"Would you believe me if I told you that I'm not really the Chosen One?"
"What are you talking about, Chosen One?" Ghaf replied with a chuckle, "The Chosen One is the Chosen One."
He continued to walk through the forest. He didn't take the question seriously. I had no idea what to say next. We stumbled across a wide stream of water, so I waited for him to cross before I brought that topic back up. In the meantime, I noticed that he had drawn a new run on my injured shoulder to stop the bleeding. The rune looked simple, almost sloppy. It was a rune that I've never seen before
Right after Ghaf crossed the stream by jumping from one rock to the other while still piggy backing me, I spoke.
"Ghaf, I'm serious. I am not the Chosen One."
"Chosen One, even if you tell me that you are not the chosen, I will still believe that you are the chosen. I've known you since you were a child, I don't have a shred of doubt about you being the Chosen One."
"What are you– !"
"I haven't forgotten…" Ghaf cut me off mid-sentence, "I haven't forgotten the time that you spoke to me when you were a baby. You probably won't remember it. It is mentioned in the prophecy that the chosen one will speak when he or she is in an age too young to speak. You also don't cast a shadow, just like the prophecy mentioned. Chosen One, that's just one of many reasons why I won't believe you even if you tell me that you are not the Chosen One. Even if you refuse to lead us in the conquest of Centore, I know that you will be the one to conquer the kingdom of Centore."
What…? The prophecy stated that the prophet would speak at a very young age? That's new to me but… there is no way on earth, or any other planet that I'm this chosen one. And even if I am this chosen one, why should I care about conquering some random country that lies in the center of this continent? I have planned to live this life to the fullest, I'll jump over every obstacle that tries to stop me. I don't plan on dying before attaining everything that I desire!
"Is that so?" I said in an angry tone, "So you are taking me to the village, huh?"
"No. I will take the Chosen One wherever he wishes."
Why do these damned barbarians always behave like a pain in the neck! Just what is he trying to say!?
"Ghaf, you know where I want to go, and know where I was heading before this. Even then, do you plan on taking me where I wish to go?"
"Ahh. I see what the Chosen One is concerned about. Chosen One, even if you leave the jungle, I believe you will come back, and lead us in the conquest of Centore, and you will rule all the humans and barbarians. Besides, I'm not breaking any rules. It is true that no barbarian is allowed to leave the jungle until the Chosen One sets out for conquest. But, Chosen One, you are not a barbarian. It will be fine."
Hah… Hahahahhaha! What a load of bull crap! The way he says it with absolute confidence ticks me off. Why do you sound like the main character of a shonen manga? I can't take any more of your barbarian ideals. Well, no matter what you believe, I'm going to leave this place, once and for all.
"Is that so?" I replied sarcastically, "Anyway, how long will it take to get out of this jungle? Besides, I know that you are heading towards the village."
"Chosen One, I'm pretty sure you know about the infamous incident from four years ago. Everyone knows about it."
Is he talking about that smuggling attempt by humans? Yes. But what is his point?
"Have you ever thought about how a lot of the information doesn't add up?"
"What do you mea–"
"How did the humans make it through the forest, all the way to the village in the first place?" Ghaf said, cutting me off. "Even if they did make it to the village, alive, do you think it would be possible for them to outrun us, and make it out of the jungle?"
!?
"Now that I think about it… Was it all a lie?" I asked.
"No. It was all true. I was the one who cut them down, but a few of them out of about 50 escaped. What was mysterious was that they disappeared from the jungle within a day."
That's impossible! This jungle is as big as a country. Humans can't travel that fast.
"How did they…?"
"They were using a secret passage." Ghaf said. His expression tightened. "It was too late by the time I found out. They still managed to kidnap a child. They kidnapped my younger brother."
Too many shocking revelations at once, my mind found it difficult to keep up. Once again, I had no idea how to react.
"Let's not dwell in the past." He said, "What I was trying to say is that, that secret passage is the fastest way out of the jungle. Only the elders and the elites know that it exists. I had sealed it four years ago, the time has come to open it. That's where I'm taking you, Chosen One. It just happens to be close to the village, so don't worry."
"I… I see."
"We will be there in a few minutes." He said.
Ghaf moved to a higher ground and increased his speed. He darted from one tree branch to another. On the way, I saw a small group of zorells heading in the direction of the village.
The zorell invasion did not end yet? Then how is Ghaf here? I can't bring myself to think that he would betray the village. Wait…
Memories of Ghaf's vow flashed before my eyes.
"Where my family stands, I stand– until death breaks me." Those were the words of his vow, it weighs heavier than any barbarian maxim. I stopped myself from asking him about what was happening in the village and about why he left during the time of invasion. It would make things difficult for him
Sheesh. You always make me feel like a scumbag, brother. But we've reached the point that you will continue to believe in my lies even if I told you that they are not true.
We got to a place near the village, a mountainous area full of crevices, caves and canyons. We were above ground level all the time as all the zorells scattered across the forest were heading towards the village. Thankfully, zorells don't inhabit mountains, so we were safe for now.
We stopped inside of a huge canyon. I sat on a stone and waited as Ghaf searched for this "secret passage". The barbarian village was very close, but I was confident that they wouldn't come here, the village was being attacked by zorells after all.
"Give me some more time, Chosen One. The passage was somewhere here. I closed it just a few years ago, so it won't take that long."
Ghaf knocked at the walls of the canyon in various places and listened to what kind of sound they made.
"Hmm? Oh. There it is. I've found the exit." He said.
"I don't see any exit though."
"Don't worry about that, Chosen One, I know the way out" He said, as he walked towards me, and handed me a whole lot of things. "Chosen One, please accept this from me."
He gave me an upper garment that he used to wear when he was my age, as long with pouches, some dried food that are high in calories and easy to carry, a wooden gourd to store drinking water, herbs that temporarily increase zaryûn absorption speed and a scroll with zaryûn runes drawn on them– none that I knew.
Just where did he pull all this from?
I was taken aback by his sudden barrage of gifts. It was very considerate of him. I very much needed all of those things as I was about to head out in a world that I knew nothing about.
What does this world really look like? How safe will it be out there? How developed is it? What creatures will I come across out there? Are there going to be races like elves, dwarves, beastkin, orcs, and etc? How are humans treated? How strong is an average human? Can humans use mana? Does mana even exist in this world? How did the economy work? What jobs will I be able to find? If I'm going to find my family, how will I do it? Where should I go? Hold on, what if the elder's illusion magic on me stops working? What would happen if people found out that my body doesn't cast a shadow?
"Chosen One, did I offend you?" He asked in a worried tone.
"...No. I was lost in my thoughts. Thanks, Ghaf. I will never forget to repay you."
"No, Chosen One. Please don't say things like that. If anything, all barbarians should owe you for the glory that you will bring to us in the future."
What a way to ruin the atmosphere.
I wore the robe and equipped the items he gave me then and there. I had no time to waste. Ghaf led me to one of the walls of the canyon. Facing the mountain, he said "Right there" as he drew a zaryûn earth rune on the rocky canyon wall in front of him.
Krak KraK krak
A small area of the canyon wall, -roughly the size of a door- broke into small pieces, opening a small and shallow space behind the screen of rock. The space was small, It could barely fit a few humans in there. I was thinking about how it was an escape route.
!?... Is he trying to trap me so that I won't leave the jungle?
"How the hell is this an escape route?"
"Look down, Chosen One."
Oh hell no…
I noticed that the space lacked footing. Is that a hole or a cave? I thought.
It was too steep to be called a cave, but not too steep to be called a hole. It was pitch black, that made it difficult to predict what would happen if I jumped into that thing. It was intimidating.
"Do you know where this would lead us?" I asked, as I turned my head to look at him.
"There is only one way to find out."
"Wait! You haven't gone through this–?"
"Hap!"
Ghaf jumped into the hole, oblivious of my concerns.
Why do things have to be so difficult all the time? Sigh.
I jumped after him, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.