The Dreamer's Epilogue-Chapter 32: Talent

Chapter 32 – Talent

[NEW ACHIEVEMENT! Fast Learner!]

[An interesting talent in the perception and manipulation of GeumGeum. How rare in normal humans, but don’t get cocky. You haven’t met yet the Kreash Tribe of the Brakik Empire; those arrogant guys will humble you.]

[Reward: GeumGeum Regenerative Potion (Mortal Self rank)]

Emrys didn’t even read the notification, his mind completely focused on what was going on inside his body.

Strangely, at that instant, he felt like a riverbed, water flowing through him in an undulating, yet peaceful manner — like a breeze of wind on a beach.

The GeumGeum trotted inside of him in unseen veins, close to his blood vessel ones, going from his organs to his cells and muscles all alike.

The surrounding area seemed to disappear in Emrys’s mind, surrendering to the vision of a storm of wind.

Around him, wind began to pick up lightly, moving a bit stronger.

His grey hair fluttered and Emrys entered a state of deep, unmovable focus.

Healer watched him with analytical eyes, inwardly impressed by such talent. However, the old Tistis tribeswoman noticed something strange.

Due to the absorption method, Emrys was able to affect the wind around him, as if his affinity was wind.

But with her level of experience, Healer could clearly see that his affinity was not wind.

’And yet,’ she thought, now deeply surprised, ’he managed to grasp a Wind-type Absorption Method so fast. What would happen, then, if it was his own affinity?’

It had been a long time since Healer saw anyone with such affinity to the very essence of GeumGeum.

An ordinary human, no less.

She smacked her lips softly.

’Learning an absorption method of his affinity will be best. But we have only wind,’ Healer slowly stood up from the ground, wafting away the dust on her white-green robe, then walking away, ’this method will be enough until he finds one that suits him.’

She paused on that thought, looking overhead at the sun glaring down at her. She winced, lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line.

’Hopefully, it will be enough.’

Then she strode forward, having children and old Tistis to take care of in order to succeed.

The Climbers thought they were the only ones at risk. It was far from the case.

They were in more danger than they ever believed.

’This was a gamble. But we need to succeed to go higher.’ She mused at last, before disappearing into the throng of her own tribesmen.

Meanwhile, Emrys was still in his own meditation, learning and getting used to this newfound ethereal feeling.

And while he was training, someone blotted away the sun, and sat in front of him.

Her face smeared by her ever-smile.

...

Emrys exhaled through his mouth, steaming out a thick wind-filled pale hissing stream.

His body felt at ease, his mind in an even better way, shining with utter clarity.

This was his first meditation session with an absorption method, but Emrys knew that this would be his favorite thing.

’Especially with my current situation. I will need to do this often to calm myself and reorganize my mind.’

At least, he thought in relief, that there was some wink of light in the darkness that threatened to devour him whole.

It was better than nothing. Way better.

Just like Océane had said, ’Let’s look at the bright side.’

’Argh, now I miss her. Curse, I just knew her days ago.’

Yet she killed for him.

Emrys hissed a sigh.

Shaking his head lightly, his eyelids fluttered — like the wings of a butterfly — before snapping wide open.

The first thing he noticed was that the sun was past midday, wisps of shadows slowly creeping around.

And the second thing was the Tistis woman sitting in front of him, a smile on her strange yet beautiful face.

"Your focus is truly amazing, Climber Frost." Meadow drawled, while pushing a bowl of food and jar of water towards him,

"You must feel hungry. Here." She added, then fell back silent, her blank eyes not leaving his face.

Emrys managed to keep his face calm, at least he thought. But Meadow had this uncanny ability to make him stammer on his words with the way she looked at him.

’No one has ever looked at me like this. What must she be thinking?’

He grumbled inwardly while taking the food gratefully, "Thanks."

Next he began to eat — slowly, almost gingerly.

But only now did he realize how awkward it was to eat while someone stared holes into you.

"Where are Old Navy and Victoria?" He asked in attempt to dispel the silence.

"Climber Navy is with Elder," Meadow answered swiftly, chuckling, "I heard Elder is complaining a lot about how persistent he is in knowing our history, our customs."

"He did say he was a history teacher." Emrys chuckled faintly, "that explains his fondness for all this. Though, even I am curious about you."

He cocked his head, looking deep at her.

"Where do you all come from?"

"I wish I knew." Meadow shook her head, "Only the Elder, called the shaman in other tribes, knows and other important members. But from the little I know..."

She paused for a heartbeat,

"...we are all like you. Found ourselves in a place we never wanted to be. And just like you, we want to survive. We want to live."

Emrys fell silent at that, remembering how this tribe was snatched away from its natural habitat to be here in order for a test.

"What will happen to you all when we succeed?"

"Not when you fail and die?" Meadow asked with a teasing smile.

"Only a fool would anticipate his failure and death while thinking about the future." Emrys said, a low smile on his handsome face, "I am no fool, Meadow."

Meadow burst into jovial laughter, "I like that mindset, Climber Frost!" She barked, her face achingly stunning.

Her voice then lowered,

"But yes." She whispered, "we will survive if we win this test. And I believe, it will be even better if we gather all the keys."

"Are you tempting me to gather them?"

"Will you do it if I ask you?"

"If my safety is not in danger. Why not?"

"Even if you can obtain huge Achievement? You must know it by now. Achievements are one of the ways to go beyond besides just climbing the Tower."

"Achievements are useless when I am six feet under the ground."

"Well, quite fair, Climber Frost." Meadow finally relented.

Emrys nodded, then fell silent for two heartbeats before finally, "But we will try. That, I promise."

Meadow smiled gratefully, beautifully even. Then her eyes brightened in sudden remembrance,

"There is also Climber Hound," she said, "She is just outside the gate, training with her hound."

By that point, Emrys was already done with his food.

He began to get up, "the day is soon going to end." He said, stretching his body, suppressing a moan of contentment, "I need to attempt to use my skill with this new absorption method."

"Can I come watch then?" Meadow asked, getting up in turn.

"If you wish." He said, then walked towards the door of the tribe.

Behind him, Meadow followed with light steps, a sweet smile on her face as she looked at Emrys’s back.

—End of Chapter 32—