The Murklin System: Rise of the Dark Hero

Chapter 6

"Is that important?" the woman asked before sitting beside him. She looked at the three graves in front of her and played with the flowers on top of them.

Finn sat back up again and looked at her. "Well, to answer your question, I'm Finn Erskin from Vad Tribe. At least I still believe I am."

"Vad tribe, huh?" Efrelyn stopped from what she was doing before looking back at him. "What if I tell you that you're not from the Vad tribe?"

Finn blinked several times. "Not from the Vad tribe? Then, what? From the Lorn tribe? Verendous? Bestick?"

For every tribe he mentioned, he couldn't hide his anticipation, and most especially, hope. He was hoping to belong to the higher tribes, and not to this isolated and most hated one. He could accept anything aside from Vad.

The woman giggled. "Is it so good to belong to those tribes?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed. "Who wouldn't want to belong to the Lorn tribe? Even though they're the lowest before us, they're still accepted by everyone. If I can go there, they will surely pay me fairly with the charcoal I'm selling. But here, they always pay me below average. Sometimes even lower.

"The Bestick tribe isn't half bad. It's the highest tribe, but I don't really like it there. Aside from seeing the Tempest royal family, I can't really do much there. I don't like sitting in front of a desk, making who knows what. Verendous tribe isn't that bad either. The scholars and priests are there. It was my dream to go here and become a katona. I want to serve my country."

"Hmm... I'm surprised," Efrelyn said while watching Finn smile from ear to ear just by mentioning the Verendous tribe.

Finn's smile disappeared. "What?"

"You were born and raised here in Fract, the lowest, most isolated, most hated, filthiest, and all negative adjectives combined. People out there discriminate against you, and treat you like objects. I'm just surprised you still want to serve your country."

Finn cleared his throat. "I just want to get back what my family deserves. When my great grandfather was kicked out of the elite army, our family lost the privilege we once had."

Efrelyn nodded. "Well, that wasn't surprising at all. But it looks like you already gave up on that one, huh?"

"What's the use? My family's gone. I'm the only one left now. I don't need that privilege for myself."

"Anyway, enough chit chat." She stood and shook off the dirt from her cloak. "Unfortunately, you aren't from the tribes you mentioned. Sorry to disappoint. But I have better news for you." She grinned.

"What?"

"You're not from those lowly tribes, Finn. You're from a better tribe. My tribe."

His eyebrows creased. "Your tribe? Where do you belong?"

She smirked. "The Murklin tribe."

Finn waited for an explanation, but the woman just stared at him with a grin. When she didn't speak, he asked, "And what tribe is that?"

Blinking rapidly, Efrelyn gasped loudly and held her chest. "I can't believe it! You don't know about our tribe? It's quite famous, you know." She fanned herself and paced back and forth. She was too flabbergasted to stay still.

"Yeah, well, not so famous if it didn't reach our town." He scratched the back of his head. "We're isolated, remember? That means, no regular food supply, and no regular news from outside."

Efrelyn stopped walking, and sat in front of him. "Don't you feel it? That strange feeling in your chest?" She placed her palm on top of his chest. Finn stiffened. "Like you wanted something to get out of it?"