5 Behold the Protagonist! (1/2)
A muscular warrior carried a huge black sword on his back as he advanced up the mountains. Ruefully smiling to himself, he slowly trudged across the snowy path.
”Mother...do you remember...you used to love the snow?” he spoke softly.
Crying silently, he trudged forward. His tears froze on his cheeks as he moved forward, sluggish and disoriented. Growling, he steadied himself on the blade. Gripping it's hilt, he staggered forward.
{In the village}
”Help!” a voice called.
”Help!”
”Help!”
”Help!”
Numerous villagers gathered around the entrance of the village. Four men, carried a large gurney, supporting it via poles on their shoulders. On the gurney lay a large man with black armor and a black broadsword across his body.
”We found him passed out on our herb excursions,” one of the men cried.
”Oh how pitiful...”
”Poor man...”
”He seems to be frozen to death...”
”Is he even alive?”
”Who knows?”
”Should we call a doctor?”
”Maybe...but it's no use if he's dead...”
”Right... Dr. Wang is usually very busy...”
”Especially in the winter...”
”We'll have to keep him in a house until the doctor can spare time to come see him then,”
”I'll do it,” a voice called from the back.
The villagers turned towards him. Fang sat on a wicker chair, smiling faintly to himself. Pleased to be relieved of the responsibility, the villagers quickly agreed.
”Are you sure you can take care of it?” the village elder asked Fang.
Smiling, Fang nodded his assent. Hoisting up the gurney, the herb-gathering company and Fang proceeded to Fang's house. It was a ramshackle building, but a spacious one. Placing him near a hearth, the men bid Fang farewell. And so he sat down and waited, a teacup in hand.
Gasping the man shot up. Fang calmly sipped on his tea. As if noticing his presence for the first time the man immediately turned towards Fang with a hostile look in his eyes.
”Relax my friend. I took care of you after you passed out on the mountains,” Fang spoke.
The man relaxed visibly, although an intense look still inhabited his eyes. Smiling ruefully, Fang offered the man some tea. The man gratefully accepted it, sipping cautiously. Years of hardship had taught him to be careful when dealing with strangers.