"Are you sure this is where he is?" Lousia got off her horse and turned to Kraigan.

"I remember it well. He said Kizmag," Kraigan assured.

Kizmag was often believed to be the poorest out of all the villages. And now, the four Siligon Warriors knew why. Every house inside the village was old and broken. Even the Mayor's villa wasn't impressive at all. A single marketplace inside the village consisted of small stalls.

"So, how can we find Gabriel's son?" Godag asked.

In response, Kingston turned to a nearby woman.

"I'm looking for someone from our group. Have you seen a Siligon Warrior here often?"

"Yes, I have. A very old one. He usually comes to our village every day," the lady replied.

"And where does he go?"

"To that house," the lady pointed at a distant house that was separated from the rest of the village.

"And who lives there?"

"I've only seen a strange kid come out of that house. He's a weird one. Never speaks or talks to anyone."

"Thank you for your help," Kingston thanked.

"Good job! Now let's go find him," Kraigan said.

The house was in horrible condition and seemed abandoned. The windows were broken and the small farmland in front of the house had been conquered by wild plants.

Kraigan knocked at the door but no reply came. He knocked harder and finally, a voice came.

"What do you want?" the voice demanded.

"Can I please come in? We just want to talk," Kraigan said.

"Go away!" the voice shouted.

"Do your job, Godag," Kraigan sighed.

Godag kicked at the door, tearing it away from the frame.

A fifteen-year-old boy dressed in plain clothes and having brown hair was standing in front of the door. A mixture of amazement, shock, and anger formed upon his face as he stared at the broken door.

"We're so sorry about that but it's very urgent," Kraigan apologized.

The kid locked eyes with Kraigan for a few seconds and then started running in the opposite direction.

"Block his way, Kraigan!" Godag shouted.

However, Kraigan didn't have to do it because surprisingly, the boy stopped on his own and turned back to face the Siligon Warriors

"Did you said Kraigan?" the boy asked.

"You know me? I'm Kraigan."

"My father told me about you. He said you'll help me. Is that true?"

"That was why I'm here."

"My father... Is he dead?"

"Yes," Kraigan choked back tears.

"We had said our goodbyes to each other already," the boy sank down to the floor. Despite the sadness, he still managed to hide his feelings well and didn't shed a single tear.

"Gabriel wanted me to take care of you."

"I know. My father told me about you."

"What is your name?"

"Berk," the boy replied.

"So Berk, will you like to become one of us?"

"A Siligon Warrior?" Berk's face lit up. "Will that be possible?"

"Of course."

"Are you out of your mind?" Godag shouted.

After the Siligon Warriors had arrived back at the camp along with Berk, Godag had called for a meeting between all four leaders.

"What is the problem?" Kraigan asked.

"Why did you lie to that kid? Why did you say yes to making him a Siligon Warrior without asking anyone?" Kingston said.

"What was there to ask?"

"I can't believe how dumb you can be," Godag walked to the bookshelf on his right and opened a book from it. He flipped through the pages of that book and stopped at one of them.

"Can you see the rules written here? No Siligon Warrior who has taken a sip of the Kizogya Water is allowed to marry someone and have a child. In case someone commits this sin, the child has to be killed," Godag read aloud. "Now I'm not going to kill Berk but he can't become a Siligon Warrior."

"I think we should still give it a try," Lousia said.

"It is not safe! The laws that were made were for a reason. Why else would Hosh, our master, forbid us from marrying or having a child?" Kingston said.

"But how else are we supposed to take care of Berk? This was Gabriel's last wish," Kraigan said. "He might have committed a sin but he's still one of the greatest Siligon Warriors ever. We should honor his wish."

"Nobody stopped you from having that boy in the camp. You can take care of him that way," Kingston suggested.

"And what will he do here all alone? Making him a Siligon Warrior is the best possible way," Kraigan declared.

"Let us take a vote. All those who don't think it's wise to make Berk a Siligon Warrior can raise hands," Godag said. He and Kingston both raised their hand.

"Now, those who support Kraigan's decision, please raise your hands," Godag said.

Kraigan immediately raised his hands and then turned to Lousia. She hesitatingly raised her hand but then put it down.

"I see Lousia is not sure. The decision is made then," Godag declared.

"What shall I do with him then?" Kraigan asked.

"He's not a kid anymore. Tell him everything and ask him what he wants." Godag suggested.

With a disappointed face, Kraigan walked out of the tent.

Berk was waiting outside.

"They won't make me a Siligon Warrior, would they?"

"No," Kraigan shook his head.

"Thanks for trying," Berk said.

"You heard everything, didn't you?"

Berk nodded.

"And what do you want to do now?"

"I need to think first," Berk stated, "But can you do me a favor?"

"Of course. Just tell me."

"Can you show me your camp?" Berk requested, "My father told me so much about it. I always wanted to see it for myself."  

"There's nothing much to see here," Kraigan laughed.

"What about the wild parties you people have?" Berk asked.

"Only once a month."

"So, there's nothing else to show me here?"

Kraigan gave it a thought for a moment. He didn't want the kid to get disappointed even further.

"Actually yes, there is. Follow me," Kraigan stated.

Berk followed Kraigan who led him to the Head Camp — the place where Kraigan was made a Siligon Warrior 10 years ago.

Potions and Books filled the entire room.

"What is inside those books?" Berk asked.

"Lots of secrets," Kraigan replied.

"Can I read them?"

"Later. First I have to show you an even bigger secret. But don't tell anybody."

"I promise I won't."

"Then come here," Kraigan removed a floorboard from the ground to reveal a secret passage leading underground.

"This looks so exciting!" Berk exclaimed.

The passage led them to an underground room. It was dark there so Kraigan produced fire from his hands.

The small flame provided a dim light inside the room and revealed a man lying on top of a huge rock.

"Who is he?" Berk asked.

In the darkness, the features of the man couldn't be seen well. However, Berk could still make out that the man was old with a long grey beard and wrinkly skin.

"Is he dead?" Berk asked.

As if on the queue, the man started mumbling something inaudibly; leaving Berk startled.

"Who is he? And how long has he been like that?" Berk asked.

"He is Hosh. The first ever Siligon Warrior. According to the legends, he traveled through the Dark Lands to bring back the magic that makes us a Siligon Warrior. This was what the Dark Lands did to him," Kraigan said.

"How long has he been like that?"

"Around 300 years."

"300 years?" Berk cried, "And yet he's alive?"

"Yes," Kraigan replied.

"I don't believe this! How is this possible?"

"Nobody knows." Kraigan said, "There are so many things we don't know. We don't even know how we get our powers from the Dark Lands. And yet, we use them. How Hosh is still alive is just one of the many mysteries that surrounds us."

"I wish I could become a Siligon Warrior," Berk said.

"I am so sorry about that," Kraigan said gloomily.

"It is alright. The fact that someone tried so hard for my sake means much more than being a Siligon Warrior."

After a few seconds, both of them returned back to the surface.

"Thanks a lot for showing me those secrets," Berk said.

"There's one more thing we can do," Kraigan said.

"What is it?"

Kraigan picked up a regular sword that was kept inside the Head Camp and handed it to Berk.

"Have you ever used a sword?" Kraigan asked.

"Nope."

"Why don't you try it? I want to see how the son of a Siligon Warrior fights."

"If you say so," Berk took the sword from Kraigan.

Kraigan charged at Berk with his sword but surprisingly Berk defended it in a reflex and gave a counter kick.

"Where did that come from?" Kraigan asked in amusement.

"I don't know. I just felt a strange energy inside me," Berk replied.

Kraigan narrowed his eyes at Berk. He too had experienced the same energy ever since he became a Siligon Warrior.

He went full aggressive on Berk. But Berk held himself quite well in the duel, fighting like someone who had years of mastery in sword fighting.
Unfortunately, Berk was finally disarmed.

Kraigan walked to him to deliver one final blow. Of course, he planned to stop his sword before it could hurt. However, Berk couldn't realize that in his shock. Instead, fire burst out of his hands.

Author's Note

Hope you liked the chapter. With the character introductions done, the main plot has been started with this chapter.