The Eternal Guardian

While the Medicine Elders were checking on Garim and Zuman was conversing with the Spirit Elder's Spirit Guide, the Council of 7 was discussing between them in hushed voices with Elder Ramiz looking on from beside them.

"Chief Malim, can this person be trusted? His age aside, how sure are we that the boy Garim is really cured? And how sure are we that the Medicine Elders can verify that this is not a trick?"

The bald elder with narrow eyes and a scar on his cheek, Elder Cleeg asked suspiciously.

"Elder Cleeg, I cannot give any answer to your questions at the moment. We just don't know if we can trust him or not. As for the boy Garim, we can only hope that our Medicine Elders are able to verify his condition. And even if this is a trick, without any evidence, we cannot take any action against him. This is a person who singlehandedly slew a Crimson Fur Bear within mere moments. I trust Elder Cleeg that YOU, of all people, know just how extraordinary a feat that is?"

Chief Malim could only give this answer to Elder Cleeg. Elder Cleeg could only nod at this answer as he recalled the past.

Elder Cleeg was the village's most prominent hunter when he was younger. In fact, he was the one leading the expedition to kill off the Crimson Fur Bear back then when that particular beast roamed too close to their village for comfort. He still remembers how it was back then, of sending in rotating teams of hunters and villagers at all times of the day just to bait the beast and divert it from their village. The desperation that drove them to send fellow villagers to build barely passable traps just to wear the beast down, all the while haunted by the fear that the beast would just bypass them and reaches the village before starting to wreak havoc amongst the women and children left behind.

"Could he be a sorcerer, Chief? After all, from what Adika told us, this person summoned fire from his stick which he used to forcibly stop and kill the beast. We all know just how strong that beast is. A hit from that beast's paw would easily uproot a tree and our arrows are just like roses' thorns to it. We have all heard tales of sorcerers before."

Elder Fareed interjected.

Indeed. They have heard tales of sorcerers before, though before this they thought such people were only stuffs of legends.

Tales of how such men or women can break the earth from afar with only a gesture of their hand.

There are even legends of how they could snatch someone from the jaws of death with only their will.

"If he is one, all the more reason for us not to offend him. Or do you think we can do anything against people wielding such powers?"

Chief Malim retorted.

That silenced the elders. Indeed, provoking people of such mysterious powers are not a good idea. Especially since their little village have nothing much to its name in the first place.


"Chief, such being the case, then shouldn't we instead make sure he at least holds friendly relations with us? We might benefit from this."

This was from Elder Derim, ever the tradesman on the lookout for opportunities.

"Derim, that's assuming we have anything he is interested in. As it is, I can only assume that his treatment of Garim is just on a whim of his. We need to dig for further information on what he wants. Did Adika gave any hints yesterday of what he wants?"

Chief Malim could only helplessly reply on this.

"None at all. We can only play it by the ear now. Oh, look, seems like the Medicine Elders have finished checking the boy."

Indeed, at that moment, the Medicine Elders have stopped observing the boy and are clustering together.

"Why do they seem unsettled?"

An elder curiously asked.

"Wouldn't you be? Imagine if something you held to be truth all your life have been proven false one day? That's probably the closest to how the Medicine Elders are feeling right now."

Elder Derim wryly remarked.

-

"Chief Malim. We have come to the conclusion that the boy Garim is no longer afflicted with the 'Harms'. In fact, as far as we can tell, the boy Garim is at the peak of his health for a 10 seasons old boy."

The lead Medicine Elder informed them in a calm voice. However, while he can give a semblance of calmness, his fellow elders behind him are quite visibly nervous and shocked. In fact, if one were to observe him closely, one would notice that his hands keep clenching and unclenching into a fist and open palm alternately.

Chief Malim stood up and started speaking.

"Well. Mr. Zuman. It seems that your words are true. We owe you an apology for our hostile behavior earlier. We also owe you our gratitude for saving a member of our village."

"I am just glad that this matter is settled."

Zuman replied.

"Indeed. Pray tell, how can our village repay you? As it is we don't quite understand why you would help the boy or return him to us."

"To be honest, I found him dying on my front door. I feel that letting a young boy like this with his future in front of him dying from such a simple illness to be a waste you see. As for returning him here, well, I hold the view that before he has fully grown into an adult, his best place would be here with his parents. As for repayment, well, I just want to learn more about your village you see. To be more specific, I want to learn more about your society. I have been a hermit for quite some time now and I find myself quite curious how other humans live in a society."

The surrounding elders visibly paled on hearing that he thought the 'Harms' to be a mere 'simple illness'. Then what did their suffering before count as?

"That is a reasonable desire and we are very happy to oblige on this matter. Also, where is your abode? I assume it is quite nearby for the boy to reach it before the 'Harms' claimed him."

Chief Malim curiously inquired.

"My home is at the mountains there. See?"

Coincidentally, the windows behind the elders are actually facing towards the mountains from which Zuman and Garim came.

"I see. It is true that you can reach the mountains within 6 sunshines if you're in a hurry."

Chief Malim nodded. However, Elder Derim narrowed his eyes before standing up.

"Forgive me for interrupting Chief, but I need to verify something."

"Please proceed Elder Derim."

"Thank you Chief. Mr. Zuman. You said that you have been a hermit for quite some time now and you're living at the mountains all this while. However, 20 seasons ago there was the Starfall! How was it possible for you to survive this event?"

Zuman was rendered speechless for a moment.

(Oops. I forgot to tally my story for inconsistencies. Damn. Should I come clean or weave a tale out of thin air?)

While he was agonizing over this, Elder Ramiz slowly stood up.

"Derim. That is easily answered. He didn't survive the event."

Everyone present was confused upon hearing this. After all, in front of them is a man of flesh and blood. Even Zuman himself was confused.

(What is this old coot talking about? I'm obviously alive here. Unlike that weird crone spirit, I am flesh and blood.)

Indeed, the elders broke out into whispers before Chief Malim took control of the situation again.

"What do you mean Elder Ramiz? I believe I am not alone when I say that I don't understand what you're talking about."

And right on cue, all the other elders nodded their agreement with this statement.

Elder Ramiz only smiled at this before speaking again.

"It is quite simple Malim. He didn't survive the event. He CAUSED the event. He IS the Starfall."

"!!!!"

Zuman was shocked at this.

"HOW DID YOU KNOW?"

He unconsciously shouted at Elder Ramiz.

Upon hearing this confirmation, all the Elders wore expressions of fear and disquiet on their faces.

Still smiling, Elder Ramiz gestured behind him towards the Spirit Guide.

"You see Mr. Zuman, I didn't know. However, the spirits know. They warned me 20 seasons ago of the Starfall, of which I gave warning to the village to evacuate quite far away for some time in case there are casualties. And now, you've met one of them. She thought you gave off a weird vibe but she initially attributed it to you being a old hermit with an extreme longevity. Imagine our surprise once you told us that you live there at the mountain for so long. My Spirit Guide deduced that your weird vibe and your living there mean that you ARE the Starfall. I wasn't actually fully sure when I made that statement earlier, but you have kindly confirmed it for us."

Zuman could only stare at Elder Ramiz and the Spirit Guide who was smirking at him.

(Well, well. I got caught due to my carelessness huh.)