21 021 The Tiring Trip Home

With the morning, the sun rises bringing a bright light throughout the lands that surround the snowy mountains, with this beautiful sight there lied two individuals in a hollow tree staring at each other vividly.

For many minutes silence echoed throughout the tree...

"Good morning?.." Ziade reluctantly says to the scary white snake.

"Hsssssssssssss" The Bijeli greets him back... or was it a greeting.

Ziade slowly moves his hands towards the snake while lifting his upper body up... he lifts the snake up on his hand and stares at the snake while sitting in nervousness.

"Not so mean after all, aren't ya little buddy?" Ziade asks with a relieved expression.

Suddenly,

It strikes for Ziade's neck at insane speeds, something that Ziade's eyes could never catch up to.

Ziade realises what just happened and stares down at his neck... the baby Bijeli is snuggling itself around his neck...

"...Whew" Ziade takes deep breaths.

'Say, Okini is this a baby snake or a full grown snake?"

'Baby snake doo doo doo..."

Ziade cuts him off, "Okini please no that scares me."

"Just a joke Ziade, just a joke."

"I know but this journey hasn't been all lollipops and sunshine and I think anything said will affect the outcome with my luck at the moment..."

"Hahaha!" Okini laughs at Ziade's stupidity and misgivings and Ziade completely ignores it.. to an extent.

With Ziade and Okini's short chat, the Bijeli is slowly falling asleep around Ziade's neck.

'I wonder why this snake is so passive to me, I thought I was going to die just then.'

'Ziade I believe it has something to do with that sword of yours.'

Ziade turns his head a little bit and looks at his sword... 'Yeh your probably right Okini, there's snakes all over Masamune's scabbard even on her haft.'

'I'm not probably right, I am definitely right Ziade, your sword is one of the overlords of the reptile species and since you're it's master then every reptile has a neutral feeling towards you but especially snakes, they have a protective and loving feeling towards you since they consider you family due to Masamune.'

'Annnnnnd why didn't you tell me this in the first place?'

'I saw there was no need to.'

'Well in the future if you think there is something I would find interesting or useful please do tell me Alexis Okini.' Ziade replies.

'I will than Ziade.'

'Thankyou.' Ziade says in a hidden irritated voice.

'Mission complete: Obtain a Pet.'

'You have completed your mission and will be awarded 5 lottery tickets, congratulations.'

"Awesome! Can't wait to use these once I'm on the road."

Ziade starts to clean up since it is now morning and since his objective is complete he can now head on his Mary way home.

He finishes packing up his belongings and decides to leave the sticks and branches he collected in the tree just in case someone unlucky enough to end up in the exact situation needs help.

Back in Ziade's child hood he was in one such desperate situation just like before and somebody left a small lighter near a abandoned camp spot resulting in Ziade's life being saved. From that day Ziade starting doing the same so he could repay the favour many times over.

He cleans his wounds and wraps a new set of bandages around his face and checks out his body where the ape punched him.

The injury is very serious and Ziade has a massive purple bruise on his upper body...

Ziade has finished up everything and walks out of his safe haven...

"Shift." Masamune instantly reappears on Ziade's back.

He looks back at the Snowy Mountains in the distance and remembers the massive ape that did this all to him.

"... That fucking cunt's gonna get it when I come back here, just you wait you bastard, I'm going to shred you into pieces."

'...' Okini is amazed at his his mate's usually chill vibe has come to this when he gets angry.

Ziade scouts around with his sword force while walking out the forest and he decides to head back to Verutomo to see what has happened to the place. He is amazed at how weird the weather changes here... in the morning it is vibrant with wild life running around, sun shining through the trees, plants dancing, tall trees and the snow slowly melting, anyone would love to have a holiday here... at least not at the night...

'Okini I have a very eerie feeling right now... I've never felt this before... what is it?' Ziade stops... then continues... he is on high alert and is paying close detail to every movement, watching everything... the leaves falling, snow melting, animals strolling... the wind...

'I can not feel what you feel but if I was to tell you something weird... there's... a possibility that it might be...'

'Okini say it now.' Ziade is becoming worried and anxious from the feeling and keeps on searching everywhere but he can't find anything.

'Your face.' Okini flatly states.

"...hahahaha!" Ziade and Okini laugh and Ziade completely drops his guard...

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"I wonder what a kid is doing here in these parts?" A woman who obviously has her 'fair' share of life due to the blade scares across her eyes... and her tongue sliced off... she was blind and could not speak. This middle aged woman with a battle hardened face, small ears, thin lips, small nose, Short dark brown hair, big eyes, smooth/clear skin. This woman was very pretty even if her eyes had no colour like it used to... she held no weapon nor no special clothing on her person, she just wore three rings on her left hand, a dark purple necklace, baggy grey pants and a long sleeved light grey shirt.

'Bijeli Snake? How did he tame one? It would take years and why would he anyway, they can't speak any language even if taught and are very lazy... snakes don't listen to their master and are very dangerous since they're disobedient... any other monster or animal can be taught to speak either telepathically between master and pet or verbally... but a snake can not do both, it might be more intelligent than most but with all the disadvantages, it's simply not worth the work.

I wonder how he tamed the Bijeli? Taming items? Through force? Bribery? Or did the Koletis family help him and use their secret family techniques? I wonder...?'

'It looks so peaceful and calm with him...'

This woman continued to stand right in front of Ziade crossing her arms in front of her chest, 100 metres away and was thinking her course of action... she made up her mind.

—————————————————————

Ziade was happily enjoying the scenery now since Okini made him drop his guard with all the banter he was speaking.

"So Okini we've got 2 years to travel back now aye... that's going to be a long time... should I just speed up?" Ziade scratches the back of his neck and yawns while walking along.

'No Ziade you shouldn't use that skill since what if you find something interesting along your journey and I suggest you don't talk to me verbally.' Okini answers swiftly.

'...Okini is there something watching me?'

'No comment.'

'Okini cant disobey rules set by Elder Kumi but he could at least give me that clue... I knew there was something near me, I could feel it.' Ziade uses his sword force again and still can't sense anyone in his range, the Bijeli snake continues to sleep around his neck peacefully...

Out of know where a woman appears a metre away from Ziade.

Ziade instantly makes distance by using 'Lickety-Split Walking' and appearing ten metres behind where he last stood.

'Hey kid, what are you doing in this...' She looks around and continues, 'In this forest?'

Ziade stares at her and looks at the injuries...

'She's blind... fuckin' sick fucks, and how is she speaking to me, Okini?'

Ziade has a inner hate for people who make people deaf, blind or can't speak... since back in Ziade's previous life he had a friend who had such a thing done to him...

'Telepathically, I could block out transmissions if you want?'

'No need.' Ziade stares at her then uses sword force again to scout for any more enemy forces.

'I still can't sense her with sword force... I'll take note that not everyone can be seen using it... interesting.'

'Who are you speaking to boy? I can see on your minimal facial movement that your speaking to someone and I heard you before, who's Okini? And you still haven't answered me yet...'

"Sorry my apologies but when a stranger suddenly appears in front of you when I've been searching for them for the past 10 minutes then I will be definitely on guard."

'Alright, could you answer me please boy?'

"I am here because I wanted a pet and as you can see I have made a friend." Ziade strokes the Bijeli. 'I'll have to give you a name when you wake up bud.'

"I'm Ziade, you seem mature what's your name if I may ask?"

'I am Hinehi Elushiki.'

"Why do you speak telepathically Hinehi?"

'You've got a lot of questions boy but all children are curious... even at my age I couldn't help not to see what you were doing here but I will let you know why.'

She opens her mouth which reveals that her tongue has been cut off...

'Blind and can't speak.' Ziade sighs at her unforgiving life.

Hinehi stares at the boy who seems so mature for his age.

"Hinehi, I should get going I've got a deadline to be on." Ziade takes a step before Hinehi speaks.

'Wait, what's the hurry, you don't look in very good shape with those injuries on your face.' Hinehi raises her brows and bites her lip.

"Yeh they're not that bad I can deal with the pain."

'Deal with the pain for two years of travel, I don't think so, let me heal you.' She shakes her while speaking then tilting her head right ever so slightly.

'... 2 years? How's she know? Should I? She could be a threat... but these injuries really need to heal or it's just going to get worse.'

"I accept." Ziade furrows his brows and nods a little bit.

'Great.' Hinehi smiles.

After the two's small conversation, they sit down on boxes that Ziade brought out and Hinehi heals his injuries with her hands without even removing the bandages. A yellow glow surrounds her hands when she heals. She completely heals Ziade's face but he still has the scars on his face... at least it's not that bad as Hinehi...

Ziade removes his bandages off half of his face and is amazed that they are both fully healed but then after a couple of seconds gets over it since there is magic in this world and anything can be done.

'Any other injuries?'

"Yeh I've got a punctured lung and a broken rib."

'... wow you must be quite resilient to walk with these injuries even if you are in the Origin Endocrine stage.'

Ziade takes off his shirt which reveals the bruise.

Hinehi heals it after 10 min and Ziade is now completely fine.

"Thankyou for your help." Ziade says while dressing himself and packing up his stuff.

'No problem.'

'Hey you happen to know anything about Verutomo?' Hinehi casually asks.

Ziade completely expected this and was ready, "Yeh it's a great kingdom I went through a year and ah half ago, also have great people."

'Thanks.' Hinehi thinks to herself that this young boy could of had nothing to do with the disaster after consideration.

"Well thanks for that Hinehi I better get going now, hope I see you some other time."

'I have to be back in a 1 year from this place but good luck on your journey Ziade, be careful since you're still young and have a bright future ahead.'

Ziade is now walking away and speaks, "I will and you be safe too." He says while turning around... but she was not there...

Ziade scratches the back of his neck and laughs, walking off again while pulling out some food to eat.

She still stands there staring at Ziade's back...

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After a arduous journey... Ziade has finally made it back to the Majestic gates of Fraylulè... he stands there in front of the gates grinning widely with his hands on his hips, while people give him weird stares and looks.

"Now, have I got a story!" Ziade yells nodding his head to the side viciously once after he says it.

With the morning sun shining down with glory upon the kingdom and it's lively people, trees swaying with the gentle breeze, today marks a life changing day... today is the day magic and body cultivator's academy entry tests are held at any kingdom in the continent. This special day is a blessing for few... but a disaster for most...

Ziade laughs and starts walking towards the guards so that he can gain entry to the kingdom.

'Status.' Ziade thinks.

Host: Ziade

Age: 12 years old

Sex: Male

Battle Capacity: Origin Endocrine, 2nd Sub level.

Skills: 'Dimensional Language', 'Lightning Comprehension', 'Lickety-Split Walking' and 'Rippling Waves'.

Pets: Karja (Bijeli Snake)

Warriors: -

Funds Available: 8,000 Appies

Inventory: Strong Compass, Map, Pouch of Gold, 10 Tone Leg Weights, Card, 3 Wooden Boxes, 3 Crushing Sun Plant, Illustrious Flute, Photo, Medicald Box, 5 Lottery Tickets, Kunai, Paintbrush, Pillow and a Futon.

'Appies are going to be problem unless I get missions soon... LET'S SMASH THIS ACADEMY TEST! Wait... what time is it...' Ziade looks up... 'Fuck!'