Chapter 165 A Fallen Star (2)
[To tell the truth, as this book has been made after the death of the first and the best Chief Patriarch Agar’s death, Agar’s story is not written with accurate detail. While the Green Skins who remembered him saying that he made cracks in the ground and fell down mountains with one hit of his hammer or rescued young Green Skins alone while spilling his own blood were said to be a bit exaggerated, it is true that Agar had spilled blood, fought in n.o.ble wars, and spent his life for all Green Skins in this Honored Land. I have written about him despite the inaccuracies, so the Green Skins who read this book would not forget the Great Agar… – An old book honoring the first Chief Patriarch, Agar.]
“The Great Tribe Leader is dead.”
“……”
I was surprised at the too sudden news. Agar had been well three years ago and seemed indomitable. I had never imagined I would hear news like this, and Goff and Black Spear were also gulping air.
Several Green Skins would be devastated at this news, and I believed Goff would be even more so than others, as he had revered Agar.
It was the same for me, and I felt several emotions at once. I thought the south may have been somehow related but decided that the first thing to do was to find out what happened and how he died. I managed to open my mouth.
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
Storm Shadow received my greetings well, even though he would be in more shock as he had considered himself Agar’s right hand and worked tirelessly for the Green Skin society.
“How did he die?”
Storm Shadow slowly opened his mouth.
“He died comfortably in his sleep.”
While there may be questions, Agar’s death seemed natural. While he seemed healthy and well, I had heard from Goff that Agar’s life had been a warpath, as he had sacrificed his blood to lead the Green Skins here today. If he had lived with those wounds, it would shorten his lifespan. While I felt some relief at hearing that he had died in peace, I wondered why the news had to be kept so quiet.
“I will speak here that the Great Tribe Leader’s death is top secret. He said that only those who had to pa.s.s the tests of power, honor, and wisdom and endured the test of perseverance should know about his pa.s.sing.”
Goff spoke after listening to Storm Shadow.
“The reason?”
Black Spear answered instead.
“He may have thought about the confusion his death will bring.”
That was right, as Agar had been the center that connected all Green Skins to one. He had built the foundation here along with the traditions and laws we would keep on. If he is gone, the worst-case scenario is that the Green Skins may all separate.
Not only that but how other leaders would receive this news was a problem. While everyone would gather to the Honored Land out of respect to honor his death if somethings were not done, those who only wanted power and honor would increase in an instant.
It was true, and while they would think the blood spilled was n.o.ble, it also may be needless. While warriors dying in war was an honorable end, it was evident that their families, the Green Skins who had not found a place to live, or future Green Skins would suffer.
Agar’s death would be kept secret until his successor was elected, and we needed a good answer before everyone returned to their clans. Storm Shadow spoke as I fell deep in thought.
“The Honored Tests are still underway, and we will select the successor and take care of the new Green Skins until the tests are finished.”
“How will the new Great Tribe Leader be elected?”
“……”
His silence meant nothing had been decided yet, as he would also be in shock. I just nodded when there was no answer.
“Power, wisdom, and honor…I’ll finish my preparations to leave immediately, and we would need to work fast even though the tests will take a long time.”
Storm Shadow nodded at my words and disappeared to the shadows with one arm on his chest. After he was gone, the tent became quieter, and Goff began to speak first, and the Black Spear after him.
“I cannot believe this…”
“We all die, Goff. The Great Tribe Leader’s death is n.o.ble when thinking about his life, and he was a respectable Green Skin. I cannot hide my sadness.”
We all nodded, and I opened my mouth.
“Let us go soon, and it will be best to bring the strongest and go as fast as we can.”
“Let us meet soon.”
The Green Skins, curious about what had been going on, were staring at us when we came out of the tent, and I went to them. They were all looking at me, and I spoke to the clan members.
“We will head to the Honored Lands immediately. Ragia, Hakajin, Mev, the three sisters, and Baek Ahyeon will wait here. Ragia will take care of the others, and we will not take long. I hope you will finish our task by then.”
Ragia bowed and spoke at my words.
“I follow your orders.”
“Thank you, let us go together to the Honored Lands next time.”
“Thank you for your care.”
“I will take Half-blade, Mirror-Blade, Orbo, Jung Hayeon, and half of the elite org swordsmen.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
“For Blood Dagger!”
“We will start now and prepare enough food supplies for the time frame.”
165 Part 2
I spoke to each of the remaining as they prepared the supplies, as some may be disappointed. While we were unofficial allies with Jang Ye Ri’s city, we needed protection for the village. I first went to Baek Ahyeon, who was under much stress at these times, and she was looking at me with her hand on the ring I gave her.
“I will wait, savior…”
She let out a small scream when I lightly hugged her.
“You are working hard.”
“Thank you! Savior.”
I placed my hand on my chest to Hakajin as a greeting and opened my mouth to Mev after approaching her. She looked sulky in that I was not taking her, but I could not take a pregnant Mev to such a far place. While she did not say anything since she also knew that her mood seemed bad.
“I will be back.”
“Yes, leader. You have to bring new Green Skins!”
“I will.”
The three goblin sisters opened their mouths as I smiled.
“Don’t worry about here!”
“We will protect Mev, the mother of the Blood Dagger Clan!”
While nothing would happen, their serious faces were quite cute. I stroked Mev’s head and rode on Ibar to the Honorable Land. I did not believe that I would be going there for this reason. While we still needed to take care of new Green Skins, the Goff Clan and Black Spear Clan were quite depressed along with us. Since the leaders were in a depressed mood, their subordinates were also being tame.
Gark and Hark, who had been happy being able to come with us, were very quiet. However, they were still trying to walk confidently with the Blood Dagger Clan flag like they were doing their mission, which was quite like them.
While we thought that we would take some time since we were going through a forest, not a desert, the distance was still quite far.
I could see other Green Skins as we walked, and all of them were sad. We started to walk with other clans, and the group got quite large in the middle of the forest.
The numerous leaders across the land were moving, and while we did not speak, it felt like a parade that commemorated Agar’s death. I met a welcome face on the way.
“It has been a long time, Blood Dagger. You have grown well.”
“Green Goblin.”
While he was usually smiling, he was quite serious now. I thought he would feel sad after spending such a long time with Agar. It hurt me to see him so quiet. His green ears were down, and he looked tired, like he had not gotten enough sleep.
“You seem to have heard the news.”
“Ah, yes. It hurt not to have been able to keep vigil at his deathbed, but I’m not the only one. Everyone will be thinking the same thing, as he had affected the entire land. While I had not been there when he had gotten the Honored Lands, he was a n.o.ble and great Green Skin.”
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
The ma.s.sive parade got even larger over time, and no one screamed or cried. Instead, we all walked. When we finally arrived at the Honored Land, Storm Shadow and Minotaur welcomed us, and we were able to go visit where Agar’s corpse was resting.
We went inside where I had first drunk with Agar and other leaders, and Agar was sitting still with his hammer by his side. He looked like he was about to stand up at any moment, and one goblin leader murmured.
“Great Tribe Leader…”
“He is not breathing.”
He was truly dead, but he looked like he was staring at us. A troll quietly opened his mouth to see others’ responses.
“This is the Great Tribe Leader’s last words.”
It was Storm Shadow.
“Power, wisdom, and honor…I apologize for meeting you all like this. While I have to be leading, backing, and standing next to you, please forgive me for going first. I own you all a debt, and while you all may feel like you feel indebted to me, the only thing I did for you was to hand you down this land. However, I received a lot from you, and nothing makes me happier than to think of you all in my last moments as your leader. I am not such a great and honorable leader as you deem me, and I have fought for my entire life. During that time, I sometimes ran away, met comrades, parted ways, and saw blood. While war was fun and gave us vitality, I had to recognize the dangers of our instinct. So, I made rules and avoided fights. There were those who went to find their own paths and those who accepted my decision, I do not regret my choice. Our instinct is a double-edged sword, and I believe you will know why I decided to repress our instinct after forming the Honored Lands despite not having laid down my hammer in my life. Power, wisdom, and honor. I believe that you will all think of these words as you live. Honorable Green Skins, while I go back to the G.o.ds, I wish you all glory. Live on, my children.”
A silence fell in the tent, and everyone laid a hand on their chests.
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
“Power, wisdom, and honor…”
This was to honor the final wishes of the greatest leader we had known, and while no one had lowered their head, I could hear some sobs around me.