The lights of a coming day were slowly slicing the skies above refugee center Gamma, a soothing wind hit Annie in the snout as she relaxed in the back of the truck. Pain, the foul smell of line breakers, fear—all was forgotten for a moment, and she allowed herself to close her eyes, cut the noise of the center away, and breathe in the morning breeze. Everyone is still alive, wounds and suffering will pass, and a new day is coming. Was there really anything more to ask for?

She felt the truck stop and jumped from the back of the truck, looking back. The hospital was enormous now, all facilities were ready and operating at full capacity. A small prison was built next to the hospital due to the fact that some unsavory people tried to hide among refugees and sneak in from the Ravaged Lands and the lands of Oathtakers. On this night, this prison also housed captured raiders. Eventually, police will arrive from the cities and take them to trial.

The cub’s ward is a five-storey high, square-shaped building, painted originally in white. However, the inhabitants of this place were a troublesome bunch, as soldiers learned when a group of teens stole several buckets of paint and painted whole pictures on the building walls. They were caught mid vandalism, of course, but Kassandra liked their enthusiasm well enough, and half punished, half tasked them with finishing the job, painting the entire building with images of animals, heroes of cartoons, and TV shows. Teenagers had way less enthusiasm when they were forced to do something and acted a bit calmer nowadays, mostly sticking to stealing treats and trying to skip lessons. The last part backfired due to Alpha being here. The warlord announced that since teens dislike verbal lessons so much, she will give them physical lessons. Annie never expected to see a tired troll cub in her life, but everything happens for the first time, as she learned. After intense gym classes with Alpha, no one tried to skip lessons anymore.

Tired looking Hans was here, overseeing the delivery of a set of TVs to the ward.

"Slowly, please! People just finished fixing them!" He yelled at soldiers who were about to toss one of the TVs to the ground. The man turned around, saw Annie, and waved to her.

"Having problems, Hans?" Annie asked, "I still have one good hand, if you need…"

"Oh, piss off, Annie! Take a rest for once, will ya? I want to finish this assignment fast and go sleep the rest of the day, I don’t need to drag your sorry ass to the hospital again!" Hans almost stormed away, then stopped, scratching his head, "Listen, you kinda scared me shitless back there. You need any help, just find me, ok? Don’t push yourself, rest and get well."

"Wait, are you actually pro-sleeping now? My, how times have changed." The scout teased him.

"I am, and fuck you too, Annie! Have a great day!" This time the mishappen human really stormed away, smiling.

Annie took a deep breath and walked around the ward. She found him exactly where Dragena said he would be. Outsider was standing before a painting depicting a tall woman, shining the way in the darkness to some children.

"Never expect that this cartoon will actually reappear in today’s world," Outsider turned toward Annie, darkness underneath his cowl looking straight into her soul, "I finished my delivery here and am about to leave. Say your piece."

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"Thank you for saving my soldier and our lives, sir," Annie said, bowing her head. Then she looked directly into the darkness below the hood, "I know that you were aware that there was more to this operation than meets the eye. Even Angoro was left in the dark. I saw the Dynast on TV today. For the sake of unity, our liege needed the weapon of Chosen Prince eliminated in a show of force, and you ensured this by using us and hostages as bait, am I correct?"

"Wrong. Our liege has no need for cheap victories to make his words heard. Had I not taken out the sand reaper, it would eventually attack this place, maybe without me around. To protect civilians, soldiers had to risk their lives, such is our duty. I merely made you do your part, albeit unknowingly, and was there myself, trying to help as much as possible. I can sense anger boiling down in you. Feel free to hit me, I can take it." Outsider turned to look at the picture again.

Annie forced herself to be calm. She wanted nothing more than to bash his head against the wall. He saved them true, but had he chosen to share the information that the sand reaper was under the control of Chosen Prince, they would have prepared better. If they had all worked together, no one would have been hurt and the operation would have gone much more smoothly. Had he only trusted his allies...

"You are wrong," Annie said with dead calm, and Outsider turned to look at her again, "I want something else, sir. What good will hurting you do to anyone? You are the greatest known champion of the Reclaimers. Please, lead us as a leader instead of using us."

"I never studied the art of war or command or military doctrines. My role as the champion of the Reclamation is to instill horror into our foes. Not to lead or inspire. Such roles are reserved for more talented people." No face was visible beneath the cowl of darkness as the champion spoke.

"Sir, how old are you?"

"Five weeks ago, I celebrated my three hundred and first birthday." The answer was calm.

"Three hundred and f…" Something about this number bothered Annie, but she ignored it for now, "You are so much older than me. Surely you can spend at least a few years studying how to command and direct troops, learning cooperation and communication. To us all, you are an immortal symbol. Your deeds are legendary, few could hope to claim even half of what you have managed to achieve over the years. Your experience in many areas is beyond that of a normal person. But no single person can always be correct."

"Dynast never makes mistakes." Responded the champion.

"We both know this isn't true, Sir. He wanted to persuade Lia to stay and instead scared her. Our liege understands that he can’t be everywhere, this is why people like you are there to help him guide the state. Sir, please, age of warlords, heroes, madmen, and tyrants is coming to an end. We all need to work together now! This is why we all must learn, this is why we all must cooperate with each other. Only through bettering ourselves can our state endure and thrive in the years ahead. The armies of today are made of countless thousands of people, operating in hundreds of various places, you physically can’t be everywhere, sir. Please, sir, I beg you, trust us and work with us. Before making plans, consults with others in command to ensure that operations are running smoothly. No matter how great individual success is, if others can’t capitalize on it, success will be wasted. We put our lives on the line just like you put your own life on the line for our sake, sir. I beg you to trust the state that you helped to build. I beg you as a fellow citizen of the state. Please become an even greater symbol for all of us."

The figure in the black cloak stood silent for a good minute, sizing up Annie from head to toes. Finally the hood nodded.

"I will see what I can do. You have my apologies for not giving you full information about mission." With these words, the champion leaped in the air, disappearing in the sphere of light that carried him away.

Annie could only hope that her world produced any result. She felt burning shame and fear while walking back to catch the car to the barracks of Alpha team. She despised the thought of thanking this idiot, of being the weak again, of proving herself as worthless as...