"You possess… Essence."
"Welcome to the world of Arcans."
Those words hit Nozna like a carriage. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? Moments ago, he had just been ambushed by what seemed like forbidden knowledge, and now he had just been told that he was one of the people who held those powers. He was part of the forbidden knowledge.
But I've never eaten– consumed anything close to Arcan creatures…
"How is that even possible…" he mumbled, his voice barely audible. Nozna felt the warmth from Khamat's cloak being slowly replaced by a tingling chill.
Khamat let out a soft sigh and slowly retracted his hand. Turning his back towards Nozna, he moved towards the river. His voice echoed with dignity and purpose.
"My purpose here tonight is to achieve two things."
He paused, watching the gentle current of the river.
"First, it is to find out more about your Arcan powers."
Then with a deliberate motion, Khamat turned fully to face Nozna. Unbothered by the cold winds tugged at him, he stood tall under the pale moonlight. His sage-green robes fluttered gently as the golden embroidery caught the faint glow, giving him an almost ethereal presence.
"Second, it is to persuade you to join us."
Nozna stared at Khamat.
"Persuade me to join you?"
"As you can already tell, me and Tomir are not normal travellers. We are both Arcans." He smiled bitterly.
"Arcans have to be registered with the churches of each country or with their military. Those who aren't are called Roamers, unregistered Arcans. They are deemed as criminals."
Nozna flinched.
"Therefore, as an Arcan it's best you affiliate yourself with an organisation. Being an independent Arcan is extremely dangerous."
Nozna hesitated, "But you're not from the church right?"
Khamat shook his head, before explaining.
"The churches and militaries are not the only organisations an Arcan can join, there exist many secret organisations, even cults, that welcome Roamers."
Secret organisations…
"This is why I'm here tonight. Me and Tomir belong to one of those secret organisations." Khamat stepped towards Nozna, his movement graceful and composed as he offered his hand to Nozna a second time.
"Nozna, join us. You will be much safer."
Nozna didn't grab his hand. Facing upwards, a grim smile planted on his face.
"I don't have much of a choice do I?"
"Actually, you do."
Khamat retracted his hand. His stoic face glimmering in the moonlight.
"If you decline, I'll leave you alone. The chances of another Arcan that can sense your essence appearing would be close to none in this small village. After all, you have never been caught. You could live the rest of your life in this village peacefully, never having anything to do with the Arcan world."
"Of course, if you choose to tell everyone in the village about the world of Arcans, I'm sure the churches will track you down eventually. If you are unfortunate enough to encounter someone that can sense your essence, you will either be arrested or recruited like tonight."
Nozna pondered. A life of peace and safety. He's right. I've never been caught before. Before tonight, I didn't even know I had these… powers.The only people coming to this village are merchants, tourists and foreigners that are passing by.
If there are other people like Khamat…I might be recruited again like tonight… But why would I join something like a secret organisation? Arcans… Monsters… Divine powers… It sounds way too d- dangerous!
Khamat's eyes fixed on him, his face suddenly turned cold. "But, unlike me, the other recruiters may not give you a choice."
Nozna looked up in surprise.
"Different organisations have different ways of 'recruiting' members." Khamat continued calmly. His voice was no longer warm. "Before you choose, let me warn you. Joining us will mean a life of constant fighting and running. There will be endless bloodshed. You will constantly battle against your own corruption, fight all kinds of monstrosities. You may lose your life, lose the people that are dear to you. I should also let you know, our organisation is not necessarily an evil one. But joining us will label you a criminal, you may have to fight against the churches and military."
He let the silence settle.
"It is not a decision that should be taken lightly. You can give me your answer tomorrow."
Nozna remained still, staring into the gentle current of the river. The night breeze seemed to slow around him, the rustling of the grass becoming distant, dreamlike.
If I choose to stay in this village, I will not have to deal with bloodshed and… violence… Even the danger of this year's 'Huntary' sounds… tame. I wouldn't have to work as hard, or risk my life.
Nozna gritted his teeth. The night breeze seemed to slow down around him. Clenching his fists, he made a decision.
"I want to join."
"Nozna, this is-"
"I want to join you."
This seemed like an impulsive decision, but Nozna was sure he had given it enough thought. He wanted to be exposed to bloodshed and murder. He needed to fight against his nightmares. In his mind, joining Khamat will mainly achieve two things.
One, he would be able to find traces of his origin, although he had long stopped caring. After learning his nightmares were Arcan-related, he suspected that, perhaps, he was born an Arcan. Hints of his origins being linked to the world of Arcans reinvigorated his interest.
Two, by joining Khamat he will mentally and physically grow stronger through fighting his fears and cowardice. He wanted to protect the people around him. His father.
Of course, he wished to stay in his peaceful, mundane life. But Nozna wasn't convinced that he would be able to have an undisturbed life in the future. After all, today's encounter had already shown that he can't possibly run away from the world of Arcans forever.
It may have been an impulsive decision. But Nozna didn't care.
I will protect Da, I will protect everyone in this village.
Khamat smiled and offered his hand. A third time tonight.
Accepting Khamat's hand, Nozna slowly rose. Now face to face with Khamat, he studied the man's face more closely. Bathed in the silver moonlight, his face was sharp and angular. He had a pair of unwavering emerald eyes that complimented the lines of his sharp nose.
His peach skin dulled under the moonlight, fading into a greyish pale tint that contrasted his short black hair. But what caught Nozna's gaze the most was a deep vertical scar that ran down his left chin.
Khamat's voice was low but resolute.
"Welcome to the Order of the Fallen Angels."
Nozna blinked. "What?"
Khamat broke into a warm smile. "Do you see how impulsive your decision was? You didn't even know the name of our organisation, our purpose, and what you would be responsible for."
Nozna responded quietly, "I… have my reasons, I trust you."
Khamat's gaze softened. He reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a golden pocket watch. Stealing a quick glance at the time, he let out a sigh.
"Nozna, It's quite late, I'll walk you home, we can talk on the way back."
Nozna nodded. The two of them set off along the dirt path. The silence between them, once stiff and awkward, now felt comfortable. The night remained the same as it was when they were walking earlier, but to Nozna, he felt as if the whole world had just changed.
Khamat broke the silence. "Nozna, there are still many things I need to tell you about. But it can wait for tomorrow."
"I– I have school tomorrow."
Khamat glanced over, his face unreadable. "When does it start?"
"At around eight," Nozna replied. "But from my house, you can't hear the chapel's bells clearly so they make an exception for me."
"We don't have our own clocks," He quickly added. "Only the village's chapel has one and the priest starts ringing the bell at 7 in the morning. Its last ringing is 9 at night."
"The priest you speak of is likely an Arcan."
Nozna stared at Khamat, dumbfounded.
Khamat's tone didn't change. "In the Santoria Kingdom, Arbiters serve the church of Order. To the public they are simply the kingdom's domestic law enforcement." Seeing a befuddled look on Nozna's face he added. "'Domestic' refers to within the kingdom and 'law enforcement' means to maintain order."
Nozna nodded, listening on.
"But in the world of Arcans, Arbiters of higher positions like cardinals or archbishops are, in fact, strong Arcans that deal with Arcan related events in secrecy. Most priests are also Arcans."
Nozna didn't know how to feel. In his head an image of priest Durmwin Stansed flashed in his mind. A tall man with kind eyes dressed in a white robe stitched with the emblem of Order. His almond brown hair reached his shoulders. The benevolent man was always seen with a broad smile.
He had divine powers?
"Don't go to school. Come to Mawisa Inn tomorrow as early as you can. Now that you've joined us, there is a lot I need to teach you."
What do I say to Da? How do I explain to the priest and everyone that I skipped school?
"A- Alright." Nozna replied, avoiding eye contact with Khamat. "By the way, if I am an Arcan, why can't I sense your Essence, or my own Essence. It's inside my body right?"
Khamat faintly smiled.
"An Arcan ability from my Spectra allows me to sense Essence, normally, Arcans are unable to sense the Essence of others. As for why you can't sense your own Essence…I believe it is because you unknowingly became an Arcan, you have not been trained to feel your Essence."
His tone suddenly grew heavier.
"Even so, it is very common for untrained Arcans to accidentally use their Arcan powers, because they haven't been trained to control Essence. This is why official organisations are so harsh on Roamers."
Nozna's head stirred. Accidentally use Arcan powers? That can happen? Wait, then–
Khamat's voice ended his thoughts.
"As I said, one of my purposes tonight is to determine your Arcan powers… your Spectra. So Nozna, tell me. Have you ever done anything…unusual, something that you couldn't explain?"
Nozna frowned. "I've never had any powers, at least none that I have used… or even know about… so I don't know."
Khamat slowed his pace, staring ahead into the darkness of the night.
"That's impossible. Without trained control of your Essence, you would have accidentally used your Arcan powers at least once.
"But I really haven't." Nozna insisted.
Turning his head slightly, Khamat studied Nozna's face intensely before asking a familiar question.
"What were you doing before I appeared in the hut? Originally, I planned to find and talk to you tomorrow, but I sensed Essence being used in your hut earlier. That's why I rushed over."
Essence? How can there be Essence in our hut?
Nozna's heart skipped a beat.
The nightmares… the nightmares!
"I really was sleeping, but…I had a nightmare."
Khamat stayed silent, prompting Nozna to continue.
"I… I have been having the same nightmares since I was young, actually, I think it might have been since I was a baby…"
"I would have the same nightmare once in a while, two repeating visions. In the last vision, I would always transform into a monster…as a baby. W- When I wake up, I see the transformation on my real body for a few minutes before it slowly disappears."
Khamat's legs stopped moving. His emerald eyes were now peering intensely into Nozna.
Nozna's thoughts churned.
Does the transformation make me use Essence? The nightmare? What kind of stupid ability makes me go through some terrifying nightmare over and over again? I've always wondered why my real body also transforms just like in–
Khamat interrupted his thoughts. "Can you see in the dark?"
"No"
"Describe the monster you transform into."
Nozna opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it.
Seeing his reaction, Khamat explained, "Your transformation into a monster sounds like a symptom of berserkness. But having the transformation on your real body…"
His expression hardened.
"It seems like every time you have that nightmare, you come close to turning fully berserk. With Arcans, the monster you turn into when going berserk is the mixture of the different Arcan creatures you have consumed."
Nozna trembled as memories surged. The black fur growing, the bulging muscles, the torn skin, the excruciating pain. He had unknowingly clenched his fists.
"It has… black fur," he began, his voice barely a whisper. "And there are a lot of bulges… some parts of my arms have tear marks."
He paused, before forcing himself to finish.
"My hands turn into claws b- but with six fingers… t- that's all I remember."
Khamat stood still.
"You have been experiencing this nightmare from a young age?"
Nozna nodded. "From as young as I can remember."
"Who looked after you when you were growing up?"
"My d– my father. He's the only family I have."
Khamat inhaled sharply.
"Nozna, there's a high chance that you were already an Arcan as a baby."
Nozna was not completely surprised. After all he had been having these nightmares since he remembered, he was even a baby in the nightmare. In fact, he was partially convinced that he was born an Arcan.
"I would even say that you were born as an Arcan… but that is impossible, at least there hasn't been a case in all of history of a human being born an Arcan. Arcan powers cannot be transferred through offsprings."
"What?" He gasped. Hasn't been a case? But… but…
"When your father raised you, did he see any of your transformations?"
"I- I have." He fell quiet for a moment. "He has never seen me transform, even when he was looking after me."
Khamat's eyes narrowed.
"W- Wait, there's one more thing" Nozna hesitated. "Yesterday, no, earlier today, I stumbled on a sheet in the elder's office…I didn't understand many things on it but…"
Nozna explained the events that happened in Elder Lobertman's study.
Nozna's eyes narrowed as his brows shot up in worry. "Before reading that paper, I didn't know what those words were. Revolver… Muskets…"
His last words didn't come out as his voice trailed off. Khamat was staring at him with an expression Nozna had not seen on him before. Remaining perfectly still against the tousling wind, Khamat's face was painted with astonishment and disbelief.
"W- What's wrong?" Nozna stammered.
"I've… never heard of such an Arcan ability before."
Khamat's hair seemed to grow darker, in fact, everything surrounding Nozna seemed to grow darker.
"I can't give you a definite answer right now. But there is a chance…" Closing his eyes, Khamat rubbed his temples slowly. His usual confident tone was now a shocked whisper.
Nozna felt a chill in his spine. Something was wrong.
"Unbelievable. Nozna… there is a chance that we may have just discovered a new Spectra."
"A new Spectra?" Nozna echoed.
"Your sudden knowledge of those weapons… It is very similar to an ability in the Moon Spectra, where Arcan immediately becomes adept with ranged weapons, understanding them to a high degree. But your monster transformation is completely different from Arcan creatures of the Moon Spectra… black fur… bulges..."
Khamat let out a sigh as he began moving again.
"You should rest now, I will explain everything tomorrow."
Nozna and Khamat continued walking, the occasional breeze brushing against the pair. Most of the remaining walk was in silence, both of them deep in thought. Nozna's thoughts were a swirling storm whilst Khamat's was a calm ocean.
"I will train you until you are ready to be assigned a team. You will have to learn two more languages, sufficient combat techniques, and many Arcan related things. I haven't covered everything yet. We will start tomorrow."
Nozna would groan and complain but he was too tired to do so. Letting out a yawn he nodded.
Eventually the familiar silhouette of Nozna's hut appeared. Approaching the door, a voice erupted in his head, startling Nozna.
You can keep the cloak.
Nozna glanced back at Khamat before breaking into a dry smile. "Khamat, t- thank you."
Khamat gave him a brief nod, his mouth curled upwards. "See you tomorrow."
In a sleepy daze, Nozna nodded back. "See you."
Just like that, the eventful night was over.
He quietly entered the hut, slipping off his shoes. The room was silent, the fire in the hearth still danced. His mind spun with questions. The world of Arcans. Spectras.
He had decided not to tell Khamat about the amulet. Not yet, he still couldn't fully be trusted.
I'll tell him eventually. Just… not now.
He hurried back into his room as the creaking wooden floor betrayed his steps. Laying on his bed, he instantly fell asleep.
...
In the room beside him, his father laid on his own bed. But he wasn't asleep.
Staring at his own ceiling, Jack let out a heavy sigh. A pained smile formed on his face.
"The breeze tonight is very cold…"