Elder Lich Saga: Awakening

by Michael Sisa

  Obviously annoyed, Prince Ibrahim did not give Graven an answer.

  “You understand the implications, right, my son?” said the King.

  Prince Ibrahim nodded. “Yes… Father.”

  With the appearance of such warrior in the Rube Fortress, the balance of power in the Continent was starting to destabilize. They were sure that the other countries were going to try and persuade Rube Fortress to come to their side. It was a race, and the Kingdom of Tesma was going to shoot the first strike.

  Graven bit his nails. With anxious eyes, he looked at the Prince. “Hey, you’re going to Rube Fortress, right? Take me with you! I want to meet the man that killed my prey!”

  Prince Ibrahim sighed. “I won’t. You’ll only wreak havoc there if I take you.”

  “I… I won’t!” said Graven, his voice obviously lying.

  “Besides, we still have to attend the Infernal Sword Festival,” said Ibrahim.

  King Marcus stroked his beard. “Ooh, indeed… the Festival at Lankan is nearing. So, you’re going there, huh?”

  “Yes, Father,” said Ibrahim. “I am taking the Second Division with me. Also, the Festival is a crucial part for the growth of this Kingdom.”

  They may have lost the Commander of the First Division, but if the Prince’s plan went well, they would be able to do more than cope with it.

  The king shot a quizzical gaze at the prince. “A crucial part for the growth of the kingdom?”

  Prince Ibrahim nodded. He gently placed a hand on Graven’s shoulder.

  “During the festival, we are going to give birth to the next hero.”

  The king’s eyes widened at that statement. He immediately understood what the prince was trying to say.

  “During the festival, Blood Rain shall pull the Legendary Sword out of the ground.”

  Chapter 27: Daily Life in the Orphanage Part I

  Jiablu fondly gazed at the vegetables he had planted on the ground. He did not know that such menial work could be so satisfying. It was a lot different from when he was creating his minions, which were made through runes and magic.

  If asked, Jiablu would say that using his bare hands to plant the seeds was what made the difference.

  “We’ll still have to wait for Madam,” said Kirsten. “She’ll be checking our work.”

  Jiablu nodded in agreement. The feeling that was swirling up within his chest was somewhat pleasant. He felt that he could stare at these plants for a few hours more. After all, it was fun seeing them slowly grow as the clock ticked by.

  From a distance, three figures approached. Jiablu was somehow familiar with them. As far as he remembered, those three were the same kids that sat near him during lunch. The noisy, annoying bunch.

  “Hey there, Muteface!” one of them immediately greeted. Her sapphire eyes swiveled from the plants, to Jiablu, then to Kirsten. “Nice job in planting those things. Suits you, really.”

  The other two chuckled. They all smugly grinned as Kirsten shrunk from her spot. Her shoulders drooped down, limp and lifeless.

  Jiablu looked at them in annoyance. Wherever these maggots went, cacophony followed. He somehow had the urge to bury them alive on the ground. Surely, their bodies would serve as good nourishment for the soil, for his beloved plants. He was somehow pleased with that thought.

  “Oh, Jiablu! Do you remember me? I’ve introduced myself to you before! Ynah… Remember?” said the girl with sapphire eyes. She thumbed through her night-black hair, fidgeted for a moment, then continued, “H-How’s your first day? I know that it must have been hard, having been partnered with Muteface here… but believe me… you’ll eventually enjoy your stay here in the orphanage.”

  Jiablu did not reply. He was becoming more annoyed as seconds passed by. Hopefully, these pests would leave him soon.

  “I can speak with the Madam about this,” said Ynah. “You can become my partner, if you want. After all, a handsome guy like you doesn’t deserve that ugly loser. She’ll rub her stupidity on you.”

  Jiablu looked at Kirsten. Her body was still shriveling from the incessant remarks, her eyes staring at the ground. But one thing was sure — Jiablu did not find her ugly at all. On the contrary, she was a lot better than the other humans he had met thus far. After all, she knew a lot about these children they had planted together. A human with great knowledge.

  Ynah pouted her lips and tilted her head to one side. “Well, what do you think? Jiablu?”

  Jiablu furrowed his brows. The slightly squeaking voice of this human called Ynah had taken its toll on him. It was disgusting to hear, and Jiablu somehow associated it to a pig being slaughtered.

  “Hey, maggot,” said Jiablu. “You’re hurting my ears. Shut up.”

  Ynah was in stupor for a moment. She glanced at the two girls beside her, confirming that she had heard it right. After they gave a small nod, her face slowly turned livid. It was blood red.

  “W-What did you just call me?!” she squeaked. Her chest quickly rose then fell. “Just because we’re trying to be friendly to you… You! You dare insult me? The most beautiful girl in the orphanage?!”

  “Muteface must have rubbed her stupidity to this newcomer!” said another.

  “Hey, Jiablu. Know that there are people you shouldn’t offend in this place!”

  “These damn insects,” growled Jiablu. He stared directly at them, and their banters immediately died down. “I said shut up!”

  His voice was low, but it contained vehement ferocity that made the three cower in fear. They gulped down the lump in their throats, stared at the bewildered face of Kirsten who seemed somewhat surprised of what the newcomer had said, then shot a glance at Jiablu, only to avert their gazes after.

  The crimson eyes of Jiablu were definitely predatory.

  Ynah mustered her courage. “Y-You’ll do well to remember this!” She said to the girls beside her “L-Let’s go!”

  With brisk steps, the trio quickly disappeared from their sight. It would have been an amusing sight, if not for the annoying squeaks and curses they spat along the way.

  Kirsten grabbed the hem of Jiablu’s clothes. For some reason Jiablu could not understand, tears started forming at the corner of her eyes.

  “I-I’m sorry,” she said. She lowered her head in apology, and tears started falling uncontrollably. “B-Because of me… They…”

  “What are you trying to say, human?” said Jiablu.

  Kirsten continued to sob. After she had calmed down, she wiped the tears and snot on her face using the back of her hands. “T-Those three are right… probably… it would do you no good to associate yourself with me. Mute. Almost blind even with these large glasses. And ugly.”

  Jiablu still could not understand what she was trying to say.

  “The standards of the Human Race are laughable,” he wisely said. “You are not ugly at all. A weak, helpless creature. A life as fleeting as the clouds… But not ugly. After all, how could someone who knows how to plant these children be ugly? Standards made by mere mortals are nothing but whims and foolishness engraved on sand. It should not be trusted at all.”

  Kirsten stared at him with her large, saucer eyes. What he had just said felt abstract, but she somehow felt the intent behind it. She was at a loss for words. After all, she knew too well that a plain girl was prettier than her by leaps and bounds. Yet, this young man said it was the contrary.

  Even if those words were merely meant for comfort, she could not help but be filled with inexplicable bliss. The smile that had completely slid down her face resurfaced, her lips grinning from ear to ear.

  So, this was what it was like to be complimented by another person. She tucked this precious memory within her heart.

  “Oh, done with planting the seeds?” said a familiar voice. Upon looking, they saw the Madam approaching the two of them.

  She stopped right before the planted vegetables, stared at the soil for a moment, then gave an approving nod.

  “Excellent,” said Madam Agwen. Her lo
ng, pointed nose quivered for a moment. “Far better than the other children. Kirsten, good job guiding the new member of our family.”

  Kirsten nodded in delight. As she had thought, Madam Agwen was the best.

  The Madam scrutinized Jiablu from head to toe. His hands still have some soil clinging to them, indicating that he indeed participated in the planting of the seeds. At the very least, this was a good first step.

  “Jiablu, follow me,” said the Madam. “I shall show you to your room.”

  Jiablu’s interest was piqued by this idea. What was his room like? He looked forward to his bed the most.

  “Then I guess this is where we part for now,” said Kirsten, her voice with a hint of disappointment. “Thanks for today, Jiablu.”

  ***

  After passing through hallways, and climbing flights of stairs, Jiablu and Madam Agwen arrived at their destination.

  “Here’s your room,” she said as she twisted the knob and opened the door, creating a soft, creaking sound. Their shadows loomed over the room.

  The room’s interior was dull. The bed and the chairs were made entirely of wood, and there was the familiar scent of parched ground. The breeze outside whistled through the small cracked glass of the window.

  “You’re sharing this room with another kid,” said the Madam. She tapped the lamp on the table, and a flame immediately blazed into life inside. “Gomery’s been confined in the Room of Punishment. You’ll meet him soon. Hopefully, if he behaves. That one’s a problem kid.”

  Jiablu stared at the double deck. The mattresses were worm-eaten, definitely worse than what he had back in the Rube Fortress.

  “This place reeks of human stench,” he said in disgust. “Human, give me something better.”

  Madam Agwen was taken aback by his statement. She glared at him, but kept her calm. It was his first day, after all.

  “This is actually a lot better than the other rooms,” she said. “Some of the rooms don’t even have a bed. You should be grateful that this one’s vacant.”

  Jiablu’s eyes were filled with disbelief. He should have not expected much from the humans. Definitely, this room reeked of poverty.

  “Dinner’s at seven o’clock. Sharp,” said Madam Agwen. “Duties rotate every week. We can’t let kids like you grow up as mere savages. When you hear the bell ring in the morning, get out of bed and go to work.”

  She clapped her hands once. “That’s the gist of it. Those who don’t work, don’t get to eat. Understand?”

  Jiablu merely nodded. His gaze was still fixated on the decrepit bed. At the back of his mind, he had decided what to do with it. A simple cast of his magic should do the trick.

  There was a sigh from the Madam.

  “I don’t know what Roschal saw from you, but he clearly told me to watch over you,” said the Madam. “Gomery’s enough of a problem already. Ah! This is tiring!”

  After another look at Jiablu and his somehow smelly room, Madam Agwen went out and disappeared from sight. The sound of her heavy footsteps slowly faded away.

  Jiablu blankly stood there for a couple more moments. Since he knew that he would be staying in this room for quite some time, he had decided to make it at least habitable. Ever since he had become a human, he had realized that there were certain scents displeasing to the human body. And this pungent stench was definitely one.

  “I need a fluffy bed,” said Jiablu. His gaze swiveled from the double deck then to the cracked glass of the window. He found the whistling breeze, flowing through the crack of the window, disturbing.

  Jiablu raised a finger, and a gust of wind surrounded the room. Dusts and detritus flew outside, into the hallway, and the cracks on the walls slowly closed on their own, including the broken glass window. The worm-eaten mattresses reverted to its former glory, and the pungent stench dissipated in an instant.

  Jiablu approvingly nodded at his work. Now, his room had become habitable, at the very least. He slumped his body on the lower bed, and a familiar sensation enveloped him. He felt his strength slowly leaving his body.

  Definitely, this was one of the pleasures of life. No doubt about it.

  “Finally,” he mumbled, his lips crooked into a grin. “I can sleep.”

  After closing his eyes, he once again dozed off into dreamland.

  Chapter 28: Daily Life in the Orphanage Part II

  Jiablu woke up to the sound of a bell loudly clanking. He slowly opened his eyes, brows creased in annoyance. He knew that he was somehow having a nice, pleasant dream. But after waking up, he could not remember it.

  A rooster crowed outside.

  “Damn it,” he grumbled, as he went out of his bed. “I missed dinner, huh?”

  Once again, the bell clanked. It was quickly followed by a snarl. “Get up! Get up! It’s morning already, you lazy bums! Those that are late won’t get breakfast!”

  The last part of the statement struck Jiablu. He had missed dinner already. He could not imagine missing breakfast, too.

  With hurried steps, he went out of his room. He saw some of the kids on the hallway, their destination probably the same as his.

  He silently moved along with the crowd.

  “I’m still sleepy,” said one of them, yawning.

  “What do you think’s for breakfast?”

  “No idea. But surely, not meat. I think I’ve heard the Madam say that we’re low on budget lately.”

  These kinds of conversations were somehow pleasing to the ears. Jiablu intently listened, as the kids talked about mundane topics such as what’s for breakfast, why the Madam was so grumpy, and when they’ll get to eat meat again.

  Eventually, they reached the garden outside. Over a hundred kids gathered, along with the Madam and a few orphanage personnel.

  “Line up! You know the drill!” said Madam Agwen.

  Jiablu noticed that most of the kids started stretching their limbs, all the while the Madam was staring at the pocket watch on her hand.

  “Five laps!” she said. “Start!”

  On cue, the kids started running around the colossal garden.

  Jiablu stood there like a statue, his eyes staring at them in amusement. They somehow reminded him of the skeleton workers in his labyrinth.

  Peculiarly, the chuckling voices of the kids as they ran were not displeasing to hear. There was no mistaking the jubilant chuckles amidst the occasional complaints and grumbles.

  Jiablu decided to run along with the group. But to his surprise, it was harder than he thought.

  Only a few minutes had passed, and he was already out of breath. So, this was what it was like without magic.

  “This body… It’s too weak,” he protested, beads of sweat evident on his face.

  His heart loudly pounded as he pushed himself forward. If not for his pride as an Elder Lich, he would have given up after the first lap.

  After all, if mere humans could do it, and why couldn’t he?

  And so, despite the fatigue, he kept running with all his might. Without magic. Using nothing but his physical body.

  By the time he had finished circling the garden, his vision was already blurry, his chest panting heavily. There was also an uncontrollable urge to vomit.

  He spat on the ground as he gasped for air. At the corner of his eyes, he saw Kirsten staring at him.

  Surprisingly, her breathing was even, almost calm, despite running numerous times around the colossal garden.

  It was surely surprising.

  Jiablu was unsure if she was a human with exceptional endurance, or if his body was just really weaker than an average human. Probably, it was the latter.

  Still, it was satisfying, somehow.

  He never had these emotions before. These sensations. The feeling of his flesh screaming in fatigue. The impact sent through his bones as his feet hit the ground. The sound made by his heart at it loudly pounded. The pain that accompanied his chest as it continued inflating and expanding. The mucky sensation of sweat overflowing like river.

/>   By the time Jiablu had partly recuperated, he was already wearing a satisfied grin.

  “Alright. Listen,” said Madam Agwen. “Go, wash yourselves. Half an hour from now, we’ll have breakfast.”

  The kids nodded in unison. Jiablu noticed that the male and female kids parted ways after that statement.

  “You’re the new guy, right?” said one of the kids to Jiablu. “We’re required to take a bath before breakfast. The Madam will scold you if you eat with smelly and sweaty clothes on. Too disrespectful to God Aquina.”

  Jiablu smirked. He thought of how foolish these humans were, for believing in their so called God.

  But the idea of being unable to take breakfast tugged at his mind. He could not afford that. Definitely.

  “Then, all those humans,” said Jiablu, his eyes gazing at the male kids that were leaving one after another. “Are going to—”

  “—Take a bath, yes,” the kid completed the statement for him. “You’re kinda… weird. Maybe it’s the difference in culture. Oh, I’m Marco, by the way.”

  The kid with slanted eyes and flat nose stretched out his hand, but Jiablu did not take it.

  “Interesting,” said Jiablu. He had never considered such a mundane thing before. After all, there were simpler ways of cleaning one’s body. A simple cast of his magic would accomplish such a task in an instant.

  “Hey, most of us are… curious,” said Marco. “Are you a former noble, perhaps? I’m not the only one that noticed it… but you have this… how should I say this?” he paused for a moment. “Air of a noble? The almighty type.”

  Jiablu shot a quizzical stare. His mind was still preoccupied by the idea of experiencing a bath.

  “What do you mean, human?” said Jiablu.

  Marco’s eyes widened. “There! That’s why!”

  The sudden rise in tone was somewhat annoying. Jiablu frowned.

  “You… why do you address other people like that? I’ve heard you speak to the Madam before, and even she’s no exemption,” said Marco. “You don’t call people by their names. Just like some of the high-ranking nobles. Definitely, the almighty type.”