Chapter 248 - Return To Ishgar {26} The Cult Of Amell

As the saying goes. No rest for the wicked. Briar was shown the wickedness of her master during all hours of the day. He barely let her rest during their training. He wanted to hammer in her training as part of her daily routine, and the first few weeks are the time where the person is most likely to give up. Amell would not allow that to happen, so to prevent that, a wicked training regime straight out of hell was made for her.

The group was still within the forest despite it having been a few days since Briar and Amell's training began. She was resting against a tree after having taken a relaxing bath in a nearby river. "I wish master would be more gentle with me. I know I asked for this, but I feel like I'm dying." She had gotten into habit to often talk with the celestial bodies shining in the sky. They offered her comfort on some level. A comfort that was different from the one her master gave her. She felt physically safe with him, but she felt her entire being wrapped in a blanket of warm tranquillity whenever she rested her gaze on those celestial wonders.

"What happened to your fanatic faith? you're not much of a worshipper if you lost it just over a couple of days." Touka sat on the branch above her while also gazing at the stars.

"What's a fanatic?" Briar was young and naive. She had lived isolated most of her life, it wasn't weird that there were things unfamiliar to her.

"Someone with strong faith."

"Am I that? I do have faith in the master. I believe with all my heart that he can bring me to where I need to be. Am I a fanatic?"

"Would you kill for him?" Touka landed in front of Briar with a wonderous look on her face.

"Probably yes. If someone threatened him, or us, I would." Briar just tilted her head. In her world, you killed or you were the one getting killed. If you had something precious then you should kill to protect it.

"Congratulations! You are a fanatic!" Touka delivered the news gladly, and taking great pleasure in knowing Briar didn't understand the context.

"Thanks!" Briar said with hesitation. "Is it good to be a fanatic?"

"What's going on here?" Amell said as he came striding in with a solemn expression.

"Touka was just telling me about how I am a... mmm" Touka used her hands to cover Briar's mouth, stopping her from dooming the mischievous lady in white.

Amell waved his finger and Touka's hands were forcefully removed. "Told you what?" He glared at Touka as a way to silently say, stay still.

"How I am your fanatic. Supposedly it is a good thing."

"Touka, I wish you would stop teaching her these things. You are not even giving her the full context, are you?"

"Is it not a good thing?" Briar hung her head.

"It's not that easy, young Briar. You are no fanatic. Not within the context of the human concept. You might be your own version of it, so don't let this troublemaker tell you any lies. Fanatics are quite notorious for doing anything for their belief, things one would consider very barbaric. If you are a fanatic, you are most certainly the best kind." Amell smiled as he whispered threats into Touka's mind.

"So, I should call myself a fanatic then?"

"No, I rather you wouldn't. This world's humans aren't too fond of fanatics. Especially ones wielding ancient and powerful magic."

"My light is powerful?" Briar opened her palm and a tiny light appeared within.

"Definitely. You can't imagine how angry my wife would be with me if I told her I armed a little girl with this sort of firepower." He had a little mischievous smile on his face. Now that he was without any of his prior responsibilities he wanted to take advantage of that. Why not arm some clueless and innocent girl with world-destroying magic. What could possibly go wrong?

"You have a wife?" Touka turned around to face him in utter disbelief. "Who was stupid enough to marry you?" She genuinely couldn't believe it existed someone that could put up with his behaviour day out and day in.

"The best woman in the universe. You should meet her, so she can teach you some manners." Amell waved his finger and Touka fell down on her behind. A small wind blast had knocked her down.

"Back at ya! Aren't you the one failing as a teacher if your student neglects proper manners?"

"You are just calling yourself ill-mannered. I'm fine with that." Amell put down a hare he had caught. "Dinner. Touka, as punishment for disrespecting your teacher I am giving you the duty of preparing us a meal."

"I don't know how!"

"Then ask Briar for help. She surely knows how to do it, and while you're at it, maybe she can teach you some table manner as well. That is something you also lack."

"Fine! Come here, brat!" Touka took the hare walked away to make a fire. Briar followed eagerly behind.

"I missed this," Amell fell down on the grass with a sigh. "Travelling, exploring. Discovering new things. Maybe when all the kids are fully grown up and strong enough on their own, I and Sylvia can go on a millennia-long quest out in the universe. How wonderful that would be, to simply explore the endless expanse beyond even my reach."

--------------------------------------

End