The warrior didn't regard his words. He linked the two halves. Light traveled from his hand to the staff, then from one side to the other. This continued for some seconds before they merged and became one, like it had been.
"You see," the man said. When he spoke, it seemed more than one person was talking.
Akib struggled to wake up.
The strange man, having seen his effort, started to leave through the wall. Before he finally faded away, Akib got up and ran after him.
"Wait, can I have a word...," Akib requested.
At close range, he allowed him to see his face, and then he dissolved.
"I haven't seen that face before," he was awestruck.
Akib was supposed to be afraid, but he wasn't. He felt the man had come to show him something.
"Like I have seen him before," he went into deep thought.
He was torn between what to believe—a dream or reality. His hand rubbed on the wall, and that was more of evidence that he had witnessed something physical but out of the ordinary.
Grandma Betty was at the door and was knocking. Her knock was hasty in intervals. Seemed she had an urgent message to pass across.
"What's going on, Akib?" she said immediately the door opened. Her eyes roamed about to see what was wrong.
"I think a man came in," he replied.
"A man in this place?" Her words came with surprise and shock.
"Yes ma'am. But he had gone." He pointed to the wall the man vanished through.
"It seems you have more enemies than I thought," Betty said.
Her eyes went to the direction of the staff. She was astounded to see it as a whole. She couldn't say any word, but her gaze was fixed on it. Akib then followed her look to see what she was looking at. He rushed at it and grabbed it.
"Great!" he was joyous. "Look, he must have done this."
In the morning, Akib spent some time in bed. Betty came to see him three times already. While he slept, she resolved to make some meals for the three—Akib, Hyena, and herself.
The table was set when Akib woke.
"You really know how to wake up?" Grandma Betty teased.
"I overslept," he gave an excuse.
This time, he had freshened up. He had on one of the clothings from Raph. When he sat to eat, the cutleries were old-fashioned, and he could boldly say he was the only latest creation there because Grandma was also old-fashioned.
"What do you think of that man?" she asked.
Akib's hand took a spoonful of cereals and led it into his mouth, swallowing. He took another, but he stopped the food midway. He heard what Betty said, but he didn't want to give an answer that would cause tension. Since he entered the dining place, he had noticed her restlessness. She had not taken even one spoon of her meal but had watched him penetratively. She was visibly troubled.
"Grandma, honestly, I don't know what to think. You shouldn't worry yourself," Akib said.
"I am worried, boy. That light of yesterday, I saw it. That's why I was in your room."
After breakfast, Akib decided to give her a helping hand by splitting some tree trunks. He discovered an axe nearby, which he took at once. Removing his shirt was a necessity here, so he pulled it off to reveal his body.
Akib had flat chest without any trace of hair. Both his hands and legs were long. Those gave reason for his height, which gave him some advantages. Like when Bren and his boys wanted to catch him, they found it difficult to catch up. With his slender body, he could still perform some wonders with the axe.
As soon as he unleashed the metal axe on the log, it was divided at once. His hands and his legs should be considered for something great.
After splitting, he put the woods orderly beside the kitchen. While arranging the woods, he observed the inside. Everything there was in disorder. She could only go in there by finding ways for her feet. He couldn't understand why she didn't use her powers to make her kitchen normal.
He heard footsteps from the outside, so he had to leave. On coming out, he met Grandma Betty and his hyena partner.
"Em...," he gave an excuse.
"Akib, my partner will go with you. Its name's Maron," Grandma said, discarding his excuse.
"Maron?" Akib said, with exclamation in his voice.
"Yes, she will be of immense assistance. What do you think?" she asked.
Akib, short of what to reply, chuckled.
"Em...," he said.
He looked at Grandma. The look on her face suggested warning. This woman wouldn't take no for an answer. So, he danced to her music.
"Okay, okay Grandma. Thank you. But, I..." Akib wanted to ask a question.
Obviously, she knew what he was going to say. He was going to ask about how both of them could relate. When he came to Grandma, it was Maron that gave him the fight of his life. At that time, Maron was defending her master, but offering her as a friend could be jeopardizing. This was one of the matters she had to give explanation about.
"Maron is not what you think. And for this journey of yours, she would be helpful. I'll teach you how the two of you can connect," Grandma said with a nod.
"Thank you," Akib said again.
Akib stole a look at Maron, but at that time, she was looking in his direction. Both of them had their eyes interlocked. There was a difference in this look from the usual animalistic sight. Human reasoning transpired through the look. She nodded her head as if she was affirming what her mistress said. He turned away toward the other side.
The connection lesson was very important. He was ready to learn everything about it before nightfall. He was determined he wouldn't be spending another day with Grandma and her Maron.
This plan had not been said to Grandma, but he knew he had to wrestle things out, else this woman's mixed feelings would not let him off.