Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Her---face---moves---next---to---my---head,---her---breathing---tickling---my---ear---as---a---feeling---I---try---to---suppress---washes---over---me.

  “I---want…---a---child.”

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  “He---has---been---in---there---for---several---hours---now.---Shouldn't---we---go---in---and---try---to---save---him?”---Janie---exclaims---while---pointing---at---the---wooden---dome---which---had---sprouted---out---when---Thoric’s---army---had---started---to---charge.

  Darrow---snorts---while---taking---a---moment---to---glaze---at---the---zombie---undead---army---waiting---unmoving---around---the---dome.---They---had---initially---been---very---aggressive---and---started---attacking---the---dome---when---it---first---rose---up,---but---stopped---moments---after.

  “Thoric---is---still---alive,---and---he---said---not---to---interfere---unless---specifically---ordered---to,”---Darrow---says---while---his---butt---relaxes---on---a---log.---He---is---tired,---but---not---nearly---as---tired---as---everyone---else.

  Janie,---hearing---Darrow,---swerves---to---look---at---Tella---who---looks---as---worried---as---Janie.---Her---eyes---look---bloodshot---but---her---posture---is---ready---and---waiting.

  Unlike---Lilly---who---is---snoring---up---a---storm---on---the---ground.---Her---body---is---completely---prone---and---making---a---dent---into---the---dirt.

  “But---what---if---he---is---injured---or---unconscious?---What---if---he---needs---us---now?”---Janie---continues,”---What---could---he---possibly---be---doing---in---there---for---so---long?---I---can't---hear---anything.”

  Then---she---frowns---and---turns---towards---the---rather---uncaring---member---who---had---even---refused---to---assist---in---the---hunting---all---of---the---monsters---and---bringing---their---corpses---to---Thoric.

  Her---hands---move---to---her---hips---as---she---glares---at---Zorren,---”What---about---you?---Can’t---you---do---something?”

  Zorren---looks---at---her,---snorts,---and---continues---resting---with---his---back---to---a---tree---while---staring---at---the---army---of---monsters.

  If---Janie---is---being---honest---with---her---thoughts,---she---would---think---that---Zorren---is---jealous.

  “Janie,---he---will---be---fine.---He---is---the---commander.---He---never---fails,”---Darrow---exclaims---with---absolute---confidence.---The---thought---of---the---commander---losing---has---never---crossed---his---mind.

  Janie---opens---her---mouth---to---retort---but---stops---as---a---sizzling---sound---is---heard---from---the---dome.

  All---eyes---turn---and---watch---as---a---small---section---seems---to---melt---and---burn---with---a---purplish---fog.---It---takes---about---a---good---thirty---seconds---before---a---human---sized---hole---is---left.

  Thoric---walks---through,---his---clothing---disheveled,---a---huge---frown---on---his---face---as---he---looks---around.

  “Thoric,”---Janie---starts---and---takes---a---step---forward---but---stops---as---her---eyes---adjust---enough---to---properly---see---his---expression.

  Annoyed,---angry,---confused,---exhausted,---bewildered…---content.

  It---is---all---on---his---face.

  He---takes---a---deep---breath.

  “She---was---not---a---screamer.”

  The---words---escape---his---lips---as---he---begins---walking---back---towards---camp---while---completely---ignoring---the---questioning---looks---pointed---towards---him.

  Chapter---sixty:---Cool---Mom

  Humid.---That---is---the---first---thought---that---passed---through---Franky’s---mind---upon---exiting---the---giant---tree---with---the---elf---Sarena.

  Normally,---it---would---make---sense---that---it---would---be---humid.---The---elven---city---is---clearly---deep---in---a---massive---forested---jungle.---The---trees---are---massive---and---abundant---greenery---can---be---seen---in---every---direction.---Unfortunately,---what---doesn't---make---sense---is---that---the---inside---of---the---tree---he---had---just---walked---out---of---was---cool.

  Franky---shakes---his---head---at---the---thought---of---magical---nature---air---conditioning.

  “Is---something---wrong?”---Sarena---asks---from---beside---him.

  “No,---nothing,”---he---answers---back---as---he---catches---her---eyes---gazing---at---his---legs.---No---emotion---is---seen,---but---Franky---would---guess---she---is---laughing---inside.

  Franky---sighs---at---the---feeling---of---the---leather---pants---he---was---given.---Great---quality,---very---durable,---but---made---for---an---elf.

  Elves---are,---much---to---the---usual---stereotype,---very---skinny…---and---he---is---not.

  “So,---where---to?”---he---asks---the---oh-so---emotionless---elf.

  She---shrugs,”---You---walk---and---sightsee.---I---will---merely---be---here---to---answer---questions---you---may---have.”

  Licking---his---lips,---he---nods---and---begins---walking.---Each---step---reminding---him---of---his---very---tight---pants---and---the---pressure---he---is---feeling---on---his---crotch.

  But---with---a---bit---of---will,---he---ignores---it---and---instead---focuses---on---the---scenery.---Bridges---of---wood,---trees---of---various---colors---with---many---of---them---having---entrances---with---signs---on---them.---Some---even---have---images---like---an---anvil---or---a---bow.

  “It's---like---a---videogame---RPG,”---he---says,---slowly---realizing---how---abnormally---right---he---is.---He---is---in---a---different---world---with---game---screens---and---is---now---in---an---elven---city---with---the---goal---of---becoming---stronger.

  And---then---he---remembers---the---monster---he---had---fought---and---the---friend---he---had---almost---lost.

  “No---plot---armor.”

  “You---want---to---see---the---[Armorer]?”---Sarena---asks,---startling---Franky.

  Franky---gives---her---a---forced---smile,”---not---exactly,”---he---says---and---points---towards---the---direction---he---had---been---heading,”---I---want---to---see---the---training---grounds.”

  A---frown---form's---on---Sarena’s---face---but---is---removed---immediately---after,---followed---by---a---nod.

  It---doesn't---take---long,---maybe---about---ten---minutes,---though---it---would---have---been---five---if---many---of---the---elves---hadn't---stopped---to---welcome---him---to---their---city.---They---were---smiling---and---happy.---Apparently,---Silva’s---words---hold---a---huge---amount---of---weight---for---them---to---trust---him---so.

  They---enter---the---clearing---and---find---many---of---the---children---training.---Some---are---shooting---bows,---others---are---meditating,---and---a---few---of---the---older---ones---are---casting---spells---under---the---direct---eye---of---a---surprisingly---fit---elven---man.

  The---same---one---which---had---waved---to---him---out---of---the---window.

  The---man,---as---though---knowing---he---was---being---stared---at,---turns---away---from---his---students---and---walks---towards---Franky---with---a---smile.

  “Hello,---young---man,---nice---to---see---you---are---awake.---I---hope---your---kidnapping---wasn’t---too---bad.”

  For---some---reason,---Franky---can't---help---but---smile---at---the---man's---direct---attitude.

  “It---was---rather---pleasant---actually.---I---went---to---sleep---and---found---myself---already---kidnapped.---I---even---woke---up---with---an---elven---beauty---next---to---my---bed.”

  The---man---smiles---wider---as---his---eyes---mischievously---turn---to---Sarena,”---Oh?---It---seems---my---daughter---has---a---little---bit---of---me---in---her---if---she’s---already---sneaking---into---people’s---beds.”

  “Dad!”---Sarena---yells---with---a---rather---noticeable---blush.

  Franky's---eyes---widen---at---his---mistake.---He---only---wanted---to---tease---her---a---bit…---but---not---her---father---of---all---things.

  “Don't---look---at---me---that---way,”---he---says---to---Franky,---”I---
may---be---her---father,---but---It's---not---my---responsibility---to---judge---who---she---sleeps---with.”

  Franky---flinches---as---a---spike---of---ice---is---released---beside---him---towards---the---man---who---lifts---his---hand---and---grabs---it---right---as---it---was---to---strike---his---chest.

  He---rolls---his---eyes.

  “You---should---already---know---that---stopping---ice---attacks---are---my---forte.---If---you---want---any---chance---of---hitting---me,---you---are---going---to---have---to---get---even---more---creative---than---your---mother.”

  Sarena---lowers---her---hand---and---glares---at---her---father---before---her---expression---becomes---cold,---like---ice.

  The---man---gives---Franky---a---smile---before---he---walks---forward---and---extends---his---hand,---“Sorry---about---that,---I---love---to---tease---my---daughter---when---I---can.---Anyway,---the---name’s---Hawk---Icebane,---husband---to---Siberia---Icebane---and---father---to---Sarena---Icebane.”

  Franky---grabs---the---man's---hand,---slightly---surprised---at---the---strong---grip.

  Franky---smiles---back,---“Franky---Sasco,---[Hero]---in---training.”

  He---nods---and---releases---his---grip,---“Well---then,---it---is---a---pleasure---to---meet---you.---I---can---already---tell---you---are---a---good---man.---Your---eyes---scream---honor,---and---as---a---[Knight],---I---can---sense---it---oozing---out---of---you.

  Franky---raises---an---eyebrow,---surprised.

  “A---[Knight]?---Aren't---those---only---in---kingdoms?”---he---asks.

  Part---of---his---training---by---Bernard---involved---learning---about---classes---as---well---as---worldly---information.---For---example,---a---[Knight]---class---could---be---given---by---a---[King]---or---[Queen]---to---a---physical-based---class---of---at---least---level---70,---though---a---[Squire]---or---[Noble]---could---actually---become---an---[knight]---at---level---50---instead.

  Still,---a---[King]---or---[Queen]---is---required---for---the---class.

  “Yup.---I---was---a---[Blader]---in---my---younger---years---when---I---was---traveling,”---he---starts,---putting---his---hand---on---his---chin---as---he---thinks,---“I---think---that---was---about---a---thousand---years---ago.---I---saved---a---[King’s]---daughter---after---she---was---kidnapped---by---a---[Lord].---I---ended---up---killing---the---lord,---saving---the---daughter,---and---the---[King]---awarded---me---the---class.---I---worked---for---the---[King]---until---he---died---and---then---eventually---left---the---kingdom.”

  Franky---nods---towards---the---story---while---trying---to---accept---the---fact---that---elves---age---so---slowly.---Hawk---looks---like---he---is---only---in---his---mid-thirties.

  “And---now---you---train---people---in---combat,---including---magic?”

  “Well,---I'm---actually---a---[Ranger---Knight---Archmage]---and---currently---the---head---combat---instructor---for---the---entire---city.---Really---helps---when---your---class---is---able---to---do---practically---everything---exceptionally.”

  Franky---realizes---now---what---it---means---to---be---an---elf.---A---long---lifespan---allows---them---to---reach---the---second---tier---in---their---classes.---Heck,---considering---Hawk’s---levels,---he---probably---trained---three---classes---at---once---to---obtain---what---he---has---right---now.

  Franky---scratches---his---head,---“It---must---have---taken---a---while---to---get---that---class,”---he---says.

  “Oh,---it---did.---Took---me---centuries---actually.---Though---I---am---jealous---of---your---class.---Being---a---[Hero]---means---you---can---do---what---I---did---in---only---a---couple---of---years.”

  Franky---can---only---agree---to---that---statement.---His---leveling---speed---is---several---dozens---of---times---faster---than---the---average---human.---Clearly,---the---[Hero]---class---boosts---experience---on---top---of---allowing---many---classes.

  “Hopefully.---I---still---don't---understand---too---much---about---leveling---and---how---I---get---it.---I---just---know---that---practice---gives---me---levels---though---actual---combat---seems---to---level---me---faster.---I---think---that---is---why---Silva---plans---on---having---me---fight---in---dungeons.”

  Hawk---grunts,---“Leveling---is---much---faster---when---your---life---is---put---in---danger.---Though---you---can---slowly---level---from---training,---only---through---truly---life-threatening---combat---can---levels---be---gained---quickly.”

  “But---you---have---to---survive---the---combat---to---get---those---levels,”---Franky---says---with---a---frown,”---I---don't---suppose---there---is---another---way?”

  “Well,---you---can---obtain---a---mark---from---a---god---and---then---have---the---god---give---you---quests---that---reward---levels.---I---think---that's---how---most---[Hero’s]---gain---levels---safely.---Of---course,---I---wouldn't---recommend---doing---that.---God’s---aren't---beings---to---trust,---even---for---power.”

  Bernard---had---talked---about---getting---a---mark---but---said---that---the---[Heros]---would---obtain---them---later.---What---exactly---that---entails,---Franky---does---not---exactly---know.

  Franky---looks---up---questioningly,---“any---other---ways?---I’m---already---only---the---second-highest---[Hero]---in---the---world.---If---I---can't---get---quests,---then---I’m---going---to---lag---behind---all---of---the---others.”

  Hawk---frowns---now---and---folds---his---arms---confused,---“You---know---the---levels---of---the---other---[Heros]?”---he---asks---and---then---waves---his---hand,”---nevermind,---I---don't---need---to---know.---The---class---is---already---abnormal---on---its---own.---As---for---your---question,---then---yes.---There---is---a---way---but---it---involves---developing---your---aura---to---the---point---of---creating---a---domain.”

  Franky---blinks,---confused,”---Aura?---Domain?”

  The---question---causes---Hawk---to---frown.

  Hawk---sighs---and---turns---around,---“If---they---didn't---tell---you---about---aura,---then---it---is---best---for---me---to---show---you---first.---Come,---sit.---Sarena,---you---join---him---too.---I---already---know---you---understand---what---aura---is---but---you---will---need---training---as---well.

  Franky---follows---Hawk---to---a---bench---and---sits---down---on---it.---The---wood---is---surprisingly---soft---to---his---butt.---Sarena---sits---next---to---him,---her---expression---neutral---and---unchanging.

  He---raises---a---hand,---“first,---do---you---understand---what---the---Soul---and---Willpower---stat---means.”

  “Well,---I---was---told---that---Soul---is---based---on---age---and---that---Willpower---helps---with---using---some---skills.”

  “Hmmm,---it---seems---the---church---doesn't---want---you---to---know---about---those---stats.---Well,---to---start,---Soul---determines---not---your---actual---age---but---the---knowledge---obtained---in---life.---The---more---you---know---and---live---through---life,---the---higher---your---soul---becomes.---It---also---dictates---the---thickness---of---your---aura.---Willpower---helps---not---only---with---skills---but---also---with---the---strength---of---your---mind.---High---willpower---allows---better---mana---manipulation,---skill---manipulation,---body---manipulation,---and---of---course---aura---manipulation.---Understand?”

  Franky---nods,---“So---far,---though---I---still---don't---know---what---aura---is.”

  Hawk---smiles,---“aura---refers---to---our---ability---to---affect---people---and---skills---around---us.---For---example,---the---[General]---class---utilizes---aura---significantly.---They---are---able---to---impart---their---own---skills---to---entire---armies---thanks---to---it.---But---that---doesn't---mean---that---they---are---masters---of---aura---control.---It---merely---means---that---they---utilize---it---constantly---and---in---some---cases,---unconsciously,”---he---explains---while---taking---a---step---back,---“but---you---probably---still---don't---understand,---so---I---will---show---you---what---aura---is.”

  Franky---looks---at---Hawk---confused,---the---man---just---staring---at---him---with---a---smile.
>
  And---then---it---hits.---Fear,---pressure.---His---mind---feels---foggy.---He---gets---up---and---looks---around,---panicked,---feeling---as---though---a---predator---is---near.

  And---then---it---stops---and---the---feeling---goes---away.---Franky---blinks,---his---heart---is---still---beating---fast.---It---had---felt---like---death---was---watching.

  He---takes---a---deep---breath---slowly---and---looks---around.---Sarena---is---still---sitting---though---like---him,---she---is---also---breathing---hard.---And---then---he---looks---to---Hawk---who---is---looking---very---smug.

  “Was---that---aura?”

  Hawk---nods.