Echoes of the Abyssal Blade: Path to Free Will-Chapter 87: Elder Monuu’s Astonishment

Raerin walked in front, while Jonan followed behind him. It was almost night time, but Jonan could see that, regardless of the banquet, everyone had gotten to sleep early.

Unlike during the day, no one is allowed to be outside of their cottages in the colony at night time, except for the elder level figures.

With a fast pace, Raerin and Jonan finally reached an old and small cottage, which was worse than most of the cottages they had passed by. It was at the utmost corner of the colony, that was why it took them some time to reach here.

This forlorn cottage was where the Elder Monuu resided. Raerin first stopped in front of the cottage with respect, but he did not enter the cottage despite there not being any doors.

Jonan then noticed a weak-looking elderly figure coming out of the cottage. Elder Monuu smiled when he noticed Jonan and Raerin, he gestured and said, "Ahh, it is you both, come on in, from the looks of your faces, you must have something for this old man."

But the moment that the elder was going to turn in, he instantly stepped forward and came in front of Jonan, he was astonished by the changes that happened to Jonan.

Elder Monuu thought to himself, "How is this possible for a person to change so much? The blessings only elevate the existing talents."

He then stared at Jonan’s eyes, which were glowing with a mystical light. Elder Monuu then noticed something, and he was more astonished by what he found.

With an excited face, he said, "It is regrettable that I did not go with you both, or I should not have missed such an exciting event. Please come in and explain everything to me ."

Jonan and Raerin both nodded in response and entered the elder’s cottage.

Elder Monuu’s hut, though simple outside, felt peaceful and serene inside.

The walls were lined with animal hides, bearing various glyphs carved into them, and the aroma of old parchment and herbal incense hung in the air.

There was a single, unlit lantern that cast dancing shadows, it was illuminating the room with a golden, warm light.

As Jonan and Raerin sat down on the mats spread for visitors, Elder Monuu served each of them a glass of red-hued nectar, whose fragrance soothed their nerves.

He sat across from them, his eyes conveying an abundance of his wisdom and understanding gathered over centuries.

"Now," he started, speaking softly but with authority, "describe all that happened during the blessing ceremony."

Jonan nodded and took a deep breath before relating the events, starting. He narrated how he was taken to another room, where he was confronted by several spears, and while evading them all.

He noticed one of them to be different from the rest, it was a pitch black spear, with aura of malice radiating from it, unlike the other spears, which just had either a fiery type aura, or an earthen stone aura.

Jonan hid the next part, and just said, "After destroying the spear, I came out, and it was then that the next part happened."

Raerin then cleared his throat and recounted what he and Jonan witnessed next, first, he stated that the spear started to crack, and then a blinding light burst forth from it, its figure had transformed, and its shape had also changed; it now looked more regal and majestic.

After which the light of blessing came out of it, enveloping Jonan completely, and when the light subsided, Jonan stood there transformed, his eyes were glowing with a mystical light, and they were of violet color now, his physique had strengthened and he also felt completely different from before.

Elder Monuu listened intently, his expression shifting from curiosity to astonishment. He leaned back, his fingers scratching his chin.

"This is beyond extraordinary, even in my long life, I have never heard of such a blessing, and for such a transformation to take place, ahh, I really missed such a great opportunity to witness a blessing," he murmured.

"As you have described about our god’s transformation, ’The Sunstone Piercer’. It was actually cursed and sealed with the essence blood of a fearsome abyssal creature, a being of immense power and darkness, during a great war long ago. Due to this, our god has always been in a weakened state, and could barely muster out blessings for us to fight the abyssal creatures, unless we use many sacrifices, which led to us many times to starve, and this also got us kicked out off the mainland, because sacrificing huge amounts of beasts is very difficult to sustain."

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he delved into his vast reservoir of knowledge.

"Jonan, by breaking that black spear, you must have unknowingly shattered the seal. In doing so, you liberated our slumbering god, one that had been bound for eons. This act, whether intentional or not, is monumental. Our God, in gratitude, bestowed upon you an additional blessing. This explains the profound changes you’ve undergone or it might also be related to you being from a foreign land."

Jonan sat in stunned silence, the weight of Elder Monuu’s words were settling upon him. Raerin’s eyes darted between the elder and his friend, a mixture of awe and concern evident on his face.

Elder Monuu rose, his movements deliberate and measured. He placed a reassuring hand on Jonan’s shoulder.

"Jonan, you have done what many of our ancestors have struggled but could not do, you have our respect and gratitude, from now on, you will be one of us, you will be our family, your enemies will be our enemies."

He then continued, with a softer expression, "Rest now, both of you. We have much to do from now on. With our god awakened, we can now head back to the mainland, and for that, we will need your strength. Tomorrow, we shall assess the extent of your newfound abilities and determine the tasks that will suit you, ahh wait, I forgot, you have not yet started with our fighting arts, from tomorrow onwards, you will be guided in our fighting arts, and hunting methods."

Jonan was excited upon listening to the elder; he was afraid of using his Battle Arts or Aura related abilities here, and he needed to find a way to mix up with them.

One question did remain in Jonan’s head, but he could not ask that here, "Was the blessing the ’Greatest Opportunity’?"