Chapter 110: Inner Spirit Flames

After telling Anuwat everything, Kanan took his leave. He was confident she wouldn’t keep this knowledge to herself and would spread the word to everyone. He then made his way to inform the council of his discovery, hoping they would take action to ensure the safety of the tribe.

’The real question is, how am I going to defend the village? According to Elvien, the corpses of the Typhon Tribe were following her here, so they should have been here by now, right? If so, where are they? And not only that, but how could we defend against them?’

Of course, they could burn the corpses to a crisp. This would not only kill the corpse, but the plant as well. But that was easier said than done. If the Verminus Plant was still gathering its forces, then corpses of animals and beasts were most likely going to attack as well.

’If only I could create some barrier around the village that would only allow members of our tribe inside.’

[Civilization Barrier - A barrier to protect the people of a civilization, allowing them to grow in peace without the threat of the outside world. This barrier grows with the territory and only allows those who have permission from the Shaman to enter.]

’Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the hell is this?!’

[Something the host is looking for.]

’And why are you only telling me about this now?’

[The host didn’t ask for something like this until now.]

Once again, Kanan wanted to rip the system apart.

’How much does it cost? And if it’s over 20 points, don’t bother answering.’

[...]

’Scammer.’ So, Kanan would have to do this the old-fashioned way.

---

"We can help too! It was our home at some point!"

"We know that place better than anyone!"

"Send us on this mission as well!"

"We can best defend this village if we can destroy what’s out there at our old village!"

Kanan had walked past a large group of people yelling about something that had to do with the Typhon Tribe’s old village.

’Has the selection process already started?’ Kanan wondered, walking over to Omula, who was analyzing the crowd.

"What’s up with them?" He asked

"My father announced that he was going on an expedition and was choosing people from both tribes. He already gathered people from our tribe, and the people from the Typhon Tribe are trying their best to hop on board this mission."

"I see. I thought Telah was going to choose the people participating in this expedition."

"She is. It’s just that everyone else wants to join as well. Though my father isn’t going to let that happen. Truthfully, he doesn’t trust them. He believes that if the situation suits them, they could turn their backs on the mission in order to find a way to go back to their old home."

’Things you have to think about when you’re in power.’ Kanan thought to himself.

"I agree with him. The chances are too great, even with this current threat looming over our shoulders. People can become desperate to just see something that they have lost." Omula didn’t like the fact that she was being pushed to be the chief so early.

She knew that this day would come eventually, but she wished that there was more time until that day came. Now she was starting to understand how Kanan had felt when he learned that he was someone more important than the village chief.

The only bright side to this was that her role was temporary if her father survived the journey, something she hoped he did.

"Well, for the time being, I will put those who truly wish to help to work. We need to fortify our defenses. I fear that we’ll be facing another danger like before, one that’s even worse than the battle against the Typhon Tribe."

"What’s your plan?" Omula asked

"Don’t have one. I spoke to Lord Nemean, but I was told to figure it out myself. Therefore, I will, though I’m not having that good of a time doing so. I was on my way to Risha to learn more about the abilities of the Typhon Tribe."

"I’ll come with you."

---

"So basically, all you do is just manipulate nature to different degrees?" Kanan asked while Risha was sitting down in front of him, staring into his eyes.

"Yes. It’s really amazing! I’m a witch. Want me to show you what I can do?"

"Later. Tell me, what can you do specifically that makes you different from everyone else?"

"Hmmm. Well, I’m a witch, did I mention that?"

"Yes, you did."

"Really? I don’t remember that. Hmm, but as for what I can do, I can feel the life of the land and speak to the spirits."

Kanan nodded. "I’m aware. You showed me this ability when we were on a mission together."

"Hehe, right! That was fun. I miss Brave. Shaman Kanan, let’s make a child togetehr and name it Brave!"

"Later, Risha. You were telling me about your abilities."

"I was?"

"Yes, you were."

"Oh, well, I can speak to the spirits."

"I’m aware." Kanan had to rub his nose to keep himself sane.

"Did I tell you that I can feel the energy of everyone’s spirit?"

"Yes, you...Wait? What do you mean by that?" This was new. Kanan wasn’t aware of such an ability.

"Umm, I can feel your energy."

Disappointment appeared on his face. "Oh. You mean you can sense my spirit energy."

"Huh? I don’t know what that means. But if you mean I can see your living flame, then yes! I can sense your spirit energy!"

"Wait a minute. What do you mean by seeing my living flame?"

"Hmm? Don’t you know? Everyone has a fire inside them. It’s like they’re burning but not burning. Hehe, it’s so funny. Your flame is massive. It’s around your whole body. Miss Omula’s flame is inside her body, but it spans the whole inside of her."

This might have been the first time Kanan heard Risha speak like a normal person for a relatively long period of time.

"T-Then what did Brave look like? What was his flame like?"

"Brave’s flame? Ummm, there wasn’t any. I was so sad that Brave didn’t have a flame. I was hoping that by sharing some love, he would get a flame. But it didn’t work. I think he is the same as my dad."

"Your dad?"

"Yup! My dad didn’t have a flame when we moved to the new village. Uhh, the one before this one, I think."

"How so?" If Kanan was following correctly, then Risha’s dad must have...

"The Verminus Plant got to him, then his flame went away. Poor dad."

"So he died."

"Is that what that means? I guess he died. But it’s fine because I was still able to talk to him. There was a misty void inside him that replaced the flame."

"A mist?"

"Mhmm. It was dark and creepy. Daddy told me to let him go, so I stopped hugging him as he wanted."

’I don’t think that’s what he meant.’ Kanan thought to himself.

"Wait, Risha. You were able to control this mist inside your father?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Dammit."

"But I was able to control it inside my dad."

Kanan wondered if the system had new brains he could buy.

"Tell me, Risha, were you able to control your dad’s entire body?"

"Yup! It was great. I even made Dad use spirit energy to heat my meat! Hehe. But he started to smell, so I didn’t hang around him anymore. He also started talking about survival, fighting another person or something. I wasn’t really paying attention."

Kanan wouldn’t have expected that the answer to his problem was this airhead.

"Risha!" He hugged her tightly, and even gave her a kiss on the lips. "You’re the best! I love you! I know what we can do to beat the Verminus Plant." Kanan got up and ran all over the village to find Telah.

"Hehe, he said he loves me. This means we’ll have babies soon."

As Risha blushed and giggled at Kanan’s sign of affection, Omula pouted as she wanted Kanan to say that to her instead.