Chapter 22

The one to open the door was the elder's wife taking care of him. When she opened the door and not recognizing Hyogo she gave him a quick look but quickly paid him no attention and faced Hana.

Hana: "We would like to talk to the elder about letting this man called Hyogo stay until his friends come and get him."

Elder's wife: "Hana you know the rules of the village we can't keep him here even if it's you asking us." She looked away from Hana and turned towards Hyogo who was now standing on his own. "I'm sorry to say this but you can't stay here because outsiders aren't allowed here. There's no ill will but it's what we need to do to keep our village safe from the dangers of the war."

The elder's wife gave him a forced smile.

Hyogo: "I see that's understandable from your guys point of view so I guess I won't be able to rest here."

???: "Who is it Rena?"

Rena: "It's Hana and her brother but Hana brought an outsider with her wanting us to let him stay!"

Elder: "Let them in. I'll make the decision."

After their exchanges of shouts she tells them to come inside. As soon as Hyogo set foot inside the house she sighed and shook her head.

Rena: "It's not like I hold any power in this village so ultimately my husband's decision will be the one deciding if this man can stay."

They entered the room that the elder was resting in as there were no chairs; they all stood around the bed that he was resting on. Once they all got inside the one the elder looked at was Hyogo.

Elder: "So you're the outsider that Hana wants to let stay here."

Hyogo: "Yes if it's not much to ask it's just until my clan members find me after they do I'll leave immediately. I would go back to them myself but I got my arms injured so I won't be able to move them for a while. They should be able to find their way here soon so it shouldn't be any longer than a few days.

Elder: "I see that you are injured but how did that happen to you? Were you fighting someone before coming here?"

Hyogo: "I was being chased by a lightning beast from a lightning biome around the area. I got these injuries from it while I was fighting against it."

Elder: "For what reason did it chase you? The ones at that biome have been peaceful for years so why would they come chasing after you outside the biome. Unless they were one that was just born into this world it would have the common sense to not chase someone outside a biome where they are the most vulnerable. So what did you do that caused one to chase you outside their biome? " What he said doesn't sound like a lie but it feels a bit off as well. Is he hiding something?

Hyogo: "One of my clan members has lightning as one of his magic and he saw a lightning spirit that caught his eye that he wanted to form a contract with. The spirit didn't want to do one so he tried getting it to form one by force which didn't work out so well. Since it had two magic beasts looking after it like a mother and father. He couldn't handle them by himself so I took care of one by leading it outside the biome. Then it led me to this direction as I was fighting with it. Which is how I ended up like this."

Elder: I'm good at telling when people lie but it doesn't seem that he is lying from what he said. If he's not lying then is there a reason to not let him stay? But it is true that people from the war are dangerous so I can't exactly just let him stay so easily while endangering the village.

The elder looked away from Hyogo and now faced Hana.

Elder: "Why is it that you want me to let him stay in our village? You know why we have these rules in the first place, Hana. It's for the safety of our village. I know you are a kind person Hana and you want to help him but we have no reason to let him stay at the risk of the village's safety."

Hana: "Because he saved my life! When I was about to get attacked by the lightning spirit he protected me and in the process he got his arm injured because of me getting in the way. Are you saying that you won't permit someone that would protect a stranger from danger from staying at our village? Do you see him that much of a threat!"

Hana even for her age acted like a child and was a very straightforward person that could not hide her emotions for better or for worse. This caused the people in the village to adore her, making them have a weak spot for her and the elder was no exception; as he saw her as his own granddaughter. But at this instance even for her he would not give in so easily.

Elder: "You say he saved your life from the lightning spirit but who do you think is responsible for it even being near here. A normal person wouldn't see it as you getting in the way but getting caught into it. I know that you are a kind person Hana but he brought danger towards you and even after that do you still not see the dangers that he can bring upon the village."

Hana: "That does not matter, that doesn't change the fact that he saved me after seeing me in danger. The spirit won't be of any problem anymore as well since he took it out already so what other problem do you have against him staying here for a while. What other danger could he possibly bring in a few days? Are you that afraid of him?"

Elder: Knowing Hana she won't back down from this when she's so serious about it. But can I allow him to stay in the village at the expense of danger he might bring to us. The main problem here is Hana if it were anyone else I wouldn't have any second guesses in my decision. Because I see her as my own granddaughter it pains me just having to talk to her like this. So what can do to allow him to stay? Personally I do want to since I've wanted to be more accepting of outsiders but the villagers don't think it's a good idea. I can't make the whole village displeased even if I am the elder I need to take into account of the others. I'll have to use him saving Hana as an excuse to let him stay then and maybe saying something like I can't allow the village to lose face by not allowing him to stay after what he has done to one of our people. Ya that should be good enough. "Fine I'll let him stay in the village but only at the old storage at the edge of the village where we used to keep our farming tools."

Hana brother: "How are you going to let him stay elder people from war only bringing danger along with them!"

The look in his eyes were fierce and he clenched his fists as he shouted at the elder.

Hana's brother: They just don't get it if only they knew how dangerous people like him are this wouldn't be happening!

Elder: " That's true I won't deny that Hyogo will be a risk to our village even if he's a good participant of the war it's only natural."

Brother: "Then why!"

Elder: "Because he saved Hana even if he did bring the spirit towards our village it wasn't as if it was to bring us danger. He took responsibility for bringing Hana near danger by protecting her and getting himself harmed along the way. Even if I do see him as a potential danger to our village I can't just toss him away after saving Hana. The least I can do is bring him to the edge of the village away from the other villagers. As the elder it is my duty to keep the people of this village safe but it is also my duty to keep the reputation of the village good and not dirty our name."

Hana's brother still doesn't accept the elder's decision but he has no power to stop him. So all he can do is clench his fist and glare at Hyogo, the cause of his anger. Hana, happy with getting the elders permission to let Hyogo stay can't help but turn towards him and smile with joy.

Hyogo: "I'm glad that you let me stay but I need to tell you one more thing because I'm sure you'll find out soon but the forest by your village was partially ruined during my fight. Is there anything I can do to repay the damage I made since it looked like a place flourishing in fruit. I would feel guilty without taking responsibility for it so I'd like to do anything I can."

Elder: "That forest was one of our main selling points during this season. We would trade the fruit to other nearby villages so it would be a loss for us without it. So if you have any money you could solve if with that."

Hyogo: "Is that all? If anything that feels too short of a way to repay the damage I did. I'm close to the princess of the kingdom. If you want I could speak with her to stop charging you taxes. That way you shouldn't worry about it in the future and of course I'll pay the money you asked for. Would 50 thousand be acceptable?"

Elder: "50 thousand! That would be too much surely you jest and being tax free from the kingdom I couldn't imagine to be true."

Hyogo: "Once my comrades come and get me we are heading back to the capital to meet with the princess. I'll put in a word for the village so you don't need to pay anymore taxes. Just be patient and you should be notified once she makes her decision. The money I'll give you right now so don't worry about that. Settings, bank, withdraw 50 thousand dollars."

Once he gave the command 50 thousand appeared in front of Hyogo on the floor.

Elder: "Is that the commands I've heard about?"

Hyogo: "Yes it's quite convenient isn't it, well that should settle the damage I did."

Elder: "If anything you did more than you needed to, are you sure you want to do all this."

Hyogo: "Ya I wouldn't feel right if I didn't don't worry about it. That's everything from me so if you don't need anything else from me I'd like to go and rest."

Elder: "That should be everything so you are free to go."

Hyogo: "Goodbye elder."

Elder: "Goodbye."

Hyogo leaves the elder's home and Hana does as well. The only one to stay was Hana's brother.