Ethan's Vow

"Those scumbag dares attack those under our protection, do they think they would get away with it?" said the clan head in anger.

"Clan head, do you think they are involved in this?" asked Marcus.

"Everyone knows the Serpent eye sect are the Thundering sword clan lackeys, so if they do not instruct them to do it, then who will?" reply one of the elders replied to Marcus.

"Clan head it is now clear the thundering sword clan want to go to war with us, and we need to give them a reply as soon as possible else they think we are weak" said an elder with a hunched back.

The clan head didn't say a thing, but they all know how angry he is from just hearing the news about one of the villages under his protection being erased out of the lower heavens. Breathing out, the clan calm himself before taking his seat.

"The ironwood fortress clan has never bow down from a fight and this won't be the first. Even if those in the middle heaven want to wage a war against us, we still won't bow our heads and let them walk over us" the clan head spoke after so longer before turning to Marcus who was still standing beside Alden and Ethan.

"Marcus gather your men and await my instructions and as for you two, now that you are no longer in the whispering pine village, do you want to stay here and be one of our people or do you want to leave?" asked the clan head.

"We don't have anywhere to go, and you took us in when we came here unconscious, so we'll stay sir" replied Alden with a bow.

Hearing his reply, the clan head nodded his head in approval before giving Marcus another instruction.

"You are to show them around and place them in any department they wanted to be. Now you can leave and carry out my orders".

"As you commandeered clan head" said Marcus with a bow before turning around and walk out of the hall with the two boys following behind him.

After their departure, the elder with hunch back decided to speak up.

"Now that the whispering pine village is destroyed, we will need to increase the task of the other villages and place some of our elite members over there to protect them".

"That won't be a problem but first, I would need to give the thundering sword clan a wonderful gift" reply the clan head with a smile.

Meanwhile, after leaving the clan head resident, Marcus decided to show them around the ironwood fortress including a hut that was far bigger than the one they were living in and inside this building, there were many beasts of different species in it with people dressed in black to look after them.

"This is where the beasts that are used for traveling are being kept and those that took the time to look after them are called beast tamers. Do let me know if you're finding this department to your liking" said Marcus as he introduced the building to them.

"I'm more interesting in joining the pills making department" commented Alden.

"You mean the alchemy department. What about you boy, where do you want to belong"? Asked Marcus as he turned to face Ethan.

Heading the question asked, Ethan did some thinking before speaking up and when he did, it was in determination.

"I want to get back on the thundering sword clan for what they did to my village".

"Don't you think it would be risky for you, you might die in the process" said Alden as he tried to advise Ethan not to seek revenge.

"They destroy our village, killed those we love, and you are just going to sit here doing nothing" asked Ethan in anger when remembering how they came back to see the village in a mess.

"But the ironwood fortress clan is going to strike back so I don't see a reason why we should get ourselves involved since we are weak to do anything in the first" reply Alden.

"My heart won't be at peace if others do it for me and besides, I do promise mum and dad that I will avenge their death" said Ethan as he was so determined to take revenge on those that rob him of his happiness.

Seeing that he can't convince him to stop, all Alden could do was let out a deep sigh as he said to Ethan.

"Since you have made up your mind to take revenge, then you will need someone to watch your back and where would you find that, so I guess I will just watch over you"?

"You don't have to do this Alden, I would rather not force you to do something you are not interested in doing" said Ethan when he heard Alden say he would be going with him as well.

"Even if I don't want to, I still can't leave you to do this all by yourself. At the end of it all, you still need me Ethan" reply Alden with a smile as he rested a hand on Ethan shoulder.

"Thanks Alden, for always been there, you are a true friend" said Ethan with a smile.

"There is no need to thank me Ethan, is what friends do okay" reply Alden.

Seeing that they have already made up their minds, Marcus who have been silent all this while finally spoke up.

"Since you have all decided to join the combat department, you are now under my command and there would be no turning back once we have you two registered".

"I believe we would be able to handle whatever difficulty you throw our way" said Alden with a proud look on his face.

"Haha, that's it boy. I would like to see if you would still have that same look on your face in a month time after I'm done with. Now follow me and get yourself registered into the combat department" reply Marcus with a chuckle before leading the way as they begin to head towards the location of the combat department.