Chapter 16 - Deadly Ghost Tree

Hearing the rather interesting question Guard Commander Chan asked him, the King wanted to smile. But even though that smile would be considered quite devious and no doubt based on a...different type of admiration. He still refused to smile and kept a firm look. He would have felt uncomfortable if he smiled due to the countless wounds on his face making him look, unnatractive. Even if it is in front of a person of his own gender. With Xakro ill.u.s.tratio l's face burned black, one eye missing, and not having a hair on his head or even a beard. It is a surprise how this current King who shares the same wounds as his grandfather, doesn't hide his face behind a mask. It takes a lot of guts to walk around with such unhealable wounds completely visible to the world, but yet it reminds him of the tremendous victories the ill.u.s.tratian alliance obtained due to this sacrifice.

Still remaining with that firm look on his face, his tone sunk lower due to the flash of reality he faced just a bit earlier, the thought of him never asking for all of these powers in the first place, took over at a slower scale. But it still made his continuous bad mood even worse. The fact that he sunk in deep into a bad mood just because he refused to smile, showed how stable he actually is. Perhaps, this curse came in with more than just the wounds on the outside. Maybe there is more? "The other thing we need... is a branch from a...special tree. Yes, the ghost tree." Spoke the King with his tone becoming warmer by the moment once he started talking about things he studied, things he... enjoys.

Facing a mild shock right after he heard the word "Ghost", it barely took a moment for Chan to start hating this plan already, this second part of the plan specifically. If lava controlling 10 foot freaks weren't a tough enough challenge for him to conquer, now he has to deal with ghosts as well? But if only Chan knew how dangerous the Calidum Lutum are, the ghost tree would feel like a breeze to him. A really "cold" breeze. But yet again, the Calidum Lutum can be extremely dangerous as well if harmed, even though their kind is considered "peaceful".

Still standing a bit frozen in fear in front of Xakro ill.u.s.trario lll, throughout a self forced effort he managed to let out a few words, enough to form a sentence. "G-G-Ghost tree? Why is it called a Ghost tree?"

Trying to find the best way to dumb this explanation down for a unacademic man like Chan to understand, he decided to use the basic sentences the "illas" would use when they explain something "evil". "Because, the tree is... possessed. Well...more like, ghosts live inside them." Remembering what he studied about ghosts(through the little pieces of information one could study upon this subject), he sighed in satisfaction. Let's just say, he likes paranormal figures. "Ghosts, the soldiers... of hell. A ghost from that specific tree only can...it can carry all the power. Without causing colossal... damage to you, me or half a kingdom."

The fear of ghosts keeps overwhelming Chan's ability to focus. Why would he fear something he never saw? Well it is simple, he saw them once or twice. The trauma caused from them remained deep down his soul, even though those ghosts didn't actually physically attack him. Just seeing one is terrifying, imagine being beaten by one. Realizing he has been staring blankly for way to long, zoning out and sinking into memories. He blinked his eyes and came back to reality. No doubt struggling to speak properly due to the recalled traumas. "But how? All of this seems... well, no it doesn't seem. This seems unnatural and traumatic." Finding the capability to recall most of the information the King literally just told him, he only managed to find more fear, nothing else. "How could a branch carry power?" He proceeded to ask, with hopes of escaping this task and go for a possibly alternative way. A branch with the capability to carry power? Clearly unusual, possibly unpredictable and likely very dangerous. Not to mention, Ghosts!What is there not to fear?

Seeing Chan being halfway there from receiving a strong trauma, the King tried to actually help Guard Commander Chan calm down. But, he isn't used to this helping thing, at all. "Coward..... scared, aren't you? Well you should be. That...that tree is incredibly dangerous. Life ruining even. But I have a plan." This isn't exactly helping though. A form of help, is assuring the errand runner of the possible danger in front of him. At least that was considered help in the King's eyes, but it didn't help with the possible phobia. He forgot that Chan isn't qualified for both parts of this big quest. Everything has a high chance of killing him, even his thoughts are killing him. "I have a rather... strong theory, which could give you immunity towards these specific ghosts."

"Immunity. That's actually possible?" Having his fear slightly driven away thanks to Xakro's "help". Chan was at least able to focus a bit more now. 

"Yes. The Calidum... Lutum are the key. If we don't get this ghost branch, the two... other ingredients will be useless to us even... if we get them." Holding his head up with his right hand underneath his chin, which helps him concentrate more. Let's just say that the amount of power he is carrying in his own body, doesn't let him focus that easily. The deeper reason behind it, rather "outterwordly". But yet again if he managed to focus enough to form such an advanced plan, he is doing well.

Finally able to understand and accept the inevitable dangers this quest can bring upon him, it helped Chan calm down a little bit more and do one of the things he does best. Pointing out the obvious. "Well it sounds like both ingredients are equally dangerous as well. At one side, i can get my skin ripped off of my body by a lava controlling ten foot tall freak. On the other side i can get possessed by a ghost."

Strangely knowing both species enough to form a stable statement, he yelled out a word grabbing all of Chan's attention. "False!" Afterwards continuing with his normal lower tone, he said with a small amount of concern(fascinating). "The ghosts are... way more dangerous...than you claimed. The tree is a part of them. Breaking... one of their branches means you damaged them. It means... that you damaged the ghosts."

Ghosts, how can a ghost exactly be damaged? As far as legends, rumours and actual "recent" sightings go, ghosts are untouchable. A floating white figure who is almost colorless. Some claiming that ghosts have naturally given powers as well(if  by naturally you mean paranormally). Such as being able to move small to medium objects with their minds(if they have minds)? Helping sorcerers who are actually deep in demonic magic and or sourcing. And occasional but less common, human targeted possessing. What all these claims point out, is that ghosts do the hurting, not the other way around! So how could a living mortal actually hurt a ghost?

"B-but they can't do anything about it, right?" Hoping to finally hear a positive reply regarding this quest, he had a feeling of what the king would reply.

"They will take revenge if you...damage them." Well that made it clear. Now it sounds more natural, ghosts doing the hurting.

Guard Commander Chan replies with the strongly spooked out feeling he just snapped out of earlier who rearose in his heart with accelerating speed. "Revenge? What sort of R-Revenge?"

"Disastrous consequences. They could beat the... life out of you on the spot or..." which compared to the following, would be considered the best option. Or do any of you have different opinions?

"Or?" A question Chan did not want to ask with upcoming answers he did not want to know, but yet still curiosity managed to get the best of him.

"Or follow you and beat the life out of your loved... ones." Chan being an orphan who lost the only family he knew(his parents) due to an Ignite led attack, and not having any friends who show actual unconditional care, this part of the damage of which ghosts can do, wouldn't be considered the biggest danger but still damaged Guard Commander Chan here before he even started the quest.

King Xakro ill.u.s.tratio lll continued with his explanation even though Chan is in the process of zoning out again due to Xakro saying "your loved ones", which brought back memories of his parents. "Make you a part of their experiments...who knows what they doo. And indeed, they can possess... you as well to do all of the above...yourself."

"Please tell me that's all!" Coming back to reality, he started approaching this task with more motivation even though his fear levels only shifted swiftly. Now at least, he felt like his parents are looking at him from the heavens above and he did not want to disappoint.

"Almost. If you get attacked and manage to... survive any or all of the above, you... will likely end up insane." At this point, King Xakro ill.u.s.tratio lll had an extreme urge to smile in satisfaction for a few reasons. The first reason is the fact that he had this accurate information about ghosts, these even being considered a special breed of them. Knowledge of which is highly uncommon for random people to know, how did he get his hands on such information? Second, he really enjoys talking about paranormal topics, even if he is the only source of information in the conversation. Imagine a highly academic student talking your ear off with various topics, it is something he enjoys. But smiling, no.

"Tell me you have a smart approach instead of just making me go grab it. You said something about the Calidum Lutum being "the key"." At this point still being halfway there from reaching a ghost phobia, his main goal now is to find the safest way to approach these ghosts. Since this quest is clearly not optional, like the fact that living isn't optional if he refused this quest.

"Indeed I have." Raising his head away from his own hand, and leaning back towards the back support of the chair, he let out a stressful sigh and continued. "If they choose to... take revenge on you, even I can't... help you afterwards." Concern? The King has concern for Chan? Interesting.

"Oh." Frozen in fear, this was the only word Chan could let out at the moment. It is a surprise how Chan didn't yet reach a mental breakdown concerning this topic with previous traumas haunting his past. Maybe his strength is heavily underestimated(mental strength at least)?

A phrase or might i call it, a word...gives you immunity." He gave an internal smile, because he felt sure on what he was talking about. There is no shame in being knowledgeable no matter what faction you qualify with.

"Do you know the word Sire?" Well this question proves that Guard Commander Chan wasn't paying attention here and there. And it was a dumb thing to ask especially considering the King's easily triggered rage!

"No you moron. How could i... possibly know that!" Shouted the King as he fisted the left arm support of his throne which cracked the arm thick woodwork a bit.

"We will need to find it. Recite... it once, approach the tree...break a branch and just walk away. They can't take revenge...on you." This was the clearest and most understandable piece of information Xakro had to dumb down for Chan to understand. And at least now he covered most of the questions and there are likely only a few to answer. The King remained oddly patient towards this fool, especially considering he dislikes answering any questions at all. He commonly does the ordering, and people just nodded in agreement and rushed out of the room, except for "Aaron". But that's another story.

"A sentence? How would that stop these powerful ghosts?" A rather expected question from Chan, but yet again he does make a good firm point. How exactly can a word simply grant immunity towards ghosts whose powers will likely remain a strongly kept secret by humankind. Powers highly unpredictable. But this special different breed! Did the Calidum Lutum have a brawl with these species of the unliving?

"This sentence...well, it makes every ghost around you, freeze. Perhaps freeze isn't...the best word to describe it, they won't be... freezing cold. But they won't be able to... move. Although the reason behind it unknown, even... to me! It works. Once you break the branch, the ghost... inside that one branch will remain frozen… even after the effect of the phrase wears off." Could this mean that the Ghost is carrying the unstable source of power coming from another "ingredient"? How many twists does this explanation have?

Finally sighing in relief, able to push his developing phobia away for a while, he happily replied. "As far as I understand, this means I can go there alone and come back alone, unscaved if we find that... word?"

Gazing upon Chan who seems to finally understand this plan(or at least this part of the plan), the King found slight relief on his nerves. The abnormal patience he showed towards Guard Commander Chan, is wearing very thin. King Xakro isn't sure that he will be able to finish explaining this plan to Chan without causing a scandal! "Indeed. And it is best if you do it that way… alone. Barely... anyone knows about this possibility to gain magical... powers. And even those who do know, fear for their life... to ever try it."

"But how do i find the secret phrase at this "Calidum llokum race"?"

"Calidum Lutum.*"

Right. How do i find it?"

Feeling sure that he has information about the Calidum Lutum as well of which normal individuals couldn't simply obtain, he felt comfortable giving an explanation without looking like a fool. Even if it was just in front of this simple Guard Commander. "Ego" comes above all to the King after all. "I've been studying the Calidum...Lutum race for quite a long while just because of this matter, let's say... early preparation. I expected for the Electus...to return."

"But how did you know that the Electus will return?"

"That would take a day... to explain. Especially... to you!"

"Oh."

"Moving on, The... Calidum Llokum... No! I mean..."

"Ha!" Let out Chan a short laugh when he heard this disturbingly knowledgeable ill.u.s.tratian Grand King make such an embarrassing mistake. But he regretted it the second he saw the King's lifeless facial expression becoming more life filled. More angry.

"Shut it!"

"Yes Sire." Guard Commander Chan escaped this one rather easily. Because no one ever dared to mock the King face to face, and live.

"Moving on. The Calidum Lutum... are tremendously skilled at hiding any information regarding... their race. That's one of the ways they avoided war for... so long. But i...i have my ways."(Guard Commander Chan swallowed his spit due to nervousness caused by the King's last sentence.). "I have reasons to believe that the phrase... is on their gauntlets."

"Gauntlets? I didn't think gauntlets existed back then. I mean, they disappeared thousands of years ago. So they wrote the phrase on their gauntlets?" Chan has a strong point here, but the Calidum Lutum are, let's say magicians with iron(not literally).

"Indeed. Written on... their Gauntlets.

They discovered many things before the rest of humanity... did regarding iron. Their gauntlets are unique. Heavily... magically enchanted. They provide complete protection... from anything paranormal."(Chan smiled when he heard of the protective qualities simple iron Gauntlets can offer. Rather interesting to hear about as well, it even got Chan intrigued.). "But since our arms aren't... nearly big enough to wear the gauntlets, the phrase written on it...will doo."

"So both the first ingredient and the phrase i need to survive the second quest, are all in one creature. Well, at least this made everything easier. But may i ask sire. What is the third ingredient we need?" At least Chan managed to finally catch up and understand the entire plan. Took long enough.

Choosing to go towards another way of explanation to make everything make sense, he ignored the question and went another way(in explanation). "Imagine this. We are trying to... make a magical staff. The Branch is where all the overwhelming... power will be stored. The Lava controller's heart is the balancer, director...it holds everything together, preventing it... from causing disastrous damage."

"And the...."

"The last and final thing we need is of course...the source of power. Without the source. The other two... are useless."