Chương 11: Bloody Hell!

It was late evening when Chu gathered Mr Thomas, Ming and Lucy under the willow tree. The others were either in the barn studying or relaxing and walking around outside with Dyna and her wolf pack.

They sat under the willow on rough benches around a table. The others were prudent enough to stay away from this high-powered meeting. Ming was included because nothing could keep him away.

"How is it so far Mr Thomas. Are you satisfied with our progress?"

The old man let out a wry grin.

If he was not present himself he would have thought this place was run by slave-masters. He was the person who was most vocal in trying to slow down the work. He was pushing in the beginning as he felt they would fall behind in land preparation.

It was only when they started Clod explained to him that the ground needed time to release the excess water. That was the reason behind the wait and why they focused on construction at first. Sowing the seeds when the majority of water was gone gave a greater chance for all of them growing.

Chu would have told him the soil was too water-logged and it needed to drain out. Seeds planted when the soil was properly tilled and aerated had a higher chance of germinating. He knew that much from school.

"No, no. I have no complaints and I am not a thicken faced old man. I have learned some things and have understood my mistakes in the past. When I settled I should have first worked in one of the neighbors farms before striking out on my own."

Chu laughed and waved his hands in dismissal.

"No need for any apology, we are all in this together. The only reason why we can be successful is because Clod was from a farming community. We all have our strengths so we need to focus on that path."

Mr Thomas looked at him.

"Are you saying that you want me to focus on training those kids instead?"

Chu liked the fact that the man was a quick thinker.

"Yes and no. We all need to focus on helping out the general work which is running the farm. But we also need to improve the areas we specialise in. Ming needs to be a competent swordsman so we get him trained by you."

"I see. Well I have no problem with that, The stronger we all are the better. So what about this new girl. You brought me here to ask me to train her in archery too?"

Chu laughed.

"Yes and no. Before we come to that I have some questions for you. I think we have proven ourselves trustworthy. Even though we are children we still have a right to know everything about our friends and companions."

Thomas sighed and closed his eyes. He seemed to age decades in front of their eyes. When he opened them, he regressed to his normal features. Only his eyes told of some grief.

"This old man would never dare to share my troubles or life with a bunch of kids. I once trusted Simon with my life when we adventured and he did vouch and rate you highly. Because of your age I was still skeptical until I met you but you proved me wrong. I have never seen a farm run more efficiently than a Military department. As my companions you at least deserve to know everything about me.

Simon and I met up with each other in the city of Haven. We were both raised in the city and decided to strike out when we turned fifteen. We joined up with six others and formed our very own adventuring party.

Without startup money we were just a group of brats lost in our dreams. Simon was close to a merchant whom he did odd jobs. It was him who sponsored our party in the time of need. Simon and another of my comrades from back then have since returned to repay that person.

We gained nearly all our experiences in that first decade. We were robbed, ambushed conned and sometimes nearly starved to death. Like that we arrived in Frost City all the wiser.

We were now a party of five. Our experience was gained at the price of our companions lives.

Our arrival at Frost City coincided with the Military offensive against the demons from the north. Like many fresh faces in the city, we were lured with the legends of the Sersen; normal people like us who gained extraordinary abilities when they awakened a talisman.

We set out like the others to help in the Military campaign under the promise of earning such power. It was a disaster.

The Military placed a large group of adventurers in a valley to monitor any movement and report it back to command. The demon beast arrived in small groups and we had a feast. Even with such chances it was hard to gain an awakening.

Fights between different parties often broke out for lifestones, the thing needed to activate talismans. When a large group of demon boars came they wrecked havoc on the disorganised group. We sent for reinforcements from the Military but the young captain at the time refused us.

We escaped to Frost City eventually. There was now only three of us. At the cost of his life, one of our brothers managed to kill a demon boar. It was then I became a Sersen.

I joined the Military and quickly moved up the ranks with my new abilities. The Tower Mages have a general knowledge book available to the Military. It has instructions left by those ancient mages on how to awaken ones power.

I retained my brothers as mercenaries and personal aids. As a Sersen I had an equal standing to those normal noble houses. We spent our remaining time in the Military. I met my wife and we got married. Soon I even had a young daughter.

Fate was destined to be unkind to us in the latter years.

On a campaign in the north, I helped Simon kill a demon boar. He was successful in his awakening and became a Sersen. When we returned to the city I was summoned by one of the five great noble houses.

The son of that noble was part of my squad. Apparently any demon lifestones were supposed to be given to him as a priority. I raised my objections that the ones who fought tooth and nail should be given first preference.

The last mission I had in the Military made me understand how deep the powers of those houses flowed.

My troops were ambushed by a band on demon wildcats when we were sent to the front. With no reinforcements we could only retreat in despair. I ended up loosing my arm in the process.

It was then I understood the dangers and thin ice I was walking on all the time.

The commander who was supposed to send the support troop to our aid was none other than the brother of the nobleman I argued with. Worse yet, now that I lost my ability as a Sersen, they began eying my family.

Twice the servants of that family were nearly successful in abducting my daughter. The man even had the audacity to ask for my daughter to become his son's concubine. If not for my two brothers who stood by me, I would have long perished and my family destroyed.

I resigned from the Military and fled with my savings under the cover of night. My family and brothers accompanied me as we left that once great city we made home.

The young lord of that house was too much of a letcher. He tried to track us but Simon and my other brother dealt with them. Only after a year was it finally safe to settle down.

With my knowledge I choose a farm in a remote village instead of close to a large city. I simply hoped to give my family a peaceful life to live. Unfortunately my years of Military training and adventuring offered no help in farming.

Such was Mr Thomas's brief tale of his past life.

Sometime during the story someone bought a torch and placed it near the barn entrance. It cast a dim light on the surroundings barely reaching them at the other end.

Chu guessed the man faced some form of hardship but did not know it was that bad. Once again he was reminded how brutal and unpredictable things could be in this world.

'Could he safely say the same would not happen to him?'

If he walked into a city or even a town at this moment towing along his group, what would be his chances of not being accosted in some way?

He might take the chances with just him and Ming, but what about the others. When Lucy, Miki and the others grow up what would happen. He could only feel a splitting headache coming on.

"Well there you have it. In a nutshell, its my story. It is a weight of my shoulders, I can tell you that. I feel much better knowing you are aware of my situation. At least I won't put you in some trouble this far out in the middle of nowhere."

Chu stretched his back. The place was now in darkness.

"Thank you for trusting us enough to tell your tale. I think it is enough to trust you also. You might think you are facing terrible hardships, but fate in the end was still kind to you. As companions who have experienced the sufferings of poverty, it is now time for us to climb up together to better days."

Mr Thomas smiled and gave a genuine laugh. He wetted his throat with a cup of water.

"That's right, we can make this farm a success. Now that I have shared my problems we have no secrets between us. We can live here comfortably for the rest of our lives."

Chu glanced at the two sitting on both sides.

"Who said we are going to stay here forever? And who said there were no more secrets?

Lucy, eyes!"

Mr Thomas smile froze on his face.

A pair of deadly yellow eyes were looking back at him.

The wooden cup tumbled to the ground.

A rough gasp followed.

"Bloody Hell!"

SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
ForestRage

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Chương 12: Forming Goals

"Now there are no secrets between us."

Mr Thomas shuddered as the words sank in. It was only after a few minutes did he begin to breathe normally with the occasional deep breaths.

'Crap, it seems like I nearly killed the old fella.'

Chu thought.

Maybe he should work on his introductions in the near future. He made a wry smile remembering what happened when they first discovered Lucy's ability.

"Damn boy, you trying to kill this old man?"

It had taken all his willpower to restore control of his faculties. If not for his Military training and experience he would certainly have died.

It was ironic however that it was this same experience in the Military that increased his shock during this confrontation. That knowledge coupled with first hand experience is what made him even more traumatized.

An uneducated villager might be scared because he was facing something unknown. For Mr Thomas who could put a name to this fear, it had reached the level to induce a stroke.

This little girl was a Sersen, an awakened person who claimed center of attention and envy in even Frost City.

'How the heck did this boy acquire someone of such importance?'

'Was this girl from some prominent noble family?'

His mind became muddled.

Lucy picked up the cup and poured some water in it to offer him. He waved his hands indicating he was okay.

"I'm fine, just, just give me some time again. Damit brat you near killed me!"

It was a while until the man finally composed himself. Lucy's eyes had returned to normal and she was now the embodiment of the typical village girl.

"Tell me brat, are you some kind of young noble or something?"

Chu shook his head.

"No, I believe you could say I am an average slum child."

"So this girl, Miss Lucy. Where is she from, Is she from Frost City? A noble?"

Chu waved his hands. He did not fail to notice the way the man now addressed Lucy.

"A friend from the slums."

"Ah. I see."

Chu shook his head in denial.

"From this village? She is not from up north?"

"This village. The barn is the farthest she has ever traveled from the slums in her life. She is also our biggest secret."

Mr Thomas nodded unconsciously as he went of muttering to himself.

"Ah, I see. So Miss Lucy is from the village. A simple village girl.

Local girl...

She must have been extremely fortunate to have encount...

Eh?!"

Mr Thomas eyes widen like saucers. They bulged out for a moment. Only a moment because after that his mind was overloaded with an impossible scenario.

'Wolf demon-village-dead demon-girl-Sersen-RARE demon-girl-little girl...'

He fainted spectacularly.

"Crap Chu, looked like you really capped the old guy this time. I call first dibs on his sword!"

***

He found himself lying down on one of the cots in the barn. The rooms upstairs were given to the girls while the boys slept on single beds below. Construction work on the ground floor was slowed for the past weeks.

Only the original fence securing the kitchen area had been done. With numbers and a skilled soldier, Chu was not reduced to sleeping in the cellars anymore. At least for the time being they felt secure. Clod had plans to reinforce the walls of the barn using logs.

The old man waved his concerned wife away. He indicated he was fine and just tired from the weeks of work. Chu indicated he should get some rest and continue their talk tomorrow.

After a near sleepless night for Mr Thomas they gathered under the tree. He had a tired look with dark bags hanging under his eyes. His attitude was different this time, he conducted himself like an officer and got straight to the point.

"Who knows about this?"

Chu sat up on the bench.

"Just us alone. Nobody else."

"The merchant? Simon?"

Chu nodded his head indicating no.

"Nobody, we are not so stupid to announce this to the Empire."

Yesterday Mr Thomas nearly had a concussion after seeing the youngest ever Sersen. Then he was close to having a stroke when it turned out this girl was actually a Sersen awakened from a wolf demon lifestone.

The old man sighed.

"I really do not know what to say. A part of me is relieved that you trust me enough to let me in on this secret. This is because when we get ripped apart when the Empire finds out, I would at least know why I died."

He could only envisage the scene where the Military or those ruthless noble houses descended on them. Escaping to any part of the Empire would never save them.

He continued.

"The next part of me just wished you never told me. That way I would never have to carry the mountain of worry that descended on my shoulders last night."

Chu nodded in agreement.

"I never meant for you to shoulder extra burdens with us. Like I said, we are the only ones in the know. In time we can always pass her off as a lucky adventurer from the north. Nobody will know her true secret. All I want from you is one thing for the next couple of years."

Mr Thomas caught on quickly.

"You want me to help in training her abilities?"

"Correct. In this remote place I am offering you a chance of a lifetime. We have your first hand experience. We have books and materials courtesy the Trading Post. And we have a perfect training ground away from prying eyes."

Chu stood up and pointed to the forest. Within it lay an inexhaustible source of adversaries to aid their development. He continued like a professional salesman.

"With all this, don't tell me that in five years we cannot become a force to be reckoned. With Lucy as our hidden trump card, I think you should realize that sooner or later this village will be too small for us."

Mr Thomas got up and paced around agitatedly.

"I admit I was more scared than anything last night. The implications of this thing is so great I even considered running away. The Military, the Noble Houses, Guilds and worse yet the Tower Mages will all be breathing down our backs. Against any one of such foes, much less all of them we are merely dust."

His chest heaved as he continued.

"But you are right! Damn right! In those towns and cities, the clan with the strongest power rules supreme. I touched high society once, and I believe with your help I can do it again.

Agreed! I will train you guys to become a force to be reckoned with. But I only ask one thing from you when we achieve success."

Chu had no reason to say no. He caught the underlying meanings behind those words. Mr Thomas did not say if they achieved success. He said when.

He looked at the man who seemed to have gotten a new lease on life.

"Tell me this first, Mr Thomas. How come you did not take this golden opportunity. You could have killed us off last night and sold off Lucy to the highest bidder. One night's decision could have catapulted you into a river of gold."

Mr Thomas glared at the boy staring at him.

"You Brat! you still have the audacity to ask me that? If I was an inexperienced lone youngster maybe I might have done something stupid as that. Especially now when I am convinced this secret is know only to those on this farm.

Trying to sell Miss Lucy out in public would make me an enemy of everyone, when the word gets out I might die the like an idiot.

Even if I try to make a deal in secret, with a powerful house like the Emperor's, my life and my family is in danger. This girl is like a large pot of gold dumped on a weak family living in the city slums.

One, just ONE slip means certain death. To keep this secret trump weapon, the first person killed would be me."

Chu could only give a wry smile. Just as he suspected, Lucy was turning out to be one hot potato.

No matter who Lucy was with, she could only be passed of as a Sersen after she got older. Her main problem was the lifestone used and her age. Once word got out that her core was from a wolf

demon, chaos would begin.

"Say what you want."

"It could be years from now, I will not mind but I want to be able to live to see the day I can return to Frost City unimpeded. I want to be able to return with my head held high."

Chu never hesitated.

"Deal!"

Since they were already absorbed into his family the same privileges applied. He would have no qualms seeking vengeance on anyone who wronged his family. He also had his own reasons for agreeing so quickly.

Frost City was the gateway for adventurers and mercenaries who thirsted for lifestones. The Military welcomed this behavior and rumor since it brought in extra manpower.

In a few years of Military training, coupled with some luck with Lucy. What was to stop him from turning all of them into Sersen?

This was his wolf pack.

His very own wolf demon pack.

****

That very evening the first gathering was held. Chu first outlined to the others his schedule and plans for the day to day working of the farm. With the help of Mr Thomas he re-introduced Lucy to the family as a Sersen.

Mrs Thomas and Amanda received the news well. The meaning of having a Sersen around made them overjoyed. As previous residents of Frost City they understood the true meaning of having a Sersen in the family.

The Empire treated a Sersen in any city with respect and dignity. They could eventually hold the same ranks as nobles.

Unlike Mr Thomas who mind was in upheaval at the news, they were ecstatic on the benefits a Sersen means to a family.

'Never underestimate a woman's mind'

Was the thought of Philosopher Chu.

In an isolated barn far from the center of civilization, a new family set their foundation.

The new schedule rotated everyone in combat training during the day. Chu stressed that in a place where danger had a habit of popping up at anytime, everyone should be at least able to defend themselves.

Mr Thomas was to concentrate on training Ming, Chu, Lucy, Miki and Dyna.

He was to try and help them turn into specialized soldiers.

The focus for the others was to be using ranged attacks.

To Ming's dismay, education was still mandatory every evening. The focus would be on Sakura and Amanda with Sue and Mrs Thomas having to learn mathematics.

Mrs Thomas assigned free members to help in the housekeeping chores. Chu insisted the girls continue learning things like sewing and other crafts. This time it was Miki who nearly cried hugging her crossbow.

Clod would be in charge of running the farm. Chu would provide him with goals and deadlines.

The training for Lucy would be the same as a new Sersen who entered the Military. Mr Thomas hoped to use that generic guideline to test and activate her abilities one at a time. Hopefully it should trigger some form of response.

As someone who was once a Sersen, Mr Thomas still retained enough contacts to enable him to ask for information on the subject. As a retired officer if the Military he could make use of his standing discretely.

With the outline of new goals and tasks for everyone, it was up to them weather they could soar like a bird or sink like a stone.

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