Chapter 99: Veil of centuries

"Clayton... how old are you?" That deep and personal question, finally. As soon as it was asked, the atmosphere changed. It felt like... all the hesitation disappeared and the die was finally cast. An uneasy silence settled among the group, even as Veyra shifted uncomfortably, throwing subtle glances at Clayton. Kaelin and Soren may not realize yet, but like Torren, she never dropped her suspicions about the weird nature of Clayton’s existence. Afterall, it was not every day you get to see an Awakened warrior with green skin. Not just that, his abnormal strength too, and the pervasive feeling that he had even more secrets that he was hiding despite the fact he’d told them so many shocking things about himself already. This was the reason why she kept on looking out for clues even as she trusted him and never pushed him too far for the truth. Her curiosity was the catalyst, and this was why like Torren, she realized even more how abnormal Clayton was compared to regular Awakened warriors of this age. The way he talked, the way he carried himself, they all seemed normal but on careful and deliberate scrutiny, you would notice the discrepancies. For one, Clayton didn’t know a lot of common facts that every regular Awakened born in the age of the Genesis Protocols knew. Clayton was inquisitive. And without him knowing, his inquisitive nature already let on far more than he intended. Clayton wasn’t a natural though he tried to be. Sometimes, it felt like he was trying to talk the way he talked. He required effort to do it which was weird. It didn’t come naturally and effortlessly. Besides, his green skin was a dead give-away of just how special and unique his Aspect was. And now, since arriving at the ruins of the Scorchpaths Outskirts, hearing him talk more about his origin, like Torren, Veyra connected the dots. If the Scorchpaths Outskirts was lost to the Behemorph invasion long ago, then how on Earth did Clayton grow up here? Born here even. This was why she tensed up as soon as Torren asked. For some reason, she felt like Torren had poked more than needed. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt afraid for what Clayton would do. It was weird. He was a mere Initiate Ember Awakened. As a Luminous Seed herself, she was not supposed to be scared of him but having seen exactly what Clayton could do, she was scared to push him to the wall. ’Damn it!’ She thought. But then... Unlike what Veyra expected, Clayton didn’t flare up after the question was asked. He first looked at her and smiled. Then, he inclined his head and looked straight at Torren. And said. "I’m 321 years old". Silence. The group froze as they just stared at him. "Also, I’m a Verdant Lord". "..." If it was just silence before, now shock followed. They stared at him. Reacting in sync with them, Clayton let loose, allowing Shedskin to uncloak his Verdant Lord aura that he’d kept on a leash for so long. As soon as he did, they felt it. BZZZ! The felt the deep and ancient Genesis Embers humming within him, and the close connection that he had to the Earthcore Nexus. Veyra’s eyes widened in shock. She expected Clayton to be hiding a lot of secrets. His age... it was shocking enough. She didn’t want to believe it, but with all the clues she’s been seeing since, she could believe it. But him being a Verdant Lord? Now that was something she didn’t see coming from a mile away. The team stared, frozen. Kaelin’s jaw dropped. "Three... hundred?" Veyra’s eyes narrowed, connecting dots; Clayton’s green skin, his unnatural reflexes for an Initiate Ember Awakened. His unnatural strength. Soren’s hand tightened on his Emberblade, awe mixing with unease. Lorn’s gaze softened, understanding dawning. "I always knew something was different about you from the moment I saw you". She sighed, her eyes turning dreamy. "I’ve been traveling alongside a Verdant Lord for 2 months, wow..." Torren, arms crossed, chuckled. "I guess you’re what they call a true survivor, huh? How’d you last that long?" Clayton leaned against a charred Ashhut panel, his smile wry. "Well, for starters, back in Echoterra when I fought for my life as a plant, it didn’t feel like centuries to me". "The Genesis Protocols didn’t just wake me. They froze me, spat me out centuries later". "The reason? I have no idea". He gestured at his surroundings again. "I was born here, ran these streets, fought for scraps. Then the Trials took me". "This was my world; gangs, fights, sandstorms, then the Genesis Protocols. I survived it all, till it changed me". His eyes also turned dreamy after sharing some of his biggest secrets even as he had another flashback... Adulthood, Age 21. Clayton, hardened and wiry, guarded a caravan through the New Arizona District’s cracked highways, wielding a scavenged blade. Gangs and raiders struck often, but he was fast, lithe, and ruthless, honed by years of racing and scavenging. A Furnace Core, a glowing geological phenomenon that the government marked as an anomaly pulsed nearby, its heat drawing him. Then, little did humanity know that from just Furnace Cores, the whole of the planet would become consumed by Genesis corruption. During a raid, the Furnace Core erupted, burning his crew, triggering something within him which Clayton guessed was the catalyst, or at least part of the requirements for him being chosen for trials by the Genesis Protocols. A few days later, the Genesis Protocols seized him without warning, pulling him into Trial 1’s verdant hell. Clayton woke up as a seed. He fought, fueled by spite. He survived, fueled by the desire to see his home again. He thrived in a world of monsters and man-eating plants. It was where he forged the foundation for his Architect rank Aspect, and his Aphid Network, one of the biggest and most important components of his Aspect. "Clayton!" A shout snapped him back. His Territorial Sentience noticed them before he could see them with his eyes. Another group of Scorched Clans scavengers stumbled into their group. There were 4 scavengers this time, all Initiate Ember, wielding Ashfang Daggers, eyes desperate for supplies and their Genesis Embers. They ambushed from a ruined caravan outpost. While Clayton was spaced out, Kaelin noticed them first and warned the others. They were already moving to react, all instinctively protecting him since they noticed that he was out of it. Torren’s Flamevine Wrath bound a scavenger. Veyra? WHOOSH! She already let loose, Thornstrike arrows piercing another scavenger, savagely pinning him to a wall. With Lorn shielding Soren and Clayton too this time, Soren advanced, unleashing strikes with his Emberblade. Kaelin’s Ashveil Cloak danced, daggers precise. Unlike when the journey just started, having been subjected to constant reprimands from Lorn while treating his injuries, Kaelin already underwent such a drastic character development that he became an even better and lethal Awakened. His combat awareness was higher than ever before. No longer would he be easily injured. Though, recklessness was still a trait that he could not fight easily. It merely reduced. Noting how they all moved to protect him, Clayton felt warm. But he didn’t stay idle was he snapped out of it. He retrieved Regalia in its bow form, nocked an arrow, dragged and let loose. WHOOSH! He fired root arrows, shredding a scavenger, then slashed with Thornshade Dagger, venom dousing flames. He held back Aphid Network, commanding minimal hunts via Hive-Sight. The team felled the scavengers, the outpost quiet. DING! ~----~ [Enemies Defeated: 4 Scorched Clans Scavengers (Initiate Ember)] [Aphid Network Losses: 1 Initiate Ember Minion] [Genesis Embers Acquired: 24 (Team Kills)] [Genesis Embers Acquired: 6 (Random Network Hunts)] [Genesis Embers Total: 4,526/6,000] [Aspect Strain: Low] ~----~ Resting by the outpost, Clayton shared. "I guarded caravans here, fought raiders". He smiled. "I may not have lived the best life then, but then, it was still home". "Centuries later, I’m back, but it’s not home anymore". Veyra nodded. "My sister ran caravans, too. You’re not alone". Clayton smiled. He nodded in gratitude. Solemnly, Soren muttered. "My brother died in a raid. You’re tougher". "Wow!" Clayton looked at Soren, surprised. "Did you just say I’m tougher than your brother, or I’m having hearing problems?" "I did". Soren said somberly. "Wow... that’s a lot coming from you. Thanks man". Kaelin grinned. "Legend Clayton". Lorn’s smile was warm. "Your past’s heavy, but you’re ours now". Torren clapped his shoulder. "You’re no wanderer. Not anymore. You’re us". Clayton smiled, his Territorial Sentience pinging signals. In this moment, with these people, Clayton felt like the world seemed so bright. Even in the middle of an Apocalypse, the world felt beautiful. After what felt like forever, he felt like he had family again. ’Who’ll be the dad and mom?’ He joked in his head. But then... Suddenly, his Hive-Sight flared, a distress pulse from the Rootsite all the way in the Forgotten Atlanta Expanse. Clayton’s gaze turned hazy. Through Hive-Sight connection... shadows moved in his vision: something massive, relentless, attacking his fortified anchor. His face hardened, eyes distant. "Trouble," he muttered, gripping Regalia. "My Rootsite’s under attack. Atlanta’s burning".