The Harukian Chronicler 8 All The Voices Chapter 8

'Oh grand voice that resides within my head, please give unto me a sign by answering the question… the f.u.c.k?'

<"you took="" the="" a.n.a.lyze="" ability="" of="" the="" knowledge="" patron…="" that="" should="" circ.u.mvent="" the="" first="" restriction="" of="" consumption…="" the="" guidance="" should="" give="" you="" a="" bar="" for="" health;="" keep="" an="" eye="" on="" health…="" patience,="" to="" keep="" trying…="" you="" are="" truly="" made="" to="" take="" full="" control="" of="" consumption."=""> I could feel whatever it was giving a smirk… though I had an odd feeling I knew what was coming next; <"just a.n.a.lyze="" the="" woman,="" look="" at="" her="" traits="" and="" abilities="" only…="" she's="" well="" trained,="" and="" those="" are="" all="" you="" can="" copy…="" find="" what="" you="" need,="" then="" use="" me="" when="" you="" drink="" from="" her…="" it="" will="" succeed."="">

'You didn't answer the question, but I get the feeling I already know what is going on here; Baalish, the Patron of Consumption, I kind of had the feeling that you would make dividends over the possible risk. I will tell you now… I don't have any current plans of becoming a Demon Lord, but if you can make it so I can protect what is mine; we'll get along greatly.' Though now I had to think of how to utilize the Keeper's Eye… they didn't really explain how to use it when I was choosing it. Could it possibly be something to do with thought pattern or something…

("To use my Keeper's Eye, all you need to do is think of your eyes opening up to the Mana that is naturally in them. Think of it as the blood that pumps through your veins causing your eyes to expand and contract; same thing only with Mana.") Okay now I have two voices in my head… where as the first one sounded like an old man who hasn't drank anything for years, so is all hoa.r.s.e and craggley, this one is more… mature and posh? His voice sounds like one who researches behind a desk most days… not unlike my own father's if I think about it.

If a baby could sigh, it would of course be this one, though I kind of just listen to what the posh man says and try to concentrate on my eyes; thinking of activating whatever ability the Keeper's Eye could be. It was amazing that these two thought a mere baby could operate the way they want it to, took me forever just to get my eyes working properly. Though as I imagine what I want to happen, I can… distinctly remember, more muscle memory, what it is that I am doing. Letting the magical circuits in my eyes to expand and open a channel to allow my Patron's will be known.

As I open my eyes to look at my mother again, keeping in mind I only want to see her abilities, I am met with a small box appearing near her… looks like something you'd see in my past life's video games. I could see many things about her status, and lord I became a little scared at how powerful this woman was… but we have to ignore that for now, and only look at what I need;

…

…

Traits:

[Mana Regen]

[Circuit Capacity]

[Light Proficiency]

[Blunt Weapon Proficiency]

[Increased Strength]

Abilities:

[Scythe's Reap]

…

…

Well then, there really are only two that I could see that would be rather interesting to copy and make my own… though I would have to wonder which one Baalish was talking about. I did just look at the ones that could possibly be useful for me, but now that I have a mental list, then I feel there are two that would be best. The Mana Regen and Circuit Capacity; either would be useful, compared to everything else really…

["You seem trouble my child; why not ask me for guidance, you chose that ability from me after all."] A warm motherly voice fills my head as I am pondering over everything; ["If I may; Regen and Capacity would be useful if you're going to use magic mostly in your life, or might even become a hybrid cla.s.s of martial and magic. Light Proficiency is good for her, because she's a healer, as is Blunt Weaponry."] She clears her voice gently; ["Normal regen for mana is that of intelligence, plus wisdom, divided by ten. Normal capacity for mana is wisdom, plus mind, multiplied by one."]

'...Thanks for the info, Mala? Then if I had to make an estimated guess; each trait has a set of tiers to it, and each one gets it so the number reverse… regen goes down to divided by one; and capacity goes up to times ten?'

["That would be correct."]

("They're both traits under my sphere of influence, so they would increase in tier automatically. Same goes for Light Proficiency; since that is for Light element magic.")

<"and the="" old="" ones="" begin="" speaking…="" where's="" the="" old="" man;="" nothing="" to="" say="" to="" the="" new="" kid?"=""> Baalish gives off a sigh, I've yet to try and commune with them, so I don't know if they have physical forms in my mind… from the sounds of it; my mother was finis.h.i.+ng up with my brothers now; <"make a="" choice="" kid…="" everything="" is="" up="" to="" you,="" no="" matter="" what="" anyone="" says…="" we="" have="" no="" control="" over="" you."="">

As I was thinking about which of the two I would prefer to copy for myself, my father began to move me over to my mother; having placed the now sleeping forms of my brothers into the basket. Thinking calmly as I am placed in her arms, I quickly come to decision to copy the Capacity trait; if I thought about it, I should be able to train my Regen if I put my mind to it. Without thinking as her nipple enters my mouth and I begin to suckle away; warm milk filling my empty stomach, I activate Consumption. I can feel the mana drain from me as the essence registers over my tongue, and flows down my throat; I don't feel anything enter my stomach from this, so perhaps it goes somewhere else?

["Doo de doo de dee! Congratulations, Mana Capacity has been successfully copied! Hannash has been registered as one of the Holder's Patrons; Tier automatically elevated by one, Tier 2 Mana Capacity achieved. New Mana is detailed at wisdom plus mind, multiplied by four. Consumption is now in hibernation, and can longer be used on 'Indra Haruk'."] Yramala graciously tells me, the ability automatically turning off and allowing me to grab my fill of mother's milk. Her heartbeat is quite relaxing, as she hums a small tune during my feeding.

…

…

During my feeding; I could sort of feel the air grow a bit more condensed around me. There seemed to be something coming near that has enough power to cause the very air to feel heavy… but my mother didn't seem to notice at all, or care. Though I could hear my brothers begin to stir and give off some small cries of protest, right as the door to the room flings open once more, and someone comes in. A deep growl of a male coming from what I can only imagine is a bear… though I can feel no malice or ill intent; only glowing pride?

"I heard from the old midwife; they're here and I have three grandsons. I am so proud of you Indra." The heavy footfalls coming closer to the bed and the thuds of knees on the ground… lord how huge was my grandfather? "She said the oldest has horns on his head… didn't say he had his mother's fair locks… and these two must be the youngers…" I'm going to guess he turns to my brothers… who then begin to cry as loud as ever… "Oh… they seem to be afraid of me…" Now his voice was trembling…

"Father, you have your battle aura leaking out right now… you forgot to calm yourself before coming in here; of course they're all going to be afraid of you." Wait… all? I don't really feel afraid of him, but I can feel that aura of his… making the air a bit heavy. Finis.h.i.+ng up with my meal I detach from my mother and look up at her; letting out a small happy cry to alert her to such. I don't think I'll ever get over how looking at my mother's violet eyes will make me feel; her smiling face looking down at me, "Well, are we done my little Zeri? Are you not afraid of grandfather? Maybe the big bear would like to hold his grandson while papa and mama work on your brothers." With that, I am held out to my grandfather; and then I am taken into the biggest arms I have ever felt.

"h.e.l.lo there… Zeri? Must be the name Zeriq you two were talking about, what did it mean again? Something along the lines of Watcher? Then your grandfather shall give you a strong middle name; Tigrerious! That was the name of our family's ancestor who settled this land…" All throughout this talk my grandfather was doing; he led me out of the room so my parents could deal with my brothers. That door led to a small simple hut, with an open window; and a wonderfully cold morning, if the sun could be held to its chops. He then walked outside the hut to a hill that overlooked… what I could only describe as a nordic village; with a large lake on three fourths of the right side, gra.s.slands for the rest besides the rocky beaches. In the far distance you could see forests and snow covered mountains; and clouded blue skies for the long haul distance.

"Zeriq Tigrerious Haruk… the Mysterious Watcher of the Graveyard. You have been named such, and once the Herbalist comes to give your mother medicine; and the Volva comes to appraise you boys, then we can plan a celebration! We'll send falcons out to all the holds in our land; and bring about good spirits for the birth of my grandchildren." He indeed sounded quite happy as he stared off into the far distance; I almost couldn't take my eyes off the view as well, "All you boys have to worry about for now, is to grow happy and healthy; infants don't have much to do themselves. I'll do my best to leave you boys a land you can grow up in happily… and any other siblings you may get later on."

Course that does sound like a good idea; sit back and relax as I just lay there and grow up… but I am conscious of myself and of life… that would be boring. I'll have to ask Yramala for some ideas on what I can train in my current body; and maybe they'll hire a wet-nurse for us so I can see about copying another ability… G.o.d I hope my life doesn't go down that line.

End of Chapter 8