As the villagers watched in stunned silence, the old man, who had seemingly vanished into thin air moments earlier, reappeared right beside Adam’s unconscious body. The suddenness of his movement left everyone frozen in disbelief.

Rachel, still cradling Adam’s lifeless form, gasped sharply, while Ricky, Adam’s father, immediately surged forward, his protective instincts kicking in. His expression was a mix of panic and determination as he moved toward the elder man. Rachel, unable to contain her fear, shouted, “Don’t you dare hurt my son!”

However, before either parent could reach him, the elder raised his hand calmly, his palm facing them as he spoke in a deep, soothing tone, “Do not worry. If I had any intention of harming your child, I had countless opportunities to do so earlier. Why would I save him from Sinu’s blade, only to kill him now?”

His words carried an unshakable calmness that seemed to ripple through the tense atmosphere. Ricky and Rachel hesitated, their steps faltering.

They exchanged uncertain glances, weighing the man’s words against their instincts.

Sam, standing nearby, placed a firm yet reassuring hand on Ricky’s shoulder. “I think he’s telling the truth,” Sam said softly, his voice steady. “Let’s hear him out.”

Ricky remained tense but stopped in his tracks. Beside him, Sam stepped forward slightly, addressing the elder with respect, though his tone held a note of curiosity. “Forgive me, but we don’t recognize you. Who are you?”

The old man turned to face Sam, a faint smile appearing beneath his white beard. “My name is Knight Jordan,” he began, his voice carrying both authority and warmth. “I am an elder of the Sword Soku clan Branch family.”

His words hung heavily in the air. A collective gasp rippled through the villagers. Murmurs spread among them as the realization dawned—this man, a figure of immense authority within the very clan that had moments ago threatened their lives, had now appeared as their unlikely savior.

Sam, too, was taken aback, his mind racing to process the revelation. For a brief moment, he was speechless, grappling with the sheer improbability of the situation. Yet, gathering his composure, he stepped forward and dropped to one knee in a gesture of deep respect.

“Sir Jordan,” Sam said, his voice steady but filled with deference, “I am honored to meet you. If you don’t mind, may I ask you a question?”

Jordan raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised by Sam’s respectful demeanor. He had not expected such a display of etiquette from someone in a small, remote village. Amused, he smiled and gestured for Sam to speak. “Ask what you wish.”

Sam straightened slightly, his tone serious yet polite. “Sir Jordan, forgive me, but I fail to understand your purpose here. Why have you come to our village, and why did you save Adam?”

Jordan’s eyes gleamed with approval. He was impressed by Sam’s composure and intellect. Nodding slowly, he replied, “You must be the chief of this village.”

Sam’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but he nodded. “Yes, I am.”

Jordan’s smile widened, a hint of admiration in his expression. “You are a capable leader. Very well, I will answer your question,” he said, his voice carrying a weight of significance. “I came here because of this boy.”

He extended a hand, pointing toward Adam, who lay motionless on the ground. All eyes turned to Adam, confusion and curiosity etched onto every face.

Rachel, still kneeling beside Adam, looked up at Jordan with wide, tear-filled eyes. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Why would you come here for Adam?”

Jordan withdrew his hand, placing it back by his side. His gaze softened as he looked down at Rachel and Adam. “I will explain everything,” he said gently. “But first, I must tend to him. If I don’t, his injuries may worsen, and I cannot allow that.”

Rachel’s breath hitched. A glimmer of hope lit up her tear-streaked face. “You… you can heal him?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jordan smiled reassuringly. “Of course,” he said with a small nod. “That is why I am here.”

Jordan kneels down beside Adam, his calm presence offering a ray of hope amidst the chaos. The villagers watch in silence, their fears momentarily quelled by the elder’s confident assurance.

As Jordan settled down beside Adam, Komal, who had been tending to Adam’s injuries moments earlier, respectfully stepped back. Her worried gaze lingered on Jordan as he reached into his pocket. From within, he pulled out a small, square-shaped white paper with an intricate black symbol drawn in its center.

The sight of the paper immediately caught everyone’s attention. Murmurs spread through the crowd of villagers, their eyes fixated on the peculiar object. None of them recognized the symbol or understood its purpose, yet its mere presence exuded a sense of mystery and power.

Sam, standing nearby, felt a burning curiosity rise within him. He wanted to ask Jordan about the paper, but sensing the gravity of the moment, he restrained himself. He clenched his fists, choosing to stay silent so as not to interrupt whatever Jordan intended to do.

Jordan carefully placed the paper on Adam’s chest, aligning the black symbol precisely over Adam’s heart. His movements were deliberate and precise. He then raised his index finger and lightly tapped the center of the symbol.

The moment his finger made contact, the paper began to burn, its edges igniting in a golden flame that spread in a perfect circle. The flames moved with an almost mesmerizing precision, consuming the paper completely without leaving any ash. As the final ember faded away, a radiant glow enveloped Adam’s body.

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The effect was immediate. Blood stopped dripping from Adam’s nose, and the pallor of his skin began to fade, replaced by a healthy flush. The tension in his muscles eased, and his once labored breathing returned to a steady rhythm.

Gasps echoed through the crowd. The villagers watched in awe as Adam’s condition visibly improved before their eyes. Rachel, kneeling beside her son, felt a wave of relief wash over her. Tears of gratitude streamed down her face as she whispered, “Thank you... thank you...”

Sam, unable to hold back his questions any longer, took a hesitant step forward. “Sir Jordan,” he began, “what is—”

Before he could finish, Jordan interrupted, still focused on Adam. “It is a magic seal,” he explained in a calm, measured tone. “This seal contains coded healing magic. I activated it to heal the boy’s injuries.”

Sam’s mouth fell open slightly in shock. He knew about magic seals, but he had never seen one in person. Such artifacts were extraordinarily rare and valuable, far beyond the reach of a small village like theirs. Even in the cities, such items were considered treasures.

For a moment, Sam couldn’t comprehend why someone of Jordan’s stature would use such a precious item on Adam. His thoughts swirled with confusion and curiosity, but he chose to remain quiet, respecting Jordan’s focus.

Meanwhile, Rachel’s heart swelled with joy as she saw Adam’s injuries vanish. She reached out to gently touch her son’s cheek, whispering his name with trembling lips. Nearby, Adam’s siblings, Yami and Eric, along with Sophia, stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes, their expressions brightening with every passing second.

Jordan, noticing their expressions, addressed them in a calm voice. “He will not wake up just yet.”

His words startled everyone. Rachel looked up at him, her smile faltering. “What... what do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Jordan straightened his back and rose to his feet, his demeanor suddenly serious. He looked at the gathered villagers with a grave expression. “I have two pieces of news for you,” he said. “One is good, and the other... is not.”

Rachel exchanged a worried glance with Ricky, her husband. She could see the concern etched deeply on his face, mirroring her own fears. Ricky placed a hand on her shoulder, silently offering her strength.

Sam, standing nearby, rested a reassuring hand on Ricky’s other shoulder. “Stay strong,” he said softly.

Rachel took a deep breath, steadying herself. She turned her gaze back to Jordan, her voice firm despite her fear. “Sir Jordan,” she said, “please... tell us. What are these two pieces of news?”

Jordan nodded solemnly. “Your son,” he began, “will never live a normal life again.”

The weight of his words hit like a thunderclap. Rachel’s hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes once more. Ricky’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he processed the revelation. The villagers around them murmured in shock, their voices rising with concern and confusion.

Rachel, her voice breaking, asked, “Why? What has happened to him?”

Jordan’s gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable. The chapter ends with the unanswered question lingering in the air, leaving everyone awaiting the truth about Adam’s fate.

Jordan stood still, his hands tucked into the pockets of his traditional black Japanese-style robe. His appearance commanded authority—long white hair framed his sharp features, and his snow-white beard added a sense of wisdom.

A powerful katana rested at his side, its ornate sheath hinting at the immense strength it held.

The villagers, frozen in anticipation, waited for him to answer Rachel’s trembling question. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and the only sounds were the faint rustling of leaves in the wind and the murmurs of curious onlookers.

Jordan finally exhaled deeply, breaking the silence. “Your son,” he began, his voice steady and deliberate, “can no longer live a normal life because he is no longer ordinary.”

His words sent ripples of shock through the crowd. Rachel’s breath caught, her wide eyes locked on Jordan.

Ricky, standing beside her, clenched his fists and stepped forward. “What do you mean by that?” he demanded, his voice edged with both anger and desperation. “What are you saying about my son?”

Ricky’s tone was aggressive, his emotions clearly visible on his face, but Jordan remained composed. He met Ricky’s fiery gaze calmly. “What I mean,” Jordan said, his voice unwavering, “is that your son is The Chosen One.”

The villagers gasped collectively, their confusion evident. Whispers of disbelief spread as they looked at one another, trying to make sense of Jordan’s declaration.

Ricky, however, froze. His anger gave way to quiet disbelief as he repeated Jordan’s words in a faint whisper. “The Chosen One?”

Rachel, kneeling beside Adam, stared at her son’s unconscious form, her mind racing. What has happened to my child? she thought, her chest tightening with fear.

Behind Ricky, Sam stepped forward cautiously. “Excuse me, Sir Jordan,” he said, his voice respectful yet curious. “But I don’t think we’ve ever heard of this... Chosen One. What does it mean?”

Jordan turned his gaze to Sam, a faint smile gracing his lips. “I expected as much,” he replied. “It seems I will have to explain it to you.”

Sam’s eyes lit up with curiosity. Though he maintained his calm demeanor, the hunger for knowledge burned within him. As Jordan began to move, Sam took a step back, making space for the elder.

Jordan walked with deliberate steps toward the ruined floor of Sam’s house. The structure had been badly damaged during the earlier chaos, but Jordan seemed unfazed by the debris as he stepped onto it. From his elevated position, he turned to face the crowd.

The villagers, spread out across the open area, quieted. Their eyes followed Jordan, their expressions a mix of awe, curiosity, and apprehension. The elder’s commanding presence silenced even the faintest whispers.

“The Chosen One,” Jordan began, his voice carrying across the gathering, “is not an ordinary title. It is bestowed upon those selected by nature itself.”

The murmurs returned, louder this time. Confused villagers exchanged glances, trying to grasp the weight of his words. A few older members of the crowd frowned, their expressions thoughtful.

Rachel clung to every word, her hands trembling as she held onto Adam’s still form. Nature itself chose my son? she wondered, a swirl of emotions flooding her mind.

Jordan raised his hand slightly, calling for silence once more. “This is no ordinary selection,” he continued. “Nature chooses individuals with a purpose—individuals who are meant to shape the balance of this world.”

Sam’s curiosity finally got the better of him. Stepping closer, he asked, “Sir Jordan, what do you mean by ‘nature chooses’? How does nature... select someone?”

Jordan paused, considering his words carefully. “To understand what it means to be The Chosen One,” he said, “you must first understand the forces that govern this world. I assume you are familiar with the Magus Towers and the Sword Clans?”

A ripple of recognition spread through the crowd. Heads nodded, and some villagers whispered to each other, their conversations carrying snippets like “Yes, we know...” and “The Magus Towers are legendary...”

Sam responded confidently, “Yes, we know about them.”

Jordan gave a small nod, a hint of relief crossing his face. Good, he thought. At least I don’t have to start from the very beginning.

Taking a deep breath, he prepared to continue, his expression growing more serious. And with that, leaving the crowd eager to uncover the truth about Adam and his destiny.

---

End of the chapter 17.