And so, the bunch moved from one stall to another in an attempt to find someone who would welcome them without those discriminative words and gazes of contempt.
They arrived at the last stall, among the rows of weapon vendors.
Drawing closer to the stall, checking out the weapons that glinted with ferocity and sharpness. Their eyes struck in awe as they witnessed the finest quality laid in front of them but only to be welcomed by a dismissive wave of the hand from the last Trader.
"You lot! Move away! You're not welcome in my stall! With those ragged clothes and rancid stenches of smell!"
"Looks like, even her would hold us in contempt. Just because we are Alipins." Talto uttered with a dismayed expression on his face.
The vendor groaned, clipping his nose, and then flicked them away.
"If you don't move out of my sight, then get ready yourselves for I'll report you lot!"
Then Little Aen quivered from his booming voice, which garnered attention from the crowd. They looked at themselves as their bodies smeared with muck and dirt, wallowing in shame and disgust.
But suddenly, an old man wearing a robe came forward and interrupted the group from leaving.
"What are you guys doing here?" the old man asked Aen while rubbing his white beard.
The old man was hefty and tall enough to cast a long shadow in front of him. His eyes widened from the sight and trembled from his deep voice that echoed on his semi-chapped lips.
"We're just checking out weapons..." Aen courtly replied.
"Oh, then I have something for the rest of you..."
The man flashed his gentle smile as he brushed his beard. He cocked his head to the side and rolled his arm as he showed the weapon in his calloused hand,
"This is a weapon I especially crafted. If you can break that faux object over there, might as well, this weapon be yours." The old man smiled pointing his finger towards the thick wooden sculpture at the end of a trail which leads to the dense forest.
"Such finely crafted sculpture... won't it be a waste to slash it?" Malpi voiced his concern as he was awed from the sculpture's intricate design.
It is a figure of a warrior holding a long spear, his weapon is roughly at the same height as the warrior himself.
Observing each angle, the warrior depicted in the sculpture had a burly figure...
A body carved with curves of the finest muscles, Argus stared at its magnificence—"It's even muscular than his Father's." he thought.
"Hmph... if you know the real history of that person depicted in the sculpture... You won't hesitate to slash it!" After which he once again flashed the weapon at his hand.
"That is... If you can really slash it with this." As he said so, he swirled and swayed his hands as he performed some basic maneuvers with the weapon at his hands.
It looked like a giant Ax or a Halberd but different to a halberd, having neither a hook at the back nor a spear point at the top.
Only one suitable name came to Argus' mind...
"It's a Bardiche." He murmured.
Then out of nowhere, Malpi who is silently listening from their talks just now, suddenly interjected.
"Let me give it a try!" And became more confident as he stepped his right foot to receive the weapon from the old man.
But the Old man waved his hands in reply...
"Wait! You have a fine weapon at you. Mind if I inspect yours?" Pointing at the rod which Argus has been holding.
It was a weapon Miguel received from Banuk-Rhanuk.
The weapon was hidden from when Miguel trekked some trails away when he sneaked outside the Alipin's Grounds.
But later Miguel came to retrieve it, placing it in the same hut from which the Baby Croc, Ario is located.
Ever since Miguel had cooked a meal for the Saman, the Saman had insisted Miguel to be in charge of her afternoon meals. Now, the kitchen hut became a safe haven for Miguel's secrets, a replacement for hidden storage since his room is always checked by the other Alipins under Wagu Atubang's orders.
Well, Argus returned to possess his body back, and along with whatever Miguel has done he remembered everything down to its finest detail as if he was the one who did it.
But it is still foggy and complicated that he can't quite pin where the line must be drawn.
Fortunately, he found some good use of the spear which Miguel received, earlier he was planning on exchanging the spear for some new weapon or equipment but since it had developed into a drastic change like the sudden addition of the three Alipins and now this mysterious old man, his plans are subjected to change.
"Here!" Argus casually tossed the spear towards the old man.
And the old man busily inspected it.
"Such fine handcraft! Where did you get this?!" The old man cocked his head as he asked Argus.
"Someone gave me that as a gift." Argus politely replied.
Then Aen's ears twitched, "Isn't he that Banuk—" and before he could even finish his words...
Argus covered his mouth.
"Shhh" Argus hushed him as he pierced him with his dagger-like stare.
"Hoho! Oh! Well, this weapon of yours... It is not from the seven minor tribes. Not even from the four major tribes! It must have come from a faraway land... I'm guessing, that it is from Bisan." The old man simply stated, still busily inspecting the carvings on the spear.
"Bisan?" Argus muttered as the name Apok Amron flashed in his mind.
He still had no clue why would the Apok Amron ordered Datu Hagat to slay his father, and this mysterious Old man could probably give him a clue.
Also, he wondered what is the connection of Banuk-Rhanuk from Bisan?
"Does that Banuk-Rhanuk knew something?" Argus thought deeply.
"I thought he came from the four major tribes... looks like his origin is deeper than what he told."—Argus recalled Miguel and Banuk-Rhanuk's interactions but have found little to no clue that may guide him of Banuk-Rhanuk's origin.
"Hey Old Man! You mentioned that It's from Bisan, speak more about it!
As if the wind's breeze passed, the old man ignored Argus.
What dangled in his fingertips are those finely etched gecko designs that are coated with gold.
"Although the blade's end has been chipped and the handle and its sides have been crooked, I think I can still fix this." The Old man suddenly states while repeatedly rubbing his chiseled jawlines and a twirl to his white beard.
"Hey! Old Man! answer me!" Argus yells as agitated he can be.
"I have heard you, young man... and I know who you are." The old man said while planting the spear to the ground.
"But first, let's watch how your subordinate shall slash that sculpture." The old man smiles as if to tease Argus more.
"Old man! You could simply just tell!" Argus impatiently yelled.
"Hmph! I have to be satisfied first hehe." The old man replied.
And with that, Argus had no choice but to obediently comply.