Chapter 28
The Lessons of a Hermit
"Impossible… T-That was a fluke!" The larger man looks to his hand and snarls. He slides two more silver coins from his side once more and extend his hand to ready for another round. Casually, the hermit slides his silver and the one that he just won in front of him as well, and readies his hand again for round two. Once more, as the word go commences, the hermit arm stays put as the larger man is using all his might to budge the hermit's wrist to the table. The very table seems to vibrate from the force. But, with just a swift jolt, the hermit slams the larger man's wrist down again. The hermit again slides the next two silver coins to his side. He has now three new silver coins in his possession. He let out a warm and friendly smile. "This game does seem to be fun. So how about another round?".
Round after round the two played, and not once did the larger man win a round. The pile of coins has changed hands to the hermit, and only a small pile of copper pieces sit on the others side. Frustrated and defeated, with a dark shroud of anger on the larger man's face, The hermit collects his winning and places them into his coin bag. As he bows his head and turns to grab his shell, a hand wraps around his arm. "Not so fast…" The hermit stops and turns his head to see the larger man towering above him. "Do you really think you can swindle us with your cheating tricks?" The hermit continue to give a warm smile as the grip gets tighter. "Cheat? My I would not dare. I simply played your game, and I won fair and square, as you say." He then tilts his head to repeat what he heard. "That this would be easy, right?" The larger man grinds his teeth but doesn't let his grip go. "I do not know how you did it, but whatever you did, you'll be sorry." The hermit laughs in a friendly way, "Well now if you release my arm we can settle this outside if you wish? Surely you do not want to cause a scene in this fine place now do we?" The larger man pauses, but after a few seconds of death staring the hermit, he lets go and points with his thumb to the outside area. "Gladly…"
The two men step out, followed by the band of travelers that accompanied him. The hermit straps his shell back onto his body and stands with a smile about fifteen feet away from the other larger man. He is not holding any weapons, and he cracks his knuckles and neck to loosen them for the soon-to-be fight at hand. The hermit does no such thing, and places his hands behind himself. He is in a relaxed position and only shows a polite smile. "You may start when you wish." The hermit says calmly. The larger man sneers and shuffles his feet forward and rears his arm and fist back for a punch. Swiftly, he lurches forward and aim at the hermits head with three swings, two from his right and one from his left. Each ducked and dodged by the hermit with ease. The man again throws more jabs to the body and head, but again the hermit swiftly rolls his head and body away from the strikes. He still has his hands behind his back. The man is starting to get frustrated as his punches are missing completely. "Stand still, you bastard!" He tries to grab the hermit with both his hands but the hermit jumps over him and pirouettes in midair and lands back to back with the man. He bumps him with his foot on his backside, and the larger man stumbles from the force that seemingly was just a tap to the audience's eyes. He growls as he turns to face the hermit once more. He charges at the hermit and starts to swing wildly. The hermit back steps as the swinging punches fly around him, dodging and weaving from each swing and flurry. As one was getting close to his mid-section, he raises his knee and blocks it. He extends his leg and kicks the man in the stomach, causing the man to take hold of his own stomach, wincing from the pain. The larger man takes a few steps back and growls furiously.
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The larger man begins to charge once more, but before he could, the hermit unlatches his shell and tosses it at the larger man. When he tries to catch it, an audible grunt is heard as the shell slams the man. The larger man and the shell skid on the floor, picking up dirt and dust as he slams against the tree where the hermit once was. The tree visibly shakes and splinters from the impact, and the large man is struggling to lift the Grungalo shell from his body. "Damn it… what in goddess' name is this thing?! It weighs a ton!" The hermit smirks and places his hands behind his back again and walks to the man, placing a foot on the shell that is between them, and presses down firmly. This causes the larger man to groan in pain from the force. "I believe the matter is settled. I did enjoy this little session, maybe you learned a thing or two about whom you play against and whom you try to scam." The hermit gives a warm smile to the man and picks up his shell with ease. The man lets out a gasp of air to the relief. The crowd is murmuring and some are clapping to what they just witness, the group of travelers rushes to their group mate as he brushes them off and walks away in shame with them in tow. The crowd begins to disperse. As the hermit begins to continue his journey, a figure catches his eye in the dispersing crowd. A young boy, probably not even over the age of eight, watches him in amazement. He is dirty, covered in dust, with tattered hand me down clothes. Even his shirt barely holds onto his shoulder as he watches the hermit in awe. The hermit has noticed the boy as he was in the match with the larger man while he was dodging and deflecting the punches. The boy was seemingly watching him and keeping pace with his eyes alone. A fascinating detail to keep note of. For now, he continues to venture into the town and heads towards its inn to acquire a room to stay when it becomes dark.
The hermits routine is a simple one, train in the fields, help the town with their daily chores, and most importantly study the world. Travelling comes natural for a nomad such as himself. But as one takes upon a long journey, they will soon return to where they are familiar the most. He isn't one to visit the grand cities, like Nocturnia, or even Cordellia. Too many people and not enough spirit for him, is what he usually says to himself. It is why he is called a hermit, after all. At least, that is what the people of this town calls him. He has never given them his true name, ever since he routinely returns here. Everyone just smiles and nods as he enters. As he does the same. A mutual understanding between the townsfolk and to him. But as we saw, travelers do not know him as well as the people do. For, that plays a key role in his training. To be effortless in one's duties, to seek nothing, and in return, to be free of oneself. His training has garnered him great wisdom in his abilities. He is one that some would say is more, enlightened, to the extent of being more Intune with the world and his surroundings. Auramancy is an ability he mastered to such a capacity he feels a connection far greater than any being he has known to be connected to oneself and the world. For the ones that taught it long ago were the dragon clan of his forefathers, the ones who worshiped the Dragons themselves.
The Dragons were elemental beings of great importance. The ones that guided the water, the earth, the sand, the sun, and the moon. The one he follows the most is the one of sand. Her name is Maj'haral, the Sand Serpent. So vast, it is said she wraps around the desert in its entirety and is the one who created the sand dunes in which travelers traverse. She is also said to be the mother of all desert lamians of old, as they take after her thick and powerful serpentlike scales. She is a giant sand serpent when she is in her true form. But as the story goes, is that no one has seen her humanoid form. She might still be out there. Lying in slumber, waiting to wake and shape the desert again to her liking once more. For now, the hermit likes to follow her teachings, as she too was said to be a hermit. A loner of the Dragons. Keeping to herself and mending the lands she wraps around. Keeping balance within the harsh desert and keeping it from bleeding into the grass and oceans biomes of the world.