Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

A Rediscovered Purpose

"Unbelievable," Alice said irately as Liam vanished before her eyes. 

"I'd have thought you'd have gotten used to it by now," Xavier replied, pushing past Alice as he made his way towards the fire. 

"Ugh!" Alice mouthed, "he's so frustrating to deal with."

As Alice's temper flared to new heights, Xavier dug a shallow hole, scraping a few coals from the main fire with his sword, into it. Covering the shallow pit with a few branches stripped of their leaves, he carefully laid the skewered fish atop it's surface, paying close attention as the residual heat quickly cooked the fresh catch. With Xavier busying himself with the fish and Sylvie monitoring the stew, Helen, who suddenly became free, took it upon herself to study Alice even further. Although she sensed that Alice had her own sorrowful backstory, Helen felt that there was more to her travelling with them than just heading in the same direction. The girl's sudden obsession with Liam only served to heighten Helen's suspicions. 

"Why are you so interested in Liam?" Helen asked, momentarily shocking everyone present. 

Aren't you just as interested as I am?" Alice asked, furrowing her brow. 

"Answer the question," Helen said, firmly maintaining her stance, "What ulterior motives are you hiding?"

"There aren't any," Alice replied, staring at Sylvie and Xavier with a bland expression, "Although I doubt the jealous princess over here will believe that."

"I'm not jealous," Helen said, taking a step back verbally, "I'm simply curious as to why you're so interested in him." 

"Isn't it obvious?" Alice asked, gauging their expressions as she continued, "Don't you think Liam is a bit...odd?"

"Sure he has a bit of trouble with his memory but he never struck me as odd," Helen said voicing her own opinion, "perhaps he's just a bit unaccustomed to dealing with others."

"That's not what I meant," Alice said, turning to Xavier and Sylvie, "The both of understand what I'm saying, don't you?"

"What does she mean?" Helen asked facing the duo.

"Liam, isn't exactly what we'd call your average boy," Xavier began, not knowing how best to explain. 

"He's simply far too strong for his age," Sylvie blurted, "The colour of his aura, him being able to cover large distances with an unknown technique, and above all, the fact that he doesn't remember how he got that powerful or, if he does, that he won't say how he attained such common sense defying abilities."

"Xavier," Helen said, looking to the burly knight for support. 

"Sorry princess," Xavier said, turning the fish over to reveal a partially golden brown side, "I'll have to side with Sylvie on this one. Either he knows or he won't say, how he got that powerful. Both prospects are equally terrifying." 

"That still doesn't answer my question!" Helen said, voice elevated as she refocused her attention on Alice, "Why are you so interested in him?" 

"If left to himself, he could become a danger to many," Alice reasoned, "Which is why I insisted on travelling along with all of you." 

"There's more to it than just keeping an eye on him," Helen challenged, "I can feel it." 

"Nothing I say to you will relieve that feeling," Alice went on, "I know that look in your eyes. It's the same one I get when it feels like I'm onto something. That aside, I assure you, I'm just here to observe him." 

"What will you do if he becomes hostile towards you?" Helen queried. 

"If it were anyone else, I'd eliminate the threat," Alice replied, staring at the ground, "however, I nor anyone at my current level can possibly hope to battle him and come out victorious."