Book 4-4.2
“Tuma Takaka-nim.”
“Oh, Glow, you are here.”
Tuma Takaka was lying down but used a lot of effort to stand up when Yulian arrived.
“Please remain lying down, Tuma Takaka-nim.”
Yulian quickly ran over and helped Tuma Takaka lie back down. Tuma Takaka had aged significantly in the past few years.
He was pretty active even when he was past his seventies, the the flow of time would not leave this great shaman alone forever. It almost instantly made him an old man fitting his age.
“I’m sorry, Glow. This old body of mine will not listen to me anymore.”
“Don’t say that. Once my father passed away, the three of us brothers relied on you for everything. How could you say something so weak like that, Tuma Takaka-nim?”
“Kekeke. Old warriors, mm, I lived as a shaman, but I lived with the heart of a warrior.”
“I know. Tuma Takaka-nim truly was a warrior among warriors.”
Tuma Takaka smiled at Yulian’s words and started to speak.
“I at least did not fear war. I may look like a gentle pacifist, but I protect what I need to protect and take what I need to take. That is the nature of the people of the desert.”
Tuma Takaka’s voice went up as he seemed to be slightly excited after seeing Yulian for the first time in a while.
“You are right. That is how the people of the desert are.”
Yulian agreed with Tuma Takaka and raised his spirit.
“But I’m sure the busy Glow has a reason for coming to see me?”
“Haha. Seeing you put it that way makes me feel guilty. I should have visited Tuma Takaka-nim more frequently.”
Tuma Takaka lightly smiled as he answered.
“Glow, that is not what I meant. Please do not take this old man’s words to heart. Please speak. If it is something this Tuma Takaka knows about, I will gladly help.”
“To be honest with you, I came to ask about the Shire Tribe.”
Tuma Takaka had a slightly surprised expression as he asked.
“Who did you hear it from?”
“Captain Thriger said he has been helped by them a couple of times. I heard that everybody in the tribe is a shaman.”
Tuma Takaka contemplated for a bit at Yulian’s words before answering.
“It is my hometown. I am also originally from the Shire Tribe.”
“Tuma Takaka-nim was from there?”
“Yes. But I left my hometown after meeting the former former Glow Orisen-nim. Now that I think about it, I haven’t thought about them for a long time.”
Yulian, who had been gazing at Tuma Takaka’s wet eyes, started to speak.
“Would it be difficult for them to become part of our Pareia?”
“Mm.”
Tuma Takaka let out a moan at Yulian’s question. It would not be easy.
The Shire Tribe were sensitive about freedom more than anybody else. That was why they were the only desert tribe to not make any distinctions such as Glow or Greatest Warrior. They were each the Shire and valued their freedom.”
“It will not be easy.”
“That is why I came to visit Tuma Takaka-nim like this.”
Tuma Takaka let out another moan at Yulian’s answer.
“Mm. It’s possible if they choose Pareia on their own, however, there will be terrible things coming our way if we try to force them to become a part of us. The only advice I can give you is to throw away any thoughts about using force. They are very sensitive to freedom.”
“Hmm…….”
This time, it was Yulian’s turn to moan. He knew it would not be easy when he heard there were 1,000 shamans. However, seeing his trusted Tuma Takaka turn pale like this was beyond his expectation. He thought that Tuma Takaka and his wealth of knowledge would be able to come up with a method.
“They must be very amazing for even Tuma Takaka-nim to be worried.”
“It would not be difficult for you to use force to force them to join us. However, terrible things will continue to happen to the tribe afterwards. Their incantations are so strong that even if all of our Pareia’s shamans worked together, we would not be able to block all of them.”
“Is there no other method? Runa seems to want to use that as a base to fight against the Western desert.”
“Anywhere else is fine but please do not make that the base. It will be difficult to even do any construction there.”
“Why is that?”
“The place the Shire Tribe resides at is an old desert sanctuary. All of the older Glows knew about that fact, however, it has become forgotten as time passed by.”
“A sanctuary?”
As Yulian was shocked about this news and responded in shock, Tuma Takaka lightly bowed his head.
“I’m sorry I could not tell you, Glow. Only those who are fated to know are to be told about it and share the burden. In my opinion, it is better for the Glow to not know about it.”
“Mm, is that the only reason?”
Tuma Takaka shook his head.
“The people of the Shire will not like it. It will be very difficult until they choose to follow you on their own. If I am right, there should be a minimum of three people in the Shire that are around my level.”
“Similar to Tuma Takaka-nim?”
Yulian was very shocked. Tuma Takaka was probably one of the greatest Grand Shamans not just in Pareia, but in the entire desert. Even amongst them he was in first place by an overwhelming amount. But the Shire has at least three people at Tuma Takaka’s level? He couldn’t help but be shocked.
“A minimum of three. That was why even Yulian-nim’s grandfather Orisen-nim really wanted them to join Pareia as well but gave up in the end.”
“So that’s the case. Then when did Tuma Takaka-nim come to Pareia?”
Tuma Takaka answered.
“To be honest with you, I had been getting tired of the simple life of the Shire. It was then that I met Orisen-nim. He was an amazing person. I was still a young kid at the time and chose to follow him to Pareia.”
Tuma Takaka’s eyes glazed over a bit as if he was thinking about the past.
Yulian did not interrupt him and just quietly waited. Tuma Takaka finally started to smile after a long time and started to speak.
“Oh my, this old man wasted the Glow’s precious time.”
“That is not the case. I am happy to learn about things I didn’t know about before. Tuma Takaka-nim, is there really no way at all?”
Tuma Takaka thought about it once more. After thinking about it, he suddenly thought of something.
“Glow, there is a legend that is passed down in the Shire Tribe. It is the legend of the savior who will gathered everyone’s will together and give freedom to all people.”
“The legend of a savior?”
“Yes. It is a prophecy that has been passed down from ancient times. Now that I think about it, I feel like the savior in the legend is very similar to Yulian-nim. If the Glow can prove to them that you are the savior, they will choose to follow Yulian-nim on their own.”
Yulian felt himself becoming interested and asked.
“How would I prove that I am the savior?”
“That is what was written in the prophecy; there were no details about it.”
“Then how would they recognize the savior?”
“The intuition of the shamans. I presume that is what it would be. I trust that there will be a test, however, since the elders of the Shire are wise, I trust that they will recognize Yulian-nim as the savior.”
Yulian started to smile at Tuma Takaka’s words and asked.
“Am I really someone fitting of an important title like savior?”
“The prophecy discussed information related to the desert. Right now, is there anybody else in the desert who would fit that title more than Yulian-nim? Time, luck, and people. I don’t think there will be any other time like this in the future. Furthermore, Yulian-nim is the one who broke the balance of power that had been commanding over the desert for many years.”
“Mm.”
“If Yulian-nim chooses to go, I will go with you.”
“Tuma Takaka-nim will? No. Even if we take the ship, it will be a far distance.”
As Yulian opposed, Tuma Takaka put on a comfortable smile as he answered.
“I do not know when I will die. I hope that I can serve Pareia and Yulian-nim even a little bit with this trip.”
“Please do not say things like that. Words are sacred. That is what you told me, Tuma Takaka-nim.”
“Keke, I am just thankful at the Glow’s interest in my health. However, if the Glow is going, I must go with you. They are a very reserved tribe so it may be difficult to even run into them.”
“Hmm, since you say they will be a large benefit to our tribe, I do believe I will need to go. With the unification of the Eastern desert not too far away, I feel like we would gain a lot if they choose to join us.”
“Then we must go. Even if it is right now, we must go. Cough cough.”
Tuma Takaka was coughing after being excited for the first time in a long time. Yulian became worried and patted Tuma Takaka’s chest as he started to speak.
“Please do not overdo it, Tuma Takaka-nim. I will go to the Shire alone.”
“Glow, I need to go.”
Seeing Pareia’s Grand Shaman and old warrior speaking so sternly, Yulian stared at him for a while before nodding his head.
“You must not push yourself too hard.”
Once Yulian gave his approval, Tuma Takaka started to smile. This may perhaps be the last thing he does for Pareia in his life.
“You must not deploy warriors. Some warriors to protect you are fine, but we must make sure not to take many warriors. We need to make sure they do not think we are there to invade. Orisen-nim went with only 100 warriors when he went.”
“Do not worry. I plan on only taking the Red Storm with me.”
“When are you planning on heading over?”
“I will first discuss it with Runa and Grace as well as a couple of the oasis chiefs. However, I plan on leaving within the next month.”
“Then I will expect us to leave in half a month. I will slowly start to prepare as well.”
“I will say it once more. Please make sure not to push yourself too hard.”
“Keke. Do not worry, Glow. This Tuma Takaka, I am still not dead yet.”
Yulian shook his head.
“You never change.”