Spreading of Ashes

Polemos just continued to stare into the distance as he awoke after Death had kissed him, before he awoke back into his tent. He sat there for five minutes before a caring smile spread on his lips as he reached for his black scale necklace. When he felt the scale in his palms he shook his head as he fell backwards.

Thump.

"So death walks with me all because of my bloodline and purple eyes." Then he lifted the black scale necklace as he looked at it. "And unknowingly she's been helping me through this black scale. At least one of the answers for when I Mana Washed my marrows has an answer." Then he dropped the necklace as he gathered mana into his hand as a cold and gray colored mana that formed in his palm as it made a fog in his palm as it flowed off his palm.

"Since I've killed Ellios my bloodline has slowly unlocked and I've only accumulated a small amount of it but since washing my marrows and doing the Blood Eagle ritual it's increased to this." Polemos closed his hand as the death mana disappeared entirely.

Death mana was a rare type of mana that very few were able to wield naturally but, with patience and knowledge one could use it but, it would never reach the stages as one who could naturally use it.

"So I've become a necromancer, cool I've always wanted to be one." Polemos sighed as he lifted himself to a seated position. "But it drains me more than a regular fireball, earth spell, or even my science experiments and since it's a rare form of mana, information about it will probably be expensive or not available. Just means I gotta train harder then and search for whatever information I can find." He stood as he cracked his back and stretched as he felt that he was seated for a long time as his butt felt numb.

After he was done stretching he headed outside to see what time of day it was as he opened his tent flap he was greeted by a barely rising sun. Hearing a splash of water he looked over and saw Rose swimming in the water source catching a giant shark like fish. When Polemos saw Rose he smiled as he called out to her.

"Morning Rose, will be leaving as soon as I'm done with my morning practice!"

When she heard Polemos call out to her she hissed loudly as she tore apart the shark like fish as blood and guts covered her face. The shark-like fish didn't even scream or make a noise when it was torn apart as Rose ate her kill. Polemos smiled as he watched. After watching her for a few seconds he called out to her again.

"Enjoy your hunt Rose I'll be back!"

Polemos then headed out for his daily training as Rose continued to swim in the water source as she would occasionally kill a different kind of fish as she hunted. She even threw some on the shore.

As Polemos was performing his daily training he thought of everything Death talked about during their meeting.

'It seems like I'll have to get used to a lot of people who have the knowledge to be wary of me as it seems like those with purple eyes aren't seen in a good light. Plus I already have a massive enemy even though I haven't done anything to them, well yet.'

Polemos frowned when he remembered what Death told him about the Holy Light Church and their disgust and hate for anything that went against their teachings. And the biggest thing that went against them was those who wielded Death Mana as it was seen as an evil and unholy practice. Luckily for him, Death said that their base of operations wasn't that prevalent in the desert but warned him that he should be wary as if anyone from their Church found him they would become like a zealot, and pursue him till he died.

Polemos put that worry to the back of his mind for now as he focused on his training.

When he was done with his morning run the sun was still trying to reach its peak but it brought its warmth to the desert sands. Polemos was looking across the desert atop a massive sand dune as a small layer of sweat formed on his upper body.

"Just gotta finish with the last half of my training then I'll be off to the first monster nest on my list to reach the Minor Oasis. Hopefully when I get there I'll be able to get some knowledge on my actual location in the world. Plus when I join the Mercenary Guild I should be able to earn some money along with information." He smiled as he spoke to himself as he let the sun's warm rays warm his body. After a small break he headed back to his camp so he could finish his training.

But when he returned to his camp he was surprised as he saw a shore filled with many types of fish that he had never seen from the water source. When Rose saw Polemos she hissed as she quickly rushed over to him as she lowered her head. When he saw Rose lower her head he smiled as he rubbed it.

"Looks like we got some food for our trip down south huh." Polemos continued to rub Rose's head as he looked at all the different types of fish that laid on the shore, many of them the size of small cars as the rest of them where smaller. "I'll make sure to make a good lunch at our first stop." He smiled as he stopped rubbing Rose's head.

When Rose no longer felt Polemos rubbing her head she hissed slightly.

"I know, but I gotta finish my training. After that I need to clean up the camp then we will be able to head out for our journey." Polemos smiled as he looked at Rose.

"Hiss."

"Yeah, yeah it won't be long."

Polemos then walked over near the campfire as he unsheathed his heavy axe as he practiced his basics. He practiced till sweat flowed off his body with the sun high in the sky. After he was done with his heavy axe and sheathed it he brought out his throwing harpoon and practiced Elder Spears Throwing Technique. After he was done with his practice he was breathing heavily as he practiced longer than he normally did.

When he was all done he sheathed his throwing harpoon as he ran to the water source to clean himself off of all the sweat and grime on his body. He didn't even remove his pants or his boots as he jumped into the water as he floated atop the water after he immersed himself in the water.

"Finally all done, after this quick soak I'll start packing." Polemos smiled a wide and toothy grin as he let his body drop into the water as he swam towards the shore. When he reached the shore he stood tall as he took one last look across the medium water source as he pulled out an urn from his ring.

Polemos held onto Elder Spears urn as he held it in his hands as he spoke in a deep and clear voice.

"Thank you for everything you've taught me, thank you for your kindness, and thank you for treating me with no hate. I know how much you enjoyed our fishing competitions, I thought your ashes deserved to be spread across the water source. Rest in peace Elder Spear." As he finished he opened the lid to the urn as he spreaded Elder Spears ashes across the water source. As Elder Spears' ashes spread across the water source Polemos took one final look before he turned around and started to pack his belongings and cleaned up all the fish that Rose tossed on the shore.

After Polemos was done and put everything in his rings he changed out of his still wet clothes as he put on a pair of boots, white harem pants, and a loose white tunic. He tied his long abyssal black hair with a simple rope along with his Death Bells. After he was done putting on fresh clothes he jumped atop Rose's head and took out the map.

"Alright Rose, just head out to the tribe then when we reach the edge will head south from there or just let me hop off then follow the direction that I pointed towards." He chuckled slightly as he remembered that Rose couldn't really understand him. Rose quickly reached the edge of the tribe, as Polemos slid off her head he took one last look at the tribe before he pointed towards the south and jumped back on Rose's head as they headed off on the beginning of their journey across, The Banished World.