Chapter 226: Searching through memories (1/2)

”Let's hope you will show me what I want…” Aiden muttered, dazed as he continued to look at the Orc's Heart resting in his right palm. If everything followed the same pattern, once he swallows it, he should start seeing images, memories of the creature.

So far, it happened only when he absorbed intelligent creatures like humans and the goblin leader.

”This doesn't get any more pleasant…” He mumbled heaving a heavy sigh. Taking one more last moment, to prepare himself, he quickly reached for the heart and bit on it.

Just like with the guard, the warden, and the goblin before, he couldn't help but let a contented smile appear and slowly dominate his expression. Whilst the taste could be improved, the effects are always incredible. He felt a surge of power, spread out his body, warming his entire being.

A wave of notifications began to resound in his mind with their familiar bell-like sound, however, before he could take the time to slowly open them up and go through them, images started to slowly fade in and appear in front of him. Just like before, these weren't his own memories, but the past life of the deceased Orc.

Gom lived the typical, average life of his species, Mountain Orcs. Years, a few decades ago, just as his race would suggest, they used to inhabit the higher peaks of a faraway mountain. Gom wasn't the brightest, nor the strongest of his species, one could say he was pretty average. After being born, he was quickly being taught the harshness of the world.

Orcs don't believe in the traditional setup of families. The children were grouped together after the first year of their lives and left out to learn to survive on their own.

Just as expected, Gom wasn't an exception either. As soon as he got 1 year old, his parents put him into the group and left him to survive for himself.

Although the memory of Gom's early years held many interesting facts, Aiden was focused on one particular memory, and didn't want to waste time on his deceased enemy's early years. Flicking his fingers, he tossed the memory aside, only for a new one to appear.

The new vision was several years later. Gom was now a full-fledged warrior of his tribe standing in front of the tribe chieftain's hut amidst several dozens of other warriors and group captains.

He stood behind his own captain, a larger, robust orc. The captain had his body covered in several larger and smaller scars, blemishes, reminders of his past achievements all over his body. These weren't ugly in their eyes, they were marks of a fierce warrior, something every orc would be proud of. Gom couldn't help but be envious of his captain as he looked over his past achievements. These marks sadly weren't present on him as of that moment, he was still a new joiner of the ranks of warriors.

Unsure how long they stood outside in the cold, harsh weather, but eventually some movement could finally be witnessed from the hut's entrance. Not long after, an old, saggy-looking figure walked out. He looked aged, much, much older than the rest of the members of the ones gathered in front of him. Using a similar-looking gnarled and gemstoned branch as a walking-aid, the elder slowly moved towards a small podium that was erected just for this very special occasion.

Looking at the figure, Aiden wasn't entirely sure, but he couldn't deny that he looked very similar to the old orc shaman he met. But how could that be? If these memories are true then this figure is probably the chieftain of their tribe. How did he got demoted to some outcast, living at the edges of his tribe? What could have happened?

Before he could continue thinking, lamenting about the issue, the old orc began his speech. To Aiden's great surprise, in the memory he could completely understand their speech, it sounded sophisticated, different from the gnarling, throaty voices that he so far heard.

Looking through the crowd with a solemn look on his face, the old orc raised his arms.

”Fellow Brethren! My proud warriors! Today I bring a piece of great news to you! From today, we are no longer alone! From today, we join the…”

As the old orc chieftain continued with his speech, the image suddenly turned fuzzy, distorted. In the next moment, the vision faded entirely, and the next one played without any interaction from Aiden.