Chapter: 23- The Golden Hummingbird
Silence, the battlefield was in total silence, John looked around and had a strange and inexplicable feeling, when he jumped, he knew that nothing was due to his presence.
— Get up
Felicia's voice sounded calm and indifferent, she looked at John and said.
— Since being here is your idea, take care of everything else.
Felicia only came for two reasons, she wanted to acquire fresh water, an elemental component, the water clan cultivated the same component, the other reason was John, Fernando asked her to take good care of him this time and also he was her nephew.
In life, Felícia only paid attention to three things: her family, the search for evolutionary power and wealth to acquire, but unfortunately for her, she spent more than she could accumulate.
Upon hearing the voice of the possible goddess, everyone looked at their leaders, after receiving the signal everyone stood up, assistant Felicia positioned herself behind John and Isa, she looked like a bodyguard.
Two figures stood out from the crowd, a man and a woman, the woman was a human belonging to the water clan the other was a beast man, they approached and bowed.
— Greetings powerful masters
They both said at the same time.
— The water clan pays its respects
— The Barbarian bo tribe, pay their respects
John looked around, looked at the two authority figures, accepted their respects, and said in a neutral voice.
— Find a suitable place for us.
The two leaders looked at each other and put aside their personal grudges, the two set up a tent with the best they could offer, John, Felicia and Isa were escorted into the tent.
The tent was made of some greenish fabric, it was cozy because of the thickness of the fabric and the metal beams, you could tell that it was sturdy enough for camping in rainy weather.
Inside the tent, John, Felicia and Isa, the three of them, sat on chairs made of thick thread. The chair was soft and comfortable, the craftsmanship well constructed. John thought it would be good to take one of these chairs home. Felicia was completely lost in her thoughts, paying little attention to the outside world.
"What are your names?" John asked the two leaders standing before them.
—I am Kassandra, the matriarch of the water clan.—The woman named Kassandra spoke first and then the beast man spoke.
— I am Barbara One, chief of the Barbara Bo tribe
John almost laughed hearing this name, he wondered if there was a Barbara two, three and so on.
— I'm John Venhorst, this is my aunt Felícia and this is Isa, my assistant.
When the two leaders heard the surname, Venhorst, their worries disappeared a little, but they were still a little tense.
—So it's the young lord and the red dragon lady. —Kassandra said.
Even though they had never seen the two before, they both believed John's words. Felicia was someone absent, she travels everywhere, few claim to have seen her, but her fame spread throughout the kingdom. No one with a brain would pretend to be Miss Red Dragon.
—Sit down. —John said and they both obeyed, taking a seat respectively.
— May we know why the young lord and the red dragon lady visited? — Kassandra asked a question respectfully, she did not underestimate John for being just a child, being the matriarch of a Clan, she acquired a good sense of judgment.
From this child, she could detect an aura of mystery and antiquity, when she looked at John and listened to his words, it was no different than talking to someone the same age or even older.
John looked at Kassandra and said.
"We're here today because the market is out of fish and meat. This fact intrigued me." John paused for a moment, watching the two leaders' reactions, and then continued.
—But for now, I think these questions will be put aside.
— Now the most important thing, I want to know why you are fighting without authorization?
— The law clearly states that regions cannot go to war without the lord's authorization, what did you have to say? — John asked, crossing his arms, he looked at the two leaders waiting for their answers.
"Young man, the water clan has nothing to say in this matter. We await the lord's punishment." Kassandra spoke with her head bowed.
Kassandra didn't say the young lord's punishment, but rather the lord's punishment, with that she made it very clear that John, even though he was the young lord, still didn't have the qualification to punish the water clan.
The Barbarian one also spoke in his harsh voice.
— The Bárbara bo tribe will also await the lord's punishment. — said Bárbara one.
John smiled slightly, he asked a question next.
— So then everything is fine, now tell me what is the cause of this war between regions?
Kassandra and Barbara looked at each other, They saw the reluctance in each other, John noticed this, but he patiently waited for their response.
"Well, young lord, on that matter, I'm afraid only you are qualified to know."
Kassandra spoke with a watchful tone, John still had the same expression on his face, he spoke with the same calmness as always.
— Very well, then we will also leave this topic aside, now how about hearing the reason behind the stoppage of meat and fish supplies?
Kassandra knew something was wrong, but she didn't know what, maybe because she didn't expect this attitude from the young lord, she left everything in the back of her mind, she answered John's question.
— Young lord, due to the conflict with the Bo Barbarian tribe, the Water Clan has stopped providing services outside the region. I hope you understand.
John nodded indicating that he understood, he then looked at Barbara and gestured for him to explain his reason.
— Young lord, the hunting tribe members are on the front lines gaining glory in the battle with the water clan, I couldn't send anyone hunting while there was honor and glory to be claimed on the battlefield.
John nodded, he looked at the two leaders and said.
— With that explained, when do you intend to reestablish your services?
The two leaders did not respond, this was a question that neither of them knew how to answer, but even so, someone stood out.
— Young man, everything will return to normal as soon as the conflict is resolved, you don't need to worry — said Kassandra in a confused voice
John closed his eyes for a second, when the black eyes opened, on his face there was no longer a calm and welcoming attitude, instead there was a solemn and bored look, until now John had not obtained any clear information, the two leaders were hiding a lot of things, he wanted to know why two regions went to war, something important must have happened.
— Very well — John said with half-closed eyebrows, then he took a medal that represented the lord's will for the two leaders.
"I believe you know what this is in my hands." John didn't wait for the two leaders to respond. He continued, "Let's start from scratch. I'll ask the questions, and you leaders will answer each one with the utmost sincerity. Otherwise, your regions will suffer consequences neither of you will bear." John looked at Felicia as he spoke. The two leaders followed John's gaze briefly. When they laid eyes on Felicia, they sensed a danger they'd never felt before; it was like looking at death itself.
— With this medal I stand before you, not as the young lord but as the lord's representative, my words are the lord's words, my will is the lord's will, I hope you understand that — John spoke with authority, leaving no margin in his words.
The two leaders recognized the medal from miles away and knew very well about its importance, as well as what it represents, they did not consider that it was fake, the medal radiated an aura discernible to sonar, that was not all John's attitude when speaking to them made them uncomfortable adding Felícia to the equation that radiated danger, they found themselves between a hard place and a rock.
After going through the pros and cons, Kassandra and the barbarian one had a tacit understanding, John represents the lord's will, Felicia had the power to annihilate their regions with just a thought, with this combination of authority and power, the two leaders could no longer hide information.
With the lord's authority, John could make any decision, and with Felicia's power backing him, who would dare disobey? When the two realized this, they thanked the goddess for not disrespecting John for being a child, otherwise the consequences would have been dire.
— Young Lord, Barbara, I understand the young lord's words, as such I am willing to offer all my sincerity— Barbara spoke in her harsh voice
— Young lord, I, Kassandra, am willing to cooperate— Kassandra spoke with even more respect.
— Young lord, the Barbara Bo tribe wishes to make an agreement with the young lord, my tribe has been loyal to the lord for several generations of warriors— Barbara was speaking when he was interrupted.
— Young Lord, the Water Clan would like to make a deal as well — Kassandra spoke as she looked at Barbara with hostility.
By this time, Kassandra and Barbara knew that pulling John to their side was the most effective way to end the war between them in their favor, with just one word from John one side would be annihilated in a moment.
Kassandra and Barbara one, the two used their sonars to send a message outside the tent, Isa and John didn't notice anything, but Felicia noticed, she decided to ignore it after the two didn't show any hostility
—Matriarch of the clan and chief of the tribe, can you tell me the reason for this war?— John asked expressionlessly.
Barbara one, looked at Kassandra with hostility and said— young lord, a while ago a statement was released from the capital through the Mercenary Guild, the statement mentioned a golden Hummingbird.
—Golden hummingbird?— John asked
— Young Lord, the Golden Hummingbird is an extremely rare bird in the kingdom. It possesses a spatial elemental core when grown. The Hummingbird can fly through space, covering great distances in just a moment. Due to its nature, the Golden Hummingbird appears randomly and no one can predict its location. — Barbara explained in her rough voice.
— the announcement in the mercenary guild said that a lord of the kingdom would give up one of his recommendation spots to the institute, if anyone had a golden Hummingbird on hand — when the word institute was uttered a sparkle flashed in Barbara's eyes and in Kassandra's.
— And how is all this related? — John asked confused.
— Due to the great luck of the Bárbara bo tribe, Chief Bárbara three in his adventures located a golden Hummingbird.
Felicia, who had been impassive the whole time, leaned back in her chair and began to listen to what the barbarian was saying.
— The Golden Hummingbird was newly hatched, even so the Bo barbarian tribe would not be able to capture a Golden Hummingbird without the help of at least three primary mages, due to past corrections the council of the three barbarian chiefs decided to ask for help from the Water Clan, thanks to the help of the three mages of the Water Clan, the Golden Hummingbird was successfully captured— the Barbara one cast a newly had look at the matriarch of the Water Clan.
— Unfortunately, the water clan was not content with the reward that the Barbara Bo tribe had prepared in advance, instead they had their eye on the golden Hummingbird, which is why we came to this war and as a consequence the supply of meat and fish was interrupted at the same time.
John couldn't quite grasp the situation; he apparently underestimated the importance of the institute, or perhaps the importance of a golden hummingbird. The golden hummingbird was something that would cause a war between two regions, but that wasn't yet clear to him; he sensed something was off.
— If the young lord is willing to make a deal with the Bo barbarian tribe, I, Barbara one…— Before he could even finish his words, Barbara one was interrupted.
— Young lord, the water clan is willing to offer the Hummingbird if the young lord agrees...— Kassandra was also interrupted before finishing her words.
— You can stop there.
From the direction of the conversation, John already knew what the two leaders were trying to achieve, he didn't want to be involved in the plot of two regional leaders.
"Where's the golden hummingbird?" John asked, showing uncertain interest.
Barbara looked at Kassandra, everyone's eyes, Isa, John and Felicia who was impassive stared at Kassandra, being looked at like that by a superior being, Kassandra's body trembled, she clapped her hands and someone entered the tent with a cage covered with a green cloth.
With a movement of Felicia's hands, the cage that was being held by the hands of a woman from the water clan, flew straight into Felicia's hands, she removed the green cloth revealing a golden bird the size of a baby's fist, the golden hummingbird, it looked like a bird that John already knew, if the Golden Hummingbird was not all golden and did not have spatial properties John would even think it was a hummingbird a very well known bird on earth.
The two leaders saw the cage in Felicia's hands with some hidden desire in their eyes, but neither of the leaders dared to do or say anything, they simply looked at what was worth fighting for being ripped from their hands.
"I'll take this, since you can't protect him. You wouldn't be able to cross a territory with such a treasure anyway," Felicia said with a glint in her eye. After a while, she continued. "If you want any compensation, talk to him." She pointed her finger at John.
John didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he had nothing in his possession that could replace a treasure that had driven two regions to war, the two leaders looked at John with hopeful eyes.
***
City of Ngola, chapter of the Ngola kingdom.
The capital of the kingdom was not only the most beautiful city and opponent of the entire kingdom, the most influential people, renowned nobles and powerful families, of course there was a special district for the lords of the territory, as expected the Venhorst family also has a luxurious mansion, in the capital only the three great families and the royal family were allowed to build a castle.
Venhorst Mansion.
On the porch of the mansion, an old man who appeared to be seventy years old was sitting in a chair with a backrest reading a book. If John were there, he would hug this old man and call him grandmother. This old man looked seventy percent like Fernando.
A man walked up to the old man and said, "Hello, Dad." The old man didn't take his eyes off the book. He said as he read, "Oh, Fernando, are you home? How was the meeting?"
Fernando took the seat for himself and sighed, he said with a regretful voice, "Our enemies, the Blood Moon Kingdom, launched an attack on the northwest of the kingdom and because of that, entry into the institutions was brought forward."
Old Francis, Fernando's father, didn't seem surprised to hear this news; it seemed he'd already expected it. He put down his book and said, "How long do we have until we're admitted to the institute?"
The royal decree declared that in six months the Kassange Institute and the Institute of the Promised Land will receive new students simultaneously. Fernando said. "Which institute do you intend to send Junior to? In my opinion, it would be better if he went to the Kassange Institute," Francis said. "I think so too." Fernando sighed and continued, "But he's going to the Promised Land."
"Why in the promised land if Kassange is the best choice?" Francis asked.
— Five of the teachers belong to the Evans family, even the principal has an intrinsic connection to the Evans family — Fernando said.
"So my beautiful daughter-in-law's hope of having her children reunited and caring for each other will have to wait a little longer," Francis said with a bitter smile.
— I will visit Albert tomorrow, to perform Junior's ritual as soon as possible — Fernando said.
"Son, are you sure involving Albert is a good idea?" Francis asked.
Fernando nodded.
Continued...