Aggressive Confrontation

Mikeal and Anna had just returned to the village only to be confronted by Vincent who is in the way of Mikeal getting to his tree house.

"Is it true". Vincent interrogated, his tone harsh as usual.

"Is what true". Mikeal responded, unfazed by his tantrum.

His last meeting with the village heads was four days ago, and that was the first and currently the last meeting he has had with them.

He needed time to come up with ways to counter the problems they were facing before he called for another meeting of the heads.

He also hasn't met with any village head on a private level nor interacted with the villagers to have a topic intertwine and end up telling them something.

In short, he hasn't had a proper conversation with any of them after that day. His days as a loner have made him a shut-in who keeps to himself more on a daily basis and rarely talks to others.

The circumstances that can have words flowing out of his mouth are when he is feeling uncomfortable around someone and would like to brush off that feeling by having something to talk about.

Other than that, what he does is learn more about mages from Siveth or have casual talks with Anna.

As for his feeding routine? The villagers prepare food for the whole village and during that time, Mikeal's portion is brought to him by Anna.

The food doesn't go beyond swallow or cooked grain. They have limited varieties and serve a very small portion to maintain for the whole day.

A day meal that normally wouldn't be worth a day on a normal basis. That is the kind of food they take in to sustain themselves.

Being their lord, Mikeal made it a necessity to live the same life as they did. Anna had questioned him for it, but he refused to let his decision be overruled by dissatisfaction to see her lord eating one square meal a day, and one without any nutritious ingredients.

"The village head told me what happened. About why you did what you did to the captured women. Is it true". He says, demanding an answer with his coarse stare at Mikeal.

Mikeal turned his eyes away from Vincent and deviated them at the village head who was behind him.

The rest of the villagers had gathered around following the loud voice of Vincent confronting Mikeal.

With two blinks of his brow, the village head, Elder Burke shied away his eyes from meeting Mikeal's gaze. He felt like he had offended Mikeal by speaking out about something he intended to keep to himself.

"Whatever it is you think I did, that is not it. I am a selfish human who strives for perfection. The captured women are humans who have been tainted by the relation of the impure. I will not allow such women in my village". Mikeal declared.

"So it is true!". Vincent sounded dejected as well as pained.

He clenched his fist and landed a lucky strike on Mikeal's cheek, his steps oddly faster than Anna's reaction. Perhaps because she had not expected him to do so.

His fist was deflected with Mikeal still standing his ground. He did not use any mana enhancement technique. His physical body was what tanked the fist.

"Who are you! Who do you think you are deciding our feelings for us?! Who asked you to go through the trouble for us?! Why, do you think we will be touched because of your selfless sacrifice?". Vincent lashed out.

"You might have been able to buy the elders into that, but not me. I still blame you for what happened to them. You killed them, I saw you do it. That won't change for me".

Though he was saying these things, he didn't mean it, not like the other times he had acted this way.

"I don't care what you or anyone else thinks of me Vincent. I am your lord, that is a fact you can not take away. I am here to stay, like it or not".

Vincent clicked his tongue and bit his upper lips in annoyance directed at himself.

"Elder Burke, I want you to gather the others and prepare for the meeting. There is something I need to discuss with you all".

Mikeal left their midst without making eye contact with any of them. One of the core members with confusion is Anna.

She had no idea what just happened but from Vincent's reaction, she could tell that he knew he was in the wrong and what he did was his way of apologizing.

The problem is, Anna has no idea what he is apologetic for. He loathed Mikeal's action the most and was sure to harbour a long-term rage at Mikeal.

It is a mystery what elder Burke could have told him to reverse the situation and now having that stone-hearted human be apologetic in his own confused and aggressive manner.