22 A short break before we hike

Seeing that we're near the foot of the mountain, we slowed down our pace and walked instead.

"We should proceed tomorrow instead when climbing, I hate it when it gets dark on the mountain. I almost got lost one time due to the fog."

"I agree. Big brother also told me that mountains are different from ordinary forests and that we should always look out for each other. With that I agree and... put up this temporary alliance while climbing."

"Seeing the two of you get along right now brings me joy."

"No!"

"Humph!"

As soon as I praise them for their temporary good manners they immediately became same poled magnets again. I instead asked Kirllia to change the topic and get them back to their 'alliance.'

"Kirllia, are there any wild animals there that we could capture and eat when we ascend the mountain?"

"...About a kilometer going up would only we be able to find those white boars. Before that there are still no wild animals, but there are a few beasts that sometimes go down to check the foot of the mountain and see if there are some things it could eat. Stronger beasts scatter throughout the upper layers and the weaker ones get to gather at the lower part."

Then she looked at Aunt Arc from head to toe, as if examining her body.

"W-what?" She involuntarily shivered upon receiving a scan.

"You should change your armor, it's going to kill you up there. I'm sure you both have each of your thick garments to shield from the cold. Also hand me the Flame Orbs for a second."

Aunt Arc readily agreed and removed her heavy armor, each one dropping to the ground with a heavy thump, reminding me of how heavy the equipment she was wearing.

"Ahhh... Finally feels good."

I handed over the Flame Orbs as Aunt wore her own set of fur coat that covered the upper half of her body, and the other half consisted of a different type of material I don't recognize. It had a contrasting overall white pattern to it that made the upper coat look a gloomy brown.

Meanwhile, Kirllia took the Flame Orbs and took a red string from her inside pocket, and with a flash, I saw her just pierce the Flame Orb with the end of the thread before tying it up and handing it over to me. She also did the same with the other one.

"Don't try to copy what I did. If you make a mistake piercing through a Flame Orb, it will explode, burning you to ashes."

Okay. That's quite the warning you gave me, it's a lifesaver.

"How is it Kaff? Do I still look good?"

Aunt's fur coat completely masked her form with brown on top, and white on the bottom. It also had a hood so even the head was protected, and I could only see her nose and mouth right now. Her hair was probably tied backwards to see properly.

Before I could even reply, Kirllia made a comment that stunned even me, and made Aunt blush for minutes.

"We aren't even climbing today yet, but you're so excited. Who told you to change at this instant right now?"

Since we aren't going to do anything for the rest of the day, we just took a rest and prepared our camp in advance. Then I saw Aunt hiding inside the tent in shame from earlier, fervently refusing to go out. Seeing her like this, I felt awkward and told her she could give me a hug instead and readily took me inside the tent before drowning me in her abundant hills.

I went out a few minutes later, feeling dizzy.

Kirllia was on the lookout, facing the mountain we're about to climb. Seeing her alone like this made me want to chat for bit in case she's bored.

"Do you know how to fly?" I asked.

"Only mage-level combatants can fly. A few scholar-level magic users could do so too, but it would drain their source energy fast." After answering my question, she smirked and asked me, "Do you wish to fly?"

"Of course. Who wouldn't want to?"

"Sadly, I also don't know how to... for now. I'll admit I'm a mage-level magic user, but I don't know how to fly."

"That's strange. I once encountered a Vates at the scholar-level, and she could fly for a bit after speeding up... wait, speeding up?"

Should I also add acceleration as a factor in flight? So far I only considered going upwards with force... But it was pure force, and it didn't lift me up.

"Flight from speed... Doesn't sound like a bad idea, but without the proper flight techniques you would just go straight and crash on a tower or something. I also don't have any skills or techniques regarding flight, but the ones I know usually have their own books that contain information about floating. After that they would be able to fly in general."

"That means that they're either a member of a faction, or just got lucky finding that information. Is that right?"

"You forgot something. It's that they're also probably a genius."

Then we went silent for a while and just stood at place.

"I don't think you're simply a child. You don't speak nor act like it. Surely you have your own secrets, but as long as you're not an enemy..."

I could only scratch my head while smiling as she said that.

"You're the one that caused that explosion back at the Merchants Union front gate, right?"

"Oh. You saw that?"

"Not really. I just had the feeling, but your answer already told me what I wanted to know. It was a lot stronger than the burst of light you made back when we met the first time, and you're the only one I currently know that could make that kind of light."

I couldn't answer to that, and I was about to say something but she continued.

"I'm just not sure why it was golden in color. I'm sure it was blue the first time I saw it."

"So you did saw it?"

"Only from a distance. Would you tell me what faction did you really join? I feel a Vates mark from your body, yet your powers don't come from source energy. I also feel a part of the Beast God's blessing on your body, but it doesn't make sense. The Beast God especially hates Hamion for dominating the humans and granting them power but you have both."

"It's a long story, really. I don't think you'll be excited with it." I shrugged as I replied but she turned her head towards me and her eyes really let out this glow that sparkled with curiosity.

"If you tell me about your magic or powers, then I might just tell about myself too."

"Heh. If you knew about my powers, I wonder if you would still be as kind to me right now..."

"What, are you a heretic or something?"

"Gakh---o-of course, not!" With that she turned away her head and looked over to the other side. Since she's also not willing to tell her secrets then I can't say that I'll also part with mine. To each its own I guess.

"All I know is that, I'm just an ordinary human without a source spirit from birth. That's all I can say to you for now."

"Impossible. With all those things that you've been doing, I don't believe it."

"Sure you don't. Come, check my body."

I spread my arms to the side while facing her, giving her permission to check my source spirit.

She was just about to touch me when suddenly a big figure appeared in front between us.

"You can't touch Kaff. You'll give him your germs and filth."

"Aunt, she's just gonna check out my source spirit."

"What do you mean check your source spirit? You can do magic right?"

"...you don't know after all this time?"

"What do you mean?"

"Hey don't leave me out of the conversation, let me check your body."

"No! Let me do it." Aunt forcibly blocked Kirllia's hand once again and I saw a faint white light emitting from her hands that seeped into my body's veins.

After a while, Aunt's eyes widened, and she let out a few more wisps of light that entered my body at a faster rate.

"I don't believe it. You really don't have a source spirit?"

"Yes. Dad and Mom also don't have one, right?"

"Big brother was like a genius as he was freakishly strong enough even without a source spirit. Not sure about sis Pisa but she's got her fair share of strength too. I heard it was something that was in their blood but I can't remember well. Now you..."

"Let me try and see too?"

Aunt stared at her for a while before resigning and moved over to let Kirllia check on me.

This time, two lights, silver and red started to emit from her hands and entered from my hands to my body, and it was strange because I could feel a faint sensation of warm energy from her light. It surely wasn't like the golden energy the Vates made nor the red aura the Civil Corps feather usually had, so it was also unique like mine.

I could also see her eyes widen and her brows furrowed, and later on there was a frown. It took her almost the same time as Aunt but only longer, before finally letting go of my hand.

"What a freak. You actually used your own body as catalyst for your power."

I shuddered at her words and felt my back turn cold. How did she know instantly what I did these past few years?

"Don't look at me like that, it's scary. I know because there's a similar old man in my village that also did this kind of thing, and no one also knows what he did. He died after letting out the same energy you have though, his body just disintegrated they said."

"That doesn't explain how you know what I did."

"..."

There was tension in the air as Kirllia went silent.

"F---"

"He was once my master. I have a source spirit but he doesn't. He wasn't my master in regards to magic, but more like a father figure in my life. Curiosity always lurked in his mind regarding source energy, and he always bathed in my magic every morning. He consistently tried different things just to see if he could succeed in making his own source spirit, and he succeeded. It only cost him his life afterwards."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Instead of being suspicious, we should help each other in the climb, after all. It really is a miracle that you're alive right now."

"By the way, what did he taught you?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean he was your master, right?"

"What he taught me was more on manners and how to hold back certain emotions. You wouldn't understand it anyway."

"Eh, doesn't every sword user have some kind of meditation technique?" My aunt suddenly cut in.

"It wasn't just any meditation technique. It was more of techniques to reduce animosity towards people like you who continue to provoke me."

"Now you're talking about another spar again, right?" Aunt palmed her fist with a clap, along with a crackle of her knuckles.

"A great way to warm up for the upcoming hike."

With that, the two started to fight, striking at each other without reservations. Seeing them made me a bit envious of their speed too. I know it's one weakness of mine since I really have no movement techniques and such, so I have to, at least make one before we meet with Dad.

With that I also tried all sorts of things I could do with Origin on my feet, before night came and we did our usual routine of dining and rest.

***

The next day we woke up early before the two suns rose from the horizon. We wore our thick insulated clothes, except for Kirllia who already was wearing her strange red fur coat. This time Aunt repeatedly asked Kirllia if we're sure to climb today as she doesn't want to change her outfit without reason again.

The mountain was quite near in sight, and once we got at the general vicinity, I could barely see the top right now, and all I could see were trees once more, but this time we're on a slope upwards.

Without a trail to follow, I looked at them both before I took my first step upwards.

"Dad, I hope you're still fine."

"He's practically invincible as he is, I don't know what makes you worry this much."

"I know, but still... One can't be too relaxed about curses. They might detonate anytime or something, and that's what scares me."

"Curses...huh."

I saw Kirllia put her hand on her chin for a bit, then shook her head before matching with our movements.