A Wanderer's Lies

Chapter 13: Nen [2]

"Again, that word. What's Nen?" Isaac asked. He was starting to think he was missing something important.

The old man walked to Isaac.

"You don't know Nen? That's ridiculous! There's no way someone who has no concept of Nen can survive here." The old man laughed in mockery which further confused as well as angered isaac.

"I'm telling the truth. This is the first time I'm even hearing the word Nen."

"Well what about when we first met. You were using Zetsu to try and hide yourself."

Isaac paused.

At the time, he did nothing but wait for the man to approach and…hold his breath.

'It seems like Fetoh was onto something.'

"I've heard that word before, but I don't know what it means. All I did was hold my breath."

"Why don't we make a deal, boy. You tell me how you arrived here and everything that happened to you, and I will tell you what Nen is. Deal?"

The old man stretched out his hand to his Isaac's, to which Isaac stared, soon shaking.

"Fine, but it isn't as much as you're expecting it to be. I woke up here one day in Aionthos, without knowing how I'd arrived."

Technically, Isaac was telling the truth. He didn't fully understand how it was possible for him to be magically transported here.

Additionally, he thought this was a much easier way of explaining his situation rather than trying to convince the old man he was from another world.

Isaac proceeded to explain every detail of what happened since his arrival.

The Aroze, the connection between the Cranium and the plantlife, how the Cranium spread through pollen and their victims.

Soon explaining how he met Fetoh, the Tower, her betrayal and the Sanguine.

As Isaac finished explaining how he'd ended up outside Aionthos, the old man had his eyebrows raised and jaw wide open.

They had long since taken a seat on the ground after Isaac took his time explaining everything.

"Not much, you say?" The old man asked defeatedly.

"I guess I took my time explaining it."

"A Doctor who was assassinated and became the Cranium in order to protect the Aroze?"

Isaac nodded.

"How intriguing. You've only further proven my theory, boy?" The old man smiled.

"It's your turn now. What's Nen?"

"Ah, of course. Nen is simply one's life energy, their Aura. It lives within every living thing, even the air. I believe you've noticed the heavy atmosphere?"

Isaac quickly nodded his head.

It was one of the first things he noticed upon arriving, and still his most hated fact about the Dark Continent.

"That's because the Nen in the Dark Continent is chaotic and abundant."

"Usually, Nen runs through the air calmly, however, here, the Nen seems to be at a constant war with itself, making everything fall out of balance."

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows.

"Out of balance?"

"Indeed. You've only been able to notice the lack of oxygen and thick feeling in the air, however, one of the most dangerous things about the Dark Continent is the inability to manipulate Nen like usual."

"The atmosphere has a peculiar effect on one's Nen, making it heavy and viscous, therefore harder to manipulate, near impossible to learn to control before being met with danger."

Isaac nodded.

'So Nen can be used like a weapon in order to protect oneself. That's certainly useful.'

"Are you able to still use it?" Asked Isaac, to which the old man wore a smile of pride and answered.

"Yes, I can. Although, I'll admit not to my fullest capabilities. However, when one reaches the Mastery of Nen that I have, it's certainly possible."

Isaac stayed quiet. Since he was just learning of Nen, he had no idea whether this was an impressive accomplishment or not.

"So what's the other thing you mentioned. Post Mortem Nen."

"Ah, yes. Quite the pondered upon discovery. Even at my old age, I've only seen it occur a few times."

"When one's desires are desperate and strong enough, even at death, their Nen takes form and manifests itself."

"In this case, the Doctor's desire to protect the Aroze and prevent the destruction that would occur upon mass production of the Sanguine allowed her Nen to become reborn in the form of the Cranium."

A thought flickered through Isaac's mind.

"Wait a minute, if that's the case, then why did the ghost of Fetoh exist? What was her purpose?"

The old man said nothing, only smiling.

"I don't know. You were the one who spent the most time with her. You tell me."

Isaac looked down for a few seconds, in thought.

He remembered the backstory Fetoh told him, the reason for everything being the way it was. Her reason for bringing him to the tower.

After a few seconds, he spoke.

"I think that was just a part of Fetoh who wanted to tell her story. One which felt reluctant to die under false pretences, without anyone ever knowing what happened."

The old man continued to smile.

"Well done." Said the man simply while Isaac rummaged through the pockets of his large jacket and pulled something out.

"Can you read this too?" Isaac pulled a thick piece of yellow parchment from his jacket pocket, handing it to the old man.

After a few seconds, the old man proceeded to read the contents on the paper, sometimes stuttering and staring at the word for a few seconds before answering.

"The war is drawing closer. Tensions between the kingdoms are rising, and the thirst for power within Aionthos continues to grow."

"I fear the Aroze will not be safe for long. Despite my reluctance to give in and give the Aroze, I sometimes wonder if it's the right thing to do in today's world."

"The war is inevitable, this is only the lull before the storm. Do I owe it to my people, is this my part in the impending battle, to assist with the Aroze as much as possible?"

"If I do, and we win the war, what then? Wouldn't the Aroze be used for what I fear when we enter a time of peace?"

"The headaches only continue to worsen as I ponder the future. How I wish I could take control, only for a day." The old man ended, placing the parchment on the ground.

"Take control, like the Cranium." He pointed out.

"Not just that. The war she mentions. What if its the same one carved into the wall? What if the two stories are connected?" Isaac asked, pointing to the wall.

"It's possible. The fear with which she speaks of the war could mean it was big, meaning there would be enough deaths for Post Mortem monsters to take over, pushing out the humans."

The theory, despite sounding plausible, was horrific.

Countless soldiers dying with burning desires, only to become reborn into monsters and slay their own.

'It still doesn't make sense. Fetoh mentioned this Nation was one that experienced countless battles.'

'It even resulted in them building a whole city just to gain a tactical advantage. So what was so different about this war that everything went to shit?'

A thought then occurred to Isaac.

"If Fetoh died and her Post Mortem Nen activated before the war started, it could explain why Aionthos experienced so much loss. Fetoh, or the Cranium, destroyed it from the inside."

"It's a possibility." The man mumbled after a few seconds.

"Boy, you've found something truly important. Tell me, what is your goal?" Asked the old man.

Isaac, despite being confused by the sudden change of subject, answered truthfully.

"To survive."

The old man said nothing. After a few seconds, his smile returned.

"Believe it or not, without the use of Nen, you'll die once stepping foot outside this city."

"You were lucky the enemy was the Brion, who only see using the plants. Every other beast I've encountered will be able to detect the tranquil Nen in your body, oozing outside you."

"You'll stick out like a sore thumb."

Isaac was both pleased and heartbroken to hear this.

Yes, it provided him with a better chance at surviving, but his survival was also becoming more and more complicated by the second.

"What am I supposed to do about that?"

"It's simple. It's a technique I created for the Dark Continent specifically. In order to blend in, seem as though you're nothing more than the air, you must imitate it."

"The Nen in the air is rough and vigorous, therefore, you control your Nen to be rough and vigorous."

"Where you would usually control your Nen so that it doesn't leak out of your body, this time, stop the leak, but also train your Nen to be passively chaotic and unfriendly."

The old man stood up, walking behind Isaac and holding out his hand.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Asked a flustered Isaac.

"Look straight ahead. You want to learn Nen, don't you?"

Saying this, Isaac grimaced, soon looking straight ahead. However, nothing happened.

"Yes."

"Then I'll teach you."

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I appreciate it!