Primitive Man

The air was thick with anticipation as Kiriah strolled through the newly constructed weapons camp. Ballistas and cannons towered over the landscape, their polished metal glinting in the sunlight.

It wasn't just the weapons; there were hundreds of wooden boxes filled with cannonballs, explosives, iron arrows, and many more types of ammunition required for the battle. Just by seeing the sheer amount, anyone could tell that this wasn't a battle Garnt was fighting just for fun.

A group of determined individuals huddled around, inspecting the formidable artillery.

Kiriah, clad in sturdy armour, approached the gathering, his eyes assessing the weapons with a mix of pride and seriousness. He gestured toward the impressive ballistas and cannons, "These weapons are our key to victory, my villagers. We need them in top-notch condition if we're to face Baktou and his forces."

A burly man with a determined look stepped forward, "You can count on us, Kiriah. We've trained hard, and we're ready to handle these beasts and show our patriarch why they shouldn't mess with us."

Most of the men were the people who followed Kiriah to this village, while there were some handpicked few who swore their loyalty to Garnt and had a change of mind after seeing how different the two leaderships were.

Kiriah nodded appreciatively, "I'm relying on each and every one of you. Our mission is to support my brother, Garnt, in defeating Baktou. The fate of our people depends on it."

The group nodded in unison, a resolute determination in their eyes. A woman with a fiery look on her face and a steely gaze stepped forward, her hand resting on Kiriah's arm. "What's the situation, Kiriah? What are we up against? Is Baktou that strong for us to use this many weapons?"

Kiriah turned to her, a soft smile on his face, "My love, we're facing a dire threat. Baktou is scheming to attack our iron supply and steal from our people. Garnt is furious, and rightfully so. He's decided to strike back swiftly before Baktou can carry out his plans. We are not just attacking, we are going to annihilate them and take back what is rightfully ours."

He then looked at the people who joined their side and shouted. "And they will get a chance to prove their loyalty to Garnt and our village and officially become villagers."

She frowned, concern etching her features, "But won't it be dangerous? What if something happens to Garnt?"

Kiriah gently squeezed her hand, "I know it won't be easy, but we have each other's backs. We must defend our home, our people. Garnt needs our support, and with these weapons, we have a chance to turn the tide in our favour."

The woman nodded, her determination matching that of the others. She looked nothing like the girl that followed Kiriah, rather she looked like a proper woman who could take the responsibility of supporting her husband who is one of the leaders of a village that leads humanity.

Kiriah looked back at the assembled group, his voice strong, "Let's make sure these weapons are ready, and together, we'll stand against Baktou and protect everything we hold dear. For our home, for our people!"

A resounding cheer echoed through the camp as the group rallied behind Kiriah's words. The stage was set, and the battle for their survival was about to begin.

But when everything looked rather normal, suddenly Kiriah noticed something strange about a certain woman who was the leader of a cannon-handling group, which looked unfamiliar to him, except the main woman who looked rather familiar to him.

He quickly looked at his future wife and asked about them, while not showing any signs of suspicion. "Darling, who are they? Are they from our village or did they join us from this village?"

Kiriah's girlfriend carefully observed the faces of the people whom Kiriah was pointing at, and she simply shook her head. "I don't really know, Kiriah, but they could be from this village."

As soon as his girlfriend uttered those words, Kiriah slowly reached toward the group and scrutinized them, focusing particularly on the woman who was exchanging an awkward glance with Kiriah.

"I don't recall seeing your faces around our village. Are you newcomers? Can I see your identity cards that we provided when we took over this village?"

The woman in charge, with jet-black hair and an uneasy expression, stammered, "Yes, sir. We're from the outskirts of this village. Heard about the impending threat and decided to join the fight to protect our home. I'm ashamed to be called a human who was serving under Baktou, but now that I have seen the true leader, I want to serve him."

She said those words and gave a primitive copper plate that had the name called Gusa and the symbol of the village.

Kiriah's gaze lingered on the woman for a moment, a flicker of recognition dancing at the edge of his memory. He pressed further, "I see. What's your name?"

The woman hesitated, exchanging glances with her companions before replying, "I'm Gusa, sir as this plate states. We've heard of the strong leadership in Garnt's village and wanted to contribute to the cause. We're skilled with cannons thanks to my dear father who is a blacksmith teaching me about them, and we thought our abilities could be of help."

Kiriah nodded thoughtfully, though his suspicion lingered. "Gusa, welcome. We appreciate your willingness to stand with us. Our fight is a shared one. Just ensure you're familiar with our strategies and tactics. We can't afford any missteps in the upcoming battle."

Gusa nodded, her eyes avoiding direct contact with Kiriah. "Absolutely, sir. We're here to learn and assist in any way we can. Your village is our last hope."

Kiriah gave a subtle smile, though his mind continued to puzzle over where he had encountered Gusa before. "Good to have you on board. We'll need all the help we can get. Make sure to integrate with the rest of the team. We're a family here, and trust is paramount."

As Kiriah walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Gusa's response felt rehearsed, and the familiarity he sensed was elusive but persistent.

"Whatever! I guess the heat of the war is getting me all nervous. She looks like an innocent young lady after all, maybe I will visit her father and say my greeting to them later, after all, keeping the morale high is very important."

With those words from Kiriah, they depart into Garnt's village hoping to join the battle right in time.

***

Toga lay in his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His room was bathed in a dim, sombre light, reflecting the gloom that had settled over his soul. Telvi sat silently by his side, her eyes filled with concern, a worried expression etched on her face. Ever since Toga's attempt to take his own life, she refused to leave his side.

She decided to successfully be there for Toga despite what he did, after all, she knew no matter how dangerous or bad her son would be, she couldn't abandon him just because of her parental love.

"Hey, Toga," Telvi spoke softly, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the room. "You know, you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you."

Toga sighed, the weight of guilt still heavy on his heart. "I don't deserve your kindness, Mother. My actions caused so much pain, so much death. I shouldn't have done that. Even Father look at me with disappointment!"

Telvi reached out and gently squeezed his hand. "We'll get through this together. You're not alone. If everyone else tells you that you're an animal, I will be the one to believe that you're a human"

Days turned into weeks, and Telvi remained a constant presence in Toga's life. She would sit with him, whether he was lost in thought or merely staring out the window. She followed him even to the bathroom, unwilling to let him out of her sight.

One day, as the two were in their quiet routine, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Shouts and clamour reached their ears. Telvi's eyes widened, a mix of worry and curiosity etched on her face.

"What's happening? Is everything okay, Mother?" Toga asked, his interest piqued despite his persistent despondency.

"I don't know," Telvi replied, her brow furrowing. "But I need to check. Stay here, I'll be right back."

Telvi hurriedly left the room, instructing a servant to keep an eye on Toga. As she approached the walls of their estate, the sounds outside grew louder. The air was charged with tension. She reached the top of the wall and looked out.

A massive crowd had gathered, their faces obscured by distance. However, it wasn't just the people that surrounded their village; rather, there were many familiar weapons that she quickly identified. Cannons, catapults, trebuchets—she knew to whom these belonged.

Telvi squinted, trying to make sense of the chaos. Then, she heard a familiar voice, a voice that sent shivers down her spine. source-at-MVLeMpYr

"It can't be," she whispered to herself.

The crowd parted, revealing a figure standing at the forefront. A man she had admired her whole life, a man she longed to be with despite being the wife of Baktou.

"Garnt! You're here." She muttered to herself with a smile, but it quickly disappeared when she realized why he was there.

Telvi's heart raced as she watched him, unsure of what this unexpected reunion would bring. Her world outside was about to collide with the world within, and the consequences were uncertain.