"What did our Saman did this time?" Argus totally curious began to ask.
"You see, the Saman went to visit Dayang Haya last night. We aren't able to accompany her because of you!" Aryan replied with a pout.
"And?" Argus pressing for an answer did not care for any pouting face Aryan issued.
"We don't know the details but her ladyship, Dayang Haya just issued a declaration and all the warriors in this Banwa including our neighboring Tribes are now in an uproar."
Gasping for air, Aryan paused,
"According to the guards I met, they are busily preparing their weapons in order to fight whoever stands in their way in marrying the Saman." Aryan finished speaking with a sigh.
"Is that so..." Argus blankly stated and judging by his reaction, he felt like a Giant stone had suddenly descended in his lap.
"I... that Saman..." Argus incoherently uttered.
"Yes..." Aryan simply replied. And Amaya who has been observing for a while had a complicated expression on her face as she witnessed Argus' face gradually contracting his lips downwards.
"Then if that's the case... I'll prepare a weapon too."
Surprised Aryan asked, "Do you like the Saman too?"
"No, but it is a good path to claim in order to get freed in this slavery, and besides am originally a Ranoan—Son of the Tribe's Chieftain" Argus blatantly said and as he did so, he went outside leaving the two ladies in a daze.
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[Lumin Tribes Kanya: Kitchen Hut]
Inside of a hut, Argus began feeding the baby croc.
"little guy, since Miguel took some effort to feed you, from now on I will also take care of you. Who knows? You might be useful in the future." smirking from ear to ear Argus carefully placed chicken meat which he sneaked out from the food prepared for the Saman a while ago towards the baby croc's mouth.
Argus being able to remember whatever Miguel had previously done with his body, did not forget to see the baby croc whom he was pretty eager to see.
It is not like he had never seen one before, but it's just that, it was in Argus' nature to love animals.
Then, beneath the piled wooden planks beside the little box where the baby croc is currently in, lies a pair of a thirty-inches long bamboo stick which Argus suddenly picked.
It's just a makeshift weapon he made and when Argus held the two sticks, he reminisced his training with his father when he is still a kid.
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And the memories of his childhood resurfaced, flashing in his mind.
"Remember to wave your hand as if the ends of each stick are part of your arms."
While the young Argus stretched his arms, his father, Datu Sadjar softly reminded him.
"Yes, like that! Do it like how the wind bends the ocean's waves. Don't forget to breathe and exhale.
Along with each strike, it is accompanied by a steady rhythm." Datu Sadjar added.
And the young Argus did so what his father had instructed, eventually getting the right pattern for each of his stances.
[30] In each of his hands were two bamboo sticks held firmly, Argus is currently being taught by Datu Sadjar on the ways of the Kali—A martial arts that encompass, fighting through the use of sticks.
But finally, Argus eventually got tired as he gasped for air.
"Father this is difficult!" the young Argus complained while throwing the two wooden sticks to the muddy ground which made his father suddenly yell at him.
"Argus! Pick those stick now!"
The young Argus knitted his brows as he asked "Father, it is just a stick!"
"Don't you dare call it just a stick! You do not know how sacred these weapons are to our ancestors! It has been the training weapon of your great grandfather and his great grandfather when he is still a kid! I myself had also used that stick when I was a kid." Datu Sadjar reprimanded.
"Ehh! such an old stick! How old is this? Why it is still sturdy?" Argus began scrutinizing each of the sticks after picking them.
"Son, Hehe You will be surprised! These sticks are coated with your ancestor's bones after they die.
So it is naturally sturdier and can last for a long time. For each generation, it was coated with their bones. You could say that all of your Grandfathers are in there." Datu Sadjar explained while trying to squat down and pat the head of the young Argus.
"Ehhh! Such a weapon! Abba—Father, this Kali is so difficult! Can't I just use a spear instead!
Also, this is torture! I don't really like to fight! Chasing skirts is easier than fighting!" Yelped the young Argus.
And when his Abba, his father, have heard his statement...
He almost vomited some blood.
He thought "How could my son be this useless? Why would he give more importance to chasing a skirt than being a warrior? I must nip this bud before it gets worse!"
As he thought so, he ruggedly ruffled Argus' hair.
"Son, when you become a great warrior, all women in our Banwa—community, will fall under your knees, as natural as the tide of the seas. You won't have to worry."
And Argus beamed in delight "Is that so Abba? Hehe, Then I have to train hard!"
Argus having heard the importance of the two sticks in his hands and the way to a woman's heart became invigorated and tried to train hard on the ways of the Kali.
His father was then, smiling as he watched his son, the young Argus took his stance seriously and more determined than before.
(Note: In the age of Conquest, Ophirians from the Danao Island had also used animal bones in replacement towards the wooden sticks in fighting the Aghoran's Invasion. As they found the bones to be sturdier than the bamboo sticks.)
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After being dazed for a while, Argus came back to his senses and made a few wavy stances with the two wooden sticks on each of his hands.
With a light heart that warmed like the sunshine, Argus whispered to himself,
"Father, I haven't forgotten."
Smirking with a satisfied smile, Argus then carefully placed each of the stick beside his waist.
Then his attention is slowly placed towards the baby croc...
"Speaking of which, baby croc... Since I'll be raising you from now on, you should have a name!"
Putting his hands on his chin Argus began thinking of a name.
"Since you are mine now, why not I derive your name from my name? Argus... hmmm how about Arius?" But he found it unsuitable hence Argus immediately scratched it and thought of another name.
"Oh, I know! I shall name you Ario!" Staring at the baby croc for any reaction, Argus patted the baby croc on his head where the baby croc screeched into a lovely howl.
"Looks like you liked it hmm, from now on your name is Ario!"
Then Argus carefully placed the baby croc in a wooden box and sealed it with a clean cloth.
"Stay there, Ario, your master is about to chase some skirt hehe"
Painting a smirk on his cheeks, Argus quietly headed out from the kitchen hut.
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And this is only the beginning of Argus' path towards Freedom!