CHAPTER 5 A NEW HOME

"OK then. But olauf, why do you want us to take that boy in?." the leader sat than on a stone opposite olauf.

"just, I just felt that I say the younger me in him." a small smile escaped his lips "I was like him for sometime."

The bandit boss looked at olauf without speaking for a while, then let out a small sigh. "olauf, that child's fate it, it's.. Hmm, never mind." olauf looked at his boss, puzzled, he couldn't understand what he was trying to say.

The man (bandit boss) got up and dusted his backside. "don't worry about what I just said; you wouldn't understand. Best you should get some rest, we set out at dawn."

Olauf though still perplexed, he nods his head and turned back towards his tent.

The bandit boss looked at him as he walked further away and soon entered his tent. Letting out another sigh, " Someone without fate, how will this turn out? Is this truly the way?." he shook his head turned around and walked back.

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"wake up, wake up, WAKE UP GAREN." Garen woke up abruptly as voice shouted out his name. He looked around and a terrifying face came into view. Garen looked at the scar filled face in horror and tried to escape, then his body was racked in pain and he felt his body almost splitting apart.

He panted heavily and then he felt it all coming back to him. He looked apologetic at olauf though he dismissedi t and seems to be used to it.

"get dressed" olauf gruff voice rang out beside his ear "we are about to set out." othen he turned around and walked out of the tent.

Garen calmed his fast beating hearth and took in a deep breath. He quickly put on the little rag he had and got all set.

Walking outside, he saw all the members of the group on some god knows where they come from steed. Olauf called out to him from a tall horse. A mighty looking steed for a mighty man. Garen was sure that a single charge from that olauf and his horse would send the mine guards scampering for cover.

The horse let out a snort and stomped it's feet hard on the ground. "Cool down boy, he his a friend" olauf petted the horse gentle and soon, it let out another snort and allowed Garen to get on.

"let's go" the leader of the team ride out at the head and the others follow swiftly.

Hours went by, and aside from stopping to rest and the feed the horses, the went on nonstop and soon, arrived at another mountain.

As they moved through the sparse trees and thicket on the mountain, they went through some twist and turn and soon arrived in front of a gorge.

"what are we doing here? Garen looked around. There didn't seem to be any settlement around. "I thought we are going back to your base."

"you will see" olauf said and kept silent. He didn't say a word again even though the curious boy kept pestering him.

The leader of the group whistled twice and leaving a gap in between. Then another two short whistle rang out from the other side of the gorge.

Garen assumed it must be a kind of secret signs used by them or something. The group waited for some seconds and another whistle once again rang out from the other side. What happened next left Garen gaping in amazement.

"let's go" the boss said without turning back. He pushed his horse forward and the empty space held him upward as if he was walking on solid ground. Garen looked astonished and turned to look at the others expression; they all looked as cool as cucumber and it was as if it was nothing amazing.

"it's nothing" olauf said and stopped to keep the boy steady. "you will see more amazing things in future." a small smile lingered on his lips.

The group soon got through to the other side of the gorge, though Garen was terrified through our the whole ordeal and swore never to partake in such again.

"the boss is back" on an outpost well hidden among the thicket on the mountain, the man on the outpost, raised his head back and let loose a loud shout. From hidden sites all around, loud voices came from all over the mountains.

As they moved deeper into the mountain, people in groups or alone came over to welcome the leader. They all looked genuinely happy as they threw their hands up and let out clear happy laughter.

They soon came into a settlement; The bandits hideout. It was different from what he assumed. He was expecting a small sized areas with half naked people running about. Different from his expectations, it was actually a rather big place reaching the size of a large sized village. A stone wall surrounds the settlement with all single gate leading in and out. Four tall watchtowers were erected at four sides of the wall, giving them a 360° view of their surroundings.

The group all came down and a large crowd swarm the group. Garen shrunk back and looked all out of place in his rags.

"who's the little kid." a short man walked squeezed himself through the crowd and soon caught sight of Garen. He looked curiously at Garen and seem to develop some interest in him. There was an imaginary question mark floating over the man's head.

"an interesting kid olauf picked up" old bahil the silent old man in the group gave an answer and walked away. The people seem to respect the old man but does not seem to be close to him. The old man's straight but lonely back soon disappeard from the distance.

"oh" as quickly as it came the short man interest fled away.

"that's Chuzar a rather mediocre alchemist who proclaim himself as the greatest alchemist to ever grace this world. Better steer clear from him. The guy sometimes act mental." god knows when olauf suddenly appeared behind the boy and patted him on his back. "also, welcome to your new home." olauf let out a laugh and walked off.