Devour

Gray's disappearance resulted in a manhunt.

Her parents and the villagers search, but after a day, most of the villagers give up. After a second, the rest of the villagers give up. After a third, even her family gives up.

Adal keeps thinking that it would only be a short time before the hammer falls on him. Because there's too many people searching. Because he stupidly threw Gray's body over a cliff and left it there in the open. Because Riva will reveal everything.

Except it doesn't happen.

The search extended for ten miles around the main village center which is within distance of the cliff he threw her over, but no one found her body anyway. As for Riva, he actually passes her one time while walking with his father to the market to sell game. She stares curiously at him, but says nothing.

The whole thing blows over. It also gives him a great idea.

His father took part in the search and forced his sons to do it too. During the search, Data asks why they have to search so long. His father replies that the area they're searching is where most of the village never steps beyond.

He says it's just mostly empty wasteland outside the village. He also warns them to never go into the area because there are bandits around. They would get kidnapped and become slaves. He says that's most likely what happened to Gray.e s

Adal thinks going there is a great idea. The village doesn't go beyond that point? There are strangers around for him to devour? It sounds perfect.

So one day, he tells his family he is going out to hunt. He set the traps as usual, then immediately leaves for the wasteland beyond the village.

It is a long journey taking him almost two hours to reach. When he gets there, he sees the flaw in his plan. Despite what his father says, it's a wasteland. There's no one there. He sits there for hours just waiting for someone or something. Anything. It is completely dead.

Adal is determined, though. He does it again the next day. Then the next. The entire week. Then two weeks.

His actions lead to conflicts with his father. He brings home smaller catches leading to shouting and beatings. At times, he actually did worse than even his younger brothers. He continues 'hunting', though.

Finally, his wait leads to success. One day, he sees an emaciated man in some kind of leather armor approaching. His body trembles excited at the sight forcing him to stop himself in disgust.

There's a sword at the man's waist making him realize his next mistake. He's a kid. This is a fully grown man. A fully grown bandit. Devouring him seems kind of risky. His bow and arrow is likely to be of little help. They barely help him kill mice, nonetheless armored men.

Adal mulls and thinks about it repeatedly. He has time as the man is walking slowly. As he gets closer, he sees the man is limping indicating that he is injured. There is probably still no chance he'd win in a fight. However, it occurs to him the soldier man might not want to fight either.

An idea comes to him. Once again, his father's words come to him.

He takes off all his hunting equipment, rubs dirt over his body and face, then with hesitation, begin walking. Soon, the bandit notices him.

"Hey. Boy! What are you doing here?"

The bandit examines him critically. Adal swallows.

"I'm…lost. I don't know what to do."

"Where are your parents?"

"My parents died. I don't know where my brothers and sisters are."

"Hm? Was your village attacked?"

He glances at the nearby woods correctly guessing that any village nearby would likely be inside there.

"Yes. I got away by running. Can you help me?"

The bandit examines Adal critically looking him over clearly trying to work out in his head how much Adal might be worth.

"I think I can. Come with me, boy. I'll take you somewhere safe and get you food, alright?"

"I…I'm scared to walk. Please carry me?" The bandit becomes visibly annoyed. "Please. I'm really light. Just for a few minutes."

"Alright, fine."

The man walks over and he's even more frightening up close. There are scars around his face, head, and neck. There's a tangy scent of blood on him. Adal feels as if he got in over his head, but forces himself to be prepared.

The soldier easily lifts Adal up with one arm. That's when Adal slings his arm around the man's neck gripping it.

"Do you have to do that?"

"Yes, it makes me feel better."

"…fine, lets go back to my camp. It's only a few miles back where I came from."

Adal activates his power and instantly feels a surge of power going into him. The bandit pauses in confusion causing Adal to panic. He had thought death or debilitation would be instant, but it looks like he's mistaken.

The soldier's confusion quickly turns to panic. "Hey, what the hell are you doing?"

Knowing it might be his last chance, he latches tightly onto the bandit and bites hard onto his nose. He struggles viciously and beats hard on Adal. The first few punches hurt badly, but he could feel the power decreases dramatically with every second. Shortly after, the soldier collapses. Then he is a mummy.

Adal stands up and looks at himself. He feels incredible. Even the pain from the bandit's hits has disappeared entirely.

Immediately wanting to test himself, he forms his energy ball again and throws it at the ground. It creates a small crater. What a difference.

He forms the ball again and slams it against his own palm. He feels a strong stinging pain for two seconds. It's not likely to win him a fight against anyone, but it's so much stronger than what it was before.

More. He wants more.

He recalls the soldier talking about camp back the way he came. Adal wastes no time in heading there. An hour later, he sees two men in the distance. Getting some control over himself, he gets behind cover and sneaks towards them.

One of the men look much like the soldier he devoured, but the other looks different. Bigger, beefier. He's also just lying in the shade of nearby dead tree sleeping while the other does all the work. Adal looks at both hungrily. He picks up a nearby flathead stone with a sharp edge and sneaks closer.

Eventually, the working soldier walks off some distance to check on some animal skin he has hanging up. Adal takes his chance. He sneaks behind the sleeping soldier and stabs him in the neck.

The man jostles and begins gurgling but Adal is already on him devouring. The other soldier hears the noise and sees what's happening letting out a shout, but the man is already a mummy by the time he takes out his weapon.

Adal is so consumed with desire for more that he didn't even think. He just forms an energy ball and throws it at the other soldier. It hits him in the chest and the force of it actually knocks him onto the ground. It didn't stun him for more than two seconds but Adal is already on him devouring.

As with the first soldier, there is a struggle that gradually grows weaker. Then he is a mummy too and Adal feels like he's on top of the world.

He forms an energy ball and throws it at the tree where the other soldier had been sleeping. This time, the force is strong enough that bark exploded outwards and there is a dark singed spot where the ball had hit.

He is happy with the results. That much of an increase in power from just devouring three bandits? What if he devours three more? Ten? A hundred? Can he keep increasing his strength? Is it possible for him to become Earth grade?

Adal knows he isn't in his right mind. Too many things are passing through his head. The absurdity of thinking that he could be Earth grade fights with the knowledge that no one like him ever did that. The knowledge that he's strong enough to kill three men and realizing that he's a seven year old boy who just killed three men.

The vague acknowledgement that infinite power is within his grasp and the fact that it would likely require an immense amount of killing to achieve it. It doesn't bother him. Why doesn't it bother him? Why does he have this ability?

It's a strange feeling. It feels like he's standing at the line verging between sanity and madness. He can't tell which is which.

It takes a while for him to get back to himself. He hides the bodies by throwing them behind some boulders until they are no longer easily seen. This is the wasteland, though. Even if he leaves them out in the open, they are unlikely to ever be found. No one is likely to even care.

Returning back, he does the same to the first soldier he killed. Picking up his supplies, he begins the trek home collecting the animals that got caught in his trap along the way. There aren't many.

When he comes home and shows his father his catch, the man sighs then tells him to lie on his stomach almost mechanically. As if he's just going through the motions.

Adal does as asked and his father begins hitting his back with a strap. Funny, it doesn't really hurt. He knows it hurt only a few days ago. Is his father just not doing it as hard or is this a result of his newfound power?

He really doesn't know. He figures it doesn't matter. Either way, he's going to keep devouring.

The time arrives when it is his sister's, Bird, turn to take the magic test. She actually gets a pretty decent score of 18 seconds and she has a magic type of water. This is better than how both Data and Doto has fire, and he has…nothing.

His father is visibly heartened by this. He once mocked all his sons regarding their magic type. He says Data and Doto has the ability to do the same thing as him but less useful, and Adal has the ability to do nothing.

With Bird, though, that means they can more easily get water which is needed for drinking, farming, washing, and much more. There were times Roko had to grudgingly buy water from the market and he often mutters his resentment of those who could create water and sell it. Now his family is among those ranks too.

It's strange how luck is doled out to the world. Theoretically, all magic types are evenly distributed. However, it doesn't look that way from seeing Swaying Forest village. Most people here are fire type.

Fire is very useful, so that's good, but why are other types so small? Earth types are also rare, but they aren't wanted. There is a good amount of wind users and they're kind of useful. They make great servants during summer because they can help keep you cool. Water types are highly desired but they're also rare enough that they can sell water in the market. They're the core of many merchant families.

This is why Adal's father is happy his sister is a water type and will likely try to teach her how to better use her magic soon. With enough practice, she can easily add a silver a month to their income.

At last, the magic test is finished. Everybody falls into the Common grade with the exception of one child from the Bear family.

Roko snorts. "Well, I guess even luck has its limits. Bear entered three children this time but only got one Earth grade. Not that it'll stop them from living a life of luxury."

Everyone makes a move to disperse when the proctors loudly calls out for everyone to stop.

"Everyone, I have excellent news for you! This year, we of the Bear family are holding a special combat competition. We would like more exciting matches this year and, in order to do so, we're offering compensation for those who participates."

The bodies of several children in the crowd begin trembling already. Bird too looks frightened. They all know what is going to happen.

Adal's father mentioned this before after his brother, Data, asked why his arm 'doesn't move right'. Roko says it's an injury he got from competing in the combat part of the annual test when he was younger.

Normally, no one outside the Bear family and a few people with grudges competes in that part, but, that year, Bear offered everyone 50 coppers for each match they competed in and won. All the children were forced to compete and even the adults took part. Why not? The sheer amount of people meant that earning a few silvers is possible. It was too much money to ignore.

Such offers are made every now and then, but it is a trap.

People fight too hard because too much money is on the line. Serious injuries, sometimes death, occurs. Neighbors become enemies. Family who are matched against family are forced to surrender based on who is viewed as stronger creating resentment. Relationships break.

And it's all for ego. These offers are made when something happens to Bear and they want to take it out on others. The year Roko competed, one of the Bear members had lost humiliatingly in an inter-village competition. This year, many can guess why the offer is being made: Riva and Roccoco.

The last few matches – if they happen – are always bloody blowouts. A Common grade gets match against an Earth grade and they get crushed in seconds. In some cases, a child would slap around a fully grown man and injured him for life. The difference in strength is enormous. Bear knows most would rather forfeit before even getting into the ring with them so they offer more.

This year will be no different. Roko will compete as will all the other adults. His children will compete as will all the other children. Those who don't win a single match get beaten. Those who don't win enough matches may still get beaten. All, except for Bear, will get lasting injuries.

"Bear is very generous." The proctor declares. "We will offer 50 coppers for every match you participate in and win. If you fight against an Earth grade, you will be rewarded two silvers just for fighting. Five if you win."

It is too much money to ignore. Too much money.

"Daddy, I don't want to fight." Bird sobs.

"Shut up! You will fight or what you get at home will be far worse!"

So everyone signs up with some parents outright writing their children's names down. Then the competition is broken down into brackets.

It starts slowly, but also cruelly in a way. The setups are completely random and done by picking names out of a box. Some matches involve the really young children against adult men. Most of the kids' parents grudgingly forfeit the matches in that scenario. Others are heartless enough to force their young children to fight. Luckily, the men just bonk them on the head and they are so terrified that they fall over and refuse to get up despite their parents screaming at them. Easy 50 coppers for them.

From Adal's family, Doto is the first to fight and he is matched against one of the newly tested kids. Neither is good at magic despite Doto being older. It devolves into a physical struggle and Doto eventually wins because he is heavier. He knocks the other kid down and just pounds on him until he surrenders.

Next is actually their father, Roko. He gets matched against one of the village women. Adal audibly hears a relieved sigh from him when this is revealed. The woman rushes at Roko and scratches him, but he slaps her back and puts her in a headlock until she is forced to surrender.

Roko comes back not looking happy. "With me and Doto, that means we're up to one silver now. Why did it have to be her, though? That's the water merchant's wife. Buying water is going to be pricier now. Unless our Bird here can change that."

He says that staring pointedly at her.

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