Chapter 62: Souls

Well, I saw a slightly different scene. Yes, that cemetery only contains about forty mounds of soil with wooden tombstones like in my colony. However, I saw figures resembling H or the guardian spirit of the Redtooth tribe.

They were all translucent white and also had no features on their faces. However, they have clothes and hair, though that was the same color as their bodies, pure white and somewhat translucent.

Ah, the spirits of the dead, huh?

I kept looking at those figures who seemed to be busy with their respective activities. Some are running, just sitting, practicing martial arts, and so on.

One of the figures, looking like a grown woman, came to Sena and made a gesture to stroke the boy's head. Sena closed his eyes, even though the hand didn't really caress him. I could see that the hand was actually going through slightly to the boy's head.

"Last night I met a figure in orange, sir." Sena started to speak. "He asked me to tell you about my family."

Another transparent female figure, with her hair also braided, came to Sena's back and put her hands on the boy's shoulders.

"So?" I asked back, wondering what H would do with this kid.

"They are both my mother and older sister." Sena opened his eyes again. "They died in the winter."

I'm just silent. My stomach felt like it was being squeezed out.

"I don't really remember much of that time. I was too young." The boy continued his speech. "My father used to tell the stories. We left our old tribe because there was a deadly plague there. Our goal is to find a new tribe that will accept us."

The spirits of Sena's mother and sister moved away. They waved to the boy, who smiled faintly and waved back.

The mother and daughter held hands, then walked around the cemetery.

Sena took a deep breath. "However, no matter how far we walked, we couldn't find any other tribes. We were getting more and more anxious, because winter was coming. And finally, we saw a small snowflake falling."

Smiling faintly, the boy looked at me while blinking his eyes that were starting to tear up. "You know that in winter the plants don't bear fruit and animals hibernate? We don't have enough food, not to mention the air is getting colder... My mother was the first to fall...." Sena looked at her mother and older sister, who were still walking around. "And my older sister fell right at the gate of this tribe. She was treated for a while, but couldn't be helped. She died from cold. Her clothes were really thick, but it wasn't enough."

I'm still speechless. This kid has been through something really hard. However, he was still able to smile.

"Even so, I'm grateful to have this kind of power, sir." The boy's smile grew wider. "I can see them again, although I can't talk to them and I can't see them all the time."

"I see." I sighed. "You are a strong child, Sena."

I began to imagine that my colonists had the same fate as the Sena family. Food probably won't be a problem. However, what about warmth? They couldn't make a bonfire outside because it might be blown away by the storm. Making a fire in a log house is also a foolish act. The house might catch fire.

From a distance, Suja's group approached the cemetery. The boy bowed and was about to kneel down, but the tribe leader raised his hand. "You don't have to do that, boy. You are my special resident."

Suja laughed, then ordered his four bodyguards to lower the palanquin he was sitting on. The four bodyguards and the women who accompanied Suja all took the usual kneeling positions of their tribe. Meanwhile, the tribe leader walked up to Sena.

"Just finished looking around, Your Majesty?" Sena asked the fat man.

"I haven't been out in a long time." Suja chuckled, stopped a few meters from the boy. "And I haven't visited the graves of my wife and children in a long time. It's a good thing you happened to be here. Your powers are active, right? Can you see them now?"

"Unfortunately no, your honor. I haven't been able to see them."

Suja took a deep breath. "When was the last time you saw them? Three years ago?"

"That's right, your honor." Sena answered. "The first time my power became active."

"But you can see your family, right?" Suja asked and got a soft nod from the boy. "You haven't seen them in a long time either. Why? Why haven't you seen them lately?"

Instead of answering, Sena lowered his head. Suja's brows furrowed because of that.

"What's wrong, Sena?" The tribe leader asked again.

"My friends hate me because I'm free to go in and out of the tribe, while they are only allowed to leave when they are taught something by their parents like hunting, mining and others." Sena said in a timid tone. "So, can your highness let them out too? I don't want them to hate me all the time."

Suja gently stroked the child's head. "They are the future of our tribe. We as adults have to take care of them, hence I forbid them to come out except when necessary. Outside the fence there are many threats."

"But, why is it that only I can go out at will?"

"You are special, Son." Suja smiles. "You need to see the wide world in order to practice your special powers, without intervention from others. That's why I also let you go unguarded."

Bullshit. From the moment I met Sena today, I noticed the presence of someone from far away peeking out from behind the tree. They are definitely not an ordinary people whose stealth is only a maximum of 20 and isn't shown in the profile window. Maybe they are like Kat, who has a rather high stealth ability.

"Seeing the wide world to train my special power?" Sena raised an eyebrow. "What does it mean?"

"When you grow up, you'll understand."

"It turns out that the leader of your tribe really admires psychic power, huh?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.

However, Sena looked at me. "Not only psychic power, but everything related to it, sir. He is also very interested in spirits like you. He always awaits the word of our guardian spirit."

"Are you talking to our guardian spirit?" Suja's eyes widen, and I can immediately see the enthusiasm on his face.

"No, Your Majesty. I'm talking to the guardian spirits of our guests. He just talked to me."

Suja held his breath, and an idea popped into my head. If Suja admires spirit so much, will he listen to what I have to say?

"Give my regards to him." Suja said in an excited tone.

I rubbed my face. This is a great opportunity that may not come again.

However, is it appropriate for me to use it regardless of the risks involved?

While I was lost in confusion, Suja asked again. "How was that? Did he return my greeting?"

Sena looked at me for a moment, then shook his head at Suja.