Master Of None

Now this was where Walker, Mordant, and Current were a little lost. Naturally, they were fine with the fact that they could save the echidna and whatever they could. Mordant and Current had even made a lot of the more intelligent monsters bow to them. This was just the strength that a dragon had. The monsters understood a hierarchy and that they were not in danger from the dragons.

Even more, the materials that the two had collected were important since they could be used to regrow the jungle plants elsewhere. It could be the best way to properly save the jungle and the environment that it created just by growing. Although, it was a fresh start which would take many years.

Walker had said to save the island. That was just the idea that came with what he wanted. It would be the best way in his opinion. They could somehow redo the structures underneath the island and make sure that it is solid enough for many years. Later, they could go back and add more strength to it over the years. That would save the island.

However, what Walker was thinking was not what the elder echidna had in his mind. He had changed the plan completely the moment that he saw his own quest arrive. But was that what everyone else thought or knew about? No, he had yet to say that he had a plan like the one he was about to put in to action.

”Everyone should be arriving soon. The altar is rarely accessed by anyone. Even you saw just a small part of it. This was built by our ancestors when they came here. Before the jungle had grown around us. Before we had learned of the true path of the world and how things should be. Call us a small test batch if anything. To see if the world could get where it was meant to be.”

The elder didn’t make much sense, but as other echidna began to show out of the mist while the group walked, Walker noticed the rest of the party we were also guided by echidna.

He could see that Su was walking taller with her head held high. It was clearer than ever that she had grasped some form of new understanding and more importantly, a new confidence within herself. Every single step exuded the pride of who she was and what she was capable of. Very similar to a dragon’s pride, although it was more controlled.

Gil was another story as well, he was carrying his bow over his shoulder and instead had a dagger at the ready. It was a little different from how he normally traveled. It seemed that he was forcing himself to keep a hold of a certain feeling. His expression was the very same that Walker had on him when he was trying to grasp an odd concept or new skill. Just the slight wince or flinch was enough to see that he lost his grasp of what he was doing before he managed to grab on to it yet again.

One of the weirdest sights was Remey. She was walking beside an echidna who was pulling herbs from pouches and mixing potions right in the air or in her hands. Remey was naturally amazed every single time she saw this. But the pair was clearly conversing and Remey was learning. It was very weird to see Remey acting like a student of sorts. Someone that was ready to sit quietly and learn. The normal Remey attitude seemed to be a distant dream by comparison.

When Midnight and Onyx returned to Walker’s side, he realized that the pair had definitely grasped some bits and pieces of natural mana or maybe more. Midnight was actively pulling all forms of mana that she could towards her body. Similar to how she would when she was trying to gather an elemental breath attack.

This being down wasn’t for an attack though. She was letting the manas flow through her body and out. It was an ideal training method for her to be able to better use the manas at any time while also making her stronger. She had grown in to a more similar way ofr strength that all dragons had. The only difference was her affinity for every elemental mana.

Onyx was a little more unique. He lacked the affinities that others had and was somewhat limited to just light and darkness mana. However, Walker could sense a vague building between the two elemental manas within Onyx.

The sense was very faint, but it was there. That the two manas were even more united than they had been. It could even be said that Onyx may have grasped the fact that all manas were united at one point and that the opposites everyone saw between light and darkness were just a false thought. The unity they had between themselves was not just a balance but a reason for each other to be.

As there was so much more to this that couldn’t even be fit in to a simple thought, Walker realized that he would just have to find his own ways to interpret this. He would just have to keep himself moving. However, he still felt invigorated to know that just a simple time in this village had managed to allow them all a great amount of growth.

On that thought, he realized that he had not noticed the sun even moving while they were in the village. Isnetad, the mist around the jungle had been constant. It was an odd illusion used to make the echidna in the village work more easily.

Since this illusion was still in the works, the sense of time had slipped slightly. Walker couldn’t say how long they had been on the islands? Had it been a few hours? One day? Or five days? ”Don’t worry, it has only been three days since you arrived. I maintain the mists around the island to allow us a better place to live.” The elder chuckled as he realized that Walker had finally raised the question he knew would come.

”I just hadn’t caught on. I was too amazed by everything here.” Walker’s embarrassment went with everyone else’s as well. They all felt a little embarrassed realizing that they had been on the island for three days without even noticing the time pass.

”Little ones, this is the true altar of our great world goddess. Life and growth relies on her and the world once breathed through her. She may have gone as goddesses may perish. Her ideals lived on through us, she left us the way of the world. The path to existence that we strive to be one with.”

The mist through the entire jungle cleared immediately. What was presented was an ornately carved altar. The stone was carved full of vines and trees. Scenes of life and deaths revolving in a cycle were all over it. Runes that carried mana through the carvings also looked elegant and unlike most other runes.

Just the feeling of looking at the altar were enough to make Walker realize that this was something made with the desires of nature completely in line. It represented the ideals that the entire existing echidna race lived by every single day. It also paid homage to the goddess they once worshiped. That their ancestors had followed and learned from.

The mists cleared and from the open space above the trees, the party noticed the glow of stars in a perfectly clear sky. The dim lights of the jungle were not enough to hide everyone, but it was a drastic difference when the illusion mist was in effect.

”Under the very sky and stars, I lay my life on the future of my people. The path that will be followed by all life as time goes on. I beg the world and existence to allow us to return to the flow as it must be.”

These words made Walker confused. He was unsure why the elder was offering his life. It made no sense to what is happening here. But Alice grabbed his hand and reassured him. She had been softly humming while watching everything happen. She was sure that it would all be for the best.

”The elder is one and we are one. We will tell the story of the elder and allow history to be remembered. Never shall we forget.” The entire village responded to the awe of the party.

”My children, I will not fade. Nor will you.” the elder smiled and took back his serpent form before wrapping around the altar.

”Take my life and shatter our foundations. Lat my mana be the birth of this home. May my strength be made in to the new foundations. May we drift and become one with all that must be. I plea to the true path, allow us to continue.”

Just as a mastery skill would work, the words resounded around everyone and everything. Every single echidna lowered their head in respect while sharing some of their mana. That was when the island shook yet again.

….

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