Chapter 20- Oath Ceremony
9th March | Late Afternoon | Vantara Village
As Vector and others' eyes fell on the gate, a wide wooden gate greeted them. It stood about three meters tall and a meter thick, constructed from thick logs reinforced with iron nails and wooden spikes. Primitive, but it was enough to ward off beasts…and delay intruders.
Vantara Village was naturally fortified by its geography. Vantara was nestled deep within the eastern Naga Forest, protected by the terrain and surrounding forest vegetation. The Village had the east side surrounded by mountains, A clear forest stream flowed past the Northern edge of the village, and the other sides surrounded by deep forest vegetation. The river provides fresh water and an additional layer of defense. With only a few narrow paths leading in or out, Vantara was easy to defend and difficult to assault— a perfect location for a hidden stronghold.
The gate was guarded by two guards and they stood their vigilantly at their position and watched all the surroundings. Two Watchtowers had been built on both sides of the gates.
Vector and the others enter the gate with Chief Arthur and Village elder– the guards give salute to Chief Arthur and other elders accompanying them.
Vector's eyes drifted towards the people moving in the village– who were going with their daily life. Some of them were moving the beasts' carcasses while some were carrying wooden logs on their shoulders. The peaceful bustle of rural life filled the air. This is the scene people normally could imagine in a village.
Inside Vantara, as the villagers moved about with a quiet rhythm, but after seeing Vector and others entering with Chief Arthur and Elders their eyes cast curiosity. The villagers began whispering who are these people that the Elders of the Village were personally accompanying.
One of the Villagers whispered, "Who are these people and why is Chief Arthur escorting them?"
Others said, "Don't know. Just now Chief Arthur spoke with a scout, then suddenly he gathered and summoned the elders hastily.After that, all of them went to the Southern gate."
"Maybe they're old friends of the chief," someone else suggested. "He did travel a lot when he was younger. As most people in the group accompanying the Chief are around his age."
Speculations continued to ripple through the crowd. Who is the group accompanying the elders? But what they didn't know is that in the group one of the people, Vector, is soon going to be their Future Leader. He will lead them to see the world they hadn't seen and show technology that will change their Lifestyle completely… they will live in the information era… and eventually, to the galactic era.
The Villagers watched that the Village Chief and Elders were leading the group towards the Village Altar. At the heart of the village stood a Stone Altar, encircled by open space, clearly a gathering place. As the group reached near the Altar, The group halted before it, and Chief Arthur turned to Vector with deep respect.
"Lord Vector," he said, bowing slightly, "Please come with me to the altar. We are going to hold a village gathering and inform them about you and your role in protecting us from the invaders."
Vector on hearing the Address of him as LORD, felt somewhat uncomfortable and said respectfully, "Chief Arthur please don't call me Lord. You can call me simply Vector or Young Master– It's what I've grown up hearing. It feels familiar… and friendly. And please don't bow. You're like an elder in my family."
Chief Arthur, touched by the gesture, smiled warmly, "Very well, Young Master."
With a nod to Sebastian and Marcus, Vector began ascending the steps of the altar. Sebastian, Marcus, Tristan, and Rhea stood at the back, while Vector and Chief Arthur took position at the front— commanding and solemn, casting a powerful presence over the gathering space. An oppressive aura spread over the Villagers below standing.
The village chief, Arthur Vanyar, turned to his guests and offered a short nod before sending guards to call the villagers for assembly.
Chief Arthur said to the guards standing below, "Gather all the villagers here in the gathering place. Announce that an emergency meeting is being held. Tell them it concerns the very survival of our village."
The guards saluted and dispersed to inform all the villagers to join the gathering. Within 15 minutes, the entire village had assembled, elders, farmers, hunters, women, and children, all murmuring in confusion.
One of them said, "Why has the chief called us out so suddenly?"
"Why has the chief summoned us so suddenly?"
"Who are those strangers by the altar?"
"One of them is standing with the chief…"
"I heard this is about the existence of the village."
"They must be someone important. The elders went to meet them personally."
These discussions began to happen as the villagers gathered in the gathering area, near Altar. They all began to speculate if there was going to war or if someone important came so that the Village chief could introduce us. But these discussions suddenly stopped– The villagers fell silent as Chief Arthur stepped forward. He raised a hand and spoke with solemn urgency.
His voice, heavy with urgency, echoed across the space as he addressed the crowd standing below the Altar, "All of you must be wondering about this sudden emergency gathering. Why have I called you here?... and who are these respected and unknown guests? Today I have gathered all of you to announce a very important news that weighs heavily on our future existence here in Vantara."
Arthur paused as he gave a solemn and intense gaze to the crowd and said the most important news with a heavy voice, "The Lionheart Empire is planning an attack on Vantara. Their elite army will attack our land in 6 weeks, and they aim to seize our land to use it as a fortress to build their stronghold here– a staging ground to invade Ironfang hill City from the rear."
Arthut took a brief pause as he continued his explanation, "They want to completely destroy the resistance's willpower by capturing the Ironfang Hill city and attack deeper into Redfield to occupy it."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Fear and anger can be heard in their murmurs.
"What Lionheart is now going to attack us?"
"And use our village as a stronghold to attack Ironfang Hill City."
"This will completely shatter the Morale of the resistance and hope of the Novastra Empire to be free and independent from these monsters."
One of them said loudly, "Village chief, Is the information obtained correct?"
Arthur raised his hand to stop the murmur and clear their doubts, his voice steady "Yes, It is true. But we are not without hope. The person standing with me has extended their protection to us."
He gestured toward Vector, who stood calmly in front of his three commanders. "We will stand under their banner– our village has joined his family to resist the attack. We are going to defend our land and his family will help us in it. They are going to resist the attack for us and drive and chase the Lionheart soldiers. Lionheart is going to bleed this time."
He continued, "This young man, Vector Astrum is the heir of the Astrum family, will stand with us. Together, we will resist this invasion. I know most of you have never heard of this name."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
Villagers began murmuring–
"The Astrum Family?"
"I have never heard of them…"
"Can they really protect us?"
Arthur raised both hands for silence and then slowly turned back toward Vector.
Arthur said looking in the Villager's eyes, voice growing stronger, "You have always believed in me and supported all my decisions. So believe me this time too that the enemy this time will bleed heavily and this all will be possible due to the Astrum Family."
He continued, "But we have to show the Astrum Family that once we commit something we will never betray."
With more emphasis he said, "We will be fully loyal to the persons who helped us in our hard times."
Then, before the entire village, he drew a ceremonial dagger from his side and made a shallow cut across his palm, crimson dripping onto the altar stones.
"I, Arthur Vanyar," he declared, "swear on my blood and my ancestors, that I and the people of Vantara shall stand with the Astrum Family. We shall be loyal in peace and in war. We will never betray you and will face the highs and lows of your path as our own."
The wind stirred in the silence that followed, the oath hanging heavy in the air.
This was no ordinary day in Vantara. It was the beginning of a bond that would echo through history.
[To be continued…]