Chapter 80: Only day four and problems have arisen

Kanan’s and Telah’s walk continued. Sometimes they would talk about random things, the losses they suffered, or how someone came up with the idea to build a big ass wall around the village.

She was even impressed by how organized everything was: the structure of the village and its layout.

Kanan had mentioned that it was to make things a lot easier. Instead of running through tons of huts and cabins to find the place you’re looking for, it was best to separate everything by occupation.

The concept wasn’t foreign to this world, but it wasn’t widely practiced. So, he made sure to implement that sooner rather than later. It would make expansion a lot easier.

"What is it that you plan on doing now that our tribes are together? I know that you wish for us to get along, but I remember you talking about some threat dealing with the Verminus Plant."

"According to Lord Nemean, I need to prepare the village for an outbreak of that Verminus Plant plague, or that’s how I’m interpreting it. Your knowledge will be very helpful if you wish to share." Kanan answered

"I can do that. But it’s Witch Anuwat you should speak to. She holds most of the knowledge about the Verminus Plant."

"Then I shall do so."

As they continued to chat, Kanan and Telah heard some sort of commotion out in the distance. It sounded like shouting with a hint of grunts, as if people were fighting.

Drawing close, they saw a group of people huddled in a circle with two men fighting like animals, their mouths bloody and the skin on their fists torn.

"Fucking Nemean dog! You people can’t even hunt properly. You live in this safe haven while we had to survive! Don’t think that you’re better than us!" A young man shouted, punching a person in the face whom Kanan knew.

"It’s not my fault that you power-hungry animals lost the battle against us! Besides, it was because of you that we built the wall in the first place! And don’t talk about my hunting skills!" This young man created a gust of wind that blew the Typhon Tribesman away.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Kanan muttered under his breath. "Terin?!"

Terin turned around to see Kanan making his way through the crowd. His eyes lit up, and a grin appeared on his face.

"What is going on here?"

"It was him!" Terin pointed in anger. "All I wanted to do was get some meat for the elderly. They said that they wanted it fresh, so I went to hunt it. But this guy got in my way and stole all of my hunts!"

"Polvin, explain yourself." Telah demanded

"Me? I was already hunting before that weird guy appeared. He was talking about stuffing his mouth with poison to build resistance against it. All I did was call him uncivilized. Who does that?"

’Dammit, Terin, you’re gonna make it hard for me to defend you on this.’ Kanan had told Terin that he should take poison in small quantities to build resistance, not by stuffing his mouth.

"That doesn’t explain why you two are now fighting. And what’s this about stealing his hunts?"

Kanan looked to Terin, who was breathing heavily. He knew that his friend had a knack for doing or saying things before thinking it through, so he wondered if there was something Terin had said in response that triggered this Polvin fellow to interfere with his hunts.

"Terin, what happened, man? Come on, we have to be honest."

"W-Well, after he insulted me, I called him a lost dog who can’t even survive without the aid of his masters."

Kanan facepalmed while the Nemean Tribesmen present chuckled to themselves. It was also safe to say that the Typhon Tribesmen didn’t like that response.

"So you stole his hunts?" Kanan asked Polvin

"So what if I did? Gonna kill me like you killed my brother?"

"I didn’t kill anyone, for the record. And don’t victim-blame. We lost people on both sides. I’m not going to act like we should get along and pretend nothing happened, but we should at least try to understand each other. Without insults."

Telah nodded in agreement. She had a hard time being around Elder Nala, as she was the one who killed her brother, Tagah. Still, she showed respect and didn’t wish to start any problems.

When she explained this to her people, they grumbled but backed down.

"Fuck that! Why should we have to run with our tails tucked between our legs? Just because we lost? We’re not less than you Nemean dogs!" Polvin shouted

"No one is saying that you are. You have all of the rights our people have. We aren’t limiting you in any way. Sure, we’re keeping a watchful eye out, but we won’t suppress you or enslave you."

"Doesn’t matter what you won’t do! It’s how you act toward us! Do you know the looks we’ve gotten over the past few days? Not all of us even agreed with the battle against your tribe, by the way. Why should children have to look over their shoulders to play outside?"

Polvin had a point, and Kanan agreed with him. But violence wasn’t the answer to this problem.

"I’m not saying you’re wrong for feeling this way. But understand the situation you’re in. I’m sure you’re smart enough to do so. If you have a problem, you can speak to the elders, and if you feel like they’re being biased, then you can speak to me."

"Oh, speak to the high and mighty shaman, huh?"

"Polvin, behave!" Telah warned.

"Fuck your tribe, fuck your stupid walls, and fuck you!" Lightning crackled around his body, the intensity of his spirit control impressing everyone around them. Still, the flickering lightning made the crowd take a few steps back to avoid being electrocuted.

"I’ll show everyone that you’re nothing special at all!" He moved faster than anyone expected, fast enough to catch someone off guard. He wasn’t the most powerful warrior the Typhon Tribe had, but he was no pushover either.

So, when he appeared behind Kanan and swung a punch at his back, he never expected his arm to suddenly twist violently, snapping in several places as his body was lifted off the ground.

"Arghhhhhhh!!!"

"I was being respectful and cordial, yet you still attack me? I understand your pain and anger, but do not take my passiveness for weakness." Spirit energy was always present around Kanan’s body, an invisible barrier to protect him from harm.

When Polvin’s arm entered that space, Kanan violently shifted the density of the spirit energy, causing Polvin’s arm to twist, and he then levitated him in the air for everyone to see.

Terin got all excited seeing his friend beat up Polvin. "Yeahh! Beat his ass, Kanan!"

"Say another word, Terin, and I’ll have you rot in the dungeons for a month." He couldn’t be biased, couldn’t show that he was always on his people’s side.

It pained him to say that to his friend, but he had no choice.

Kanan was angry at the Typhon tribe too; there was no doubt about it. But he feared the consequences of defying Lord Nemean more than his hatred toward the Typhon Tribe.

"Take him to Yala’s healing hut. I don’t want another incident like this to happen again! You don’t have to get along or like each other, but the moment you start being violent toward one another, BOTH sides will be punished, no matter who started it."