Call Of The Tamer - Chapter 4: Strange Girl And New Encouragement

As his vision cleared, Michael sniffled and finally managed to hold down the tears, embarrassed that someone saw him in such a state. What a loser. The girl sat on the seat next to him, closing the distance between them by leaning forward. Now that he got a closer look, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the deep blue eyes that remained unblinkingly on him. The sunlight from the open window reflected off the blue gems, granting them a dazzling shine. Her blond hair sparkled as if stars mingled in every strand. She deepened her smile and raised her hand barely to her shoulder, giving a slight wave in greeting.

'Who is she?' Michael had no prior memories of this new body before his transmigration, but even if he could access those memories, it seemed impossible for a slum child to know someone like her. The white robes with golden outlines that fluttered down her small figure, barely glancing past the ankle of her white boots, far surpassed his coarse linen clothing, probably made of the finest silk or whatever precious cloths existed in this world. She was an inch taller than himself, presumably older and certainly someone of great importance, yet she regarded him with a soft gaze and stroked his cheek.

"What the hell do you want?" His rough words came out before he had a chance to calm down. Suddenly, he found himself being embraced in a warm hug. His face nestled on her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him and patted his back gently. The thumps of her warm hand reverberated across his veins, his heart matching the rhythm of her comfort. All the shouts and retorts he held within had no room to escape, washed away by the gentle beats and the warmth engulfing him. 'Damn it.' The tears he had blocked now began to break free, overflowing as he closed his eyes and rested on her. How uncool to cry so much.

The grandfather clock ticked and tocked the time away, seconds turning to minutes that droned on as he lost all thought, letting out all of his grievances and venting in his neverending tears. His tears ran dry after a few more minutes, but she continued to keep him in her arms. Eventually, the strange girl drew back and dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief. Michael sniffled a few more times and noticed the large, damp stains on her shoulder. "I'm sorry about your clothes. I don't have much, but I can give you all I have."

As his mother always said, give proper compensation for the things you break. The value of the girl's clothes surely went beyond the meager coins he had stolen. But he had to repay her. His heart pained at the coins in his palm, and he shook off the hesitation, reaching out for her to grab the money. However, the girl went from under and curled his fingers into a fist, refusing the money. He hadn't realized it before, but now he knew the girl hadn't spoken a single word since arriving. Her warm, indecipherable smile still lifted from her lips, never opening to speak.

"Can you talk?" Michael had a suspicion and pressed on, "Do you know who I am? Where do I come from? Are you like me? Do I know you?" If he transmigrated, then logically, there would be others like him. Perhaps she had a Skill to find others and located him here. The timing was too perfect for her to arrive at this moment. But the girl remained mute and raised her right arm, balling the hand into a fist over her chest. The left soon followed suit, and she lightly pumped them like the pom-poms of a cheerleader in his school. 'Fight-ing!' He could somehow tell that was her meaning.

The girl rose from her seat and knelt, petting Mong on his little head, not minding the quick dirty licks on her palm. She carried on, striding with small, consistent steps toward the exit, her white boots clicking on the wooden floor. Michael wanted to call out and try to ask her to speak. As he rose to follow her, she turned and flashed a bright smile, one that halted his thoughts and feet. She turned back and exited the room, closing the door shut as dust flew from the old hinges.

"Who is she?" Michael muttered, his tears long gone.

…….

"Troublesome…." Keya bit her nail, grinding it between her teeth. No matter how she tried to correct her foul habit, the sheer anxiety of the weight of her role made her seek the comfort of her childish habits. Her gauntlet clenched her sheathed sword with a metallic ring, and she peered through her visor, sweeping a scrutinizing gaze over the street. No immediate threats so far, a good sign of a well-maintained city. Clicking her tongue, she grew more irritated and considered intruding inside the bookstore, but her lady's insistence on going in alone stalled her, caught between duty and loyalty.

Luckily, she didn't need to wait long as the bells chimed by her ear, and the door swayed open. Her lady, as holy as ever, strode out with a straight back, tucking her loose blond hair behind the ear. Keya narrowed her eyes, seeing the strange smile her lady wore. In the few years of servitude as her personal guard, she had never seen this sort of smile on her lady. It wasn't the one her lady gave to her family, nor the usual one toward strangers and acquaintances. It exuded a tenderness she had not seen even toward the masters, and the slight reddish tinge on her cheeks could only be her blushing.

'Blushing? What happened in there?' Keya grew curious about what had occurred inside the bookstore. Anyone with a brain could tell her lady was infatuated or, perhaps even worse, in love. Gritting her teeth, Keya wondered what sort of person had hooked her lady and stepped forward. However, her lady clutched her belt and tugged, her face crumbling as strain wrinkled the young brow. Keya was startled, eyes wide and round, and knelt before her lady, unable to believe the ever-calm lady was in disarray.

"I understand. I won't bother whoever is inside." Keya relented with a great deal of regret, her interest stirring the wicked desire to go against her lady's will. Whoever the person was inside, he sure was lucky. Keya stood and followed her lady, who already walked a few steps ahead. 'Gah, I wonder who the hell is inside. I have to report this to the masters.' While she loved her lady and swore to follow her, she still had a duty to fulfill, and reporting any events pertaining to her lady to the masters was one of them.

"Since we're in Meades City. Lady Fieyrs sent an invitation this morning. She invites you to a luncheon and tea afterward." With the free time, Keya went over the day's potential itinerary. Keya observed her lady continuing on, not a step broken. She couldn't resist the urge and teased her, adding, "Her son, who is fourteen years of age, will also be attending." 

The true purpose was obviously to play matchmaker between the two. Suddenly, her lady halted, breaking the rhythm, and turned with a strong glare that startled Keya, walking the other way. At first, the trail of her lady's footsteps led toward the center of Meades City, where House Fieryrs made their home, but now they led to the gates. Keya coughed and followed after her lady but clenched her teeth when her lady looked at the reemerging bookstore with definite longing. The faint blush returned, revealing the inner thoughts her lady always masterfully hid.

That glare, the smile, the blushing cheeks…in a single morning, her lady showed more lively emotions than in years. Keya readjusted her helmet that covered her upper face and scowled at the bookstore. 'Who is he?'

…….

Immersed in reading, Michael focused on the pages, flipping them every second as he sped up his reading. Right now, he tossed aside the strange girl into the back of his thoughts and sought to learn as much as possible. He had come here to debunk this world being real but received a cruel realization. The only other choice was to learn, knowledge being the key to living here. But it wasn't the end; his ambitions went beyond merely living. 'I must find a way home.' Since his mind traveled into the body of a twelve-year-old boy here, then it stood to reason he could go back.

'Fight-ing!' Remembering the strange girl's motivating gesture made him smile, and he no longer felt sad. Spurred by the desire now rooted in his heart, he stepped out of his deep misery and decided to fight on.

What lent him great confidence was the existence of this system and awakening. As he read on, he learned of great sorcerors and warriors who lived in this world, capable of great feats his world only spoke of in myths and legends. All of these powers stemmed from the system that reportedly unlocked the true potential of living beings and made them into awakeners. Then, there had to be a power to cross time and space, reach faster-than-light travel, or astral projection like in the movies. Closing one book, he opened another, ignoring the grumbling of his stomach. This book caught his attention.

'So gods do exist…' Michael held his breath and read on.

'The Gods of Er'veil once descended to our world, U'ru. The approximate year is unknown, but sometime after, humanity declared the start of a new era, which we now can conclude started in 40,000 B.G(Before Godsfall).

Not much is known about the Gods except that they come from a divine land called Er'veil and personally awakened the first of the awakeners, putting the System in place to enact their will…'

After a long read, Michael closed the book and sighed, rubbing his strained eyes. He could describe this world as being utterly screwed. The Gods came down and enlightened humanity but then vanished, and all the channels to Er'veil were closed shut, preventing any awakeners from ascending to the divine world. Little wonder the world devolved into chaos after the sudden departure, and the high-ranked ascenders lashed out in anger at being denied ascendance. The records of the brutality of that era were too gruesome, and he had to skip them. But then, what about him? Who had the power to take him and plant his soul in another world? It could only be a God.

'I need to find a way to contact them.' That was easier said than done. No one in all of history since the collapse had formed a connection to the Gods. As Michael brewed and was tormented by the absurdity of his new mission, a pleasing aroma itched his nose and soothed his thoughts, and he heard the clinking of a cup beside him.

"Young boy, you are thinking too hard. Here's some tea and cookies. Let Everitt know what your problem is. I've read every book here from front to back and backward." The middle-aged woman who greeted him earlier placed down a plate of what looked like regular sugar cookies and a cup of brown tea. Everitt pushed the tea toward him and beckoned him to try. Michael tilted the steaming cup to his lips and sipped. His eyes went wide as the honey-like taste made his tastebuds sing, and his stomach gurgled in delight from the nourishment. She watched as he ate the cookies, the sugary flavor numbing his mind, and smiled with a nod.

"Thank you for the food. It was delicious!" Michael smiled, making Everitt chuckle. 

"Do you have any questions?" Everitt picked up a book and mumbled the first paragraphs without opening it.

"Is there a church in Meades?" Michael assumed the best chance of contacting the Gods was in a place of worship. He didn't know if it'd work, but he had to try.

"Yes, but unfortunately, the priest in charge was recalled to the Holy Kingdom of Celern. They haven't sent a replacement yet, and knowing those folks, it'd be a decade before that. For now, the church is locked. I'm sorry, my dear boy." Everitt piled the plates together and seemed to ponder. "The closest open church would be in the neighboring town of Balor. I wouldn't recommend it. It's half a day's walk from here, but you must cross the forest."

"Don't worry, Missus. I won't go then." Michael waited for Everitt to leave and whistled to Mong, the fluffy head perking up immediately as an excited pant echoed in the library. He looked at the grandfather clock, noting that it was still eleven in the morning. At least the sense of time here was the same as his world's. The map on the wall noted the nearby town of Balor to the southwest, past the forest and river. One by one, he returned the books to their shelves, dusted off his hands, and exited the bookstore. Mong yelped and panted heavily in his arms as it knew his thoughts.

'I don't know why I'm in this world…but I will return!' Michael ran ahead to the southern gates. His family would have to wait a while longer until he could communicate with the Gods and find a way home. His steps quickened as the walls of Meade City loomed over, the gates funneling both visitors and leavers. 'Wait for me, Mom, Grace, and Dad!'