Praise the Orc! Chapter 22:
Chapter 22 – Orcrox Warriors (1)
Antuak welcomed Ian into his house like he had before . Aruna was lying in bed, staring into space .
Ian and Antuak sat facing each other . This reality didn’t differ from the earlier illusion . He felt like he already had a long conversation with Antuak . Ian was now eating the potato soup alone . Antuak’s attitude was also the same .
“You killed them all . ”
“Yes . ”
“You saw what they would do, but they hadn’t even done it yet . ”
He glanced around . It was at the very spot where the users stabbed Antuak in the back . Ian formed a fist before releasing it .
“You don’t regret it?”
“Yes, I don’t feel regret . ” Ian’s expression was firm .
“Was it the right act as a warrior?”
“I want to become a warrior, not a saint . ”
“I see…”
Antuak nodded and beckoned, as if to eat the soup . Ian ate the soup . It was still delicious .
“You are stronger than I thought . I am relieved . ”
He walked towards Aruna’s bed . Her face moved . Ian jumped, but Aruna was still looking somewhere into the distance . Her grey eyes moved through the air . Antuak stroked her face and asked, “Are you going to visit Tashaquil?”
“Yes . ”
“This will show you the way . ”
Antuak moved his finger . A faint ember emerged from his fingertip . It revolved in the air and approached Ian, moving around as if it had its own will . Ian stretched out his hand and the ember touched down on his finger . It wasn’t hot .
Antuak said, “I’d like to treat you some more, but there is no time . ”
“Huh?”
“Go before it is too late . ”
“Too late?”
“Tashaquil will know when you meet him . ”
Antuak was giving him an unknown smile . Ian didn’t feel like Antuak’s words were light .
Ian rose from his seat . He poured a second serving of potato soup into his bowl . The soup warmed his insides . Ian slurped up the soup and set down the empty bowl . It tasted better than he previously remembered . Ian gave a thumbs up .
“The best potato soup . ”
“The best is only that much . ”
Antuak laughed and shook his head .
“The best potato soup is actually the one that my wife makes . ”
“Ah…”
“One day, I will invite you if my wife comes back . I want to show you what the best potato soup is . ”
Ian smiled .
“Yes . I am looking forward to it . ”
“Tashaquil is waiting . Go . ”
Antuak gestured and the door opened by itself . A cool breeze blew in . It was still night outside the door . The ember danced around Ian’s finger before flying to the door, as if it were beckoning him .
Ian looked at Antuak . He was unlikely to forget the serenely smiling Antuak .
“I will stop by again . Stay alive . ”
“Stay alive . Bul’tar . ”
“Bul’tar!”
Ian left Antuak’s house . The ember was busy . Ian followed after the ember before looking back .
“……!”
There was nothing . It was just an empty clearing with moonlight shining . Nothing was there in the place where Antuak’s house had been . The log house with the warm light and smoke had disappeared .
He looked forward again . The ember provided by Antuak led the way for Ian, as if it had its own life . That ember, it was clearly Antuak . Ian felt possessed by a ghost . He recalled his past memories . Antuak definitely wasn’t a lie .
Ian would meet him again one day . Such a great shaman had told him to quickly meet Tashaquil . His message was clearly meaningful . Ian’s footsteps became faster . Ian focused on following the ember, running through the dark forest for a long time .
He burned through the orc’s stamina . Finally, he saw a light and some houses appeared in the distance . In addition, various tent-like structures were spread out . It was Basque Village . The scenery of Basque Village revealed under the moonlight was beautiful .
Ian’s speed increased .
He could see orcs coming out of the entrance . Ian waved his hand to catch their attention . They came to a stop .
“I am alive!”
One of the orcs responded, “I am alive . You are?”
“I am an apprentice warrior, Ian . ”
All of the orcs were shamans . At Ian’s answer, an orc who was seeing them off came forward . The shamans moved out of the way for him .
He was a shaman with a face full of tattoos and a striped hide around him that was clearly tiger skin . There was a huge skull hanging from his neck, but Ian didn’t know what animal it came from . The force around him was incomparable to the other shamans in the vicinity . He felt like a giant mass of magic power .
Ian instantly knew who he was . One of the great masters who led the orcs along with Instructor Lenox, Tashaquil .
“I am alive . Young orc . ”
“I am alive . Are you Tashaquil?”
“Indeed . Are you Ian, the apprentice warrior taught by Lenox?”
“Yes, that’s correct . ”
“What did you come here for?”
Ian tried to point to the ember that led him here . However, the ember was gone . It faded away, just like Antuak’s house . Once again, Ian was confused . Ian spoke the name like he wanted Tashaquil to acknowledge Antuak’s existence .
“Do you know the shaman Antuak?”
“……!”
Tashaquil’s eyes shook .
“Where did you hear that name?”
“I heard it from him . ”
“You met him?”
“That’s right . Antuak told me to go to Tashaquil, and said that Tashaquil would be waiting for me . ”
“……”
The emotions in Tashaquil’s eyes deepened . The shamans who were about to leave Basque Village told Tashaquil, “Tashaquil, we will leave now . ”
“Wait a minute . ”
“Huh?”
Tashaquil turned towards Ian .
“Young orc . ”
“Yes . ”
“Antuak told you to find me?”
“Yes . He said to hurry . ”
“How long has it been since you left Orcrox Fortress?”
“It has been a couple of days . ”
“I see…”
Tashaquil sighed . He shook his staff and arranged his thoughts . Then Tashaquil opened his mouth again, “Kinjur!”
“Yes!”
“Take this apprentice warrior with you . ”
“I understand . ”
It was suddenly decided that Ian would accompany them . Judging by their actions, it seemed like there was no time to waste .
“Where are we going?”
“Orcrox . ”
What was happening at Orcrox that required such a large group to head there? Ian looked at the shamans . They were armed . Apart from magic staffs, melee weapons such as axes and swords hung from their backs . Inside the shaman’s clothing was leather armor . Their eyes were also grim .
They looked like soldiers heading towards a fight .
“There is no time to explain in detail . Just follow them . ”
“I understand . ”
Ian nodded at Tashaquil’s words . Tashaquil glanced at Kinjur .
“Go now . ”
“Yes . I am going . Stay alive . ”
“Yes . See you all alive again . ”
Kinjur shook his staff from the front of the group . An unknown force emerged from his staff . Waves of magic power moved around them . The bodies of the shamans trembled . Ian felt the waves of magic power penetrate his body .
Power rose up inside him . His body was light, it felt like he could run towards the horizon right now . He could feel the wind brushing against his skin . A beast-like sound emerged from his mouth .
Grrrr…
The shaman’s spirit magic!
The shamans moved out, Ian also being one with them . Kinjur took the lead and the rest followed . It was like a group of wolves being led by the alpha wolf . They disappeared into the darkness of the forest .
Tashaquil watched them leave .
Silence fell . There was only the sound of his breathing as moonlight fell around him . He was locked in deep thoughts . He shook his staff out of habit, the magic power moving along with him . The moonlight covered his head .
“Antuak…”
How long had it been since he heard that name?
Tashaquil muttered, “You are alive…”
His voice was wet . “Were you alive, Master…?”
It was a said in a whisper . Suddenly, an ember appeared in the air . The ember revolved around Tashaquil’s head . Tashaquil stared at it blankly . He stretched out his hand, but couldn’t grab it . The ember danced in the air before merging with the sky .
The ember gradually faded . As Tashaquil looked in front of him, the night sky soon turned bright .
***
“The shamans have arrived . ” Hoyt said .
“I see . ”
Lenox was looking at his axe . A dry cloth was passed over the sharp axe . The clean surface shone brilliantly . A face could be seen in it .
“Lenox . Ian came back with the shamans . ”
“The apprentice?”
“Yes . ”
“How interesting . ”
Lenox turned his head and looked at Hoyt . “Yes, what did you see? Do you think he will be a good warrior?”
“I’m sure of it . ”
“Hoh . ”
“He will be a real warrior . ”
“A real warrior . ”
Lenox laughed loudly . He seemed cheerful .
“Hoyt, who is a real warrior to you?”
“It is you, Lenox . ”
“Don’t act like that . ”
“I am serious . ”
“Kulkul . A real warrior…”
Then the door opened . An orc entered Lenox’s room . They asked, “Are you really going?”
“That’s right . ”
“Don’t be too hasty…”
“It is now or it will be too late . ”
It was Tanya, the administrator of Orcrox . She was responsible for the administration and operations of Orcrox Fortress .
“The enemy will just become stronger if we give them more time . ” Lenox explained .
“Hoo . I understand . Everybody is waiting for you . ”
“I’ll be out soon . Thank you as always, Tanya . ”
“It was nothing . ”
Tanya glanced at Hoyt then she left the room . Lenox looked at Hoyt again and said, “We should take him . ”
“It is still too early . ”
“To be a warrior, he has to see the wide world . ”
Lenox placed the axe on his back and grabbed the helmet hanging on the wall .
It was a black, solid steel helmet . Lenox looked at it for a while . There were cuts and scratches everywhere due to its long history, but the skeleton was still strong . Lenox traced the helmet with his fingers before placing it on his head .
Lenox’s face couldn’t be seen due to the shadow from the helmet . Only an intense light shone from within the helmet . Lenox smiled .
“I also want to see a true warrior . ”