New Life

Vulcan, the god of fire and crafts. To think that they would see a god right in front of them is unreal, but he is there due to the heat from his flaming wings.

Liam and Aniya instantly got onto their knees and bowed down to him.

"Wait, please don't bow" he stated, putting his wings away and rubbing his reddish-orange short hair. "I felt like I'm forcing you guys to do it due to my status, but please don't bow. I just want to be normal like you guys."

Liam and Aniya obeyed his request while Vulcan smiled at them sheepishly. "I should announce to the world about this, but anyway. Why...are you talking about the Terrors?"

Liam turned his head to Aniya before looking down at the ground. Of course, Vulcan would be uncomfortable talking about them. He barely knows about them despite their fearsome reputation. Are they more powerful than the gods and devils? Or was it something else that is different than Typhon and Fenrir?

"It is better to let the younglings and the newbies know about them instead of going blind and getting them killed."

"Hmm, I agree," Vulcan told the experienced soldier. "Well, I suppose I should translate their names to modern language for better information. I don't know their history. Only devils knew about it since they are the ones who turned humans into monsters, and then those monsters betrayed them."

Liam widened his eyes and his heart skipped a few beats along with his lungs not functioning properly. He thought that the devils were only playing with mortals to stir the gods' feelings, but this is something even beyond that. They weren't stirring the gods' feelings. The beings in Hell is willing to break them apart, starting from their heart.

Vulcan took a couple of deep breaths. It would be a hard time for the gods to fight a being that was once of their creations. Who knows how the devils felt when they face them for the first time?

"Ch'osh diné means Insect Man, but in reality; we call him the Moth Man due to its appearance. Kâ'lanû Ahkyeli'skï or Raven Mocker, the one who robs a dying man. U'tlun'ta means the one with the pointed finger, also known as Spearfinger. Wendigo means Cannibalistic Monster. Nun'Yunu'Wi, dressed in stone or Stone Man, and Tsul Kalu; the Cherokee Devil due to having so many names in many different languages."

Moth Man, Raven Mocker, Spearfinger, Stone Man, and the Cherokee Devil. Those are the names in modern language that everyone can understand except Wendigo. Liam can't be the only one who knew about that Terror. There's no modern name for it, but the ancient name fits the creature perfectly.

"Anyway, that's not the reason why I am here today. I want to see the newborn champion named Liam." Vulcan looked at him when he said his name. "I am looking forward to seeing your growth, North Star Champion."

Liam halted his breath and gaze down at his feet. His shoulder started to get heavy and feelings began flooding his mind from the time he didn't become a knight. Is he going to fail his people like last time? What if he still lacks talent despite having powers? What will the people think of him when he promised that he will protect his home?

Liam flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The owner of the hand is Vulcan, looking deeply into his eyes.

"I'm sure you have something in your mind, but whatever it is. Don't let it get to your heart and focus on your goal. Everyone's talent in their own way. All you need to do is to find it or create your own talent."

Liam smiled and nodded his head, making Vulcan beam back.

"Wish I can help you out, but I can't intervene in mortal's personal lives and had to do my job as a craftsman."

"I understand" Liam replied, making Vulcan smile wider than before.

"Good. I'm sorry that I can't talk much, but I need to get going. Caelus is calling us from the heavens."

"Caelus, the God of the Sky and Light?"

"Yeah, and it's very important. So, I'll see you around whenever I get back." Then, a white portal appeared above his head and Vulcan's wings appeared. He saluted to Liam and Aniya before zipping into the portal and the portal warped into the sky and disappeared.

"Didn't Caelus punish Vulcan for giving fire to mortals in the early days?"

"Yeah, but I think that changed due to the Eternal Conflict" Liam responded to Aniya as they both still have their eyes on the sky.

"Hey kid." The old knight took his attention away from the sky. His eyes gleamed bright orange in the sunlight and pierced Liam's soul. "Just remember. Terrors are terrifying creatures with eyes as bright as the red sun and a fearsome reputation. Just run and don't engage them at all."

"I'll keep that in mind." Liam and the others walked away from the walls, leaving them deep in their thoughts.

Liam kept his gaze on the ground as his shadows began to slither into his sight. The sun was setting down over the horizon of the ocean behind the castle.

"Have you guys found a place to rest?" Malinda asked. Liam widened his eyes and shook his head. He didn't realize that he had the plan to start his new life by simply finding his home and buying his needs, such as clothes and food. "Before you do that, we need to show you something at the church."

Malinda faced an open space and put her hand out to cast a teleportation spell to the church. The church was located next to the castle, showing its important value to be protected at all times along with the keep.

They walked into the church and found a pope praying in front of the statues of all the gods and goddesses. The pope stood up and turned around when he heard them entering.

"I'm assuming you are Liam Castor, the North Star Champion."

"Yes sir."

"Can I see your hand for a second?" Liam showed him his hand, and the pope grabbed his hand firmly and sliced his fingertip.

"Ow, what was that for?" Liam asked after he pulled his hand back.

"It's for checking your emotions daily." He stated, using his staff that opened up another set of small statues with small glowing orbs on their chests. "We were requested by the gods and goddesses to prevent all champions from turning to Fallen by keeping an eye on the orb within the statue. This can measure the levels of negative emotions you are feeling right now, and we'll use a lot of communication spells to keep you on the right track."

Liam watched him smearing his fingertip against the orb before it glows bright yellow and the statue forming of himself as the North Star Champion.

"Now, it's not like it's going to mess up your daily life. We just don't want your emotions to go overboard."

"Gotcha." They are taking this seriously, and there might be a chance that they will force him to end his relationships with his family and the Navalon Kingdom for the sake of the world. Liam had no idea what would happen if a champion became a Fallen.

One thing for sure is that it's going to torment the heavens even further. As for the world, it is unknown for the aftermath.

If those are the choices he was given, then he would need to prevent that from happening. This is his second chance and the last one to become the person he wanted to be. He can't slack off.

"Well, thank you for bringing him here. It was my fault for not being there at the castle in the first place to extract his blood."

"No problem" Bianca spoke.

They walked out of the church and stood at the front door, facing each other.

"It's time for us to part ways" Malinda smiled as she looked at Liam. "Tomorrow, Abi and Kiana are going to train you. I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

"Yeah, you too." Liam smiled back. They began to walk away and head towards their ways as Liam and Aniya are trying to find an inn before finding a house for Liam.

On their way, Liam noticed something in the corner of his eye. He turned his gaze and find a young border collie, shivering and starving in the alleyway.

"Hey Liam, let's go check that inn over there. Liam?" Liam was not there by her side, and she looked around to find him on his knees in front of the dog. Aniya approached her best friend slowly while Liam took his time gaining the dog's trust.

They both didn't say anything, knowing that the dog was neglected and possibly abused. Liam took his shirt off and was oblivious to his surroundings while wrapping it around the dog.

Aniya dropped her jaw and stared at Liam. She blushed and gulped while staring at him doing his thing.

The border collie began to snuggle up to his arm before Liam lifted him.

"So, what were you saying, Aniya?" Liam asked, gazing at her who is drooling at him. He blushed and knew what she was staring at, but decided to tease her. He got closer to her who was unaware of him and smiled mischievously. "Whatcha staring at, you pervert?"

Aniya jerked her head away from Liam's sight and hold her red cheeks with her hands. She covered her eyes and whine from her embarrassment.

"I-I found an inn over there! Let's go before it gets dark!" Aniya pointed to the inn by the intersection while looking down and covering her face with her other hand. Liam gestured his hands at the border collie, and it crawled into his arms.

Aniya still have her hands on her face with her shaking legs while Liam walked past her, heading to the inn. She began to follow him and speed walked past him, so she doesn't look at his body.

They enter the inn, meeting the receptionist who was questioning their situation. Liam and Aniya ignored him and asked for a room with two beds before going upstairs after the receptionist told them that one of the rooms is available at the end of the hallway.

"I don't know when are they going to train you, but I'm going to get up early tomorrow to buy you some clothes" Aniya stated, still not looking at Liam and walking ahead.

"Sounds like a plan."

"Well...goodnight!" Aniya shouted as soon as she opened the door and zoomed into the bed that she already had chosen. Liam widened his eyes before closing the door and went to the other bed close to the window. He laid the dog on the ground gently with his shirt still wrapped around it.

Liam looked at the ceiling, laying down on his bed, wondering what is going to happen next tomorrow. Tomorrow is the beginning of his new life.