“Yeah — and that was just the start. The Trial of Obstinance was even worse.”
Porkchop grew silent as he explained the unending wall of death that he had been tossed into — the meatgrinder that he had pushed himself through again and again. Between that, the growth of his Skills, and the — in hindsight — rather ridiculous feats of physicality he’d achieved, Porkchop seemed to be caught between concern, horror, and pride.
“Are you sure you’re okay? My trials have been no summer walk, but that…So much death. No matter how stubborn you are, it must have been hard.”
Kaius chuckled. “Honestly, it could have been worse. Dying wasn’t that bad — it was the isolation and length that sapped at me. Besides, the memories aren’t so fresh as to fester. I was so exhausted in my first trial that it’s mostly a blur, and there were mental protections for the second. Xenanra ensured that most of my focus was on the course during the trial, and that the memories remained dreamlike afterwards. Even if they’re there, it doesn’t have the impact it could.”
“Most would disagree with you — but you would make a fine meles. You have the hunter’s spirit, that is for sure.” Porkchop shook his head. “I’m just glad you managed to upgrade your sword — fighting those challengers, or parrying those projectiles would have been much harder without that.”
That he could agree with, though he longed to put the blade through some proper paces. A fight, where he could use the full gamut of his abilities, and finally see how much it helped him to improve.
Shifting around, he twisted to look Porkchop in the eye.
“What about you? You said you had your own challenges?”
Porkchop bobbed his head. “They weren’t that pleasant either.”
Listening to his brother’s tale, Kaius was surprised by the sheer emotional intensity of Porkchop’s first trial — no matter how much he’d tried to downplay it. It too had been centred in an arena. A single challenger; a single sacrifice — though he refused to describe them. He’d had to make a choice: fight, or let an innocent die.
To his lack of surprise, Porkchop had fought. Yet every time he won, another innocent was added, and another challenger arrived — one stronger, harder than the one before. He’d had the time to rest and recover between bouts, and had full use of his Skills, but the essence of the trial had been much the same as Kaius’s. Bleed, until you embodied.
Kaius knew there was no way the sacrifices were faceless strangers. Every time they came up, Porkchop grew distant; tense. No matter how much he brushed past it, it was clear the trial had taken its toll.
Still, it was clear that his brother had gained from the experience. He hadn’t noticed it before, caught up as he was in their reunion — but with proximity, he noticed a presence in those quiet moments. One that had been absent before. It wasn’t like the vague perception of strength he’d felt from those in the second tier — it wasn’t even about power. An ineffable solidity that went beyond the physical.
“You have it too, I noticed it earlier.” Porkchop replied when he asked.
“Really? That’s odd — it must be the embodiment. Perhaps those walking the Path are able to sense others?” The most update n0vels are published on novel★
If it was true, it would come in handy. They only had a few more things in Deadacre to wrap up before they moved on. The larger cities of the dukedoms had far more people of strength and ability. If they would meet others who struggled like they did, it would be there.
Porkchop simply shrugged, and their conversation drifted on — moving to his brother’s second trial.
It sounded less emotionally fraught than his earlier trial, and both of Kaius’s — thank the gods. He’d been forced to oversee a siege — with a single chance to restart the siege from the beginning, and a goal to preserve as many lives as possible.
Keeping track of so much sounded like an experience born of the hells. Having so many lives under his care had forced Porkchop to his bitter limits. He hadn’t even gotten to rest physically! The tough bastard had spent the whole time running from breach to breach — fighting where the invaders were thickest, and leaning on his natural telepathy to organise his troops in tandem.
After his first attempt, his second had been close to flawless — losing only a twentieth of his charges. A good result, from what little Kiaus knew of warfare, yet it was clear that Porkchop didn’t agree.
It had still been enough for him to succeed.
As the conversation came to a close they stayed huddled, enjoying each other's simple presence for some time — but no matter how long it had been, neither of them were the type to laze endlessly.
Kaius gazed out into the path and watched the fog swirl.
“Want to go check it out?”
“By the matriarchs, yes.”