Chapter 17 – The Mysterious Stranger!
Day 3
As the sun began to rise, its golden rays pierced through the thick canopy of leaves, casting dappled light onto the forest floor. A soft beam of light gently warmed Shawn’s face, stirring him from his deep slumber. Tiny squirrels darted playfully across his resting form, their light steps barely disturbing him. Nearby, curious woodland creatures watched from a distance, their eyes wide and unblinking, observing this intruder in their realm.
Shawn, still wrapped in the remnants of his dream, murmured, “Grandpa… no, don’t go…” His words were barely audible, a whisper carried away by the gentle morning breeze. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he sat up with a start, his breath coming in rapid, uneven gasps as if he had just surfaced from a deep, dark place.
The animals, startled by his sudden movement, scampered away into the safety of the underbrush, leaving Shawn alone with the fading echoes of his dream. He wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to steady his breathing, his heart still pounding in his chest.
The tranquillity of the forest gradually seeped into his consciousness, calming the storm within him. The morning air was cool and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves. Birds began to sing their dawn chorus, their melodies weaving through the trees, bringing a sense of normalcy back to the world around him.
Shawn blinked away the remnants of sleep, his mind slowly clearing. He looked around, taking in the peaceful scene. The forest, bathed in the soft glow of morning light, seemed almost magical, as if the events of the night before were just a figment of his imagination.
Shawn took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, clean air, and exhaled slowly, letting the tension in his body ease. The weight of his grandfather’s words lingered in his mind, and Shawn quickly looked around, searching for any sign of his grandfather. But the forest was empty, save for the rustling leaves and the morning light filtering through the trees. Reality settled in as he realised that his encounter with his grandfather had taken place in the astral plane.
Shawn stood up, brushing the leaves from his clothes, and whispered to himself, a hint of melancholy lacing his voice, “Stupid grandpa… He knew I couldn’t handle seeing him disappear, so he knocked me out.” He paused, a small, bitter-sweet smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I was happy to see him again, though. That’s more than enough for me.”
He tilted his head back, looking up at the sky as the morning sunlight poured through the treetops, casting a golden hue over everything. The brightness made him squint, and he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare. “Next time I see him,” he murmured, “I’ll punch him in the stomach so hard that he won’t ever think of knocking me out again… if I see him…”
As he stood there, bathed in the warmth of the rising sun, Shawn felt a sense of quiet determination begin to build within him. The journey ahead was uncertain, and the burdens he carried were heavy, but Shawn knew he couldn’t turn back. With a final glance at the sky, Shawn lowered his hand, letting the sunlight wash over him once more before he turned and began to walk forward into the forest, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Shawn walked for a while, the sun climbing higher until it was directly overhead. The warmth of the day did little to ease the growing sense of unease gnawing at him. He kept remembering his grandpa’s words and thinking about how to unravel the mystery behind this war, and was not sure where to begin? Suddenly, Shawn’s instincts screamed a warning, and he slowed his pace, sensing something dangerous ahead. Moving cautiously, he approached the source of the ominous presence, taking cover behind a tree.
Peering around the trunk, he saw three soldiers clad in King Azure’s armour, their backs turned to him as they walked away. These soldiers exuded a different aura than those he had faced in Katanha Village. There was a menace to them, a palpable sense of power that set them apart.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers halted mid-step, his head snapping to the side as if sensing something. The others noticed his sudden stop and turned back toward him.
“What’s wrong?” the first one asked, his voice gruff and impatient.
“Why did you stop?” the second soldier added, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance.
The third soldier, the one who had sensed something, slowly turned his head in Shawn’s direction. “I felt like someone was watching us,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the trees.
Shawn’s heart raced as he realised he’d been detected. He prepared to take action, his mind running through possible strategies, but before he could move, a hand clamped over his mouth and yanked him backwards into a nearby bush.
He struggled against the hold, but the grip was firm, the stranger’s strength surprising. The space was tight, and it was difficult for Shawn to free himself. A voice, low and reeking of strong alcohol, whispered urgently in his ear, “Shush, or they’ll hear us.”
The unexpected command, coupled with the sharp scent of alcohol, gave Shawn pause. He decided to stay still, trusting the stranger for the moment.
The soldier who had sensed Shawn continued to stare into the trees, his eyes searching the shadows. After a tense moment, he shook his head. “Probably just a wild animal passing through,” he said finally. “Let’s move. We have a mission to complete.”
The other soldiers nodded, and the three of them resumed their march, their footsteps fading into the distance.
Shawn, still held in the bush, relaxed slightly but couldn’t shake the unsettling thoughts racing through his mind. ‘I sensed those soldiers from a distance, but I couldn’t sense him at all,‘ he thought, referring to the person who had just pulled him back. The realisation was jarring, and Shawn wondered who this mysterious stranger could be—and why he had just saved him.
Once the stranger saw the soldiers had left the area, he let out a relieved sigh. “Phew, that was a close one. The soldiers are gone now,” he said, finally releasing his grip on Shawn. Seizing the moment, Shawn leapt from the bush and put some distance between himself and the man, adopting a defensive stance. Despite the lack of any dangerous aura from the stranger, Shawn remained cautious, his eyes fixed on the rustling bush.
The bush rustled, as the stranger revealed himself—a dishevelled man in his fifties with a weathered face and sharp eyes. His long black-and-grey hair was tied back, and he wore tattered clothes, barely held together by an overcoat that looked like it had seen better days. A sword hung at his waist, partially concealed withered cloth that draped over him. As the stranger casually tipped his head back, taking a long drink from a sake gourd he held in one hand, seemingly unconcerned about the situation. As he walked out of the bush, his movements were relaxed, almost lazy.
“Who are you?” Shawn demanded, still wary. But the old man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he seemed entirely focused on his sake, letting out a contented sigh as he finished drinking. “This is good stuff,” he muttered to himself before finally turning his attention to Shawn. The man squinted as if just now noticing him. “Who are you, and why are you standing there like an idiot?” he asked, his words slurred by a hiccup.
Shawn was taken aback, momentarily dumbstruck by the man’s apparent drunkenness. “You just grabbed me and stopped me from attacking those soldiers,” Shawn replied, trying to make sense of the situation.
The old man hiccuped again, looking genuinely confused. “Soldiers? What soldiers? And when did I grab you?” he slurred, scratching his head as if trying to remember. Then, as if something had just dawned on him, he leaned closer to Shawn and said, “Are you a thief? Trying to steal from me? Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have any money.” His tone was so casual, so oblivious, that Shawn didn’t know whether to be frustrated or amused.
Shawn, growing increasingly frustrated, snapped, “I am not a thief!” But before he could say more, the drunken man, who was clearly seeing double now, interrupted, “Then are you guys lost? Young boys shouldn’t be wandering around the forest. It’s dangerous. Now, go back to your village,” he said, hiccuping between words.
Shawn’s frustration mounted as the man continued to drink, barely paying attention to him. After taking another swig, the old man turned to Shawn again, blinking blearily. “Why are you still here? Grab your brother and get back to your village. I can’t be babysitting you two.”
That was the last straw. Shawn’s patience snapped like a brittle twig. “That’s it!” he shouted, rushing at the drunken man, his fists flying. Despite his intoxicated state, the old man moved with an effortless grace, dodging Shawn’s punches with a fluidity that defied his appearance. Left, right—every blow Shawn threw missed its mark as if the man was simply swaying with the wind.
Though Shawn’s speed was impressive, the man’s calm demeanour and uncanny reflexes left him untouched. Realising his punches weren’t connecting, Shawn quickly changed tactics, sweeping at the man’s legs to knock him down. The drunken man toppled over, but when Shawn turned to look at him with a triumphant smirk, he found the old man lying on the ground, not bothered, taking yet another drink from his sake gourd.
Fury ignited in Shawn’s chest. He rushed forward, intending to kick the man, but the old man simply pushed off the ground, spinning into a graceful, if slightly wobbly, recovery. He landed on his feet a few feet away from Shawn, albeit unsteadily, and continued drinking as though nothing had happened. The spin had thrown off his balance, and he wobbled for a few steps before finally steadying himself, all while never spilling a drop of his sake.
The sight left Shawn stunned, his anger momentarily eclipsed by sheer disbelief at the man’s dexterity and nonchalance.
The old man hiccuped again, raising his head to drink from his sake gourd. Shawn’s frustration boiled over. He decided to focus, summoning his power. He began to imagine a sword, and wisps of smoke curled from his hand. The old man, noticing the strange activity, glanced over with mild curiosity.
As the smoke solidified into a blade, the old man’s eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping. He was so astonished that he forgot to swallow, and sake trickled from his gourd, splashing onto the ground. He stared at Shawn, speechless for a moment, before blurting out, “Don’t tell me you are…“
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