My Devourer System: Rise of the Bastard Son

The valley was lively today. People streamed between the white houses and the large paved road that ran through the middle of the city. The wide fields of crops and controlled forests that decorated the edges of the valley and surrounded the city were empty.

Upon reaching the large pedestrian gate on the edge of the valley. Lucen glanced at the battlements of the high white walls. There weren't many guards patrolling.

"It's Saint Mira's Day," Jon explained, catching his confused look. "It's a day for families. We're short on guards, so we may rely on you a bit."

Lucen nodded tersely. It was strange for an adult to say that to him, but in his mind, Jon was a true peer. His internal mana was stronger than Lucen's, but it was only a matter of time till he surpassed him.

Low and Minor level techniques could not grow your mana capacity much, but they did have health benefits and strengthened you overall.

As they descended past the fields, Lucen thought of [Song of Light]. It would not only increase his elemental mana, prolonging his life, but it would also increase his Life and Divine mana.

What would all that do to him? He considered asking the system, but he'd rather not speak to that thing if he didn't have to.

As the town got closer, Lucen shook off those thoughts and dialled in. They would be hunting something dangerous today.

On the main road, between the high houses with thatched roofs, a small contingent of soldiers moved.

They gathered numbers till they reached a large fountain that served as a roundabout in the center of the main road that cut through the city.

The murmurs from both the soldier and the people drowned out the gentle splashing of water.

Jon climbed the fountain, clearing his voice. Silence rolled over the crowd.

Jon's tall, broad form was stark against the clear stream of water behind him, and his voice boomed.

"There will be a contraband search today! If you own a house or rent a room, please return home for a very brisk search. No one is allowed to leave the valley until their house has been searched; a ticket is issued upon completion of the search. Thank you."

Lucen expected some grumbling, or leg-dragging at least, but everyone quietly began to retire home. Like someone had not just cancelled their entire day.

Jon directed his soldiers to search every home and make sure every citizen talked to them. Another group would accost all beggars and homeless people, forcing them to talk and searching their belongings.

They spread out, and ‌Jon marched to Lucen, glancing around the now-empty road.

"How large is the radius of your mana sense, and how distinct is it?" asked Jon. "I feel it's best you walk down Lost Street, this street we are on, then past the other seven main streets before patrolling the minor streets and alleyways."

This sounded like a lot more work than he expected. 

"I can manage three buildings at once," explained Lucen, "and I can sense any change in mana. I can also distinguish between sentient life and plant or flesh."

Jon's eyes became as wide as saucers. "Kal's beard, are you sure you're sixteen?"

Jon seemed more expressive than before. Lucen nodded. "That's good?"

"I was just expecting you to sense unnatural mana; what you're describing is second sight. It's something people gain after years of training, seeing without their eyes," Jon explained.

"Your range is high for your age, but probably held back by your lack of time to channel mana. Even Chester, considered a genius, didn't gain second sight until he was fifty years old."

Chester was more than fifty years old?! He remembered Koril saying he, himself, was more than two hundred years old, but Lucen had thought Chester was far younger for some reason.

"Well, let's get to work," said Lucen. "I have other things to do today."

■——■

Lucen was beginning to feel like the search was a waste of time. The light of the Halo began to dim as night drew closer.

The shadows between the high houses darkened, and Lucen, walking through them, grew tired of his repeated march through town.

They had arrested and imprisoned a lot of homeless people temporarily, which Lucen thought was pointless, and mute or mentally limited people were also roughly taken from their families with no explanation.

Why did everyone just take it? How could a mother watch someone drag away her innocent child and just shed a simple tear?

Lucen felt a deep revulsion toward everything that was happening today, and he didn't know why.

He considered finding Liam and just ditching the search to continue his hunt for Peter Cross, but the boy was nowhere to be found.

A couple of hours ago, at Lost Wind's house, he followed the soldiers to search her house.

She wore a light grey dress, her short stature still more than enough to intimidate the soldiers despite cooperating with the search and offering them tea.

"I'm starting to think you're looking for something specific," she told Lucen, her dark eyes unperturbed by the search.

"Nonsense," Lucen replied calmly, "I'm here to vouch for you in case they find anything bad."

"They can't find anything in there."

Lucen left the house with a sour taste in his mouth. He wondered if he could use his authority as a Knight to make Windy tell him everything. But he felt his power to order people wouldn't be as potent as Duran's or even Warren's.

And Lost Wind felt like someone you'd ought not to offend.

Someone was just around the corner in the alleyway. He stopped. His fingers twitched, but he didn't summon the silver spear just yet.

It was a woman, short and timid-looking, with smooth brown hair and a fairly pretty face.

"Who are you?" Lucen asked tightly. 

She knelt, immediately apologising, "My most sincere apologies, my lord. I am Tari Sonea. I was waiting for you to pass again to humbly beseech your priceless help."

Lucen scowled, relaxing just a little as he glared. 

"I have enough work for a lifetime, take your problems to the garrison."

Soft sobs echoed in the alleyway. Tari shook as she begged.

"P-please, my lord. I know I am wasting your precious time, but I believe… I believe it is related to the Cruncher."

Lucen grimaced. "Say it then."

"My friend, Kalin, went out to the plains to hunt days ago. No one has heard anything from him since. I-I—" Her voice broke.

"—I believe the Cruncher might have taken him. Please… save him," she cried.

"Where was his house?" Lucen asked. "I'll see what I can do."

A dark feeling filled his body—Kalin was most likely dead already.