Chapter 56: Dreaming Big
Clank!
Ka’z stopped in front of his room, one hand still resting on the stone door as his exhausted eyes slowly swept across the familiar faces occupying the small chamber. The first thing he noticed was Ru’k sprawled shamelessly across his haystack bed as though he owned the place. Tu’ka leaned quietly against the wall with his arms folded, Kurg sat cross-legged on the floor with a grin stretching from ear to ear, while Za’r offered him an apologetic smile the moment their eyes met.
Ka’z let out a long, defeated sigh.
"God... no." His shoulders slumped even further. "Za’r, I just want to sleep."
She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"I tried to stop them. You became the biggest topic in the entire colony overnight."
Ru’k sat upright, pointing accusingly at him.
"You tortured a goblin for three straight days, somehow became a magic genius, and now everyone is saying Tong’a himself gave you permission to teach magic. You honestly thought we wouldn’t come?"
Ka’z stared at him for several silent seconds before raising Shiki and the runes along the staff glowed crimson and he pointed the staff directly at him.
Ru’k’s eyes widened.
"...Boy... If you don’t get the fuck out of my bed, I’m turning you into a bonfire."
Ru’k didn’t argue.
He launched himself off the haystack with surprising speed and immediately hid behind Za’r, gripping both her shoulders while using her as a shield.
"Protect me!"
Kurg burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach as he rolled across the stone floor. Even Tu’ka’s usually expressionless face relaxed into a faint smile.
Some things thankfully never changed.
Ka’z lowered Shiki onto the floor beside the bed before dragging himself forward. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. By the time he reached the mattress, he simply allowed gravity to win.
Thump.
He collapsed face first onto the hay.
The familiar scent of dried grass somehow felt more comforting than anything he had experienced in the last three days.
He didn’t even bother moving again.
Only now did he truly realize how mentally exhausting those interrogations had been. Inflicting pain again and again while forcing himself not to hesitate had drained him almost as much as it had broken Rok.
His eyelids slowly closed. For several peaceful seconds nobody spoke. Eventually Kurg broke the silence.
"I heard Tong’a gathered everyone together."
Ka’z lazily cracked one eye open.
"Hm?"
"They’ve decided to let you teach magic."
His other eye slowly opened as well.
"What?"
Kurg nodded enthusiastically.
"They aren’t against it anymore."
Tu’ka quietly nodded in approval.
"O’nil is separating everyone according to their work," Tu’ka said. "Builders. Hunters. Healers. Scouts. Gatherers. After that they’ll decide who learns from you."
Za’r smiled softly. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind one ear.
"Each person will only study the magic needed for their work."
For the first time since entering the room, Ka’z actually looked surprised.
"He really agreed..."
He honestly hadn’t expected Tong’a to change his mind so quickly. Ru’k folded his arms and stomped toward the bed.
"Forget all that. Explain something."
He jabbed a finger toward Ka’z’s face.
"How the hell did you become a magic expert overnight?"
Ka’z didn’t even bother sitting up.
"I’m the chosen one, bitch. It’s something you’ll never understand."
He shrugged lazily and Ru’k’s face immediately twisted.
"Of course I won’t understand! Some of us actually work for our achievements!"
He pointed dramatically toward himself.
"Meanwhile you sleep, wake up with another prophecy, and suddenly you’re the greatest mage in the colony!"
Ka’z slowly turned his head just enough for Ru’k to see him rolling his eyes.
"It’s called chosen one privileges, motherfucker. They don’t hand those out to just anybody."
Ru’k looked as though he might actually cough blood from frustration.
"You arrogant—"
Without thinking further, he pounced.
"Ignis Vel."
The ancient words escaped Ka’z almost lazily and a blazing sphere of fire erupted beside the bed.
Boom!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
Ru’k flew backward through the room with a loud yelp before crashing into the opposite wall and Za’r immediately chased after him to heal him.
Golden light spread across Ru’k’s singed body while he continued screaming dramatically despite the burns already disappearing.
Kurg completely lost control. He rolled across the floor laughing so hard tears streamed from his eyes.
Tu’ka slowly shook his head.
"One day... he’ll learn."
He sighed.
Ka’z pushed himself upright and leaned against the wall. The playful look slowly disappeared from his face.
"I’ve been thinking."
The room gradually quieted.
"I want our trap makers to learn arrays. The same formations the goblins used to destroy our hunters. If we master them our defenses become impossible to ignore."
Everyone’s attention shifted toward him.
"Our physicians will learn healing magic. Our scouts will learn wind magic. Our builders will learn earth shaping."
He glanced toward Tu’ka.
"And eventually... I want to create a stealth corps. You’ll lead it. They’ll master darkness magic."
His voice gradually became filled with excitement despite the exhaustion.
"Just imagine it. Our entire colony, every profession becoming stronger because of magic."
He stopped and his shoulders suddenly slumped. The excitement vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"...I’m tired."
He immediately flopped backward onto the bed again. The others quietly exchanged looks.
None of them laughed this time. After witnessing what arrays could do during the raid they all understood exactly how terrifying such a future could become.
Several quiet moments passed.
Then Ka’z suddenly sat upright again. This time wearing an unusually bright smile.
"Guys."
Everyone looked over.
"I’m going to build us a kingdom."
He stretched both arms outward as though he could already see it.
"A huge one with thousands of soldiers. We’ll control the entire Evergreen Forest. We’ll even hire the Four Guardian Beasts living on the surrounding hills."
Ru’k blinked.
"...Hire?"
Ka’z nodded proudly.
"We’ll pay them salaries."
Ru’k frowned.
"...What’s a salary?"
Ka’z glared.
"Shut up and dream, motherfucker. I’m painting a picture here."
Za’r couldn’t stop herself from giggling. Even Tu’ka’s lips curved upward. For the first time, none of them dismissed his dream.
Several days ago it would have sounded impossible. Now, sfter everything Ka’z had already accomplished.
The impossible didn’t seem so impossible anymore. Kurg suddenly raised his hand excitedly.
"When we build this kingdom... What will we all become?"
Ru’k puffed out his chest.
"I’ll obviously be king."
"Ignis Vel."
Boom!
Another fireball chased him across the room.
"You bastard!"
Ru’k shouted while diving behind Za’r again.
Ka’z cleared his throat.
"As I was saying before someone interrupted me... I’ll be king and obviously Za’r will be my queen."
Za’r’s cheeks instantly turned crimson. She quietly lowered her head to hide her smile.
Ka’z looked toward Tu’ka.
"You’ll become the General of every army we have.vI honestly pity our enemies."
"They’ll probably surrender the moment they see your face. don’t look that scary."
Tu’ka scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...I don’t look that scary."
Everyone immediately looked at him and he sighed.
"...Alright. Maybe I do."
Kurg practically bounced where he stood.
"What about me?"
Ka’z rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I’ve actually been thinking about that. After meeting Kong’gong... I realized every kingdom needs one person who exists above ordinary warriors."
His eyes gleamed.
"I’ll call the position... Champion"
"Wooooooooooooow!"
Kurg practically screamed and his eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
"What’s a Martial Saint?"
Ka’z smiled.
"The Guardian of the Realm."
"You won’t hide underground like Kong’gong."
"You’ll live atop the Grave of Roses."
He pointed upward.
"From there..."
"You’ll overlook the entire kingdom."
"If danger ever appears..."
"...you’ll be the first one to move."
Kurg immediately jumped to his feet.
He puffed out his chest so proudly that everyone burst into laughter.
"As Master Kong’gong’s disciple... I accept!"
He struck what he believed was an intimidating pose.
Ru’k shoved him aside dramatically.
"What about me?"
"You better give me something important."
Ka’z looked him up and down.
"For a treasonous devil like you... I’d rather keep you somewhere I can watch you. You’ll become Prime Minister."
Ru’k blinked.
"...Prime minister?..."
Ka’z continued. He pointed directly at Ru’k.
"So I’ll put you in charge of bullying every single one in my royal court into behaving."
Ru’k slowly folded his arms. A smug grin spread across his face. Despite not understanding what a prime minister was it sounded cool
"I was planning to be king but since you begged... I suppose I’ll settle for Prime Minister."
He nodded generously.
"Ignis Vel."
Boom!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
The third fireball of the evening chased him around the room while everyone else erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
Far below the colony, hidden beneath layers of stone, Kong’gong remained seated inside his silent chamber.
His blind eyes stayed closed. Yet every word reached him clearly.
A kingdom with several races living together and Guardian Beasts protecting borders. Those were very specific words for a dream.
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"Oh my... Now you’ve got even me dreaming."
His smile widened.
"Youth truly has a frightening way of making impossible things sound inevitable."