The returning men trudged through the village, their irritation festering like an open wound. They saw their wives, sisters and daughters gathered around the white-haired outsider who had taken the center of attention.
Gathering in the chief's tent, the men found the leader seated alongside his family. Indulis, the chief, had an air of calm authority, though his face bore the weariness of someone who had seen too much in recent days.
His daughters sat nearby, and his wife—who had been one of the women learning Rune Speaking from Vastarael—stood close.
"Chief," one of the older warriors began, his tone controlled but simmering with frustration, "who is that man? Why is he here? And why are all the women, including our wives, flocking around him like he's some… god?"
To them, Vastarael didn't look like a seventeen year old. With his height and mature look, he looked like a man in his early twenties.
Indulis leaned back, his eyes calm but sharp as they moved across the room.
"You're speaking of Vastarael."
"Vasr... Vas... anyways... what gives him the right to command so much attention in our village? This is our home. Our people."
Indulis sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had already expected this. He already knew how much charm and charisma he carried. Even his own daughters were carried away.
And as for his wife...
She was unreadable. He didn't know what she thought of him.
"You just returned from the hunt, so I'll explain it plainly. Four days after you left, the village was attacked by Krepsunas. Not one or two, but dozens. The creatures you faced in the wild were nothing compared to their numbers and ferocity. Do you know who protected this village while you were gone?"
The warriors glanced at each other uneasily, their bravado faltering.
Indulis continued, his voice rising slightly.
"It wasn't me. It wasn't the women or the elders. It was him. Vastarael singlehandedly saved the village. If he hadn't stepped in when he did, you would've come back to a field of corpses. You would have seen the bodies of our families, your wives, and your children."
The tent fell silent.
One of the younger warriors clenched his fists.
"That… might be true. But why is he teaching Rune Speaking? That's the women's domain, not his!"
Indulis's wife, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.
"Because he's more than just a fighter. He's a Rune Drawer. He's shown us things we couldn't even imagine, runes that heal, protect, and enhance the energy we already use. Would you rather he withheld this knowledge while we were being slaughtered by Krepsunas?"
The men exchanged uneasy looks.
"But still," another warrior argued, "this man is a stranger. He's… too perfect. Look at the way the women look at him! He's practically stealing our families' affection!"
At this, Indulis's normally composed face darkened.
"You dare reduce the lives he saved to petty jealousy? Have you forgotten what it means to honor someone who protects your kin?"
The warriors shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. They didn't like Vastarael's presence at all. It disrupted the natural order of their village, where men were warriors and women were Rune Speakers. Yet they couldn't deny the chief's words.
An older warrior finally broke the silence.
"It's not that we don't respect what he's done. But you must understand, Chief, his presence makes us… uneasy. He's not one of us. He's different."
"I understand your concerns. Vastarael is not one of us. But his actions have spoken louder than any words ever could. He saved us. He taught us. And whether you like it or not, he's earned his place here. If you have a problem with him, then perhaps you should speak to him directly. In fact, challenge him into a duel."
"..."
"Since you don't trust him, then try to challenge him in a fight. If any of you win, then he'll leave. But if you all lose, then you will all agree to let him stay. Is that acceptable?"
They all agreed, which made Rienne and Taryenne wince.
"They're dead."
"Foolish egotistical men."
Even their mother agreed. "Fools. Too much pride."
The warriors didn't know why the women reacted that way. Little did they know that they would regret challenging him.
°°°°°°°°
The tension in the snowy field was evident as Vastarael stood alone, calm and composed, on a flat stretch of snow-covered ground. The warriors lined up before him, ready to challenge him. Behind them, the entire tribe gathered to witness the challenge. Women whispered among themselves, not bothering to hide their admiration for the white-haired outsider.
"Vastarael!" A woman called from the crowd, her voice cutting through the cold air. "You've got this!"
Another chimed in, "Show them why you're our savior!"
The cheers and encouragement were directed solely at Vastarael, leaving the warriors gritting their teeth. Resentment simmered in their hearts, their pride battered not just by the challenge but by the fact that their own people, their own wives and daughters included, were openly rooting for him.
From the sidelines, Indulis watched the scene unfold, his wife standing beside him. He sighed deeply, shaking his head.
"They brought this upon themselves."
His wife smirked. "Men and their pride. They think muscle alone will save them. They've no idea what they're up against."
"They'll learn soon enough," Indulis replied. "I just hope Vastarael doesn't break them too badly."
Nearby, Rienne and Taryenne, their daughters, exchanged knowing glances.
"He's going to make fools out of them," Rienne said with a grin.
"Fools? He's going to make them beg for mercy," Taryenne replied, her tone dripping with amusement.
Their mother chuckled. "Serves them right for underestimating him. It's not just his strength. He's clever. You don't challenge someone like that without knowing what you're getting into."
Rienne leaned closer to her sister, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"And he's so handsome. Honestly, watching him fight might be the highlight of my day."
Taryenne giggled. "You're not wrong. He's like a moving sculpture. Flawless in every way."
Their father coughed loudly, giving them both a pointed look.
"That's enough of that talk."
But his wife's teasing voice cut in. "Oh, come now, Indulis. Even you have to admit he's easy on the eyes."
Indulis shot her a sharp look. Was she also charmed by his looks?
"Woman, don't push me."
She laughed heartily, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"Relax. I'm just admiring the savior of our village."
°°°°°°°
As the first warrior stepped forward, the crowd fell silent. He was a tall, muscular man wielding a heavy bone ax. He stomped onto the field, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders.
"You may have the favor of the women, outsider, but let's see how you handle a real fight."
Vastarael didn't respond. He simply adjusted his grip on his sapphire glaive.
'They're so weak.'
The fight began with a charge, the warrior swinging his ax with all his strength. Vastarael sidestepped effortlessly, his movements so fluid it looked as if he were gliding on ice.
Before the warrior could recover, Vastarael spun his glaive, knocking the ax out of his hands with a precise strike. A follow-up sweep of the glaive's shaft sent the man sprawling into the snow.
The crowd erupted in cheers, led by the women.
"Master Vastarael! You're amazing!"
"Show them how it's done!"
The defeated warrior scrambled to his feet, his face red with shame, and trudged back to the group.
One by one, the warriors stepped forward, and one by one, they were defeated. Vastarael didn't just outmatch them in strength. His technique was flawless. Every movement was deliberate and fast. Some were disarmed with humiliating ease, others sent sprawling with a single blow.
They were shocked to learn that he was holding back a lot for the sake of their village. He didn't want to harm anyone because their families were watching.
He was building a reputation, not trying to beat men half to death to prove how strong he was. Of course, everyone who stayed in the camp knew about his intention of not harming the challengers too much.
He only hit them once and they only suffered minor injuries.
The women continued to cheer, their admiration growing with every match. Even the children clapped and laughed, delighting in Vastarael's effortless victories. Now, the children had a person they wanted to admire.
By the time the last warrior fell, Vastarael stood alone in the center of the field, his glaive resting lightly on his shoulder. He wasn't even tired. Snowflakes clung to his white hair, catching the light and making him seem almost otherworldly.
"Glad that's done."
Indulis shook his head again, a small smile tugging at his lips as he saw the men sprawled on the ground, panting heavily.
"I warned them. Maybe now they'll learn some humility. Though I doubt it."
Rienne sighed dreamily. "He really is something else, isn't he?"
"Absolutely," Taryenne agreed. "I could watch him fight all day."
Meanwhile, the defeated warriors slumped back to the crowd, their pride in tatters. They couldn't deny Vastarael's strength or skill, but the sting of their loss left them feeling more conflicted than ever.
"It's time for us to move. Should we ask him to join us?"
Indulis glanced at his wife and sighed deeply.
"I'll talk to him tonight."
Little did they know that Vastarael already received a notification the second he defeated the last competitor.
______
Well, here's another version of it. Hope you have fun with the next chapters... too bad I don't want to make my guy suffer...