The Black Heritage

Chapter 4: Skills Revealed

"Brother Brayden, Brother Logan, where are you going?" As morning came, Ethan was playing with the kids outside. He immediately went over as he saw his brother Brayden and Brother Logan in a full disguise and ready to leave. They dressed up to be almost similar to a construction workers outfit with a backpack behind them. 

-"Hospital." 

-"Studio." 

Answered by the two of them together. 

Ethan chortled while covering his mouth with his fist. "Wow.  You two look great in your clothes. I almost didn't recognise you." Ethan spun the wheels of his chair and held one hand of each of them. "Brothers, I always dreamt bad things recently. So be careful on your way. I don't want anything to happen to any of you."

Logan set a plain smile as always, "We will. Thanks Little Brother."

Brayden ruffled Ethan's hair, "Don't worry, no one can recognise us with our get up."

"Sure thing." Ethan sighed and turned around. "If only you two don't need to work, how great would it be? That way I won't worry that something might happen to the two of you. I can't afford to lose you."

"We can't do that forever. We need a living to feed our mouth." Logan said. "My one month leave was over."

Working while hiding from enemies was hard for the brothers but they needed to work to support their living. Hence, they had to disguise themselves while going to work. When there's a sun, those monsters could not do anything to them. Only when a nightfall came, they had to mislead first the enemies before returning to the village so that they could not track down Ethan. They had to wear a disguise because they didn't know who the real person or monster they would meet on their way. 

Brayden bent forward as he wrapped his arm around Ethan's shoulders, "Little Brother, there is nothing going to happen to your brothers. Don't forget it, we are not that vulnerable." 

Logan checked the time on his watch. "Little Brother, Brayden, time is up. Stop talking. Let's head our way or else we are really going to be late." 

"Then, we are leaving. You must be extra careful here. Do you understand?" Brayden added. 

Ethan tapped Brayden's hand on his shoulder. "I am fine. People here are all nice. Nothing will happen to me."

"Here! Take this." Logan tossed a phone to Ethan. "If you need us, just make a call or even send an empty message, we will be here right away."

"Is that for real?" Ethan was resisting not to laugh. "Are the two of you superheroes? In just one call, you will arrive immediately."

Logan gave him a displeased look. 

In the end, he still laughed. "Okay Brother Logan. I will take this and remember your instructions."

"That's good then."

"Brother Ethan, come over here. Let's continue playing." A 7 year old grandchild of Uncle Simon waved his hand towards Ethan with a wood sword on his other hand. 

"What are the two of you playing?" Brayden asked. 

"Fencing." Ethan pushed the wheelchair and waved back to the kid. In his mind, it was troublesome. If his brothers could only allow him to stand on his feet, he had done it long ago. "I'm coming!" 

"Fencing?" Brayden glanced at Logan with a frowning face. 

"Let's go!" Logan only said.

"Watch me Brother Ethan if I am doing it right. " The kid pointed the sword long ahead and slashed on air going to right then back going to the left. "How was it? Did I perform it right?" The kid happily asked. Of course, what the kid did was a total crap. Just like a child plays movements. 

"Hmmm, not bad. Not bad." Ethan said giggling. 

"Really?"

"Yes." Well, the kid has potential. If he would practice diligently for 3 years since at his age now, he surely became a good fighter. 

"Jotun, stop playing now. Let Brother Ethan rest." Uncle Simon's house was just at the next second hut from them and he was here to fetch his grandson. "Mr. Young Saunders, sorry for troubling you everyday. My grandson likes swords very much and I don't know why he likes you to teach him. I know you are still recovering so I am sorry for that."

"Uncle Simon, it is fine. I actually enjoyed accompanying him. This kind of stuff is more like playing with him." Ethan said. 

"Yeah. Don't worry grandpa. Brother Ethan is awesome. This is nothing for him."

Uncle Simon rumpled his grandson's hair, "Alright. But that's enough for today. Let's go home and have breakfast." He spared another glance at Ethan. "Mr. Young Saunders, if you don't mind, I'd like to invite you to join us to eat in our humble house."

Ethan's lips drew a wide, polite smile. "Okay. No problem."

"Then let me help you."

"No need. No need. Uncle Simon, I can do this myself." Ethan smiled awkwardly. 

Uncle Simon wanted to lead his wheelchair to their house but of course, Ethan wouldn't allow it. Firstly, he was already old to bother him. Second, Ethan would feel guilty for deceiving them because he was actually no longer in a process of recovering. "Just lead us the way Uncle Simon."

"Oh, okay. Please." Uncle Simon stretched his hand towards the direction of his house. 

************

"How is the food Mr. Young Saunders?" Uncle Simon asked. There were only three of them having a feast on the two simple dishes served on the round table: fried fish and chicken soup with chili leaves. 

"It's delicious. Farm dishes are really more tasty than in the city." Ethan's eyes crinkled.

"It's good that you like it."

"Uncle Simon, I have a request. Hope you agree."

"What is it? Tell me, as long as your request is within my ability, I will definitely agree."

"Can you change the name you used to address me? Mr. Young Saunders sounds too pompous. I don't like it. Ethan is fine."

"Okay. Ethan. Hmmm you and your brother's name are so good to the ears." Uncle Simon reached out Jotun's head and helped him feed his mouth. "Jotun, eat more."

Ethan's heart twitched to see how the old man cared for his grandson. Then a memory of his childhood re-played in his mind in which his father and mother also helped him to feed himself, bath him, and dress him up. Every night, they would read bed night stories until he fell asleep. 

Ethan recoiled as fluffy fingers touched his cheek. 

"Brother Ethan, you're crying." Jotun said after he wiped Ethan's tears.

Ethan quickly wiped his cheek with his arm. "I am not. There was just something that entered in my eyes." He sniffed. 

"Then let me take a look." Jotun stood up on a bench again. 

"No need." Ethan assured him. He patted the kid's head. "It's already gone."

"Are you missing someone?" Uncle Simon stared at Ethan. "Given your expression earlier, I guessed you missed your parents. Am I right?" 

Ethan nodded with a sad face. 

"Head Village, I wonder why your house is lively today, so you have a handsome guest." Mang Castor's voice came in a sudden, standing right at the doorway. He was Uncle Simon's fake friend. 

"Yeah! How about you? You are wearing a new shirt today. That must be because your daughter studying in the city is coming home?" Uncle Simon answered. 

"You really know me. Yes. She is coming home today with her boyfriend who is not only handsome but also rich." Mang Castor said in a boastful tone while his eyes were on Ethan. 

Ethan understood the way he looked at him. Mang Castor was implying that Ethan was just handsome but penniless. 

Ethan couldn't help but smirk. Who said he is penniless?

"Oh I see. Then you must leave now. Don't let your future son-in-law wait for you."

"That's right." Mang Castor laughed and quickly left without excusing himself.

"Grandpa, why is Uncle Castor always acting weird?" Jotun frowned while following his sight to the leaving figure of the old man. 

"Ignore him." Uncle Simon waved his hand in the air. 

The three continued their happy breakfast. Sometimes, Jotun would bring food to Ethan's mouth and Ethan would eat it joyfully. They were in the middle of laughing when suddenly they heard a shriek of a little girl. 

"Mama! Papa! Help! Help!" The girl kept screaming. 

Ethan got alarmed. His ears could tell that the little girl was in danger. Thus, he immediately left the table, turned his wheelchair and went outside to look for the girl. Right as he came out, a little girl was running in fear. Ethan saw a black wolf chasing behind the girl. 

"Brother Ethan, help me." It was Nelly, Jotun's cousin.

"Nelly, don't stop running. Hurry, come over here." Jotun screamed. He jumped while waving his hands up to Nelly. "Grandpa, what to do?" 

"Yes. Yes. What to do? What to do?" The old man panicked too. He went back inside and brought a spear. 

Ethan was sweating in fear for the little girl. If he would keep worrying about what people may think of him if he stood right now, then, the girl might be eaten with the wolf. 

Because the girl often looked back while running, she accidentally tripped her leg and stumbled down. The girl glued, in trauma, she didn't move or even uttered a sound.

The wolf stopped, glaring and growling at her. Its sticky saliva was drooling all over its mouth. 

Soon after, the wolf positioned itself to hop on her. 

Ethan had no heart to just watch the little girl. He looked around to get something useful but found nothing. As the old man went inside the hut and brought out a spear as he came out again, Ethan thought to act. 

Without a word, Ethan spun the wheelchair in fast speed towards the old man and snatched the spear in his hand. Then, he stood up and kicked his feet in the wheelchair and jumped high and far. As he stepped on the ground again where he was now close to the child, he threw the spear at the jumping wolf and it stabbed directly in the wolf's chest.

Uncle Simon and Jotun were unmoved and speechless by what they witnessed. Not only Ethan was agile, his throwing or shooting skills were excellently perfect. One more thing was that, Ethan just suddenly recovered?

The wolf flew away and howled loudly in pain. It squirmed on the ground and strove hard to flee but Ethan didn't give him a chance. In a corner, there were pointed bamboo scattered around. Ethan took one and ran towards the wolf. As he was about a meter away from it, he hopped and pierced the bamboo once again on the wolf side.

The wolf, although badly injured, still tried to bite Ethan but Ethan had seen it and quickly avoided its attack. As Ethan got a chance, he jumped over the wolf to go on the other side and pulled the spear. Again, as the wolf turned with a weak movement, he pierced the spear even deeper to its chest and twisted the spear inside. 

The wolf squealed for the last time before it fell on the ground.

Ethan's shirt and arms were covered with blood. Luckily, there's nothing spilled on his face or else the secret of his identity would reveal.

Ethan got up the little girl while panting.

"Nelly, oh my God my daughter. I am so sorry. Mama is so careless. I didn't look after you well." Nelly's mom cried, kissing the little girl all over her head after taking her from Ethan's hand. 

The girl was crying badly too in the arms of her mother. 

"Mr. Saunders, thank you for saving my daughter. Thank you. Thank you." Nelly's mom bowed to Ethan quadruple times. 

Ethan smiled. "It's nothing. That is what I should do. Sis, bring your daughter to your house and let her rest. She must be terrified."

"Yes. Thank you again."

Almost everyone living in the village was already working at that time so no one witnessed much of the incident, something that Ethan was grateful for. Being famous in such a small society could only bring trouble. 

"Brother Ethan, you are awesome." Jotun who already recovered from shock gave him a thumbs up while jumping in joy. In his eyes, Ethan was like a superhero. "You are my big idol now."

"Huh?" Ethan laughed. 

"Ethan, thank you so much for saving my granddaughter." Uncle Simon bowed many times to Ethan while sobbing. 

Ethan immediately held him and stopped him from bowing. "Uncle Simon, don't be like this. I can't afford that kind of thanks. You should go visit Nelly. She needs comfort."

"Oh, right. I am going there right away." Uncle Simon turned and took a few steps but he halted and looked back. "Ethan, are you fine, right?

"I am very fine Uncle Simon. Don't mind me."

**************

Even though there's only Jotun, Uncle Simon, Nelly and her mother in the area, the news spread quickly from the mouth of Jotun. Those fond with Nelly went to Ethan's hut and thanked him and gave gifts to him. Ethan could only smile at them and received their gifts.

Ethan didn't need to pretend sick anymore. With a plate of different wild fruits on his side, he laid down on his back pillowing his arms while eating on the tree house near their hut. His one feet on his folded knee, forming a four position. 

The tree house has been there since they settled in the village and it was quite a good spot. It was like a post house which he could see from above the entire village. 

The houses of the village were all made of nipa and bamboo and it was all close to each other. There was a big pond going to the green forest. From not afar, behind the houses was a river. 

While wagging his foot, Ethan heard voices that happily chatted with random topics. The hut where Saunders brothers were settling in was near the mouth of the village so everyone who entered the village would pass at their hut first. 

Ethan peeked to those who just arrived. The group was led by Mang Castor who was endlessly reciting the good sites and good things about the village. Next to him was a slender tall girl in red dress with a beautiful face but Ethan didn't find it amusing. 

He smirked, "So this girl is the famous beauty of this village? Just so-so." Ethan mumbled. 

As Ethan's eyes continued to travel at the faces of those group of men who owned voices like a sweet singing nightingale, very pleasing to the ears, Ethan crawled up in haste as to what his eyes exposed to him. The owner of those enchanting voices was even behind from nothing because Ethan couldn't see a single part of the human face but rather a monster's head. 

Their head was bald and dark brown in color even the entire face. Their eyes stuck deep inside and it was big and red. Their ears were long and pointed like those ears of horses. Their neck has thick black lines like dried soil. Their mouth was big and its fangs were protruding from their lips. Lastly, the shaped of the head and nose was more like those in dogs. 

"What is going on? Why am I seeing weird scary things? Do my eyes have a problem?" Ethan rubbed his eyes to clear his vision but as he looked at them again, nothing changed. 

"What really is going on?"