Chương 105: Chapter 100-Chosen Ashfall Part 1

Some people would get nervous when they're about to face memories that they would rather not, but me? I'm better. I'm not nervous at all. As a matter of fact, I am cool as a cucumber. Are cucumbers cool? Whenever I managed to scrounge one together, they weren't usually fit for mortal consumption or immortal consumption, I guess. Fairly certain the Gods wouldn't have liked to eat that slimy ass cucumber. Now that we're talking about that cucumber, I think it would be a pickle at that point.

A terrible pickle, but a pickle nonetheless. Penelope gives me a nudge.

"Are you ready?" Alyver and Hopper give me an expectant look. I guess I've stalled enough. It's time to drink this Calmness potion and face the music. I kind of wish it wasn't in this Dark Elf village, but I'm sure there are worse places to delve deep into your mind.

"Yeah. So, how do we do this?" I ask as I rub the bite scar. Alyver puts the Calmness potion on the table.

"You must drink this in one gulp, and then you will become God," she says with a serious tone.

"What?!" I ask in complete confusion. Alyver looks around.

"I see that my attempt to break the tension didn't work. I will take notes for other such occasions," she says in the stalest way possible. Hopper, Penelope, and I look on in utter silence. Before I knew it, I burst into a hearty laugh along with Hopper. Penelope gives a small chuckle.

"No. That was great, Alyver. It really broke the tension. I appreciate it. So, what exactly is this going to look like?" I ask as I grab the bottle. A thick and green substance swirls inside. As I swirl the bottle, the contents begin to cloud until it becomes opaque. That certainly doesn't look easy to swallow. Just my luck.

"You should drink all the contents as quickly as possible. After that, you will find yourself in the deepest parts of your mind. That is where you will find the memory that this rage has taken root in. It will be hidden in plain sight. You will know it when you see it, but be wary. The rage will attempt to break you," Alyver warns.

"Break me? I'm The Chosen One, I don't break that easily," I [Lie].

"I hope for our sake that you're correct. You will go first. Your friends will drink theirs when you come back. Then you deal with the Wrathborn," she lays out the day as if it were a simple class schedule.

"Got it. Well, bottoms up," I say as I down the Calmness potion. Gulp after gulp, my body feels a bit… light, but besides that, I'm good. Great even. Maybe the Chieftain was wrong about how deeply rooted the rage is. I feeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllll- The Charlatan blinks once and then falls. Waiting for this, I catch him before his head smacks against the table. Lifting him with ease, I place him down on the table. When he's like this, all quiet and peacful… he almost looks-"Princess.

I wish to give you this," Alyver says as she hands me a green and red corded ribbon.

"Thank you, Alyver. Is this a gift?" I ask, being as polite as possible at the sudden and strange gift.

"My mother said that if things went awry for the Chosen Betrayer, you should use this to help him," she says with a slight bow.

"How do I use this?" I ask as I trace the edges of the ribbon. It's magic, I can feel the mana flowing through it. It feels oddly familiar. The Dark Elves are well known for their stealth, but before they betrayed the Gods, they were skilled sages. It seems they haven't completely lost that knowledge.

"She said that all you have to do is focus your thoughts on it when the moment feels right," she explains.

"I understand." I don't fully understand what she means, but I have an idea. Sometimes that's all you need for magic. Hopper stands above the Charlatan with a worried expression.

"Do you think he will be fine?" he asks.

"The Charlatan? Of course, he'll be fine. What we should be worried about is the gloating once he gets out," I say with a small smile. Hopper lets out a chuckle.

"It's going to be insufferable."

"Yes, it will be. So, drop the sour look. It is unbefitting of a son of the Lightfoot clan," I say as I elbow him in the side. Hopper lets out a small smile.

"I suppose so. CJ, hurry up already, we have a Wrathborn to kill." The sound of sizzling and the fresh aroma of meat wafts its way into my nose. Jolting straight up, I hit my head on the pot above me. Ow. Rubbing my forehead, I stumble out of bed, avoiding the various potted plants. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere." Mama! The pots are in the way again!" I yell as I try to shimmy my way past them.

"Carlito, what did I say about using the Sands Tongue?" she asks as she faces away from me.

"Not to use it until I learn the Imperial Tongue?" I ask as I push my way through the small house. It would be bigger if it weren't filled to the brim with plants. Mama likes her plants. She says it reminds her of home. I don't understand what she means. We didn't have plants back home. Just sand, sand, and more sand. Mama might have lost her mind. Mama turns away from the magical stove to face me. Her curly hair falls past her shoulders, and the sun bounces off her dark brown skin.

She gives me a kind smile as she ruffles my hair.

"You look terrible. I really should have Nina cut your hair," Mama says as she flips a pancake. Pulling a chair over to the stove, I climb up.

"I don't want Auntie Nina to cut my hair. She might cut my horns." Mama lets out a chuckle.

"Oh, Carlito. Your horns aren't that easy to cut, and Nina also has horns, so I'm sure she'll be careful," she says as she pokes at my small horns. Grabbing the batter, I pour it into the pan.

"Do you want a doggy or a birdie?" I ask as I try to shape the batter.

"Why not a Carlito?" she asks as she tries to eat me. I burst into laughter as I push her away.

"I'm not food."

"Really? Then why are you so sweet?" she asks as she pinches my cheek.

"Cut it out, Mama," I say as I flip the pancake.

"Ok. Ok. I'll cut it out, but only because you're making me a special pancake. I want mine to be filled with love. Okay?" she asks.

"Of-" Knock. Knock. Knock. Mama looks over at the door and then wipes her hands.

"I'll be right back, Carlito. Make sure the pancake doesn't burn."

"Okay, Mama," I say as I focus on the heart-shaped pancake. The voices in the background fade as I focus on the bubbles in the pancake. I have to make a perfect pancake for Mama. So, I have to focus really, really hard or else I won't be able to flip it on time. Focus, I need to focus.

"... of course. I'll make sure to keep an eye out. Thank you, Doug. For everything. I mean it. Do you want to see him…" Pop. Pop. Pop. One by one, the pancake bubbles pop. One more and I'm-"Is it almost ready, Carlito?" Mama asks.

"Yes! Just one more bubble and it'll be perfect. Who was at the door?" I ask out of idle curiosity.

"An old family friend. One of these days, I'll introduce him," she says with a hint of sadness. I know that look. It's the same look Mama gets when she's awake at night. I think it has to do with Papa. I've never met him, and Mama doesn't talk about him, but sometimes I can hear her talking to him. I wonder if he's nearby. Maybe he's hiding. What if I look for him? I'm sure if I find him, Mama won't look so sad all the time, but where could he be? This is something that I'll have to think hard and long on.

I flip the heart-shaped pancake and then smile at Mama.

"I'm going to make you happy, Mama!" I declare. A warm smile greets me.

"You already do, my Carlito. Now, let's get to eating." Taking the three plates, we place them on the table. Mama slides a small plate to the far end of the table." May the Spirits accept this offering," she says.

"Mama, no Sands Tongue, remember?" I say almost immediately.

"That rule is for you. I know how to speak the Imperial Tongue perfectly," she says as she pinches my nose. As we eat, I watch as bites and pieces of the food on the third plate disappear. The Spirits must be hungry.

"Mama? Why can't I see the Spirits?" I ask as I eat my food.

"Because the Spirits think you're too handsome. So, they're too shy and are hiding," she explains.

"But Mama, why can you see the Spirits? You're beautiful! Aren't they shy around you?" I proclaim.

"Most of them are, but the Spirits here are my family. They've been with me since I was born, and they've been here since you were born."

"So, they're my family too!" I yell, excited at the idea of more family.

"Yes, they are, Carlito. In fact, these Spirits have been with our family for generations. They are what we call our Guardian Spirits. No matter what happens, they'll always be with us. So, know this, Carlito. You'll never be alone. Your family will always be there, even if you can't see them," she says with a smile.

"What if they don't like me, like the other kids?" I ask as I pick at my food. Mama's eyes follow something in the air, and then she smiles as she lands her gaze on me.

"Trust me, Carlito. They love you." With a big smile, I point my nose to the air.

"Of course! I am the most handsome boy in the whole world after all!"

"That you are my little Carlito. Oh, would you look at the time? It's time for you to go see Cynthia while your Mama goes and works. Don't dawdle and don't cause trouble for Cynthia," Mama says as she cleans the table.

"Okay Mama. I won't, I promise," I lie. Rushing out the door of our house, I'm immediately greeted by the bustling town of Ashfall. The Vashrin kids run around as their parents get ready to go to work. A group of Humans laughs as they drink with a couple of Magnea. The town square is littered with stalls as people get ready for the festival tonight. It's the founding festival. It'll be my second one. It's beautiful! There's this big fire that we throw things in! It changes colors and everything!

Also, also, there's food and games. Mama and I had a lot of fun playing the one game with the fish. Eventually, I make it to Auntie Cynthia's. She's nice. She lets me have snacks, but… today I'm not going to Auntie Cynthia's. I'm going to find Papa! I know he must be nearby. Mama talks to him all the time, so he has to be. If I find Papa, Mama won't be as sad anymore.

"Don't you think so too?" I ask the Spirits. With a smile, I look to the edge of town. The Red-Tipped Mountains climb high into the sky. Mama and I passed those. So, Papa must be the opposite way. Turning around, I face the other way towards the sea of orange trees. Marching forward, I enter the sea of orange. Without a hint of fear. After all, I'm not alone. My family is with me. So, to find Papa!