11 Ch.10
Huge was the right word to describe Tiger Gorge.
Located in the Everow Pass, at the center of Nurmen, it has blocked the main access to the eastern side of the northern continent, preventing rival clans of the past from invading the western side.
Since Nurmen had been united under the Basara clan after the Matriarch ended her conquest, no such trouble occurred nowadays, yet Tiger Gorge remained an iconic place, a sit of power and the new capital.
Thousands of people came by every day for business, tourism, or national affairs, the place was teeming with life.
Its six layers of defensive walls have stood tall for a thousand years, separating the castle into six different parts, housing more than sixty thousand people.
Half of them were warriors.
Behind the sixth layer was the Basara mansion where some of the family members were assembled in the Snowfall Garden decorating the entrance.
Amidst these giants standing in a circle around an obelisk at the heart of the Snowfall Garden, was Erik.
'The atmosphere is as tense as I remember,' he thought, looking at his two siblings, aunt, uncle, the volva, and parents, each carrying a ceremonial shield.
The last time he had seen most of them was in his previous life, passing the first Trial was essential to be truly recognized as a Basara and allowed in the mansion.
Amongst his siblings, the second, fifth, and seventh children had died during their trials, leaving five children out of the original nine alive.
His sister Hilda and brother Uthred—who had recently finished his second trial—were undergoing their Trial of the Path.
Ogram should return wounded but alive from his first trial in six or seven months.
The firstborn, Olaf, was a giant even amongst Basara, he was one head taller than the Matriarch, had bulging muscles, and a great war ax.
An adult white bear rested at his side, attentively looking at the rare ritual.
The third born, Roki, was half bald, preferring a north-eastern hairstyle to the north-western traditional long braided hair. Tribal tattoos decorated his bald side, and long red hair braided into one tail ran down his other side.
Erik had always found Roki's hairstyle weird and inconvenient but respected the deep meaning, it symbolized power: the longer the tail, the more enemies had fallen to his two axes hanging on his belt. Next to him was his life companion, a grey wolf staring straight into Erik's eyes with disturbing interest.
Both older brothers were Berserkers.
His maternal aunt Astrid and uncle Harald, two siblings who had fought for the previous generation's leadership, stood slightly behind the main family.
Since they had lost the throne war, none of their children were "officially" Basara—thus not here—only the Matriarch's children, the strongest blood, were allowed the surname.
'Father looks amiss in this gathering of red-haired giant humans.' Erik turned his gaze to the shortest man of the lot, the only non-Basara blood allowed during the ritual along with the volva.
Long brown hair, piercing yellow eyes, body slightly bent forward, he oozed bestiality. Before meeting his wife, Gorm Bear used to be the Bear clan's leader. Like a true Basara, the Matriarch had forced him into submission and asked him to die or marry her.
Gorm had chosen the latter.
You did not say "no" to a Basara.
That same indomitable woman towered over Erik, her body entirely covered in runic symbols painted prior to the ritual.
"Commence," she said, her tone low but somewhat carrying far.
The spectators took up their ceremonial shields and started banging the rim in perfect unison with their ax shafts, slowly making their way to the center of the shield while humming a ritual tune.
Bang!
Ice statues depicting the Basara most famous leaders started vibrating, their frozen shields pointing toward the obelisk trembled and amplified the sound.
It was as if the mighty ancestors had come back from their graves to assist in this ritual, the statues carried no axes, symbolizing eternal rest.
Basara tradition suggested that life was a struggle where one would constantly fight. Death was a reward where one shall find peace at last.
Since shields represented protection, peace, and prosperity, they were allowed in the afterlife. Feeling an unusual powerful spiritual presence, Erik channeled [Shaman Senses] and saw them, not white, pale blue blurry figures gathered around the obelisk.
Those that came before have come to participate.
'They are truly here,' he thought. A white blurry figure stood among the blue others, a stark contrast, 'Even White came to watch.' That ghost truly stuck to him like a fly on feces.
Examining his mother's core, he saw nothing at first, then it flashed golden. Myriads of threads weaved together, each as thick as a log, took to the sky, englobing his entire sight, going beyond the horizon or so it seemed.
'Wildfather….' It dawned on him he was just a baby facing a dragon.
His curiosity satiated, recalled by the ritual's rhythm, Erik closed his eyes and joined the trance.
Bang!
"Blood calls blood," Skadi declared.
She dipped two fingers in a bowl previously filled with the blood of those spectating the ritual, hers, and Erik's. Curiously the liquid didn't freeze nor gave signs of losing its warmth despite the cold as if showing how powerful their blood was.
Slowly, Skadi painted Erik's face, drawing runes representing the Basara family's deep link to the Wildfather.
Bang!
"Oh Wildfather, ruler of beasts, protector of the wild, wielder of storms, hear me who seeks power."
Even if the god had died long ago, the clan continued their tradition and called for him. Remnants of his power still lived within them, all around them.
Bang!
"Bless this blood of my blood. Allow him to join your pack and inherit the ways of old along with your chosen child."
The banging sounds and humming hastened; even the ghosts joined in. Loud throbbing echoed within Erik's chest.
Something invisible, a force he could not explain guided his hands.
Eyes closed, he abandoned himself to the supernatural and cut his hand using Caliber's knife before pressing his bloody palm against the obelisk.
BANG!
"Blood calls blood!" Skadi said, "Come, you who shall guide the blood of my blood! Come, you who shall be his tutor and new sibling. Come, and accept his blood, for it is mine and those that came before."
BANG!
Greenlight snaked up and down the stone obelisk. Ancient runes whose meanings have been forgotten came alive, activating old spatial magic. Reality warped as a green rift ripped an opening in the human realm.
All sounds ceased, and every spectator stared at the dimensional portal through which they could see a foreign realm, that of the Beast God's children, the Wilderness.
'What would come out?' They all wondered.
Depending on the beast, the child's future could strongly shift in one direction. For instance, if it was a snow tiger, he would normally be considered a strong candidate for leadership; ninth child not included.
Thirty minutes passed during which nothing came out.
'Why is it taking so long for the ninth?' Olaf wondered, as the firstborn, he had seen the most summoning ritual amongst Skadi's children. 'The others and I were done after fifteen minutes. Something's not right.'
His eyes widened at the sight of an adult snow tiger approaching the rift from the other side, it peered into their realm, sniffed the air, and took one step through.
'Impossible..., according to the records, the ninth child has never summoned a tiger before!' Olaf thought.
Then, as if it has sensed a foul smell, the tiger growled, rushed back to its realm, and disappeared into the distance.
Olaf sighed in relief, 'Of course, it had been mistaken. Yes, it makes more sense this way.'
Five minutes later, a giant snake dwarfing every totem beast Olaf has seen made its way to the rift, stared at the humans for a moment, and… left.
Five minutes later, a salamander approached from the other side and decided to go back.
One hour passed, and it was still the same circus. Totem beasts came and went, stag, bear, eagle, lynx, wolf, unicorn, manticore, etc.
"It's getting ridiculous," Olaf blurted out loud, breaking the ritual's silence.
He had had enough.
Totem beasts he's never seen before appeared and disappeared, making his heart jump in disbelief each time. Also, as a Berserker, he had more important matters to attend to than a beast fashion parade.
Suddenly, the firstborn felt immense pressure on him, even he who had reached rank 9 couldn't endure it. Skadi was crushing him with a simple gaze, she would not tolerate anyone disrupting this ancestral ritual.
Pressured, Olaf lowered his gaze and shut up.
In a trance, Erik was focusing on a feeling, a pulse. He was sending a call to every living being in the Beast God's realm, hoping the one destined to him would respond. Each time a beast neared the gate though, Erik didn't feel the bond forming.
Where was it? Where was his destined partner?
In his previous life, he had summoned a dog named Rex. Very loyal, friendly, and his best friend. Erik had fond memories of him, Rex's death at the hands of the slavers had broken his heart.
'He should be alive in this life, so where is he?' he thought. 'Why are you not responding this time, little brother?'
As if sensing his call, a golden retriever showed its nose five minutes later. It was Rex, he could feel it. The dog barked, and wagged his tail but never stepped through, instead, it stayed beside the gate like a watchdog.
'I can't feel the bond in this life,' he thought with a peg of regret, 'but I'm glad to see you in good health brother.' Eyes watery, his shoulders felt lighter, as if a past burden was lifted. 'I'm glad.'
Rex kept barking like he was calling someone.
To Olaf's annoyance, no beasts showed up for the next three hours of barking until something answered the call.
A small black bird landed on the dog and pecked his forehead to shut him up. Rex put both paws over his head in an attempt to protect himself and lowered in submission.
The Basara family, renown for their ruthlessness, watched the ridiculous scene of a raven punishing a boisterous dog.
Finally, more than five hours after the start of the ritual, the raven passed through the portal and perched on Erik's shoulder.
On the other side, Rex straightened up and then started barking again.
Woof! Woof!
Caw! Caw!
The raven replied in a seemingly annoyed manner. Both totem beasts were having a conversation humans couldn't understand.
Rex wailed, pleading for something.
Caw!
The dog's eyes widened, it appeared Rex was playing it cute to persuade the raven who bird-sighed, giving up.
'Eh? What the void!?' Erik was so confused he didn't pay much attention to the raven on his shoulder.
Tail wagging, Rex ran through the rift.
Much to everyone's surprise, the golden retriever joined Erik's side and lovingly licked his hand. Normally, a totem beast never contracted a Basara instantly, they would first wait to see if the human was worthy and then bond him.
However, the dog didn't feel like waiting, unlike the raven.
A runic crest appeared on Erik's backhand as he felt a bond forming with the dog, connecting their souls, then progressively faded, turning invisible to the naked eye.
"Hi, friend!" Rex's bark morphed into audible words, attesting the contract between them had been made. A contractor naturally understood his totem beast but not other totem beasts. "I'm Rex! Nice to meet you! Let's get along!"
"I'm Erik," he could barely contain his joy. True, the dog was far from being the most powerful totem beast, but Erik was very fond of him. "Happy to meet you, Rex. I'm looking forward to working with you."
Caw!
The raven didn't seem happy about the contract, though.
"I know, I know, stop complaining Old Bone," Rex barked, "I get it. But this human smells so good!"
Caw! Caw!
"Dishonorable? What's that? Can I eat it?" Rex titled his head in incomprehension.
The raven hid its exasperation behind a black wing. Erik chuckled, Rex was just as he remembered. Although, last time, the golden retriever actually did wait a few days before officially contracting him.
Woosh!
The portal disappeared, concluding the ceremony.
***
Lore Extract:
"The Norsemen call their chivalrous cultivators 'drengr,' cultivators who follow their paths' boldly and honorably, never lowering themselves to 'ergi' misdeeds, dishonorable acts. Their notion of chivalry differs from ours in a few ways. For instance, where we think piracy is dishonorable, they praise this practice, haunting our coasts for merchant ships. So keep your eyes open!"
—Officer of the Celeste Empire's navy.
