The green cloak fit John nicely, hung down to his knees and completely wrapped around him. Anything on his person was hidden from view, especially the elegant hybrid sword on his waist. John left the village heading south towards Jim Huck. He didn't know how far away it was or what he would encounter so he left the wolves with his father. John got back into his habit of swordplay training and meditation daily. He was home for 2 days and already leaving again. This time not to run, but to protect. John walked for 4 sun cycles until he saw it. In a valley the 2 colors were clashing again. Clearly the red army had more people. Behind the blue army was a man. Sitting at an anvil with a hammer and whetstone. Pounding away on blades and running the whetstone over them. John decided stealth was the best option. John snuck down using the battle as cover. Without being seen, he got behind Jim. "Mr. Huck, I'm here to save you." Jim startled turned around, blade in hand, ready to attack. "Whoa. Easy Mr. Huck. I'm a friend." "Who are you? What do you want? How do you know my name?" Jim questioned quickly. "I'm Doren. I just started running the smithy for Jade. Henry told me where you'd be." John responded softly. "Oh, then you know, I can't go back. They threatened my family." Jim stated depressingly. It was at this point that John could really see Jim. He wasn't just their blacksmith. He was covered in cuts, bruises, burns and even his face was swollen. "I know what they said, but Samantha needs a father more than they need a soldier. Come with me and we will sneak out of here." John said trying to convince Jim. "They know where I live. It would never work." Jim stated.
"HEY! We have someone trying to attack our blacksmith!" yelled the blue general. "Sir, I've seen him before. He was the god that made us lose the last battle to the north." whispered one of the soldiers. "God? This man is so young he probably hasn't even seen battle." the general retorted loudly. The soldier began laughing. "Jim, stay behind me and you'll realize why you'll be safe." John whispered. John removed his cloak and drew his sword. "If you want a fight, I'll entertain you." John yelled to the general. "Squads 5 and 6, watch the frontlines and assist them when needed. Squads 3, 7 and 8, show this "God" some manners." howled the general. "Doren, that's 3 squads, almost 20 people. Just leave, I'll be fine." Jim begged. "I can't do that Jim, Samantha still needs a father." John whispered to Jim. John sheathed his sword, bent over and picked up a headless spear. "This is all I'll need." John yelled. The soldier began running at John. John dashed with all his speed past the front lines. Using the wooden shaft John started smacking the soldiers hands and legs. Weapons were falling to the ground and soldiers were starting to lose their balance. John gracefully danced between the strikes. Giving quick jabs to the soldiers. John holding back his strength as he doesn't want to kill. Soldiers started falling. "Retreat." the general yelled. Soldiers were helping each other fall back. John stood there shaft in hand. "Done already?" John asked.
"You fight with no equal. You ever think about joining us?" the general asked. "I don't fight in wars." John answered. "I'm sure we can compensate you handsomely if you join." the general stated. "I don't seek money nor an elevated status." John stated bluntly. "If you take that man, we will report he is a traitor. He will be killed and his village burnt down." the general stated to instill fear in Jim. "You will have to go through me first. I don't think your army is big enough." John menacingly remarked. "Mr. Huck, are you ready?" John asked. "I am." Jim replied instantly. As John turned around to leave he felt the men getting closer. John spun around and threw the spear shaft into the red army. Piercing through 5 guys, killing them instantly. "There's our contribution general." John said smugly. He felt the soldiers back up. John made his way to Jim. "Let's go home." John stated. They made their way back towards the villages. "I'll take first watch." said John. Jim agreed and was resting. John scanned for any life essence around him. None were detected. John softly put his hand on Jim's heart and the bright light flashed and Jim was healed. Jim noticed he was healed when he awoke. "What happened?" he asked looking at his arms. "I applied some medicinal herbs to your wounds while you slept." answered John. "They're miracle herbs Doren. Look not even a scratch left." Jim stated shocked. They continue travelling. At last they reached the smithy. "Here before we proceed." Jim said as he was handing John his cloak. "You left this behind." "Thank you." John proceeded to help Jim into his home. "Doren, is that you?" came a yell from the other room. "It is, can you help me quick?" John yelled back. Jade came into the room and saw Jim. Tears started gathering in her eyes as she rushed Jim and wrapped her arms around him. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Jade managed to get out between tears. "If it wasn't for this young man, you probably wouldn't have." said Jim. "Thank you Doren, we will forever be in your debt." Jade exclaimed happily.
"If you don't mind, I think I'll stay awhile." John said. "Of course, as long as you like, that room will be yours." Jade said quickly. "I'll go check on Henry, give you some time to catch up." John said. "Once again, Thank you." Jim and Jade said in unison. John started making his way to the farm. Lost in thought he arrived quicker than he thought. "You actually made it back?" Henry stated surprisingly. "I did and not alone." John stated confidently. "Come inside, we have much to discuss." Henry said as gesturing inside. "Henry, where's Mrs. Black? I've been in here twice now and haven't seen nor heard her." John questioned. Henry's face dropped and lost color. "She has been sick for over a year now. Our little boy ran away and it devastated her. She just stopped talking and doing anything. I have tried everything to help her but nothing working. She's heartbroken." Henry explained. "Enough on the negatives, you found Jim?" Henry asked to change subjects. "I did." John exclaimed. They sat there talking until the moon rose. "If I may, can I try giving Mrs. Black some medicinal herbs?" John asked.
"Not sure herbs are going to cure this, priest is coming tomorrow to try to get her talking again." Henry explained. " I understand." John stated. "If I may confide in you." John started. "Of course." Henry responded. John placed his had on Henry's heart. "What do you think you are doing?" Henry questioned being caught off guard. "Just trust me Henry." John stated. Placing his hand back on his chest the pure white light was back and flashed. Henry looked down "You have to be a God. You just regrew my arm!" Henry exclaimed surprised. There was a faint patting sound, and Rose flew out her door down the hall into the kitchen "JOHN! YOU'RE HOME!" Mrs. Black screamed while running. She quickly embraced John without even looking. "Rose, let the man go, this isn't John. This is Doren." Henry said embarrassed. "No, this is John. I've seen that light before. Right after Samantha was attacked and injured." Rose claimed. John stood there, he knew he was found out. "Are you really John?" Henry blurted out. "I am." John replied. Henry embraced John and Rose. "What happened to you?" They both questioned. "Have a seat." John gestured to the chairs. John stood between them, place one hand on each of their heads and concentrated. He sent his entire journey so far into their heads as if reading a flip book. After John removed his hands they sat there. No words coming out. Barely even moving.
John started towards the door. "Where are you going John?" Rose questioned. "For a walk, you need some time to comprehend what you just learned." John responded. "You aren't leaving again, are you?" Rose asked quickly. "Not immediately." John responded. John made his way outside and wandered around the village. When he hit the outskirts he saw something unexpected. There was a large group of soldiers marching towards the village. They were still far away so John couldn't get an actual count but he knew it was enough.
John quickly sprinted to Henry's farm. "I know you're probably not ready for this but you're going to house the village." John stated quickly. "What do you mean?" Henry bellowed. "There's an army heading this way, they're here for me. I need everyone in one spot so I can protect just here." John replied. "From rescuing Jim, I assume." Henry responded. "Yes." John replied. "How long until they get here?" Henry asked. "They will be here by sun rise. Use the cover of night to get everyone here. The Huck's are the furthest, I'll start there. You start closer." John replied as he was turning around. John started sprinting as fast as he could towards the Huck's. He arrived in minutes and started beating on the door. "What is it Doren? Its late." Jim said groggily opening the door. "Get your family to the Black's farm. Quickly and quietly." John said frantically. "What's going on?" Jim responded snapping awake. "They actually brought an army." John said laughing. Jim knew exactly what was going on. He closed the door and started yelling. John moved onto the next houses. When the moon was at the highest everyone was arriving at the farm. Some stayed inside other went to the barn. John arrived just after everyone else. He let out a soft whistle and his wolves came to him. "Protect this farm. Go." John whispered to the wolves. The wolves spread out around the perimeter. John was standing out in the center of the farm when they arrived.
"You weren't lying. This man fits the description perfectly." this general muttered to the soldier behind him. "Are you the one who stole my blacksmith?" the general questioned. "I am." John answered. "Then by the order of the Imperial Empire, you have aided a traitor and will be sentenced to death." the general stated boldly. "I still don't think your army is big enough." John said laughingly. "I'll give you one chance to return from where you came and there will be no trouble." John stated. "No trouble, you injured almost 20 of my men and stole one from me. Troubles already here." the general yelled furiously. Soldiers started charging out from around the general towards John. In one fluid motion John drew his sword and took the head off the first soldier. The soldiers didn't stop their charge. John was weaving between the soldiers avoiding all their attacks. His cloak wasn't as lucky. Filled with holes and cuts. John got in the middle of all these soldiers and noticed no attacks were flying at him anymore. He glanced around and noticed there was a wall of shields up around him. He knew they thought the captured him as spears came jabbing over the wall of shields. John dancing around all the spears when a sword slashes right towards his neck. John instinctively swung his right arm up. "Cling" was the sound of metal on metal. John used Trent's rectangular steel chunk to block the blow. In a fluid motion, John flung the sword up by spinning his body and jabbed his own in.
Still no gap in this wall that John could use. He remembered hunting with the wolves. Reaching into his pocket and pulls out a handful of pebbles and whips them full forced in one direction. The shields fell as did the men holding them and the 2 rows of soldiers behind them. Annoyed now, John flips the sword over to the saw like side. Running low to the ground using this rigid blade to slice the soldiers legs and thighs. Moving so quickly the soldiers can't keep track of him. A row of 20 soldiers all fell to one knee, unable to stand on the leg John gashed open. "Fall back." the general started yelling. Soldiers are frantically running back out of the village. "Prepared the weapon." the general yelled. "It didn't have to come to this, because you are fighting us off, we will just have to smoke you out." the general sneered and followed his men.
John knew victory wasn't won yet. He stood in the middle of the pasture looking around. He removed his green cloak as there was barely anything left as is. That when he saw it, the army launched a giant ball of fire into the air. It was aimed for the house. John had to react quick and grabbed a giant stone about the size of a cantaloupe and used all his force and flung it at the giant fire ball. With a loud crash the fire ball broke and it's aim had changed and would fall between John and the soldiers. "Retreat!" the general yelled after being completely overwhelmed by John's power. "You won this time boy!" the general claimed. "Be sure to tell everyone, this village is protected by a God!" John yelled to the retreating general.
Everyone from the village was watching John fight and all became awestruck by the time it was over. John sat on the ground and waited until he could no longer see a soldier in sight. Henry came out and sat next to him. "Guess you didn't need any help." Henry said jokingly. "Not this time." John replied laughing. "What are we going to do about them?" Henry asked motioning towards the shield soldiers and the groups behind them. "Take anything useful off them and give them a proper burial." John said.