21 Outcasts

Back at the Village inside a small room. Little Lu was lying on a bed sleeping. It's already night time and he is still unconscious. Calir and Luna are by his side, never leaving their position. Calir looked at the boy with pain in her eyes. She felt so helpless that she wasn't able to arrive by his side in time. Just imagining what he might've been through, how scared he must've felt, it was breaking her. Luna on the other hand was already asleep, she was lying beside Little Lu. It wasn't just Little Lu and Luna, all the children were asleep in their own home. Except for Leo and Leah, their house was destroyed so they're currently staying at Old Kyle's house. The kids had a pretty rough day, so much has happened in so little time.

In a well lit room. 

Chris was sitting on a long table with the other Villagers while some were standing and leaning on the wall. The Three Elders, Calir and Old Beth weren't present at the moment but everyone one else was.

Chris sat on the head chair with cold and sharp eyes. His signature smile was gone, only a strong and dignified vibe could be felt from him.

"As you all know a tragedy almost occurred. Although we don't know the exact details of what happened, it happened nonetheless.'' He began as he looked around, his gaze stayed for a while on the guardians of the children. Lionell's arms were crossed and his eyes closed. He was in deep thought facing a dilemma. When he returned he found out about Leo and his heart almost couldn't take it when he saw Leo's hybrid appearance. His tail didn't disappear and his nails weren't that of a normal boy anymore, they were that of a Lion, black and sharp. If he told his children the truth then for sure they would get hunted down and he would be helpless since he would be too powerless to protect them or even do anything.

Aunty Jane had her head down. Her hair was messy and she was silent. Noah's still asleep and she didn't know what damage he suffered. For all she knows he might never wake up. He was the only family she had left in this world and she swore an oath to always protect him when his older sister entrusted Noah to her. Noah was her remaining light. 'Why did this have to happen?!' She kept thinking. 

Mary's father, Johan, had his fist clenched. He just got back earlier, he was relieved to see her alright and breathing but little did he know Mary actually almost crossed over. He thought Mary would be safe here on the mountain where she was out of reach from the church. But some things were just inevitable. He knew Mary would have to fly off the nest someday and that day just seemed closer and closer. 'I can't lose you again.' He thought as a memory of a burning church surfaced in his mind.

Yama, Gin's father, was standing near a corner calmly. He was the only one excited deep down because he had gained something from today's incident. When he brought Gin home he examined his body. And there on Gin's back, just below his nape, a black mark was engraved. It was just a simple circular black mark, the size of a marble but it has a great significant meaning. It was proof that the first seal was opening up. Their rise was set in stone, the only thing left to do is train Gin and help him understand his powers.

"The Village is a safe haven for us who had nowhere else to go. It had been for many years now but the Village is no longer what it was. There are children here now, children that are weak and fragile. And as long as we don't take drastic measures this incident will happen again." Chris said as he exuded a dignified aura. He was simply born as a leader. This is the aura and confidence that the Villagers knew they could rely on. That is why even though Chris was still younger than most of them they knew that he was fit to be the chief. The others also had already grown fond of the children, they're simply the bright sunshine that makes this Village feel festive and alive. It's because of them that Villagers have seen the other side of life. It's not just cruelness and unfairness. No, This world is beautiful because they are accepted and not feared by these fragile and weak children.

"The Mana on the Mountain rises by day. I feel something dangerous is about to come and I know you all feel it too. Only a few of us can cultivate and protect this place and we might not be enough." Chris said calmly.

The other Villagers couldn't find the right words to say, even the loudmouth Karma was surprisingly quiet. They all knew their situation was dire and they're too powerless to do anything. They could only be protected and become a burden at the same time.

"So I suggest we build a barrier. A barrier that will hide and camouflage our Village away from any danger." The Villager's eyes widened and shook at what Chris was proposing.

"I know the boundary has kept this place safe for everyone by driving away beasts and alerting us of any threat that ventures too close to the Village. But it's no longer enough to guarantee our safety."  Chris followed. 

"Hmp! Our safety or your son's safety?" A voice was heard before Chris could continue. 

In a corner of the room, a man with one arm and a bandana voiced his thought. Everyone turned to him with different thoughts in their heads. Some were surprised and some were in contemplation. The man with one arm, Yama, for once expressed his opinion by scoffing at the Village Chief. He was usually the quiet type that would only follow orders and stay in the corner only to listen. He rarely talks with anyone and he was always at home smithing and tinkering. Chris looked at this man calmly and his thoughts were uncertain. There was still the issue of the unknown suppressing power and he would have discussed it with him after the meeting.

"I have the safety of everyone in mind. Of course that includes my son." Said Chris Calmly.

Yama walked towards the table and stared at Chris before saying "You say that when the cause of Mana rising is your son. And instead of bringing out his full potential you resort to imprisoning him along with everyone inside this Village." Yama rebutted.

Chris furrowed his brows and so did everyone else. They knew that things changed when Little Lu was born. And they knew that he was special and unique compared to other kids. He was an enigma if they tried to see through him thoroughly. That made the Villagers feel joy and fear towards the little boy.. They do not fear the current him, no, what they fear is what he might become. He was an unknown after all, he could be their savior and he might turn out to be their downfall.

"This Village has been opened to all those who are lost and alone. This Village accepted them no matter their background or what they did in the past. Look around you! Everyone here was saved because they found this Village!" Yama followed without giving Chris the chance to speak. "And you want to close it because your son faced some danger?!" The Villagers were dumbfounded. 'What the hell happened to this guy and why is he so agitated?' They all thought. Well not all of them because there was one person who knew why this man was acting like this. An old man that looked one cough away from death watched this scene and shook his head while thinking 'A man with unbound loyalty, a gift and curse that runs through their clan's veins.'

"Your judgement is clouded by worry and fear, Chief. The children here will be the ones to continue our legacy and they will be the pillars that will protect this Village someday. But instead of widening their view you would rather raise them inside this cage? I don't think you're fit for this role anymore." Yama said as he looked Chris in the eye. The Villagers didn't take the last statement kindly. 'What does he mean by that?' 

"Yama I think you're stepping out of line a bit buddy." Commented by Jackal. It's alright to voice his opinion but that last statement is too disrespectful and distasteful. Chris was the reason they have been able to survive till now. It's because of his leadership that the Village was thriving.

"Are you suggesting we put the children on the frontlines then? We don't know when this calamity might come. It could be tomorrow and it could be tonight. The sooner we build that barrier the sooner everyone's safety is guaranteed." Chris said not minding the last statement of Yama. Deep down Chirs knew that the time would come for his son to fulfill his role. There has to be a reason why he was born with such gifts. He always thought. But he's still only five. 'He should be protected and made sure that he at least enjoyed his life.'

Chris felt a deep trauma when Lucian was born like any father would. He felt he lost a part of him and Calir's when the boy didn't breathe. So his resolve burned brighter when his conviction to protect his son was challenged. He wouldn't let anything happen to him anymore. He will be stricter if he has to.

"Until when will you keep Lucian inside this Village then? When he has the potential to be something great! You might not have noticed but you've already started to deprive him of his future. Do you want him to grow sheltered and weak? To become useless and always be protected? Remember that you will not always be there by his side." Yama argued, he was hitting Chris where it would hurt. His over-protectiveness of Lucian was slowly spreading to the Village itself. Good thing Calir wasn't here because unlike Chris who can stay calm and restrain himself when his son was being used against him, Calir would rather turn to violence to settle things. And if she were to hear what Yama had said about Little Lu then she would for sure blast him off out here.

Chris and Yama bickered and things got heated up. The other Villagers sided with Chris like Aunty Jane and Uncle Brian while the others like Karma and Maya thought that hiding behind a shell won't make things better in the long run. Chris wanted to hide the entire Village to protect everyone while Yama wanted to face the danger head on. The two were in a deadlock but neither of them accused the other of being a coward and stupid. Was it a cowardly move to protect one's family and people? No. Was it stupid to face the danger that looms over the Village? No. It was riskier but no. 

"This Village has been the light that guided and sheltered me and my son on our darkest day. The day that we lost everything was on the run. Now this might not be the only home that you have but this is the only home we have left. So I will fight for it along with my son!" Yama exclaimed as he clenched his fist and his eyes burning with determination. He was indicating that he knew Chris came from the Nirvahnna Kingdom. He might not be welcome by his family but he was still welcome to stay at the Kingdom. Yama showed his resolve and Chris received it. 

Chris looked around and saw that everyone wanted to keep this place safe but at the same time they would lay down their lives to protect it. That's what he felt when he saw their eyes. This is not just a normal Village, it's the only place where they belong. A place that they finally found after long years of hardships and they will not just watch when they know it's in danger.

"Chief." Yama said as he sighed and backed down. It felt like he managed to regain control of his mind. "I will respect whatever you decide on but I will still follow my heart." He said what he wanted to say. And what he said was what half of the people here wanted to. He saw that Chris had at least thought of his plea and wasn't too hell-bent on just keeping everyone inside and shutting the Village from the outside world.

Chris stayed silent and felt that he'd been thinking narrowly. He almost forgot that this place was always open, open to all those who seek refuge, either from the law, society or their past. This Village was built for all the outcasts of the world, this Village, the Outcast Village. It was the place that sheltered and accepted them and it was the home his son came to know. It wasn't his right to close it for those who might be on their way to find it. Because just like them, he and Calir too were lost once until they found this place.

Chris nodded towards Yama thanking him before looked towards a man who had been silent all this time, Lionell. As one of the most powerful individuals here even with his powers sealed. He wanted to ask for Lionell's opinion. He was the most experienced when it comes to surviving and staying safe because of his inborn natural instinct. Getting his opinion was crucial because the Village had relied on his instinct countless times whenever they faced something troublesome. Lionell felt Chris' gaze and he sighed…

Lionell had been thinking of his wife and his motherless children all this time. "We had been too protective, Chief. Sooner or later they will soar and reach for the sky. We can't change that so why prevent it?" He said, indicating that Lucian and all the children in the Village will grow curious about the outside world when they grow up. It was inevitable. Also he knew the root of Chris' deep worry. He had been with him for a long time and they had been friends. He knew as a fellow father that Chris was basing his decision on Little Lu's safety. He wasn't deciding as a Chief of a Village but as a Father.

That statement hit Chris deeply, 'why prevent the inevitable?' He contemplated as he closed his eyes. The others waited patiently for him and just sat and stood there quietly.

"I am sorry." Chris said as he looked at everyone. "It was foolish and ignorant of me to propose that idea. I have been trapped by the trauma of losing my son, I was scared that I might lose him and I forgot that all of you had something to lose to." Chris said as he remembered the importance of this place that found him and Calir. That's right, they didn't find it, it found them. And soon it will find more people like them… 

the Outcasts of the world.