Chapter 50   Human nature

Everyone's attention turned over to the rubble where Obi was, after hearing an unfamiliar voice call Raga's name. Then has the dust was settling, this unknown man came crawling out of the rubble on all fours almost completely naked only wearing a brief murmuring.

"Please forgive me… want no part of this… I was just doing my job… Raga… Raga… help me!".

Raga looks towards him then realize who he was, a bushy burned beard man, around in his fifties, with half of his scalp with brown hair the left side burned off, a long scar coming from his cheek down to his chin, a tone body of a middle-aged built frame, covered in multiple battle-scars, had a few deep third degree burns scarring his lower body covered by brief, but what really got his attention, was the huge black cross tattoo on his upper back.

"Stupi" Raga blurted out of his mouth, catching the man's attention has drool was dripping from its mouth he shuddered Ra… Raga, Raga!… help me, Hel-".

He has the words were barely leaving his mouth he was looking around in a panic and immediately stops when he saw, Ulia standing with the crowd with Pai still on her shoulder. The veins in his neck ran wild as his heart fell to his feet, he made a blood curdling scream in pure terror,

"Aaaaaaarraaa!"

Kicking himself back rolling himself into a ball shaking in tears.

"Damn… ten time huh?" Lieg empathized, Ulia replied

"Well he was being rude, you wanted him alive and I only had ten full potions on me, so".

Tetso confused by all this asked "So is anyone going to explain to me who's this guy" has he you realize that the whole being stuck in that pose of punching the guy across the room was getting stale, so he reverted back to standing straight up hands cross.

"I don't know... in this case he's literally self-explanatory right Ulia" Lieg he signaled to her,

"Uhmmm well… let's see if he remembers how to talk first". As she then stomped on the ground to get his attention and shouted,

"I'll allow you to tell him everything you told me… NOW!".

But after hearing this, Raga immediately draws a knife from behind Elika made of a small iron cross with the last remaining Mana he had mix with blood to squeeze out, and threw it it right at Stupi's head.

"This bastard's a Bandits a criminal of the capitol!",

But before the blade could reach him it was immediately dispersed by his owned Kirpan blade striking it in the middle landing into the ground next to Stupi by Lieg.

"Now we won't be having that as I said we're kind of lacking on time so let's keep this moving along… stupid go ahead" Lieg said,

As Hoku was slowly able to get up off the floor by himself in the background. "I am… my name is Stupi Eove… I was sent by the church, to help with the clearing of the land and to support Raga, in the conversion of the villagers".

"That's a lie, are you guys doing this. This is blasphemy, he's a thief how can we believe anything that he said" Shouted Raga, has he signaled his followers to approached Stupi slowly. But unbeknownst to him realizing that there was no one stepping forward, "What are you waiting for"

As he turned towards them to see that Ulia was standing between them and the Bandit, with none of them showing any intention of moving from where they stood.

Stupi continue "The church's plan was originally to solo the Beretta Kingdom to capture of Young people for their experimentation, kill the elderly if they were unable to make the month long trip back to Beretta, exempt the few that would have played an escape with Raga back to the Holy Kingdom. By then we were supposed to eliminate the chief, as per the agreement of supplying him with a mid potion of the fountain of youth".

The Village was in shock at this revelation, they looked at each other with disbelief.

"You just wanted peace?, the peace you deserve right old friend. You were willing to sacrifice your own blood just to get that, but in the end that wasn't even true. You just crave battle has your skin wrinkles choosing the holy lands blessing for a little edge off your years you would sacrifice the lives of everyone here?".

Tetso asked completely disheartened at the sight of his once most treasured friend, comrade, brothers by war blood.

"You piece of shit… when you took me and my sister and I thought you were a kind old man. Why for a fairytale youth restoring potion, so you can get back into the fighting. If you want to go fight and die then go out there yourself don't involve us" Hoku shouted at Raga out of frustration barely able to stand on his feet next to Rizette who was staying close by Lieg. "

Why, Why gramps, this isn't like you. What happened to the man who took us in when we had nowhere else to go, After father passed away and mother nowhere to be found. You're not this Youth chasing power hungry, monster, You would actually trade human lives for your own benefit?. As tears started to flow from his eyes, Raga just stared at him, which is understandable under the circumstances. But while Hoku was spilling out his emotions, Raga just stared at him no emotions not even a shiver of regrets, you waited for him to stop exhaled in disbelief has he been clenched his fists together and finally spoke.

"Human lives?… uh?… Oh no, You do not get to otter those words those words, I will not be criticized by a half breed heretic!" Raga shouted.