The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 168: To Feel

Alden remained calm even as all the gazes in the barren plaza snapped towards him.

He could sense that a few had recognised him, their eyes imperceptibly widening and their postures turning stiff. A couple even paled; the memory of him defeating Caelum and Varnel still vivid in their minds.

Alden paid them no mind as he scanned those present.

From what he could tell, there were roughly three groups.

First, there were the Stonewarden's, who did not seem to show any outward reaction to his arrival. Then, there was the healer and the members of the Frost Clan - the latter would apparently become their guides once they left the Sanctuary.

Lastly, the final group was composed of examinees like Alden.

Amongst which, two stood out to him the most. Not because of their strength, but due to how familiar they were. Locking gazes with an auburn-haired youth and a dark-haired thief who possessed stunning amethyst eyes, Alden's brow twitched.

'What are they doing here?'

As if reading his mind, Devin just grinned.

Meanwhile, the handsome youth who had previously tried to steal from him, blinked, confusion evident in his gaze.

The Keeper's Apprentice shook his head subtly, shifting his attention elsewhere.

Soon, he finished inspecting the rest of the examinees.

Alden nodded, satisfied.

'Not bad.'

He had been worried about the possibility of freeloaders hoping to take advantage of the safety and security found in more numbers to pass, but thankfully, everyone in the barren plaza was at least an [Adept].

They could look after themselves to a certain extent.

As he finished musing, Alden witnessed Devin suddenly bow his head, followed by the Stonewarden's, the healer, and the Frost Clan members.

Their voices overlapped, fusing together:

"We greet the Keeper's Apprentice."

The corner of Alden's lips twitched.

Ever since the Tournament, this sight had become a common occurrence. He didn't quite know how to feel about it. Equally, he couldn't really get used to it.

Alden disliked excessive attention and this most definitely fell in that category.

'Still, there's nothing I can do about it.'

The young white-haired man released a mental sigh, plastering a polite smile.

To the side, Alden noticed the dark-haired thief turn as white as snow, a stunned expression slipping through his elegant mask.

Then, he hurriedly bowed.

The Keeper's Apprentice let the silence stretch for a brief moment, deeming it appropriate.

A heartbeat later, his clear voice rang out:

"No need for formalities, everyone."

As the people slowly raised their heads, Alden offered them a small smile.

"From this moment on, we are a team. Just treat me as you would anyone else."

Ignia cried lightly, amplifying the effect of his words.

Thanks to that, the slight tension in the air caused by his unexpected arrival slowly dissipated. Alden released a silent sigh of relief.

'Good.'

If they had insisted on treating him too formally, he would have felt incredibly stifled. The sensation would be akin to an enormous noose tied around his neck.

True, Alden was Morrigan's successor, but at his core, he was just a normal human being.

He had hopes, dreams, aspirations and emotions just like everyone else. In his eyes, there was nothing particularly special about him; he was simply Alden - an orphaned little kid fortunate enough to survive in the midst of a ruined, apocalyptic world.

Alden's wish was that everyone in the squad treated him like a peer instead of some unreachable lord.

…That would be quite terrible, indeed.

'Maybe I dug my own grave by fighting so hard in the duel'

The Keeper's Apprentice smiled bitterly to himself.

Once everyone had straightened, Alden moved onto arguably the most important part of the introduction - discovering what powers each of his team possessed!

Internally, Alden grinned, his sole eye gleaming with anticipation.

Excluding him, there were a total of fourteen warriors at hand in the barren plaza.

It would take him a little while to go through everyone, but Alden would rather spend that time familiarising himself with their powers than regret not doing so in the midst of a large, potentially dire battle later on.

And so, Alden promptly got to work.

He requested that everyone introduce themselves and show a brief glimpse of their power.

Surprisingly, the first group to step up were the Stonewarden's.

The half-dozen earth wielders wore their signature expressionless look, one devoid of any and all emotion. However, they still carried out their task swiftly and efficiently, splitting themselves up into separate groups based on the type of earth magic they had under their command.

While all possessed an affinity to the Earth element, the nature of each differed slightly. For example, in the first sub-group, there was a Stonewarden who went by the name of Clay; he was capable of summoning, controlling, and manipulating mud.

In another sub-group was Avel, a broad, swarthy man with piercing green eyes. His Magic Class granted him similar control over soil. It did not matter which type, or whether the earth was barren or vibrant.

…The Stonewarden would still be in his element.

The final earth wielder to display her powers was Terra.

She had dark bronze skin, a muscular frame, and a strangely hollow look that sent shivers racing down Alden's spine.

The Keeper's Apprentice studied her closely, sensing something amiss.

All of a sudden, his gaze turned sharp.

There, beneath Terra's feet, the earth rippled. However, that wasn't what alarmed Alden. Instead, it was the enormous well of power that he had sensed Terra emanate for a fraction of a breath.

It was as if she had become vast and boundless, fusing with the earth.

'I'll have to keep an eye on her.'

For some reason, Alden felt that she was a large part of why the Stonewarden's had taken so long to decide. Masking a grim expression, he shifted his gaze towards the rest of his squad.

The healer, Raphaela, was capable of manifesting a soft, golden energy, while Yuki was able to siphon heat from her surroundings and transform it into ice energy. Isolde, meanwhile, possessed the ability to create frigid mirrors capable of reflecting any incoming attack.

For the ordinary examinees, someone appeared capable of moving objects with their mind. Although, it seemed like a weaker form of telekinesis. Another was able to transform a part of their body into metal, while the third possessed special eyes that allowed her to gain a glimpse of the true nature of things.

Eventually, it was Devin's turn.

He, however, had a peculiar request.

"Can you stand in front of me?"

Curious, Alden accepted.

He stopped just short of Devin, looking the poet in the eye.

The auburn-haired youth nodded, before he closed his eyes and placed a palm on Alden's shoulder. Suddenly, the tips of Alden's fingers began to twitch and his heart plummeted beyonf his chest.

His vision swam, a sense of light-headedness assaulting him.

In the next moment, a raging fire also swelled in his chest. Abruptly, the flames cooled, replaced by a gnawing sense of profound emptiness so intense that Alden felt like he'd imminently lose his sense of self.

His expression turned grim.

A breath later, he snapped out of it.

The Keeper's Apprentice glanced sharply at Devin.

In return, the poet offered him a smile.

One… which did not reach his eyes.

"I can imbue another person, creature, or being with my emotions. So long as they are alive, they will feel. That… is the nature of my power."