There was no voice from Grandma nor Maron. None of them was in sight. He stayed in that spot and decided not to utter a word. Wordlessness had its own consequence. It could work to the advantage of the intruder. A shadow ran across the window from the outside. Off, he fled out to catch up.
In the same open field he had just left and on his former seat, there was a figure sitting confidently. Backing him, Akib approached.
"Who are you? You won't hurt my grandma."
Akib held tightly to the staff. He pushed it forward, possibly as a weapon to fight.
Grandma was pleased to hear the manner of his address. Akib had called her affectionately. He was ready to take up a defense for her.
"Are you certain you can use that?" she used an amplified version of her voice.
Swiftly, she charged at him, with her hands appearing and disappearing. The hands displayed more than one, as if they were ten. Focusing was very difficult. He held the magic staff, scouting aimlessly to stop her. But she was fast enough to make him beat the air. Grandma Betty's hand reached his cheek, giving him a tap.
"Tap-tap."
After the taps, Grandma Betty retrieved her step and she was back to where she had advanced from. She was so well-coordinated that both her arrival and retraction didn't expose her. Akib launched the staff forward to hit, but she had created enough space between them. So he missed her—but then he heard the sound.
"Cra-ck!"
He had broken the magic staff of Bren. He checked on it.
"How?" he said, regretting.
Grandma Betty came out of hiding.
"Oh, it's you?" Akib said.
"Yeah, it's me," Grandma's look was worrisome.
"Come here," the two sat under the moon.
"I'm sorry for the staff, but it's not your own anyway. I need to tell you something important," Grandma Betty said.
Unhappy about Grandma's comment about the staff, he was displeased. He furrowed his face. But what she said next changed his attention from the broken staff.
"I think I know the killer of your parents," she said without looking back.
Akib ran after her.
"What did you just say?" he asked to be sure he heard her right.
"You heard what I said," Grandma Betty taunted.
"How?" Akib asked.
"It's Lord Rukus!" she finally let the cat out of the bag.
Akib didn't know anyone by that name. He was caught between anger and a desire to know him.
"I am an elder and you see my work. I know him like the palms of my hand. He killed them with his palm, didn't he?" she asked.
Akib didn't see the hand of Rukus, so he didn't know how they died. What he saw was a man clothed in lightning.
"Remember, boy," Grandma Betty knocked his head. "Didn't you see the mark of palms printed on your mother's chest?" she was furious.
"Yes, you're right, Grandma. Yes, both of my parents had the palm of a man printed with burns."
"I told you I know him," Grandma repeated.
Tears flowed down his eyes. His face still had a rigid appearance.
"Where can I find him?" he asked.
"You can't find him now, but you would meet him later," she calmed him.
"No, don't touch me. Show me the way to Rukus' house," Akib walked away from her side to face her.
"I have shown my loyalty to you. It's your turn to return the same," Akib stated.
"You showed me your love when you defended my home, but that's not loyalty. I still need to find that from you," she retorted.
"You can't face him now. Even in the future, I have uncertainty. You should focus on training," she added.
"You support evil, don't you?" Akib questioned.
She looked at him with a serious gesture.
"You know one thing, Akib. Lord Rukus is the lord who champions fire and light. He can manipulate one for the other. I've not heard he fought anyone before," she was explaining this but Akib cut her short.
"He fought my parents," he said.
"He killed them, he didn't fight. Anytime he showed up to kill, there's no hindrance that can stop him."
This last sentence made Akib wonder the kind of person she must be talking about.
"Is he a god?" he asked.
"You just got what I'm saying!" Grandma Betty said. The look on her face was that of someone scared to death.
There was no reason to argue any longer. As soon as the conversation ended, he asked for where to lay his head. Betty showed him a large room with a large bed. The bed was enough for a member of a nuclear family. The room had simple furniture. There was a stool, a chair, and a table. Like in the living place, there was a mirror here also. This was not by the window but placed beside the bed.
He jumped on the bed as soon as he entered and in a few seconds, he was fast asleep. The staff which he had collected from Bren was by his side on the floor. The stick was useless according to Betty, but he still held it until he entered his bedroom.
Grandma opened his door gently to see what was happening. Surprised, he had slept off. She was pleased that he had quit worrying.
Akib had the understanding about the gods from the stories. The stories of gods of the sun, the moon, and the firmament were not ones he could confront. He knew how dangerous they were, and it's only a god that can face their likes. Nonetheless, that didn't mean he had let off the culprit. He still felt bitterness within and one day when the opportunity presented itself, he would fight.
Not long after he slept, bright light beamed around him. Gradually, the light glowed and filled the house. There was a man with his instruments of war, his bow and arrow held firmly in his hands. He walked to and fro as if he was worried. Though he was asleep, he was in a dream. He was seeing the man as he strolled about. The warrior approached the staff and took it to examine the two pieces.
"Hey, that belongs to me," he sleep-talked.