Gael’s POV

I watch as the kid gets ambushed by the tier 2 Garut and I let through. He puts up a solid defense, but in the end he still gets struck with a debilitating strike.

We let this one through with permission from Moren, I think both Moren and the Kingdom want to see how this kid reacts to uncomfortable situations. If he manages to get out of this without our help, his stock value will fly through the roof.

Fighting up a tier is a tall ask, especially when that higher tier is halfway through said tier, like our green friend over there is.

I personally am rooting for the kid. He’s got a good character, strong determination, and most importantly, he’s got the skills to back it up. If we can get him on our side, that’s just one more step in bringing down the Empire’s rain of terror on it’s own people.

“What do you think Garut? You think he can pull this one off?”

“Yes, he’s smart. He’ll figure it out.” Garut says, giving an uncharacteristic sentence rather than the one word answers I’m used too.

When I got paired up with this big lug, I thought he was the usual bruiser, run head first, muscled up idiot that are so common nowadays. Getting to know him a little better during our little scouting trips and such, though, revealed a surprisingly gentle-hearted individual when he thinks no one is looking, and who takes responsibility quite seriously.

I often see him staring at the kid in concern whenever we are watching him for protection, much like he is now. He may try to hide his concern, but to someone as well-versed in the mind as myself, hiding one’s emotions is much akin to hiding a boulder among pebbles.

I continue to watch as the kid throws his sword at the green mass of muscle.

“Hmm, are we about to see more of what his spiritual energy can do?” I say out loud to nobody in particular, as I notice the rise in spiritual energy around him.

My assumption is proven right as I see the boy somehow bring that worn down sword into his hand from ten feet away.

“Oh wow, very nice. Quite the move, though I fear we’ll have to carry him home as a move like that is almost guaranteed to use the rest of his spiritual energy.”

I see Garut nod, before watching as the boy’s plan works, lobbing the head off the big goblin. I also watch as the boy, predictably, falls over backwards into the dirt.

I hear a rustle behind and look back to find Moren, grinning happily.

“Looks like our boy did it” Moren says heartily.

“Indeed he did. Now let’s go grab him before he bleeds out.” I say warmly.

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

Uncle Moren’s POV

I watch as Garut sets the kid down on the floor by the fire.

“So did you tell the boy where you’re really from yet, Moren?”

I look behind me to see the old fox man Gael with his hand rested warmly on my shoulder.

I sigh before responding,

“No not yet, I just don’t want him to think the only reason I ever helped him out was to poach him from the Empire. I let loose some info on you guys, but not much besides that you work for the Kingdom.”

“Well wasn’t that technically what you did? Help him because you saw his potential, that is.”

“Yeah, originally I suppose, but I’ve grown fond of the kid, watched him grow up. Much like you did for me back in the day. Though back then I wasn’t even close to a high rank 3 talent like the kid is. Maybe a low rank 4 if I’m lucky.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Yeah, but back then I saw more than just your rank, I saw guts. They don’t make ‘em as tough as you anymore, Moren.”

“I guess…”

We sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before I suddenly say,

“I’ll tell him when he wakes up.”

“Oh? Why the sudden change of heart.” Gael asks me curiously.

“Well, when you told me what was really happening, I didn’t hate you for it. If anything I respected you more for it. For dedicating your life to helping out talented kids who don’t even know they need help. Admirable stuff.”

“And look at you, following in my footsteps. I always knew you’d turn out alright.”

“Really? I find that hard to believe. You’re talking about the same Moren that got into bar fights almost every night while still unawakened.” I say skeptically.

“Yup. It’s even a miracle your alive you know. I’d find you passed out in some alley almost every night, though I suppose all those fights did wonders for your masteries.”

“Hahaha! You’d be absolutely right!” I say heartily, “Gave my endurance a good training too, what with all those broken bones and such!”

Another minute of silence passes.

“What about you know who, you gonna tell him about that?” Gael says solemnly.

“Maybe… I still haven’t decided….”

“There’s no rush you know. You can wait a little while.”

“No, if he’s gonna come with us to the Kingdom, he needs to know the real reason it’s better he come with us.”

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

Garut’s POV

I sit by the fire and carefully watch Rowan’s wounds to make sure they are healing alright. Looking over my shoulder, I spot Moren and Gael talking like they’ve known each other for years, though I suppose they have.

Gael let loose to me that both himself and Moren were saved by the poaching program the Kingdom started a few thousand years ago to help talented kids get saved from the Empire.

I’ve seen and experienced first hand what happens to these kids, grown for no other purpose then war. To spill the blood of the Empire’s enemies, and if such a calling were to be refused, there is no other fate then death.

It sickens me to my core, and is the whole reason I’m on this planet in the first place. To help talented kids not end upon victims to the Empire’s endless war machine.

Much like Moren and Gael, I’m someone who was poached from the Empire and brought to the kingdom. After a few years of training and screening, as is the standard for people in this line of work, I was sent to this small planet in the outer rims of the Empire’s control.

So far, no one too talented have hit my radar in my time here, though I was able to secure a rank 5 talent, which is a small, but noteworthy gain for the Kingdom.

The war between the two superpowers apparently has been going on for close to 5 thousand years, which, as a barely fifty year old, is so long that it’s almost incomprehensible to me.

Currently, the war is on standstill as the two power consolidate their gains from the recent wave of new planet integrations that have been occurring the past 5 years, but this temporary peace won’t last long.

The Empire will make damn sure of that.

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

Rowan’s POV

I wake up on the ground next to a small fire. Immediately my head aches in pain, and I already wish I could go back to sleep.

Garut, noticing the disturbance, nods to me and says,

“You overworked your core. Don’t use spiritual energy for a few days.”

I quickly nod and lay back down in an attempt to sooth my pounding head. I’m unable to go back to sleep though, so instead I decide to distract myself with the notifications I acquired in my last fight.

“Nice.” I say quietly to myself in admiration.

I quickly decide to invest all of my new AP evenly among my physical stats. Two into strength, two into agility, two into dexterity and two into endurance. I definitely needed to shore up the physical side of my stat sheet a bit, considering they are the stats I use most often, right now at least.

‘Now on to the real meat and potatoes.’ I think excitedly.

‘Hmm, a tough choice I’m going to have to make here.’ I think, before hearing to my left.

“Rowan, we need to have a quick talk.” Uncle Moren says uncharacteristically serious.

‘A choice that's gonna have to wait till later I guess.’ I think before sighing.