Chapter 16 - A Feast Before the Journey

After Harald helped Tiberius to go back to his bed, he slept for one more day until his pain was eased. During this time, he tried to pass time and do something, but considering how he was not allowed to walk around anymore (Harald was pissed about not being able to have tests on him, so he made sure not to lose sight of him), the best he could do was to read.

Unlike his apartment, where the majority of the books were about history, here they had books from every genre. Of course, since he was in the doctor's room, the majority of the books here were scientific, but Harald explained that in other tents, people store other books, including magic books, which are expensive in other countries but free to borrow here. But it was useless for him, since he did not have any mana, and because he was not interested in science, he asked Harald to give him a random fiction book to pass the time and a newspaper if possible.

It took an hour for them to bring the newspaper, but it was expected. Every day, at the same time, they would get a newspaper from each country and give them to Rael so he could make a plan for their next steps. They just brought an extra one for Tiberius this time.

“Terrorist attack on the capital” was the headline of the news. ‘For the first time, the terrorist group has launched a direct assault on a city, unmasking its leader to the world—none other than Rael Dusk.’

The news then explained how the attack happened and how the festival was disturbed, things that Tiberius already knew. But one thing attracted his attention. Did they just find out that Rael is leading them?

“How long has he been your captain?” Tiberius asked Harald, who was mixing some plants for his research.

“I don’t know, as long as I have known myself,” he replied.

“So, it is not just a recent thing,” he mumbled.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious,” Tiberius said, not explaining the reason. He wanted to ask Rael himself when they were talking.

After a few minutes of reading, Tiberius realized there was nothing else in the news that bothered him. It did not even mention his disappearance. So he put down the newspaper and picked up the book Harald had given him. It started as space travel. An expedition group travels through space but gets lost from the radars, loses control of the ship and falls into a planet where monsters rule it. The story was about their survival and the dangers they face on this planet.

Given how underdeveloped this world was, space travel appeared to be impossible for the time being, but Tiberius wasn't sure, given that he had only been here for a little over two months and had only visited the capital of one of the six countries. Anything could be possible.

It took him the whole day to finish the book, which ended with everyone’s death. During his read, multiple people visited the room and most of them would either just say hi or even ask how he is doing. This was unusual for him, considering how he was treated back in the city. People here seemed more understanding, but he could not forget; no matter how they treat him, they are still terrorists.

Of course, those who came did not come for Tiberius himself. They were coming for their own treatments or injuries that occurred during their training. Harald was also treating him with a variety of bitter medications.

Two more days passed, and he was getting better. Now he was starting to walk by himself without any pain and even had the chance to talk with people from the camp. And what he learned surprised him.

Except for Rael, everyone in the camp was supposed to be sacrificed to the gods during the festival. Before they were sent, before the angel-god trade even began, he would take as many of the children as he could, or occasionally he would abduct the children before the festival started and raise them here, away from everyone. However, the primary reason no one knew who was in charge of this terrorist group was because he had always kept his face hidden and did not reveal his identity.

However, why he did this act is still not known by anyone. Whoever Tiberius asked, they just replied with, “He said he wants to protect us.” This was a belief that was too suspicious. Taking kids away from their parents, even if they were sent to God as sacrifice, could not be a thing someone should do. No wonder all nations declared them a terrorist group.

Yet no one knew why he started to do these acts. He never explained anything, just told them that he is protecting them, and that was all they needed to know. It never mattered to the kids because, after a year or so, they would get used to the camp and even accept Rael as their father; that was the main reason they would be comfortable around him. However, is that not manipulation? He kidnaps kids and raises them in a way he wishes so he can kidnap more? What is he trying to achieve?

As these questions started to eat his mind, Tiberius also questioned if kids ever wanted to go back to their actual families. The answer he got was more terrifying than expected. They had developed a deep hatred for their parents. A few had even murdered them.

After learning the ideology of this group, he found a stone he could sit on in a high place and watch the camp from there. Three guards were, of course, waiting beside him to ensure that he did not get away. He did mention that he is not planning to flee until he understands what Rael wants from him, but they did not listen.

He indeed wanted to understand Rael’s intention. From the second he landed, the first one to help him was Rael. It is true that he dragged him into the festival and risked both of their lives. But still, he was still the only one who seemed to understand something. Maybe he could help him to go back…

Another two days passed; however, there was still no sight of Rael. Tiberius had healed fully (nearly) and was basically kicked out of the doctor Harald’s room. “I don’t need you here anymore; just get yourself into another tent,” were Harald’s words.

…

“He is back,” said someone, informing everyone in the camp about Rael’s arrival. A minute later, he was heading toward the camp on a horse from the depths of the Tanshy.

“Welcome back, captain,” said Harald, being the first one to greet him. Everyone in the camp then surrendered him and inquired as to his whereabouts.

“Just some business,” he replied as usual. As always, he would go deep into Tanshy, spend a while there, and come back. No one was aware of the reason behind his actions, but since he kept it a secret, nobody pressed him too hard.

“Is he back on his feet?” Rael asked, getting down from the horse.

“I am,” replied Tiberius, behind the crowd. Before Rael arrived, he was telling some kid stories to the children they kidnapped with him. Because some of those kids already knew Tiberius, they spent a lot of time with him.

"Great," Rael said. "Let's throw a party to celebrate it." He raised his hands, and everyone around him started screaming with joy.

In less than an hour, they collected all the tables and chairs in the camp and made a large square with them. Later, they began cooking meals and setting tables for a large banquet.

Tiberius didn't even get a chance to talk to Rael because everything happened so quickly and chaotically. People around him would drag him from one place to another, asking him to help carry things. He didn’t mind, though. As they asked, he helped them with everything, and before the night fell, the party was ready to start.

As the girls brought the cooked meals, the boys were bringing barbecue meat. Everyone was working together to get ready on time. That is why, when the party started, they seemed hungrier than usual. They had sat around the square made by tables and were watching small illusion shows made by illusion users among them.

“What do you think? Do we know how to have fun?” asked Rael, drinking beer. Even though there were children at the party, only adults were permitted to drink one glass of beer each. That was Rael's rule to ensure no one went overboard.

“Is is fyn,” said Tiberius. He meant to say, ‘It is fun,’ but because his mouth was full of meat, he just made a weird noise.

Hearing this, Rael gave a short laugh. “Glad you like it.”

“Rael,” he called, after finishing the meat in his mouth, “can we talk after the party?”

“Of course not,” he smiled.

“Excuse me?” Tiberius frowned. “Why are you refusing?”

“I am not refusing; I am just delaying it.”

“Until when?” he asked.

“Tomorrow. We will talk about a lot of things tomorrow, so if I were you, I wouldn’t even worry. Just make sure you get good sleep.”

“Why?” Tiberius asked tiredly, then added, “Will you just say everything at once, or do you want me to pull it one by one?”

“Oh, sorry. Since I only talk to kids here, I talk like this. We will have a long journey tomorrow. You and me. I will explain everything to you at the place we go.”

“Did you even ask if I wanna go? First kidnapping and now taking me on a journey without my consent?” Tiberius was getting annoyed at his behavior.

“Do you know what I tell those kids who want to go home? I say go. But if a creature attacks you, don't come back crying to me; only if you can survive, that is,” he said, “and you. If you want to go back, you always can. You don’t even need to follow me. But remember, if you want to survive here, you gotta listen to me.”

“Are you threatening me?” Tiberius had already stopped eating and had focused on Rael fully.

“I am not, but even without that, you are in danger,” he said with a tired voice. Rael was sickened by his questions: "You won't be going back to where you came from, and they won't let you breathe normally the moment they find out where you are."

This was the last thing he wished to hear. During these months, he believed that there is a chance that he might go back, but now Rael is saying it's impossible? Does he know how he ended up here?

“How do yo—”

“They couldn't teach you magic, could they? You couldn't even form mana, probably. Am I right?” Rael interrupted him.

Tiberius nodded with a slight fear. Rael was acting like he had been watching him all along.

“Don't worry.” Rael put his hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. “I will help you, but only if you help me.”

“What do you want from me?” Tiberius asked, with a slight shake in his voice.

“Something you will eventually do.”