consequences and moving forward

Once my opponent's belongings were seized, I presented myself before the chief wearing my rival's cape and weapon. My father looked at me proudly, however, my opponent's father looked at me solemnly. I did not understand why there was no hatred or anger in his gaze.

Before he could say or do anything, the chief approached Lutgor's corpse and with a knife removed the lower fang that was still intact. He approached me and deposited it in my hand.

You've earned it boy

He said as he returned to the tent, my father stayed there watching me proudly for a few seconds until I turned my gaze to my rival's father and I couldn't help but ask him

Why does he look at me that way, sir?

He is surprised by my question

How do I look at your boy? What are you talking about?

I was somewhat cautious because I did not know how to touch the subject tactfully and ended up answering

Well, I just brutally murdered your son. You should hate me for that, yell at me, threaten me, or at least look at me with anger and hate.

The orc gives me a sad smile before explaining

boy there's a difference between murder and a battle my son attacked you defended yourself I can't blame you for it, it's my fault for not having trained better if I had you would be there with a broken neck and not him

It took me a few seconds to analyze his point of view, but my perception of things was still biased by the human point of view of my past life.

I kept thinking for a few moments until my father grabbed my shoulder from behind me and explained the situation in more detail.

Boy, so he is the grok'maga

I thought for a few moments and answered

The grok'maga is a duel to ease the conflicts between the orcs when they have a dispute that cannot be resolved.

When I answered him, I turned to look at my father's face, wondering what it was that I couldn't see yet in this situation that I found so strange.

He looked at me and told me if after a grok'mag he would grudge you that he would have served the grok'maga

when my father said those words to me, he managed to understand it

Grok'maga is not a way to get what you want from the other, but a way to end conflicts, that's why he doesn't hate me or hold a grudge because if he did, his son would have died in vain.

My father nodded with his characteristic stoic expression.

Exactly, boy, if he or she held a grudge against you, all this would simply be useless, the same would have happened if you had been the one who lost this match.

I was stunned and for a few moments I could not speak until I asked my father

So if he had died here today, you wouldn't have felt a thing.

My father shook his head and said

do not confuse things my son, if you had given up today before your opponent I would have felt like that

And my father pointed to the corpse of my opponent where an orc woman was crying inconsolably for the loss of her son whom I killed with my bare hands in front of her without being able to defend him in any way.

After observing the face of that poor woman, after hearing the heartbreaking cry of that mother, I could only bow my head and without ceasing to see the ground, I only dared to say

Yes, I understand, father, I'm sorry for being so selfish.

My father just said a hmm... before turning and walking into the boss's tent.

groama approached me excitedly congratulating me on my victory she approached me and gave me a big hug before quickly letting go of me

congratulations on your victory, it was amazing he didn't have a chance

thank you groama I hope no one else has any idea to get you away from me

She looked away from me when I said that, something that surprised me a lot until I reviewed in my mind what I had said, and I couldn't help being ashamed inside

While my inner self was repeatedly hitting my head against a wall, I looked back at the mother of the deceased and all emotion and shame left my mind and only sadness, compassion and empathy remained.

Groama realized where she was looking and when she saw my face her small smiles suddenly faded, she turned to see the mother who was crying and said to honor the rival the most normal thing is to return the belongings to the family

I just looked at her and nodded before heading towards the mother of my fallen opponent and returning the war hammer and the cape of her son's.

She looked at me when I approached, and I could see an infinite and heartbreaking sadness in hers, her teary eyes, with all solemnity I approached her and handed her belongings, her son, and told her

Her son was a brave and tenacious warrior, no matter what he did, he never turned his back on the fight and received all the punishment standing up and head-on like an orc.

The weeping woman thanked me before she pushed me away to leave her alone with her son on the dry land of the village.

As I walked away, the other members of the tribe opened up for me to pass, and they clashed their weapons as a symbol of respect when I passed in front of them.

I guess I won't just be a tribal cripple anymore, that's a good thing

I went to my father's tent together with groama when I arrived she prepared some meat for me and went to look for a water bed so that I can freshen up after finishing breakfast. Likewise, I was very tired from what happened, so I decided to go to sleep for a while. Snap

if a nap, what's wrong with a nap at 9 in the morning? I had a hard fight and my head was exhausted, bah it doesn't matter think what you want

When I went to bed I could feel that Groama was looking at me strongly, I tried to ignore her, but after a few minutes when I was barely falling asleep, I feel that she approaches, lifts the blanket and lies with me in the same position as last night, hugging me and with her face glued to my chest.

Like any self-respecting man, I'm an idiot to understand the complex arcane language of women, but even I knew that she wanted to tell me something here, I just wasn't so sure that it was a thank you for saving my ass from being destroyed by 5 brutes, or you were amazing I'm falling in love, or I was more of a good guy, I'm your slave it's my duty to keep you warm otherwise they'll hit me and I won't eat

When I moved to ask her what was wrong, she pressed her face tighter against me and seemed embarrassed. I began to delude myself that she was the second of my three options, even so, I did not try anything or say anything.

I have already told you that I am an idiot to understand women, right?

Then with a furious erection and snorting like a raging bull I managed to fall asleep, two hours later but the joy did not last long

I would swear that 5 minutes after I fell asleep, my father entered the tent with a roar that made me jump three meters high due to fright. Groama tried to get out of the cm quickly but got caught in the blanket and fell to the floor with the face ahead

My father did not stop laughing for ten minutes until I asked him why he entered the house that way and he answered me

if he had already forgotten me, outside there are people looking for you

who is outside? And what do they want?

I don't know, but they seem very serious and determined they are outside

waiting for hours

Between curious and confused I went outside to find out who was looking for me and because when I went outside there were two young orcs sitting waiting when I came out they looked at me fixedly and got up I was on guard because I thought they wanted to fight me and their words did not give me another impression

you are lockt'ar right?

I nodded without saying a word

the smallest of them told me with a sad tone

you killed our big brother, you crushed his neck with your foot like it was nothing

So what do you want from me? Come to challenge me?

The oldest of the living brothers shook his head, both brothers looked at each other before the oldest spoke

I saw his fight with my own eyes my brother had no chance he was just beaten to death it hurts me to admit it, but he was not a worthy or respectable rival even, so you gave respect to his death and at least somewhat eased the pain of our mother

When I saw his expression of gratitude, I lowered my guard, although somewhat confused, despite the fact that my father explained to me that my opponent's family would not hold a grudge. It was very difficult for me to understand it, and even more to believe it.

The little one went ahead of his older brother and bowing his head said

We just came to thank you for your compassion for the memory of our brother and the state of our mother, and we also wanted to ask you a favor

I just nodded silently, waiting to hear his request before answering.

The older brother brought out two one-handed axes and the younger one a two-handed single-edged battle-ax and presented them to me

please train us to fight just like you, we will pay you with our weapons it is all we have please

They both knelt down and to be completely honest I was surprised by their request. My first thought was to refuse, but after meditating on it for a few minutes in silence, I realized that the best thing to do would be to train them.

To start I need sparring partners second I can't be a social pariah in the tribe for the rest of my life, and maybe they will help me to be more appreciated by at least some orcs, and lastly I feel that I owe them even though his brother was the one who gave me challenge it was me who took away a loved one my conscience was crying out to me to compensate for that damage

rise up and grab your guns

the minor got nervous and wanted to answer

please sir don't reject us, we can....

Don't let him finish speaking before speaking again

raise your weapons, how are you going to train without them

They looked at me confused for a few moments before the older man thanked me and I spoke first.

Tomorrow at dawn if you are not here at that time, do not show up again

I turned around and went back into the tent.