Kapitel 8: The day of selection
King of Lescatie - So, how's Jonathan's progress, Merse? - Sitting imposingly on his throne, the king of the city leans his face on his armored fist and looks at the heroine of the order, waiting for her answer.
These reports she's bringing are made every week, to monitor not only Jonathan's combat training and development, but also his status within the city. As he is a variable never seen before, Lescatie would benefit greatly from getting the young man to ally himself with her and give his loyalty as a soldier.
Merse - Well, speaking only of his physical condition, the results are ... impressive -
King Castor - Hm?, What are you talking about -
Merse - His training began a little over a month ago, when he started he was in terrible shape, fat like those lesser nobles who stuff themselves with food instead of doing their job -
King of Lescatie - Merse... - Like a father disapproving of his daughter, he narrows his eyes at her. While she's a respected soldier and important to the city, insulting men with titles would only bring headaches for both of them.
Merse - Pff! Don't look at me like I'm not right - Holding her gaze for a moment before accepting it, she begins again - Ah, okay, as I was saying, he didn't have the body of a soldier or a boy who grew up picking up a hoe. But within that month he began to lose weight very quickly and his muscles developed before anyone else. Holy shit! The kid barely knew how to hold a sword properly, and now he can compete with a novice soldier who has at least trained for a whole year - she says incredulously, but a triumphant smile remains on her face.
King Castor is clearly surprised, even if his reaction is just a raised eyebrow, it's enough for those who know him to understand that his normally trained and stoic face can't contain his surprise.
There have already been several proclaimed "geniuses" under the command of Lescatie's army, where they have gone from decent to unstoppable and powerful warriors. But unlike Jonathan, all these cases were of soldiers who received the blessing of the Goddess and became heroes, which diminished the merit of the word genius somewhat. What the boy has shown, according to Merse, is a level of evolution that rivals that of Lescatie's new star, Wilmarina Noscrim, in her first year of being blessed.
King Castor - That's certainly good news, someone like him growing like this should give our military power a boost, I don't doubt that in a few months he'll already be able to compete with our most inexperienced heroes - In a heated mood, his sharp mind notices a detail that Merse has yet to cover - But apart from our conversation about just his body, how is HE? - He asks this because a soldier, even if he is extremely powerful, will only cause problems if he doesn't have good control and mental stability. How many good men couldn't stand the stress and trauma of real battles and could no longer help the city.
Merse lets out a sigh and his right hand, which is holding the parchment with his observations, drops to his side.
Merse - To put it bluntly, the kid is obsessed - That was the revelation that came after seeing what Jonathan is capable of and how he won't stop.
Castor - Obsessed? In what way, money, food, women? - Castor tries to understand the meaning of this phrase, what he has named are vices that many young people have even when their dispositions are good and honest. He knows this very well, having enjoyed these privileges when he was still young and foolish.
Merse - You know how some newcomers come in and want to push their bodies and spirits to the limit to get stronger, I call it determination, even if it ends up with many of them giving up halfway through and teaches them when to stop and rest - She can't stop herself from thinking about a certain young man of humble origin who has been in her squad for a long time - But what he has is certainly something beyond, even sick if I were to be quite blunt. He keeps pulling his body until he collapses, until he vomits in the middle of training and even faints once, and he doesn't stop unless he's told to, and even then he keeps trying to increase his exercise load more and more." Sighing again, she tries to calm herself down. "I don't know what drives him to push himself like that, but anyone can see that it's not going to do him any good in the long run. -
Castor - Huhu, you've really grown attached to him in a month - It's true, King Castor has only seen Merse behave like this when she sees someone she cares about doing something stupid, like a mother or aunt complaining about how she doesn't understand her son/nephew's problems.
Merse - What can I say, the kid is quite different from the youngsters I usually train after socializing a bit, kind of a brat you can't help but appreciate -
Castor - Huhu, I hope he stays that way. Jonathan is a new air that this city has been needing - He ponders his options, how he should approach the young man's case without being too invasive and losing the trust they've gained with him - Watch him some more, if he continues the way you said, you have full authority to try a more direct approach to help him.
Merse - Right - Saluting as trained, she sets off towards the training grounds to instruct her cadets.
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At the same time, in the streets of Lescatie, people are waking up, opening their businesses and putting their products on display to start the day early. The sun illuminates the town, but a little of the night's chill lingers in the streets. The damp stone and wood walls dry out in the heat, and people's breath conjures up mist with every breath.
In one of the city's alleyways, where there is still little light, the cold turns from comfortable to irritating with the humidity of the air, making something desolate seem even worse with its dirty, forgotten appearance. Jonathan is leaning against a wall with his head down, sleeping in a way that brings him no comfort or warmth from the way he still shivers unconsciously and pulls his arms around his body for warmth. Having cried and cried the night before, the emotional burden was too great and he ended up falling asleep in the same place he sat.
A few drops of water fall from the window frames of the building he is leaning on and touch Jonathan's face.
Jonathan - Ughr ..... Hm? - Opening his eyes slowly due to the discomfort, Jonathan comes back to full consciousness and takes his back off the wall.
He soon feels a cold sensation and an ache in his body, which has been asleep on the floor all night and is now creaking with discomfort.
Jonathan "I'm still in this alley" Finally, with his mind clearing and managing to get up while still uncomfortable, he feels a few "pops" that his bones make as they move, and he also feels the frost and dampness that has gathered on his body. " hmm...." Unlike how he has woken up in recent days, his constant energy to start the morning in a lively way is lost, he feels lethargic, for a few minutes his mind is quiet, he feels tired in a very familiar way, after all, before arriving in this world, he woke up this way.
Jonathan "I've got to hurry, I've got to get to training today" Letting his brain act automatically, allowing his body to just repeat movement patterns it has become accustomed to for some time, the incessant hunger he feels is basically background music at this point, and his thoughts continue to become disorganized and empty. Irritation, anger, sadness and regret are present, but most of them seem to be clouded or obscured, a gap in his head that doesn't let him interact like a normal human.
As Jonathan finally decides to leave the alley, he hears some footsteps, he doesn't bother to turn around, but his mind latches onto it like a computer needing a command to restart. The hairs on his neck stand up, his mind conjures up something that happened in the last few days and prepares to act accordingly. The attempted kidnapping of those three men, Jonathan rages.
Jonathan " Those guys again! They didn't get the warning the first time, how can they be so stupid as to look for a second dose of the beating they took. Whatever, I don't have time for this, I have to go to training, they're nothing more than a detour, I'll do a lot worse than last time, I'll make sure they have no way of disturbing me anymore!..." With emotions of rage blossoming, she turns sharply and " ha..."
An adult woman with a child holding her hand is startled for a moment by his reaction, her unoccupied palm covering her mouth in shock.
Jonathan has his thoughts wrapped up again, but being a recent event they aren't clouded or numb, so he feels bad about his reaction, and he feels scared about what he was planning to do. She apparently calms down, puts a smile on her face and tries to talk again, seeing that the boy she found in the alley looks sorry, she goes to talk when....
Jonathan - I'm sorry, I... - Unable to find the right words to ease the situation, Jonathan feels even worse.
He runs, runs towards the exit of the alley, he hears the woman saying something, he doesn't try to understand what she said, but it doesn't matter anymore, he just wants to go to training and continue with his routine, if he does everything automatically, he won't need to think about complicated things, even if they are problems that he has to solve, he prefers to just ignore everything for now.
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Today is a long-awaited day for the entire squad of Merse recruits, something they've been preparing for over the last six months, and now they've received the results of all their efforts.
The whole group walks through the streets of the city towards a specific location, while the most excited among them, Mureau, almost jumps up and down with excitement, going ahead of the others like an impatient child, Merse follows him with calm and confident steps, Elt, Tyler and Clinton talk to each other, behind their captain, following the step she takes, and finally behind everyone is Jonathan, walking slowly compared to the others and not having said anything from the start.
Merse - Right! I don't need to explain the importance of the occasion to you, but I don't want you to put all your coins in this boat, if it doesn't happen today it's okay, you may still have the chance next year or in the years to come, even after you're already on active service, there's still a chance for you to receive the blessing of the goddess - That's right, today is an extremely important day, every 6 months, the soldiers of the order gather in holy places like cathedrals, and wait anxiously to be chosen as the next heroes blessed by the goddess. This is the day when the worthy are rewarded for their efforts.
The excitement in the air is palpable, it's not just her group that's going, in the middle of the streets walk soldiers from the oldest to the youngest and freshest. Festivities and vendors are inspired today, and the townspeople themselves are already looking more cheerful. The morning is entirely reserved for choosing new heroes, but just as the afternoon begins, the parties and celebrations start.
Tyler can feel everyone's excitement, but a flea behind his ear distracts him from the festivities: the newest member of his squad seems very depressed. For a few days now, Jonathan seems to be getting weaker and losing focus on training, and his enthusiasm that he showed when he started to open up to them has been fading.
Tyler - "Dude, even his face is a mess, not to mention how he showed up today all dirty before we left, I wonder what happened yesterday." Tyler begins to approach Elt, as the oldest semi in the group, and the most level-headed among them, Tyler has faith that Elt will be able to get what's bothering Jonathan out of his mouth.
Tyler - Hey Elt, you see how weird Jonathan is - Catching Elt's eye, he turns his gaze to the problem boy, and continues - Something's been bothering him, can you, I don't know, have a chat with him? -
Elt - Hmm, yeah, I've been noticing - Already knowing that the job of talking to the boy will be his, admitting to himself that he's the most empathetic of the group, he forms a plan of action - As soon as we get back to base, give him some space and I'll sort it out -
All he can think about is how he wishes the day would end soon, and he's beginning to dread having to face a certain person he left at home.
Mureau - Jesus, guys! I'm so excited! Can you feel it, man, I'm shaking - Without any idea of what's going on behind him, the most excited of the group continues his fast pace. - Look! I can see the cathedral -
Looking where Mureau is pointing, everyone can see a massive structure. With architecture dating back to the 14th century in Europe, the titan made of stone and metal has tall pointed towers and giant arches give shape to glass panes detailed with images of saints and heroes. The cathedral casts a majestic shadow over all who approach it, and can even be described asoppressive for its size. Its color palette follows the same design as the castle and other structures around the city, royal blue with gold accents, a large stone angel stands above and guards the tower with the shining bell on the cathedral's highest peak.
The group stops when they see the crowd being organized by some cathedral servants, and they decide to follow the instructions of the place. It's a very well organized event, even with all the excitement in the air, soldiers and peasants synchronously sit down and keep their concentration on the gigantic doors of the cathedral.
Jonathan starts to look around, seeing the crowd around him, a small needle of suspicion sits on his head, he doesn't know who might try to attack him in the middle of the crowd, so for his own safety he decides to sit right next to Elt.
Noticing this, Elt wonders if this isn't the best time to talk to the boy, but a familiar woman catches his eye.
?????? - Ah! It's you Elt, good to see you - A beautiful, grown-up woman perks up when she notices the soldier, and after helping a little man to sit down in one of the rows, she walks towards Elt and Jonathan. The woman is tall and charming, at least 1.80 meters tall, she's about the same height as the young soldiers, maybe even a little taller, her figure is full, with breasts and thighs that would make even professional models envious, as far as Jonathan can remember, her white skin appears smooth and without a blemish. She wears a priestess's dress, which although designed not to constrict, still emphasizes her body in a suspicious way. A black garment covers her neck down to her breasts, which are held up by a white piece of clothing and a kind of golden metal piece in the shape of a cross, but much thicker and curved like a star. Her overcoat is also held in place by a piece of metal. Her arms have long sleeves that reach down to her biceps, ending in more volume and leaving her shoulders showing. Tights run from her feet to her shins, leaving her plump thighs out in the open. A kind of blue apron with gold detailing hides her crotch and the inside of her thighs. She wears pretty blue and yellow shoes.
Elt - Sasha, how are you? I forgot you were taking part in the event - the soldier exclaims to his acquaintance, Sasha Fullmoon is the name of the order's priestess. Having lived as a nun since she was a little girl and in her teens being blessed by the goddess as a heroine, Sasha isn't much of a fighter, being more of a support for the warriors. Her real vocation would be the orphanage she runs together with Elt, helping poor children by giving them food, shelter and education, a truly holy woman. And a childhood friend of Elt's, having met at the same orphanage she runs now, at the time the responsibility of her mother, who helped Elt after the mysterious death of her parents.
Sasha - I'm fine, Elt, and well, it was kind of last minute that I was called in to help, so I had to leave the orphanage with Lili and Fiora - Her smile is motherly, and as she speaks her hands go to her chest in prayer.
Elt: By the way, how are the girls, it's been a while since I've had time off to go to the orphanage and say hello to you, at least my donations have arrived, right Sasha? -
Sasha - They certainly miss you Elt, huhu - Laughing remembering how those girls keep asking when their Onii-chan is going to visit them again - But they know you care about us, they even save the money that comes from the donations you sent them to buy a present -At this point, Jonathan turns away from the two of them, not wanting to talk to anyone, just waiting for the event to begin.
While most people are already in their seats, Sasha begins to look at the squad of soldiers that Elt trains with, seeing the familiar faces and recognizing the animation that each one has, she finally focuses on Jonathan, and doesn't like what she sees very much.
Sasha - Hey Elt, he's new to your unit, right? He doesn't look well - Letting her loving and caring nature slip, she looks with concern at the boy who seems to be one poke away from falling to the ground.
Elt - Yes, he's been here for a month - Moving closer to Sasha, he whispers in her ear - Leave it to me, he'll be fine, you don't have to worry -
Sasha - Ah Elt,,,, it's okay, but don't stop at asking for help, okay -
Elt nods, and Sasha leaves to help more people sit down before the selection begins.
In just five minutes, almost everyone seems to be in their seats, and the cathedral bell begins to toll loudly, announcing midday and the start of the divine selection.
A priest takes the stage in front of the two giant doors, his dress noble and full of details, almost like a pope from the Vatican itself, replacing the red details with blue. He mutters something to himself and a yellow light appears on the tip of his finger, which he presses to his throat.
Father Divine - I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND PRESENCE! - A loud voice pierces Jonathan, who almost jumps with fright. The man doesn't appear to be shouting, but his words reach every corner of the place and perhaps even the outskirts of the city. Probably a spell to amplify his voice to speak to crowds. - WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR THE DAY OF THE DIVINE SELECTION MADE BY OUR GODDESS -
The entire audience becomes restless, the anxiety in the air for those seeking to receive the blessing of their goddess becomes almost as thick as water.
Father Divine - NOW, OUR GODDESS WILL SHINE ON HER CHOICES, AND HER DIVINE AURA WILL LIFT THEM TO THE RANCH OF HERO, THE DAY WHEN OUR STRENGTHS INCREASE AND WE STAND ONE STEP AHEAD IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE MONSTERS - Many of the soldiers have an almost fanatical gleam in their eyes, the anticipation of the moment when their lives could change completely almost makes them jump - NOW! MAY THE LIGHT OF THE GODDESS SHINE ON YOUR CHOSEN ONES -
A strong golden light begins to emerge from inside the cathedral, as if bathed in divine power with a golden color, it illuminates becoming a monument seen throughout the city, and in the surrounding countryside, farms and villages can also see the glow in the distance.
Jonathan can't look away from the strong glow taking over the cathedral. Until now, he hadn't taken much notice of the event, his head hurt too much and his stomach wouldn't let him concentrate, but now that his head has focused, he remembers some facts he had read about heroes of the order.
Heroes are basically humans who receive divine help to break their limits, becoming much more powerful and capable of dealing with monsters. The process is quite simple, you just have to pour a large amount of divine energy into a human being, and their body breaks the limit previously imposed on it. The funny thing is that this process is not exclusively done by the goddess, as long as a person trains incessantly and is in a region with a high concentration of mana, their body will automatically begin to break down the biological barriers they have, evolving to a point where they are indistinguishable from a hero of the order.
The transformation into incubus that happens when a human being has long-term sexual relations with a mamono also mimics this process. By being exposed to large amounts of mamono mana for a period of time, their bodies change, becoming more suitable for cohabitation and relations with their non-human partner, their mana or essence becomes more palatable, their stamina increases, their physical attributes are improved, illnesses are cured, their own age reverses, leaving the person younger. All this, and your dick gets bigger too, which is a nice ( and well appreciated ) bonus.
Ironically, all these methods serve the same purpose: they free human beings from their limits to make them stronger.
Jonathan " So, what do these powers of mine mean? "
~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH~~~~~~~~~~~~
After thinking these thoughts, Jonathan hears a loud bang of energy coming from the golden light, the whole audience stands up and stares at the spectacle, the glow begins to increase in intensity and then several beams separate and begin to descend on the audience, hitting some individuals and bathing them in divine power.
Father Divine - LOOK! THESE ARE THE ONES CHOSEN TO SERVE THE GODDESS AS HER NEW CHAMPIONS! - The lights begin to recede and the whole place returns to normal, but 5 people in the audience notice the difference in their bodies.
4 veteran soldiers from the city celebrated, jumping up and down with twice the energy they normally had and feeling immense joy at the opportunity. But no one came close to the enthusiasm of a certain person.
Mureau - YEAAAAHHHHHH!!! I did it, people, look at this - With a loud shout, he begins to show off to his squad mates, giving hugs and squeezes with such joy that he doesn't realize how much force he's using. A youthful happiness pervades the square, and his colleagues begin to celebrate and congratulate Mureau on his progress.
But one of them doesn't seem to be 100% into all this excitement. One who wanted more than anyone to have the chance to receive the goddess's blessing, not for the opportunities to improve his life or for the glory, but simply because it would be the best chance for him to be reunited with the woman he loved.
Disguising his disappointment with a practiced smile, Elt congratulates Mureau. Just because his dream didn't come true is no reason to let the others know. It's sad to see that a starving boy can understand the look on Elt's face all too well.
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Now that the festivities have started, the members of the squad disperse, trying to have fun and relax at this opportunity, Mureau most of all demonstrating his joy by jumping and running non-stop around the stalls with food and games.
But one duo doesn't seem to be getting all that excited as they walk to a quieter place.
Elt caught Jonathan's eye so that they could talk, and not wanting to be too rude, the boy followed him without too much trouble. When they finally found a corner that wasn't too noisy, they looked at each other.
Elt - Is this your first time at a festival like this, Jonathan? -
Jonathan - Yes, first time - With not enough energy left to stay in this place, Jonathan hopes this conversation will be brief, he still feels very angry but doesn't want to take it out on anyone else.
Elt - Okay Jonathan, I'll get straight to the point, are you okay man? It's been a while since you've looked like you're about to break down when we see you at training - Stepping closer to the boy, Elt tries to strike a friendly yet concerned tone.
Jonathan - ( sighs ) Look, I know it sounds bad, but you don't have to worry about me, I try so hard because it's necessary. I have to break my limits, it's obvious - Trying to end the subject by dropping a standard anime line, Elt clearly doesn't accept such an idiotic response.
Elt - Jonathan, you're training to be a soldier, not to break boundaries. If you carry on like this you'll only get hurt, try to tone it down a bit, we care, man -
Jonathan sees the sincere tone he takes, so that he changes his self-destructive habits, Elt needs him to understand that continuing the way he is won't do him any good. Unfortunately, Jonathan doesn't want to hear any of this, his anger and frustration prevent him from rationalizing what he hears.
Jonathan - Elt, I don't need you to worry about me, I don't want to carry on as I am, I want to change, I want to become more than I am now, I need to become more. No matter what happens to me, as long as I can change then the price will never be too great, you understand that. -
Elt - Jonathan, I'll tell you something I learned when I was very young - He remembers something bad from his childhood and the cruel lesson he learned that day. That when you try to be more than you should be, other people suffer for it. - Sometimes you have to accept your position in this world - He remembers the screams of the girl who was his separate force, his friend who was always in their company, and his own parents paying the price for his insolence.
Those words have a powerful effect on Jonathan, but not in the way Elt wanted. The boy's frustration mounts, and he can't hold back his words any longer.
Jonathan - So that's it? Just give up like a coward - He lets out these words with fury, his limit has long since been crossed - I don't know how you managed to convince yourself of shit like that, but I was never going to accept it! -
Elt - Jonathan! - Not expecting this response from the young man, Elt is surprised by the force with which he is spoken to, and feels a deep anger that he can't quite put his finger on.
Jonathan - You yourself don't believe what you're saying - Pointing straight at Elt's chest - I saw how disappointed you were at not being chosen to be a hero, I know how much that affected you -
Taking a step back, Elt is surprised by the way Jonathan speaks, he didn't think anyone would notice, he didn't want other people to see the envy and despair he felt at that moment.
Jonathan - I don't need you to worry about me! I'll become the strongest of them all, or die trying! - He walks straight past Elt without saying another word, and Elt can only stand still as he watches the boy walk away.
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While the streets of the city are still celebrating vigorously, certain people are seeking the quiet of their homes, wanting to enjoy themselves in their own way, calmly and with their families.
A boy begins to climb the stairs to his house, the temporary home he received from one of the city's important people. Anyone watching him notices that he walks a few steps but stops suddenly, hesitantly, fearing something as he arrives home.
Jonathan feels afraid and ashamed to show up at home after yesterday, he left Melanie without any explanation and can only imagine how devastated she must have been. He really is an incorrigible shit.
He positions himself in front of the door, taking a breath before knocking to announce his arrival, but he doesn't need to.
The door opens with energy, surprising the boy, who is immediately met by his companion looking straight into his eyes with determination.
Melanie - We're going to talk - She gives this order, and with the force of it, Jonathan realizes that he has no choice - But first... You're going to eat - Still with a serious look, she says it to Jonathan's face.
Jonathan - HUH!? - Nani!!!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein