Thirty Minutes Earlier...
"Why does he have to stay with me Chief.!?" Jacob protested fiercely not wanting for this stranger to even remotely get close to his wife and daughter. Purposely forgetting that if it wasn't for this stranger none of them himself included would even be having this conversation.
Falco meanwhile just remained silent thankful to the Chief that he didn't have to house that strong stranger. Thankful he did not have to witness his constant flirtation towards his own wife. Also conveniently forgetting that it was him that saved them all. Which included his wife.
"Because I said so Jacob! Lest you forget I'm the one that put you in charge for this mission. Which let me remind you, was to simply recon the area.!" He then took a deep breath trying to contain his rising frustration. "Not...bring a complete stranger right to our home."
Jacob flinched slightly at his obvious discontent with him. I mean what else was he supposed to do with him. Obviously, the stranger had clearly mentioned his intention of wanting to find some help. He wasn't simply going to be left behind for goodness's sake.
Still at the end of the day he was a simple warrior facing against the leader of the entire village. He had no chance and thus quickly accepted his Chief's decision.
"How long will he stay in my home Chief Lorak? He can't stay there forever! I have a wife and child to worry about.!" He pleaded his case clearly wanting for this situation to be over as quickly as possible.
Chief Lorak had by now settled down enough to calmly reassure his subordinate. "Do not worry so much Jacob. It will be only for a couple nights at most. By then I should be able to find him his own place. Clearly, he isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
Chief Lorak silently thanked the gods that at least Abel wasn't a complete psychopath like the people from the village from the north. Those guys gave him the shivers just thinking about their barbaric ways and how they handle problems.
Falco just watched the entire conversation in silence but internally he was cursing out a storm thinking all this time the Chief would have thrown him out after his clear disrespect to him.
Jacob let out a sigh of relief after finding out he wasn't going to suffer the stranger's presence for too long after all. However, his mood changed for the worse once more after his Chief mentioned that he was responsible for showing him the village and its important locations.
"Show him the necessary locations only. Like the butcher, doctor, and seamstress and whatever else you come across." He then turned his attention to his other subordinate. "Falco, make sure to bring your wife with you tomorrow. I want to hear her side of the story."
Falco paled at his request but nonetheless nodded in acceptance. "Yes, Chief Lorak." He then saw Lorak begin to head deeper into his luxurious house clearly finding it strange Abel had not returned yet.
Present Time...
Chief Lorak eyed Abel coming out from his toilet as he signaled him to follow him back to where the others were waiting. "Also, in case you were wondering this will only be for a short time until I find you somewhere to call your own. Until then please bear with it."
Abel nodded honestly not really caring that much after finding out that he wouldn't simply be staying with a man the whole time. Surely having a beautiful woman which he didn't doubt she was would make the couple nights more enjoyable.
Speaking of beautiful woman, it didn't take too long to pass right in front of the same room he no doubt Astra was still in with her daughter.
Lorak firmly opened the door to his room and subconsciously released a pleased expression watching his beautiful wife interacting with their daughter. With a wave he called her. "Honey. Have you properly introduced yourself to Abel here.?"
He didn't want to risk anything rubbing the strong stranger the wrong way lest he take offense and go nuts. So, introducing his wife was the least he could do considering they were already there.
Just as Astra was about to nod her head that she had indeed introduced herself she was quickly interrupted by the very man the subject was about.
"She has not Chief Lorak. I would be delighted to know your beautiful wife's name." He smiled as he watched Astra's obvious confusion wondering why he had lied. Obviously, he just wanted to hear her melodious voice again.
Chief Lorak ignored Abel's blatantly inappropriate comment towards his wife before motioning her to quickly get this over with and introduce herself. "Come honey. Introduce yourself to Abel here. He will be staying in my village for the foreseeable future so might as well become acquainted with each other."
Astra had already recovered from her confusion and went ahead and heeded her husband's request. With a gentle smile gracing her lips she slowly walked forward before bowing her head a bit. "You may call me Astra, Abel."
Abel's smile grew wider before he completely wrecked the previous respectful atmosphere with his audacious request. "May I have a hug, Lady Astra.?"
Astra stood shocked mouth agape at the mention of another hug after barely having survived the previous one just moments ago.
Chief Lorak quickly denied his request with a fierceness Abel had not previously seen. "Absolutely not. You will not be hugging my wife, Abel. Please show some common respect."
Abel noticed Lorak's seriousness clearly displeased at his intentions, but did he care that he had disrespected him? Not in the slightest. It wasn't even a thought in his mind.
With a shrug of his shoulders, he became completely disinterested in his wife before he began to walk away. "That's too bad. Well, if we're finished here let's continue."
Lady Astra remained indifferent as she watched both her husband and stranger leave. Internally however some very weird thoughts were swirling around her pretty little head.
"Why was he acting so cold at the end there. Was he somehow upset with me because he didn't get another hug.? She wondered before she was interrupted by her cute daughters' little hands.
"Mama? Why are you sad.?" The cute bright eyes little girl titled her head to the side. "Is it because of Papa's friend? Do you want a hug.?"
Before Astra could even think about her daughter's words, she felt her small body grab onto her legs and begin to hug her.
"Don't be sad Mama. I will give you all the hugs you want." Nami hugged her even harder trying her best to make her Mama happy again. She didn't like it when she was sad.
Astra had a gentle smile before she ran her dainty hand across her daughter's hair. "Thank you for making me happy again little Nami. I'm okay now."
Even though she said that, internally was an entirely different story. "Why was I even sad in the first place. Why do I even care he didn't hug me again? What the hell is going on with me.?"