Chapter 72: Catching Up.
"You see, we only needed a place to talk. Somewhere safe and unnoticeable."
The Historian eased the furious old woman. However, his efforts proved to be futile.
"No! Me place ain’t somewhere ya blokes have to meet in’"
She gestured to the walls of the room.
"Can’tcha see? It’s cramped like hell!"
The Historian merely laughed.
"Cramped? I see through your lies, Karah.."
With those words, the room expanded at a rapid pace. Doors appeared on the empty walls, stairs manifested near the corner, and the entire surroundings looked completely different!
"See? Spacious enough, right?"
Karah gritted her teeth.
Once the room expanded, Cetas noticed various details hanging on the wall.
The most particular one being the Church’s uniform. He noticed the silver lining, gold embroidery, and most of all, the badge that all members of the Church have.
Noticeably, the symbol in the uniform’s chest had hues of gold overpowering silver. Its ratio was about 75:25.
Cetas immediately knew what rank Karah held.
Bishop..
A rank higher than Skadi’s..
A Bishop could be a Spire or Sage, anywhere between the Strata of a Pathfinder.
That meant..
If a Pathfinder was this afraid of the Historian.
Then what level was he?
Cetas figured that it should be around the Prophet of Perfection’s level. Since they seem like rivals after all..
Still, Cetas continued to listen to the two.
"We just need to stay here for a couple of minutes, it should not be longer than an hour."
"Go to hell!"
"Aii, this woman."
The Historian scratched his silver hair.
"I didn’t want to do this.."
He snapped his fingers and instantly, the old woman turned silent.
She stared directly at the Historian as if in a blank trance.
Then, the Historian waved his hand and the old lady fell asleep.
Upon losing control of her body, she plopped down to the floor. However, she did not fall under impact, rather, an illusory force held her on the ground as if she were cushioned in clouds.
Elishia and Cetas were astonished by this, the former having an opposing expression.
Within a second, she glared at him.
"So it’s true then.. You really are a Dreadspawn."
The sudden accusation gained wild gazes from Reid, Jones, and Galkan.
"Elishia what are you–" Reid asked as he was suddenly cut off.
"How insolent! You dare accuse my friend like that?!" Galkan’s loud voice erupted, echoing in the room.
He paced in her direction, grabbing her collars as he raised her up in the air.
"But it’s true! Didn’t you see how easily he controlled that poor old lady’s mind?"
Elishia made a pained expression, her neck being tightened so suddenly.
Krrrk!
"Apologize!"
Galkan pointed towards the Historian’s direction.
Just then, the Historian sighed, shaking his head slowly.
Amidst all this, Skadi had remained calm, however, when Galkan used violence, she used the winds to amplify her voice.
"Let her go.."
Immediately, his imposing stature weakened, lowering Elishia within a second.
Galkan scoffed.
Silence ensued for a while.
Only broken by the Historian’s voice.
"Let us sit down for a while.."
*
Sat down at a long table procured in the middle of the dining hall, the Historian was situated at the very edge of the long table.
Skadi sat on his right, beside her were Galkan and then Reid.
On the left of the Historian was Jones, Elishia, then Cetas.
The Historian let out a long breath.
Then he leaned forward, cupping his hands as he began to speak.
"It’s true.. I am a Dreadspawn."
Eyes widened upon that declaration.
Reid, who was always aloof and undisturbed, had a confused look on his face.
Jones looked slightly worried, being beside the Historian after all..
Elishia bared her teeth, suppressing her innate anger as he gripped her hand tightly.
Cetas was confused as well, realizing a difference in the air.
Still, if anything, she understood Elishia the most.
"You knew this?!"
Galkan directed his gaze to Skadi, who had seemed calm as everything went on.
She shook her head.
"I didn’t.. However, I had suspicions."
Galkan’s muscles trembled, he wanted to fell the Dreadspawn right before him.
However, his judgment ultimately opposed him
After all, how could a mere high-level Acumen deal with someone of the Historian’s caliber.
Seeing as to how he handled that old woman in an instant, who’s to say that the Historian won’t do the same if he ever became their enemy.
Knowledge was a scary thing, and with the years of friendship that he’s experienced with him, the Historian was filled with knowledge..
The Historian faced to Elishia.
"Shenikah must’ve told you.."
The name sprung curiosity inside Cetas.
Shenikah? Is she the Prophet of Perfection?
Elishia simply nodded, figuring out the name Shenikah the same time as Cetas.
"I admit, I’ve been deceiving you all.. I sincerely apologize for this. There are no excuses to what I’ve done.."
His face turned dejected.
"You may or may not forgive me but I will always be here to aid you in your travels. My intentions have always been good. Although my Zeal has been corrupted my Soul remains a human."
"I was once a human.. A Heliosian noble, like you." He focused on Elishia once again.
Then, his eyes slowly darted in nostalgia.
"Shenikah, too, was once a human. A Princess from Verdigian."
Jones suddenly leaned forward.
"A Princess? How come I’ve never learned of this?" He asked, his accent still as elegant as ever.
The Historian’s eyes looked down, beneath them were guilt.
Heavy guilt.
"Thats because the world has forgotten ’Shenikah’. In its absence, the Prophet of Perfection was born."
He clasped his fingers.
"And I.. made sure that everyone forgot. I erased the world’s memory of ’Shenikah’"
He raised his head and gazed the crew.
"That’s my greatest sin. And that’s how I became a Dreadspawn. "
Cetas’ body shuddered.
What is meant by becoming a Dreadspawn? Is it not solely due to Corruption and madness?
There was something more to the Historian’s story.
At the midst of pondering, Cetas found himself in the gaze of the Historian.
He noticed the old man give out a warm smile towards him.
"I’m sure you’re curious, boy. But any more than that would make everyone here succumb to corruption."
Cetas retracted back his thoughts.
Then, Reid opened his mouth to speak.
"How come you’re not a foul beast or an abomination?"
The Historian focused to Reid.
"As I’ve mentioner, my Soul remains human. Therefore, retaining my form.. But I do have another form though, one befitting of the title Dreadspawn."
He regained his petty behavior.
"I wouldn’t want to show it, if given a mere glance, you’re brains would succumb to the knowledge I have in my head.."
Reid leaned back.
"No thanks."
Then, the Historian looked around.
"Any more questions?"
Cetas was reluctant but he slowly raised his hand.
"Yes, boy?"
Cetas spoke slowly.
"How old are you exactly?"
The Historian let out a light laugh.
The crew was eager to know too. Upon joining and meeting up with the Historian, each of them wanted to learn about the old man’s age.
But none had been brave to ask.
"I am 1456 years old, Cetas. Don’t be surprised, once you rise the levels of Zeal, you’ll find out that Zealots ages slow."
The eagerness of the crew had been satisfied, yet.. They remained composed.
There were mixed opinions on how they would handle the Historian being a Dreadspawn. But in their minds, everything he’s done was only to help them.
But soon, this wave of doubt would be washed away.
Skadi’s graceful voice resounded.
"I’ve never trusted you old man. However, that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve helped us multiple times."
She stared at the crew.
"If what he’s saying is true and he’s still a human beneath that skin, then there’s no reason to worry."
She raised her voice.
"The Historian has helped us a lot. He saved us from the Great Leviathan, provided information about the Hunt, crafted searoutes to avoid Leviathans, provided intel and tools for our growth, indentified key struggles in rival pirate crew, and most of all.. Cared for us."
Elishia’s doubt softened.
She knew that Skadi was right. Being a Dreadspawn does not denote the fact that he had helped the crew.
Elishia stood up.
"I-I’m sorry for suddenly bringing this up! I didn’t mean to cause turmoil within the crew."
The Historian waved his hand.
"Now, now, it’s alright. This was bound to happen sooner or later. If anything, it’s thanks to you Elishia that brought this up. If you hadn’t then it would’ve remained unfair to you all.."
He laughed.
"Let’s change the subject.."
Elishia sat down, a sense of guilt remaining in her heart.
Cetas noticed this and tapped her on the shoulded.
His other hand formed into a thumbs up.
Elishia then smiled warmly at him.
"Let’s talk about what happened in the past few days. Cetas. You’ve obtained a new Zeal, correct?"
Cetas nodded, "Yes."
"Mind sharing it with them?*
Cetas felt nervous, his eyes looking at each member’s face.
Then he breathed deep.
"I obtained the Forbidden Zeal of Water and..a Conceptual Zeal"
The entire crew looked shocked.
Gaining a Conceptual Zeal mere weeks upon becoming a Zealot!
It was unheard of!
But still, they continued to listen.
"I gained the Conceptual Zeal of Life."
