Apocalypse: The Ice King Returned

Chapter 15: Tamers

It made sense that a mutant breast could destroy a home and feed on the people inside, but it wouldn’t have taken the food with it.

There was only one way this could have happened. Someone attacked the village with a beast. A word appeared in Luther's mind, "Tamer." 

There were two kinds of tamers: manipulative and natal. The first kind of tamer would manipulate and train beasts to obey their command. These tamers had the advantage of being able to take control of multiple beasts, enough for an entire legion.

Luther thought back to one of these legions, controlled by a man known only as the Beast King. He was extremely unpleasant and had a horrible temper. If he was angered, he would order an attack on the city. He was able to trigger his beasts to turn on anyone who wronged him. The Beast King had only one fear—The Ice Demon.

The downside of becoming a manipulative tamer was becoming a target of many enemies. Beasts needed to be trained constantly. And if a beast died, the tamer would grieve its death as well. 

The Natal Tamer, however, was close to multiple beasts right away. Luther remembered a man who was known as the Dog Ruler. He was rumored to have been adopted by stray dogs. After doomsday, 107 stray dogs in the family had changed to obey him.

Unlike the Beast King, this man was very kind. But he chose not to save the weak humans who had been jailed, so he became the enemy of many criminals. In the end, under the attack of many madmen, he died, along with all 107 of his loyal stray dogs.

Luther admired the Dog Ruler, knowing how difficult it was to keep a kind heart after doomsday. But the world has changed, benevolence was only seen as weakness.

However, Luther was sure the Dog Ruler died without regrets. He saved a lot of people and was later listed in the Tomb of the Benevolent by the Human League, and those who killed him were either killed by rangers or expelled and hunted by the Human League. 

A good man rewarded, right?

But Luther did not understand, was the reward greater than death? If he had powers early on, he would surely aim to form the first major alliance of mankind. He wanted to maximize the benefits of his power.

Luther did not think the Dog Ruler's idea was wrong. He was just going to do things differently. Different goal, different method.

He stopped thinking about his past once he came across some medicine and food. He wanted to find supplied quickly so he could get back to his sister and they could leave tomorrow. He felt that it wasn’t safe to stay for very long.

After looking over a few houses, Luther found a different building. In the moonlight, he saw a Red Cross on the wall. This could be a clinic.

This building was not destroyed. Luther easily hopped onto the courtyard wall, but felt a swift breeze under his feet, like something was moving beneath him. He gasped and looked down from where he sat on the wall.

Something reached out to grab him, but he pulled his feet out of reach. Luther took a breath. It was a much older infected man in a lab coat. They must be the owner of the clinic, but he didn’t expect to see anyone in the clinic.

The old zombie roared at him, and Luther raised the axe. He was strong enough to swiftly swing the ax at him, slicing its head clean off.

Luther took out the zombie’s power core and swallowed it. After all, every little bit helped.

He left the body behind as he searched through the rest of the small building. There was no other danger that he could see. He searched the room and found medicine for humans, but the medicine for animals had been cleared out. 

Luther only took over the counter drugs for disinfection and sterilization. Just as he turned to leave, a book on the table grabbed his attention.

Luther stepped closer to look inside it. It was an ancient book. The pages were yellowed and the edges were worn. Luther carefully thumbed through the pages. It was full of symbols. Luther was shocked but excited. His heart beat a little faster.

These are the words of old!

These words were told to exist thousands of years ago. From a civilization that was ruled by religion. No one believed in God anymore, but during the ancient times of religion, these words were recorded for future use.

Every word that was recorded held priceless treasures. Few people could understand it. It was discovered only a few years after doomsday. 

Back then, it was worth at least one amethyst power core. If someone used this book to train in martial arts and other pertinent skills, They could grow to be worth an extraordinary power core. 

Luther did not expect to find ancient words in this small village. He flipped further into the book and found words and pictures, and even some added notes. 

This was a medical book.

This was really a clinic. Although the notes were incomplete, the book was of great value. It must have been passed down for generations in this clinic.

Luther looked through the window at the dead old zombie in the yard, shook his head and sighed. If the old man did not become a zombie, Luther could have been able to protect and learn from him. But it was too late. It was useless to hope.

Luther put the book in his pocket. Then he went outside and found a shovel. He spoke to the body of the old man, "I’ll take your book. But in return, I’ll let you rest in peace." 

Luther dug a pit and buried the dead zombie. As he picked up the body, a letter fell out of its pocket.

Luther finished burying the body, covering it completely in soil. Then he picked up the yellow letter. On the envelope was written: To Adam of Rio Blanco.

Adam of Rio Blanco? He didn't know Adam, but he knew where he should go next. "Don’t worry, old man. I'll help you find Adam and I’ll give him this letter." 

Luther left the clinic, deep in thought. Why hadn’t the clinic been destroyed or raided? After all, medical supplies were rare these days. There was only one possibility: whoever was raiding the town decided to let him go.

Who would give up available resources? The old man must have don’t the raiders a huge favor. Outsiders had little chance of meeting a benefactor in a village. So, whoever destroyed the village must have been a resident there. The old doctor must have saved their life.

Luther suddenly snapped out his train of thought, "Constance!"

He hurried back. If something was wrong, he should have noticed, but everything was fine.

There was no damage to the house from the outside.

Just as he opened the door, he smelled a strange fragrance that made his eyelids feel heavy. 

Mandala incense!

Damn it!

"Constance." Luther opened the door and called her name. There was no sound in the house, and no one else could be seen.

Luther punched the doorframe in anger, splitting the wood in two.

Anyone who dared touch his sister was going to be punished. Maybe worse.