Abel and company had arrived at what seemed to be the entrance to the village. He couldn't help but be mesmerized by the sheer size of it. "I severely underestimate the size this village would be. Just look at that gate! It's fucking massive.!" He thought to himself and wondered if he had finally found his new home.
Jacob and company led the huge unknown man through the front gates as the people that had gathered awaiting their return stood in awe at the scene before them.
"Who is that man that Jacob has with him? Why doesn't he have any clothing on his chest? Did you see that thing between his legs! Why is it that big.!" Several villagers voiced their opinions as they witnessed Jacob and company simply walk past them no doubt heading to the village head.
Abel meanwhile had obviously caught the villager's murmurs directed at him considering they weren't being subtle about it. He was honestly still a bit in awe at the sheer size of the village as they had continued to go forward up an enormous hill. Clearly these people were not just any ordinary caveman like he had previously thought when seeing their simple spears and clothing.
This could honestly rival a small town just in sheer size and this fact made him even more curious as to who exactly was this village chief Jacob had mentioned. If he was capable of managing this entire village then he must be someone of competence indeed.
Jacob, Falco, and Layla watched the man's expressions of awe with differing reactions swirling in their head. While Jacob and Falco felt a big smug at this stranger admiring their village, Layla had other thoughts in her pretty head.
"Why am I so intrigued by his actions? I barely met him just a week ago for goodness sakes." Layla thought feeling confused at her reactions. She felt she was being disrespectful to her husband Falco that so much of her attention had gravitated towards him and away from her beloved.
"Well now that we have arrived, I guess that problem will solve itself." She nodded internally but once again a very small emotion lingered inside her. Disappointment at the idea of her not talking with him like she had done for the past week as they traveled back to their village. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was going to miss it.
She was brought out of her revery as she heard Falco motioning her and the rest to leave. "Go ahead and head home Layla. I'm sure little Mila has missed her mother fiercely. Jacob and I will present Abel to the village chief."
Abel noticed the mostly always fierce warrior woman Layla show such an incredibly warm smile at the mention of her daughter Mila. "So, she has a daughter with this Falco huh." I mean he wasn't that surprised really, but it still rubbed him the wrong way a bit.
"Of course, dear. Don't take so long and make sure to come home after you're done with Chief Lorak. Mila will be sad if she doesn't see you as well." She voiced and walked away taking with her the rest of the crew besides Falco and Jacob as they stood beside Abel.
Jacob and Falco nudged him forward as they now stood before an enormous structure that seemed to be this Larko's home and the heart of the village.
Going through the huge wooden doors his eyes squinted a bit at the sudden change in lighting before adjusting and welcomed with the sheer extravagance of the place. Clearly this village or at least Lorak was rolling in the money as he spotted so many amazing items all around the interior.
He was suddenly brought out of his continued awe by Jacob's voice warning him on how to behave around the village chief who they were quickly approaching.
"Do not speak unless spoken to. Do not show any sign of hostility while near him. Do not even dare to utter those ridiculous words you spoke to Layla if his wife makes an appearance."
Abel inwardly scoffed at all his demands but on the outside, he simply gave a small smile and nodded in understanding. "Don't worry so much Jacob. I might have forgotten my memories but thankfully my manners have remained intact."
Jacob nodded and glanced at Falco who held the stranger's other arm motioning for him to continue forward. Just ahead sat the village chief known as Lorak in a huge impressive looking almost throne like chair residing right in the middle of the huge home.
Abel now stood face to face with the imposing looking village chief. He noticed quickly that the man's stature rivaled his own as he had now stood up.
Lorak who had a brief talk with Jacob let loose his deep and menacing voice as he began to question the strange unknown man his subordinates had brought before him.
"Abel was it." Both his huge hands now rested on his own shoulders as his dark piercing eyes lingered on Abel's own blue ones. "Jacob mentions they found you out in the middle of my forest completely in the nude with nary a scratch on your body."
His grip tightened even more, and his eyes grew even fiercer. "They also mentioned that you saved them from a giant beast with nothing but a punch. Are they perhaps exaggerating.?" He questioned clearly not believing such a creature would perish from a simple punch. Even more so because he himself was incapable of such a feat.
Abel could see the chief was trying to intimidate him, but he just shrugged it off and nodded. "They have not lied to you Chief...?" Even though he had heard his name mentioned by Jacob, he still wanted him to say it himself.
Lorak meanwhile did not hesitate to identify himself. "I am Chief Lorak, leader of this entire village and commander of its warriors and peoples." His hands had now left his shoulders as he took a few steps back fully looking at him with the same fierce expression from before.
Abel nodded in acknowledgement. "Chief Lorak, I humbly ask of you to allow this wandering soul to join your great village and help it prosper it even more." He made sure to lay on the heavy praise having a feeling what kind of man this Lorak was.
Just like he had guessed a small almost imperceptible smirk lingered on Lorak's face before quickly disappearing and regaining its previous fierce expression.
"So, you wish to join my village do you. Do you believe it so easy to join stranger? How do I know you aren't an enemy spy wanting to join my ranks to only sabotage me later.?"
Suddenly an extremely heavy and oppressive feeling of pure dread came rolling from Abel's own body. His previous constraints shattered and fell to the floor while his now dull looking blue eyes focused on Lorak's own. "Because all of you here would already be dead..."