"Yeah." Arjun looked out toward the horizon, golden hues brushing against the sky like dying embers. "Let's go home for now. We have a lot to figure out."
"Wait," Vhim said suddenly, as they stepped down from the rocky mouth of the cave. "Should we tell Joxon about… baths?"
Arjun chuckled. "Let's get him some real clothes first."
Joxon growled softly in playful protest, tugging the hem of Arjun's oversized tunic. Then, just as the wind rustled through the trees and silence returned to the mountaintop, he did something unexpected.
He bowed his head — just for a second — and whispered a single word.
"…Brother."
Arjun blinked, startled by the boy's voice. It was deep, husky — still rough like a beast's, but clear enough to carry warmth.
"…Yeah," Arjun said softly, a small smile curling on his lips. "That's right."
The three of them stood quietly at the edge of the cave, the mountain breeze brushing past them. The sun was slowly disappearing behind the peaks.
Then Vhim frowned suddenly as something struck his mind.
"Bro," he said. "Aren't we going to find Sage Sharun anymore?"
Arjun looked at him.
"Do you think we'll find him?" he asked.
"But we should at least search the last village," Vhim insisted, eyes pleading. "Grandpa said it was important."
Arjun sighed and glanced at the fading light.
"What if someone like that doesn't exist?" he asked, quieter now. "What if Grandpa only said that to protect us — to get us far from the village, away from the demon?"
Vhim lowered his gaze.
"But still…" he said softly.
"…Okay," Arjun finally said. "If you say so. We'll search the last village. If we can't find anything, we'll return. Deal?"
Vhim's eyes lit up. "Deal!"
"We camp here tonight. Tomorrow, we go to the next part of the mountain and try to find the village."
With the decision made, the three of them got to work gathering dry sticks and lighting a fire just outside the cave. They propped up a small wild boar that Joxon had caught — thin but enough for a meal — and began roasting it over the flames.
Forty minutes passed quietly.
The moon had climbed halfway up the sky.
That's when the sound came.
Hoofbeats.
The creaking of wheels.
Human voices and the jangling of chains.
Arjun stood up sharply, hand near his waist. Vhim narrowed his eyes, and Joxon let out a low growl.
A caravan of seven to eight people came into view. Horses were tied to a single wheeled cart, and torches burned in their hands. As they neared the fire, Arjun recognized them instantly.
His heart sank.
Slave merchants.
Their village had dealt with them before. Whenever someone committed an unforgivable crime, Grandpa would sell them to these people — an act of harsh justice, and a way to earn silver.
The fat man leading them had greasy hair, a large yellow robe, and a lecherous grin.
"Oi there, boys," he called as they approached the fire. "Mind if we camp here for a bit? Just passin' through, lookin' for shelter."
Arjun's mind worked fast. He smiled politely.
"Of course," he said. "The fire's warm. We've got boar roasting."
The man's grin widened. "Mighty kind of you."
They sat down with them. The group included two more robed men, a short woman with a long whip, and a few scrawny assistants who tended to the cart.
The merchants brought out their own food — dried meat and thick stew in small bowls — and offered some in return. Arjun accepted it with thanks, as did Vhim. Joxon refused outright, his nose wrinkling at the scent.
When the merchants weren't watching, Arjun whispered to Vhim, "Don't eat it."
Vhim nodded, his mouth full of fake chewing. They both pretended to eat, taking cautious bites, then used the excuse of relieving themselves to slip into the trees and vomit it out.
Only Joxon sat still the whole time, not touching a single morsel.
As night deepened and stars peeked through the canopy, the merchants went quiet.
But Arjun could feel it.
He could see them whispering to each other. The way they shifted their hands toward weapons. The way they kept glancing at Joxon's strong arms and Vhim's youthful face.
They were planning something.
He was sure of it.
So before sleeping, Arjun slipped a simple sword from his inventory and handed it to Vhim in secret.
"You said you wanted to try the Deva Swordsmanship, right?" he whispered.
Vhim grinned, gripping the hilt tightly. "This time… I won't lose."
---
Midnight.
It happened fast.
Arjun's eyes snapped open.
Rustling.
Footsteps. The sound of a rope.
He looked up and saw three men moving toward them in the firelight — ropes in hand, one holding a dagger.
They were surrounded.
Arjun kicked the boar spit into the fire, scattering embers. "Now!"
Vhim jumped to his feet and unsheathed his sword in one motion, eyes flashing.
One of the merchants lunged at him with a curved blade, but Vhim ducked and swung hard, his strike catching the man in the leg. The merchant howled and crumpled.
Two others rushed him.
Vhim spun and blocked one blade, then rolled backward and kicked the other in the stomach.
Another man came from behind, but Joxon — growling — leapt onto him and tackled him to the ground, punching with heavy, animal-like strength. His fists pounded against the man's chest until he stopped moving.
Arjun grabbed a fire stick and swung it like a club, slamming it across the face of one of the assistants. The flaming wood cracked against his temple, sending him crashing down.
The short woman with the whip lashed out at Joxon. The whip snapped across his back, but he barely flinched. He turned and lunged at her, grabbing the whip and yanking it from her hand. She tried to run, but Arjun tripped her with the fire stick and Vhim knocked her out with the hilt of his sword.
Three of the enemies backed away, unsure.
Vhim panted, blade raised.
"Wanna keep going?" he asked, sweat running down his brow.
But they didn't answer.
They charged.
One after another.
Vhim met the first with a wide upward swing, disarming him before kicking him to the ground.
Arjun parried a blow with the fire stick again, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting until the knife dropped.
Joxon moved with speed, crouching and dodging, then jumping onto two men at once and slamming their heads together.
One fell unconscious.
The other groaned — and Joxon finished him with a solid punch.
Only the fat leader remained.
He was trying to run.
But Vhim threw the sword.
The hilt struck the man square in the back of the head.
He dropped.
Silence.
Arjun stood, breathing hard.
The fire still crackled beside them.
Around them… were the broken, bruised bodies of the slave merchants.
And not a single word was spoken.