Chapter 393 - Hit with a Hammer

Throughout the series, we have mostly talked about how Eric is battling his Inner Demons and what he has thought off through the process. But it is also worth taking in to consideration what other Fire Manipulators had to go through, looking at different points of view can help determine a more stable definition regarding powers.

The talk about Inner Demons broke loose after Eric asked so many questions regarding his powers, it isn't hard to link the two topics together and forge a new conversation. And what is best than to talk about something they all seem to be passionate about, accompanied by the warmth and comfort of a Campfire?

Technically, they were half an hour away from finishing off with the daily training King Michael is putting them under. And since this topic seems to interest them a lot, it only is fair to sooth their curiosity and questions here.

Getting a few logs to sit on was easy, with Lumberjacks under the Kingdom's employment. They've set the whole thing up in 10 minutes and even brought Barramundie meat to keep them a bit more energised now at Dusk where the sun goes down along with people's overall energy, they all had a tiring day.

Getting back to the topic of Inner Demons, Dill dared to ask for... we can call it constructive criticism from the rest here, hoping to get opinions from the elders mostly. "With a quick guess, what Level do you think my Inner Demon is right now?"

"Oh definitely a Level 3 Inner Demon!" Mogranius answered right away shamelessly, he did not beat around the bush no doubt.

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking directly at Mogranius. Dilli tried to determine if he is being sarcastic and could already sense King Michael opening his eyes wide thanks to Mogranius' semi stupid world play.

"Uuuuhhhhh." He tried to think of better words, freezing on the spot just before he was about to eat a bit of torched Barramundie meat. "Um you know, your Inner Demon is a bit tougher because you were under mind Control for years."

"Smooth." King Michael added with a cough, congratulating Mogranius for his immense effort of sugar coating the base of stupidity he set.

But furthermore Mogranius didn't just speak out of blank thoughts, although his way of expression not the best. When he has nothing better to do, he likes observing common human behaviour. Especially those with powers, to learn determining what Inner Demon a person could be dealing with so in the future, the Ignites can be more knowledgeable about it, it he decides to pass down this information that is.

The point is, Dilli isn't the best at handling common life burdens and tends to snap a lot easier to a rageful outburst. But she doesn't blast fire as an aftermath, which is good but it also points out that the Inner Demon couldn't be over Level 3.

Rather calm, finding Mogranius clain as reasonable she decided to share more of her experience. "Well that is true, the mind control has affected me a lot. I had a headache that lasted for years, but it is fair to say that my "rage" was cut in half after I got set free."

"Akareas told me a bit about Mind Controll, you know she went all the way to the other edge of the world, in Leraz so she can train her mind Controlling abilities. I didn't see her for over a decade thanks to it." He took a second to realise that he drifted off topic a little bit, staring blankly at the campfire and feelings its heat on his thighs, he added. "Oh right, a mind control "spell" casted incorrectly or from an unstable caster, can cause this long headache you talked about and even major brain damage, you slipped by easily."

"Is that why my Pupils are split in half?" She asked directly although a bit insecure about this fact, adding. "Yes I have noticed constant stares on them, but I swear my vision is as sharp as ever."

"I'd say the poison might have caused this when passing up to reach your head, otherwise I don't think that splitting pupils can cause brain damage. Of course I can't be sure, the Leraz could tell you better." Indirectly, Mogranius is being supportive at this aspect. Even King Michael is listening carefully, finding it admirable how this old goof is actually so knowledgeable.

Regarding mental problems for Dilli, they haven't faded even after she slipped out of mind control. The symptoms on a external point of view are only a handful, and most have already noticed them although they did not comment much on them.

For example, often times she sits and stares on something blankly for an hour at a time. It isn't really exact what mental problem this signifies, but it doesn't even seem like she is thinking through that hour. Mostly, it feels like her brain is at a complete shut down, as if it over loaded and taking time to recover. Obviously a unique case, something that even a healer from Zameria wouldn't be able to change for sure.

A bit more rarely, she tends to tone everyone out. Even when someone tries to talk to her, it looks as if external sounds did not enter through her ears at all. She is obviously not doing this intentionally, but it is emotionally troubling to be around even though they all know her condition.

She still favours standing over sitting in terms of being comfortable, which makes it confusing because she has no wounds on her lower body which would prevent her from sitting comfortably.

And possibly the most frustrating part for both her and anyone around her, are those hours where she is unintentionally speaking Gibberish. Complete gibberish, words that don't exist regardless of language and accent. This can last for hours at a time, and like every other symptom she doesn't know how to control this either.

Those at least are all the symptoms visible to other people, but what about symptoms that only she knows about? "I don't think that the Leraz can tell me enough, and regardless if they do tell me anything useful I doubt that they can heal me."

Taking a few seconds to think it through, and feeling nice that everyone is listening. She decided to explain, "I can't control how my mind works, sometimes I can't think anything at all regardless of effort and sometimes I think everything at once even though I don't want too." Her mood switching towards sadness a split seconds after, she asked. "Can the Leraz fix that?"

"I'm not sure, but eventually me and Eric will be going there. Although not any time soon since he has to master 5 Powers before studying Mind Control. You should join us there, we can see what we can reverse. I'm sure you must be tired from all these symptoms that you never asked for."

"I would love th..." Dill tried to answer, but all of a sudden she dropped down from her log and held her head. "Guh that Bastard hit me with a Hammer again!"

Her behaviour got everyone in shock, King Michael blasted a lot of fire from his palms a split second after to identify who the attacker was. The answer? No one. They are practically on a flat land, and the forest is over a hundred yards away from here. If an attacker could strike, he or she would have it impossible to disappear this quick.

"Dilli are you alright?" Osira asked, moving in and checking for a wound.

"The pain is gone." Sitting on the lumber again with a bit of effort, she gave out a big stressful sigh and spoke. "This is the second time since last month, I swear if I find who is hitting me I will end him."

"Dilli, if there was someone here who hit you, it would be impossible for us to miss him." King Michael explained, as Fire still blew on his hand.

"Oh great so this is another mental issue." Dilli decided to point out the obvious, knowing that her friends wouldn't lie to her for such a case and even tried to find an attacker that did not exist.

"Don't worry, soon enough we will be going to Zameria. Our path will cross there, we will find the best healers and see what they can do. Those people can regenerate bone and muscle, mental issues should be easier right?" Mogranius tried to calm her down, actually feeling very sad off what she has to go through due to a corrupted man wanting power and authority.

"I guess I can handle a few more years." She spoke softly, and trying to tame the situation that she unintentionally caused, she turned her attention towards Osira and requested. "But let's have Osira shine upon us with progress."

Seeing what Dilli is trying to do, Mogranius started the conversation with a high pitch on his tone, waving his hands up. "She definitely was dealing with a Level 4 Inner Demon of Rage when we first met her!"

Immediately after, he saw a death look on Osira's eyes. Little did she know, Mogranius set a base for a compliment. "But she has progressed a lot, in no time she has descended her Demon to Level 3. I'm honestly proud."

Still a bit mad over what Mogranius said at first, she answered. "If you lived with those retarded Snow Elves just for a month, your Inner Demon would discover a new Level. I turned out quite well considering what real life Demons I was dealing with."

"Well you are proving my point, your Inner Demon has descended thanks to the fact that you won't have to deal with Snow Ignites anymore." Mogranius still stuck to his point although he modified the concept a tad bit.

Getting a bit c.o.c.ky now, as if she wasn't boiling mad for a second. Osira replied with, "Hey life is good. My tribe is safe and well fed, me and my 14 Ladies alone have pushed the entire ill.u.s.tratian Alliance to a millitary shortage, we even blew up the entire Kingdom of Maleemia when the time was right."

Now, with a smirk across her face she added. "I think it is fair to say that I found numerous reasons to be happier after ending King Tamzar's life."