I was standing at the heart of the pointless conflict that Dumah had brought to these lands. I had decided after seeing it all, I would do something about it, to prevent any more damage being done.

I built up more of Larana’s energy, feeling it ready to break free at any second. It was then I allowed it to explode, sending out huge waves of wind, like an uncontrollable storm. The released shockwaves from releasing Larana’s power held purpose as it flowed through Brendan like a gentle breeze and the same went for those who belonged to the tribe which Dumah had set his sights upon.

The same could not have been said for those who aligned themselves with Dumah, as they were sent flying, back towards their camp, stopping the pointless fighting Dumah had set into motion.

I stood their panting as the storm spread out, creating what looked like a barrier of pure wind around the village. I glanced over to the edge towards Dumah where he stood glaring at it, extremely annoyed.

“What is this?!” he shouted.

“It would seem their warning about their grand protector was true,” commented one of the knights.

“Not possible,” snarled Dumah.

“How the heck did you put up the barrier?” asked Brendan.

“Don’t know, happy accident,” I grinned. “But I fear it may only be temporary. So, once it disappears the fighting will just continue.” I looked around, spotting many of the tribe’s member glancing at one another puzzled at what had just happened.

“Let’s return to the village and consult the elder,” said one, and that is what they did.

Brendan and I followed behind, perhaps we could find out more of what was happening here, and if this grand protector I heard the knights talking about was real, if it were, it could be the answer to the conflict here.

Staying low within the bushes and trees, we stalked the tribe members back to the village. It was quite a big village with more Feles and other Animalia than the place could handle, perhaps survivors from other villages attacked by Dumah.

On entering the village, ducking out of sight between the little huts they called home, trying to avoid being seen at all costs, if anyone found out what I was doing here, especially the knights, there would be a chance Brendan and I would be labelled traitors, and banished from Cathopia, or even worse, sentenced to death by Dumah.

The village was filled with cobbled paths, wooden huts with strew roofs, simple compared to those built within Cathopia. I noticed some were burnt out and abandoned most probably caused by the first attacks.

The whole village was quite active, meeting at the heart, where most of them were already, all gathered around a single individual.

Reaching the heart of the village, we caught a glimpse of the village elder a Jubatus on his knees, looking up at the skies as he cried out for their grand protector.

“At last grand protector you have heard my cries for your assistance.” He was acting as if this grand protector was some sort of god, but there were no such things as gods was there. “Show them your true power, so they will no longer bring suffering to our village and those who seek our protection.”

“Are you going to tell them it was you, rather than this grand protector?” asked Brendan. “Because you can’t stay here forever protecting them, when you have someone else to protect.”

“I know that,” I snapped.

“I remember this village, master,” mentioned Larana appearing on my shoulder.

I glanced at her. “Well then, Larana.”

“You remember how the village of the Panthera Pardus has that tree that protects their little village from the spreading darkness, which seeks to consume this world.” I nodded as she began. “This is another village protected by such power, but it was in the form of a talisman, which was passed down from warrior to warrior, but I cannot sense his presence amongst the Animalia he swore to protect.”

“What are you saying Larana?” asked Brendan.

“It’s obvious Brendan.” I looked at him. “What happened to the grand protector, that he no longer protects this village?”

“Are you telling me we are now going to find out what happened to this grand protector.” Brendan wanted me to verify. I nodded grinning. “You do make a lot of work for yourself.” He shook his head. “So, where do we start?”

“Well obviously he is still within the village, why else would they be worshipping him like he is some kind of god,” I answered thinking about it. I scanned the area, hoping to spot more clues. “It would be somewhere sacred, away from danger.”

“Like everything else, this place is surrounded by woodlands, but Dumah only attacks from that direction,” said Brendan also trying to help, and I thought he didn’t want to be here.

“Dumah knows about the grand protector and wants to avoid coming into contact with it, so…” I wanted Brendan to finish, but he just glared at me. “It must be in the opposite direction.”

“Let’s get a move on then,” said Brendan.

“Remember careful, we don’t want to be seen,” I mentioned, letting out a long sigh, worried we might be spotted.

“Stop worrying and focus on what we are here to do,” snapped Brendan.

“Master, the grand protector is a powerful talisman spirit, be cautious when approaching him,” warned Larana.

“Alright,” I nodded.

I led the way as we continued to duck between the huts. More of the Animalia living in the village were gathering at the heart, to prey and chant to the grand protector for protecting them, having no clue that it had actually been me who had somehow protected them; I would have to question Larana later on the matter, on how I had created the barrier, mastering it would be helpful in the future.

Heading for the edge of the village, further away from where Dumah had set up camp, the huts were becoming further apart and there were barns, this was obviously in the direction of where the village had their farmland.

We finally reached a little shrine, right at the back. I felt this strange sadness, thinking about the poor talisman spirit, one who could only use their power by channelling it through someone else’s; the spirit must have be so lonely.

As we approached closer to the shrine, we heard an angry groan. I held my hand out stopping Brendan, staring at the shrine.

“What’s wrong?” asked Brendan peering over my shoulder.

I gulped as I saw a thick mist of dark energy, circling around the shrine. It was coming from a long sword, which sat within a pedestal at the heart of the rock built shrine.

“It is surrounded by darkness,” I answered. “Someone has corrupted this spirit.”

“Corrupted, how?” questioned Brendan.

“Usually, a talisman spirit does not choose the side but merely their master,” informed Larana. “As I’ve explained before, the ways we connect with a master is different, some methods make it harder to find a new master, some never find another and fall into silence.”

“What does that have to do with the corruption?” I quickly asked, hearing the groaning sound again, it sent shivers down my spine, feeling me with an overwhelming instinct to run.

“Talismans are like Animalia, we feel just as you do, happiness, fear, sadness, loneliness,” added Larana. “Negative emotions allow darkness in.”

“Dumah,” I snarled. He was the one corrupting Cathopia, so it was obvious he somehow corrupted this poor spirit too, feeding on his loneliness of having no master, but why had this talisman not found his next master?

I felt angry at the Animalia who had just left the spirit here, as if it were some sort of trinket, but then I felt anger towards Dumah for causing this corruption. I quickly took a sharp breath in, calming the flaming anger growing within me, if I let it take control then I could not somehow help the spirit and the village.

Plus, there was nothing I could do against Dumah at the moment, he was still too powerful for me to take out, he was the cause of all these problems, one day I would extinguish his darkness.

“You’re not still going to try and communicate with it are you?” asked Brendan.

“I am,” I nodded.

“This is crazy,” said Brenden nervously.

“Anything else Larana?” I asked.

“Nothing that’ll help,” she replied.

“Alright then.” I stepped a little closer, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This was going to be dangerous, if I made the wrong move with this spirit, who knows what might happen, but I was hoping without a master the talisman spirit would be too weak to do anything against me.

“Who dares come here?” An angry voice hissed, filled with malice.