Chapter 12: Chapter 12 – Oceanus Village

A teenage boy walked over to Theseus.

“Hi, did you save my dad?”

“If they were with the merchants, then yes.” Theseus said dismissively.

“Mister, take me as your disciple.” The teenager got on one knee. Theseus was at a loss. How could there even be a teenage ghost in Hell?

“How old are you?” Theseus asked, ignoring his declaration.

“I am seventeen mister. I died young and was sent here as a kid.” The teenager explained.

“Why in the world do you want to join me. There will be danger, and you will likely die.” Theseus tried to scare the kid off.

“I’m prepared, and I’ve talked with my adoptive father here.”

“What’s that boy saying?” Leo asked, and Theseus explained the situation.

“Take him in; it’ll be fun.” Leo said casually. Theseus sighed. It appeared like he would have two children to look after now.

“I want to talk to your dad first.” Theseus winced. This was really happening.

“Okay!” The kid smiled from ear to ear.

Going up to his father, Theseus asked,

“Your son is trying to become my disciple. Did you put him up to this?”

“Esteemed sir. I thank you once again for saving us from the Scourge Bandits…” The father went on and on.

“Please. Just answer the question.” Theseus’s patience was growing thin. Perhaps he had spent too much time with the Shade Aries.

“Sorry esteemed sir. No, my son wanted to join you of his own accord. If you will take him, who am I to take away his opportunity?” The father explained.

“Fine. Kid, I’ll take you as an apprentice.” Theseus conceded, and the kid smiled. He was ecstatic.

“Is it official?” Leo asked.

“Yes.” Theseus said shortly.

“By the way, kid, what’s your name?”

“Master, my name is Gemini. I will follow you as long as I live.” Gemini bowed cordially, and Theseus flinched at the term, ‘master’.

Gemini was at the F Rank Mortal Realm and was possibly the weakest ghost in the village. At first glance, the village itself had a population of around fifty. As an esteemed guest, Theseus wandered the village, and that night, a feast was being prepared by the merchants. Since he had time, Theseus decided to teach the kid Spirit Cultivation. The technique itself grew slower as the soul was tempered, and Theseus himself was making extraordinarily slow progress with the skill. It would be better for him to find a new avenue of growth at the juncture, but the kid was different. With Spirit Cultivation alone, the kid could reach the mid-higher tier Mortal Realm before his growth would slow substantially.

Maybe Theseus was spoiled because Leo was a beast who could grasp the skill easier, but Gemini couldn’t grasp the skill after the first lesson. Theseus was patient however, since this was the first time Gemini experienced the power of aura.

“Maybe I should start with beginning skills…” Theseus grew frustrated, and hindsight was twenty-twenty. Spirit Cultivation was way too advanced for a beginner. The basics were needed to lay down a firm foundation before tempering something like the soul.

That night, the feast took place. Theseus sat with Gemini, his father, and the Elder at a large table full of the merchants and town’s people. Although he grumbled up until now, Theseus tried to embrace the adventure Leo craved. Leo caught Theseus in his hypocrisy, and now, Theseus reconsidered his goals.

This village would be his new home. Sure, he would have to go back and get some of the stuff he had at the cabin, but it was worth it. Building a new home in a community with Leo was healthier and more in line with Leo’s vision. In the words of Leo, he couldn’t stay in the crevice forever.

“I have an announcement to make.” Theseus stood up and got the villager’s attentions. People murmured. This tamer had saved their caravan, and they expected him to thank them for the feast.

“I have decided that along with my friend here, Leo, we will join your village.”

An uproar occurred. Not even a day had passed, but the powerful tamer strong enough to defeat a squadron of the Scourge Bandits wanted to join their pathetic village. Did he have an ulterior motive?

“Our decision came from the fact that we’ve been alone for too long. You all just happened to be the first people we encountered.” Theseus calmed their thoughts preemptively.

The Elder’s eyes grew big. Theseus had loosely promised to help with their bandit problem, but now, this tamer was saying he would move in?

“I’ve peeked around the village, and the conditions are poor.” Theseus stated flatly.

“My first order of business is dealing with your bandit problem, so that resources can freely flow in and out of the village.” Theseus proclaimed, causing an even greater stir amongst the villagers. Gemini stared at Theseus in awe.

“Tomorrow, I will go to the Scourge Bandit’s lair, and we will come to a deal to leave you alone.” Theseus said as a matter of fact.

“Impossible!”

“But there are hundreds of bandits!”

“The Scourge Bandits are unbeatable!” People couldn’t hold back their shock any longer.

“Don’t worry, you can trust Leo and I.” Theseus smiled to the crowd.

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***

Trying to rest his eyes, Theseus dreamt of his time with Aries.

Heaven Floor Four.

“Hurry it up you pathetic mut!” Aries growled.

“At this rate, we’ll never climb up the mountain!” Aries complained.

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

“Will you just shut up for once?” Theseus yelled.

“Oh wow, the little girl is finally speaking up for herself.” Aries mocked.

“I’m the party navigator you idiot! Of course I know where I’m going. Shut your annoying mouth and just do what I say. It’ll be slow, but we’ll get up safely.” Theseus exploded out at Aries, which was quite the contrast to what happened in real life. Aries’s extremely annoying personality drove Theseus into doing what he couldn’t do in real life, stand up for himself.

“Come on then; let’s get a move-“ Before Aries could finish, the dream was shattered. Leo shook Theseus awake in the middle of the night, and they discussed their plans to confront the Scourge Bandits.

***

The following morning, Gemini ran after Theseus desperately. Theseus left with Leo towards the nearest Scourge Bandit’s outpost. Theseus found out at the feast that the ghosts also had their own way of counting time. Because these ghosts actually had to sleep, they created a day and night schedule almost identical to Theseus’s. It was truly convenient.

“Wait! Wait for me!” Gemini ran but was out of breath.

“Kid, it’s too dangerous.” Theseus called back.

“You’re too weak at the moment to help; you’ll just be a burden. Practice the technique I taught you.” Theseus ran faster with Leo away from the boy.

“He’s right…” Gemini sighed. Since he took extensive notes yesterday, he could try and figure out the technique today until Theseus returned. The village itself was split on if Theseus would even return at all. They thought he was grossly underestimating the bandits.

The cautious Theseus inquired about the bandits during the feast, and he concluded that the organization was not a concern. Compared to his original assessment on the road, it was a full 180-degree flip on his perspective. According to the Elder, the bandit leader was around a mid-level Greater Spirit. Even if Theseus couldn’t defeat the leader, Leo could step in and swiftly defeat him.

One day of traveling later, Theseus arrived at the outpost.

“Hello Scourge Bandits, I am Theseus!” Theseus yelled with his aura loudly. Soon, a swarm of bandits surrounded the duo.

“What are you doing here?” A bandit who appeared to be in charge barked out.

“We are here to make a deal.” Theseus smiled.

“We are bandits. We don’t make deals.” The leader wondered if this tamer had a screw loose in his head.

“Teach this fool a lesson.” The horde of bandits went beat Theseus half to death. Much to their surprise, Leo used the skill they prepared.

“Skill: Tail Swipe!” Leo chanted while looking at Theseus, looking for affirmation. Leo’s tail blasted a wave of aura, slamming against a bunch of the bandits. Theseus nodded in approval, and Leo laughed happily. After a stern lecture the previous night, Theseus told Leo he had to use weaker abilities, so they didn’t instantly kill the bandits. It would be to not be violent. They could display their power and minimize the damages.

“Are you ready to make a deal now?” Theseus put his arm out menacingly.

“This guy isn’t an average tamer.” A bandit tried to stand up but was decimated by Leo.

“Hmm, I don’t want anyone to die. Let’s make a deal.” The head bandit said. He assessed the situation fairly. This tamer was strong, and they could probably beat Theseus at the cost of his men as far as he could tell. In reality, this was just mercy to Theseus.

Sitting down, inside the outpost, Theseus stated his terms.

1. Oceanus Village and its caravans are off limits.
2. Stay at least three miles away from the Oceanus Village.
3. Citizens of Oceanus Village are exempt from the Scourge Bandit’s village tax.

The head bandit pondered these terms.

“Just who does this guy think he is?” The head bandit was enraged, but for the safety of his subordinates, he pretended to go along.

“Are you willing to create a Soul Contract?” Theseus had to seal the deal.

“I am not under the authority to make this decision. I am just an outpost captain. With your power, I think we can come to terms. Would it be okay if we sent our leader to Oceanus Village to complete the terms?” The bandit was sweating. He was a terrible liar.

“I think that should suffice.” Theseus agreed and shook the bandit’s hand. The outpost captain blinked in shock. Was this guy an idiot?

Leaving the outpost, Theseus waved the bandits off.

“What a stupid bastard.” A bandit said from behind the outpost captain.

“Send word to the chief. We’re raiding this village.” The outpost captain’s face went dark. This guy thought he could show up, attack his subordinates, and get away with it. Even if he was strong, he couldn’t be stronger than their chief.

Theseus walked away while smiling. Everything was going according to plan.

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