Chapter four: The Stranger, the Covenant, and the Blood Oath
The skies above the quiet town of Ekara darkened slightly, as if sensing the shift in fate itself. A faint breeze brushed past the gravestones as Divine stood frozen, staring at the man who had just spoken to him. Joseph, tall, calm, and enigmatic, smiled gently as though he were an old friend.
"Are you following me?" Divine asked with a wary tone, his eyes narrowing.
Joseph smirked. "No. I'm just here to pay my respects to your father. He was… a friend."
Divine's expression twisted in confusion. "Who are you people? And who are you to my father?"
Joseph chuckled softly, the sound strangely hollow. "Like I told you before, we're the Defenders. And we were very close to your father. Extremely close."
Suspicion etched deeper into Divine's face. "Why would I believe that? My dad never spoke of you. I've never seen you before. You never visited, not once. Who the hell are you really?"
Joseph stepped forward calmly, his voice low and deliberate. "Divine, don't let your lack of knowledge cloud your mind. I know everything about you. I know the night you were born, the exact time, the rainstorm outside. I know the day you took your first steps. I know the day you nearly drowned in the river. I know when you got expelled for fighting in school. I know when your father taught you to ride your first bike, in that muddy street beside your house."
Divine's face paled slightly, his breath hitched. "Are you…?"
Joseph gently placed a hand on his shoulder, his smile now kind. "Don't be afraid. I'm not here to harm you. I came to fulfill your father's final wish."
Divine looked at him, his voice unsteady. "My dad… had a final wish?"
Joseph nodded solemnly. "Yes. To protect you from what's coming. The tribulations. And I need to prepare you."
"Tribulations?" Divine asked.
Before Joseph could answer, a soft voice called from behind. "Joseph?"
Joseph turned, his eyes lighting up. "Deborah?"
She ran to him and they embraced tightly.
Divine blinked, confused. What the heck is going on? he thought. How does Miss Deborah know this man?
Deborah turned to him. "You don't know him?"
Divine shook his head slowly. "No."
Joseph laughed gently. "He wouldn't. He was just a child when I used to visit."
Deborah nodded. "That's true. It's been many years. So, how's life treating you, Joseph?"
Joseph smiled faintly. "Fair enough. Still walking my path, you know."
As Divine struggled to make sense of the moment, another man walked up and greeted Joseph with warm familiarity. Divine watched with wide eyes as they exchanged old stories and laughter.
Divine leaned toward Deborah. "Ma… who is he?"
She turned to him with a sad smile. "That's Joseph. Your dad's old friend. From their school days. He was always around. Helped your dad a lot… even your family. He's a good man."
When the other man left, Joseph returned to them. "I'll be taking my leave now. Please greet Mrs. Sohwo for me. It hurt me, truly, that Sohwo passed at such a young age."
Deborah's face fell, sorrow evident. "He was a good man. May God remember him."
Joseph turned to Divine. "I enjoyed our talk. Remember — protect your mother. Help her. She needs you now more than ever."
Deborah touched Divine's hand. "He's right. You're a good child. And your mother needs you."
Joseph smiled. "He is a good child. Anyway, maybe next time." He waved, then vanished into the crowd.
Divine's mind spun with questions. Who really is Joseph? Why can Deborah see him? Why does he know so much?
In a distant part of the forest, moonlight filtered down through ancient trees, casting ethereal light on a tense scene.
Karen, the slave girl, stood panting before Mikasa, a cold-eyed warrior wrapped in a crimson cloak.
"W-where are my friends?" Karen stammered.
Mikasa's voice was ice. "Dead. Two down. You're the third. And you'll die by my hand."
Karen's scream pierced the night as wind spiraled around her. A brilliant flash. A katana appeared in her hand, forged of spirit and steel. She raised it high.
"May the Lord scream my story out… ESTHER!"
A shockwave blasted through the forest, ripping trees from their roots and splitting the river behind them. Mikasa was thrown against a rock but stood up unfazed.
"So… you finally drew your Covenant Blade. Impressive."
Karen's eyes flared. She swung again, splitting the earth. Mikasa leapt into the air, loosing an arrow of blood. Karen dodged.
"You missed," Karen smirked.
But Mikasa only smiled darkly. "Did I?"
She loosed another. Missed again.
Karen launched forward, katana raised. But Mikasa muttered, "Let the Lord dry my enemy's vile… Blood Oath."
The four arrows transformed mid-air. They stretched into blood-red tendrils, ensnaring Karen like ropes.
"No!" Karen screamed.
A blood circle rose from the ground, forming a ritual shield around them. The tendrils tightened, draining her slowly. Mikasa stepped forward.
"You thought I missed on purpose? No, dear. I can't fight you blade to blade. So I weakened you with Blood Oath. Now you're mine."
Karen writhed in pain, blood draining. Suddenly, a blur of green light broke through the barrier.
"Mikasa!" a voice roared.
It was the third fighter — the one Karen thought was dead.
Mikasa's eyes narrowed. She yanked blood from Karen's neck, forming it into an arrow mid-air.
Karen screamed. Mikasa loosed the arrow.
In one flash, the man's head flew clean off. Karen screamed as Mikasa turned and whispered, "Goodbye."
The final arrow slashed through Karen's neck.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Mikasa walked off calmly, her red cloak fluttering. Her soldiers waited silently on the mountain ridge.
Joseph walked along a narrow trail until he reached a small wooden cottage deep in the woods. Smoke curled from the chimney, and a young woman was chopping wood.
"I'm back," Joseph called.
The girl turned, smiled, and dropped her axe. She pulled out two chairs and sat down beside him.
"I was expecting some water," Joseph teased.
"Get it yourself. You told me you don't like water."
Joseph pulled a face. "Me? Not like water? What kind of camel nonsense—"
She hit him on the head. "Camels drink a lot, moron."
He groaned. "I wish I left you where I found you — in the trash."
Her eyes narrowed. "You said?"
He grinned. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Thwack. Another hit.
"Baka," she muttered.
Joseph laughed, rubbing his head. "Why do you keep hitting me? My head is holy."
She stood. "And I'm your guardian, holy or not."
"Ugh. Rude."
She chuckled, then grew serious. "So… how was it?"
Joseph leaned back. "He's not ready. But he's curious. That's something."
"You think he'll accept you?"
"I don't know. But we'll try."
She paused. "What if it fails?"
Joseph's eyes twinkled. "Then I'll improvise. This man never runs out of plans."
She smiled again, then whispered, "You know what you're doing now is against the Defenders' Law. Sohwo was a traitor in their eyes."
Joseph nodded. "I know. But I'm honoring his last wish."
The moon cast silver light through Divine's window. He lay on his bed, mind racing.
"Who is that man?" he whispered. "He knew too much… too damn much."
He clenched his fists.
"Aunt Deborah could see him… interact with him. So he's not a ghost. But something is off. Something is coming. And I need to be ready."
Outside, the wind howled through the trees, as if echoing his dread.
To be continued...