Just what the fuck was this? A human? A damned man of my kind was leading this village of monsters? I refuse to believe this!
Leon felt his heartbeat quicken as he stared into the eyes of the Village Chief. His energy churned within as his eyes narrowed, a strange and overwhelming sense of caution suddenly enveloped him.
"My, my–" His voice was deep and elegant, his golden hair long and gorgeous bounced with every step. He donned a long trench coat over a white button up shirt, long silky pants and a pair of suede clarks. Sitting atop his nose bridge was the golden frame of a pair of rectangular glasses.
Behind those tiny windows stood a pair of amber spheres that Leon swore could peek into his soul.
"If it isn't the stray runaway. Leon Heartfelt-"
His words cut short by a surge of aura, frightening the villagers in their stupor as a line of words rolled out after. "Do not refer to me with that surname." Leon declared through gritted teeth.
A smile of fascination and amusement crossed the OniSake Village Chief's face.
"The so-called Child of Calamity. How pleasing it is to finally meet you." His words caused the already cautious Leon to be on guard now. His eyes never left the tall figure before him as his energy leaked and searched for loopholes for potential escape.
"You know me?" He asked with uncertainty. He wasn't surprised by the fact he'd probably have a bounty on him. But considering how fast it spread he now had to re-evaluate his priorities.
"No need to be on guard, young man. Excuse my manners. My name is Velora Desameth, Lord Of The Tusks, Ruler Of OniSake." As he said this a ripple appeared around his body as his appearance suddenly melted into another.
Leon's eyes widened once more as he stared at the new form of the man before him. Where human skin had once lay smooth and neat, armored like scales replaced. A pair of curved horns protruded out of his forehead as his hands revealed deadly sharp claws.
"Forgive me for not greeting you in my true form earlier, Lord Leon. You see I often use Transformation Magic belonging to my class as I am often dealing with trades and the market. Can't go as I am, you know? I'll scare away potential clients. That's a no for my village."
He smiled, his canines reflecting the sun's light. Leon stood there for a moment. Lost in thought. His mind went back to the system prompt from earlier. He was already halfway done. He didn't want to turn back, much less give up on the rewards. He relented. His guard lowered and he returned a respectful nod of consideration.
Velora smiled. Moments after the tension dropped as his hands suddenly shot into the air. "Men! Prepare the meat! Tonight we feast!!! Let us thank this brave warrior, Leon, Son of Calamity for saving our little troublemaker!"
OUUU!!!!!!
"MEAT!!!"
"HELL YEAH! MEN! WE HUNT!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Drums were beat in a rhythmic continuum whereas some danced and others prepared to hunt. With the village no longer tense and now returning to its previous state of normality, Velora and Leon locked gazes with one another.
Velora suggested for him to follow him and with that, they disappeared. Moments later the duo was seen walking through a tall and intricate library. The shelves were tall and grand as mentioned before, filled with thick books of the history of the world, the continent in which he lived in and the terrors of the Archaic Period and more.
"It's amazing isn't it? The power of knowledge. The secrets this world carries. There are more than meets the eyes, Lord Leon. This world is filled with nothing but secrets. Have you ever wondered? Why was there mana in the first place? Could we even survive without it? Who are the Gods? Are there any Gods in the first place or was our creation, our world, solely natural and evolutional?"
Leon's eyes dashed to the side of him where Velora's tall figure walked. He looked up to the man for a brief moment before closing his eyes and sinking into thought. "I do indeed have my curiosity that I wish to explore. But as of now I cannot give you a definite answer. However if i were to theorize, i'd say everything that's happened before, now and in future are all lead with the hand of this Universe. Gods or no Gods, there is always something higher at play whether we consider them Divine Beings or not is entirely up to how we see them and how much people depend on their strength."
"Impressive theory, it is enough for consideration even from I. Young Leon, thank you for sharing your piece. But I can see that something else is on your mind. Would you like to ask?" Velora hummed in amusement. His opinion on the young man proclaimed to be the Son of Calamity was good so far. He was curious as to what he would ask now.
"Well, there is something. It's about Princess Tirumes, if I may." His voice neutral, his eyes low but masked by a royal countenance. Velora halted his walk, his face dark and his breath low.
A sigh escaped his mouth as he spoke, "So, you've felt it."
Leon nodded. "She's not like you all is she? What is she exactly?"
"Hmm. Well I sense no ill intent from you towards her so I'll share with you what I had learnt. Onaka is not in any way shape or form an Oni. Rather, she is an Elemental Spirit, a powerful one at that. The only problem is–
"She doesn't know what she is." Velora's eyes widened slightly at the comment of Leon. To think he would figure that out quickly.
"How did you-" He asked but was cut off immediately.
"I knew because I felt it. If she really had known what she was, you think she would have been captured by that perverted slave trader? For some reason however she believes herself to be an Oni and such, her form gradually molded into what she strongly believed herself to be."
"Very, very impressive Lord Leon." Velora spoke through a shocked expression. That really was shocking of him. To think his observational skills were this good.
"So am I right?" Leon questioned, his flat tone of voice carried over strongly. Velora nodded as he continued walking through the impressive library urging for him to continue following him. And so he did.
They walked until a certain point. There, Leon was met with a rough cobblestone wall. From it hung a multitude of paintings that seemed almost lifelike. "Lord Leon, what I'm about to show you, is something I expect to remain between us and only us."
Velora said before turning around and reaching his hand over to the wall. Just as he was about to push something within the wall, Leon spoke.
"Why show me then? If it's so secret why bring me here for this, and reveal what you're holding most precious? I highly doubt it's merely for saving Onaka. What is it else that you seek?" His tone of voice was steel, his eyes focused and his nose scrunched up.
Velora turnt back and looked down to meet his eyes. The towering man analyzing the eyes of the questioning half human. "What if I said to you that it really did all come down to you just saving Onaka."
"Then I'd never trust you." He fired back.
Silence.
For a good moment the world never seemed as quieter than it did currently, the silence practically yelling its throat out. Then–
Pfft
Laughter, a bright and certain chuckle escaped Velora's throat. Leon watched this with tamed stoicism. His eyes never left the chuckling figure that is Velora.
"Indeed, you are truly extraordinary! From the moment I sensed you! I knew you were different from others. I even sensed your biology changing ever so faintly. Truly you are an incredible being. Let me tell you why then!
I believe that you, Leon, did not meet Onaka by chance. In fact I believe it was all fate!"
Leon, hearing this snickered, "What nonsense? First you go off about the what ifs of the universe and now you believe fate is what leads you to revealing something precious? I don't buy into that bullshit."
"Oh?—" Velora hummed in amusement, "Then tell me, do you really think that title given to you was by chance?"
"What are you talking about?" His eyes narrowed dangerously. He demanded an explanation.
"That title of yours. Son of Calamity. Did you think it was given by chance? That some over dramatic story teller invented it? Do you know who was the first Son of Calamity? Being so powerful his awakening alone wrecked and brutalized everything and everyone he loved. Just like you." Velora eyed Leon as he dropped this bombshell on him.
Leon's eyes widened. He was not the first to do such a thing? So what? He had a fucking predecessor? Was he the second child of calamity?
"Yes, if you are thinking what I think you are, then yes. You are indeed the second Son of Calamity. It is a Heavenly title bestowed capable of absolute power at the cost of one's humanity. Titles are not just to show Lord Leon. They convey meaning through the most impactful way imaginable and that is through absolute strength.
Not much is known of his class but it was said to be extremely powerful with rumors even stating he was HighMythical. However one thing was for certain. He was a terror incarnate. Forsaken by his people after his awakening he fled. Embracing his darkness was all he could do, it was the only warmth he got."
Leon listened with interest. His body was shaking at this sudden influx of information. But he still remained a bit unconvinced.
"Wait, if he was all that powerful, where is he now? Did he die or did he leave the planet in search of galactic conquest?"
"Neither in fact. However he was forced into a corner by a powerful adversary. A relative of him and the illegitimate child of Heaven. The Son of Retribution. They say their battle was drawn out for a total of twenty days before suddenly, the Son of Calamity disappeared. Not dead nor transcended. People say they saw him just vanish. No one knows the truth and well that's the legend from there on."
Leon couldn't believe it. Heaven had a fucking affair. He could already sum up who was the parents of Retribution as he made sense of Calamity with ease. If Heaven and Chaos made Calamity then Heaven and Order made Retribution. Two polar opposites bred to counter each other and reinstate balance.
And he was one of them? Yeah he had the fucking title but he didn't think it was that deep! Fuck! Now he really needs to reinstate his fucking priorities. The enemies are only growing by the second.
"Then, you're certain that I am the Son Of Calamity?" Velora nodded at his question before turning around and pressing down on a lone brick. With a click, the wall opened up and what was revealed stunned Leon momentarily.
A long and wide hallway was revealed, torches lit up on both sides whereas at the end of the room a curtain in place of a door fell. "Indeed I do believe that you, Leon Heartfelt, are the Son of Calamity. Your awakening, your mana, your changing biology. Those are things through the norm of logical magic, simply impossible. Yet here you are, the living proof of the impossible. So yes I will also say I believe fate guided you here. Come, follow me."
And as he said that, his figure walked into the hallway. Leon snapped out of his stupor and walked slowly behind him. His eyes now carry a newfound resolve. 'I've got to train harder, the lore of this world just keeps getting crazier by the minute. Damn it! But still for this man Velora to know of all of this. Something doesn't add up! Who is he really? I don't buy this whole Village Chief bullshit!'