24 First Challenge (1/2)

Mulling over the Chief's words, Aaron followed the man while he led the way out of the metallic room.

He and Edmond had set out early in the morning on their quest to catch the Fox, so it was only noon now even though Edmond had been sleeping for hours.

Aaron was trying to understand this concept of ”betting” that the chief had just spoken about. The part that flummoxed him was how the Chief had been able to do this without receiving any confirmation or guarantee from Aaron that he would definitely pay him back. What was stopping him from benefiting from this favor, and later saying that he didn't recall anything about it?

Of course, he would never do something like that as actions like those were among the things he despised the most. Yet, the Chief couldn't possibly know that.

Viewing the broad shoulders of the man who was walking in front of him, Aaron asked, ”How can you trust me like that? What if I say that I don't know you in the future?”

He was just trying his best to understand everything that he was experiencing as much as he could, so Aaron wanted to clarify each and every doubt he had right away. He wasn't planning to refuse this favor – as he knew just how valuable favors could be. There were multiple times when a few Teras who had been spared by him and Woof had ended up helping them in unexpected situations just because they remembered the deed.

Only, it wasn't all Teras which were capable of doing something like this. Through years of experimentation combined with the knowledge that Woof had gathered before he met Aaron, they knew which Teras they could trust in this way and which they couldn't.

Yet, the Chief had only met him a day ago. So, that was the main question that Aaron had.

The answer surprised him.

Turning around, the Chief sighed once again, as he was at his wit's end. Explaining stuff wasn't his forte, but he decided to put the best effort forward so that he could hopefully strike the right chord with this kid.

Finally, he found a way in which he could express himself that the kid would definitely understand.

”Instinct. After all these years of living in the forest, you must have developed an instinct about where to hide, when to fight and when to run, right?”

Aaron immediately nodded. If it weren't for that instinct that had been developed with Woof's training and help, he would have died long ago.

”Well, this is another kind of instinct that tells me that you are someone whom I can trust. I can't explain it any further. Again, like I said, you'll understand later.”

Seeing Aaron nod slowly with an expression that signified that he understood, the Chief let out a breath of relief and was about to turn around, but he stopped when he heard Aaron speak in a strong tone that he would never be able to forget.

”I give you my word that I will definitely repay you. No matter when it is or where I am, I will never forget what you're doing for me.”

Aaron had gotten the feeling that he wanted to say this, even though he knew that the Chief probably wasn't expecting anything like it.

Still, he wanted the Chief to know.

At this moment, his impression of the Chief grew to new heights, as the Chief's actions reminded him of the way Woof had helped him without expecting anything in return.

Of course, the Chief might be expecting something, but just like Aaron had stated, there was the risk that he would get nothing. So, Aaron still saw it in this way.

He was someone who drew a clear line between favors and grudges. Even in the forest, they would go out of their way to help a tribe of Teras if it didn't risk their lives, in cases where that specific tribe had helped them before to escape from some predator. And if there was some sly Tera that tried to take advantage of them, they would always make sure to hunt it down when they could.

Hearing this, the Chief threw back his head and let out an uproarious laugh, which made the Hamlet folk in the houses nearby peek out of their windows, wondering what had amused the Chief so much.

”Good, good. Come on. We shouldn't keep Jenny waiting any longer.”

”Huh?”

Aaron didn't understand the last part, but seeing the Chief hurry forward, he followed.

A few minutes later, the two reached the same spot where Edmond had had his very humiliating challenge. People had gathered here again, and in the ring, Jenny, the woman who had been in charge of the Orientation was standing with her hands folded behind her back.

As soon as she saw him appear, she made a gesture as if she was waving him forward, which made the confusion increase in Aaron.