Bab 41: 40: Star Child: Dunes of Tolapo VI
"Tolapo! The Tolapo village?!" Astrid exclaimed.
"I thought this place was a myth." Jane gasped, looking at the buildings around us with renewed interest.
"I can assure you all Tolapo isn't a myth." Baset said. Iris inched closer to me and whispered.
"The Tolapo are a tribe of splicers known all over the world as the spell slinger tribe. Most people thohght they were a myth since no one has seen them in over a thousand years."
"I know who the Tolapo are." I said not bothering to whisper. "Though I never heard of them being called the spell slinger tribe."
Geryo narrowed his eyes at me and stepped closer. His eyes fell to my right hand and he stopped.
"A star keeper?!" He exclaimed in Torapos. The warriors that were linked up and saluting turned to look at me. They all gasped when they saw my farm crystal.
"Yes, I was going to ask you about that later." Baset said in Torapos. Geryo shook his head then turned to Baset and replied in kind.
"You could have mentioned you had one of the star keepers in your class." Geryo said.
"I didn't think it was important. And why are you calling him a star keeper. Wait do the Tolapo have a history with star farm crystal holders?" Baset asked.
"We can talk about that later Baset. Right now we need to get all of you settled somewhere for the night." Geryo said much to Baset's annoyance. Jane and Iris both inched close to me and Jane whispered.
"What are they talking about?"
"Me, Geryo called me a star keeper and now Baset's asking what that means." I whispered back. Astrid looked over at the three of us and frowned.
"What are the three of you whispering about?" She demanded loudly. Everyone's attention turned on us.
"Nothing!" The three of us all said quickly. Baset eyed us suspiciously then shook her head.
"I need to check on my other students Geryo and make sure they are okay." She said in universal standard.
"Fine." He replied in universal standard then turned to one of the warriors and switched back to Torapos. "Ekdol, Take her to the healers. Make sure her wards are receiving the best care possible."
"Yes Warden Geryo." The warrior said saluting then turned to Baset. "This way."
"What about those four." Baset asked.
"I'll make sure that they are safe and lodged." Geryo replied.
"So we're going with him?" Jane asked pointing at Geryo. Baset nodded.
"You can trust him, I would with my life." Baset said. "I'll be right behind you after I check on Damon and Alberto."
With that Baset followed the warrior Ekdol further into the village both of them breaking into a light jog.
"This way." Geryo said motioning down the mains street. Jane and Iris followed close behind me and as I walked over to Geryo. Astrid followed behind Jane and Iris. Geryo turned and started walking down the street and the remaining of the warriors flanked us.
Late as it was the street were empty and we moved quickly through the village towards our unknown destination. I couldn't help but feel the weight of the warriors gazes fall on me every once in a while.
The warriors were all tall and darker skinned, their hair either cut short, braided elegantly, or shaved entirely. They wore loose, flowing pants made out of some thin fabric and dyed deep purple. Their tops were made out of the same material as their pants, it was a single bolt of fabric that wrapped around their waists and was slung over their shoulder and down their backs. This was dyed purple as well but had intricate patterns in the dyes.
"His star is glowing, does he not trust us?" One of the warriors said in Torapos.
"Why would he trust us. He doesn't know us." A second said.
"Cut the chatter! It is rude, they can't understand us." Geryo ordered.
"But sir he's a star keeper. There hasn't been one in the village for three generations!" The third warrior said. Geryo looked over his shoulder at the warriors and scowled.
"I understand your excitement, believe me I do but all we are doing with our chatter is breeding mistrust."
"Chase…" Iris whispered.
"We're fine." I said confidently. As we approached the village square I felt another tug towards a spire at the other end of the village. I felt the pull strongest at the top of the tower.
"Is it happening again?" Iris whispered. I blinked and looked down at Iris. I hadn't realized that I had been staring at the tower until she said something.
"Yeah…" I said softly in Latin hoping Iris understood Latin. She looked surprised for a second then nodded. The look Jane gave me told me she understood Latin as well.
"Something in that spire causing your crystal to act up?" Iris asked in Latin.
"Wait?! What do you mean Chase's crystal is acting up?" Astrid shouted in Latin. Jane, Iris and I all glared at Astrid for her loud outburst. Geryo and the other warriors all stopped and turned to look at us.
"I am sorry if us speaking in our native tongue made you feel that you could not speak freely around us I am sorry." Geryo said.
"The three of us were simply trying to have a private conversation without about a matter that only concerns us three." Jane said in universal standard, motioning to herself, Iris and I. "Astrid was eavesdropping."
"Well it sounds pretty important!" Astrid exclaimed. Then pointed a finger at me. "And if you're thinking about using that as a excuse to back out of our duel then you better think again!"
"Oh for the love of the Gods!! You're still on about that?" I groaned. "You have one teammate that was concussed into orbit, and another teammate that had poison spat into its face plus we are trapped in a mythical village in a country that is not friendly to any of us on the slightest with a giant swarm of massive modified evo-vipers outside. Don't you think that there are more important things to worry about?"
Astrid huffed and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "There is little more important than honor."
"That whole honor concept didn't stop you from taking Baset's deal." I chuckled. She turned beet red then stomped around us.
"I'm tired. I want to rest!" she growled Geryo looked confused but continued onward to our destination.
We found ourselves at a long building that resembled one of the guard barracks back on the collage. One of the warriors opened the door and let everyone inside before following suit and closing the door behind us.
We stood in a of a small common room. A few chairs, couches, tables and armchairs were scattered around the room making it feel lived in. To our far right past the couch was a door leading to another section of the bunkhouse and straight ahead was a set of stone stairs leading a second floor.
"This is the warrior barracks. We'll have you spend the night here, once Baset seems too your classmates she'll be back." Geryo said. He headed towards the door and we followed him over to it and watched as he pulled it open.
The door lead to a small medium sized room. It had three twin sized beds in a row by the door and a couch against the far wall.
"We'll have you stay here tonight." Geryo said.
"Great…thanks." I said then walked inside. The girls were close behind me.
"We'll come check on you in the morning. I'm sure you're all tired after your ordeal. Good night." Geryo said.
"Good night." Jane said with a soft smile as he closed the door. We all waited until we heard their footsteps leave the door then let out a sigh of relief.
"You girls take the beds, I'll take the couch." I said then walk over and sat down.
Despite its rough and weathered appearance it was surprisingly comfortable. Jane walked over to the closet bed and cautiously sat down. Iris walked over and belly flopped on the bed sighing when she noticed how soft it was. Astrid moved over to her bed and let out another sigh as she sat.
"What were they saying Chase? While we were walking." Jane asked. Astrid arched her eyebrows at Jane.
"Why would he know?" She chuffed.
"Cause Chase can speak Torapos." Iris replied. Astrid looked at both Iris and Jane then laughed.
"Wait you two actually believe this peasant can understand Torapos? The language of a mythical tribe of Splicers that if any of legends about them are to be believed are some of the strongest spell casters in the entire world?" Astrid chuckled lightly, like she was expecting then to laugh when they did she gaped at then. "Wait you seriously believe that he can understand Torapos?"
"Yeah, a little bit." Jane said.
"What possible reason could you have for believing that a nameless peasant from the United States of all places would understand Torapos?"
"Chase can read runes." Jane said assuredly. "He's still learning but he knows enough to read a spell as a person is casting it."
"Are you taking the piss?!" Astrid exclaimed. "There are only five or so people in the while world that can read the Runic language."
"Cast a spell. Chase can read it." Iris said cockily.
"What?!" I exclaimed.
"Cast a spell." Jane affirmed. Astrid smirked and shook head.
"Fine, but I won't be using some run of the mill spell." Astrid said. She held her hand out and started casting a axiom spell sigil.
'Spread fear to my target and make their soul fill with dread, empower my visage.' I thought as I read the runes.
"A fear spell, designed to make your target fill with dread when they see you." I said. Astrid's eyes grew wide, she cancelled the spell and started casting a defensive sigil.
'Create a wall of light…simple.'
"A defensive spell using a light element to create a wall." I said.
"No…" She gasped shaking her head. She canceled that spell and started casting another, this one was a offensive sigil.
'Earth enhance gravity, shatter all in field.'
"You're increasing gravity." I said. Astrid deactivated the spell and sagged onto the bed.
"You actually can read runes and spell sigils…" She breathed. I nodded and a look of utter defeat spread across her face. "So you actually can understand Torapos…"
"Yeah. My grandmother taught me." I said softly. She looked at me incredulously.
"Was She some sort of Splicing scholar? A academic? Archeologist?" Astrid huffed. I shook my head.
"She was just my grandma, as long as I have known she's been able to speak it. She taught my mom and then me." I replied. She sat silently for a few moments then shook her head.
"No! I refuse to accept this! Until I hear you talk with one of the Tolapo people I refuse to believe you can speak their language. I mean if you really could why didn't you sat something earlier?"
"People talk freely when they think they can't be heard or understood." I said switching to English. Both Jane and Iris frowned when they heard me switch. "Neither Jane or Iris can speak English. Knowing this wouldn't you feel more comfortable talking in our native tongue.?"
"That's it! Im learning english!" Iris snapped. "I know you and Barton are talking behind our backs when you switch to English!"
"See." I said with a smirk. Astrid shook her head then laid down on her bed and turned her back to me.
"I'll believe it when I see it." She said. "Now go to bed. Who knows what morning will bring for us."
I shrugged and laid down on the couch and the girls shook both looked at Astrid then me and shrugged themselves and laid down and closed my eyes. I was just about to drift off to sleep when I head Astrid mumble softly to herself.
"That fucking star crystal is bringing him all the luck…"
'If only you knew all the pain it brought me first….' I thought solemnly.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Hutexa_The_Djinn
Hutexa_The_Djinn Splicer fact: Members of the [redacted] tribe can [redacted][redacted][redacted] and are believed to be [redacted][redacted][redacted][redacted]. Their prowess in [redacted] is [redacted][redacted][redacted] world class. many countries believe that the [redacted] are little more than a myth.
[HUTEXA_THE_DJINN here! More fun chapters coming your way. Thank you Adam_Ketchum for all you support! If you like the novel leave a comment and add to collections! Thanks!]
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone