The Evolution Chronicles

Daven's revelation left Sekk'rah and the other gathered demi-humans speechless. Confused glances were exchanged between themselves before Daven decided to elaborate.

"We have just recently found out that the Henshaw Dynasty has created a drug that is capable of subverting the minds of demi-humans without alerting anyone of its presence. I hope you can understand the reason for my worries now." Daven explained to the crowd and they slowly calmed down when they got his point of view.

"We... understand your point, Patriarch." Sekk'rah eventually spoke, "But it is a bit hard for us to wrap our minds around it. To think that we might be under the control of humans even after everything." The lizardman shook his head and clenched his fist.

Just at that moment, four demi-humans stepped into the main chamber from one of the side entrances. Daven looked over and nodded when he saw who it was.

Two guards escorted Mian and Daniel into the spacious cave before bowing their heads and retreating back out of the cave where they had been stationed before being sent to call the two young boys.

"Mian, Daniel, please come here." Daven waved them over before repeating what he knew about the situation. Daniel was not too familiar with what had happened with the demi-human games, but Mian was, and so his reaction was much more pronounced. He understood what he had to do right away.

Mian left Daven's side and made his way towards the crowd of demi-humans that had gathered in front of the Patriarch's throne. They all knew who he was and also held deep respect and familiarity for him. After all, they had gone through the same ordeal in the demi-human games, and he had helped them escape from that doomed fate.

Mian stopped before Sekk'rah and smiled at him. The lizardman had proved to be a great ally during their escape, and Mian would gladly help him now.

'Hana.' Mian called out to his companion that had been with him since his journey of Evolution began.

[Understood.]

Even Hana understood Mian's intentions without him saying anything. She had spent enough time with him to understand how he thought, and was easily able to carry out his wishes.

Mian closed his eyes for a second and opened them again. A golden brilliance shone out of his eyes and onto the demi-humans before him, eliciting a series of surprised gasps.

The demi-humans were aware of Mian's position on the council, but they had thought that his position was as a result of his help in freeing the enslaved demi-humans from the Henshaw Dynasty. It was only now that some f them truly understood the reason for Mian's lofty position. The golden radiance that shone out of Mian's eyes clued them in to the fact that the young demi-human possessed a Gift!

[I have detected fourteen demi-humans with a faint presence of the drug within them. Carrying out immediate purification.]

After a few moments, Hana announced the results of her scan and immediately proceeded to cleansing all signs of the drug in those that she had found. The golden radiance around Mian intensified for a few moments before fourteen beams of light shot out of his figure and enveloped the fourteen demi-humans still affected by the drug.

The bright rays of light startled everyone at first, but they calmed down when the rays simply passed through them and flashed deeper into the crowd. All except one, at least.

A single beam of golden light shot straight at Sekk'rah, stunning the lizardman, but it simply went right through him, before landing on the demi-human behind him.

"Lindo?" Sekk'rah spun around, shocked. The demi-human who stood behind him was his long time friend, the Owlman who had travelled with him before their capture by the dynasty.

Even Lindo himself was surprised. He scanned the golden glow surrounding his body with surprise before an overwhelming sense of weakness overcame him and he slumped to the floor, unconscious.

"Lin!" The lizardman rushed to his friend's side and held up his body. "What is happening?!" He turned to Mian when he noticed that all of those who had been enveloped in the golden radiance had lost their consciousness.

"They are simply undergoing a direct purification phase." Mian replied, but his voice sounded strange. A second, colder voice overlapped with his own, giving it a surreal feeling that made everyone want to bow their heads while he spoke. Not even Daven, the strongest person present was able t escape that feeling, but its effects were more muted on him.

The radiance that shone through the entire chamber lasted a few more minutes before dying out completely.

"Ugh..." Lindo groaned as his consciousness returned to him. Similar sounds rang through different areas of the cave as everyone that lost their consciousness woke up. The golden light leaking out of Mian's eyes also receded, letting their colors return to the normal blue colors that he had been born with.

A dizzy feeling overcame Mian when clarity returned to his mind. He remembered what had happened after calling upon his powers, but he felt as though he had simply been a spectator in his own body while that whole process had been carried out. The feeling was similar to when Hana would take control of his body, but also strangely different. He couldn't put his finger on it, but now was not the time to get lost in his thoughts.

"The matter has been handled. There is no trace of the drug among any of them now." Mian turned to face Daven who studied him curiously.

"I see. Thank you." Daven heaved a silent sigh of relief. He was glad that they were able to tackle the issue so quickly and without any chances of anything going out of hand.

The demi-humans behind them eagerly embraced each other. In the short instance where several of them had lost consciousness, the panic that they felt had spiked.. They had already lost good friends and companions in the battle against the Henshaw Dynasty, so losing more in a seemingly safe place would have been too much for them.