Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Winters shook his head.

"I wouldn't either, but the war is over."

"For now."

"Then we'll just have to take each day as it comes."

"If you don't kill me, there might come a day when I kill you."

"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Winters fell silent once again.

"I'm not advising you to let go of your hatred, I still harbor the most intense hatred for Paratu People." White Lion looked into Winters' eyes, "Just find a way to ease your own suffering, whatever it takes. You saved my sister and brother, and they saved you in return. That's just the way it is."

"Hestas paid blood money, Little Lion and I owe each other nothing."

White Lion slightly shook his head, "You think it's a transaction, but I believe it's a bond. That's how things happened, who knows what fate has in store for us?

We never met before, but seeing you reminds me of myself many years ago. One man killed my father; the very same man saved my mother, brother, and sister. What am I to make of him? I don't know either.

We're swept along by the river, our pain, our thoughts, and our struggles are of no consequence to its flow. Everyone gets by like this, only a few ever get the chance to change the river's course. If one day you have the chance to alter its flow, I hope you won't forget what you're thinking and feeling today.

And for now… you just need to make life a little easier for yourself."

Winters mulled over White Lion's words.

White Lion patted Winters' arm like an older brother. "Go get some meat, it's really tasty. Little Lion is wrong, you won't stay here. Heal your leg, then you should leave."

After speaking, White Lion got up and walked towards the campfire.

"What about you! Have you changed the course of the river?" Winters shouted at White Lion's retreating figure.

"Not yet." White Lion didn't turn around, "But I never forgot who I was in the past."

Winters stood in place for a very long time, motionless.

Little Lion didn't understand what the two men were discussing; he lightly tugged on Winters' sleeve, "Let's go, I'll take you to eat some meat."

Suddenly, Winters strode towards White Lion.

Little Lion didn't even have time to stop him; no one did.

White Lion's "Nakor" and "Nayen" were startled, some reaching for their knives, others bare-handedly lunging at Winters.

But Winters didn't attack, didn't hurt anyone.

He simply stood in front of White Lion and said calmly, "I want to buy something from you."

"Go on." White Lion continued to cut the meat with his head down.

"Paratu prisoners, all of them."

"Price."

"Two tons of Gold."

...

...

...

By the time Winters returned to Erhulan's tent, the sky had turned completely dark.

White Lion didn't agree, nor did he refuse.

He just laughed heartily and handed Winters a piece of hand-held meat.

Dim lights shone through the tent, clearly Erhulan was waiting for him to return.

Winters lifted the tent flap, and a sudden gust of wind whipped around his body, making his hair stand on end.

A huge creature lunged towards him.

Taken by surprise, Winters was knocked down.

The behemoth opened its gaping jaws, almost bringing Winters to faint with its overpowering stench.

Then the creature began licking Winters' face, its tongue as rough as sandpaper with its barbs.

Winters slapped its head, "Get off!"

The huge creature whined pitifully, huffily tucked its tail, and walked away.

Inside the tent were three people Winters hadn't expected to see: Xial, Hunter, and the old Shaman.