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"Frank?!" Stephen was shocked and yelled out the village head's name.
The village head maintained his unreadable smile as he squinted at the priest.
Stephen looked around for support to reverse the village head's decision, but everyone remained silent.
He tightened his grip, preparing to speak up even alone. But Higante walked forward, obstructing him from taking a step and seeing the village head's dangerous gaze directed at him.
"He is still young. He has only been here for less than half a decade," Higante defended.
"He's been sheltered by the church. Sometimes I wonder what a marquis's son is doing in our remote village," Luta added with a dismissive pose.
"Stephen, do not let the peaceful life and simple villagers here deceive you. You've read the village's history. I'm pretty sure you know what this village is," Bassit said as he got up.
"If you really worry about Luka, open an orphanage or convince him to agree to be adopted," he added and left.
"I'm off too," Luta said as she followed Bassit.
"Sell Darin's belongings to the villagers and give the money to the kid. Let him check for any heirloom he can carry first," Frank ordered.
"Since you both are more concerned about the kid, you deal with where he stays tonight and in the future. I will end this meeting here."
Frank waited for the two to leave before closing the place.
...
Later that evening, Luka was having supper with Stephen in the church.
Knock—Knock—
Higante knocked and opened the door. "Everything is piled in the church's storage," he said.
He was talking about the contents of Luka's previous house. After a quick meal, he left and took all the items Kabun had thrown in front of the house. It took Higante several trips, but he managed to finish transferring all into the church's storage before supper.
"Did you tell Luka everything?" he inquired.
Seeing Stephen's quiet demeanor, he guessed he had not.
"I'm telling you this as your friend, but you must change your ways. Otherwise, you will lose your life and the people you care about," he sighed. He walked towards Luka.
He took a chair and moved closer to the kid. "Did you have your fill?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes, Elder Higante," Luka replied with a smile.
Despite his fierce appearance, Higante was surprisingly gentle. He explained Luka's current situation and the choices he had to make in easily understandable words and sentences.
Luka might have been only a year old, but his mental and physical development was four times faster than an average human before adulthood. He understood what the elder was telling him.
"I understand," Luka said, clutching his clothes tightly. Tears formed in his eyes.
Living beings instinctively desire self-preservation and thus avoid danger.
Luka subconsciously knew that the kindness he had been receiving was waning. He looked up at Stephen, but Stephen avoided his gaze.
Stephen understood that even if he wanted to keep the kid, he could not afford it. Nobody in their village could afford to keep an extra mouth to feed unless it was a childless household with two adults.
Farming produce was their primary food source. Those who could afford to hunt meat could eat meat and earn more income. Not everyone was like Stephen, who neither hunted nor farmed but used his occupation or talent. He earned food by providing healing services through his holy power. He also received a ration from the village head due to his elder status, but it was only enough for one person.
Due to recurring beast tides every spring and harsh snowstorm during winter, they only had late spring until mid-autumn to secure food.
Being an unaffiliated village with the nearby kingdom benefits them during tax season. Whatever the villagers earn and store, they keep, unlike the other surrounding villages and towns, which barely make ends meet.
The food they gave the village head for emergency events barely dents their supply.
Even though those nearby villages and towns pay taxes to their affiliated kingdoms, they seldom receive protection against disasters or rations during famine.
They live in an era where the strong survive, and the weak must adapt and become strong immediately if they want to live.
Luka suddenly got up and wiped his eyes. "I will check my mother and father's belongings before you sell them, Elder Higante, Elder Stephen," he said bravely, looking up at the two elders.
Higante smiled and patted Luka's head. "Good effort!" he shouted joyfully.
...
Luka stayed with Higante that night. The next day, he chose to stay with the childless elderly couple who lived next to his old house. They cared for him more than anyone else, and he could see his old house from theirs.
"Luka!" the elderly couple shouted when they saw Luka walking toward their place with Higante.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Luka greeted them with a wide smile.
After their warm reunion, the three noticed Higante looking at Kabun's house.
"You wouldn't believe what happened," the elderly woman said, glancing at the house.
"Before supper, that house was the same. But early this morning, when I was taking out the trash, it had become bigger and now has a tall wooden fence."
"Is it true that he is a hunter and a magician of high rank?" she added.
Higante looked at the elderly couple with shock. This is our village, alright. Only a dead man can keep a secret.
He shook his head, then nodded to affirm the elderly couple's inquiry.
"That's good. In the next disaster, we will have a good shield," the two snickered.
They had lost so much over the years, especially their children and friends, that they became indifferent toward newcomers. This attitude was shared by all the people living in the village.
Only children gave them hope and a breath of fresh air.
They would care for the children or orphans in the village if they could.
Higante understood this and shifted his gaze from the couple to Kabun's house.
It was now a two-story house. The house's base remained the same, but the first floor was made of stone walls, while the second floor was made of wood. The fence was made of tree trunks, as tall as a person, placed next to each other to create a barrier.
Today was their first time seeing a house like this in the village. Even during his previous travels, Higante hadn't seen such houses in towns with well-off people. Only in the capitals of kingdoms did such houses exist.
It was more practical to have only a one-story house. Disaster happens more than once per four seasons, so it would be easier to repair and clean a one-story home. Two or more will house more people, but they take time to repair and are easily attacked.
People in the village might be curious about it for a few days, but they would not care afterward if it was not a danger to their lives—especially since it could not be eaten.
Higante shook his head and bid farewell to the elderly couple and Luka. He went back to patrolling the village perimeter.
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YOU ARE READING
The Strange God
FantasyThere was once a being revered as a god in a universe with a trillion stars. How many of these stars could sustain life was unknown, but this universe no longer exists. When that universe disappeared, another took its place. It sprouted many new sta...
