Chapter 158

Lykan

The Decision

Kosha stood there, staring intently at Lykan. Well not Lykan, himself, but a clear relative of Lykan’s. Lykan even used his Master Analyze skill on the boy, trying to see if this was a ploy. Some way to get him and Brenna to lower their guards. A way that these Cerusians could gain leverage over the two of them, taking in their Kosha and using her as a hostage. This of course would end badly, and the Cerusians would be a fool to make an enemy of Lykan, but right now his mind looked for every possible answer available. Any possible answer that would tell him something other than the truth that was staring right before him.

Name: Dylan Vita Race: Human Age: 14 Class NA

He was still too young to have had his official class awarding. Also looking at him and his last name gave further proof that Frenna Vita, the woman they had seen last time, might be related to him. He was clearly related.

Cool breeze.

The wind began to twist in and fold on itself, almost as if in direct relation to Lykan’s true feelings.

He felt his core turning and twisting. He had been so close to a breakthrough, but that was when he was focusing his full attention on his core. On trying to force the qi core of his body to adhere to a particular form or mold. But that was not the air, that was not the way of the air. Furthermore, that was not the way of Lykan. The more he was forced to be pressed into a form or mold, the more he rejected that life. Even if it would be best for him, even if he could see the benefits, he did not want to be forced into a life. Nor did he want others to be forced into his life. He was free, he responded where he was needed. Much like the wind was now, it heard his soul cry out in pain and responded with a gentle caress. But the wind would lose its majesty if it forced itself to stay with Lykan now. Lykan also knew that he would lose part of himself if he forced the change.

Whipping wind.

Lykan’s now long hair began flapping about wildly, as did the clothes of everyone around. Kosha and Brenna both looked towards Lykan. Lykan for his part could feel his eyes glowing brightly, as he was not quite controlling the wind around them but communicating his feelings with the wind.

The more he made this revelation into the very nature of wind, the more his understanding came to a crescendo.

Whip, whip, whip.

The wind billowed and blew about wildly, all the while Lykan let his mind realize he had been building his core wrong. His core with tiny different size balls and portions was wrong. He was the wind, as such, it wasn’t a matter of creating a center of power. Wind was the opposite of a center of power. In fact, the center was the exact opposite of where power of a storm would be. He needed to condense his qi power to the outside, while keeping a void of power at his very center.

With this new revelation, brought about by the wind trying to comfort him, he had an epiphany. No, not just an epiphany, he felt his entire body first grow lighter, then become both unsubstantial and opaque all at once. His core spun about violently, rocks and condensed qi particles were picked up in the rapid swirling vortex of his body. Then, when he felt he could go no further, he pressed on. Letting the perpetual motion of his core keep everything active. This of course meant that he would not be able to do certain things anymore. He would forgo hiding, at least the way he had been taught to hide previously, but hiding was never a component of the wind. The wind was constant, ever present. You knew when the wind was there, you would feel it on your spine and back and then disregard it, until it was too late.

These were the components of Air, and this was what Lykan did with his core.

Crackle, snap, hiss.

Static electricity built up from the speed that Lykan now spun the condensed qi within his body. He focused on that feeling, that moment, then at once he became one with his chosen element.

Blessing Bestowed: Basic Air Cultivation Method Obtained. Basic Air Cultivation Method Obtained. You have begun the step of true mastery of your chosen element. By unlocking the Air Cultivation Method, you have blocked all other elemental cultivation methods. You will also need to progress in your Air Cultivation mastery before new paths are able to be added. Results: +7 Mobility, +5 Power, +3 Intelligence, +3 Awareness, and +1 Strength. All Air based attacks are increased by +10%. Increased Movement speed by +15%. Flight and all Flight based skills effectiveness increased by +20%.

With his new cultivation method, Lykan felt the qi particles of the world slowly getting pulled into him, into his qi vortex that was now a constant part of him. The cultivation seemed like it would be odd, but now that it had been started, it was like breathing. He was able to stop, if he wanted, but that would be the same thing as holding one’s breath, utterly pointless and counter intuitive to life.

“Whoa.” Kosha said, as her timid voice brought Lykan out of his revere.

Turning, Lykan focused his attention on Kosha, but his eyes were unnecessary. His new cultivation told him about the people in his immediate vicinity. He could sense a lot of condensed qi power coming from Brenna. She too was close to her own discovery of personal insight but was not quite there.

“Sorry.” Lykan said, as he forced his body that had been floating an inch off the ground to land once more.

Here on the ground, his mind felt off. He felt off balance, as he realized he was missing a way to cultivate through the bottom of his feet. He needed to be up in the air, gaining qi from all around. As it was, with his feet on the ground he was clearly stealing qi from a different realm, a realm that seemed to reject him outright. Still, he felt that his will was strong enough to even rip the power from the depths of the earth, should he focus hard enough.

“No, your eyes, and your hair.” Kosha said, her eyes enraptured by Lykan.

Holding still Lykan waited, as Kosha cautiously walked closer. Seeing her nervous state, Lykan paused. Then the wind blew gently along Kosha’s neck, a sign that she was protected. The wind also helped to push her forward ever so gently.

“Your eyes are now an icy blue. While your hair is silver with flecks of light blue.” She said, as she held out the long strands of hair that showed the blue streaks.

It had been years since he last looked at his visage. From a standpoint he knew what he looked like, but he never took for a moment to see what he looked like from other’s perspective. He only had a vague sense of what he looked like from a power perspective, he knew both his qi, and mana reserves were phenomenal.

Curious, Lykan tilted his head and asked the question that had been on his mind.

“What did I look like before?” Lykan asked.

“Your eyes were red, though that was only when you seemed to be fighting monsters.” Kosha said, her body slightly shuddering at the thought. “Then you had nothing but red eyes while we were at the High Wood Elven settlement, or what was left of it. To be honest, I don’t know what your eyes were before then. I just remember them being different shades of red. When you were about to enter combat your eyes would glow bright red, while other times the red just accented your normal dark eyes.”

Hearing that, Lykan wondered. “Did I scare you?”

Kosha paused, but then decided to answer truthfully. “At first, but then I saw how your anger was directed outward. How you would protect those close to you, while letting others live as they wished.”

She paused, “this is a good look for you. I take it you managed to create a new core type?”

Hearing that, Lykan couldn’t help but feel flustered. That was what he had been telling Kosha, that she would need to create and increase her core’s abilities. This new discovery was something he had never even expected.

“No, I did something different. I created a Basic Air Cultivation Method.” Lykan said.

With that everyone turned to look at Lykan in a new light.

“Just now?” The boy, Dylan, asked.

“Yes. I had a revelation about how regardless of how painful it would be to let Kosha go; I would respect her wishes. Then almost as if hearing the pain of my soul, the wind came to me. That was when I realized a few things about the nature of Air and myself. I realized I had been doing things improperly, at least when it comes to the element of Air. See air, is powerful on the outside, while the center is calm. That’s when I felt my mind and intentions shift. I had been doing it all wrong. I had been close with my flying vortex, but even then, I had a base at the center. That was not the correct way, I had been so close for so long, but I took losing you. Losing a part of myself to realize how I was hindering my own growth.”

That was a lot, especially for Lykan.

Brenna just stared at him, with the same wide-eyed wonder she always had, when he came to such profound understandings seemingly out of nowhere.

Kosha, on the other hand, took something else entirely from the conversation. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she ran forward and wrapped her arms around Lykan.

“You know?” Kosha asked, her words speaking mostly to his loose robes more than Lykan’s face. She was so distraught that she could not even dare look him in the eyes.

“I knew. I knew the moment they said they would let us come back, that this was the right choice for you. I am just glad you can see that it is the right choice for you as well.” Lykan said, his words calm and stoic as always. Only his brightly glowing eyes and the sudden up lift of wind were his only real tells of his true state of emotion. Of the emotional turmoil that he was now feeling inside.

“I won’t forget you.” Kosha said, tears still rolling down her cheeks. “I just don’t think I am ready to go with you two.” At this Kosha lifted her head to turn towards Brenna.

Then before she had time to blink Brenna was there, embracing them in one familial bond.

“It’s okay to forget us. So long as you never forget who you are, who you want to be. So long as you know those two things, we will be part of you. Even if you forget how you got to where your final destination is, we will have been with you all along.” Lykan said, as he let his hand pat Kosha’s head.

The three stayed there in that one momentary embrace. Then finally after Lykan’s emotions calmed down enough to let the wind die down, the three released their hold.

With that Kosha broke away and made her way to Dylan.

Dylan looked first to Kosha, and then back to Lykan and Brenna. As soon as their eyes met, Lykan let his full cultivation loose upon the area. Instantly a swirling vortex of air, debris, and qi surrounded the small clearing they were in.

“I take it, I do not need to warn you what will happen to your little cabal, should anything happen to my Kosha?” Lykan said, as he began to rise.

“We are your family too.” Dylan said.

Lykan just shook his head. “My time for concerning myself over the bonds of blood is now over. Right now, I have chosen my family. So far, there are but two other members of my family. Two members and you are not one of them!”

Lykan said, his voice calm, but carried by the wind with such force that even at a whisper it was deafening. The shear overwhelming power that Lykan was displaying was on a whole other level. A level that caused the boy without a class to tremble and fall to his knees for stability as he fought to keep his footing. Meanwhile, both Kosha and Brenna found that the wind avoided them. No, avoid is the wrong word. Instead of avoiding, the wind seemed to acknowledge the pair, and then provide them strength.

It was clear this little display was meant to be a warning of things to come, should they neglect their promise to Lykan. In that moment, he was the epitome of a God incarnate coming down to give a prophetic warning to the believers and non-believers of the world alike.

“Y,yes.” Dylan finally stammered out.

With that, Lykan realized he was forcing his will on others. He did not want to control others, but he did want to warn them. Realizing he almost broke one of his own personal edicts.

Suddenly feeling flustered, he moved to take off, to fly away. But he was stopped, as a powerful hand gripped him. Stunned, Lykan turned to look at the source of the hand. While he didn’t need to look to know who had grabbed him, he did have to look to see what her opinion would be.

As he looked, half expecting everything from contempt at threatening a boy, to a chastisement for his actions. He was not prepared for the look that greeted him. As he looked, he saw Brenna, her face calm and serene as she looked at him. Then she said three words that made her fall in love with her all over again.

“Not without me.”

Hearing that, Lykan smiled and nodded his head. He had spoken too much today, made himself to look like too much of a fool. So, he let his body talk for him. He grabbed hold of Brenna, then with a brief thought, the air around the two began to pick up. Then they were gone.

Only two people, children really, stayed behind in the field. Finally, after a few moments. Dylan asked, “do you think they are gone?”

Kosha just smiled and shook her head, “no, they are around. Fortunately, we can’t get rid of them that easily.”