Chapter 23: Oath of the Windborne
Altan's face lit up with gratitude, and he continued without delay. "Very well, let me begin. Before Saint Lux arrived, Windoria was divided into individualist tribes. Each tribe operated independently, refusing to meddle in another's affairs—even when goblin raids occurred."
"At the time, goblins were the hunters, their overwhelming numbers decimating any tribe they targeted. Other tribes either fled to safer grounds or stood idly by, thinking only of their own survival."
"Not only were they weaker in strength, but they also lacked fighting techniques and strategies necessary for defense." He paused briefly, his gaze distant as though reliving the past.
"The chiefs of these tribes tried countless times to unite through dialogue, but their efforts always failed. Then, one day, Saint Lux appeared. He wandered freely across the land, unbound by loyalty or obligation."
"Whenever a tribe faced a goblin attack within his vicinity, he intervened—but only alongside the angel, Sylphine, who occasionally joined him in battle. He never sought recognition or reward; once the fight ended, he vanished as swiftly as he had come."
Altan's voice grew animated as he recounted how such acts sparked curiosity among the tribal leaders. "This pattern led to a historic meeting where, for the first time, all the tribes agreed to unite under one condition: Saint Lux must become their leader."
"However, little did they know, their proposal would be rejected outright. Confused and shocked, they couldn't comprehend why anyone would refuse such an advantageous offer. But the leaders refused to give up. Believing that following Saint Lux guaranteed their safety, one tribe began trailing him wherever he went—a practice soon adopted by others."
Altan chuckled lightly, imagining the scene. "Annoyed by this development, Saint Lux summoned the leaders and demanded, 'What do you really want? Don't assume goblins are the only thing I can slay.' Terrified by his power, the leaders hesitated, but one wise and brave chief stepped forward. 'We are human too,' he admitted, 'but we lack the strength and wisdom to survive. That's why we seek your guidance—to be our leader, guardian, and symbol of unity.'"
Saint Lux scoffed dismissively. "That's not my problem if you're weak. Besides, I dislike leadership—it's too much work, too many people, and far too bothersome. Life is freedom: sleeping under the stars, running with the wind, and having fun massacring wild beasts'"—here, Altan grinned mischievously, mimicking Saint Lux's confident laugh—"'like those pesky goblins!'"
The gathered crowd laughed along with him, captivated by the tale. Altan continued, "Surprisingly, the same leader interjected again. 'What if you could continue doing all that while helping us?' Everyone—including Saint Lux—stared at him curiously."
"The leader explained, 'You would become our supreme leader, but instead of governing directly, you could appoint others to handle the tedious tasks. For starters, though, you could teach us fighting techniques—or even magic—so we can defend ourselves without relying solely on you.'"