บท 18: The Protectors

Inside the cave, the rest of the group underwent the initiation process one after the other.

"Wow, this power is amazing, isn't it?" Dewinta exclaimed. After Veni's initiation, the first to join her clan were Rudin, Sukak, Dewinta.

After their initiation into the clan, they too received a unique position within the clan, as Protectors. While Veni's role was to develop and grow the clan, the duty to protect the clan was that of the protectors.

Moreover, not every clansman became Totem Mages with the power to cast spells. There were others who received warrior skills as well, which activated through the use of Mana.

Sukak, for instance, received the skill [Forest Cover].

[Forest Cover- Novice

Proficiency- 1%

This skill is limited to clansmen of the Green-Wood Clan

When the skill is activated the host can expand the shield.

The size of the shield would depend upon the Mana reserve of the user]

Furthermore, the three protectors also received artifacts crafted by the Totem Lord himself.

Sukak received a Unique ranked artifact the Root Shield which was as tall as him. Being specifically crafted for him, they easily fit into his hands.

When he used the [Forest Cover] skill on the Root Shield, the roots of the tree would grow by more than half its original size.

Rudin also became a warrior Protector of the Clan. The Totem Lord gave him a Unique ranked artifact as well, the Urami. The best way to describe it would be to call it a flexible sword. The hilt of the sword was made of pristine woodwork, while the blade was made of a mystical thorn of some nature.

Ordinarily, Rudin could use the Urami as a normal sword, but once he poured his mana into it, he could manipulate the blade as he wished, changing its length at will or even using it like a whip. Of course, the limitation on this was his own mana reserves.

The skill he received complimented his personality as well, [Nimble Root]. The skill when activated increased his speed and agility at the same time, making her transverse through any terrain. The skill along with the Urami made the perfect combination for his quick attack style.

Of the three Protectors, only Dewinta received powers of a Totem Mage. The spell she learnt [Regenerate] allowed her to treat wounds and make it treat wounds much faster. She too received a Unique artifact, a staff Ascelpi on which a snake winding upwards is engraved.

Other clansmen also received an increase in stats and new skills or spells. But none of the ordinary clansmen received artifacts from the Totem Lord.

The three Protectors bowed before the Totem Lord.

"You have the duty to help the Clan Chief with the affairs of the clan. The three of you are to be her counsels. I have faith in your abilities." The Forest Salvus verbalized.

"Yes Totem Lord." The three replied simultaneously.

"Good. For the time being why don't you go and meditate. I have to continue my discussion with the Clan Chief. She will come to discuss with you later" the forest Slavus said.

---

Veni was sitting in her separate chamber behind the Forest Salvus and continued her practice of [Vine Control].

It was more than three hours since the process of initiation of her classmates had begun. She reckoned that the process must have completed by now. She stood up to walk out and address her new clan members.

As she walked out she realizes something peculiar. She had knowledge of things that she had no clue about before! Many of which she had not even considered.

Since her initiation into the role of the Clan Chief, she felt as if she had received an immense amount of information but just could not put her finger in it.

She walked out to the clearing to meet her clansmen.

For instance, she now knew the entire layout of the cave by memory.

'I should first allocate them places to stay in for the night.' She thought

Just then she heard one of the clansmen complain to another.

It was the lanky student from before who wanted Rudin to enter the cave alone. He bickered with his friend, "How come there is a [Mana] stat but I don't see any intelligence or wisdom stat? This game is broken dude"

"I know right!" The friend agreed.

"You think this a game? You are sick!" Another one of the clansmen stood up agitated. So many of her friends had died such gruesome deaths in the last couple of days, she could not bear to hear the idiotic conversation of the two.

"Who is even talking to you? All games have an [Intelligence] stat. Otherwise, how would you even know whether you are capable of learning a new spell?" he replied.

"Keep living like a game and it won't be long before you reach Game Over," the girl warned.

"Why don't you just shut up and mind you-"

"No." Veni declared her presence and cut him off.

"Do you really think that is how intelligence works in real life?" Veni continued. Looking at the lanky student she asked, "then tell me, a chess grandmaster, is he intelligent?"

"I guess he has to be," he replied, a little hesitant at being put under the spotlight.

"Then what about a scientist?" she continued.

"Of course he has to be intelligent." He answered.

"But the scientist can't defeat a chess grandmaster, nor can he do someone's taxes as easily as an accountant," she spoke

"Magic works the same way. Someone can learn and practice twenty low-level spells in a year. Or he can spend the same amount of time and comprehend a high tier spell. Both are possible. What matters is whether or not you can comprehend the spell or not and after that whether you can execute it." Veni explained everyone in the clearing. This was one of the information she received after becoming the Clan Chief as well.

Hearing her everyone immediately understood what she meant and nod their heads.

"Let's head off to sleep for the day," she smiled. "We will have to go find food as well as contact with everyone's families. We will have a lot to do tomorrow!"

Slowly everyone got up followed Veni to their sleeping places. These places were small caves that had appeared as branches of the main cave itself!

Watching Veni work tirelessly, Rudi vowed to himself, "I will protect this clan and protect her from any harm befalling her!"

---

Rick slept soundly the entire night. It was the first time since the day of the Heaven's Dictate that he got a peaceful sleep.

In his dreams, he dreamt steams of scorching hot lave surrounding him as he stood alone in the Fiery World.

The next day, he woke up at five in the morning before anyone else. This was going to be another long day for sure. He would first give the [Word-Transmission Scrolls] to Samira and Jay.

The duo would first help him collect and sort out the carcass they had hauled from their hunt, before heading out further off in search of other dungeons.

Rick had plans of his own. He planned to create a few more talismans for all that he had exhausted fighting the Red Foxes and keep a few of the other Talismans as spare as well.

Next, he had to check the finger size bamboo that Samira had handed over to him as well. He was pretty certain it was some kind of masking talisman. It could probably come it a lot of help if he used it properly.

After that, he had the check on the egg as well. It had to be something important for the Red Foxes to clamour with its own kin after its death. Moreover, the egg had a bloody rune on it!

Finally, he kept the best for the last!

The [Fire Core Rune]!

He had not even checked what the rune's characteristics were. That is why it made him so excited.

Rick immediately freshened up.

He reached his backpack for the [Word-Transmission Scrolls] he had carried with him. But when he opened it up, there was no talisman there!

"Where did they all go?" he asked himself.

After carefully removing the egg from the bag, he frantically started looking for the talismans he had carried with him.

But from his bag only that came out trash paper and then after more shuffling, he realized there were pieces of talismans in the bag and they were burnt to ashes!

"What happened here?" Rick gasped. He had no idea as to how the talisman could suddenly burn to a crisp.

*Ding

[Unknown Chicken Egg has absorbed the energy in the talisman storages placed with it.

The size of the egg had increased.]

Seeing the notification, he immediately looked at the white chicken egg and it had genuinely increased in size. It had grown to the size of a tennis ball now!

"Why did it have to do it today," Rick cursed, kicking the air. He had planned to give them to Samira and Jay. But now he had to start back from scratch.

"What the hell!" he cursed.

All his plans were now out the window. The only thing he could do was go back to drawing more of the same [Word-Transmission Scrolls] again.

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