THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 305: 305. BIG BROTHER

”Who is this?” The boy asked in a small voice, looking at Sagiri with fear and fascination. ”And what is that weapon?!”

Fascination?

That was a new feeling even for Sagiri. Well, many had been fascinated with Nokai, but not when he was using it to take their lives. The little lad moved a step forward as if he wanted to see the blade more. How can anyone put such an innocent child in such a position?

”So you are not completely useless?” Sagiri said, talking about his agility.

”Of course, I know how to fight. Uncle. I mean, the general taught me himself. Why is your eye like that? And your hair is red...” The boy stopped, and his eyes widened before he took a step back. Only the N’folu, especially the keeper clan, had red hair. And even so, sometimes it skipped generations. Sagiri’s hair had kept growing redder, and now the red was almost overtaking the black.

”You remember something important, little boy?” Sagiri asked.

”You...You...” The boy stammered a little fear and more fascination reeking from him.

Zifara suddenly fell to his knees beside Sagiri with a thud, and all his men did the same.

”Please don’t kill the boy! I know he fired a fireball at you, but as you can see, he is just a boy, and it is my mistake for not teaching him right when the former city lord left him under my care.” Zifara said, and Sagiri could feel the sincerity and love for the boy coming from him. Words could be faked, but feelings couldn’t.

”Please spare our city lord chief of N’folu.” Zifara’s men sang in the chorus. It was also clear that most of them had a bond with the boy.

”If I wanted him dead, he could already be...” Sagiri started staring at the boy who was now staring at him as if he were an alien who had suddenly been dropped in front of him. The boy had his mouth hung dramatically. He reminded Sagiri of someone who was as careless and obnoxious. Lotaga and the city lord only differed in age. ”I don’t kill children,” Sagiri said, and there was a uniform intake of breath.

”I simply wanted to teach the boy some manners,” Sagiri said. ”You all don’t have to beg for his life. Kai, you have been welcoming to me. The attempt on my life is forgiven naturally since the boy is special to you.” Sagiri said, and the general finally stood back up. Sagiri pulled the cloak of the hood back on.

Without a word, Nokai uprooted itself from the ground, and the general’s eyes widened a little. The blades retracted violently before the weapon made contact with Sagiri’s hand. The weapon then disappeared in front of the general and the young city lords’ eyes. Well, technically, it went into the archive pocket.

The boy jumped behind the General immediately when Sagiri lifted his head to look at him from behind the hood of the cloak.

”Azir!” The general called, but the boy did not come out.

”City Lord Azir! You have to apologize and welcome the last of the N’folu and the rightful chief of the N’folu tribe.” The general’s voice hardened before he moved away. Sagiri remained still, waiting to see what the boy could do. It was more amusing to know he was almost killed by a child, and even more, it made him a little angry.

”Azir, fourteen men died on the wall today because of the fireball. You have to know you caused their death because of this decision.” The general added that the boy gasped.

Sagiri could understand the reasons for the general saying such a harsh statement, but the boy was too pure to be tainted. Even so, he had to learn responsibility. Sagiri could not help but marvel at his luck. First, he, the general of war of the south, welcomes him, then the city lord of Thazir, who could have possibly opposed him, was just a child.

They finally moved from behind the general, trying as much as possible to put on a brave face, even though Sagiri could tell the boy was about to cry. Just how pitiful was he?

The boy fell to one knee, finally, and his men did the same behind him. Knees met the ground harshly, making even more noise because of the heavy armor the city lords’ men were wearing.

”I, Azir, City lord of Thazir, apologize to the chief and last of... N’folu...” The boy sniffled before he continued. ”I welcome you into my city. If you need anything. I will give willingly.” The boy said, and his men repeated behind him in the same beat.

”We welcome the chief and last of N’folu. The chief can depend on us for everything!!”

Now that Sagiri was looking at the men behind the city lord, they were all fresh soldiers, not a day over twenty. They looked between eighteen and twenty. Sagiri had a feeling the general was responsible for this.

”I accept you much colder welcome this time. But...” Sagiri said, and everyone froze. The young city lord stared up at him, his eyes watery.

”Anything the chief requires...”

”Those men I killed today tried to kill me first, so there death is on my hands. You don’t have to bear the responsibility of it. But...” Sagiri said again, and everyone went even more rigid.

The young chief wanted to say something, but instead nodded.

”But I will not recognize you as the City lord of the city of Thazir...”

”Sagiri, you can’t...” N’varu went to say, but Sagiri lifted a hand to stop him. Even the general looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped.

”...until you can land a hit on me in a sparring match. I will not use my blade just to make it a bit fair.” Sagiri finally finished, and everyone breathed out again. The young chief’s eyes widened with what Sagiri could call madness or mad excitement. Before Sagiri could say anything more, the lass threw himself on the ground in a deep and ungraceful bow made only for very old people with both knees to the ground, hands to his thighs, and his head to the ground. Even grandparents barely got it, yet the boy was here throwing it around. Sagiri had never seen someone show so much gratitude for no reason.

”I thank you, big brother...” Sagiri froze. ”I accept your guidance, and I will not fail you. I will definitely beat you.”

”I am not...” Sagiri bent to say, but the general cleared his throat as if to tell him it wouldn’t work, whatever he was about to say. Seeing as the general had been struggling with the uncle title, he let it go.

Sagiri could feel the amusement from his teammates. They were enjoying seeing him at a loss for words.

”Azir, that is not dignifying. Have some honour!” The general said. Azir finally stood up and tried to act as dignified as possible.

”Azir, will you let your big brother walk to the inner city?” The general asked the confused boy.

”Oh, forgive my incompetent subordinates.” He said to the general, then turned to his soldiers. ”Go bring the escort wagons now!!” he gave the command. His subordinates scrambled into action. Sagiri was surprised that his subordinates even listened to him, but he was past the point of being surprised that the boy dared to call someone incompetent.

”Welcome to my city, big brother.” The boy said again.