct connection to the gods, to use the art in public especially that which attracts people was profane, unholy, and ultimately an insult to the great privilege. They struggled to wrap their minds. around how the shaman would have broken such a fundamental rule, especially since he was the one who had made public display of magic a crime.

"It did not catch the attention of people around. It was an illusion that had just the two of us, I don’t think those around noticed, or even could have."

"Evo is a powerful man, and powerful people often bend the rules to suit them, even if they are the creators of such rules." Erigald explained. They came to believe him, upon making that part clear. However, when it came to divulging what he was told, or what had happened, Ren refrained.

"He told me that he knew when I got to the city, and that his help was wanted. He watched my dreams, and he knew I would awake by my will and because of that he pushed away seeing me. I believe our encounter happened by chance, I think he was simply out trying some of the tavern’s meals when he spotted me."

"Ohh!" Eldrad exclaimed, seeing the shaman was a great honour not to mention conversing with him. For one who was as devoted and pious as he was, he felt that it was a great honor.

Elizabeth and Eldrad seemed to have bought the story, Erigald on the other hand seemed skeptical. Ren sensed the doubt in his face, but whether the businessman believed him or not, he did not push, and he smiled, patting Ren on the shoulder.

Erigald had hoped to see the shaman but Evo had clearly been avoiding him, and they could not stay for much longer, there was work that needed attending to. Tunish had been struck with the deaths of many of its people over a very short period of time, that trauma needed to be attended to.

By noon, the team had prepared to move, clothes folded, and foods purchased for the three days trip back.

’If we were powerful cultivators, we would reach Tunish in minutes.’ The things he saw Mahābodhivān do was giving him ideas, Cultivators were truly as powerful as they were said to be.

Buildings drifted beside them as they moved towards the city gates, shrinking the closer they got to the gates. The city was built in such a way that homes, and structures closer to the gates and walls were smaller, and the buildings would grow in size with buildings at the middle being the largest then shrinking once again as they approached the walls of the opposite end.

Ren was fascinated by the creature’s that pulled their cart. Gogin they were called; reptilian scaly looking things that stood tall with long pale and scaly legs like that of birds. They were darkish brown with a jutting head structure that gave them quit the resemblance monitor lizards, and they bore long red split tongues. They pulled one of Erigald’s many carts that carried them. One of Erigald’s men steered them, and Ren could only describe the burly man as eccentric, he didn’t speak, and he had a large ugly scar that ran across half of his face, blinding his left eye.

They got through the guards, and eventually, they were out of the city gates. Goodbye Marina, the city of the pious.

As the sun descended toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and crimson, Ren found himself withdrawing into his own mind. His hand drifted unconsciously to his pocket, where the letter from Evo rested. The Crane Crab Pavilion—one of the nation’s most prestigious cultivation sects. How many cultivators dreamed of an opportunity like that? And yet, when he thought about what the shaman had told him, a feeling of frustration formed in his chest.

The words echoed in his mind as the cart bounced along the forest road. Was that all he was? A tool for the gods to use at their discretion? He thought about the quest system, the way favor points rose and fell based on the whims of divine beings he’d never chosen to serve. He thought about Enoa. Even his class, his abilities—they were gifts granted by these so-called gods, which meant they could be taken away just as easily.

But Evo believed he could break those shackles.

He had to take the letter, he had to go to this pavilion and harness his cultivation potential, but he would have to leave his home, his animals, and his livehood. That was all a little too much to let go of, especially since they were the last fragments of his identity, the only things that reminded him that he was not of Enesh but from some other world.

Eldrad and Erigald busied each other with old stories of their exploits, stories they had told each other too many times. Elizabeth on the other hand had eyes on Ren. She knew something stirred within him.

"Hey!" She whispered sheepishly, pulling Ren from his train of thoughts. Ren responded with a smile.

"What are you thinking about? Is this about you surviving that encounter?"

"Oh no, it’s not that. I have barely given that a thought at all. You mentioned that Jonan was going well, didn’t you?"

"Yes, he was in a stable condition when we left. Unless his wound gets infected, he should be fine. You should visit him."

"Maybe I will, maybe I will."

The evening soon progressed into night, and the team decided to camp, and sleep the night. The Gigron could travel the night with their specially adapted eyes but even they needed their rest.

The team found a spot between the trees, and not too far from the path. Ren made fire, and the team roasted some meat they had bought.

Ren smiled as he watched Eldrad and Erigald bicker. It was only the merchant that could make the village chief this engaged.

Tomorrow, they will continue their journey