Chapter 38 - Thirty-Six

We were outside now and, to my surprise, there was a day cycle in this floor; but with no sun, making the whole celling shine, which was very weird and bright.

As I looked outside I was still cracking my head to find a name for the little guy while he played with my fingers on the palm of my hand, as well as keeping an eye out for danger.

The good thing was that, at least, the massive river of energy from this floor lead deeper into the island, not in the middle of the ocean, thank God!

"Ah… I really want to get off this dungeon soon." I say, sighing.

I was starting to get claustrophobic here, even if the place was big.

And I missed my brother too.

Leonel keeps walking beside me, not talking, as we follow the stone path up the hills inside the tropical forest, so it is a surprise once he starts speaking:

"What are you going to do once we are out of here?"

I look at him and almost trip on an exposed root, making the little one squeak and hop on top of my head, holding my ears for balance. Then I really think about what I was going to do, putting my plans into words:

"Well, I intend to train more, so I'll go to the desert with my brother so we can hunt down some fire creatures and consume their crystals. How about you?"

"Hm…" He seems to be thinking about it for the first time, as he says: "Probably go back to my castle and make a name for myself."

"Hm… I see, back to your… castle?!"

"Yes, I'm a prince on my human side, though it is just an empty title for now."

…

…And he never thought that that was somehow important to say to me? What the hell! That only proved my line of thinking, that I really didn't know him in the least, and we have been together for days now!

Fuming, I get distracted by some palm trees with coconuts high above them. Sharpening my claws I hug the trunk and push myself upwards until I reach the goodies.

"Leo! Catch!"

I start throwing them at him until he had 5, and while I went down the tree Leo cleaned the outside of the coconuts and made a hole on top for us to drink with a knife.

We started walking again, still going up, once he cracks it open so we can eat the white stuff inside, wummy.

"So… Why did you come here then? I mean, to this dungeon."

"For the experience."

…

…That's it? Still not able to carry on a conversation now, is he? How I'm supposed to have this one sided conversation! Help me out here!

"For the experience? Really? I don't think you are getting that here, not after that display. Or perhaps it what something that happen here that made you… overpowered?"

Leo looks at me then, a calm expression in place as no answer comes from him, pissing me off slightly.

"Come on! There must be something you can tell me! How do you want me to trust you when you clearly keep things from me?!"

That took him off guard for once, and he diverted his eyes from me, thinking. I let it go so I wouldn't get nervous, again, for the same thing since that wouldn't make any difference beyond me getting a headache later after all.

We hiked the rest of the path in silence that day, passing through breathtaking landscapes, been high enough on the track to see the sea and the top of the trees below as well as some little rivers and waterfalls.

The silence was welcomed; at the same time that I wanted to know him better I regretted every futile attempt. But now I had another reason too.

To analyze that dream.

Of course I didn't think it was but a mere dream, it was too real to be, and how could I dream with something so… different from my reality? I haven't smelled those odors before, and yet knew exactly what they were; and worst, I knew who I was speaking to…

There was more to it, I knew it.

The night came abruptly, as if someone had turned off the lights, no orange in the sky nor the dark blue coming slowly, just pitch black and stars, making me think for a second that someone was attacking us and blinding us.

"We should camp."

"Agree."

Caught by surprise we didn't have time to prepare a camping place, so no cabins or caves for us tonight. Instead, we found a clearing with a beautiful view of the platinum sea, the little guy illuminating the place with his red head like a lamp.

We took some clothes and blankets from my Shadow Pocket, cleaning the floor from leaves and making a semi-circle around the bonfire we lit.

I made my cocoon of blankets/clothes while I waited for Leo to cook something for us, smelling great as always, accompanied by the little guy hugging my chest.

"How about Shrum, Shu for short?"

"…"

"I know that is like having a brown dog and naming it Brownie, but I told you I'm terrible with names!"

He shrugged, starting to add the ingredients to yet another of his amazing soup; even if he still complained about the lack of salt, sugar and oil.

I could only fathom the taste his food would have if he had all those ingredients.

He puts sliced coconut, lemon juice, some mushrooms; don't let Shrum see it; slices of carrot, a fish we caught on the river before, and other green plants that I didn't recognize.

All fresh to the oven!

Never thought I would like so many dishes with less or even without meat as much as I did since Leo started cooking for me.

My mouth started to water as I changed back to my hound form, already caring the clothes to the bag, stretching my long legs and feeling like I had put my pajamas on.

Even more, it was safer to stay in my hound form in case we suffer an attack in the middle of the night.

I go back to my nest of blankets, bringing Shrum closer with my paw, and resting my chin on the other. Leo finishes the dish, putting the bowl in front of me, as we ate in silence.

Leo finishes first, straightening his posture, resting his hands on top of his lap. He looks at the fire, making the orange light reflect in his golden eyes, as he starts to talk:

"There are things I can talk about now… and others that I won't. I don't have any intentions of holding information from you, is just that now is not the right time. I can only promise you that one day in the future I'll tell you everything."

He didn't seem to have finished so I wait patiently, licking the drops of soup from my snout.

"My power from before came from a specific training that not many can or are allowed to learn. Is a type of magic that doesn't need the experience or energy from other creatures to evolve. It absorbs from nature and the natural magic that's around us, but it takes more time to level up."

"Though his far greater in a long time project, since you do not stop at the level most do, some even reach the path of immortality. Another factor is that those techniques are well hidden in each clan, only taught to those with an affinity and who pass their requirements."

"My master was the holder of the ancient relics techniques, though I cannot enter in many details, all I can say is that it is the hardest yet one of the strongest type of Qi refining."

"Qi refining?"

"Qi is the energy that exists all around us, commonly called by magic. Once inside, absorbed by the body and soul, it becomes Chi energy. The point is, it can be somewhat similar to what magic holders do, but is far more complex, with techniques that are not open to the public."

"So they kind of use the same energy, the only difference is how they use them?"

"Yes."

"So… How does yours differ from the rest? How is the most difficult yet stronger?"

"Mine are the arts of the runes. They are like words, that once formed can bring forth the intend of the word. For example, the one I used before is Purified, a complex pattern with 3 layers."

I waited for him to continue, eager for the knowledge, and even more because he was, finally, sharing something from himself with me. He looks up, seeing if I wasn't bored by the explanation, and continues:

"They make you as strong as you can remember their patterns and sequence, plus making them in a short amount of time; the more complex the symbol, the stronger and harder it gets. There is a basic vocabulary, like what we commonly use, but they are only able to make words with four letters, since you write the traces on top of each other, making unreadable with more than four."

"Them there are the complex ones, one symbol meaning the entirety of the word; a petal symbol can mean Spring, but a petal-lotus symbol, plus the sun, and the stars becomes Purification. There are many other runes that weren't discovered yet, and the strength of the caster depends on his memory of the runes and understanding of them."

"… Seems complex."

"Is not that hard once you get used to it."

"Uhum."

He was covering himself for the night now, since I was already prepared for bed, as I ask:

"How old are you again?"

"Thirteen."

Bullshit.

How could he have learned such complex techniques if he was that young?

He couldn't be a reincarnated too, could he?

Is not like I can ask him though, I think before yawing, not without giving myself away. Hell, even my brother didn't know yet.

My eyes were heavy yet I didn't fall asleep as Shrum kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep. I raise my paw to look at him, curled in a ball by my side.

"Unable to sleep?"

He looks up with his little eyes, passing his hands over them as he nods.

"Them how about a song?"

He opens a wide smile, making his little teeth appear as he sits up. I hear some ruffle of clothes and know that Leo turned my way to listen as well.

Getting up a little to give more space to my lungs I clean my throat and lick my black lips, letting soft musics come to mind, humming a lullaby as the lyrics take form:

"Hush now my child, for the night has come~~

Your papa is home and your mama is close~~

With dark skies~~ the night has come~~

Hush now my child, it is time to dream~~

Hush, lovely child, for your parents are here~~

Do not worry now, for safe we will you keep~~

Hush now my child~~for we love thee~~"

~~

I kept humming between the lyrics, singing softly and slowly, dragging the words leisurely, until I could hear Shu deep breaths as he fell asleep.

Satisfied I look down and bump my nose on the top of his hat, bring him closer with my paw.

I look up and my vision encounters two warm melted-gold eyes illuminated by the light of the fire. He was resting his face on his hand, laying down on top of the clothes, a soft smile on his lips, but not softer than his eyes on me.

That gaze sends shivers down my spine.

That wasn't the look a child should have. That was a gaze that held emotions that even I didn't now how to decipher.

"Good night, Thilgon" He said, dragging my name as if tasted like honey on his tongue.

Then he turned his back, letting me stunned for a while before sleep came to me.

If he was Reincarnated, that would have appeared in appraisal… wouldn't it?

Good thing my fur wouldn't let a blush appear…

~~~

Let me clarify, for the sake of knowledge-wise, that the Qi-Chi idea brought in here does not correspond to those on religion/philosophy; but are inspired by then. (b^_^)b

For those who found confusing the runes stuff, let be try to shine a light for you then: is like Japanese, were there is the easy vocabulary; katana and hiragana; with only 200 words (sort off) that are able to form words, and there is the kanji (2000 official plus 4000 readings (sort off)), that are far more complex traced and mean one entire thing by themselves, but can change meaning with other kanji or hiragana together.

Did I complicated things? Hehe

~~~~

So… some of you are asking… and I thought to give you guys a change on choosing this…

So, let's open the Pandora box now shall we?!

Should Thilgon:

Be bottom/uke/the receiver

Or

They should fight who gets to top who, changing the seme/top/giver

Let the war begin, muahaha!

And yes, Thilgon will be bottom no matter what.

(๑ゝڡ◕๑)