Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 9: Magic people

Rain was surprised to hear that, Leiah not so much… she tried to hide that, apparently, since she also heard the rumors of a battle approaching.

"I know that you have been feeling a bit under the weather; there is no point in hiding," Roan said and then covered his face with his hands. "This is a situation that I caused, so I am the one that should feel troubled over this."

Roan felt troubled because leaving his pregnant wife alone when she had to work and look after a kid who was only one and a half years old was a recipe for disaster. Rain never caused any problems, but even so… all the other factors made his father feel worried.

"Everything will be alright. Just focus on returning in one piece, all right?" Leiah said and then hugged Roan from behind. "We will be waiting for you just fine. Everything will be the same as usual."

From what Rain heard, the border with the magic people country was two weeks away while using a horse or any kind of mount. The trip going back and forth would be a month… from what Rain heard as well, those conflicts last for at least a month. In the best-case scenario, two months away was a lot of time.

"If everyone had a luck parameter, I guess my current level is pretty low," Rain thought. "Father's also should be low and nowhere near the top… anyway, I don't feel that close to him, but it would be a pity if he were to die. Gaining a sibling and losing a parent will be tough."

Unfortunately, there was nothing that Rain could do in that situation aside from waiting for the best outcome. As the days passed, Rain recalled that going to war and leaving a pregnant wife behind was a death flag. Giving the name to the child was an almost surefire way to guarantee their own death as well. In any case, one week later, a bunch of people began to leave the city. Men, women, boys, and girls over fifteen…

"I am going now. Watch the house while I am away, okay, rainy?" Roan said while messing with Rain's hair.

"Yes, Father," Rain replied.

"When did I teach you to be so formal?" Roan said and then furrowed his eyebrows. "Anyway, I will try to return as soon as possible and in one piece. About the name of the child…"

"I will decide when the time comes again. No need to worry about that," Leiah said and then hugged Roan.

Rain had to thank his mother for his weird name… maybe it was normal in some parts of the world. In any case, it seemed that they avoided the final death flag. Still, a lot could happen…

Since she was pregnant and she also had to work, Leiah stopped taking walks outside with Rain. The number of chances of him learning new words decreased… he was also planning to hear some things about the battle, but it was too soon for that.

Still, they heard a few things in the next few days; if it was true or not, they couldn't say. They learned that the magic people had enlisted powerful individuals to lead their charge against the impending threat. Worries and doubts filled the air as rumors spread about the capabilities and prowess of these newly arrived leaders. Apparently, their strongest warriors tend to be a lot stronger than humans…

The magic people possess unique traits derived from their diverse tribal origins, granting them inherent advantages that set them apart from humans. These magical beings, hailing from various tribes scattered across the land, embody a rich tapestry of abilities that contribute to their overall strength.

Each tribe has its own distinctive characteristics, bestowed upon them by ancient forces of nature, mystical creatures, their origin, or the essence of powerful elements. These traits manifest in their physical attributes, mental capacities, and magical aptitude.

Rain didn't know if it was a good idea, but since he didn't know how to read yet and they didn't have those kinds of books at home, he decided to ask his mother about them, soon he confirmed that it wasn't a good idea since she looked pretty worried.

The Shapeshifters: Users of transformation magic, the Shapeshifters can assume the forms of various animals, adapting to any situation or environment. They possess heightened senses, agility, and the ability to communicate with creatures of the wild, making them adept scouts and skilled hunters.

The Flamekeepers: Gathering the power from a land of eternal fire, they lived near volcanoes for some reason. The Flamekeepers have an affinity for flames and heat. They can manipulate fire, conjuring blazing infernos or controlling it to their will. Their mastery over fire grants them exceptional offensive capabilities, making them fearsome warriors and skilled pyromancers.

The Blood Mages: Harnessing the power of their life force, the Blood Mages can manipulate blood and life energy. They can heal wounds, drain the life force from others, or create blood-based attacks. Their mastery over life and death makes them formidable healers and fearsome combatants.

Rain only had to hear those examples to understand why and how come humans were losing the war. The magic people were basically born with cheating skills. They probably had to pay the price for that, but it didn't change the fact that they had broken skills.