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But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
( Ephesians 5 : 3 )
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Ze was watching Hula getting scolded by his mother. His mother's character changed like a flipped coin after she finished crying, relieving her pent-up worries.
Hula was now running around, trying not to get caught by her, as she wanted to punish him for going to the mountains where danger lurked in every corner.
Ze could feel the sadness forming in Zeru's heart as he remembered his mother. After finally catching Hula, she noticed Ze, who was standing with a horned bear behind him. Ze simply bowed to her, and Hula began his explanation.
She welcomed him into the house, and Ze accepted her hospitality. She gave him the spare clothes she had and asked Ze to take a bath. Ze quickly bathed; he didn't have the luxury of taking a hot water bath in the mountains. He usually used the freezing cold river water. He was also given a change of clothes; he wore the oversized clothes that were given to him and folded them to fit his size.
Ze sat with Hula, drinking milk. Hula's mother gave them hot milk to warm them up
"Thank you," Zeru thanked Hula's mother for her generosity.
She had taken care of him without asking who he was or where he had come from. She even gave them hot milk, which was more valuable than gold in the north.
"It's okay, for a child to survive in the harsh mountains, it must have been difficult," Hula's mother sympathized.
She was worried about Hula when he got lost, but she could also feel the pain Ze must have gone through to survive in the harsh land, despite being not much older than Hula.
"No, I am stronger than I look," Ze stated the truth.
Hula's mother simply smiled at Ze's words, observing the kind child pretending to be strong.
"I also killed the horned bear outside," Ze said, proving his strength.
"Oh!" Hula's mother was a bit surprised.
She had completely forgotten about the 10-foot monster lying in front of her house.
"Is there any problem in the village? Everyone seems agitated," Ze asked.
He could sense that something was wrong from the way people looked at him. They were cautious and alert, as if worried about something.
"It's just that the monsters that usually live in the mountains started to move out. They have been hunting near the edges, so going hunting became a problem. Sometimes they attack the livestock that roams around the village," she explained the situation happening in the village. She had a worried look as she turned to Hula.
"It wasn't much at first, but they have increased in the past year. So, most people are considering relocation," she sighed.
Ze listened and analyzed the situation. The stronger monsters moved out from their habitats and hunted humans who ventured near the mountains. All his analysis led to two possibilities: either there is a strong monster in the mountains that wasn't there before, which occupied the other monsters' territory and forced them to migrate, or someone is behind it.
After pondering a bit more, Ze got up from his seat. "Can I have a knife?" Ze asked. Hula's mother was startled by Ze's sudden question. "I need to skin the horned bear before it rots," Ze explained.
"If you're planning to skin it, bring it to the back," Hula's mother suggested.
Ze nodded in response and opened the front door. He saw many children sitting on top of the horned bear, playing with it. Ze walked to the horned bear and started dragging it towards the back. The children who saw the bear being dragged away climbed on it for a ride.
"Wooooo!" they shouted.
Ze didn't mind them as he pulled it towards the back.
The children got down as they reached the destination, and Hula brought a knife to Ze. Ze lifted the bear and hung it upside down on a pole that seemed to have been made for skinning. Hula sat with the other children who were watching Ze with curious eyes.
"Hula, who is this guy?" one of them asked.
"I've never seen him before. Is he new?"
They bombarded Hula with questions about Ze, who was new in the village. Hula answered, exaggerating a little bit, as he shared his adventure in the mountains.
...
Ze continued with his work, placing a bowl under the hung bear and cutting its neck, allowing the blood dripped into the bowl.
"Oh, did that really happen?"
"Yes, it did."
"Amazing!"
The children who listened to Hula were amazed by his story.
Ze proceeded with the skinning after the blood stopped dripping. He skillfully cut the soft part of the skin around the tough hide. With mastery, he dissected the horned bear, cutting the skin from its muscles and the muscles from the bone without wasting anything.
After completing his operation, Ze turned to look at the children who were watching him. They had amazed expressions on their faces. Unlike children their age who would feel repulsed by the blood, they were eager and carefully observing, perhaps having seen it many times before. However, there was a clear difference—they hadn't witnessed death.
Hula walked up to Ze and said, "Brother, I'll help," as he lifted the bowl full of blood.
The weight was too much for him, and he staggered. He stopped and steadied himself, hugging the bowl tightly. He began to walk but within a few steps he tripped on his own leg and fell face-first. The bowl of blood poured onto Hula, who managed to steady himself. Hula turned red with blood, and with a shocked expression, he reacted like a rusty gear.
Everyone stood in silence, looking at him. Then, they all burst into laughter, unable to control themselves. Ze simply smiled. Hula, covered in dark red blood, started to laugh along with them.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
Ze turned toward the sound of running footsteps, looking at the guests with a smile on his face. However, they seemed shocked, their eyes widening as they stood frozen in place. Ze fully turned to face them. The guard he had seen before was one of the people who had arrived. The guard gripped his spear, and another man reached for his sword.
Observing their reactions, Ze tightened his grip on the knife. They evaluated each other, waiting for the other to make a move. The other man drew his blade and assumed a defensive stance.
"Chief, what are you doing here?" a voice came from behind.
They all turned toward the voice. Hula looked at them as he wiped the blood off his face, but both men didn't loosen their grip on their weapons.
"Chief," voices chorused from behind.
They looked at the children who approached from the side.
'Things have become complicated.'
'If we attack, the children will be in danger.'
The chief and the guards communicated silently with their eyes. The chief sheathed his weapon.
"What happened?" the guard asked.
Hula began to explain the situation.
....
Ze was sitting at the table. He was facing a man who was sitting across from him, and he was much older. He had come here to talk with him, but the way he reacted when he saw him was peculiar. Both sat in silence. Ze was sitting nonchalantly, but the chief was trying to evaluate him. He was a soldier who had participated in the rebellion.
"What do you want?" Ze asked, trying to start a conversation.
"I would like to ask, who are you? What do you want?" the chief questioned.
He was here to interrogate Ze, who had come to his village.
"I am Zeru, son of Callista Flameheart," Ze introduced himself.
"I am Zeru!," Zeru added.
The chief looked at Ze. The name Flameheart held power across this continent, but why was the child of Flameheart here?
"I am Bran, the chief of the village," the chief introduced himself and continued his question, "But why should I believe that you are a Flameheart?"
Anyone can claim they are from a wealthy family after all. There are many forgers who create false documents to scam or deceive others. Even he, a village chief, could own a mansion in documents with some money.
Ze took something out of his pockets and slid it toward the chief.
The chief looked at the object Ze had placed and surprise flashed across his eyes. It was the crest of the Flameheart that Zeru had received. The crest was crimson red, decorated with gold, and featured a flaming heart with crossed swords.
The chief checked to confirm whether it was real or not; he had seen one after the war ended.
"Okay, I will believe that you are a Flameheart, but why is the young master here instead of his castle?"
He knew that there was a Flameheart Castle in the mountains that was used for training.
"Well, a cuckoo tried to push the hatchling out of the nest not knowing that it would survive," Ze smiled at the chief.
"Where did the cuckoo come from?--_--?" Zeru wondered.
The chief understood the situation. Betrayal happens most often in times of peace.
"What do you want?" the chief asked.
Ze smiled at the chief's question. What did he need? What did he have to offer?
"Well, I want a sword, some gear, and good food. It's been a long time since I had cooked food," Ze replied.
"I can arrange for them, but what do we get?" the chief inquired.
"I will clear your troubles," Ze spoke like a salesman.
"Are you trying to scam him, (•__•)?" Zeru wondered.
"You mean you will clear the monsters?" the chief clarified.
"Sharp, aren't we?" Ze complimented.
The chief looked at Ze. Even though the offer was tempting, he had to consider it. He only needed to give him equipment, and Ze would clear the monsters. This would also guarantee the safety of the village. But the question was, could he? Even though he was young, he had survived the mountains.
The chief had stopped considering Zeru as a child the minute he started to talk.
"So, what do you think?" Ze asked.
"I accept," the chief agreed to the deal.
He accepted because he didn't have anything to lose. Even if the person before him could not do it, it won't affect him or his people.
Both got up from their seats.
Ze extended his hand for a handshake.
....
"Let's work together," the chief said as he shook Ze's hand.
"Okay," Ze replied.
The chief and Ze walked out of the room and were greeted by Hula's mother and guard David. The chief spoke with her for a bit before returning.
Hula approached Ze and asked, "Brother, why did the chief come?"
Ze looked at him and replied, "Just to check on us. We will have to work tomorrow."
"Come, the food is ready," Hula's mother called.
Ze and Hula moved to eat dinner as the sun had set. After finishing their meal, Ze was given a room to rest in.
"What are you planning to do?" Zeru asked.
"We will get gear tomorrow. We only need some more mana cores. After our work is finished, we should go back," Ze explained.
"We are going home, (^o^)," Zeru responded.
"Yep, and along the way, we can also defeat some people," Ze added.
"Why are you thinking of beating people? (-_-;)," Zeru questioned.
"Well, if we're going to the center of the enemy camp, we need to show our power so they won't even think about fighting us," Ze explained with an evil smile.
"You sound like pure evil, (°_°)," Zeru remarked.
"Ha ha ha, I am the great evil, even devils fear me. I am the darkness that swallows the light, Gods shiver at my name. Fear me," Ze mimicked, arrogantly. Ze continued, "If I were evil, I would have killed everyone in this village and absorbed their life. Or I could have created an army of undead to massacre this continent."
"That does sound evil," Zeru admitted.
"He he he," Ze chuckled at Zeru's remarks.
"Even your laughter sounds like that of an evil person," Zeru added.
"Ha ha ha ha," Ze laughed in response.
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