Valerian, The Legendary

Chapter 327: Signs.

Valerian returned to the temple and found the little girl sitting beside Anne and talking to him. He stepped inside the premise and said, "I was delayed by work. I will cook the food right away."

Valerie stood up and smiled, "It’s okay big brother. I already ate some bread from last night. I am not hungry."

Valerian squinted and said, "That bread was being stored for a week, Vali. What if you fall sick?"

The girl stuck out her tongue. Both the young and old did not want to trouble each other, and thus they would do their best to get by. Valerian would fulfill all his duties as a guardian, and Valerie would try to avoid disturbing the young man with her demands. She was a growing child, and her diet was not consistent.

She would try to hide her hunger, but it was rare for Valerian to miss things. With a sigh, the young man entered the temple and began cooking for the girl. He was making a nice vegetarian dish that could feed four people, but this was only Valerie’s portion. The girl was a ’distinct’, and her diet was mainly meat. To compensate for the meat, she needed a bigger meal.

Valerian was careful of getting the girl enough food. After the two finished eating, Valerian walked out to feed Anne. The mare would eat grass that had a lot of sugar syrup poured on it. Just as he finished feeding the beast, a group of people arrived outside the temple.

The young monk asked. "What can I do for you?"

There were a dozen of people, and all of them seemed to be hesitating about something. Valerian sighed and said, "Elders, please feel free to tell me what you need. I will do my best to help you."

The people exchanged glances, and an old man said, "Sir, can you help us with our fields?"

Valerian furrowed his brows and asked, "Can you tell me what is happening? The fields were alright till a few days ago."

The elderly man said, "Sir, the fields have turned dry."

Valerian was surprised and asked, "What caused this sudden dryness?"

Another young man said, "That is the problem, Sir. We have no idea what happened. No matter how much water we pour, it turns dry like the land has some pit under it."

Valerian raised his brow and said, "Will it be alright if I take a look in the morning? It is quite late now."

The people nodded. It was indeed late for them to even come and ask for such a thing. However, they were relieved now that Valerian had agreed to check something. The people returned, and Valerian mumbled, ’People change so easily.’

The night passed quickly, and Valerian arrived at the fields after a quick meal. The grounds were covered with lush green crops, and a few old farmers were gathered nearby. Valerian walked over and said, "May Vita be praised."

The group of people turned and looked at him. They bowed in return and asked, "Sir, are you here to inspect the fields?"

Valerian nodded, and the elders showed him a few crop strains. The young monk channeled the mana in his eyes and inspected the crop strain. The more he looked, the more he frowned. He then ran his gaze through the fields and sighed. He looked at the older people and said, "Elders, forgive me, but the situation is very serious."

The people became worried; it was visible through their eyes. The man who visited Valerian last night asked, "You can tell us what it is, young monk. We have already prepared ourselves for the worst. Can this land not be salvaged?"

Valerian shook his head hurriedly. He did not want the hopes of these people to shatter. He said, "Elder, the crop is not drying but is infected by a small insect called flamesporia. This bug is a magical creature. One effect of this bug is to make the land dry sooner than expected."

The farmers heard of a magical pest, and they became worried. A slightly younger man stepped forward and asked, "Sir, the crops here are not magical, so why does a magical bug attack them? Is that not out of the normal?"

Valerian nodded and said, "It is. However, these crops have some mana, so this bug attacked."

This was another shocking discovery. The young farmer immediately shook his head and asked, "Sir, could you be wrong? We have used these seeds for generations, never encountering a similar situation. If nothing is done, we will lose our livelihood and starve."

The situation was critical for normal people. They had no magical knowledge, so how will they counter the magical bugs? However, Valerian was different and said, "You all can rest assured. It may be tricky, but I can have these bugs disappear from the crops. Though it will require your cooperation."

The farmers toiled the lands with their blood, sweat, and tears. The crops were a part of their souls, and who would hesitate to save them? The people gathered and asked, "What do you need us to do?"

Valerian smiled and said, "I ask for your trust."

The people were confused, and the silver-haired monk told the people about his idea. They were shocked and even in doubt. However, the young man did not push them to make a decision. He waited an hour before the young farmer said, "Elders, what do we have to lose? This young monk has been doing nothing else but helping us. He made us realize that not everyone who acts nice is a friend. I say let him help us."

The statement moved the older people, and the one, who seemed to be the leader, said, "Young monk, these crops are our lives. We trust in Vita and are willing to hand you our lives. We only hope you can save them."

Valerian nodded and said, "I will handle it right, old sir."

The young monk jumped and cast a wind movement spell on his back. This spell took him to the center of the fields. Knowing his location, he looked around and channeled some mana in a particular crop strain. The effects of this mana feeding made the crop strain grow in size.

After five minutes, the strain was as big as a tree, and the people were shocked. Soon, Valerian cast another spell to raise a pillar from the ground that could support the crop strain. He returned to the people and said, "Elders, all you have to do now is clear a few feet off the ground around that big strain. I will come back in the morning tomorrow. Then I will handle that crop strain, and the fields will be bug-free."

Before the people could celebrate, the younger farmer asked, "Sir, how does this spell work?"

Valerian smiled faintly and said, "The bugs are attracted towards a bigger mana source, and that strain is that big source. The entire populace of these bugs would have moved to that strain."

The people understood how things worked and thanked Valerian for his generosity.

...

While Valerian was helping the people around the city, Colar took Imperium to the Knights’ headquarters. The commander of the knights was not present at the moment, but Calor made sure to place Imperium inside a cell and cast all sorts of magical barriers. None of the people were allowed to go near the cage.

Colar was not overconfident in his ability. He knew that the hounds of the tyrant were all dangerous people. After he retreated, Imperium heard a low wheezing sound. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who is it?"

The person replied, "Akra."

Imperium said, "May he reign for eternity."

Akra replied, "May he become the eternity."

Imperium was shocked by this. This phrase was something that the people in the eastern continent would know. Imperium asked, "How did you end up here?"

Akra replied, "I found what we were asked to look for, but that guy, he is not an easy one."

Imperium opened his eyes wide and asked, "You found the son of Divinus?"

Akra replied, "More like he found me."

Imperium was a calculative person, and hearing this, he understood something. He closed his eyes and heard Akra ask, "Why are you here?"

Imperium replied with a sigh, "The same reason you are. That guy found me. Such a cunning child is born to that simpleton."

Akra sighed and said, "I think he is out to hunt the hounds. Don’t you think so?"

Imperium replied after some contemplation, "From what I hear, this child sent the corpse of the princess to master. Going by this, he is not after us, but Master."

"To think such a person would exist on this land, and hunt the Tyrant who haunts the entire world? Even if Master is locked behind a barrier, this child dared to rattle him. I wonder what the future will be like. I wonder if the two faced off, who will win?" mumbled Akra.

However, an old voice disrupted the discussion, "Indeed, this child is someone capable of rattling the cage of the Tyrant. Now, since you two can recognize each other by that phrase, I wonder if there are other call signs."