Small Talk

Katheryn frowned listening to his question. "What makes you think like that?"

"I just wanted to know, you saw those men. I..." He waited and looked at her wanted "I wanted to kill them."

He raised his hands, looking at them. His expression was still stoic.

"Katheryn walked up to him. She placed her hand on his head, patting him. "It's fine."

"If you didn't then, they would have killed you."

"They will all always be people, who aim for our land, houses, or food. If not resisted, you will be killed mercilessly."

"Trust me, it was even more serious when I was your age. We didn't have the luxury of waiting until a certain age to face the battles. We were thrust into the midst of conflict as children, forced to fight for our lives and protect our land. There was no choice, no alternative. It was either fight or face certain death."

"So, it's simple. You don't have to feel guilty when you feel it's right. Who cares about others' opinions? It's your life and you have to fight for it. We can't stay by your side all the time. You need to be stronger to protect your life if you value it, that is."

Katheryn said all she could, thinking that Aragon might be feeling hesitant or wanting to kill them. Not just these lands, but the world itself was like a jungle. Strong survive and the weak get devoured, this was always the bottom line. You have to fight, for yourself, that is if you want to live.

Hearing her words made him remember his grandma's words, She always said, 'To put yourself first and be selfish and more importantly take care of those who love you.' Her teachings always stayed in his mind and the love she showed him, that he missed now.

Once again he made his resolve and decided to finish his training even without his grandma. She has already taught all she could, about the technique.

"Thank you, aunt."

Surprised, she chuckled, "Well, what a cute boi," She moved towards him, trying to hug him but Aragon bent and passed through from the side, under her right arm.

"Okay aunt Katheryn, I will be home by dusk." He quickly got down the stairs and left the home.

"My little nephew, feeling all shy and running away." She laughed.

She also left the house and went to the place where people gathered.

Rhaet and all men were sat and relaxed, enjoying the morning light. Ivan and Egnav both battered up, lying on the ground. Synnove had worse, with heavy bleeding on her thigh, with the support of Asdis, they walked back to Synnove's house.

Rhaet saw Katheryn, "Is the kid all right?"

"More than all right."

He furrowed his brows but sighed, leaving the matter for later.

Some village men came out and started to clean the bodies, while the warrior men sat and drank ale.

***

Aragon ran up the mountains to the place where the cave was present. He didn't stop there, continued moving up. The cave was only accessible to him and his grandma. No one can open that cave beside them.

Sprinted for several minutes, and he reached the top of the mountain. As it was a chain of mountains, they were multiple mountain tops and it also had a higher peak.

He was panting, reaching the top. He straightened up and breathed in all the morning fresh breeze. The top of the mountain contained a few rocks and a couple of trees. They he stood, his hands on his hip, gazing down the greenery of the mountains.