Chapter 21 - Chief

Erik woke up groggily and in a daze.

This was... strange... what an odd dream... was it a dream?

Since he began Awakening his Talent, everything about him was enhanced a little. His body was a little stronger, a little faster, a little bit more enduring. And he noticed that there was an effect on his mind as well—more subtle, but still there. His thinking was a little bit sharper. And some of his memories felt clearer than before.

Was this just a dream, or was it a memory that resurfaced?

He wasn't quite sure. It felt so real. He was almost convinced it was a memory.

What were they talking about?

His parents’ conversation was very strange. What he dreamt about was on the day when he nearly drowned testing his underwater armor. And that had taken place a little bit before that tragedy struck.

He propped himself up and rubbed his face, trying to chase away the sleepiness. Sleeping on the stone floor wasn’t comfortable, even with a friend beside him.

His eyes moved to Freya, who was still fast asleep.

She must still be tired because of essence exhaustion.

His thoughts, however, gravitated back to his dream.

"They mentioned uncle..."

Who were they talking about? And what was uncle supposed to know what to do?

"What?" Fee stirred awake.

"Oh, sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, it's fine. Did you just say they mentioned uncle?"

"Yeah... I had a strange dream," Erik said thoughtfully.

"About Uncle Sendrik?"

“No, it was about my parents, but I’m not sure if it was a dream or a memory,” he said, confused.

“It was the night of the day I almost drowned. They were talking about… someone… as if they were some unseen enemy. They mentioned that they had prepared me as best they could and that Father had sent word to Uncle Sendrik—that he would know what to do.”

Freya sat up and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Did they mention anything else?” she asked.

“No… just that I’ll also have it. But I’m not sure what they were talking about. The only thing I have left from them is my medallion. But it’s only a piece of jewelry... or at least it’s supposed to be…” he said, even more confused.

He took it out and stared at the dark piece of metal. It looked just as ordinary and mundane as ever, but the feeling that it was something more had been ever-present—especially since he entered the Whisper.

“Given everything you’ve told me, maybe there is more to it, but…”

“I know, it’s crazy. This was most likely just a dream.”

Freya gave him a concerned look. “Maybe you’re still exhausted from everything. You should try to get some more sleep.”

“No, I’ll be alright.” He shook his head.

“You know, even Uncle Sendrik wouldn’t whoop your ass if you got some rest in this situation,” she said, chuckling.

Erik laughed. “No, he most certainly would have.”

Then they both started laughing.

Sendrik was practically an uncle to all of them. He was also the one who had arrived at the nick of time and rescued Erik, Freya, and Taron from the disaster in their childhood.

“I wonder where he is now?” she mused.

Erik didn’t reply. His uncle had disappeared not long after bringing them to Skulheim. Later, he received news that Sendrik had died for the kingdom in a faraway land, but he was a scrappy Rune Bearer. His friends believed he was still alive somewhere out there. However, after what happened with his parents, Erik wasn’t as optimistic.

“He is alive, Erik. And with our Talents, we will find him when we get out of here.”

He just nodded back.

Freya then set about healing him at regular intervals and managed to bring him back to good health by the end of the day. But it was not easy for her. By the end, she was pale and swayed when standing.

“You are simply amazing, Fee,” he said as he flexed his arms and stretched his torso.

Not back to perfect health, but more than good enough for what was to come.

“Hrmph! I know!” She flicked her long hair with a proud smirk.

She still has her sense of humor, at least.

Just then, a voice came from outside the room.

“Move back towards the wall.”

They did as they were told, and three villagers opened the door.

“Come on, let me speak with your leader. What’s the point of keeping us in here?” Erik probed again.

One of the villagers placed another portion of food, but no water, inside the cell, then barked at him to be quiet. They closed the door and left.

“Hey! What about giving us some water as well?” he shouted after them, but was completely ignored.

“Great! More mush,” Erik said in disgust.

Aside from that one first cup of water they were given, they didn't receive any more.

“It’s fine. If they aren’t going to let us out, then we are going to make it out on our own soon," Freya said, determined.

The night passed peacefully, and the next day repeated much like the last.

On the morning of the third day, the two of them huddled next to the window.

Freya was as pale as snow.

“Careful, Fee. You need to be in good condition if we’re going to survive.”

“I’m fine. I should be able to get us out of here by nightfall.”

Erik felt useless. With her doing everything, he was left twiddling his thumbs. He swore to himself that the moment they left this prison, he would pull his own weight and make sure she survived this Whisper.

On the other hand, they were running out of time. From their little window, they couldn’t see much of the outside, but by now, the mountains were probably no longer visible, and the swarm had likely reached the foothills.

So, as much as Erik wanted Fee to take it easy, he couldn’t afford to hold her back.

His thoughts were interrupted by the villagers’ voices calling out again. He and Freya went through the routine they had already grown used to.

It was the same three men from before, but this time, they had ropes and chains.

"You," one of them pointed towards Erik," come closer with your back towards us and lay down on the ground."

"Why?" Erik's voice cracked. They were really starting to get thirsty.

"Don't argue! Just do it!"

"Not unless you tell me why."

One of the villagers stepped forward.

“The chief wants to speak with you.”

Erik and Freya exchanged a glance. He could see it in her eyes—despite her exhaustion, she was ready to fight. But he gave her the slightest shake of his head.

“Let me see what this is about.”

She watched him with a clenched jaw as he obliged their captors.

They bound him and ushered him outside. The village was exactly as before, with only a few residents moving quickly and quietly between buildings. Everything looked… efficient.

And Erik realized it had to be. Survival demanded it.

The people themselves were hardened folk. Their clothes were coarse, their hands rough, their expressions battered.

They had an ancient air about them, as if frozen in time—never truly changing, never moving forward.

There was also something else he noticed. They are not mere humans, but not fully Awakened Talent Holders either... they are like us.

It was no wonder he was taken in so easily.

When he heard about the village from Endur, he first wanted to just observe them from a distance or approach them slowly. But they had caught him off guard.

In hindsight, it made sense. For them to survive here, they would not be normal humans.

There was also one final thing he was trying to peek at, which was the progress of the swarm. But the buildings, their cover and the surrounding trees was getting in the way. He would have to wait.

“This way.” One of the villagers shoved him toward one of the larger stone houses.

They stepped inside, straight into the living room. The space was furnished with simple, mundane furniture. At its center stood a dining table with two wooden chairs facing each other.

One of them was occupied by a middle-aged man. Like the others in the settlement, he wore coarse clothes in dull colors, but he also had a crude wooden armor.

What caught Erik’s attention, however, were the man’s eyes.

The villagers all had a look of resignation—acceptance of their hardships, not surrender, but a quiet endurance. Erik knew that look quite well, he had seen it many times.

But the chief was different. There was a spark of determination in his gaze.

This man had a purpose.

And in those eyes, Erik saw something else as well. He looks just like father...

“Come. Sit.” The man waved him toward the seat in front of him. His speech, like the others from the settlement, was peculiar and old-fashioned.

Erik did so, and the two studied each other for a few heartbeats.

“My son told me your name is Einrik Naudrson?”

“Just Erik is fine.”

“As you wish. I am Omr Spegilmann.”

A brief pause followed before the man continued. “Are you aware of the situation in the valley?”

“For the most part. I believe I’m familiar with the Nilgrim and the other… creatures.”

“And anything else?”

Erik paused for a bit. "Is there anything else?"

"Hmm, it really appears that you are not from the valley—both of you. Aside from us, there is one more human settlement. However, it's much larger than ours." He paused, and Erik could see a hint of resignation appear on his face as well.

They are probably not on good terms.

“I probed around with their people, and you’re definitely not one of them. Then there’s your clothing and the way you speak.” He leaned in, desperation flashing in his eyes. “Tell me. Is there a way to leave the valley?”

Erik stayed silent for a moment, deliberating on what to say. First, he decided to test something.

“I don’t know what’s beyond this valley. We are inside a Whisper.”

A subtle frown flickered across Omr’s face before his eyes glazed over, becoming distant. Then, in a heartbeat, his expression returned to its previous state as if nothing had happened.

Erik glanced over his shoulder at the three villagers standing by the door. They, too, wore neutral expressions.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Omr asked, raising an eyebrow.

Curious. It's like they are forgetting what I told them or simply can't hear it.

That, however, did not solve the predicament he was in.

The village chief's eyes turned cold. "Are you going to tell us, or are we going to have to force you?

Erik got an idea and decided to try something.

"The way out is through the northern mountain."

The chief gave him a long look, "You lie. That place is a death trap."

Seems like it won't be that easy.

He had hoped to persuade them into taking them there or at least helping them, but it would take some work.

“We will torture you if you keep quiet.” Omr’s eyes hardened.

"Do you have the time?" he replied, holding the man's gaze evenly. Despite his display of nonchalance, Erik was anything but.

Luckily for him, he hit the nail on the head. The older man clenched his jaw and did not reply.

Erik racked his brain for what to say. Maybe there is another way. If I could win their trust first or at least their favor somehow...

“The route we came through is no longer viable. The tunnel has collapsed, and now it’s overrun by Nilgrim.”

He decided that a plausible lie would be the best course of action here. Endur had seen him exit the mines, so the chief should believe it.

Omr studied him for a long moment. In the end, he seemed to accept his words.

The man slumped back in his chair, his expression deflating. “Then there is no hope.”