Odesday, 3rd of Aprillia, 470th year of the 5th Era

Josias had run with all his strength in order to catch up to Johannes but it would appear to him that physically - at least when it came to the athleticism of running - Johannes had the advantage, being taller and having a longer reach in his step. Regardless, he shouldn't be too far off. If nothing else, it was good exercise to warm himself up for the eventual training session with his father in the afternoon.

As Josias was running through the village to get to Johannes’ home, he had to do so whilst weaving past the villagers who were walking about on the streets going about their day as usual. The villagers could only shake their heads as they saw the scene of two young adult men running around like children, but with someone's life at stake, Josias could deal with that level of embarrassment. Though he thought that, surely Johannes wasn't insane enough to actually seriously harm anyone. Well at least that was what he hoped, but then again, no can be too sure.

It was only after a few more minutes of tireless running did Josias finally catch up with Johannes as he had caught sight of him standing in front of the house with an imposing stance. When Josias got a better view of what was going on, he saw Johannes was pointing at Sadrach while shouting quite a few obscenities.

“Lae, I need you to calm down!” Sadrach had put the guitar down as he held out his hands to try and calm the situation down “I promise my intentions are pure here…!”

“Pure?? I'll show you pure!!” Johannes said as he seemed fully intent on throwing in a fist towards Sadrach. Just as he was about to take a fighting stance, Josias had managed to rush in and hold Johannes back.

“Calm down, you big idiot!!” Josias said to Johannes as he held the man back. “Lae Sadrach, I think you should take a couple of steps back.”

Sadrach nodded as he took some steps back but not before adding, “I don't understand, Lae! I really do like Helena and I'm very serious!”

“What did I say about this exact thing, huh?!!” Johannes was shouting as he pointed at Sadrach who only had a bewildered expression on his face “I don't care what you do or who you fancy in this damn village, but NOT MY SISTER!! Bujanginang!!”

“Bb-bujam-nam..?? Why is Bang Jojo shouting that?” Hanna asked her sister who only had a terrified expression as she heard her say that word.

“Hanna, no! That's a bad word! Don't say it!! Don't listen to Bang Jo!” Helena said in a panic as she tried to cover her sister's ears but she only laughed while repeating the funny word she heard.

“Bujamnam!! Hahahaha!” Hanna repeated again while laughing to which an exasperated Helena could only resort to forcefully putting her hand over Hanna's mouth to silence her but the little girl was still having the time of her life repeating her beloved eldest brother’s words.

“Abang Jo!!” Helena finally called out to Johannes angrily as she walked down the stairs while carrying Hanna who was clinging to her like a monkey “What's the meaning of this, coming back all of a sudden and saying all these horrible things?! You're giving Hanna a bad example!”

“Abang! Bujjanam!! Hahahha!” Hanna said once more as she spread out her arms to be carried by her big brother. Johannes had a shocked expression on his face while Josias was trying his damnedest so as to not break down in laughter.

“No, Hanna! Don't say that, it's a bad word!” Johannes said as he took Hanna into his arms, calming down his tone as he spoke to her.

“Then why are you saying that to the nice and handsome Abang?” Hanna asked back as she pointed to Sadrach which only caused Johannes to shoot a quick and terrifying glare towards Sadrach.

“It was a slip of the tongue, and I'll apologize later for it, but for now, don't get close to that weird Abang! He's bad and he's trying to take your sister away!” Johannes said “You're a warrior, right? So you have to protect your sister!”

“I am protecting kak Helen! Which is why I'll go wherever they go! Also the Handsome Abang promised to buy me treats. He can't go back on his promise!”

Johannes showed a difficult expression before his gaze finally turned towards Helena.

“What is this idi-... Person doing here, Helena?” Johannes asked

“He was just asking if I wanted to come with him to the market or not, is all.” Helena answered.

“Then what's he bringing a guitar and everything for, huh?”

“He can bring whatever he wants, he's an adult and he's come here to see me! I don't see what you're making a fuss about, bang.”

“That man is an unapologetic womanizer who's broken the hearts of far too many women in this realm! Do you think I'd be happy with my own sister being one of his many ‘conquests’?”

“...I don't think he's that bad…” Helena said as she looked at Sadrach who had an apologetic look in his eyes.

“...Lae if you just let me explain…” Sadrach said once more as he tried to calm the raging Johannes down.

“Explain what, Sad?! Explain that I've seen you sing songs and partying with so many other ladies acting like you're all that?” Johannes said back.

“Exactly! While it's not necessarily a good look, I'll give you that, but with God as my witness I've never done more than that with any lady of this village ever! If you haven't noticed, Helena's not the only lady with terrifying brothers around here. I would expect you to know considering how Bang Timo treats you!”

“This and that are two different things! You can't compare them!” Johannes said “I have the ability to prove myself to Bang Timo and I've been courting Maria for almost a year now!”

“Then give me the chance to prove myself, Lae! I swear so long as I am courting her, she's the only lady I'll lay my eyes on!” Sadrach said seriously as he lay his hand over his chest. Helena could only cover her face in embarrassment at the public declaration he made while Hanna cutely covered her mouth as she was shaking in excitement at the prospects of her sister getting a lover.

“What makes you think I can even give you that trust?” Johannes said after managing to calm his tone a little.

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“My reputation is overblown, Lae! Most of the girls who you see me talk to and what not are all members of my clan, you know that! And the biggest incident I've ever been involved with wasn't even my fault!”

“Mateus seemed pretty convinced it was your fault, though.” Johannes barked back.

“This again! I was playing and singing for my mother's birthday when Arta got drunk and kissed me all of a sudden! That's not on me!”

“You kissed another girl?” Helena asked all of sudden as his face paled.

“No-no… That was like a year ago and it was by accident!”

“Pffft, I'm only kidding. Arta said it was her fault too.” Helena chuckled

“Well, like I was saying, Lae. I only have the purest intentions! Besides if you actually want to know who the real menace is, you only need to look to your right!” Sadrach said as he pointed to Josias “He already has Serena but he's pulling bloody everyone in! My sister, Dame, Kirana, Ruth…”

“...You have a point.” Johannes conceded.

“What the hell-..! Why're you dragging me into this, Sad?!” Josias said defensively before looking around on the small off chance that Serena was around there somewhere “Watch what you're saying! And Lae Jo, why the hell are you agreeing with him?”

“Hey, I still haven't properly beat you for having my sister and Serena fight!” Sadrach said as he pointed to Josias.

“I WASN'T EVEN THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED, YOU IDIOT!” Josias said defensively.

“Hahahah! Bang Josi said ‘idiot!’” Hanna clapped her hands as she was amused by the rough language the boys were using.

“Hanna, don't say that!” Johannes said as he slapped Josias’ back “Oy, watch your mouth!”

“Abang-abangku na hinaholongan!! (My lovely Elder brothers!)” Helena finally said as she clasped her hands together while pointing towards the crowd that was forming around their house watching their argument “Let's get inside first before we embarrass ourselves further, alright? We don't need our clan to become the next talk of the town…”

As Helena said that, the three men looked at each other before they finally nodded and decided to follow her inside the house. As they entered into the house and the crowd dispersed, Helena had taken some cushions for the men to sit on the floor with while she went to the back of the house to get refreshments followed by Hanna. Finally when the men had managed to sit down, Helena and Hanna reappeared with Helena carrying a tray of cups and Hanna holding a pitcher full of water with both her hands which they laid before the men while they also sat down on the floor. Helena sat in between her brother and Sadrach while Hanna decided to make herself comfortable on Johannes' lap.

“Anyways, like what I was saying, Lae…” Sadrach continued where he left off as he looked at Johannes seriously “I actually wanted to wait until a bit later before I had gotten to this point but since we're already here, I will say once more that I am completely serious with all intents and purposes of courting your sister Helena. Not only am I doing this out of sincerity because I really do like her, but as is our tradition, as my mother was given to the clan of Sinatua when she married my father, by all grounds I have the right to court her as my ‘Pariban’ (Refer to chapter 12.5).”

Josias nodded to the side as he looked at Johannes who was now silent in deep contemplation while stroking Hanna's hair at what Sadrach had said. According to Halak customs, he did indeed have a strong case for courting Helena and it wasn't even technically Johannes' call but his father's to make when deciding the marriages of his children. Perhaps because Johannes was thinking the same thing as he was, Johannes finally let out a deeply exasperated sigh. Johannes then looked at his sister before he asked her, “What are your thoughts on this?”

“I… don't think there's anything wrong with what Bang Sadrach is saying…” Helena said a little sheepishly as she looked slightly towards the side, not wanting to meet her brother's gaze because of her embarrassed and flushed face “And if he's fine with it then…”

“So are you saying you like him?” Johannes asked his sister to get straight to the point.

“I don't hate him…” Helena answered.

“...Yes but do you like him?” Johannes was still prodding for an answer out of his sister. In the corner of his eye, he could also see Sadrach looking at Helena, awaiting her answer with baited breath.

“...I do…” Helena said very quietly with a nod as she locked eyes with Sadrach who couldn't be more excited and thrilled by the answer he had received. Helena immediately turned away and held her hands over her face to cover herself from the embarrassment, looking like she couldn't believe what she just said and admitted in front of everyone there. With her face covered by her hands, she reconfirmed her answer with a more audible voice. “I really do like him…”

As she said that, Johannes once more gave a sigh before he focused his attention back to Sadrach who had such an obviously happy look on his face.

“If that's what my sister says, then… fine, I guess.” Johannes finally conceded “But I don't have the final say in the matter. It's my father that you have to convince, not me.”

“The elders can worry about the more troubling political matters…” Sadrach said “All I'm concerned with is that Helena likes me back and that's far more than enough for me.”

“Hahahah!! Kak Helen keeps blushing, bang!” Hanna giggled all happily as she saw her sister's reddened face.

“But I warn you, Sadrach.” Johannes' tone went serious again as he pointed towards his sister’s prospective lover “If you dare break my sister's heart or play around with my feelings, I will feed you to the tigers!”

“If that ever happens, I'd do it myself.” Sadrach said in a resolute tone.

“Alright, I'm glad we have that over and done with.” Josias said as he clapped his hands together “And Lae Sadrach, about your sister, you don't have to worry about her anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s exactly like what I said. She's having a fun date at church right now so no need to worry about her.”

“...Huh…?” It took Sadrach a good few seconds to let the information sink in but when it did, his eyes widened while his jaw dropped. “A date?! With who??”

“Hesekiel.” Josias answered as he drank the cup of water that was out in front of him.

“Hese?!!” Sadrach couldn't hide his surprise while Helena also had a disbelieving smile. “You mean ol’ stoneface who doesn't even smile or laugh? Or cry or get angry? Does he even comprehend the concept of emotions? You're messing with me right now, Josi, stop it. I'm not the smartest person, but even I'm not that stupid.”

“He isn't joking.” Johannes said with a completely serious expression. Sadrach’s smile quickly dissipated as his face now looked more confused than ever.

“I… I don't even know how to react… this… it's barely noon and so much has already happened…” Sadrach said as he rubbed his temples “I… I'll go to the church and speak with Hesekiel myself so-...”

“No! You promised to buy me treats!” Hanna got up from Johannes' lap as she tackled Sadrach, looking like she didn't want to let go. The adorable scene only caused Josias to laugh.

“Oh, no little Hanna, of course I didn't forget about that but…”

“Relax, Lae Sad. You'll get plenty of time to talk to - or at - Hesekiel after training this afternoon.” Josias said as he finally found the chance to slip in his original goal of recruiting Sadrach into the team of warriors for the festival.

“Huh? What training?” Sadrach asked as he was now even more confused. Josias finally began explaining to him his original purpose of finding him and offering him a place on the team. It really didn't take much convincing for him to accept as he was generally excited to be able to test his mettle as a warrior.

“One last question, though…” Sadrach said as he raised his hand.

“Alright, shoot.” Josias nodded.

“You said you needed five warriors in total. If you now have yourself, Lae Jo, Lae Hese, and myself… Who's the fifth warrior you have in mind?”

Josias only laughed before he gave the final name of the person he wanted to recruit, but as he said it, Sadrach's expression couldn't help but contort for the worse.

“Tuan Mateus Hasiholan Sigompul…” Josias said proudly with a smile and as if on cue, another young man entered the house with four bags of rice carried on his shoulders, two bags on each. He was a fierce-looking with a build almost as large and muscular as Johannes, slightly tanned skin, short undercut hair, and a distinctive diagonal scar across his nose from the top of his right brow to the lower part of his left cheek.

“Did someone call my name?” The fierce young man said as he put the bags down before he frowned as he saw Sadrach was there “What the hell are you doing here?!”

While Josias was smiling on the outside, he was secretly cursing inside as the day just kept getting longer and longer. Why couldn't his friends just get along and not make it such a headache to work with each other.