299 Dojo (Part 3)
When Hazor proposed that Luke could light the light, Luke said nothing, and Hazor took this as consent.
One by one, the lamps on the walls of the dojo were lit, as were the many candles on the floor, of all sizes. It took a few minutes for Hazor to finish lighting them all, but the warm, bright environment lightened the overloaded atmosphere that the battle had created.
The place was a little different from ordinary training academies. At one point in the large room, there were leather upholstery on the floor, obviously to cushion falls during training. There were also many wooden dolls for training swords, which were so worn out that many pieces were missing. On the walls, in addition to the lamps, were emblems with the symbol of a roaring tiger.
Hazor saw the open wound on the half-wolf’s chest as she walked back to him. “Oh! I forgot that I attacked you with such hatred. Unfortunately I don’t usually carry healing potions, but I will look for the first aid kit. This must be around here somewhere…”
Luke Lange couldn’t say why, but just looking at Hazor provided a literal sense of calm. Granted, the experienced swordsman’s eyes were taxing, perhaps it was the white not his beard and the age in the wrinkles on his face that provided that feeling of sloppiness, as if he were a single parent.
While traveling in these thoughts, Luke was surprised by Hazor approaching with a metal box full of bandages. He looked down and saw that the wound was less ugly than at the moment he was hit by Hazor’s Skill.
Determined not to waste much more time, Luke covered his wound with his jacket, pulling it aside, and stated, “It’s not necessary. Let’s talk, I believe we have a lot to talk about…”
Hazor frowned, yet he chose not to intervene. Whether Luke wanted to be treated or not, that was solely his choice. “All right. Sit down, let’s talk.”
“First, can you answer my question from earlier? How do you know me?” Luke was inquisitive. Although he respected Hazor for being strong, he still didn’t really know him.
“I council you from a council, from a group, where your name was a recurring agenda for some time, specifically over ten years ago.” Hazor spoke, sitting down on the wooden floor with his legs crossed.
Luke blinked twice quickly, not understanding what he was talking about. “Ten years? I was just a boy. How did you know me?”
“Mr. Lange, ten years ago an event-crisis occurred in Oukiwa. What is it? I’ll explain… A cursed item was discovered in a Dungeon in Oukiwa and was about to be sold on the black-market to one of the most important criminal factions in Broteforge, something that definitely couldn’t happen…”
“But a bunch of kids stole the item…” Luke continued.
Hazor nodded and continued talking. “Fate is something that is bound to happen and repeat itself, like an eternal cycle. Weak souls will always be weak souls, and strong souls will always find glory… At least it was meant to be that way. However, when we, sitting at that far away table, saw you part one by one that day, we knew that something between the lines of history had changed… Luke, maybe you will hate me for this, but that is all I can reveal to you. There are secrets that I won’t be able to tell you unless I trust you fully.”
The half-wolf wasn’t understanding much of what Hazor was talking about, however, it was obviously related to his past, so he couldn’t let go of this information. If Hazor knew something deeper about the day of the theft, he needed to know and also find out how Hazor was related to the Scales, after all, she said Hazor might know the crucial information about how the Scales could regain their strength.
“How do I go about gaining your trust?”
“I appreciate the interest. First, I need to find out which side you really chose in the end, the one that will kill you or the one that will save you. However, I don’t need words, I want to see actions. Have you ever heard of the Sakan Religion?” Hazor asked, looking Luke in the eye.
“Yes, it is that Religion that deifies a man named Sakan, who wandered the world during The Calamity delivering power to those who had none.” To keep out of trouble, Luke needed research on certain subjects to make himself look more like a Melki local and not a war refugee.
“Exactly. The Sakan Religion has an unknown origin and although it has been around for a few years, no one knows where the first churches came about or who wrote their texts. I have a guess as to who it was, but I won’t reveal it to you yet. For now, I will ask you to head south of Stahurt, before the wastelands there is a small coastal town where there is a large lighthouse.”
“What’s in that town?”
“The Church of Sakan that is in possession of the original texts and that the Pope keeps a cursed Item, practically a relic from when the Dungeons began to appear. Should you bring that relic to me, I will know that I can trust you, if not, I will just add you to my enemy list.”
Luke was more than willing to get Hazor’s loyalty to get the answers he needed, but something still bothered him. “The cursed relics are important, aren’t they? Why don’t you go and get it for yourself?”
“First, I don’t want it for myself, I want to protect it from falling into the hands of the wrong beings. Second, I cannot leave these mountains and leave them unprotected. There is history in this place, history far more precious than I can price.”
“Okay, the south then. How will I know when I find that cursed item?” Luke inquired.
“You will feel it. Besides, I need you to communicate with me if anything worrisome happens. Use this if necessary.” Hazor held out his palm and at that moment a small creature appeared out of nowhere.
This creature had the size and appearance of a squirrel, except that its tail was not as bulky as usual. Luke stretched out his hand for the creature to come to him, that little thing looked at him, looked at Hazor and jumped happily into his right palm.
“Looks like she liked you…” Hazor spoke, smiling slightly.
Luke smiled back as he watched the little creature rub itself against his skin. “I will go get that relic and we will have a long talk, Hazor.”
“I look forward to it, Mr. Lange. I’m also curious how you know me, but I saw early on that you’re not willing to talk yet. For now, I’ll stick around at the Dojo, that place can’t stay closed for a day.” Then Hazor held out his right hand for Luke to shake, who returned the gesture eagerly.