"This bell has been infused with a week's worth of my aura. As long as you have it with you, you'll be in an environment of Divine Light - the Taint will not be able to come near."

Lars nodded, numbly at first, and then more vigorously, grateful for the Divine Beast's kindness.

"...And if needed, you can squeeze it hard to trigger the power within in a burst. For now, just rest - we'll go on with the Truthstone test in the evening."

"Now go on, shoo! Off with you! Ren, my trusted aide, will make sure you're well fed. He'll also fetch you in time for the test. I... Have something to attend to first."

With those parting words, Elder Mash'noth uncurled herself from Lars' lap then stretched and yawned once. Then she nodded to her aides and then nimbly bounded off his lap.

And before Lars could even react to her leaving his lap, within the blink of an eye, she was out the window and gone.

He looked up to the more senior aide sho introduced himself as Ren and followed to a guest room.

He looked around and found it simple but comfortable - a downy bed, a study table and a st.u.r.dy looking wooden clothes drawer.

After getting Lars settled down, Ren brought a set of clothes over from somewhere in the house and laid it down for Lars to change.

Before leaving, the studious looking man reminded him to ring the bell - located by the bedside on a wooden drawer - if he needed anything else.

Watching the door shut, Lars felt a rush of emotions wash over him. And yet, the fatigue of the past sleepless day and night, the fear of the unknown encounters, his now dressed wound and the comfort of the white cat Elder's golden aura and words of healing left him fighting back a yawn.

He struggled to the wash room, dunking himself in water like a zombie, before plonking himself down to bed.

In the end, he wasn't sure how, but he somehow managed to even change his clothes before conking out.

*****

"Elder Mash'noth! Lady Zera! With all due respect, how can you put our lives at risk like this!!?? There's no way we can endanger our lives and the lives of our whole community just for a, a, -" the speaker, a battle-scarred man who looked every part a seasoned warrior was so angry that he struggled to finish.

"--How can we waste your lives and risk our safety just for a reckless gamble!?! All because you "feel" something different and special about a boy!??"

Maester Albert's shoulders rose and fell as be took deep breaths, calming himself down. Then, realising that he had risen to his feet in his anger, he quickly composed himself and sat down.

Zera wrinkled her brows and resisted the urge to ma.s.sage her temples. When it came to governance, she'd had a headache ever since the day she took over her father's place as the chief of the homestead.

She spared a wistful thought, wis.h.i.+ng that her father were still around to lead and to be the bedrock on which the homestead functioned. But she shook her head gently.

'No point reminiscing or regretting at this time...'

She leaned back into her high-back chair and kept silent. She watched the others in the hall, who also kept silent, also unsure of how to proceed and casting glances at herself and Elder Mash'noth who were the proponents of accepting Lars - if he pa.s.sed the Truthstone test, that is.

Within this homestead, the largest and most important building was without a doubt the barracks.

And due to the hunter-gatherer and warrior way of the people, this building also served as the centre of government for the settlement.

It was within the council hall of the barracks that group of six were seated around a rectangular table - a table that was clearly designed for 9 and with 3 empty seats. 

The silver-haired Lady and chief of the homestead seated at the head of the table looked around with a frown to her companions seated together with her - though at this time, it seemed that they were more like combatants than colleagues.

Elder Mash'noth then gave a dignified mewl – perhaps, it was intended to be dignified, but it turned out more cute than anything, though the others kept that to themselves. She raised her head slightly and laid her two front feet on the long wooden table so that the others could see her more clearly.

"Yes… In all of our records, even in all of the records pa.s.sed down through the years of our forebears, there has never been a single case of anyone surviving an encounter with the darkness, that is true…" She paused, her words drawing affirmative nods from Maester Albert, Physician Yu, Sir Kenneth and Captain Xiloth. She sensed Lady Zera tensing up, clearly she wondered why her supporter for this proposal would suddenly agree with the main point of contention.

"…Yes. And that is the amazing, no, miraculous thing! This boy, this Lars boy, this outsider… He not only encountered the darkness without falling, he not only bears the Taint without being corrupted, but he even can accept Divine Light and repel the darkness!"

"Hmm…"

"That's… That's… But how can we be sure…?"

Reluctant agreement began to be heard from the other members of the council, to which Mash'noth continued.

"How can we be sure…?" The cat swept those present with a confident look bordering on smug. Then she dragged out the wait, meeting eyes with Lady Zera before answering.

"I gave him the Bell of the North Heaven."

"YOU WHAT?!""Elder!" Gasps ensued and various statements of shock arose, but Lady Zera, though equally shocked, rose to her feet and raised her hands to regain decorum.

"Everyone, EVERYONE! Calm down. Let us hear her out. I'm sure the Elder has thought things through and has a plan for handing the outsider our homestead's Inheritance Artefact…"

The others looked around and, after a moment, sat back down to wait for the explanation.

"Elder, please do continue." Lady Zera beckoned for her to proceed.

"Ahem. As you know, the Bell of the North Heaven is an Artefact of the Divine domain. No creature of the darkness or Tainted One can even bear to touch it, much less keep it on their person. And so, to prove my conjecture that this Lars may be… A special case… I gave it to the boy."

"And I'm please to share that he has kept it on his person, sleeping soundly for several hours with only glowing health and restored strength to show for it."

At this, Zera frowned. "Elder, but what if he chose to escape with our Artefact? Isn't this too risky? I'd better send my men to quickly retrieve it from him…" She started to raise her hand to summon her team, but was interrupted by Mash'noth.

"That won't be necessary. Saint Ren is with him to keep guard whether against an attack or him fleeing…"

"And if you think that someone can defeat Saint Ren…"

Mash'noth then settled herself back onto her seat and began to lick her paw before closing off her words.

"…I don't believe anyone can be that capable to hide their strength from under my nose!"

Zera's hand then returned to rest on the arm of her hardwood chair, clasping her hands together, fingers interlaced.

Seeing that no-one had anything to add, she spoke.

"In view of the precautions and checks Elder Mash'noth has done, and that Lars may very well be our first real chance of making ground against the Taint, I believe we should be willing to take this risk."

"As such, does anyone have any more objections? Or any more fears that this is a reckless gamble…?"

One by one, she met eyes with the others. Xiloth gave her a brief smile, while the rest sighed but slowly nodded in agreement.

Zera then nodded in return. "Let us then proceed with the Truthstone test."