"Wh-what do you want us to do?" Robert asked, shuddering slightly, his brows knitted together in apprehension. Truth be told, Robert wasn't looking forward to whatever Zack would come up with. In fact, it filled him with dread. His imagination ran wild with worst-case scenarios, and, knowing Zack, none of them inspired optimism.
Zack's grin stretched wider, as his gaze bounced rapidly between Oliver's impassive expression and Robert's anxious yet eager countenance. He reveled in the suspense, allowing it to stretch for fifteen long seconds before declaring, "I want you both... to sing!"
Oliver immediately turned to walk away, but Robert quickly gripped his arm, holding him back.
Zack enjoyed the moment, his smile turning even more wicked as he added, "And you'll have to sing like girls too, and I don't want to see any reluctance. If I don't enjoy the performance, you're both wasting your time." He teased them further by pulling out a plate from his space ring and loading it with two succulent pieces of roasted meat from the grill. He picked up a tong and knife and began slicing the meat with deliberate slowness, the juices dripping enticingly, making mouths water in anticipation, before setting the plate in front of them, a cruel temptation.
Robert's eyes flicked back and forth between the meat slices and Zack's face. His stomach rumbled. "C'mon, Zack, we're starving! Look, you don't have to be so stubborn about this. Can we please just have some of your meat, or bones at least? We can't just burst into song in the middle of a forest like a pair of lunatics!" Robert urged, his mind recoiling at the thought of singing in a high-pitched voice... yuk!
Zack plucked a slice of meat from the plate and popped it into his mouth, remarking casually, "Guess you two aren't eating, then."
"Zack..."
"You should have helped me gather the birds when you had the chance," Zack snapped, adopting a silly, exaggerated tone, "but no, you two were 'too exhausted to lift a finger!'"
"Truly, Zack!" Robert exclaimed, "we were completely spent at that time!"
Zack shot back, "Well, you two aren't completely spent right now, are you? So either sing like I asked, or get outta my face. I'm trying to enjoy the rewards of my hardwork, and the both of you are busy whining in my ear and killing my appetite!"
A heavy silence followed. Even the sound of crackling coal from Zack's grill seemed muffled by their collective tension. Robert eyes locked with Zack's, and the two engaged in an intense stare-down that stretched on for seconds. Robert's face became expressionless, and then he leaned in, his piercing gaze never wavering from Zack's. In a low, cold tone, he made a final appeal. "Zack, I'm asking you straight out: share your meat with us."
Zack sneered. "And if I refuse?"
Oliver, who had been observing the exchange apathetically, instantly burst out in anger, "Then we'll throw you out of our building! And I sure hope other Missile-beak birds out there hunt you down and shred you to pieces... I'll help them rip out your eyes!"
Robert held Oliver back from advancing at Zack, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. "Let's leave him alone, Oliver," he said calmly, flashing Zack a you've-finally-done-your-worse look. "Come on, let's see if there's something outside we could eat."
With a deadly glare still fixed on Zack, Oliver allowed Robert to guide him toward a wall in the room, seeking an exit. Then;
BANG!!
A Hand of God spell smashed a hole in the wall, and the two exited the building, leaving Zack to indulge in his juicy meat, 'that had a touch of magical deliciousness'.
As Robert and Oliver emerged into the night air, they were caught off guard by the biting cold. The warmth emanating from Zack's grill had made the building's interior a cozy haven, but outside...
"Damn, we totally didn't prep well enough for this trip," Robert grumbled, rubbing his hands together, trying to warm them up. "None of us even thought to bring coats or anything to keep the cold out. I'm literally shaking!"
"Can't relate," said Oliver, shrugging off his anger, "Being possessed by the Ice Ancestor soul has it's perks. I'm like a Flake bug; I thrive in cold."
"Yeah, no need to rub it in," Robert muttered under his breath. "About Zack, you really need to work on controlling your temper when he gets under your skin. If you two were alone together for more than an hour, I'd be surprised you don't end up killing him. I mean, you managed to keep it together during those three days he was at your castle, but..."
Oliver's anger resurfaced, "That guy is a total pain in the neck! He never knows when to quit the childishness and be real! And don't get me started on the things I've imagined doing to that idiot - killing him would seem like gifting him a truckload of candies! Next time he pulls something stupid and gets on my nerves, I swear on everything I'm freezing his limbs and ripping them off!" Oliver seethed, his resentment palpable.
Robert's lip twitched into a suppressed smile; Freeze Zack's limb and rip them off? Yikes! But Oliver's just blowing off steam, right? He wouldn't really do that - but uncertainty flooded his thoughts - or would he?
"Oliver, you've got to relax. Your over-the-top reactions to his antics only encourage him to keep pushing your buttons - that's what he's looking for; he enjoys it. Notice how he rarely gets under my skin? That's because I don't rise to the bait. He's trying to get a rise out of you, hoping, once you satisfy him with your reaction, that someone will step in to defend him from your anger. But if you ignore his immaturity, he'll lose interest in trying to provoke you. It's basic psychology, Oliver - don't give him the reaction he's craving." Robert explained.
Oliver nodded thoughtfully, "I get what you're saying." He let out a sigh, and his face relaxed, before firming up with newfound resolve. "Alright, we should put that guy out of our minds for now and get started on our hunt."
"No, let's not waste our time searching around for small beasts. Instead, how about we try our hand at fishing in that stream." Robert suggested, nodding towards the narrow waterway gurgling gently not too far away.
"Isn't that the same stream where the Purple birds tried to fly into?" Oliver was clearly amazed. "We've been walking for ages after that encounter with the birds, and it's still in sight. It's easily the longest I've ever seen!"
Robert replied, "Yeah, this stream actually originates from the Woodway falls in Gongsong and flows into Heiss's Othaw lake, passing through Horkii Rainforest, out of Heiss, and eventually empties into the Bagaltic ocean. I read in Dora's geography textbook that it is the second-longest stream in Comset." A subtle grin flashed across his face. "You know, my mom used to tell me that long streams like this one, often have gems hidden along the way. Speaking of gems, have you found any hidden one in the dating pool yet, Oliver?" Robert asked with playful curiosity.
"No," Oliver responded curtly.
Robert narrowed his eyes at him.
"Seriously, no."
"C'mon, what's wrong with you?" Robert exclaimed, prodding further. "Is Xolomon behind it?"
Xolomon voice immediately echoed in Robert's mind, snapping, "Leave me out of this, boy!"
Robert backed off, "Okay, okay. But Oliver, you're missing out on... so much! How can you walk past a gorgeous girl without giving her a second glance when you're not in a relationship or even infatuated with anyone?"
Oliver shrugged nonchalantly, "Some might say I'm special."
Robert guffawed, "Not having a girlfriend or not caring about having one doesn't make you special, Oliver, it makes you... you know, unusual." He hesitated, trying to find a more tactful phrase.
Oliver's expression remained unchanged. "I've been unusual since childhood, so that doesn't make any difference."
"That's what you think?"
"Yeah."
Robert gave a dismissive snort, but noticing Oliver's lack of interest in continuing the conversation, muttered a hesitant "Alright." His gaze drifted upwards, taking in the multitude of stars and the dual moons that adorned the sky and bathed the landscape in a soothing silver light. The dense canopy of trees, strangely, did not prevent the moonlight from filtering through and reaching the forest floor, illuminating the duos' path. In fact, some trees even had leaves that appeared almost translucent, lending the scene an otherworldly, ethereal beauty. "You ever looked up at the stars and wondered if truly there is life out there?" Robert asked.
Oliver glanced at him sideways. "Gabor never mentioned a planet called Earth? Cus Xolomon has, says the God wizard oldies (Robert glanced at him in confusion) - the Oldfather's children - had once visited the planet."
Robert's expression turned skeptical. "Yeah, he did mention it, actually. But do you really believe it's true?"
Oliver shrugged, "I don't see a reason not to. I mean, they were all God wizards, with a level of power no one has achieved since the Age of War - power on a scale that would make the imagination shudder just trying to discern it. Given that, interplanetary travel doesn't seem like something they'd be incapable of, does it?"
Robert shook his head, "Well, if your Ancestor soul's first, second, third, fourth and fifth narration of it's origin story was a ridiculous lie, each one crazier than the last, you'd probably share my doubts. Still, that planet must be one heck of a rock for its inhabitants to name it after dirt and stones, like in that old movie; Goron."
"Who knows," Oliver smiled with restrained amusement, as they reached the stream's bank.
The duo halted in unison at the edge, gazing out at the water, which flowed so calmly, it was almost silent. The gentle current barely rippled the surface, allowing a clear reflection of stars and one of the moons, their images shimmering and dancing in time with the stream's flow. "So, how do we do this? I'll just dip my hand in the water and cast a Lightning shock spell, right?" Robert began rolling up his sleeves, but Oliver stopped him.
"Hold on, no need for that," he said, gathering his magic energy and conjuring an Ice spear. "We'll catch them with this."
Robert looked puzzled. "I could just use my..."
"It'll be more fun if we use spears."
"Aren't you hungry? Let's make this quick..."
"I am starving, but I'd rather avoid Zack for as long as possible," Oliver stated, conjuring another Ice spear and offering it to Robert.
Robert conceded. "Fine, but I don't need your spear. You seem to occasionally forget that I've got an Ancestor soul just like you. I could create my own spear with Poison's magic," he shook his head, waving off the Ice spear as he made to focus and gather his magic energy. But Oliver's peculiar gaze made him pause.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Robert had to ask, wondering if he'd said something crazy.
"Your own spear, huh?" Oliver was clearly being sarcastic. "Remind me, what happens when sand meets water?"
Robert pondered the question, and a moment later, his expression turned from confusion to realization. With a reluctant grunt, he grabbed the Ice spear from Oliver's hand, mumbling something that sounded very much like, "It's not ordinary sand though."
Oliver smirked in response, as he waded into the stream, taking two strides into the water. "Quite warm. How about a little competition... to make the experience more fun, you know. Five fish, whoever catches them first wins!" He proposed, flashing a smile Robert realized as the only genuine one he had released since they entered Horkii Rainforest. Robert thought; staying away from Zack might turn out to be best part of this expendition for Oliver... and maybe a little bit for him too. With that thought, Robert splashed into the shallow water, Oliver following immediately, and their fishing escapade began.
Ten minutes of laughter, splashing, and playful tussles later, they emerged from the water, drenched to the underwear, but triumphant with their catch. The stream's calm and shallow waters, devoid of dangerous aquatic creatures and high level Water magic beasts, made it an ideal setting for a little fun and relatively risk-free fishing experience.
"I caught five fish first!" Robert declared, proudly holding up the eight fish he'd caught by the tail - each varying in length and build, as they wriggled in his grasp.
Oliver, on the other hand, had multiple fishes, numbering around twelve, cradled to his chest, their slippery bodies squirming and flailing as they tried to break free. "No way, I got ten before you even caught three!"
"That's a fishy lie!" Robert laughed heartily, and Oliver's grin widened. Robert thought he might've heard him chuckle.
"Did you see how many of them were in there? They were practically overflowing!" Robert marveled as they sat on a boulder to dry off, with their catch laid out on the ground before them. "I couldn't even put my feet down without stepping on one."
Oliver nodded, shifting on the boulder for better comfort. "Yeah, something strange is definitely going on in here. The population of the creatures and magic beasts we've encountered in this forest so far are way higher than they should be. It's like they're multiplying out of control." He swept his wet silver hair from his eyes, then began picking up thin branches and vines around them to tie the fish together for easier carrying. His eyes scanned the surroundings, reflecting a glint of curiosity and wariness.
Robert shrugged, taking off his jacket and smoothing back his hair. "Anyway, Zack's gonna run some tests later to see if there's anything unusual about them," he said.
Oliver's expression turned sour, "Ugh, hearing that guy's name is like sipping a bottle of Q'uaken syrup; vile stuff." He rolled his eyes and clenched his fist in distaste.
Robert tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, relax, everything's okay. And Q'uaken syrup isn't that bad."
"Only when you're dealing with a nasty cough. Try taking it when you're not."
Robert released a light chuckle. But then a thought occurred to him. "Yeah, that reminds me, Oliver," he began, "Vanessa asked me to ask you why you asked about her last name a few weeks ago. ("That's a lot of asks," Poison remarked.) She also thinks you're been acting weird. Have you been... you know, 'Xolomoning' around her?" Robert asked, wringing out his jacket.
Oliver gave no response; instead, he let out a deep sigh that spoke volumes about an unspoken concern. His gaze shifted and lingered on the fish he was tying together, with his lips pursed in a way that clearly revealed he was troubled.
"Is there a problem, Oliver?"
The question seemed to prompt something in Oliver at that moment, as he responded immediately, as if he'd suddenly decided to open up. "Robert, I need to tell you something. It's serious."
Robert's curiosity was piqued, "Go ahead, what is it?"
"There's no point, he won't make a difference," Xolomon growled, but Oliver disregarded his remark.
"Robert, I'm...I'm suffering, badly," he admitted, his voice strained but tightly controlled. However, Robert detected the deep-seated fear underlying Oliver's voice, and which also reflected in his aura - a fear born of pain - and he felt a strange surge of empathy.
"How do you mean suffering? What's going on?" Robert asked, a look of concern crossing his face.
"Have you ever wondered why my Ancestor soul has control over two elements, Ice and Wind, but yours can only control one?" Oliver asked.
Robert's brows furrowed in deeper confusion. "No... I haven't really given it much thought. But what's the connection you're getting at?"
Oliver's voice dropped to a whisper. "Sierah."
Robert's brows arched. "Sierah? Who's that?"
Oliver's gaze intensified. "Xolomon's sister."
"Xolomon's sister?!"
"I'm housing not just Xolomon's soul, but also his sister's, Sierah, within me," Oliver said gloomily.
Robert's body jerked in surprise as Poison's loud grunt of displeasure suddenly resonated in his mind. He quickly collected himself, but his face was still etched with bewilderment and confusion as he refocused on Oliver. "But... how?"
"My body suffers, cus it can hardly cope with the burden of housing two Ancestor souls." Oliver continued. "Almost every day, I'm plagued by debilitating pain that leaves me incapacitated, practically helpless - unable even to cry out for aid. Xolomon says it's Sierah's soul yearning to be free and find her own descendant like other Ancestor souls, but I know it's my body protesting against the strain it's under."
"But I don't understand. Why didn't Sierah's soul seek out one of her own descendants to inhabit instead of sharing your body with Xolomon. Why did she have to occupy your body alongside him?" Robert queried.
"Xolomon told me it went down like this," Oliver began. "He was the Oldfather's Gheizer when Normagog started a war against the Oldfather's rule. ("You might recall I mentioned the Gheizer was the chief of the Oldfather's wizard army, and when Xolomon was the Gheizer, Sierah was his aide," Poison whispered.) As the battle raged, he and Sierah, after finally managing to clear the rebels from the passageways and paving way for the Oldfather's army to gain the upper hand at the gates, rushed into the throne room to support the Oldfather during his final confrontation with Normagog, when an unforeseen event occurred. The Oldfather was casting a spell, which would anchor the souls of his children to Kreete in the form of elemental spirits upon their deaths, forcing them to remain in this world and preventing their transition to the afterlife. Each of his eleven children were awakened to distinct elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Plant, Space, Light, Shadow, Lightning, Sound, Necromancy, and Blood, with all of them wielding God-level powers. But the Oldfather's plan had a gap - he had only eleven children, two shy of the thirteen required by the spell. This shortfall left the Wind and Ice aspects of the spell unaccounted for. The spell was incomplete."
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "The spell, to complete itself, automatically sought the nearest compatible recipients, inadvertently chosing Xolomon and Sierah - who had just entered the throne room and who, coincidentally, had compatible elemental affinities for the Wind and Ice aspects of the spell. While Xolomon, already a powerful God wizard, could integrate with the spell quite seamlessly, Sierah, only an 8th rank Supreme wizard at the time, struggled with the integration, as she was not powerful enough to handle the spell's energy. As the Oldfather expended his final strength to seal away Normagog to some place no one knows and subsequently passed away, the spell overwhelmed Sierah, and she collapsed."