Chapter 33 : Bjerg The Deranged Hermit

A man in a mask looked to the moonlight sky, soaking through the illustrious rays of moonlight of the black midnight sky.

His eyes closed, before briefly opening them to observe the moon.

In one hand, there was a blade with a mortal sheen; in another, there was a blade that possessed power even HE did not know of.

He grunted before his eyes opened.

"What is this scent in the wind?" He looked to the west constellations before he put his blade in his sheath.

"May the wind carry me to the worthy."

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Ajel had been locked up in the cell, but he was frequently visited by Yvonne, who came and gave him some tea now and then.

The energy around the tattoos was there, yes, but it didn't seem like it was some demonic plague or something that could spread on others, as Ajel lay down on the bed before sighing.

He didn't know what he wanted to do when he was eventually let off of this shithole.

He was 15, and August was already around the corner, which mean winter was soon starting to approach.

And trust me. Winter is cold in the Freljord.

Maybe he should travel?

but he didn't understand his power right now, and he didn't have meaning in his life right now.

Except, of course, to kill Sylas. But he was far out of that league until he was a lot stronger than before.

"Ajel. Your leave has been approved by Grena." An elderly voice came from up the stairs, which caused Ajel to smile.

"About time." Ajel rubbed his temples, before watching Yvonne open the metal cage with the key that she had.

"Be careful. We still don't know what that is, and if we find even a slither of threat from you, the council will not blink twice when they put your head on a guillotine."

"Does that include you?" Ajel shrugged, as Yvonne only turned her back away.

"Oh, and if you see Ashe, run." The ominous words were washed down with a hint of humour as she walked away.

Grabbing his bag which had all his things in it, Ajel breathed a sigh of relief when he saw all of his belongings, except for his spear, which had disappeared after he stabbed himself.

Disappeared...

Ajel's brows furrowed as he started to call out to his soul, which responded with a spear tip that looked vastly different from the Petricite spear, albeit the shape and the size were different.

It was almost like the thing he stabbed his mask of the Azakana with, although it was a lot larger and more.... vibrant? perhaps that was the proper word to use.

but nothing except the tip of the spear formed, which caused Ajel to let out a sigh.

What was this phenomenon?

he knew that he was awakened and this was his magic... but he had no idea if it was elemental magic or spiritual magic.

Perhaps both?

but it didn't take him anything to conjure , not a single shred of mana.

Breathing in and out and then dispersing the spear tip , Ajel walked out of the prison, before he saw a girl waiting for him.

"/Came back for seconds?/" Ajel looked at Ashe , which caused the latter to snort.

Ajel had a lot of time to polish his Freljordian with the books that Yvonne gave him in his cell.

"/ I heard something that could interest you./" Ashe muttered , before saying. "/I believe your parents are Freljordian./"

"/Wonder what could lead you to that conclusion?/" Ajel said sarcastically. "/is it possibly due to the fact my name has Freljordian ties?/"

"/No , by the fact that your language became smoother once you got angrier./" Ashe said. "Those with Freljordian blood become more wise when angrier , and i suspect you have this heritage./"

"/It isn't that , its something called adrenaline. Learned it from a important book from my master./"

"/You had a master?/"

"/have./"

Ajel walked away from Ashe , which made her shake her head.

"/The tribes are going to war./"

Ajel turned around , before looking at her with a deadpan expression

"/So?/"

"/Your power would be greatly appreciated./"

"/Your telling me to become a solider?/"

"/Correct./"

"/Are those your mother words or yours?/"

Ashe gritted her teeth , bearing them at Ajel.

"/Do not talk about the Warmother with such causality./"

"/Sorry , your highness."

Ajel walked out of the prison , before finally going out.

It was already august , and if he would be in Demacia the thick tree and floral life would start to become browner and more crisp.

But , all it meant in the Freljord was that it was a grave sign that winter was coming.

Winter.... many people would die , but he would be safe in the city.

Ajel had planned to go to Noxus , but then he found out that a large wall covered the entire Noxian border , with the exception of

the Delverhold.

Walking far away from the prison , Ajel walked past a building , before stopping and looking back.

"A tavern..." Ajel saw how bustling it was , before realising that it could help him collect more knowledge and information.

Taverns like these are bustling with rumours and gossip , something he could take advantage of.

And he wanted some fucking food.

Ajel hated socialising with drunkards , but he shrugged.

Opening the door , Ajel saw several eyes wander onto him.

Some out of fear..... some out of respect.

Some people have obviously seen his stunt at the stadium.

"/Welcome to the Tispy Owl , friend./" The kindly innkeeper said , as Ajel nodded towards him , before sitting down.

He heard a loud commotion as he looked towards the door , where a old man could be seen.

He was cross-eyed , had several warts and looked like some form of Deranged Hermit.

The woman who was serving the food , sighed as she looked towards the man. But her eyes conveyed the message of pity, not annoyance.

"/Bjerg , your always welcome in this inn , but please keep the noise down."

"/Yes , yes... you should of heard the noise from the yeti! they were louder than a drüvask!/"

Ajel looked at the hermit , who's name was Bjerg , and said to the weird man.

"/Come friend , have a seat./"

The old man looked towards towards Ajel , before shaking his head.

"/Only if your buying the drinks! *cough* *cough*/" The laughter was interrupted by a rapid fit of coughing , which caused Ajel to sigh.

But in this hermits eyes he could see some discarded rationality , something that was forced away.

The old man sat next to Ajel , before asking. "/What do you wish to know about , whippersnapper?/"

"/You said something about Yeti's?/" Ajel's eyebrows raised. "/My Orphanage told us stories about the mythical beasts./"

The old man's expression darkened , before lightened up.

"/Yes! i saw them with my own eyes! conjures of ice and snow! i saw my crewmate at the time get ate with one gulp!/"

"/He's babbling!" A drunkard behind Ajel burped. "/There are rarely iceborn people, nevermind iceborn animals! he's goddamn insane!/"

"/Carry on./" Ajel paid for some cheap ale and some warm food , as he listened to this old' man stories.

The cheap ale didn't taste so good , and he hated the watery like taste , but the food was warm and hearty and filled him up.

Something about the old man reminded him of when Elder Zakan use to tell them anecdotes about heroes and beasts.

Ajel listened to the man's stories for hours , before Ajel looked deep into the hermit's eyes.

There was a darkness that called out to him in his eyes , something that stirred something in Ajel's body.

Feeling the sensation , Ajel realised that the Tattoo had started to burn when the Hermit stopped his laughter.

"I dug myself out from the rubble to find a scar seared into the land around me. Smoldering ash lay where my companions had stood, and in the distance a looming form moved on." Bjerg mutterd , as Ajel raised his eyebrow.

"What was it?"

"I... dont don't know..-" Bjerg muttered, as Ajel could see tears forming at the tip of his eyes.

"It was a beast... no... it was something worse..... a simple glance... from it... no HER... it made my companies disintegrate into dust which blended with the winter blizzard."

Ajel raised his barrel , before looking at Bjerg.

"A Demi-god?"

"No...nooo." Bjerg put his hands to his face , as tears started to pour out of his eyes. "No...no..no."

Ajel put his hands on the man shoulders , as he realised what was going on.

The man was shell-shocked from the lost of his crew , most likely.

What was this beast he spoke of , though?

The tattoo on his body burned every time he saw Bjerg, as Ajel felt like he was siphoning something out of the body of Bjerg.

The man's movements became more and more calmer , as he looked around.

Ajel saw a sense of rationality that restored into the man's eyes ,as he looked around.

"I can.... think..." Bjerg muttered , which caused the people in the inn that was paying attention to him to laugh. "He has truly lost his mind!"

But Ajel looked down to his palm , where a blue mystic gas could be seen , as he rapidly hid it. It seemed to disperse , though.

Ajel felt the Tattoo had stopped burning, as Ajel shook his head.

What the fuck just happened?