Chapter 152

Brenna

Playing into Misconceptions

There is an unspoken language that all women inherently speak and understand. That language often relates to interpreting interpersonal relationships between strangers. Now add to the fact was that Brenna was a very talented empath. Her skill in empathy, and social intelligence was partly why she got along so well with Lykan. It also had the added benefit of letting Brenna be aware of potential threats to her special relationship with Lykan.

While Lykan had a big heart, he had an odd way of showing it. He also, was especially talented at giving deep miscues that likely could be avoided. Case in point when he came out with the small girl Kosha held protectively in his arms.

Normally such an act would be seen as endearing, especially to Brenna who saw this for what it was. This was Lykan being a big brother to someone who otherwise would have been swallowed up by the world. Instead of letting the world swallow this girl, he reached his hands into the fire and plucked her out of her regular existence and put her life on an extended path. A path where she could reach for the stars, for he would put her on his back and fly her to the moon, if she but let him. That was the type of man Lykan was.

That was why Brenna found it particularly amusing with the woman who seemed to know of Lykan, glared at the three of them in shock. From how close she stood next to Lykan, she made it clear from her body language that Lykan was hers and hers alone. Then added to that was the fact that Kosha seemed to be well acquainted with the two of them and their antics, she was content to just stay and watch. Knowing that should anything truly dangerous happen, Lykan would get her to safety before anything. This was a tactic they had practiced. Even though they had only been together a matter of days, they held a bond from constant cohesion of battle tactics, that made them seem to be more than just a group of three individuals.

In a way this was the strength that Lykan possessed. He had a way of pulling people up with him, rather than down. Thus, the group of three, who by all rights would have been strangers a week prior. At least Kosha had no knowledge of who Brenna nor Lykan were a week ago. In fact, up until a week ago her entire life was on a completely different trajectory.

A little over a week ago, she had been preparing for a life of magic that she would share with her friends. From there she would go on to be a wizardess who would join the Sidherthan military and eventually oppose the invading forces of Ajimal’s army. Of course, such things were only spoke about in secret. While the lands had been conquered by Ajimal’s mighty war machine, the hearts, and minds of those that had been invaded were not conquered. In their minds the villagers were free and were only waiting for the rallying cry. A cry when they would all readily follow and join. Such were the dreams of children. Children who only spoke of war as if it was some novel thing to be cherished, as if war would be what truly defined virtues.

Of course, that fantasy of the past died, when she had her awakening. She like Lykan had been identified as a null. Unlike Lykan however she had three different groups vie for her attention. Fortunately for her, Lykan and Brenna had stayed behind and waited for her. Kosha of course had no clue that anyone was waiting for her. So, like any frightened child who was to be abandoned to the wilds, she ran. She tried to run and hide within the village that served as her home for all her life. She had found a hiding spot that she knew would be safe, but she was quickly ratted out by her former friends and family. It seemed that with just one verdict, the entire village, her support structure, everyone she knew had turned their backs on her. That was until he found her. He was the first to subdue the members of Ajimal’s army who had been assigned to pick up nulls. This was a new trend of Ajimal’s army, as before the army had been happy to let the null children rot in the forest. But something had changed. Ever since his new consort was said to also be a null, he had changed. No longer would he cast out the nulls to die. Now he collected them for a secret army, one that no one seemed to know the true purpose of. The only thing that was known for certain was, they were very serious with their task of capturing Kosha.

Then there was a second group who had also come for her. While Kosha was less apprehensive about that group, it was clear she did not want to go with them. That was when Lykan made the plan to ensure she was powerful enough to easily defend herself and make up her own mind. Ever since that point she was by Lykan’s side. If she was a bit older, Brenna might be worried. As it was, she found the entire situation cute. Especially as Kosha reminded Brenna of the daughter she would always want to have. It seemed that Kosha too liked this dynamic as she seemed happy to accept this as the status quo.

All this is to say, that they were more than just a team of highly trained and skilled combatants. They were family, if not by blood, then by deed. They seemed to move and react as a solidified unit that had enough power, skill, and precision to easily destroy a titan.

To be honest Brenna herself didn’t think such a thing was possible. In her mind, hearing the tale Lykan told of when he first entered a dungeon, Titans were monsters that were beyond comprehension. Of course, this was well before Lykan began his own personal path of achieving a perfect body. This was before he even had enough personal strength to stand alone, as the one guardian angel for children who were praying for a miracle. Now not only had she proven her worth to Lykan, but they had also performed a task he once thought impossible. They killed a Titan. Granted it took both of them working in unison as a well-rehearsed battle team, but they finally managed. Slowly, blow by blow, they cut and sliced their way through the horrid beast. Until finally they were once again rewarded by the gods.

Blessing Bestowed: Divine Favor Divine Favor: Your actions are so fantastical that you have been marked by the pantheon of gods. Rewards: Divine Aura. Your aura is such that you will call believers and non-believers alike to follow your commands.

Brenna knew that this blessing was a direct reflection of the gods following Lykan’s want. This was directly related to the need to establish an army that could be assembled to take on the remaining Titans. That had been Lykan’s plan originally, to train a replacement. But now he seemed to have a bigger goal in mind. Rather than just training a replacement, what if he could train a whole army to follow their example.

Seeing the way Kosha had looked at the two of them before the blessing, and now, nothing much had changed. At least not from what Brenna could tell.

The spot where the change was apparent was when others looked on. Brenna looked on to the still floating Ezma who looked on with regret. This was the same regret that could only come from seeing a life choice that was so readily missed.

Even from this distance, Brenna could see the look of pain cross the porcelain perfect face of the floating red head. It was clear that she was an elemental mage of some kind. Given the way she managed to push and move the elements around her, it was clear that she was an exceptionally powerful one at that.

Then seeing the way her hair seemed to fly up in anger, as she saw the intimate way the three of them came together after the battle, it was clear she had feeling for Lykan.

“You!” The floating witch Ezma shouted. Rage filling her word as her eyes began to glow with an intensity that was endemic to crazy people and scorned women.

Lykan turned to her and seemed to recognize the woman almost immediately. “Ezma? How have you been?”

With that comment, Ezma paused. The temporary anger that had been filling her, seemed to dissipate instantly, at the obvious recognition in Lykan’s eyes.

“You remember me?”

“Well yeah, kind of hard to forget someone like you.” Lykan said. “Congratulations on the perfect body, you are truly doing the gods’ work.” Lykan said, gently placing Kosha on the ground before giving a bow to the floating elementalist.

Ezma for her part just looked more confused. For her part, it took Brenna every ounce of control she had not to laugh at the absurdity of the whole situation. It was clear that Ezma had wanted any reason to blow up at Lykan, but in his typical obvious way, he had completely defused the situation. Not that picking a fight with Lykan was a smart thing, he had after all just fought and one against a Titan. Well, he had fought and won with help. Brenna was quite pleased that she had helped when she did. While she felt Lykan could have found a way to win, there was no point in tempting fate. Especially when she could show how well they worked together. While she didn’t fear the idea of him wanting to split from her as much now, it was always a definite possibility that she was constantly aware of. That had been his original plan after all, train her up, then send her out into the world by herself.

She couldn’t live with such a situation, and she was certain that he now feel the same. That they were so much better together, than they could ever be apart. Thus, she encouraged the taking in of orphans like Kosha, the two of them could train her, and others like her to go out on their own. Then they could carry on the task that Lykan had originally planned. Namely splitting up to cover twice as much ground.

“Kosha dear, are you ready to enter into your first dungeon?” Lykan asked. Suddenly taking his eyes off Ezma, and instead focusing on the small girl by his side. “Know that it will be dangerous, but Brenna and I will be by your sides the entire time. Also don’t feel that you need to come. We will not think less of you, should you choose to stay.”

“This is your old home, right? The place you stayed at when you were an outcast, just like me?” Kosha asks, a slight note of excitement to her voice. She had of course heard the stories of this place from Lykan on their way here. So, to finally see the place he spoke so fondly of, was something she could not resist.

“Yes. This is the place where I first learned to be a man. It was also where I earned my class.”

“Then yes, I want to go. Auntie Brenna keeps telling me about how important it is to go into and close dungeons. I want to do my part and help.” Kosha says, an excitement filling her as she bounces energetically on the balls of her feet. Though her excited bouncing, is the full-fledged movements of a wild panther, that suddenly sees a treat dangling in front of them. A treat that they can’t help but stare at with full intensity.

“Well then come on. Let’s go fulfill the request from the gods and see where Lykan grew up.” Brenna said, grabbing the energetic girl and guiding her to the burning hole.

Lykan looked at the two leaving, then back up to the still floating Ezma. Suddenly seeing her, he realized he should likely give her a warning. “Just so you know, I wouldn’t follow us. The first few floors will be safe, but the further down you go, the more concentrated the qi will be in the area. That could prove lethal to one such as yourself.”

“What? What do you mean? My request from the gods has been fulfilled.” Ezma responded incredulously.

Hearing that, Lykan visibly relaxed, as nervous tension left his shoulders. “Oh, that is good. I’m glad they stopped you from hurting yourself.” Lykan said, then took a step forward, before pausing and turning back. “It is nice seeing you. Also, good job with fighting the titan.”

Hearing that Brenna couldn’t help but add her own part. “Yes, if you didn’t delay the monster, who knows where it would have gotten of too. You really helped.”

With that, the glowing elemental energy around Ezma began to build as her hair began to float due to the buildup of electrical energy. Seeing the obvious reaction to her barbs, Brenna smiled widely, before turning away. The lines had been drawn, and she wanted it to be known from the start that if anyone wanted to make a move on her Lykan, they would be in for a fight.

With that, the three entered the open charred chasm that had once been a well concealed forest entrance to the ancestral home of the high wood elves.