Chimaera's Conquest: The Legend Of The Devourer
Chapter 70: Some Scars Never Heal

Chapter 70: Some Scars Never Heal

"Wait... is this a joke?" Adrian raised his eyebrows when A’Mila and Akila entered the tent.

The Shaman referred to them as his saviours, but didn’t they want him to suffer? While A’Mila could have had a change of heart, the same couldn’t be said about Akila, who still viewed Adrian as a criminal.

While Adrian was lost in his thoughts, Akila moved forward, and the others instinctively retreated. Something was about to happen, and everyone else seemed aware of it except for Adrian.

The next moment, Akila lunged forward before Adrian could grasp the situation, landing a swift blow to Adrian’s abdomen. He was forced to take a few steps back, hunched over and caressing his stomach. Though Akila’s blow didn’t inflict as much pain as before, it still made him wince.

"Three punches daily until I decide otherwise," Akila mumbled as he turned to leave the tent. "Consider it my punishment to you. Also, I won’t tell you when I’d strike you. It’d do you good to be alert around me."

"...huh?" Adrian asked, but Akila didn’t bother replying and left.

"Don’t mind him," the Shaman said. "He’s angry because he lost soldiers under his command while subduing you."

"That’s what confuses me," Adrian groaned as he got back to his feet. "Why bother saving me if he despises me so much?"

"Is it too hard to understand? He wants you to suffer, and just killing you would be too easy. At least that’s what he thinks," A’Mila replied. "As for me... I believe your tale. It wouldn’t be right to punish you for something you couldn’t control.

She continued, "For all I know, that Red fellow might have done something on you, triggering your berserk state."

Adrian wasn’t sure, but the way A’Mila framed the last sentence, it felt like she was heavily implying that Red was the reason for his cursed transformation.

She was saying it perhaps because that was the tale she used to convince Akila to help, and she wanted Adrian to stick to her version of the story.

’Well, she’s not wrong,’ Adrian mused, scratching his head. ’If Red hadn’t stabbed me in the heart, I wouldn’t have needed the Minotaur’s heart, and I wouldn’t have gone berserk in the first place.’

Regardless of the situation, Adrian was grateful for the help. Although A’Mila never admitted it, Adrian knew she was the one who asked her mother to intervene during the trial. All in all, everything that happened earlier was merely an act to save him.

But something was bothering Adrian. Akila had his reasons for saving him, but what about A’Mila? She never told him why she saved him from the terrible fate that awaited him.

She said she believed him, but that didn’t mean Adrian was cleared of his charges. After all, he killed the tribesmen without any reason.

"You think you’re safe?" A’Mila replied with a murderous look. "I may have spared you, but don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re off the hook. Whether what you did was intentional or not, you’re paying the price for what you did, starting now."

Adrian nodded, waiting to hear his punishment. He expected it would be something along the lines of harsh labour, lashes or around those lines. While difficult, seeing him in pain should quell the tribe’s anger.

’My initial plan was to explore the forest and level up the index so I could absorb more organs. But that would have to be put aside for now.’

Given the circumstances, it seemed unlikely that A’Mila would allow him to venture into the forest any time soon. He could remain hopeful, but that wasn’t going to change anything.

"Your first task is rebuilding all the tents you destroyed," A’Mila finally informed him about the said punishment.

"Eh?"

"What do you mean, ’eh’?" A’Mila stared at him. "If you think that’s easy for you, I can change it to something else, like being thrown into an insect pit. Now that I think about it, it would be better to give the tribe a show-"

"N-No! I’ll do the rebuilding thingy..." Adrian quickly replied.

"Then what are you waiting for?" A’Mila asked, pointing towards the exit.

Adrian nodded and turned to leave, but A’Mila threw something at him before he could exit. It was the spiked collar from before.

"Wear it so no one bothers you," she said before turning towards her mother.

Adrian smiled and walked away.

***

Once Adrian was out of there, A’Mila turned serious, while her mother had a playful expression.

"What are you doing here?" A’Mila asked.

"What do you mean?" the Shaman acted surprised. "You wanted my help, so as your mother, I felt obligated to be here-"

"But the crap," A’Mila scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I didn’t call you here. Neither did Akila. I only went along with the tale because it was convenient. I’ll ask you again... why are you here, traitor?"

"It’s... been a while since someone called me that," the Shaman replied, smiling wanly.

"Scars don’t never vanish, especially the ones on the heart."

The Shaman nodded, aware that A’Mila wouldn’t easily forgive her for what she and her father had done to the tribe.

Not many in the tribe knew about it, but the war with the Nexarians wasn’t as one-sided as people thought, and A’Mila’s parents were to be blamed partially for the mess they were in now.

"It’s your father," the Shaman continued. "He’s on his death bed-"

"As far as I’m concerned, he died three years ago. I have no father... or mother, so get out."

"Just-"

"OUT!"

After taking a final look at her daughter, the Shaman walked out of the tent. The heavy flap fell behind her as she did.

A’Mila remained inside, her gaze fixed on the ground as her heart and mind struggled. As a daughter, she wanted nothing more than to chase after her mother and embrace her, but her role as the tribe’s matriarch held her back. She couldn’t forgive them... not after the things they had done.