What is it, Thorwald?" Eric asked, irritation sharpening his voice.
The brute had barged in claiming he needed four thousand n to eliminate so supposed “threat” from his tutorial. Eric, of course, wasn’t interested in such nonsense. Whatever danger Thorwald had faced in that tutorial couldn’t possibly threaten him. Only a Chosen had the power to do that. His priority was elsewhere. Building this base into an unbreakable fortress, layered with enough defensive asures to shrug off any attack. Managing fifty thousand people was already a monuntal task, but with the builders, the supplies, and the counsel of his patron, it was achievable, though ti-consuming.
The coming system event was just five days away, a brief reprieve since most factions would spend that ti preparing rather than launching reckless assaults. So far, Eric had only dealt with incursions, most of which he had closed effortlessly. The only real challenge had been an A-grade faction, disciplined and well-trained. Even then, Eric had never been in real danger, though he had been forced to exert himself. He preferred to keep his strength in reserve, to avoid wasting n unnecessarily. Now, instead of focusing on the event, Thorwald had returned with only one survivor at his side, Joe.
"We never even made it halfway to the base I told you about," Thorwald said, bowing deeply. His broad fra trembled as though the weight of failure bent him further. "One of their hunting parties ambushed us. They slaughtered everyone but and Joe. We barely survived."
Eric didn’t usually care if people bowed to him, but he disliked Thorwald enough that the sight gave him a flicker of satisfaction.
"Didn’t I tell you not to antagonize them?" Eric’s voice hardened, his words cold as tempered steel. He was young, but far from naïve. Thorwald wanted to use him as a weapon against another camp, that much was obvious. Eric had already consulted his patron about Thorwald’s past tutorial. The god had dismissed the faction there as insignificant, too weak to be worth Solarian’s notice. That alone ant they could potentially be allies, not enemies.
"We didn’t! They ambushed us on the way," Joe interjected quickly, his tone honest, his eyes steady.
Eric trusted Joe far more than Thorwald. The scout’s words carried weight. And if it was true, then this was troubling indeed. Humanity turning on itself in this fragile new world could not be tolerated.
"Do you still have the tracker?" Eric asked, rising from his ditation mat.
"Of course, sir. We only need a few thousand n and my Raha. Then we’ll show them the price of killing our subjects," Thorwald said eagerly, completely misjudging Eric’s intent.
"First of all, they are not your Raha," Eric corrected, his voice low but cutting. "They have sworn themselves to Solarian. They are free to act as long as they honor him." A ripple of his aura leaked out as he stepped closer, heavy enough to press against Thorwald’s chest.
Thorwald’s bravado faltered. "You can’t possibly go alone. Thalion... their leader... he’s a monster in the flesh. He nearly killed once. It’s too dangerous."
"Then that will be my problem. Now, give the tracker." Eric’s hand shot out, plucking the token from Thorwald’s grip as if the man’s protests were nothing but buzzing flies. "You’ve lost the n I entrusted you with. As punishnt, you’ll chop wood until the system event begins. An axe-wielder like you should excel at that."
His tone left no room for argunt. Ignoring Thorwald’s glare, Eric turned on his heel and strode outside. Light flared behind him, brilliant wings unfolding from his back. With a single beat they carried him skyward, and as his skill ignited fully, he beca a blazing cot racing across the heavens toward the distant human camp.
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