‘It’s almost time for dinner’
an old man mused to himself while grabbing a sword mid swing that was coming from behind him.
‘what should I cook?’
He pondered as his assailant continued its assault to the old man even after being disarmed. The assailant punched, dodged a swing from its former sword, dropped low, then kicked his opponent on the knees. In return, the old man jumped slightly while swinging his sword down, aiming at the neck. The assailant’s head would have been separated from its owner but it stayed intact since he only applied a slight amount of force to his swing and not to mention he was only using a wooden practice sword.
Pak!
“Aw! that hurt!”
A squeaky voice coming from a boy no older than 15 or 16 years yelled while rubbing the back of his head with his left hand. It didn’t hurt, but the sudden contact of the wooden sword with the back of his head made him yell.
“It’s getting dark, it might rain again soon, and it’s almost time for dinner. Go wash up while I clean this place up”
The old man’s soft words betrayed his authoritative voice, which may have sounded like an army is about to attack them and it’s a matter of life and death.
The boy but tried to complain and still wanted to continue sparring despite the old man’s order or ask depending on how a person interpreted his contradicting words and voice. But the boy obeyed since they just arrived in this village this afternoon and they have been travelling for almost three weeks encountering no civilization and not to mention a roof above his head this evening is much more welcome considering that he is not a fan of the harsh rains and cold winds at night.
“Nate, eat then rest early. I’ll be heading out”
The old man does that every time they find a town or village. After they trained, the old man will tell him to wash up, then the old elf would then leave after reminding him to eat and rest. On Midnight, he will return with some supplies, food, and some clothes. Then in the morning, they would leave at once before the sun rises.
The boy, Nate knew that they didn’t have the money to buy those things every time. And he was not an idiot to realize what that meant. But today was different. For the first time in their journey since they arrived here in the continent of Mindos, they met someone. Someone who knew them. Strange, since Nate was born and grew up on the neighboring continent. But the old man, Bethal knows the other person too. Nate tried to recall what happened earlier.
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“I’ll head there first!”
Nate shouted while running towards a village they spotted earlier this morning. Bethal, didn’t stop him since he already scouted the village last night while Nate was sleeping.
There were a few incidents which fortunately didn’t warrant the old man to intervene with, since he knows that being overprotective will just make the boy too dependent on others when a real treat occurs But still being cautious is needed, Bethal does not want to lose someone again for letting his guard down.
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Nate looked back in the old man’s direction. Prompting the old man to signal the boy to slow down.
The boy shouted while running towards the village they spotted this morning. The wooden walls surrounding the village looks worn down but still stood tall. Nate noticed some guards on each wooden tower on both ends of the walls. They noticed them too as they shouted and pointed towards their direction.
Nate nodded then walk while looking at the walls and the guards closely. Looking closely. Nate noticed the walls are much older than they looked afar. Some had patchworks and occasional scratches from what seem to be claws. While the guards themselves were carrying crude bows and short swords.
Nothing exceptional happens as they entered the gates. The guards just asked for their identities, where they came from and what purpose they have for entering the village. The only notable thing about the process was when they found out that the old man was actually an elf. Which was apparently a rare sight but not unwelcome here on Mindos.
Nate then entered the village, noting the guards patrolling on almost every corner of the village. Which was odd for a small village? They built most of the houses higher than the ones they visited before. There were small canals on the walls which the water from a river enters, those had guards patrolling it too, and someone was watching the waters closely, watching for any signs of monsters, perhaps.
The village seems to be safe by Nate’s standards, but no one can be so sure. Perhaps monsters roam these areas since there were a lot of guards here.
“I wonder what monsters lurk here”
Nate was about to ask a guard passing by, when he saw a bunch of old people sitting across rows of tables. They were intent on what they were doing, as Nate observed. Nate then saw an old balding man with a long white beard stare at the table with such intent that anyone would mistake it for someone looking at a war map. Which Nate saw quite a few times on their travels.
The bald man then picked and move a wooden piece on the table. Nodded once and smiled to himself, delighted for what he did.
Nate knew what they were doing. He had played that game with the old elf every day as far as he remembers. The old elf found that Nate has a talent for it, but the old elf won most of the game, anyway.
“Nice move, but the game is still not over I think” Nate mumbled out loud, anyway
The Bald man then stopped smiling and nodded. He too knew that the game was far from over. He was about to make another move when he saw Nate. The bald man looked Nate, just looked. Then he stared. As if seeing a ghost. One that haunted the very nightmare of your old dreams. Haunted by the life and dreams of the past. Long gone, but here once again.
The bald man clutched himself, not disbelieving what he is seeing. A piece of the board fell. And rose again. The game is still being played, not caring if you fell on the board or not. Nate picked a piece up, a pawn. He wanted to hand it to the bald man, but was confused by the bald man’s stare. Nate place the pawn where it should have been, in front of the king. The bald man turned and stared at the board, the pawn, the king. A coincidence or fate. A Pawn for a [King]. A tale for another time, but fate binds all things. And this one is too cruel to be a coincidence.
“You! Are you–are you Hi-!” the bald man pointed and yelled at Nate. His trembling hands were caught, not by force, but a gentle tap. The bald man stared yet again. Shivering, but calms down as soon as he saw him.
“Bethal! How? I thought you’re dead!” more confusion, but the bald man seemed relieved seeing an old, ancient friend. Even the old elf’s face seems to look old despite being an elf. But the bald man, a human, was quite older looking, despite being generations younger than the old elf.
“Calm down old friend, I’m not here to trouble you, nor does the boy” Bethal started. He noticed his old friend’s confusion and decided that he should explain everything his friend has to know. Well, not everything. There are things that did not warrant explanations.