Kaiden cast a brief glance at Zephyrion before steadying himself. He had no idea why Zephyrion had given him this opportunity, but this was his chance to prove himself.
Exhaling softly, he forced his composure back into place and began again—
"...like I said, we were sent by the house to—"
"...sent by the house... you’re telling this is all they sent?"
"...yes."
Kaiden had barely nodded when the man’s jaw tightened, his gaze turning fierce.
"What is this? I made the situation clear. With everything at stake, they send a bunch of—"
"Pardon ..." one of the elders stepped forward quickly, cutting him off.
"I believe Lord Omar simply ans we’re a bit surprised by your youth. Regardless, you’re welco here. Your journey must have been long, you should rest. Please, allow us to show you to your quarters."
"Tch..."
Omar shot the elder a sharp glare, but the latter ignored him and offered the group a small, reassuring smile.
"...we’re here on a mission. We wouldn’t want to impose."
"Oh, it’s no trouble at all. Co, follow ."
At the elder’s insistence, the group eventually followed him into the village.
...
"Damn it!"
Bam!
Village head Omar’s fist slamd into the wall, the impact sending a tremor through the structure.
The elders watched him in silence, their expressions solemn. They understood his anger, after all, they were all facing the sa predicant.
"How could they do this? I explained everything to them. They know what’s at stake here, yet they send a bunch of kids?"
Omar’s jaw tightened, frustration on his aged face.
He had been born and raised in this village as part of the To lineage. As a To, it was both birthright and responsibility to protect the village and ensure its prosperity. His father had upheld that duty, and so had those before him.
His own reign had been steady, and he had been nearing the mont he would pass the mantle to his son, only for this crisis to erge out of nowhere.
"I understand your frustration, Omar, but you must not forget, those trainees are still from Calderalth. We must treat them with respect, or risk drawing the house’s ire."
"What good is respect if we’re facing extinction? We asked for help, and they send children that should still be sucking their mothers’ breasts, are we ant to trust our lives to that?"
The elder who spoke was a broad, crude man with ssy black hair and an intense gaze. Even as he spoke, he held a large axe at his side, his grip tight as though he could swing it at any mont.
"Watch your words, Marino! Say sothing like that outside and you’ll bring ruin to this village. The Calderalth na isn’t sothing you speak lightly about."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances before turning disapproving looks toward Morino. The mistake of one could wipe out entire lineages; it wouldn’t be the first ti, especially with how ruthless Calderalth could be.
"...Tch."
Elder Morino clicked his tongue but held his silence.
"...but given everything, doesn’t this feel off to you?"
Their attention shifted toward the voice, landing on an aged woman with a gentle face approaching them, Elder Lass.
"What do you an, Elder Lass?"
"We all know how important this village is to Calderalth. With danger this serious, would they really send people who are useless?"
"...so you’re saying—"
"I’m saying we shouldn’t dismiss them so quickly just because they’re young. Huno ntioned one of them spotted his n while they were hidden."
Her words sent a ripple of shock through the elders. Huno and his knights were seasoned veterans, when they concealed themselves, it wasn’t sothing just anyone could uncover.
"None of that matters." The village head shook his head with a sharp huff. "They’re still children. Trainees. What exactly do you expect them to do? If Calderalth won’t help us properly, then we’ll handle it ourselves. I am a To. My father protected this village, and so did his father before him. I won’t be the one to fail it."
The elders exchanged solemn looks before nodding with quiet resolve.
"...then how do we treat them?"
"Ignore them. Assign Tar to keep them occupied, show them around or whatever. They’ll only get in the way."
"...understood."
As the elders began to disperse, Elder Lass and Morino remained, stepping closer to Omar.
"Omar... I still say we should take the fight to them. Show those beasts why humans sit at the top." Elder Morino said, his gaze burning with intensity.
"That’s too reckless!" Elder Lass cut in imdiately. "Their behavior’s been off. Unpredictable. We could be walking straight into a trap."
"And waiting here is any better? At least we die fighting, not hiding behind walls."
"We—"
"That’s enough. Both of you."
Omar silenced them with a stern look.
Elder Lass and Morino oversaw the gatherers and hunters respectively, the forr responsible for sourcing vital resources from the forest, while the latter commanded the fighters who protected them.
"...taking our forces out leaves the village exposed. Until we understand what’s causing this, we hold our ground."
"...yes, village head."
"...any word from Guren?"
At the ntion of the na, Omar’s expression eased noticeably.
Elder Morino gave a short nod.
"He sent word an hour ago. He should be back by noon tomorrow."
"Good."
The village head nodded, a faint smile on his lips.
He had two children, a son and a daughter. The son, Guren, was the pride of his heart.
A genius unlike any seen in their lineage, having reached the fifth mark of the Vessel rank at just twenty years of age.
Many even claid he stood on par with the prodigies of the high houses. Regardless, he was the village’s hope, the one destined to bring them glory.
Shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, the village head dismissed the elders and made his way back to his manor.
There was still much to be done.
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