Chapter 47

The sun completed almost an entire arc in the sky before Kai left Moui’s house. He tried to teach him how to use Mana Manipulation for the whole day. It was one of the most frustrating experiences of his life. The stubborn hunter kept refusing to learn Mana Sense.

The good news was that Kai’s theory appeared to have merit. It was possible to gain some kind of feeling for mana through touch. After all their efforts, Moui could push his mana around his body not entirely randomly.

They agreed to meet the next day to continue. It was going to take a lot more than expected, but Kai had promised to teach Moui to control his aura, and he was going to keep his word.

The light of day hadn’t disappeared yet, but a moon was already visible high above. While not physically tired, Kai was mentally destroyed. He had kept Mana Sense going for almost the entire day. Even after he deactivated the skill, he could still see the rivers of mana shining in his vision.

At least I gained a level.

He massaged his eyes, trying to relieve the headache from skill overuse. After a minute he stopped seeing the imprinted motes of mana. He threw a casual glance at the sky to get a rough estimate of the time. His gaze was captured by the fascinating sight.

It wasn’t unusual to see one or more moons during the day, especially if the sun was obscured by the clouds. No, that wasn’t what made him do a double take.

In its pale violet splendor was the Wandering Moon, also called the Lost Sister. Everyone knew six moons revolved around Elydes, regular and predictable. Then there was a seventh – the Wandering Moon. It could stay in the sky for a week or disappear for months. At least on the archipelago, no one could predict its orbit or the rules it followed.

His mother told him she had studied it for years in her youth, hoping to be the one to crack the riddle. Alas, some things were not meant to be understood, only admired from afar.

Some said if you went out at sea under the Lost Sister, you’d be lost forever. Others that someone you met under its pale violet light was going to be the love of your life. He could probably write a book with all the nonsense spread around.

While unpredictable enough not to be counted among the other moons, it wasn’t a rare sight. Kai had admired it many times over the years and none of the superstitions had ever been proven true thus far.

With one last glance he headed home, the sun was almost down. Walking the muddy streets, he wasn’t worried about trouble. Plenty of young kids and teenagers were still around and he wasn’t carrying anything of value with him. Some were the same age as him, some the age of when he died. He could not relate to either. They felt so far from him. Laughing and running along the streets carefree.

I’m being paranoid. No one is waiting to jump me behind the corner.

After such clear jinxing, Kai stiffened on the spot and scanned the streets with his all senses for something to prove him wrong. Nothing. People continued talking among themselves or were busy with their own tasks. No one paid him any attention.

The world didn’t revolve around him. Even when he got screwed over, there was no greater meaning behind it. He had just drawn an unlucky lot.

This wasn’t the first winter of famine anymore. He continued to expect the worst, and there had been a few close calls, but nothing truly happened.

Eavesdropping on people’s conversations, he rarely heard about any crime being committed. Occasionally someone complained about pickpocketing and petty crimes, but nothing serious. As long as he didn’t go around waving a pouch full of coins, the chances of something bad happening were close to nil.

Instead of soothing him, the calm and quiet were irritating. It might not be a coincidence he challenged the red-tier boa. Kai wished for something to happen. He wanted to punch something, but he didn’t know why. A corner of his mind whispered he knew exactly why. He shut that up, not ready to open that box. There was no box.

Taking a deep breath didn’t help much. The air was as heavy as the first day he stepped foot in this blasted town.

Thoughts ahead. In two weeks, you’ll be back at the estate. Away from all of this.

Kai tried to find his way home. Lost in his sea of thoughts, his feet had walked him in circles.

I’m on a tropical archipelago for the spirits’ sake. There must be better places than this humid hellhole.

His mind was settling down, but it looked like fate wasn’t done with him. Right as he passed by a run-down building, his ears overhead something he didn’t expect. He was sure there was a saying about the Wandering Moon that perfectly applied to this situation.

I must have heard wrong.

*Ding*

New skill available in the Archive! Keen Ears (lv1) – No sound or voice will escape your notice.

Fuck you too. The Favor of the spirits my ass. Might as well have zero. Why can’t Kea stay out of trouble for five seconds?

With tired steps, he got closer to the building where he overheard her voice. Maybe he was wrong and everything was fine. Somehow, he doubted that.

Observing the place, it was a typical square box. A few adjustments here and there to keep it standing and a large wooden sign hanging over an open door: The Golden Palm. It didn’t take a genius to guess it was some kind of cheap pub. He couldn’t see anything golden anywhere in sight: the paint of the sign being a yellow mustard, and already peeling.

Light and laughter came from the open door and windows. Amidst such a clamor, Kai would have doubted he heard his sister’s voice if it wasn’t for the Guide notification.

What is she doing in this ratty tavern?

Since the door was open, Kai Sneakily got closer to take a better look. Inside it appeared nicer, which wasn’t saying much. From the whole block, half the walls had been battered down to create more space. A few large wooden beams were added haphazardly to prevent the roof from caving in. It didn’t inspire much confidence, but all the people crowding the place didn’t seem to mind. The atmosphere was cheery, with people having a good time.

Drinking pubs and bars hadn’t been a thing when he left for the estate a year ago. The concept had not been present in the archipelago. Since he came back, he noticed quite a few around, mainly in old town.

This had the handprints of the governor written all over it. From what he heard, the small brig of the Republic, who regularly stopped in Greenside, had started to import cheap beer even before he left. It had not been very popular in the beginning, but a few free samples later, people changed their minds.

The islanders started to buy barrels upon barrels of beer. There were plenty of local hard liquors made from fermented fruits. Altogether they didn’t reach a fraction of the large quantities of beer the Republic managed to supply.

The ship with the soaring hawk never failed to deliver on time ever since. They gradually increased the price as it got more popular, while making sure the average islander could still afford it.

Beer just worked better than any local product. It was cheaper, abundant and gave you the illusion of control. A mug of beer certainly won’t make you drunk and what’s just one more?

Starving for entertainment, it wasn’t strange the islanders had soon got used to the idea of a place where you went to get drunk.

Looking at The Golden Palm, Kai had no idea how an establishment managed to look so run-down in such little time.

What the hell is Kea doing in there?

It looked like the floor was swept occasionally, but Kai was careful not to touch anything or anyone as he cautiously stepped inside. The smell of sweat and cheap alcohol hit him like a wave. He was almost surprised to smell no vomit, but maybe it was too early for that. The night had barely begun.

No one came to stop him or so much as glanced at him. No law against underage drinking in the Merian Republic or the archipelago. He was sure they would even serve him if he had the coin. Maybe charge him extra to tell themselves they tried stopping him.

In his previous life, he had tried alcohol a few times, but never got the time to get into it. His body had been too far gone for that. He had never drunk enough to stop hating the taste and enjoy the buzz. Looking at the muddy liquid that was being served, a bitter-tasting beer of unclear origin held little appeal.

There was a smidge of curiosity about how it would feel to get drunk. He had wanted to try at least once in his first life but died before ever getting a true hangover. It was stupid, he knew that, but it was a checkbox he never got the chance to fill. Together with several others.

Not a good time to have social pressure get to you. Get a grip on yourself, you’re not yet old enough for this stupid shit.

Kai pushed this dilemma aside in the growing pile of things to deal with at a later date. He caught sight of the reason he entered the pub in the first place: his sister.

She huddled around a table with a group of other kids, most a few years older than her. He couldn’t tell if they were the same unreputable kids he saw with her last time. The only face he remembered was unicorn-girl, who he threw the chalk at. He didn’t see her among the group.

A large mug of beer rested between them, the center of some stupid game they were playing. Kai activated Sneak not to be noticed. Amidst the words and laughers, it didn’t take long to guess the loser had to take a sip. From the disgusted faces they made, no one found the beer particularly enjoyable.

Kai was about to go closer and say something. Kea was eight and a half. Could she not wait a few more years before playing stupid drinking games? However, his leg refused to move.

What could he say that would make her listen?

This wasn’t Earth. People knew children shouldn’t drink alcohol till fourteen, but that wasn’t truly enforced. If the parents were okay with it, or too far to object, no one would raise an eyebrow at a few sips of beer.

As the group laughed, a chubby kid drank a sip and almost gagged at the taste. Kai stood still, out of sight in the crowded tavern.

There might be many medical reasons why this was a bad idea, but he would not be able to explain them even if he could recall them. In the Merian Republic there were no laws or regulations to ensure a product wasn’t toxic. Children who hadn’t yet raised their race grade could easily die from a common fever. An untreated cut could turn into an infection that would kill most adults if they couldn’t afford a good healer.

Kai could drag her away, but he was not going to stay in Greenside for long. Forbidding her from doing something was never going to work. Even if it was Alana to tell her, their mother was busy working. She would worry for nothing and then Kea would do as she always did.

At least she seems to be having fun with her friends…

Kai walked away. This was what kids did for fun in a medieval world. She was already at the peak of Red, a few sips of beer would hardly harm her. Kai could think of several worse pastimes. What worried him was what she would do next, when he wasn’t there to keep an eye on her.

He headed home. Alone under the Wandering Moon.

Knocking on Moui’s door the next day, he grinned brightly at his uncle and walked inside.

“How it’s going? Made any progress with Mana Manipulation? Decided to make the rational decision and take Mana Sense?”

The hunter gave him a look that didn’t need any words.

“Worry not, Uncle. I’m sure I can help you without it, even if it will take a looong time,” Kai said with a sad sigh. “Speaking of which.”

Kai rummaged through his bag, taking out a book. “I brought you this. I thought it might be helpful to look for herbs in the jungle. And a nice distraction from Mana Manipulation when we get tired.”

Moui checked the book, giving a quick look at the first few pages of Common Herbs and Their Uses - Volume 2.

“What do you want, Kai?” the hunter asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

Kai gave him his most charming smile. “Ever thought about taking an apprentice?”

“No. It’s not going to happen.”

“Come on, Uncle. I wasn’t talking about me.”