King Of Limbo

After leaving, they made themselves comfortable in a small hut nearby and laid Tlaloc on the ground.

Then Ohtli stepped forward and dipped a filthy cloth in water from a carved stone basin.

It is obvious that these creatures didn't care about hygiene or such issues. Even their basic attire appeared worn; as Aron could not see any means of producing fabric, it was likely acquired through trade or discovery elsewhere.

"They're right, Ohtli. Tlaloc's only claim to fame at the time was his fortunate performance in the struggle against those mountain bastards. Even you wouldn't currently be his mate if he hadn't."

"I beg you to choose another mate because I don't want my brother to be challenged. He will perish in this state."

While Ohtli cleaned Aron's wounds, Garu frowned.

"I don't get it... explain to me." Aron implored.

It was now or never to get knowledge before this drama harmed him. He requested a rapid description of the issue and, if at all possible, information regarding the general location of the problem regions.

He may escape during the hunt they discussed if he finished this swiftly.

"Something is wrong with his head, he can't remember me nor you. He is even less capable than previously." Garu shook his head and expressed concern for his brother.

As far as Aron could tell, it appeared that family ties did have some emotional significance in this society.

"I'm aware, I stayed with him because if I left my child would have been killed by my new mate. However after she returns from her first hunt she will be an independent member and I won't need to worry anymore."

Ohtli replied bluntly, it seemed love didn't exist in such a society or rather it couldn't survive.

"I'm still confused; give me a description of what's going on."

Aron urged towards Garu who seemed to care for him. Garu then groaned but continued to describe what was happening.

In conclusion, the person whose identity Aron had stolen was a little different. He won a war and even received a gift while rising to glory, but when he chose a mate, he faced no opposition.

Everyone agreed that he deserved it and would eventually become a pillar of their community. However, many began to question his skills when he missed two hunts.

It seemed that he used his child as an excuse to avoid doing this, but she would be returning in a few years as an adult, and if he continued to refuse to hunt, he would have to give up his hut and his ability to mate because only the strong needed to transfer their genes.

He now had a couple alternatives for handling the problem given this information.

"…"

Before furrowing his brows, Aron needed to demonstrate that this news concerned him at least somewhat. He nodded in agreement but said nothing.

"Don't worry brother, you won't need to put yourself in danger if you give up your right. You're welcome to stay in my hut, and after the next hunt, I'll use my profits to buy you some herbs, all right?"

Garu, the brother of Tlaloc, made a serious offer while displaying obvious anxiety. Even if Aron was merely playing a part, it still felt odd to have this kind of concern shown for him.

"No, I don't really understand what's going on, but I'm not going to tolerate it. I'll prove my merit." As he said these words, Aron displayed tremendous resolve.

Ohtli grinned at these comments; wild females naturally delighted in ostentatious behavior. However, Garu scowled at this.

"Tlaloc, I am the only one who truly understands you. Despite your quickness and agility, you lack the sheer strength needed to support it. Even worse, you can't even recall anything right now! No, it's just too risky." Garu was adamantly opposed to the plan.

Aron persisted, though, questioning the point of it all if he was going to sit about doing nothing.

They claimed that Tlaloc had two outstanding hunts, but that he had been dormant ever since. To escape suspicion, Aron just had to duplicate outcomes that were identical.

Most people would conclude Tlaloc was still a capable warrior if he did so and that his justification for avoiding conflict was true.

Aron needed to adopt a fighting technique resembling that of the original Tlaloc for this to work, though. He already knew from Garu that he was quick and nimble; all he needed to do was watch how they engaged in combat.

He would unnecessarily raise suspicion if he made moves that were wholly foreign.

"Help me, Garu; I'm not sure why, but my body is itching to fight. Maybe by doing this, my memories will come back?" Aron responded, giving Garu full assurance.

The anxious brother could do little except sigh and concur. "Okay, but you can't go hunting if I don't think you're ready!"

"Deal."

Aron had immediately established his strategy for getting the results he desired.

Soon after that chat, Ohtli departed to take care of her own business. Being someone's mate didn't imply you were married; it only meant the woman wanted to have stronger children with the male she chose.

It was typical for this species' males to compete for females who drew their attention. Aron assumed that the hunt's mechanism was put in place to avoid frenzied mate-shopping disputes. It was straightforward but nevertheless efficient.

"You already have a child with Ohtli, so why not concentrate on keeping your right to hunt now that she has attracted so many public's attention? You might entice still another partner."

Garu's disbelief that Aron would be successful in preserving Ohtli was very clear. Aron, on the other hand, didn't give a damn about this; if the opponent was powerful, he wouldn't take part, exactly like Garu had suggested.

He didn't need much to learn about the places and things because he still had the right to hunt.

…

Garu proposed they begin training after the settlement had stabilized and Aron's wound had stopped bleeding.

They performed this a little further from the settlement in the wide, green plain covered in ominous clouds.

As their combat style was based on spear throws and jabs, the training itself was quite basic.

Your peircing power increases as your strength does, but your movement speed and agility increase your abilities to dodge and counter.

Aron picked up on this type of combat quickly, and before long he was employing the alleged speed and dexterity Tlaloc possessed to challenge Garu while keeping his piercing power at a minimum.

"Stop, I'm exhausted, stop." After a brief period, Aron pretended to be exhausted.

"Heh, not bad, your stamina is low because you haven't hunted in a while, but your movements are still swift and agile. I guess you won't have any trouble maintaining your privilege to hunt if you work on your strength and stamina."

Garu began by praising and flashing a broad, toothy grin.

"Othlizi will be back in less than a tallie; I'm sure she's eager to show you her growth, but I'm not sure whether that will leave you with enough time to train," the speaker said.

"One tallie... "

When Aron and Garu departed from his home, they proceeded past the settlement's center, where six tall, thin sticks could be seen.

One was just half as tall as the other five sticks. Each of these sticks served as a tallie; once a stick was fully burned, it was considered to be one.

A season had ended for them once they had all burnt. Although it was far from accurate, it appeared to work for them.

Aron didn't have much time, which was ideal because he calculated that one tallie was equivalent to roughly six days and a few hours in Pesia.

When his mana for the death stalker ran out, he would return to his original form. The longer he maintained this imitation, the more mana he was losing.

By his reckoning he had enough to last him what would approximate to some months, but the more he saved the better.

"In that case, I'll train full-time." Aron responded to Garu while struggling to breathe.

Garu wasn't sure how to answer, so he kept grinning at this brother of his, not realizing he was assisting a fraud.

Since that day, Aron had spent almost all of his time practicing, or rather, demonstrating his practice.

Aron always practiced thrusting motions, even when he was on patrol duty. He even developed a peculiar technique that many other warriors adopted.

He would go past the settlement's water supply, a small but wide river that occasionally reached the height of a person's shoulders. Once there, he would start thrusting his spear, and the others soon recognized that the pressure this created may have further advantages.

He required an explanation for his unexpected rise in power, which he would exhibit.

Aron's abilities, however, were far beyond the point at which such an exercise would have improved him, therefore all of this training was merely for show.

He did, however, continue with remarkable tenacity with this routine.

As a result, there were whispers spread across the community that he was preparing himself to deny another man access to his daughter and mate. Others asserted that he was vying to become the first hunter.

In this culture, where there was no established heirarchy, the greatest and most powerful hunters had the authority to make important choices. A single fighter didn't typically retain this position for very long, though.

Age, illness, accidents, and deaths all had a part in this.

With this in mind, Aron would aim for this and obtain whatever he desired in one fell swoop, provided the current first hunter wasn't too strong.

…