That same evening, six and a half days until the caravan arrives.

But of course things would be solved by mining, as if this wasn't already prevalent on Zagul’s slave life before on Eldora. The principle was the same, with the difference that he can actually do something about it. And not be told off by an attendant, but that's beside the point. The Lacerta explained the plan, a simple one, to Uzu, who was not pleased that they'd need to do hard labor in order to have some semblance of uninvolvement with the war. It was honestly so disturbing how the human could only think like a teenager despite being a grown man. What did he mean that he didn't want to have to make an effort to make things go his way?! That's not how the world works, dumbass!

Anyway, the sun was not on its highest point anymore, meaning that they needed to hurry up. The night is going to be cold, and they didn't really want to deal with that. The cave entrances were very obvious, with structures to the roof not collapse and all, some tools here and there, being very worn out thanks to the constant usage, a poorly charted map of the inside and a few safety gears to use. Zagul was already putting the gear since any safety gear here was already a plus that he didn't have before on Eldora and his knowledge would help them gather the necessary materials before the time the Lacerta judged to be enough.

“Here, take a bag. I'll make torches for us to use inside.”, Zagul said as the horse finally stopped and neighed in tiredness.

“What are we looking for, exactly?”, Uzu asked, knotting the bag on his back.

“A lot of stuff.”, He said as he put the cloth on some sturdy sticks, thankfully dry enough to burn, “Anything that shines to the light of the fire, be it metal or not.”

“Yeah, I guess. But shouldn't we aim for the ones with high value?”, The human asked curiously as he put a sheath in his waist for a pickaxe.

Zagul cocked a brow for half a second before realizing that, he would think like that since they can have more profit. He guesses that being a slave for so long can destroy the self care about monetary gains, since he couldn't enjoy it. But even if they did mine the gems and metal, what can they exactly do with them? Say that that part is of equal value to something so that something is now theirs? He knows that this won't work because if it was offered to him, he would refuse, because that's bullshit. Even more so in a tribal society.

“Arsi has contact with the merchants. Only he knows the prices and process to do the transactions.”, Zagul said as he grabbed a torch and lit it, “We aren't in an advantageous ground here, so we better play his game for now.”

Uzu hummed, not particularly motivated.

“What will you do after this?”, The human asked as he lit his own torch.

“Depends on what you mean.”

The cave entrance’s light diminished as they walked down the path. It had basic cart tracks made of wood and iron, all rusty for the lack of maintenance, but if the map was any indication, the tracks were paths to the known veils. If they found anything more than that, it would be a plus. They continued deeper into the cave, the flickering light from their torches casting eerie shadows on the rough walls. Zagul felt the familiar sense of claustrophobia creeping in, a reminder of the countless hours spent in the mines of Eldora. But here, at least, he had a sense of purpose and a sliver of autonomy.

“Do you really think this is going to work?” Uzu's voice broke the silence, echoing slightly in the narrow passage.

Didn't he ask that already? Whatever…

Zagul paused, considering his words carefully. “It’s not about if it will work or not. It’s about having a chance to influence the fate of the Morepans, even just a little.”

Uzu nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. “You look so fond of them even after meeting them for a day. Half a day.”, He added that last part and Zagul only snorted, “And if we find something valuable, do you think Arsi will actually let us keep a fair share?”

“That’s the gamble,” Zagul admitted. “But if we don’t try, we’ll never know. Besides, I have a few plans of my own.”

“You do now?” Uzu asked, his curiosity piqued.

Zagul chuckled softly, “You’ll see. Let’s just say I’ve been listening and learning a lot even before I got here. There’s more to surviving this war than just staying out of it.”

“Whatever you say, Gecko.”

They reached a section of the cave where the walls sparkled faintly in the torchlight. Zagul stopped and gestured at the wall. “This looks promising. Let’s start here.”

They set to work, the rhythmic sound of their pickaxes echoing through the cavern. With each strike, Zagul felt a sense of dread, or maybe nostalgia? Hard to tell, but it was almost four months since he worked in a mineshaft, so as he swung the pickaxe on the veil, the impact that ricocheted made his muscles tense ever so slightly, despite not being in real danger. Who would've thought that a former noble would be so afraid of punishment despite not being near a slave keeper?

As the human, Uzu’s initial reluctance seemed to fade, replaced by a quiet resolve. Perhaps it was the rhythm of the labor, or maybe the shared goal, but something in Uzu shifted. Wanting to believe it or not, it was a way to not be involved in the possibility of a war, considered as a civilian to the great kingdoms of afar. He complained a lot, yes. Did he talk way more than he should? Maybe… But one thing that Uzu admitted without a doubt or shame is that he is not a fighter, he is a charlatan, a person that will try his best at getting the most benefits without raising much as a finger. He is working now, sure, but all so he won't after.

Wait, that sparked an idea.

“Hey,” Uzu said after a while, wiping sweat from his brow, but never stopping his pickaxe, “If we find something big, let’s not tell Arsi right away. Maybe we can leverage it somehow.”

Zagul paused, “Now you’re thinking. Let’s keep our options open.”

Perhaps thinking too much.

That's because if Zagul found the Emerald of Verdant Resonance, he is going to fucking keep it a secret. Even to Uzu. That shit has Éter inside it, meaning that even if the Lacerta doesn't have magic, the gem can still work on its own, just like the Draconic Iridium. That can skip the steps of his plan by a lot, not needing to depend on the Morepans or Waxenians and those guys that worshiped the Sparrow. He could do this with the wild animals and predators and the gem, all by himself.

But it's better to keep his ideas grounded for now. A plan that is way too focused on the end tends to fail at the start, so better focus on what he has right now, which isn't much.

“Hey.”, Uzu stopped mid swing.

“What?”

“How was it to see a Waxenian up close?”

That made Zagul stop, “...What do you mean?”

“They are half spiders or some shit, right?”

“...Yeah?”, Zagul scratched his head trying to understand what Uzu was talking about.

“Didn't you find them hideous?”

Ah, that. Of course there would be some racism. Not that Zagul had any right to argue about it, but that wasn't really a thing he paid attention to at the moment.

A Waxenian was, to put it in blunt terms, a grotesque creature resembling a twisted version of humanity. Its body was covered in a patchwork of pale flesh and chitinous armor, bristling with wiry hairs that seemed to vibrate with an eerie energy. Long, sinewy arms ended in clawed fingers, capable of delicate and deadly tasks. The creature's face, an unsettling blend of human and spider-like features, sported multi-faceted eyes that glimmered with a cold intelligence. A wide mouth filled with sharp teeth was framed by twitching mandibles, but somehow seems to be a Homomorphic Mouth, despite everything. Aside from its monstrous appearance, the Waxenians moved with a fluid, predatory grace, an eerie presence in its dark domain.

And yet, Arsi and the village were anything but menacing.

“You could say that.”, Zagul replied in a shrug.

Uzu shook his head, a mixture of disbelief and acceptance in his eyes. “Man, I don’t know how you do it. I mean, it’s like something out of a nightmare. How do you just... stand there and not feel, like, creeped out?”

Zagul leaned against the wall, considering his response. “I think it’s because I’ve seen a lot of things, more than I can count. The world is filled with strange and terrifying creatures, and if you let every one of them scare you, you won’t survive for long.”

Uzu nodded, seemingly taking in the advice. “I guess that makes sense. But still, they’re just so... alien.”

“Maybe that’s what makes them interesting,” Zagul replied, a small smile playing on his lips. “They have their own ways, their own culture. They might look terrifying, but that doesn’t mean they’re evil or hostile. You just have to understand them.”

Uzu chuckled, shaking his head. “Cut that shit out, you sound like some kind of philosopher.”

“Not really,” Zagul replied, “just a guy who’s trying to figure things out.”

That made the soft chuckles turn into a small single laugh, which by extension made Zagul smile at the whole conversation.

“Racism.”, Zagul said.

“Oorah!”, Uzu replied as he swung the pickaxe again.

----------------------------------------

Path to Edhelraen, Asuwa’s Road

Richardson was confused by what happened in the last week. First a masked Jester… Fine, they are always masked but that isn't the point. The point is that he somehow knew about the deal he struck with Zagul and seemed to want to help, but since then he's never seen a single person help him, not directly at least. Connor killed someone and is now sucking up his toes in solace for some reason even when he said he WANTED to become a mercenary or join the army. And he has to deal with a bunch of things that weren't his responsibility before, but thanks to what happened on Tenure, now are.

The only positive on this is that he managed to get someone to reverse engineer the Lever-Action Rifle that the nameless Sharpshooter built for the battle. The thing is way more complex than they previously had anticipated, hence why the week’s worth of jobs for the slaves and stuff, but it was all worth it as the Alchemists managed to produce a box full of these rifles ready to use, as well as ammunition worth a week on the battlefield. If he offers the guns to them he will be settled for life, but not before he gets his hands on that stupid crystal.

For such a tiny thing, it brings a lot of headaches.

He sighed as he arrived at the front of the gate of the coastal village, “I hope the next village or town might be less of a bother.”

“Why do you say that, boss?”, A man of the previous Eldorian fleet asks.

“A lot of reasons.”, Richardson yawns, “Are the slaves ready?”

“All of them are on the carriages.”

“Good.”, The Foreman nodded, “In that case I shall go to my own and prepare for departure.”

The carriages full of slaves crossed the West Gate and waited for the official announcement to leave towards Shadehill. Inside one of them was Connor, Yuri and Donovan, quietly sitting inside. The Wood Elf was quieter than usual, obviously, but so did Yuri and Donovan. The slaves did their usual routine of waiting and traveling inside the carriage that had only one window that showed the sun setting as the chains made their soft cracks here and there. Thanks to the soft snow that covered the roads and the town, they were given a new set of clothes for winter. It was a simple arrangement of thick linen and leather coats, trousers made of similar but much more robust materials, high-top galoshes with thick laces, along with gloves made of freshly collected fur. A rudimentary but well-crafted ensemble.

“How are you feeling?”, Donovan asked in full Vyzerian.

Connor had quickly learned the language these past few days, so he didn't bother to talk in Petruvian, even if Connor wasn't fluent in it.

“Yo Connor, you’ve been hella quiet since that factory gig. Still got that guy you sliced on your mind?”, Yuri tried to put a hand on his shoulder, only for the cuffs to stop his movement midway.

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“It's… Yeah. I've been thinking about that.”, Connor didn't really try to hide his cumbersome face.

Three kills. The last two in a month’s time.

“I know I shouldn't think that much about it, it's normal to have your life challenged, but… It still… plaguesome.”, The Wood Elf’s face showed it how much he was trying to make himself accept, but his mind just refused to do it.

“Look man, how do you reckon you'll hold up in the Colosseum? It's do or die there, man. I get it, you got your reasons, but you gotta shake it off. Ain't nobody there gonna let you hesitate. You feel me? You gotta throw hands!”, Yuri tried to sound reassuring, but by the flick reaction that Connor's body made…

“That's making it worse, Yuri.”, Donovan said dejectedly, “Would it make you feel better if I told you that the guy was a total scum that totally had it coming?”

“A little.”, Connor nodded.

“Then hold onto that,” Donovan replied, glancing around the cramped carriage. “Every time you think about what happened, remember that. It was him or you, and you chose you. Ain’t no shame in that.”

Connor leaned back, his eyes fixed on the small window, watching the snowy landscape slip by. The rhythmic clinking of chains was a reminder of their captivity, yet the world outside seemed peaceful and serene in its winter coat.

“I guess,” Connor muttered. “But it still feels like a part of me gets lost every time.”

“You’re stronger than you think,” Donovan assured. “We’ve all lost parts of ourselves to survive, but those pieces don’t define us. It’s what we do next that matters. Heavens, wasn't it you who told me to never give up?”

“Once we reach Shadehill, things will change,” Yuri said quietly. “We just gotta keep it together and follow the plan.”

“We’ll get through this,” Connor said, more to himself than to the others. “We have to.”

----------------------------------------

Isodera forest, Abandoned Mineshafts, Night

*CLINK*

“And that's the last one.”, Zagul commented, not after finishing his mining, but because Uzu just lit the last torch.

“Do we have enough?”, The human asked, his voice rough thanks to the exercise. And the fact he is sedentary.

“Hard to say, it's not like I know the exact prices of the metal and gems.”, The Lacerta straightened his back, a few satisfactory pops coming out of it, “I can give an approximate value based on the basic understanding that the merchants will obviously give a lower price than they would normally pay.”

Uzu frowned for half a second, “Ah shit, I forgot about that.”

“We can continue later. We can either camp here or go back.”, Zagul offered.

“Why would we stay here? These things are heavy, y'know?”, He pointed at the bags full of stuff.

As a response, Zagul pointed without looking at the cart that was on top of the rails sitting right behind the local they finished mining.

“Oh.”

It had (thankfully) a mechanism that allowed them to pull or push the thing without much effort, meaning that they could fill up the cart without worrying about weight.

“Now tell me, how does something as ugly as a fucking Waxenian gets cucked?”, The big gecko asked as he started unpacking a campfire kit.

“No idea. Weird fetishes, I guess.”, Uzu shrugged.

“The most lustful species I know is the human one.”, Zagul gave a judgmental, yet mocking look. After all, they are the ones that tried the theory that half-breed species can exist.

To answer, they can, but that offspring is sterile, so no more half-breeds.

“Don't give me that look!”, He threw a stone at the lizard, who caught it easily as he used to light the firewood.

“If you felt offended by it, that's your fucking problem.”

“Well, it would help if you had some fucking—”

The complaints were ignored as Zagul focused on something else. It was a faint noise that he wasn't sure what it was, but the countless darkness that surrounded them except for the single torch made it difficult for him to feel safe.

“Shh!”, Zagul made a hush gesture with his fingers, abruptly interrupting the still angry Uzu.

“No! Don't you tell me to keep quiet now—!”

Zagul put a hand on his mouth, “Listen.”

They got quiet for a while.

…

…

*rumble*

“Stones?”, Uzu whispered between the fingers of the Lacerta.

“Movement.”, Zagul confirmed.

“Shit.”

*THUNK*

“FUCK!”

The whistle of the arrow was the only indication of an attack as the projectile lodged itself on Zagul's shoulder. Another two people appeared with axes, their sharp edges itching for a slice of their being. Uzu could only fall back, his ass hitting the ground as he was terrified of the sudden ambush, not realizing that another of the attackers was just about to strike him. He could only look up and witness his fate as the tool descended on his face, harvesting his life. The crunching sound was all proof that the Lacerta needed to know that Uzu died.

“Really?! I was starting to like the guy!”, Zagul shouted in anger. Seriously, did some people have no decency? Couldn't they attack after they left the cave?

No matter, he will take care of this himself. Three infantry and one archer. Should be difficult, but doable. The problem was the arrow in his shoulder, can't remove it or give an opening, can't remain still or they will attack relentlessly. At least the attackers were polite enough to allow him to pick his pickaxe, maybe out of honor or pity. Either or.

When in Rome, do as Romans do.

One of the attackers rushed accompanied by the others, using their weapons in an attempt to strike the Lacerta down. Zagul dodged the first, turning to the next who didn't allow him to think of a counter attack, tackling him from the side and holding him in place. The last one aimed to strike his head but he kicked the groin of the one holding him and used its weight to fall down the cave system. After all, being prone on the ground doesn't scream tactical advantage any more than being dismembered. As he rolled down the cave he shifted his legs to get up, using his pickaxe as leverage to not injure himself.

The Archer, still hidden, decided to try and finish this before it could get ugly. The line tensed as he pulled the dart, aiming at his abdomen, the release making the arrow spin towards its target. However, the shooter was unpleasantly surprised as the gecko managed to predict the arrow, using a bucket as a improvised shield, following up by throwing the thing at one of the attackers. The bucket hit the man who first attacked, delaying his reflex for half a second, but enough for Zagul to use his pick and stick it to the skull of whatever creature attacked him, the body immediately going limp from it.

One down, three to go.

The one that was on the ground finally got up, massaging his groin as he was still in pain. The other decided to use a bit of thinking, as he picked up the torch and decided it was enough of a lit room, extinguishing the flames of both the torch and campfire by kicking some dust in the faint flames that just started cracking. The darkness enveloped the mineshaft, a thick and suffocating blanket that heightened every sound and sensation. Zagul strained his senses, trying to anticipate the next move of his attackers. He could hear their shuffling steps, the whisper of metal against rock, and the quiet, menacing breaths that echoed through the cavern. The arrow was still making itself present in his shoulder as the icing pain was becoming more prevalent, but that would work for the best since in this shadowy place, the Archer can't shoot him.

A slash caught his attention, the swing connecting with his back, the muscle contraction being a byproduct of reflex as he quickly turned around with a wide arch of the pickaxe, only to hit nothing.

“Cowards…”, He muttered, trying to hide his pain in a shallow insult.

His tail wiggled from side to side, trying to serve as another way to spot the attackers, but all it could do is delay his reaction to one of them doing a Full Nelson on him, leaving his chest completely exposed, the hands of the assailant making great pressure on his neck. Zagul tried to twitch his way around, but to no avail. As a desperate attempt before the others could kill him, he used his tail as a third leg and absolutely forced his way to the side, barely avoiding his intestines meeting the outside world. To finish the fool who tried to restrain his movement, he used the blunt part of the pickaxe in a reverse swing to hit his hand, and if the grunt of pain was any indication he succeeded. With a power slash to the neck, the enemy was no more.

Two gone, fucking two to go.

*SWOOSH*

A blind attack to his side. It seems that finally this darkness decided to smile on him. Zagul grabbed the axe used previously against him, now having two weapons. He rushed to where he heard the sound previously, using the pickaxe as a stabbing tool, despite not working that way, but it hit the enemy's torso, meaning that the body blow made the chin open up, a perfect attack to the ax. The swing came in a flash, the bones of the jaw breaking as the flesh and blood was sent towards the walls of the cave.

“Guys? Are you there?”, The last one asked, obviously terrified that he might be the last one, “Guys?”

He didn't answer, but walked as silently as he could towards the Archer. Zagul could hear the shuffling footsteps getting nearer. He adjusted his grip on the pickaxe, ready to swing at any moment. The archer, realizing he was being rushed, hastily nocked another arrow, but Zagul was already too close. With a roar, Zagul leapt forward, swinging his pickaxe with all his strength, but with no intent on killing. The weapon connected with the archer's bow, snapping it in two before continuing its arc into the archer's chest.

The archer crumpled to the ground, and the mine fell silent once more, save for Zagul's ragged breathing. He stood there for a moment, chest heaving, before letting the pickaxe and ax fall from his grasp. He picked up a few rags and bags that he didn't use and tied the hands of the archer.

“I'll deal with you later.”, The Lacerta said, still puffing from the battle.

He moved back to where Uzu lay, kneeling beside his fallen companion.

“Shit. Rest easy.”, He said with minor sadness. After all, despite the man being an asshole, he didn't deserve any of this.

He lit the torch again, the light showing the complete mess that was inside the cave, but also something shining in the distance. As Zagul approached to inspect it, he chuckled in disbelief, as a small yet familiar gem shone right at the end of the cave. No, it wasn't the Emerald of Verdant Resonance, but it was one weaker gem with weaker powers, simple, yet effective.

The gem, or rather, Stone was uncut, rough and unpolished. Most collectors and enthusiasts would ignore or devalue the stone, but those who took time would notice that the small brown crystal had its uses, although as not grandiose as some might desire it to be. He decided to pocket the stone, after all the arrow is still stuck in his body and the slash is still paining in his back.

The cart is full, but since it already had space for two people, might as well put the Archer there.

----------------------------------------

Waxenian Tribe, Same Night

Arsi was chilling in his tent, waiting for Lacerta to come back from his mining adventure. Not that he was super excited about it or even remembered why he agreed to let the guy go mining in the first place. Probably one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyway, as soon as Lacerta left, Arsi tried to catch some rest, but then his so-called "wife" barged in.

They exchanged this awkward glance, and Arsi just felt disgusted. His beloved had been seduced and deflowered by some dude from another village. Like, seriously? It was such a mess.

She even tried to talk to him, poor girl, but Arsi was like, "Nope," and left the tent immediately.

After that, it was just one thing after another. People kept coming to him with problems they couldn't handle themselves. "The armory is empty, and no one's making new weapons, Leader," or "We've got sick people who need treatment, Leader Arsi." Ever since that whole mess with his wife, it seemed like the universe was constantly trying to piss him off. Can't a guy catch a break? Ugh!

Arsi sighed, rubbing his temples as he tried to figure out what to do about the armory. Weapons didn’t just magically appear, and it seemed like no one wanted to lift a finger around here. He called over a few of the younger guys who were loitering around and told them to start crafting new weapons. They groaned and complained, but Arsi gave them that look, the one that said, “Don’t mess with me today,” and they reluctantly got to work.

Next, he headed over to the healer’s hut to check on the sick people. They had some kind of flu going around, and the herbal supplies were running low thanks to the winter. Arsi found the head healer and asked what they needed. She rattled off a list of herbs, and Arsi promised to send a group out to gather more. He knew he had to keep his people healthy, even if it meant organizing yet another task force.

Just as he was trying to think of what else needed his attention, a group of elders approached him with yet another problem. “Leader Arsi, the water supply is running low, and we need to dig a new well,” they informed him. Great, just what he needed. More digging.

He grabbed a few more guys and got them started on digging the new well. As he watched them begin the work, he couldn’t help but feel like everything was on his shoulders. It was exhausting, and he wondered if it was always going to be like this. Even so he swallowed his pride and grabbed himself a spade, helping his underlings.

Finally, as the sun started to set and the air grew even colder, Arsi returned to his tent, hoping for a few moments of peace. But there she was, his wife, sitting and waiting for him. He sighed, knowing this conversation had to happen eventually.

She looked at him with a mixture of hope and regret. “Arsi,” she started softly, “we have to talk.”

Arsi sat down, feeling a mix of exhaustion and impatience. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to this talk. He was tired of dealing with everything, and this was just one more thing on his overflowing plate.

His wife took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I know things have been difficult between us,” she began, her voice steady but soft. “I regret what happened, and I want to find a way to fix things.”

Arsi leaned back, crossing his arms. He wasn’t sure what to say. Part of him wanted to just brush it off and move on, but another part of him was still hurt and angry. “It’s not that simple, Talia.” He replied, his tone flat.

Talia nodded, understanding his reluctance. “I get that, but I’m willing to try if you are. We’ve got bigger problems with the war coming, and we need to be strong together.”

Arsi felt a fit of rage surging from his insides. Is she serious? “You are the reason this war is happening! What do you mean I'm willing to try if you are? Do you take me for an idiot?!”

She moved a little closer, hoping to bridge the gap between them. “Let’s focus on what’s important. We can figure it out, but we need to prepare for the fight ahead.”

“I need to prepare. You will stay here.”, His tone was harsh and judgemental.

“I-I… I just want to…”

“What?! What you want? To deceive me again? To come with your sweet words while you betray our relationship behind everyone's back?!”

“N-no!”

“Then what, Talia?! What could you possibly say to me that would ease my mind?!?”

They weren't inside the tent, so they attracted a lot of attention from the camp. Many whispered that finally the Leader was acting like a leader should, as if they knew what a true leader was. Fucking hypocrites. Talia on the other hand felt embarrassed and ashamed, her eyes teary from the sudden outburst. Arsi didn't feel remorse or regret in the slightest, feeling that she was getting what she deserved.

“I just…”, Her voice came faint, almost as a soft breath, “I just wanted to know if what we felt was real… I wanted you to trust me…”

“Trusting you was my decision. Making me regret it was yours.”

As Arsi said that, he entered the tent, wishing to not be bothered after another hard day of work.