Chapter 155: Talent Activated
Narin continued her acting, "I never meant to accuse Gara. At the time, I really thought something might be wrong with his water. But I know now, I was wrong.
And since I’m stuck here, and after this I’ll be sent straight to the border, I’ll never get the chance to apologize to him myself. Could you deliver my apology to him?"
"Yes. I’ll visit the village and also say goodbye to the others," Loka had agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you, Loka. But... don’t you think Gara’s pitiful? His children..." Narin let the words trail off.
"What about his children?" That question had only sharpened Loka’s curiosity.
"I overheard something once," Narin whispered, lowering her voice as if revealing a dangerous secret. "Gara and Fian were talking outside the clinic, right before the water contamination incident..."
Loka leaned in, fully hooked.
"They were planning a way to get rid of his children."
Loka stared in shock.
Narin continued, "But Gara didn’t do it without reason. He’s been raising his children with the help of his mother and people who share no blood with them, while the babies’ mother walked away without a care.
Gara’s still young. He’s talented. He could have gotten a decent post in the county after his initial mission. But with children carrying devil blood... do you think the county would accept him so easily?"
"You’re right. Even their devil mother didn’t want to take responsibility for them. Why should Gara, just a human, carry that burden?" Loka’s expression softened, remembering Gara’s pretty face.
"Exactly. Madha’s too righteous. He would never allow Gara to act on his true wishes. That’s why Gara planned everything with Fian. Once Fian got rid of the children, the two of them would leave and live together."
Jealousy flickered in Loka’s eyes, and of course Narin noticed.
"I think... whoever helps him get rid of his children, Gara would choose to be with that man," Narin murmured softly, just loud enough for Loka to hear.
And it was those words that had led Loka into the mess he was in now.
Everyone who listened to Loka’s story now looked at him in disbelief. They could only shake their heads at the hulking man who clearly had the brains of a pebble.
"You might not be evil, but you’re a fool. And in the end, your stupidity made you a criminal," Emir muttered with a click of his tongue.
"I’m not a fool! I did all this for Gara!" Loka shot back.
Gara’s gaze was like ice. "You are a fool. A pathetic one. From the very beginning, Narin has done nothing but stir up trouble with me and you still believe her words?"
Gara had no interest in wasting more breath on Loka. His stupidity had already gone beyond reason.
Turning on his heel, Gara followed Rea, heading in the direction she pointed.
Loka watched him leave, confusion clouding his face. To him, Narin was a good person. Surely she wouldn’t lie to him... would she?
Whatever Loka thought, Gara didn’t care. He quickly pushed through the dense trees, with Madha and Emir close behind. Other guards dragged Loka back toward the barracks.
Their steps came to a halt when a massive brown bear emerged from the undergrowth, padding straight toward them. A bear was no simple opponent, so they froze, eyes sharp, bodies tense.
Then they noticed the bundle of cloth slung across the bear’s back. A small shape shifted inside, familiar, painfully familiar.
"That’s Arion," Gara breathed, panic rising in his chest.
But something unexpected happened. The bear noticed them. It looked at the three strange two-legged creatures blocking its path... then glanced back at the baby it carried.
Carefully, almost tenderly, the bear lowered the child to the ground, then turned and lumbered away into the trees.
Only after the beast vanished did the three men snap out of their shock. Gara rushed forward, scooping Arion into his arms. He checked the boy’s body from head to toe. No wounds. Relief flooded through him as he exhaled.
But a heavy question pressed in his mind. Why would a wild bear save Arion? Was it because of the druid blood running through his veins? But even I’m still attacked by beasts...
"Arion’s Talent, Beast Speech Level 1, has been activated," the voice of Goddess Freya suddenly rang out.
Arion’s talent... activated? Gara’s eyes lit up.
He didn’t know how, but Arion made contact with the wild beasts—probably that massive bear—without getting eaten, only to activate his Talent. This was a blessing in disguise.
Even so, he wouldn’t forgive Loka and Narin.
They made their way back down to the village.
On the way, Madha explained that Loka had pretended to be carrying a packet from town earlier, which forced him to check the barracks. But when he arrived, no one was there.
Soon after, Becky rushed into the barracks, squeaking frantically. They couldn’t understand her words, but the panic in her voice was enough.
Madha, Emir, and a few guards immediately followed her, certain that something urgent was happening.
In a time when communication tools like crystal rings were luxuries few could afford, Rea and her little ones were proving invaluable.
Arriving at the junction, Gara, didn’t follow the others to the barracks. He trusted Emir and Madha to handle Loka. His feet carried him straight home instead.
At the front of the house, he nearly collided with Wina, who came running at full speed.
"Arion... where’s Arion?!" she cried, breathless and frantic.
"He’s safe, Mom." Gara shifted the baby in his arms so she could see. "What about you? Are you hurt?"
Wina’s legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I was so afraid something happened to him... It’s all my fault. I was careless."
Gara crouched down, pulling her into his arms. "Don’t blame yourself. Arion’s fine. If anyone deserves the blame, it’s me, for being a father who still can’t protect his own child."
Wina shook her head weakly. "No, Gara. That’s not true."
He didn’t answer her. Instead, he guided her inside and carefully laid Arion back in his crib. His gaze drifted to Aldwin, his eldest, who hadn’t stepped outside today.
Thankfully, the boy wasn’t as restless as little Ava.
Gara’s thoughts wandered. He remembered the dense trees, almost like a small forest, that spread behind the house within his dimensional home pocket.
He could take Arion inside... but could he also make use of that little forest?
...