Chapter 47: The Wandering Moon

Chapter 47: The Wandering Moon

Chapter 47

The sun completed almost an entire arc in the sky before Kai left Mouis house. He continued to try to teach him how to use Mana Manipulation for the whole day. It was one of the most frustrating experiences of his life. The stubborn hunter kept refusing to learn Mana Sense.

The good news was that Kais theory that it was possible to gain some kind of feeling for mana through touch seemed to have merit. The task wasnt impossible, but progress was slow. After all their efforts Moui could more or less push his mana around his body not completely randomly.

They agreed to meet the next day to continue. It was going to take a lot more than expected, but Kai had promised to teach Moui to control his aura and he was going to keep his word.

Walking outside, the light of day had not disappeared yet, but a moon was already visible high above. While not physically tired, Kai was mentally destroyed. He had kept Mana Sense going for almost the entire day as he also came up with new exercises to make his plan work. Even after he deactivated the skill, he could still see the rivers of mana shining in his vision.

At least I gained a level.

He massaged his eyes with his hand trying to relieve the headache from skill overuse. After a minute he stopped seeing the motes of mana imprinted in his eyes. He threw a casual glance at the sky to get a rough estimate of the time and stopped to stare above fascinated.

It wasnt unusual to see one or more moons during the day especially if the sun was obscured by the clouds. No that wasnt what made him do a double take.

In its pale violet splendor was the Wandering Moon, also called the Lost Sister. Everyone knew six moons revolved around Elydes, regular and predictable. Then there was a seventh - the Wandering Moon. It could stay in the sky for a week or disappear for months. At least on the archipelago, no one could predict its orbit or the rules it followed.

His mother told him she had studied it for years in her youth, hoping to be the one to finally solve the riddle. Alas, some things were not meant to be understood, only admired from afar.

Naturally, there were many odd beliefs linked to the Lost Sister. Some said if you went out at sea under its gaze youd be lost forever, others that someone you met under its pale violet light was going to be the love of your life. Someone could probably write a book with all the nonsense told around.

While rare enough not to be counted among the other moons, it was not a rare sight either. Kai had admired it many times over the years and none of the superstitions ever proven true thus far.

With one last glance he headed back home, the sun was almost down. Walking the muddy streets he wasnt worried about trouble. Plenty of young kids and teenagers were still around and he wasnt carrying anything of value with him. Some were the same age as him, some the age of when he died. He could not relate to either. They felt so far from him. Laughing and running along the streets carefree.

Im being paranoid. No one is waiting to jump me behind the corner.

After such clear jinxing, Kai stiffened on the spot and scanned the streets with his all senses for something to prove him wrong. Nothing. People continue to walk by talking among themselves or busy with their own tasks. No one paid him any attention.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

The world didnt revolve around him. Even when he got fucked over, there was no reason behind it. He had just drawn an unlucky lot.

This wasnt the first winter of famine anymore. Greenside was as safe as it had ever been. He had continued to expect the worst and there had been a few close calls, but nothing truly happened.

Eavesdropping on peoples conversations, he rarely heard about any crime being committed. You could be sure people would gossip if anything serious happened.

He occasionally heard about pickpocketing and petty crimes, but nothing more serious. As long as he didnt go around waving a pouch full of coins or something equally expensive the chances of something bad happening were close to nil.

Instead of soothing him the calm and quiet felt irritating. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that he challenged the red-tier boa in the jungle. Kai wished for something to happen. He wanted to punch something, but he didnt know why. A corner of his mind whispered he knew exactly why, but he shut that up, not ready to open that box. There was no box.

Taking a deep breath helped a little, but not much. The air was as heavy as the first day he stepped foot in this blasted town.

Thoughts ahead. In two weeks youll be back at the estate. Away from all of this.

Kai tried to find his way home. Lost in his thoughts, his feet had walked him in circles.

Kai pushed this dilemma aside in the growing pile of things to deal with at a later date. He caught sight of the reason he entered the pub in the first place - his sister.

Unsurprisingly, she wasnt alone. Around her was a group of other kids, most a few years older than her. He couldnt tell if they were the same unreputable group he saw with her last time. The only face he remembered was unicorn-girl he threw the chalk to, to his relief he didnt see her among the group.

They were all seated around a table with a large mug of beer in the center, playing some stupid game. Kai activated Sneak not to be noticed. Amidst the words and laughers, it didnt take long to guess the loser had to take a sip. From the disgusted faces they made no one found the beer particularly enjoyable.

Kai was about to go closer and say something. Kea was eight and a half. Could she not wait a few more years before doing stupid drinking games? However, his leg didnt move forward

What could he tell her that she would listen to?

This wasnt Earth, people knew children shouldnt drink alcohol till fourteen, but that wasnt truly enforced. If the parents were okay with it or too far to have a say no one would raise an eyebrow at a few sips of beer.

As the group laughed aloud as a chubby kid drank a sip and almost gagged at the taste. Kai stood still, out of sight in the crowded tavern.

There might be many medical reasons why this was a bad idea, but he would not be able to explain them even if he could recall them and he could not. This was Elydes, there were no laws or regulations to assure a product wasnt toxic. Children who had not yet raised their race grade could easily die from a common fever. An untreated cut could turn into an infection that would kill most adults unless they could afford a good healer.

Kai could drag her away now, but he was not going to remain in Greenside for long anyway. Forbidding her from doing something was never going to work. Even if it was Alana to tell her, their mother was always busy working. She would just worry for nothing and then Kea would do as she always did.

At least she seems to be having fun with her friends

Kai walked away. This was what kids did for fun in a medieval world. She was already at the peak of Red a few sips of beer would hardly harm her. Kai could think of several worse pastimes. What should worry him was what she would do next when he wasnt here to keep an eye on her.

So he headed home. Alone under the Wandering Moon.

***

Knocking on Mouis door the next day, he smiled brightly at his uncle and walked inside.

How its going? Made any progress with Mana Manipulation? Decided to make the rational decision and take Mana Sense?

The hunter gave him a look that didnt need any words.

Worry not, uncle, Im sure I can help you even without it, even if will take a looong time, Kai said with a sad sigh. Speaking of which.

Kai rummaged through his bag taking out a book. I brought you this, I thought it might be helpful to look for herbs in the jungle and a nice distraction from Mana Manipulation when we get tired.

Moui looked at the book, giving a quick look at the first few pages of Common Herbs and Their Uses - volume 2.

What do you want, Kai? The hunter asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

Kai gave him his most charming smile, Ever thought about taking an apprentice?

No. Its not going to happen.

Come on, uncle. I wasnt talking about me.