章 7: The Torch Bearer
The next few days passed in a blur as Eratz continued to refine his strength.
Each morning, his body felt lighter, more attuned to the forces around him, and his connection to his beasts deepened.
One evening, after an intense day of training, as he walked toward his aunt and uncle's house, he thought about the secrets behind his change.
There was something else stirring within him, something deeper, linked to his Ishtarian blood.
As he opened the door, the warmth of the house and the smell of roasted vegetables welcomed him. Aunt Cassie was at the stove, humming a cheerful tune, while Uncle Roger sat at the table, flipping through an old book with a relaxed smile.
"There's our warrior!" Cassie called out with a laugh. "Come on, show us some of those moves you've been practicing! You've got a whole new set of muscles since yesterday, I bet it's not just for showing!"
Eratz chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe later, Aunt Cassie. I'm not sure the house can handle it."
"Oh, please!" She waved a hand dismissively. "This house has seen worse, right dear?"
Roger coughed, almost dropping his book, smiling lazily.
"She's right, you know... This place survived your aunt's cooking for years, the walls are really strong."
Cassie gasped in mock offense.
"Eh, smart boy, but I'll have you know my cooking is a treasured skill! You're just spoiled because you grew up in a house that knew how to cook a real feast!"
"And then you keep asking me to get some muscles."
Eratz laughed, the lighthearted banter easing the weight on his shoulders. He felt more at home here than anywhere else in the world.
With his aunt and uncle sitting close by, it felt like the right time to ask.
"Aunt Cassie, Uncle Roger, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be Ishtarian... Since I'm training, I've started changing, and I don't understand that. You've both mentioned the stories of our ancestors before, but... what's really behind this 'awakening' everyone talks about?"
Cassie raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, the old 'beast awakening' stories. Those were the kinds of tales your grandma used to scare me with when I wouldn't finish my chores on time. 'If you get too angry, you'll turn into a big scary beast, and then who's gonna clean the dishes?' " She chuckled, giving Roger a playful nudge.
Roger smiled back, leaning back in his chair.
"She's not wrong about the stories, though. There's some truth to them. Strong emotions can stir something inside an Ishtarian, something primal. But it's not like you turn into some wild monster. It's more... An awesome awakening of who you really are."
"Exactly," Cassie jumped in, her eyes sparkling. "It's more about control. Our ancestors didn't go around rampaging through villages. They channeled their emotions into battle, into protecting their homes. Some Ishtarians could awaken that power when they felt intense love or joy too, but it wasn't always about fighting."
Eratz listened carefully, intrigued.
"So, it's not just about getting angry or needing to fight?"
"Nope," Cassie shook her head. "It's about being in phase with yourself, and not everyone awakens in the same way. I didn't change the way you did, Eratz. My awakening was more... subtle." She laughed, leaning closer. "But don't worry, your Uncle Roger still says I'm plenty of trouble when I want to be, and he's the proof that I'm not a savage beast."
"... Um... depends..." Roger smirked. "But she's not wrong."
Eratz chuckled at their banter, feeling a little lighter. Roger hid his face behind his book to avoid Cassie's furiously gaze, but both ended up chuckling.
"You're born from a formidable blood, Eratz. You're so young but You're already starting to understand what it means to be Ishtarian. You should really be proud of it."
Cassie leaned back, crossing her arms with a thoughtful expression.
"You're not the first in our family to experience a big change. We've had grandparents just like you. And let me tell you, they all had one thing in common: they were completely unstoppable."
The conversation continued, full of laughter and teasing, with Cassie making light of their family's history while Roger added in his calm, reassuring perspective. Eratz soaked it all in, feeling a sense of pride in his heritage that he hadn't fully grasped before.
The next day, as Eratz prepared to head out for his training, he noticed something unusual. Colin was peeking at him from behind the door.
"I see you, Colin," he said with a teasing tone. "You shouldn't hide, or the monster in the shadow will bite your fingers."
Colin stepped out hesitantly, her eyes wide as she approached.
"I wasn't hiding... I was just... watching."
Eratz smiled, crouching down a little so he was at her eye level.
"Watching, huh? You're curious about my training?"
Colin nodded shyly, fidgeting with her hands.
"You look... really strong. Like... a real warrior."
"Impressed, huh?" Eratz grinned, straightening up. "Well, I've been working hard, but it's only the beginning. You know, you've got that same potential, Colin. You're an Ishtarian too."
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly.
"Me? No, I'm not like you."
Eratz chuckled softly.
"You are, though. Even though you're lighter than me, It's in your blood. One day you'll awake something big, like me or your mom. It's just waiting for the right moment."
Colin looked up at him, clenching her lips.
"You really think so?"
"I know you will," Eratz said confidently. "But for now, why don't you let me handle the tough stuff? If you're a good girl, I'll bring you a surprise tonight."
"A surprise?" Colin's shyness melted away for a moment.
Eratz nodded. "Yup. But you'll have to wait until I get back. Promise?"
"Promise," she said, her face lighting up with excitement.
With a final smile, Eratz patted her white hair and headed out for his training.
As he began his usual routine, he quickly realized that it wasn't pushing him like it used to.
The exercises, the summoning, it had all become too easy. He needed something more intense, something to really challenge his newfound strength.
That's when the idea sparkled in his mind.
He called upon hundreds of his beasts, their forms surrounding him in the clearing.
"Attack me," he ordered.
At first, they hesitated, unsure of their master's command. But with a sharp look from Eratz, they understood.
The beasts rushed him all at once, their movements becoming faster as they closed in from all sides. Eratz's heart raced, but he stood firm, ready.
The battle was fierce, with him fending off wave after wave of creatures, his power surging with every strike. His pressure activated, healing the fallen beasts and reinvoking them as the battle raged on.
Hours passed, and by the time the sun had went down below the horizon, Eratz was still standing, worn out, but victorious. The ground around him was littered with tired beasts, melting in his shadow.
Breathing heavily, he looked up at the sky. "I guess this is my new training from now on... " he muttered to himself.
Later that night, as promised, Eratz returned home to find Colin waiting eagerly. He knelt down in front of her and opened his hand, revealing a small, glowing flame, the fire spirit.
"Here," he said, offering it to her. "This is for you."
Colin's eyes widened in awe as she reached out to touch the flame.
"It's... it's beautiful."
Eratz smiled softly.
"It's the hero who saved my life. It's yours now. I want it to be as helpful to you as it was to me, take it like me always being with you."
Colin looked up at him, her eyes shining with admiration.
"Thank you, Eratz. You're... like a hero."
Eratz chuckled, feeling a warmth in his chest.
"Nah. I'm your family first, and a monster second. But I believe in you, Colin. One day, you'll awaken something even greater than this. Just remember, the strength of an Ishtarian doesn't come from just power. It comes from within."
As she held the fire spirit close, Colin's shyness gave way to a radiant smile. For the first time, she looked at him not with uncertainty, but with confidence, like she'd just had a conversation with her hero.
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