Markus was sitting in his room nursing his red cheek. He had run back home like Mazliu had told him and told his mother everything. She did not respond the way he thought she would. I mean he was the one who was almost killed by the freak. I mean how can a person be so strong? His mother ran off to the Chief’s house after telling Markus to go to his room and to not come out until she got back.

As he was thinking about this he heard a light knock on the door. He had no intention of making his mom any angrier so he didn’t go get it, hoping whoever it was would leave thinking no one was home. After a few minutes of silence he heard it again a little louder this time. He continued to ignore it but when he heard the knock once again only a moment later he got up and opened the door to the house yelling “My parents are not home…” realizing who was standing at the door he quickly regretted his words. It was Arterus.

“I know” Arterus responded. “I could feel only your aura in the house.”

“Where are your parents?”

Markus started to fear that the boy came to finish what he started. Arterus could kill me with a single punch or kick and no one in the village would bat an eye.

Stammering he said “Mm mmy Dad is out working with the other men, and my mom is probably at your house begging your Dad not to be angry with me.”

“Why would he be?”

Markus’ fear was replaced with confusion. Is he not angry with me for throwing those snowballs at him? He thought to himself. Then why did he try to kill me? The pressure he was exuding in that moment was definitely meant to kill.

“Because of what I did”

“Ah” Arterus responded. “I wanted to apologize for that”

“I have never interacted with any of the kids our age before you all and did not realize you were just playing a harmless prank on me for fun.”

Markus’ blood began to boil “You almost killed me because of a misunderstanding!”

“I got scolded by my mom because of you and will probably get another scolding later when my dad gets home and finds out about this!”

“If it helps, my dad is not mad at you or your parents. He sent me here to apologize to you. I was the one at fault for not recognizing what was happening and not sensing how strong you were to see you were not a threat to me. I should not have responded the way I did and I am really sorry for that.” Arterus said this with tears welling up in his eyes.

“I just wanted to make a friend. I didn't mean to almost kill you.” Arterus’ head was hanging low now and it was taking everything he had to not cry in front of Markus.

Markus felt a tinge of sympathy. He was at fault as well for pushing the buttons of someone he did not know very well. “I am sorry too.”

“What about this, let's start from the beginning”

Markus stuck out his hand “Hi my name is Markus, What is your name?”

Arterus looked at him confused for a moment. Then realized the boy was letting him restart. He hesitantly shook Markus’ hand saying “My name is Arterus”

“Do you want to come in and hang out?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Arterus responded sniffling “yes. I would like that”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Mazliu was disappointed in himself for not foreseeing that this could happen. He could only hope that markus’ parents would forgive Arterus. If he had to, he would beg on his knees to not hold any resentment towards the boy. Then his wife walked in saying he had a visitor. He always had a visitor but this time it was not about the village. He could sense Markus’ mother in the other room.

“Thank you Evelynn. Can you leave the room to us for the time being?”

“Of course honey.”

With that Evelynn moved to another room with the pretext of needing to finish the chores around the house.

Mazliu walked into the room, anxiety filling his heart.

“Hello Laura, I am sure you are wondering why I asked Markus to send you here to talk to me.”

“Markus told me everything.” She said while fidgeting in her seat. Mazliu had started to sit down across from her at the table but then stopped.

“Oh, well that will make things easier” Mazliu would stand up fully and walk to the side of Laura.

Getting on his knees and bowing he said “Please forgive my son, it is my fault I had not raised him to control his strength or to distinguish from non threats and threats. I did not foresee him almost killing someone because they threw a snowball at him.”

Laura was left in shock. She could not believe Mazliu, the savor of every single person in the village. Someone who had found them suffering in the wilderness and brought them here to a sanctuary of safety, free from the threats of beasts and monsters, was bowing down to her asking for forgiveness. As soon as she snapped out of the shock of this situation she almost dove onto Mazliu to try and get him up. Pulling with all her strength and starting to sob “I did not come here to condemn you”

“I came to ask for forgiveness on behalf of my son” continuing to sob

“I also selfishly did not want you to have ill will towards my family or gods forbid you banish us from the village.”

Mazliu stood up at Laura’s insistence for him to stand.

“It is a relief you have no ill will.” Mazliu signed with heavy relief.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Back at Markus’ house the two boys were outside in the woods playing tag. Though it was a lot of Arterus very easily catching Markus and Markus never being able to catch Arterus unless he let him.

After a while Markus was tired and heaving heavy breaths while sitting on the ground he looked up to Arterus smiling “Man you are fast. If I didn’t know better I would say you were ranked”

“But there is no way you are, I mean we are only 12 years old.”

Arterus looking very shy again all of a sudden quietly said “I am ranked”

“What was that” Markus said with a raised eyebrow in between heavy breathes

“I am ranked.” Arterus said a little louder now.

Marus was stunned. His mind was whirling for a second. I mean he had heard stories of talented men and heroes who were able to get to copper rank by the age of 15 but to do it at 12 was insanity. “How in the world did you get to copper before 15?! I mean the normal age people do it is between 20 and 25 but you did it at 12!?”

Now Arterus somehow looking even shier and his blue skin somehow turning beat red he said. “Low Iron….”

Markus was speechless. His mind was black. There was no way. He must be lying, but when he thought back on it. The boy moved so quickly when dodging dozens of snow balls and again when he caught up to kick him in the back. He was a blur of motion that his eyes could only barely perceive.

“.. can .. can you teach me?”

“Teach you what?”

“Like training. To be strong. Like you.”

“I mean sure, but I need to ask my dad since he is the one who trains with me.”

“Really! You’ll ask! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Just then the two boys heard a woman's voice from Markus’ house yelling

“Markus time to come in for dinner and bring your friend in as well.”

“Ok Mom” he yelled back

Looking back to Arterus

“Come on let's go eat”