SHEPHERDS

"We're almost there," Saint murmured.

We stopped for a moment; the trees dropped Saint's tormenter in front of us.

I thought he was still unconscious, but it turned out that he was awake for some time. He was too frightened to speak, rendering him the skill: mute until further notice.

"You will not speak of this occurrence to your elders. You will stay speechless until I restore the required nutrients that Saint needs in his depraved form," I instructed him.

The teenager scrambled back and managed to muster up the courage to talk back.

"Th–The others have already notified the Chief Shepherd. You and Saint will not escape their prepared punishment!"

Saint tensed from his pathetic threat. I glanced at his face and saw a strong-willed boy determined to accept his faith. He peeled himself off of me and bowed.

"Thank you for saving me. Please leave. I do not want to involve you in my curse."

I scowled at the stupid idiot on the ground with a confident grin on his lips.

"Are you sure that these others arrived smoothly as you predicted?" I asked him, causing him to lose color.

"What did you do? You think you'll be forgiven for assaulting the weak?!"

"I'm not asking for forgiveness and if I do, please know that I only ask out of sarcasm."

I knelt in front of the teenager and pricked his forehead with a poisonous thorn. He fell unconscious. Tree roots crawled over his body, dragging him into a part of the forest that I wasn't sure of the exact location.

If there was one thing I learned useful from my older brother, it would be: 'Idiots are the most dangerous enemies you can ever have. Do not underestimate them. Acknowledge their idiocy but do not let them roam freely.'

'I don't remember Lucius teach—'

"Silence voices in my head."

"Was Father perhaps speaking to you?" Saint queried.

I gave a nod of approval, deciding to play along.

"You can say that."

His red eyes widened in astonishment.

"What did he say?"

He had such strength in his fragility that I couldn't help but commend him for it.

"He told me to protect you at all costs."

If I could lie a bit to gain approval for my actions, I'd use the authority that his Father had over him to be by his side for just a little while.

Saint's cheeks reddened.

"He said that? But why would He burden you with...me?"

I left that question unanswered and kept silent. I should not talk too much or else he might notice my dishonesty. We proceeded to enter a village containing ivory tinted tents. Torches were lit and loud chants came from the center of the village.

"The villagers are kind and welcoming towards visitors. Go ahead and ask for assistance," Saint assured me.

"Are you not going to ask them to tend to your wounds?"

Saint waved his head with a sad smile.

"The villagers won't dare touch me. They are afraid."

Must I threaten them again? What kind of threats must I generate this time? I was not a person of barbarity, but I will try to be polite once I start warning them about being stabbed into veganism.

"Please bring them back. Their parents would be worried."

With his current condition and his seemingly unhealthy relationship with the villagers, perhaps I should lay low and observe. They would blame Saint for those teenagers' disappearance.

The death flower would follow later.

'Wise choice nephew.'

"Where do you stay?" I asked.

Saint was hesitant to tell me at first but he took the risk and told me anyway.

"At the old shrine west of here. You do not have to visit me. It would only cause suspicions among the villagers."

"Your father told me to protect you and that I shall do. Do you want me to disobey his sacred orders?"

The young boy blushed, taking a step back.

"Of course not. I will be patiently waiting for you," he replied nervously, bowing at his waist.

He limped away. My eyes narrowed. I must find a way to treat his wounds. Perhaps I should stea— borrow medicine.

I sauntered inside and looked for people. There was something strange about this place that I could not pinpoint.

Was it the lack of cabbages planted?

The chanting died down once multiple eyes spotted my entrance. All of them were wearing the same white robe as Saint. There were more men than women. Most, if not all of the women here, had huge and round bellies.

Did they swallow a watermelon? They had the same condition as Wye Fye.

Ah, I have disrupted their dinner. Were they not going to invite Saint into their rich feast?

A gray-haired old man rose from the white carpet with his silver staff in hand. His facial hair was nicely trimmed. Out of all the villagers he stood out the most because of his huge build. He was wrinkled yet he stood with much strength in his form.

"Welcome traveler. My name is Vincenzo. I am the chief of this village," he introduced.

All eyes were pinned at the bird sitting on top of my head. Whispers and murmurs poured down on the line of silence. They found Squawkey admirable. This glorious bird was a magnificent sight to behold.

"My name is Lucian and the bird on my head is Squawkey. I came to inform you that a group of bandits with their leader named Klepton kidnapped some of your own."

'Nephew, what are you saying?!'

My lie brought panic to the residents. Men who appeared to be their warriors stood in alarm.

"Those bandits call themselves Daemons. They cause nothing but trouble for the Grims and Shepherds."

"But how did you know about that?" One of the Shepherds asked me suspiciously.

"I managed to escape. They kidnapped me," was my simple reply.

"Thank the heavens. God showed you the way," Vincenzo praised, looking up in gratitude.

"Yes... he gave me a map."

The chief and the rest of the villagers welcomed me warmly. They gave me food and water as they asked about my personal life.

Of course I did nothing but lie to them. I could not bring myself to trust these people especially with how they treated Saint.

"So you got separated from your older brother because of the catastrophes. That is indeed tragic. You may stay here for as long as you like. We will hide you from the Daemons," the chief assured.

"You have my gratitude," I replied before drinking the hot tea they prepared for me.

I had the urge to ask the chief about Saint but I ended up asking about their connections with the Grims.

"Shepherds and Grims are two opposing forces that serve under the same God. Shepherds spread the word of our Almighty Father while the Grims carry out our Father's wrath over the sinful. They reap the souls of the dying and bring them back to our Lord," Vincenzo explained.

"And how do the Daemons cause trouble for you?"

"The Daemons are ravaging our territories and looting what they can find. Their ulterior motive is to unite the Trinity and to resurrect Diablo—the origin of all Grims."

"Then wouldn't that be beneficial for the Grims?" I clarified.

Vincenzo poured me another cup of tea while I listened intently to his story.

"No, the Grims do not want their progenitor to walk these lands again. Though he is our Father's ultimate creation, his ears and eyes are shut to us. He cannot be trusted."

I could not see the issue here. Did they fear Diablo just because he cannot be manipulated? Did they keep asking Diablo for favors and the man was too smart to listen? Were they just too intimidated by him that they didn't want any competitors for God's favor?

'Simply put, they dispose of what they could not control. Insecurity reeks from their leadership,' the voice commented.

Very well said.

"Enough of that story, you must be exhausted. Diablo will never be resurrected and we will keep you safe from the Daemons," the chief confidently spoke.

Somehow I feel as if the opposite will happen.

What Trinity were they referring to? Did Sin know where to find this Trinity?

"How about a bath? It will help you sleep comfortably," Vincenzo offered.

"That would be splendid."

The women prepared my bath. I could not help but become lost in my thoughts about Saint. If he would waste his life here with such indignation from his village, perhaps I should invite him to join me. Caleb wouldn't mind, would he?

'Of course he would.'

Such pessimistic voices.

The women left me alone. I began to strip the clothes I borrowed from the cabin. My fingers remained hooked to the hem of my pants.

"Chief, may I help you?" I queried.

He placed a clean white towel on the bench.

"I was merely wondering if you need anything else."

I should be flattered that the chief himself was attending to my needs but I feel no such puffery. I knew that set of eyes.

"I only need one more thing," I told him.

The chief raised his eyes once I submerged my legs inside the tub. His eyes were burning intensely into my bare back.

"I need complete privacy."

Shortly, upon my request, the chief apologized and exited the bath area. I should be more careful when talking to the leader of tribes. Lucius would have scolded me for my behavior. Without a doubt he will say: "Next time, leave the dirty work to me."

At least I had Squawkey standing guard for me. No one would dare do anything while my feathery companion was here.

Caleb and Fenris flashed inside my mind. My chest tightened. He would be very worried by now.

I dried myself, donning into the clean robe provided for me. One of the Shepherds guided me into the most lavish tent in the village. I suppose this was the chief's tent.

"The chief would like you to rest here."

How generous.

The bed was big and soft but I supposed that old pervert was expecting me to share it with him. I might as well borrow what I could find and give it to Saint. I opened a hole on the ground and handed down things to the rabbits I summoned.

"You know where to take them..."

I borrowed everything I could find. I peeked out of the tent, taking the chance to escape.

I headed west. There was a small and worn out shrine ready to collapse at any time. The shrine was made of wood that insects feasted. A harsh cough resonated from inside. I opened a hole for the rabbits to exit from. The rabbits went in line and presented to me everything we borrowed.

"We have bread and—" I took the jar that was filled with green juice, sniffing the contents. "Herbs I suppose."

We have blankets and pillows. If I could only stuff the entire mattress into the hole I would have borrowed it as well. The shrine's entire floor area was tiny with stairs leading up to the entrance.

I took my first step; the floor creaked from my weight. The coughing stopped. The door slightly slid open.

"Lucian?" Saint called out.

"I'm here," I replied.

I helped Saint with the door. The rabbits dutifully placed the goods on the ground before hopping away.

"You... shouldn't have bothered," he told me while looking at the things we took from the village. "You'll get in trouble for stealing and it's bad to take what isn't yours."

"I'll return them by morning. Do not let your hair curl over it." I lied, handing him the bread and medicine.

His condition was getting worse as he laid gasping for air. His whole body was sheathed with cold sweat. I helped him lie down after I spread the blanket on the ground. Squawkey was silently observing from the altar while I fed Saint.

"I do--don't know what I did to deserve such a good person like you but...I–I am grateful..." He murmured. His eyes glistened.

"Do not waste your scraps of energy crying. Save your strength," I whispered.

His body racked with a series of harsh and intense coughs. I held him close to me to give him more heat.

What should I do? How could I help him get better? Sevor knew about medicine, perhaps he could help Saint.

For some reason, my bird companion became hostile as it shrieked and squawked uncontrollably at something outside. I placed Saint's head on the pillow and slid the door open.

There was a bottle filled with blue liquid on the floor alongside a blue feather. The bottle was chilled. When I removed the lid, a minty scent filled my nostrils, clearing my breathing.

Squawkey soared down and hopped outside, surveying the surroundings. There was not a single person outside but they couldn't have gone that far.

I stared at the bottle and then at Saint. I tasted a little bit of the bitter medicine to see if it would be safe to consume. Needlessly to say, I felt like I could lift Caleb if he needed to be assisted into the cabin again.

There should be no bumps on his head this time.

Whoever gave this medicine knew how much Saint needed it. I picked up the blue feather and then glanced at Squawkey.

"A relative of yours perhaps?"