“Thank you for your gift - I promise to use it wisely,” he said as he pressed his hand against the tree, then bent his head and touched it with his forehead, repeating that mantra on and on, with his eyes closed, searching for the life inside the tree. He gently placed his other hand on the branch, still reaping the mantra, letting his energy sip into it, sharing it with it.

Soon, he felt the onset of peace, feeling the tranquility of the tree as it was standing firm and tall in the howling wind, even sensing the vigor of the wind that was carrying off a bit of the snow that blanketed its leaf-less branches, his anger leaving him with each snowflake that flew away.

In peace he stood there, suddenly sensing an unexplainable joy of life, simplicity, and its purity, till the energy in his body did not occupy most of the tree.

Then by sharing in just a bit of his Mana, just a few points of it, he exerted his desire for the branch to become part of him, for the tree to let it have it.

The cherry tree did not rebel but took his Mana, accepted him in completely, and then, when he pulled on the branch, it came off effortlessly, almost as if the tree was transferring it to El’s guardianship.

It was a good branch. At its thickest end, it was more than two inch thick, and he figured he could use six feet of it before it got too thin.

Without the use of a blade or stone, just with the power of his energy and Mana, he slowly started to make a staff out of it by taking off all the side branches and its dark bark.

He found so much enjoyment in the act that he completely lost track of time, the process so calming and enjoyable that he did not want it to stop.

So, when his staff was done, he wanted more of it.

Back to the tree he went, found a smaller suitable branch, and repeated the process, restoring some peace in himself that was destroyed so many weeks ago.

I can have two stalks, why not, Double Staff Warrior, they can call me. Double Master. Since Staffless Master would not do, I guess.

By the time he finished, the person who ran up the mountain that morning was unrecognizable by him, the anger and frustration taken all out of him, taken away somewhere in the wind.

The smaller staff was enough to store about 60 Mana units inside, and he felt his Energy and Mana units deplete as he was making the transfer, making him lightheaded, yet happy.

I bet in the big one I could pour a whole hundred Mana units inside, he calculated. But then, feeling hungry, he decided to head back to the village, knowing that his Mana would start regenerating and increase faster if his Energy was restored after a big meal.

Eggs and a pair of those sausages, and that good bread of yesterday. That would do me so good now. Then, I’ll just find a blacksmith to cast some iron and make the bottom and top tips for my staff so I can shoot Mana out of the staff really fast. And while he works on it, I’ll sit and meditate. I bet by the time he finishes, I’ll have enough Mana to fill it up, and with that, I'll have more than double what I had this morning. The plan seemed perfect.

There was a good crowd in front of Holgar’s place when he came back. A few faces he knew, most he did not. Alice was there in the middle of it, and the look of confusion and fear on her face made him wonder what was going on. Made him doubt he was going to get breakfast anytime soon.

He sighed and hurried his step, tightening further the long staff he placed over his back while the smaller one that came five feet off the ground he held as a long cane in his hand.

The crowd clamoring with indiscrete chatter, the whimpering of a woman over the loss of her loved one, it all quieted down as they saw him approach them. He looked at their faces and not one dared to look him straight in the eyes. The line opened with villagers stepping back. It certainly was not the gathering or the welcome he was expecting.

On each side of Alice towered a tall soldier, covered in rusting mail, their unprotected face revealing coldness and indifference.

I guess that is the help they called for, El thought, noticing in the distance three tied horses.

Not much, almost nothing, he concluded judging their unkept appearance and tired eyes. These two fools will not fight, even if they want to.

“Where were you?” Alice asked as he came closer.

He bothered not to answer her. Not that he was going to give her any proper answer anyway. So, probably, the best she got was his silence.

“There was another attack… A farm North West from here was overrun and one of the salesmen was killed,” she added.

“And we know you’re behind that!” he heard somewhere behind the broad shoulders of one of the soldiers.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

So, that’s what it was. Accuse the guy who was not there.

“And how do you know I’m behind it?” El asked calmly, even though he thought he should not.

“Before he died, Evin, oh, my dear Evin, said a stranger killed him!” the salesman that Ed had confronted before added, with a lot of theatrics in his voice. But all the people watched him and shook their heads in disgust. “He died in my hands! My very hands! His blood… still fresh on my clothes. Oh, if I was only faster to get to the farm!” the man sobbed, and someone behind put their supporting hand on his shoulder, tapping him. “And those were his last words! He said it! On his last breath! And we all know, there are no other strangers here than you?”

There were a million things that ran through El’s head. He passed one quick glance over the crowd. People who would swear that he came here to save them last night seemed to have moved away. Lives he saved seemed lives ready to listen to whatever this salesman was telling them.

And a good orator he is, El had to admit.

“The prophecy and the stranger that came with it! You’re the one? Is there another? And the beasts that we never saw came on your heels?? And-”

“I own none of you any explanation,” El’s voice boomed over the salesman. “I helped all I could last night. Those brave enough to fight came out to see it. Those who did not hid probably the same place you did.”

“Oh, he… he, he says he owes us no explanation! But you do, stranger, you do. These poor folks…”

“And who are you?” El suddenly asked a fat man dressed in a long fur coat with a golden chain around his neck.

“My name is Principle Lub and I hold you accountable, stranger! So you will come quietly with us, or my men will-”

“You’re not my Principle. And stop behaving like a horse's ass. I will not dignify your accusations by giving you any answers. I did not kill the trader. Although, I may just kill that one. I have not yet made up my mind.”

“You see? That’s what I’ve been saying!”

“If those beasts were mine, why would I be killing my own? You stupid or something?”

“I tried to tell them, but they would not listen,” Alice added.

Nobody answered for a second, and then Principle Lub remembered to ask, “Are you calling me stupid, stranger?”

“Yeah, I guess I am. Or maybe I should call you something worse? Get your hands off that woman!” El uttered a warning to the soldier who placed his hand and squeezed Alice’s shoulder when she started to speak and seemed to enjoy doing that very much.

But the soldier just smirked at him, daring him.

“Let go of her,” El commanded, moving closer to them, feeling his staff ready with Mana.

“We do not take orders from you,” the soldier answered, daring him to make his move.

The idea that he should just let her be and not worry one bit about her had disappeared inside of him as if it never existed.

“You will lose more than your loose tongue and your dirty hands then!” Ed said as he was ready to smack him with his staff and put enough hurt into his body to make him yelp in pain for hours.

The man twitched back, his hand suddenly dropping to his waist and El thought for a second what a marvelous threat he made until he saw Trim standing right on his shoulder, the blade half out of his scabbard and the bloody murdering rage in his eyes.

I guess they fear Trim more than they know how to fear me. If they only knew...

“We don’t want to fight you,” Principle said, shaking his head, “But, you’ve got answers to give.”

But the rage inside that flared for a brief second was there no more, nothing to be lighted up, and calmly, he looked around and asked, “No, no I don’t. I owe you all nothing. Besides, what is this? You think this can help you??” El said, looking straight into the Salesman’s eyes.

A fat, big guy with a dark beard who stood next to him cleared his throat and said, “We have a Council here that votes on issues. This is as good an occasion as any to vote on the matter of the stranger. I say we put this to a vote. The way Owens of Free told us to do things.”

“You talk so well, Trader Jack” Trim said. “But, I did not see you last night fighting, Did you hide under the bed again? Or in that big closet of yours where you keep winter supplies of sugar and coffee?”

“I vote for them to go,” a big woman with gray hair who looked very similar to Holgar’s wife suddenly came from somewhere and said. “So, it would be better if you leave right now.:

“Better for who?” El said,

“She can’t even walk,” Holgar’s wife screamed from behind. “She needs a bed, not to be chased out of here.”

“We’re the council that runs this place. And I’m its Standing Chairman. I say you leave,” Trader Jack said.

“You people are crazy!” Trim screamed at them.

“You’re not a member of the Council, Trim. Your vote does not count,” Trader Jack said.

“Holgar??”

“I… saw the man fight. I don’t think he is evil. Do not know who he is, but there is no evil in him,” Holgar said, his face frowning. “I say, let the man stay.”

“Well, so, it’s easy for you to say. You have a sturdy building here with thick walls and doors to help yourself. How about Brown over there? He lives on a farm north of here, all by himself? Or Ten and Sorra whose kids are missing?”

“I vote to expel him, and his… servant,” the Principle said.

“She’s not my servant,” El corrected him.

“Whatever she is. She needs to leave. It’s four votes against one. As you know, my vote as the Principle counts as double.”

“She’s hurt. She can’t even walk. Can’t believe you even dragged her out of the bed,” Trim said.

“Well, she walked just fine. And, and… I think she’ll walk just fine,” the salesman said then moved to hide behind Trader Jack as El stared at him.

“Just remember, when the night comes, when the darkness veils this place as if there will never be light here again, and then, when the beasts arrive… remember you wanted me gone. Remember you did not want my help. Remember your vote, remember your silence now” El said, turning to the crowd.

The traveling salesman jumped to say something but it was the old shepherd guy who El helped who spoke louder than anyone, “He saved my life! He’s right! We can’t do this! People we-”

“Hush, Wooly,” Trader Jack said. “Or you forget how many coins you still owe me. And the way your sheep had been slaughtered, I have no idea how you will repay me now!”

“This is more important than any sheep and any coin,” the old man answered, but the fire in his voice was gone and everyone knew it.

“I will leave, of course. I will not be where I’m not wanted, ” El said and turned around to go, the path again opening up for him.

At that moment, all the composure he cultivated had disappeared. Because he was not in that village any longer. He was standing on the square of his hometown, people shouting around, fighting one another, while the forces of darkness were gaining ground.

And then, he was inside the burning flames and smoke and among too many enemy soldiers to kill.

Instead of feeling relieved that he was going to leave the place, something that he intended to do anyway, now all he could sense was the devastation of a complete loss. He was defeated all over again.

“They do not know what they’ve done,” El muttered to himself as he pushed himself to walk away from them, feeling somehow defeated yet again, his knees so wobbly, he truly needing the help of his staff to support him.