"A tribe without tradition is a flock without a shepherd."~ Taliyah, The Stoneweaver
This is chapter number 6 and after this chapters will be of regular schedule until my project report and presentation is done.
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"You know what I am?" Daani asked with deep desire. The one question he had wanted answered for so long. And this man knew the answer.
"You are an Oovi-Kat. The direct descendants of the first Vastaya to ever exist. The Vastayashai'rei."
Gregori leaned in closer. He wanted to know Daani's origins too.
"But my parents were humans?" Daani shook his head.
Ryze nodded, "And?"
Daani just stared at him like that was all that needed to be said.
"Your parents might be human child but one of their parents or their grandparents or someone further up the ancestry might have been an Oovi-Kat. Characteristics are passed down and they skip generations often." Ryze observed the child. "You are lucky to have gotten these features."
Daani's head dropped, "But they left me...."
Gregori reached forward and pulled his son into a hug. Daani leaned into the hug and shoved his face into Gregori chest as he clutched at his clothing.
Gregori made eye contact with Ryze and gave him a small nod.
Ryze understood as he continued speaking, "Of course you might have experienced something bad previously but these features and all that they entail will help you a lot in the future. Runeterra has been under peace for too long..... and the chances of the fragile peace breaking is extremely high. It might be during your generation or the next but it is inevitable. That power of yours? It can keep you safe."
Daani looked toward Ryze.
"It can keep your family safe."
Daani looked at the man before dropping his head back into Gregori's chest. He remained there for some time before pulling himself free. He looked at Ryze but this time he had determination in his eyes. "What all can I do?"
Ryze seemed taken aback by the sudden change, he turned to Gregori, "You have raised some good children."
Gregori smiled proudly.
"You have immense control over magic. A lot more than most people imagine. Though I cannot outright say what you can do because every person is different.... I can say that you have the power to grow extremely powerful." Ryze explained as he raised a hand. A blue light sparked into existence. Then a few more formed. They slowly spun around each other condensing into a single glowing mote spinning above his palm.
"I suppose you can do the same?" He asked Daani.
Daani nodded and raised his palm. A blue ball of magic sprang into existence. "Mine is bigger!" He claimed.
"Now throw it at that tree." Ryze instructed.
Daani looked to his dad questioningly.
Gregori nodded encouragingly.
Daani turned toward the tree and threw the ball of magic. It flew at the tree losing some of its shape as it flew.
BANG
The moment it made contact with the tree, it made a loud sound and left a sizable mark on the tree.
"You have trained." Ryze commented. "You have taught him a little I believe?" He turned to Gregori.
Gregori nodded.
"But there is a fundamental difference between your magic and mine. They look the same and feel the same but they are not." He looked over all the kids. "Watch."
The blue mote on his hand rose a few centimeters off his palm and he waved it away lazily.
BANG
The mote disappeared from view the instant he waved with a loud bang.
BOOM
The next second they saw a large hole right through the center of the tree, just large enough where it was visible and just enough for the tree to still live.
Turning to Daani, Ryze spoke, "Same magic but different techniques."
"But it was so small..." Daani muttered not able to move his eyes away from the tree.
"Yes..... it was small in size." Ryze replied. "But it held more magic than your own attempt. Control is the most important thing to any mage child. Your father has only now managed to achieve a fine level of control. You have a long way to go." He watched Daani's face fall. "But that is just a matter of time. You shouldn't worry too much about that right now. Time is something you have in spades. Do not worry."
Daani nodded.
"Have you seen the sea?" Briar used the opportunity to ask.
"I have." Ryze answered. "I have not only seen it but I have travelled across it in large ships."
"Have you fought on the seas?" She asked excited by the revelation.
"I have." Ryze answered. "The seas of Bilgewater are ruled by pirates. Pirates are like bandits of the sea. They capture passing ships and steal from them."
"Thieves?"
The kids grew interested.
"They all have a short curved sword with them and guns." Ryze continued after nodding. "Guns are weapons that are similar to bows but are smaller and stronger. They use it to fight across boats and it caused a lot of explosions."
"Woah!"
"But that was not what made me feel fear." Ryze monotoned. "What truly scared me was the creatures under the water. The true rulers of the sea. Monsters the size of which you cannot imagine. Just because you cannot see them underwater does not mean that they do not exist. You have to fear them because you cannot see them. They have once grabbed onto one of my vessels and dragged the entirety of it underwater. I scared it off with my magic but it was very dangerous. There is also the god who presides over the sea. I will not say its name because it can hear you."
The kids nodded rapidly as they listened with rapt attention.
"Good." Ryze's voice fell to a whisper. "To have safe travels without sea creatures interfering, you always have to toss a coin into the sea. It is payment for safe passage. If you do so.... then no creature of the sea will bother you. The time my vessel was pulled down.... the captain had forgotten to toss a coin and the creature attacked."
"Daddy can we not go to the sea anymore?" Daisy asked terrified.
"No! I want to go!" Briar responded fiercely at Daisy's request. "Daddy please!"
Gregori smiled at Briar's pleading and nodded, "I promised to take you to the sea Briar and I will. We have to cross the sea to reach our next destination anyway and you will experience something new." He told the kids. "Do not worry about any strange creatures, the sea in this region is pretty calm."
They looked to Ryze for confirmation.
"Most of the creatures are in the area around Bilgewater and Ionia. They do not come farther. The water is warmer here. They do not like it." Ryze explained.
"They are afraid of hot water?" Sydell asked in confusion.
Gregori shook his head, "No. They don't like it. Just like you don't like skin on your meat. You can eat it if you wish to but you don't like to eat it. It is the same with them."
Sydell nodded in understanding.
He despised the taste of skin on meat. Regardless of how crispy it was or how well it was cooked. But the taste would make him want to puke.
"How did you escape the pirates?" Faye asked.
"Well I was not alone." Ryze answered. "I was accompanied by this extremely skilled girl Sarah. Together we fought our way out of the pirates capture and escaped on one of their ships. It was a dangerous endeavor and we were lucky to have made it out without any issues."
"But aren't you very strong yourself?" Rell asked from the side, her expression distrusting.
"I am strong yes. But using my full strength on a ship in the middle of the sea is unwise. I still needed something to travel on and a damaged ship is better than no ship." Ryze leaned forward with a smile, "And between you and me, I do not like swimming. My skin blends with the water and I cannot see my own hands."
The joke was well received as the kids all laughed at it.
"Hey! Tell them about how you beat two Darkin alone!" Caalyx's voice cut through the laughter.
Gregori's face crumpled. "Caalyx...." He muttered.
Ryze's smile disappeared. "I do not think it is something we need to discuss near children Caalyx. They do not need to hear stories like that. Some parts of history need to remain just that. History."
The kids looked at Briar wondering what the three were discussing.
"Briar. You shouldn't speak of what you heard okay?" Gregori turned to Briar.
Briar nodded sharply and turned to the other kids. "Daddy said I shouldn't speak of what I heard. Sorry!"
Rell sat off to the side, her palm slapping her face as she groaned.