The Twenty Virtues Book 1- The Twenty Generals

2- The Chosen Ones.

James and Clark had returned to the camp, desperate, worried, and anxious due to their separation from Helena. James paced back and forth, praying for his niece's safety, wanting to go back and find her immediately. Clark shared the same sentiment but was somewhat better at keeping calm than the older man.

"Uncle James, I'm really worried too, but I think it's better if you think more calmly first. Helena knows this forest like the back of her hand, and she knows how to defend herself; she's not in immediate danger where she is..."

"I KNOW THAT!" The older man shouted, his eyes red and his voice faltering considerably. No matter how hard he tried to seem strong, he was still human and was afraid. " But she is all I have since my brother... I can't lose her too, I swore to protect her... Oh Lord, please have mercy..."

"..... I understand, but let's wait a bit; maybe she arrives here on her own." As Clark spoke, James began to calm down, the desperation and fear in his heart slowly seeming to dissipate, as if something were interfering and affecting it.

"Okay, you're right, being impulsive like this won't help me. So what should we do then?"

"Well..." Before he had a chance to answer, Clark saw Helena returning from the woods. She was holding her sword and appeared to be carrying some kind of book in her hand. She didn't seem injured, and the young man smiled and let out a sigh of relief. "Why don't you try hugging her?"

James looked at him confused, then followed his gaze and saw Helena approaching. The man couldn't hold back or hesitate and ran to his niece; the swordswoman sheathed her sword and returned her uncle's affectionate gesture.

"Oh thank God, you scared me Helena."

"It's your fault. Were you really worried about something so trivial?" The worry disappeared, and James gave his niece a light punch on the head as a reprimand for her lack of manners.

"You know how to ruin the moment, don't you? You're so rude, young lady."

"OUCH, OLD MAN, THAT HURT, YOU IDIOT!" He gave her another, slightly stronger punch, which made the young woman furious and try to hit him back, failing. Clark laughed in the background, making Helena notice his presence and turn red for three different reasons. "What are you laughing at, Mr. Charm? I'll still beat you up"

"Helena, please don't ruin the moment..." As he asked, Helena began to calm down; his voice was extremely gentle and kind. It was irritating how she obeyed him. "Anyway, how are you? Did anything happen on the other side of the chasm?"

His question made Helena remember what had happened and realize what she was doing. She hadn't understood half of what that monk had said, but it seemed extremely important, and she would definitely need help. The best thing to do was to share things as quickly as possible.

Actually, it's a long story...

A EXPLANATION LATER

"So..... You're a chosen one of a prophecy...?" James asked with an incredulous look on his face.

"Apparently."

"And you have to find three others like you?" Clark continued the question with an even more skeptical look.

"I guess so."

"And... it was an albino monk who told you this?" Both asked simultaneously.

"ARE YOU BOTH DEAF OR SOMETHING? DO YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT EVERYTHING AGAIN?"

The two stood staring at her, still skeptical. Clark then, in a comically subtle manner, leaned towards James and whispered:

"I think you hit her head too hard."