Way of the Knights

Chapter 244 - Gentle Cradle Tribe

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The could do nothing but to stare at Raven as he pushed the wooden gates to their tribe using one hand. It had to be known that it takes them at least push that damn thing but he didn't even needed both of his hands to do that.

As Raven went inside, he was greeted by the pitiful view of the tribe.

Patched up huts, dried up spring, not even a iota of grass could be seen growing inside. There was a foul stench that's laced with air which made him frown. His appearance was like a contrast from the scene inside, which made him extremely obvious to the people who was roaming around the tribe. 

Raven was aware that he's being stared at and he didn't care. He knew that he stuck out like a sore thumb with his appearance. He assumed that no in here saw a healthy human being before. Plus, his clothes are way too different from what they have. He was the only one who was wearing something clean and has vibrant color in here. Of course his appearance would really be obvious.

Raven gave them a nod and proceed to ask Nana: "Where is your home?"

"It's that way, Big Brother." She said as she pointed in the east direction. 

Raven calmly walked forward and followed where she pointed. As he walked by, he could here the faint whispers of the tribe members. Once he locked gazes with any of them, they would simply turn away and shiver in fear. Raven shook his head and just calmly walked away, good thing he was alone. 

After walked for some time, they eventually reached Nana's home. It was a very humble home according to the tribe's standards. Like the rest, it was a patched up hut that has frail twigs of wood as the roof. There is no door in their house, only a piece of beast skin which didn't even cover up the whole entrance. The floor was made out of rotten bark that is tied together by some straws and it was filled with holes. The walls are made out similar materials and was filled with holes.

Nana asked him to put her down so he did, she then grabbed him by the hand and pulled him inside their home. Once he got inside, he immediately saw two pale-faced people lying down on the rough surface of the floor without any kind of blankets or covers. 

Having a closer look inside, he noticed that there is just one room. Where they eat, sleep, and talk all happens inside this cell. Raven shook his head, even the pig sties in the kingdom are bigger than this. 

As soon as Nana saw her parents, she was tearing up once again. She kneeled down between them and placed her ears close to their mouths to check if they are still breathing. While she did felt their breaths, it was incredibly weak, both of them were also visibly frowning, a sign that they weren't faring better since she left.

She turned around to call for Raven but she noticed that he was already behind her and checking her parents. Nana didn't say anything and just allowed him to check her parents.

'Thank god I arrived today.' Raven inwardly thought, 'Their conditions are terrible but not hopeless. Their pulses are weak. Both of them are just practically skin and bones at this point. It was unlucky that they caught fever, specially in this kind of state, even that simple illness would become extremely lethal to them.'

"Big Brother? Can you heal them?" Nana asked anxiously after seeing Raven go silent for a while.

He smiled at her and ruffled her hair, he then said: "They are in a bad state but still curable. Luckily we found each other, right?"

"Mn!" Nana nodded and smiled, "Please heal them Big Brother."

"Yes, yes." Raven chuckled and ruffled her hair. He then stood up and said: "But we can't do it inside this place since it might break. Come, follow me outside."

Raven waved his hand and under the dumbstruck gaze of Nana, both of her parents started levitating off the ground. He held Nana's arm and went outside of the house only to find out that there's basically a crowd in front. 

He raised his brow and saw how the people stared at him in a gobsmacked manner. The guards that he encountered earlier were even here as well. Raven gave them a slight bow and traced his spatial ring. 

From his ring came out some open-air tents that automatically set themselves up according to Raven's will. There also some stretchers and leather chairs that appeared out of his spatial ring.

The people of the tribe practically had their eyes bulging from their sockets at they saw this incredible scene. They all started wondering what kind of sorcery is this and just what kind of entity Raven was. 

Raven ignored their amazed gazes and focused at the task at hand. With a gentle wave of his hand, Nana's parents gently floated down and were placed in a soft stretcher. Once their backs hit the soft surface of the stretchers, one could already see their faces ease up. 

"Sit there for a bit. This will be quick." He told Nana as he focused on her parents, the little girl nodded and watched as Raven cured her parents. Those who were watching them practically gasped as they heard him speak. 

Raven took out a vial of green fluid and popped the cork. He gently lifted their bodies and placed the vials on their lips. After they consumed the medicine he took out, he then took out another pair and this time lathered on the surface of their bodies.

Their bodies glowed with a gentle light, afterwards everyone saw how their faces regained color and visibly turned calmer. Raven briefly inspected their pulses and nodded, the mild medicine did wonders on their bodies. He then turned to Nana and said:

"It's done. They're out of danger now and sleeping peacefully, after an hour they should wake up so don't cry anymore okay?"

Nana jumped to his arms and said: "Thank you, Big Brother."

"You're welcome." Raven smiled and ruffled her hair, "Just wait there okay? Big Brother has other stuff to do."

"Mn!" Nana said as she went back to her seat. Now that she could relax, she now noticed the soft surface of her chair which managed to distract her. The chair was big enough for her curl up and sleep, which precisely what she did since she never experienced anything this soft.

Raven smiled warmly as he saw her cute actions. He then looked up and whistled while holding up his arm, out of nowhere a Mirage Hawk appeared on arms which practically spooked everyone who was staring at him. Raven placed a rolled up letter on the compartment of it's legs and fed it before sending it away. 

After that, it was time for Raven to face the rest of the tribe. He turned around and looked at every single one of them. He gave them a curt bow and said: "Nice to meet you, my name is Raven. Pardon me for my intrusion, Nana asked me to cure her parents but your guards attacked me on sight so I could only force my entry."

Raven then traced his fingers and suddenly, a stream of things flew out from it. Plates filled with aromatic food and jugs of clean water started levitating around him. 

"I came in peace." Raven stated, "I made a promise to not harm a single soul in this tribe and I intend to keep it. As proof of my word, please accept this."

Raven waved his hands and suddenly, the plates of food and water jugs started fly towards the people of the tribe. Some were scared out of their wits and tried to dodge or block the things flying at them only to find out that it wasn't meant to harm them.

"These are fresh food and clean water. Please, help yourselves. Don't worry I didn't place anything harmful with the food nor the waters. If you do have anything to ask of me, you can find me here. That's all."

After that, he turned around and sat beside the sleeping Nana. He took out some blankets and covered sleeping family. He then took closed his eyes and waited.

Seeing that Raven truly didn't plan to harm any of them, some of them curiously took the food and water in their hands. Seeing the glistening delectable made them unconsciously drool, some of the braver/reckless ones threw caution out of the window and placed some food on their mouths, and when they did there was no stopping them.

These food will be easily digested and absorbed by their bodies since Raven personally arranged them. It didn't matter even if they were starving before this, their bodies won't reject these food or water since it has special effects.

It didn't take a long time before everyone around him busied themselves from eating. Aside from Raven, no one noticed that there was an old man slowly approaching them.

The old man eventually arrived at where Raven was and saw the latter standing up. Raven then gave him a curt bow and offered him a hand and his seat. The old man smiled kindly and said:

"Welcome to our tribe, Gentle Outsider.. I am Neman the current leader of the Gentle Cradle Tribe."