The burly man seen in the forest, Ella called him Uncle Tie. When Uncle Tie saw Ella running over, he first frowned and shouted at her to go back, then spotted Duke trailing behind her. Hesitating for a moment, he picked up a sharpened wooden stick from by his feet and stuffed it into Duke's hands.
"Do you know how to use it?" he asked gruffly.
Duke weighed the stick in his hands, nodded.
"Hold on to it for protection and stay back. Your small frame won't be of much help." After thrusting the stick, Uncle Tie turned and headed towards the high wall, clearly not expecting the outsider Duke to be of any assistance.
The treeline of the field suddenly shook violently; several iron-gray ancient trees were forcibly parted by tremendous power, and a massive shadow charged out from the woods.
