Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 10

"What's going on?" Rina asked Aiden, rubbing her eyes as she struggled to wake up and get out of bed. "Where is everyone?"

"Shh." Aiden replied, his ear pressed against the door, listening to Grape and Squishy talking on the other side. "Here they come." He continued, running back towards where he had slept.

"Good morning you two." Grape greeted as she walked into the shack. "There's some berries and bread on the table, once you're done. We're going to head out. Jr. and Arlington are already out scouting the woods to Cosan."

"Thanks!" Rina said, eagerly taking the berries and bread.

"You're welcome!" Grape replied. "If you need anything, I will be outside with Squishy."

"What were they talking about?" Rina grumbled with food in her mouth.

"Magic." Aiden said flatly, getting his gear ready for their trip, taking only a piece of bread to eat. "They're not telling us something."

"What do you think it is?" Rina asked, breaking off a piece of bread for Ellie to eat.

"I'm not sure. Once we're safe, we will ask and demand answers." Aiden said, tightening his belt that held his dagger. "Are you ready?"

Aiden opened the door revealing Squishy sitting on a stump, his hammer resting in his lap as Grape fought an imaginary enemy. Aiden and Rina left the shack, stopping next to Squishy to watch the female Bermion, amazed how Grape fought with such grace and swiftness, almost as if she was dancing. Grape ended her training once she realized that the children were there, ready to go. Squishy explained that there were no signs of Kaskian soldiers in the area, that they seemed to have escaped them, for the moment.

Rina asked Grape question after question about her fighting, how she was so graceful and beautiful the way she fought. Grape thanked her and began showing her some techniques of her fighting style. How to hold the daggers, how to quickly adjust the dagger in her hand to stab backwards when needed. Rina took in every word that Grape said, eager to become just like her.

"How long will it take to get to Cosan?" Aiden asked Squishy, breaking the silence between them.

"At the rate we're going, by nightfall." Squishy replied.

"Are there many Bermion and Kaiine in Kaskia?" Aiden asked, wondering if they would stand out in Cosan because of them.

"There's a few of us around." Squishy answered. "Not so much in the smaller villages, but once we start getting nearer to the capital, there's more. Most Bermion just want to live their lives, Kaiine, they're either for Cladon or against him. That's why Arlington and Jr. will stay out of sight."

"Why doesn't Cladon force any Bermion's in Kaskia to fight for him? He seems to have the power to do something like that." Aiden questioned.

"He probably could." Squishy agreed. "But, to do so, could cause him more harm than the benefit of having us. He is too unsure about us and our homeland to go to war with us while having to deal with Premus."

"What other kinds of magic can I do?" Rina asked Grape, curious of the power she has.

"Well." Grape replied, thinking of the best way to explain it to Rina. "Based off what you have already been able to do, I would say that you will have the ability to use elemental magic. This ranges from summoning explosive fire to calling storms of immense power. You could potentially have the power over nature, which is extremely rare from what I know. It is always possible that you can learn other kinds of magic too, such as conjuring, manipulation, enchanting, it really is limitless. It's up to the Wizard and what they are able to accomplish."