"Mayor Kinton," Tars called as he stepped out from the watching villagers.
"Tars," the Mayor replied after seeing him. "Did you need something?"
"I would like to meet the newcomers."
Mayor Kinton looked at Tars with confusion covering his features. It lasted only a moment before he shrugged and seemed to dismiss his question.
"Of course, Protector," he said.
What grumbling there was before instantly jumped to shouted complaining and questions.
Mayor Kinton seemed to expect their response and began waving everybody down.
"The Savior saved our lives and has made a Vow to help the village," he yelled over the protesting voices of the crowd. "He has earned his place," the Mayor stated with finality.
He then ignored the crowd and led Tars to meet the new group of villagers.
"Ponter," Kinton began, "glad you could make it."
"Seems the Gods haven't finished with me yet," the one called Ponter replied with a rueful laugh. It seemed to Tars that this old man was seeking death. He was the type who sought death from either too much pain or a desire to see those on the other side. But Tars could tell this man was stubborn, he might seek death, but it would not be a pointless one. Perhaps he fears what the Gods will do if he didn't appreciate his life. Or maybe this Ponter simply wanted to have a good story to tell when he met whoever it was he wanted to meet once more.
Tars didn't know the man's reasoning, but he had a decent grasp of who he was. He'd met the type before, he just couldn't remember when. It felt so familiar …
Tars then looked through the half a dozen people behind Ponter. They seemed like older men and women who were in shock, their eyes would lose focus of their surroundings for a few moments only to snap back to clarity before gradually fading out again. They were doubtlessly reliving what they just survived.
He didn't sense anything special from the group, they were mostly honest folk, but hardly perfect. If they had special skills or talents Tars didn't know.
"These folks have had a bit of a rough morning, Mayor," Ponter said. "Have anywhere they could have a sit down and maybe a bite of something?" He glanced at the dazed group behind him for a moment. "Maybe even a drink or two. The Gods know a drink or five helped me through the harder times."
"I don't think they helped as much as you claim," Kinton said with a frown. Seeing their faces, the Mayor let out a resigned sigh. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."
A few minutes later there was another gathering in the shed. It seemed to have been cleaned up a bit more since the last time Tars had been inside it. It was turning into a regular council room. Tars held his sword in his hand still, the tip pointing towards the floor, for safety, ease of carrying, and for the simple fact he had nowhere else to put it without stabbing the floor. Aside from the Protector, Mayor Kinton, Ponter, the woman in the slave collar, and Kino the Hunter were all inside as well.
Ponter looked pointedly at Tars then the Mayor, obviously wondering about his presence.
The Mayor answered the unspoken question. "This man is our savior, Tars. His circumstances are a bit … unusual, let's say, but he has made a Vow to protect this village's people and give assistance where he can. As he requested being here, I believe he might have something to add to this."
Ponter looked Tars up and down before shrugging. "Doesn't look like much, but if you say so."
"So, who is this, then?" the Mayor asked.
"This is Feerestia, an elven mercenary who was later enslaved by the Red Heels bandit gang," Ponter said while gesturing to the woman. She stared straight ahead without moving, but Tars had the feeling she was fully aware of everything happening around her.
"That's … unexpected," Kinton said with some hesitation. "So, was she a willing participant in the attack?"
"Ha! Not even a little bit," Ponter said with a laugh. "Even managed to knock out one of the bandits and stab another before they got her under control again."
The woman didn't twitch, still staring straight ahead. She was either so broken as to not care or had exemplary self-control. Tars knew that if she was able to twist her orders as Ponter claimed, she was not very broken at all.
"Then why is she still wearing that thing?" Kinton asked in disapproval.
Ponter looked at the woman in sympathy for a moment before looking back at the Mayor again. "For them," he said softly while waving his arm at the door of the shed. "The fools were scared and angry and wanted something to hurt."
"I see." The Mayor seemed sad imagining the situation. "I assume you hold her then? What will you do?"
"I would like her kept away from the others for a bit until things calm down some," he stated quickly. He'd obviously thought about this already. "Then when you have the time, if you could place her under a Vow like ya did this one," Ponter said while gesturing at Tars.
"Later tonight, then," the Mayor confirmed with a nod.
Ponter simply nodded before continuing. "You know what happened to my family, Kinton. She doesn't deserve this. I would let her make her own choice after that."
The Mayor grimaced and shook his head. "I know that, but they won't be happy about it. Even a Vow might not be enough."
Tars stepped forward. "You control her actions?", he asked Ponter simply, showing no hint of what he thought of it.
"For now," the stout man replied, obviously uncomfortable with that fact and not seeming to be happy about being questioned by this stranger either.
"Could you ask her what she would do should you release her of the slave collar?"
For the first time since she walked into the room the woman moved. Her head turned from the wall she stared at and studied Tars.
Ponter raised an eyebrow before turning to Feerestia. "Go on then, tell 'em what you told me."
Tars was about to interject about that not being what he'd asked but decided to let her speak.
"I never wanted to attack this village and I want nothing more than to leave you in peace," Feerestia answered. Her voice was deeper than Tars had expected, sounding somewhat gravely but still feminine. "If you release me, I will leave and not trouble you any longer."
Tars sensed a brief moment of dishonesty in her statement when she claimed to want to leave the village in peace. It took Tars a second to realize that the problem was the "want nothing more" part of the statement. She indeed wanted to leave them in peace, but it wasn't her greatest wish.
The others looked at Tars wanting to find out what he was doing. He refocused on Feerestia and tried to confirm his guess.
"You indeed did not want to attack the village, but what you really want is something different."
In the space of a second her eyes glowed with anger and hatred before her face fell into despair and then her face became calm like an impassive mask.
"What I really want is strength and to get revenge on the ones who did this to me," she pointed to the collar around her neck. She was careful to keep her fingers away from it, leaving Tars wondering what would happen if she tried. Despite the subject, Feerestia's voice was emotionless and her mask didn't slip again.
Tars was reminded of the image of his Oath of Vengeance. He had a feeling the Oath of Vengeance would be just as simple to create as his Oath of Protection was. The skill said he could use it to allow others to make an Oath, as well. Unfortunately, the last time he used it he was knocked unconscious and given Mana Exhaustion. He would attempt it with full mana in the morning if everyone was willing.
"What if I could offer you power?" he asked simply.
Mayor Kinton and Kino looked doubtful and Ponter looked suspicious, but Feerestia just stared at him without blinking. She must have seen what she needed to see because she asked an equally simple response. "What would you want?"
Ponter's face turned angry, not liking the direction this conversation was going.
Before he could speak, Tars asked her "Are you talented in the sword? I need a teacher."
The elven woman glanced at where her sword hung on her hip then spoke slowly in hesitation. "My sword style might not be something you can learn."
"Why not?" Tars asked curiously.
"I fuse Elemental Magic into my strikes," she answered. "It requires a different type of elemental skill than most races use."
"I see, that might be even better," Tars said happily. 'I might be able to get both Sword Arts and Elemental Skills from her!' he thought.
"Before you do anything else, Tars, I need a word with you," Mayor Kinton interrupted. "It might be best if you explained what happened earlier."
"The Oath of Protection, you mean?" Tars asked. "Yes, those here would probably wish to know, as well. What would you like to know?"
"Well, what is it?" the Mayor began before clarifying. "How is it different from the Vow's we use? I only know that I was given the option to upgrade the Vow into an Oath or keep them both separate."
The Mayor must have chosen to upgrade to the Oath, as there was no mention of a Vow in his status menu. Tars explained what little he knew from the skill description and fractured memories. "A Vow is a skill designed for merchants and criminals," he said. All those in the room were listening closely. Kinton wanted to deny his skill being tied to criminals, but Tars continued before he could interrupt.
"The biggest difference is that a Vow is based on the words you say while an Oath is based on what you truly mean."
"I made an Oath to do my best to assist and protect the people of this village. If it were a Vow and the villagers all moved to another location, I could ignore my Vow. My Oath, however, was meant for the people of the village, so it goes where they do. That is why an Oath is stronger."
Ponter cut in, his thoughts on protecting Feerestia. "And how would you make her stronger?"
"I can allow her to make an Oath of Vengeance," Tars looked at the elf and continued. "If she truly wishes for vengeance, the Oath will give her the strength to do so."
"I doubt it is that simple," Ponter pressed. "What kind of power, what are the downsides?"
"Truthfully, I don't remember. I know I made an Oath of Vengeance in the past, but I don't know what came of it."
Ponter scoffed, dismissing Tars' claims but Kino and Feerestia seemed interested. Mayor Kinton just watched.
Tars then turned to the Mayor. "She wasn't lying and holds no ill will. I would suggest not punishing her at all or disguising her punishment as something she would do anyway."
When Kinton nodded, considering Tars opinion, the Protector continued. "Also, if you are all willing, I will help her make an Oath of Vengeance in exchange for one year of her sword and elemental training. I will need to recover more mana first, so we can do it tomorrow morning." He directed the next part to Feerestia alone. "I would also ask, as a favor, to show me several of your skills tonight sometime. I have a quest about needing to learn new skills."
Feerestia looked at Ponter for her current Master's reply, but this only made him show a bitter expression.
"Don't look at me asking for permission! I never wanted to make you a slave to begin with!" he exclaimed.
"If I can, then," Feerestia said to Tars with a nod.
"If there's nothing else …" Tars said and after getting no answer he made his way out of the shed. As curious as he was, Tars wasn't well trusted yet. Also, his legs were about to give out on him and falling on the floor would lose what little respect he'd earned.
While walking back to the wagon he started searching for a familiar face somewhere, hoping there was more food to be had. 'I wonder if I'm always hungry because of this Weakened state or if I just naturally eat a lot?'