"Starlight! Please! Why did you let me die!"
I was falling into a black abyss, being pulled deeper by phantoms hands. I opened my mouth to scream only for my mouth to get filled with a foul tasting liquid. Like bile and miasma mixed together.
"Starlight! Starlight help! You can save me! Just hurry…!"
***
"GET BACK!"
"GRANDMA! FOURS!" I screamed, shock attribute mana channeling into my claws as I popped them. I swiped at the air above me, my Grandma's tortured screams ringing in my ears still.
"KNOCK! IT! OFF!" I heard Jane yelled right before I felt a fist slam into my face and knocked my head back onto the mattress. I heard a loud crack.
"OWW! FUCK!" I screamed and grabbed my nose. I sat up and looked for who punched me only to freeze at the scene before me.
Geryo was on the ground looking startled with Astrid and Grandpa Seamus kneeled down beside him. Jane was standing beside my bed with a suspiciously bloody fist.
"Ye had another nightmare." Grandpa Seamus spoke up then patted Geryo on the shoulder. "This lad saw ya were having a nightmare and tried ta wake…and ya nearly took his head off."
I looked down at my left hand and saw my claws were popped and still electrified. I stopped channeling mana and retracted my claws, quickly jumping up to check on Geryo.
"I'm so sorry Geryo! I didn't mean to." I apologized.
"No apologies needed Sho'lajah. I am unhurt, though I cannot say the same for your spirit." Geryo said as he stood up.
"Yeah…a lot has happened." I muttered.
"I gathered…" Geryo said then sighed. "…the elder council was informed of your arrival this morning. I was sent to collect you and your retinue to meet them."
"Oh! Crap! I need to get ready! Can't keep auntie waiting!" I exclaimed then channeled mana into my void pocket enchanted ring. I grabbed everything I needed to change then closed the pocket. "Give me a few minutes to get changed."
***
"I can't believe I'm actually here!" Kennedy squealed as he walked close beside me. His head swiveled left and right as we walked down the busy street towards the tower at the center of town.
"I'm right there with ya laddie. Ta be in the same village that my Lulu'nala grew up in…" Grandpa Seamus said.
"But you grew up in a legendary village Gramps." Bo said.
"And that pox filled landfill was shite ta grow up…but I guess Starlight's gran dealt with the same here…" Grandpa said.
I was walking with everyone in a small procession towards the tower in the center of town. Geryo was leading the procession with me behind him, Bo and Kennedy at my sides. Grandpa Seamus was walking slightly behind me with Jane, Baset, and Astrid close by. Alberto brought up the rear with Colossus trotting beside him.
"You've no love for your village Elder MacClery?" Geryo asked.
"Not much reason to love 'em. Ask yerself, how does yer village treat normies…why did my Lulu'nala leave…and why would I leave me own village?" Grandpa Seamus responded in kind.
I frowned at that question. I knew there had to be a reason why Grandpa left the village but he's been quite tight-lipped about any information. I know the situation had to of been bad to force him to leave.
"Can we see the market?!" Kennedy asked, pointing to a group of stalls in an alley to our right.
"Later. We're heading to see the elders, and more importantly my great auntie." I said with a broad smile. Kennedy nodded in understanding but as a child does, he kept gazing at everything with doe-eyed wonder.
The rest of the walk to the center of town was quick. Every single villager that saw our little procession stopped and started bowing respectfully or yelling how happy they were to see me back in the village. I tried to not let it show how uncomfortable all the attention made me but I'm pretty sure everyone in my group noticed.
As we walked into the village square I saw a large crowd gathered around the stairs of the tower. At the top of the stairs I saw the elder of Tolapo village, addressing the masses. Geryo wisely stopped before we came into view of the crowd. I scanned the faces of the elders and realized I recognized all of them. Aside from Auntie Luna'lana, I saw Dwarm'moo, Abra'bo, Ndila, and Imani. All the elders that were in charge when I left.
"Geryo….is that all for me?" I asked. I looked back at me grimly and nodded.
"I fear so Sho'lajah…" Geryo said. I groaned then walked past Geryo, patting him on his shoulder.
"Hold on, I'm going to cause a scene." I said then channeled gravity attribute mana throughout my body and flew high into sky and floated over the stairs of the tower where the elders quickly spotted me, causing Dwarm'moo to stop mid-speech.
"…I assure you all that…" Dwarm'moo trailed off as he saw me floating above him.
"What's up ya old fogies?!" I exclaimed while waving down at them. All of the elders were silent for several moments, stunned by my sudden appearance or by me calling them old fogies. Which I couldn't tell.
"Nephew, we were just discussing your arrival with the village." Aunt Luna said then motioned to my floating form. "I can see you've learned some things with your mana channeling."
"Yeah, got to learn a bit from star farm crystal bearers of old." I said with a smirk while floating down and landing one step down from the elders.
"Making a scene as always I see, Sho'lajah." Dwarm'moo grumbled with a smort. I rolled my eyes at the old man.
"Being bitter as a lemon as always I Dwarm'moo'moo." I replied.
Dwarm'moo curled his upper lip at me while the other elders snorted while trying to hide their laughter. I pointed back to the crowd of people surrounding the stairs of the tower and frowned. "I'm sure you know that I brought some people with me but they can't get close thanks to the crowd."
"Oh really?" Abra'bo said then turned to the crowd and made a parting motion with his arms. "Can you all make way please, so Sho'lajah's party can approach?"
The crowd listened immediately and a nice sized pathway was made. Geryo lead everyone down the path, I saw most of the villagers pointing and commenting on Grandpa Seamus and Colossus. The moment Grandpa Seamus made it to the bottom of the stairs he let out a strangled gasp and stumbled backwards a few steps. Bo and Jane grabbed and steadied him.
"GRANDPA!" I exclaimed and ran down the steps to his side.
"I'm alright Starlight…" Grandpa Seamus said when I reached him.
His eyes were watery with tears threatening to fall. My mind immediately made the connection and I felt a pit of guilt burrow into my gut at my own stupidity. By now the crowd gathered around us to see what was wrong. I channeled echo mana into my vocal cords and looked to the crowd.
"Step back! Give him some air!" I yelled, my voice amplified thanks to the mana. The villagers quickly backed away.
"Is he alright, nephew?" Auntie Luna asked.
I froze when I heard her voice behind me, I hadn't noticed her get close and worse of all I knew seeing her was what triggered my Grandpa's shock much in the way it did the first time I met her. Taking a deep breath, I turned and flashed her a sad smile.
"Auntie Luna…um…no. This is my Grandfather: Seamus MacClery, Grandma Lulu'nala's husband." I replied stepping to the side. Auntie Luna's eyes widened at my words and she looked at my Grandpa Seamus with new eyes. The tears that had clouded his eyes were falling freely now but he didn't make a sound.
"You're Lulu'nala's husband?" Auntie Luna asked softly. Grandpa Seamus nodded sharply then cleared his throat.
"Aye! I had the privilege to call Lulu'nala my wife…" He said. Grandpa's voice cracked a little as he spoke. He cleared his throat again before continuing. "…Ya must be Luna'lana. She talked about ya a lot. Called ya her favorite assistant, Lu'ana."
This time Auntie Luna's voice hitched, tears filling her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"My sister was the only one to call me that name…it used to annoy me when we were children. Now it just makes me miss her…" Auntie Luna said softly. She walked over to Grandpa Seamus and hugged him tightly. Grandpa froze, his eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty for a brief moment before he relented and returned the hug. "…I, Luna'lana; Elder of Tolapo village; welcome you Seamus MacClery as an honored guest…and as My brother-in-law."
***
"I want to punch that asshole in the face." Jane grumbled in English while glancing in Dwarm'moo's direction.
"Ditto." Baset, Astrid, and Bo agreed in unison. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from giggling at that.
We were currently in the Miasma meeting chamber at the top of the tower for our audience with them and so far it's just been a front row seat to listening fo Dwarm'moo complain. Mostly about me and my lack of respect or notice that I was coming. It was funny the first five minutes but after ten both Alberto and Kennedy took off the enchanted rings that translated Toropas into universal standard.
"What was that?!" Dwarm'moo screeched, snapping his head In Jane's direction.
"Oh nothing great elder." Jane replied, switching back to Toropas.
"Great elder my right ass cheek. All he's done so far is complain!" Bo grumbled in English. Dwarm'moo's scowled deepened and he pointed a boney finger at Bo.
"I know that little gutter child just insulted me!" He snapped.
"Gutter child!" Bo and I both growled in unison.
"Hey Dwarm'moo'moo the only one that gets to insult this little asshole is me!" I snapped pointing at Bo. Bo puffed out his chest and nodded.
"Yeah…wait! NO!" Bo snapped then punched me on my arm. I pretended to be grievously wounded and let my arm hang slightly.
"Ow! That hurt not at all!" I teased making Bo huff at me.
"Again with the disrespect Sho'lajah!" Dwarm'moo snapped making Abra'bo and Ndila laugh. Dwarm'moo's head snapped to glare at his fellow elders so quick I thought I heard one of his ancient bone snap.
"Dwarm'moo, you speak of disrespect while yakking on and on about the Star bearer about not giving you respect. It's been fifteen minutes. Wasting everyone's time is also disrespectful." Imani said.
"Imani…you…" Dwarm'moo started only to get cut off by Auntie Luna.
"Enough Dwarm'moo! The Star Bearer has returned, this is cause for celebration regardless of how inconvenient it is for some." Auntie Luna decreed. Dwarm'moo flinched at my Aunt's tone but didn't retreat.
"Don't you dare speak to me as if I am a child Luna'lana!" Dwarm'moo snapped.
"Then stop acting like one!" Imani chimed in.
"Elders!" I snapped, getting everyone's attention. "Can we please move past this? While I am glad to be back in the village, this isn't a social call. My visit has a purpose."
"A purpose?" Auntie Luna repeated. I sighed and casted a glance at my Grandpa Seamus, he nodded slightly, urging me to proceed.
"I have a little story I need to tell all of you…"