While gathering the personnel for his team was one step, the next would be training. Jake understood that even if he could get the bodies for his Nest raiding force, they were still typical Oryx. The majority were ill-trained, ill-equipped, and lacked the necessary experience to combat the Maedra in force. The Red teams were certainly better off than the other teams and that was the issue. Only the Red teams were capable of fighting against the Maedra properly, and only the Red teams would be able to continue the raids after he left. Thus, the problem the village was currently facing would remain the same.
Too much weight was carried by the Red teams. Far too many were dying at the top and those in the lower ranks weren’t good enough to fill the gaps. Mur’s training regime was a helpful tool for the Scouts. It allowed most of them to develop the skills needed to at least increase their survival chances by a few digits. Even so, Mur's Hall could only produce so many with too high a failure rate for it to be considered effective for the entire village. For every one scout that Mur produced, at least five were dropped or injured beyond use due to the harshness of the training.
The scouts weren’t the only issue either. The warrior teams were in a similar circumstance just with a few different variables. The warriors had the training. They had the leadership to fix them. They had the numbers to fill in the failures. They also had the mental toughness to step up to the Maedra and face down the enemy, even when the odds were against them. If anything, that was something Jake would never take from them- their grit. Their desire to protect the village. Several of the Scouts lacked such a backbone and elected to flee in the face of danger rather than face it.
That pride in their duty was where the Warriors fell short. Their focus on training and combat caused many of them to lose sight of the little details. The equipment they used was lacking. They failed to pay attention to larger strategic planning. Their inter-squad cohesiveness was weak. Warrior teams put more value on their ability to survive with as little equipment as possible while simultaneously securing the greatest victories that they could. Efficient, sure, but it rested on the fundamental problem that they all knew but failed to acknowledge and fix; a lack of that equipment.
The warriors could fight. They could dance with the Maedra all day in the tunnels, but the majority of the teams lacked the basic equipment that would keep them safe. Their swords were too dull, chipped, and poorly made. Their armor was too thin, too light, too scarce. Their shields were too light. No helmets. No chainmail. No hardened leather. No supplies to tend to that gear, or supplies so low that one squad would need to share it all. A dangerous culture of pride through blood developed out of necessity.
The scouts needed training and courage. The warriors needed equipment and humility. Things Jake could not help either of them with. Not alone. Not as he was, and not with Ewana in such dire straits. He could propose a change in training for the Scouts, request additional workers be assigned to the Warriors, but the Council wouldn’t bite. Jake knew that. He had no influence in such matters nor could he sway anyone in such a position. Not as an outsider. Even with whatever accolades he had thus far, it wouldn’t be close to enough. Jake might as well shout his plans to the Maedra. At least they would respond to him.
Yet, there was a third group Jake needed to handle as well. A group he likely would be able to fix up himself should he be given the opportunity; the support mages. This small group was mainly composed of healers, and it wasn't part of either the scouts or the warriors. They were simply individuals who could control their mana in some way. Their abilities varied as did their knowledge, experience, mental fortitude, and equipment. Not being a part of either the Scout or Warrior command groups, the support mages were paid separately and expected to purchase their own supplies with their own money. They were awarded money solely based on their efforts in the tunnels. Efforts that weren’t exactly recorded in a quantitative manner. No two mages were ever paid the same, even if they were sent on the same mission together. Thus, not all mages were capable of the same work. Those with more ability naturally climbed the ranks quicker and settled into the company of the Red teams. Those without it remained at the bottom. Or worse, died at the hands of the Maedra.
There was a lot of work to be done. Jake could hardly wrap his head around it all and lacked the knowledge to find the answers he sought. How could he help the village? What could he do to increase the fighting ability of the Oryx and give them even a glimmer of hope against the Maedra? Such an enemy was naturally faster and stronger. The Maedra had the numbers and the brute force to overwhelm the Oryx regardless of tactics. Yet, the Oryx had the intelligence to develop plans and confidently deal with the Maedra. Though there were casualties along the way, Ewana had been able to keep the horde at bay for this long.
To take that ground back, Ewana would need to change that. No longer could the village stall and remain on the backfoot. The village would need to advance into the tunnels, seek out the Maedra in their own nests, and kill every moving beast within them. It would turn the one-sided slaughter into a meat grinder. The Oryx would likely lose numerous trained individuals and the number of deaths would skyrocket. Yet, over time the number of Maedra would decrease. The influence of the village would spread and the need to reach out into the dark would also increase as the resource pool available would similarly expand.
Jake could speak with the council and give them his ideas but again, his lack of influence wouldn’t get him far. He needed physical results. With the team he was putting together, Jake needed to make an impact. A successful Nest Raid with low casualties and a heavy punch against the Maedra. Something he could replicate. Something that the village would have no choice but to acknowledge as a potential way forward.
The Red teams he was recruiting were proven to be capable. He had fought beside Tomb and Pharos both during his short time in the village and had also seen the work of other warrior teams and Scout teams. During the time he spent at Mur's hall, he probably also trained with some of the fresh Scouts. Yet, their battles were more like skirmishes. Nothing more than that. The operation they conducted was on a larger scale but the lack of preparation left the Warriors short-handed. This time, Jake hoped to alleviate that.
If Jake and Darius could fight against the horde with a single mage as support, then there was no reason a handful of properly equipped Oryx couldn’t do the same.
“Excuse me, I would like to submit a request.” Thus, Jake would need to ensure his second and third Scout teams were experienced enough to handle that burden.
“Oh, hello. Identification?” The clerk across from Jake shifted in her seat as she set the book she was reading to the side. The time of day was quiet. While the association as a whole was still fairly lively, the windows were mainly vacant and the clerks manning them had little to entertain them.
Jake slid his card across the desk and then looked at the small huddle of Scouts by the board. They were young and taunted each other about what possible jobs they should take.
“Hello, Mr. Furrow. What kind of request would you like to make?" After checking his card, the woman returned it to Jake. She then pulled out a sheet of paper to write on.
Jake nodded. “I need two Red teams to assist with an assault on a known Beast-controlled tunnel. The assault group will be three Red warrior teams and the support section will be two dedicated squads of support individuals.”
Listening to his request, the woman froze. She stared at him, her eye blinking slowly. Her eye continued to linger even after he had finished. Jake wondered if he had said something strange or if something was wrong with his face.
“Uhm… My apologies. Are you requesting assistance directly attacking the Beasts?”
“Yes. The beasts and their nesting grounds.” Jake didn’t want to hide any information from whatever teams might be interested in joining him. He wanted them to understand the nature of the dangerous task he was hiring them for. That way there would be no excuses when they stepped out into dangerous territory.
The woman set down her pen. "Just a moment, please." Jake raised an eyebrow as she slid from her seat and hurried off to the rear. He watched her as she weaved through the mess and eventually found a slightly taller Oryx standing along a shelf. They exchanged a few words before he looked up and towards Jake. Shortly after, the two both came back to the window.
Jake didn’t like that.
“Excuse me, Sir. My clerk has informed me that you would like to submit a direct action request against a Beast controlled tunnel? And you’re requesting two Red teams?” He asked, likely verifying what he had been told.
“Yes. It will consist of three teams, not two. Pharos Squad is already on board. I need two more.” Jake hadn’t worked directly with any other teams, only in passing during the operation. Thus, he didn’t feel comfortable knocking on doors and asking. By making a request, the teams would be able to read it, consider it on their own without pressure, and then decide on their own. Jake had some time to spare so there wasn’t much of a rush just yet.
"While there is no problem with your request, it seems there are a lot of resources that will need to be allocated to this request. The village may not be able to fund it directly. Not upfront."
So, they won’t be paid for it?
“I understand.” Jake hadn’t thought of that. Payment. His focus had been entirely on the survival of Ewana, not so much on the financial burden of things. “I still would like to put out the request.”
The man’s expression tensed for a moment, as if he was thinking of something to say. “Okay. When would you like a response?”
“The sooner the better, if possible. Two days at minimum with an additional two days to gather the necessary supplies.” Four days should prove to be enough. Given the workload, Jake figured the majority of the Red teams were out in the tunnels currently. They would return in the evening to resupply and rest, then tomorrow morning they would be given the next batch of duties that they would need to complete. If they accepted his request, Jake wanted to account for the timeframe the teams would need to properly prepare. Such a raid would take several days.
"Teams should bring at least four days' worth of supplies. Food and water, weapon maintenance gear, sleeping gear, and additional weapons if they might need them. I also recommend warm clothes and boots. The fighting will be intense when it happens but there will be plenty of walking.” Jake outlined what the teams would need to get. As he did so, the man made notes of everything. He did ask Jake to be specific in terms of clothing and gear, to which Jake outlined what he recommended.
"What are the chances of casualties?" The man asked, keeping his eyes mostly on the paper as he spoke. Without a pause...
“Very high.”
The man nodded and marked a box. “Understood. This is not something that can be posted on the board. Instead, it will be distributed directly to the teams. Is that fine?” The man signed the paper at the bottom and then folded it three times so that he could tuck it into his jacket.
"That will work." Knowing that the red teams would be notified personally was comforting. If it was up on the board, that meant only those with extra time would potentially see it. This way, it was guaranteed that the teams would get it. "Also, if more teams are willing to participate, let me know. Please.”
The man nodded. “Shall I make a list of all the volunteers?”
“Yes, please. The more people are willing to participate, the easier it will be.” Along with the increased manpower on the mission, Jake would be able to show and teach more teams at once. In time he had hoped to bring every team out on a raid to show them the tactics needed. With more teams on this initial run, he could speed up that process.
After a short deliberation of small details, the man took the request away to be finalized and Jake left the association building. The final piece was the workers and the healers. As separate entities, they were handled by the council. Not the men themselves, of course, but the administration. Once his request was finalized and processed, the administration would assign a certain number of healers to the request to support it. Jake wanted to make sure they gave him plenty and he also wanted to make sure there would be workers accompanying them.
On his way out of the Scout compound, Jake witnessed an odd sight. A large individual clad in armor rushed through the front archway leading to the council building with a much smaller Oryx at their heels. From what Jake could tell, that was a guard from one of the tunnels. Interesting. Jake didn’t quite like that but if it was serious, he would no doubt hear about it later. For now, he kept to his own business as he approached the entrance.
“State your business.” One of the guards spoke up and looked down through his visor towards Jake.
“I would like to speak with the administration about an allocation of resources for a mission.” From his pocket, Jake pulled out two items. His identification card as well as the purple card he had been given. The guard checked both before nodding.
“Proceed.” The guard returned to his stoic posture, giving Jake the right of way.
“Thanks.” Passing through, Jake entered the council building and oriented himself within the front entryway. Unlike before, there was no assistant waiting for him. The hall was busy with individuals moving between rooms, up and down the stairs, and within the various offices. At the end of the hall itself, the two large doors were being pulled closed and the guards moved to ensure the inner room would not be disturbed. That was likely where the guard and the trailing Oryx had gone.
For Jake, he stepped to the right and up to a small window. A woman was inside, sifting through an array of paperwork in front of her. She squinted through a single small optical magnifier. A single detached lens that helped her read the fine print on the documents.
“Excuse me,” Jake called, trying to get her attention. The woman held up a finger to tell him to wait as she finished reading. She then let out a huff and stamped the document before giving Jake her attention.
“How may I help you?” She looked him over as she asked her question, likely trying to figure out who he might be there for. Maybe to match him with the person she was waiting for. From the lack of recognition in her eye, Jake assumed she had found nothing.
“I’d like to speak with someone about organizing a support team for a mission? Healers, workers, and a runner?” Jake wasn’t quite sure how to word his request but spit something out with enough detail for her to work with. It didn’t seem to help.
The woman’s eyebrow lifted. “Is this about a pre-submitted request?”
“No, ma’am. It’s in the process of being finalized now by the Scout Association.”
She stared at him for a moment and then sighed. “So it’s not even been processed by the Council team?” Jake could sense some annoyance in her tone. He didn’t blame her. From her response, he wondered if she had had this issue before, and if so, how many times that “before” was.
“Uh, no. Not yet.” Jake scratched the outside of his right leg. A sudden itch was vying for his attention.
“If it has not been processed or even submitted to the council yet, then we cannot ascertain how many individuals will be allotted to your request.” The woman, now visibly annoyed, held up a finger and then leaned over to her right. She glanced at something along the counter wall that Jake could not see.
“What level of request is that?" she asked, staring at the paper.
“Red?” Jake assumed she was referring to the skill level of teams that would be required for it. She hummed and reached over, her finger tracing the paper.
“Based on the typical, you’ll be getting three healers.” She paused, ensuring that she read the correct line, and then returned to her casual posture. “Two runners will be assigned to you as per the updated requirements. No workers, though. Why will you need those?”
The request is for a raid lasting several days with the aim of opening up the tunnel for a long distance. Thus, we will need workers to leave Collector Crystals along the way. This will help to ensure safety.” Once more uncertain of how much detail to give, Jake shared as much as he thought he should. While she likely wasn’t any part of the approval chain for his request, Jake figured he might be able to say a keyword that might spur her into sending him elsewhere.
“For such a request, you will need to wait for the Council's approval. I doubt it will be approved, though. That sounds like it will take a number of resources and the village can’t quite spare as much currently.” Well, it seemed his attempt wasn’t good enough.
“I see,” he muttered. Taking in a slow breath, he steadied himself and reaffirmed that he would simply need to be patient. “Do you know how long that may take?”
“About three days, maybe less. The number of requests recently have decreased due to the increased threat of the beasts. The council is trying to make some changes. It's got this whole building in a mess.” The woman’s lips pressed together as she glanced at the horde of white paper and black ink in front of her. “Will that be all?”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Yes. Thank you.” Stepping back, Jake bowed his head briefly before stepping away. The woman waved him off and then returned to her desk work. Before Jake left the building, he gave the end room one last look. The guards remained unmoved, and Jake felt it odd.
Something didn’t feel right…
----------------------------------------
Pharos squad had given partial agreement thus far and were waiting for additional teams. Tomb accepted the request and would work to gather more interest. The Scout Association would submit the request to the Council and also ask other Red teams directly. The size of the support team would be up in the air until the request was reviewed by the council, or the administration team. His equipment with Hulgrok was being worked on and he also had clothing at the seamstress being made.
For a single day’s effort, Jake thought he had done well for himself. The seeds were in place and now all he could do was wait. With time on his hands, the boy returned to the Pharos team room and found himself a light fruity snack to eat in the kitchen area. Tau was sleeping, as usual, Fien was practicing her magic. Nuro was doing paperwork and Lao was preparing the catalysts. The others were absent. Off to grab supplies, food, or do whatever else they did in their free time.
Jake was tempted to go to the library to study and cultivate, but he hesitated. The last time he was there, he came to learn that Yir wasn’t being entirely forthcoming with him. She was hiding something. He didn’t think less of her for it. However, it made him realize that while she was willing to help him and aid his growth as a magician, that didn’t make her an ally. She was on the side of Lady Ferynith and should something happen, Yir would change from mentor to assailant. Jake wasn’t fond of that idea and part of him felt scared to return. Especially after their last encounter. He felt as though he should apologize for being so sharp with her…
Maybe next time.
Thus, instead of rushing to the library, Jake took advantage of a few moments of peace and quiet. He nibbled on a red fruit that gushed with each bite and found comfort in a chair near the sparring area. He watched Fien practice, quietly looking for places where he might be able to help her grow. He didn’t want to give advice and make her feel second-rate. However, if he found any glaring problems or dangerous casting habits, he felt it would be fine to point them out.
While thinking about that, the door to the room suddenly burst open. Fien’s spell crackled and fizzled out as she jumped and Jake bit down on his cheek by accident. They both turned to see a runner standing in front of Nuro’s desk. Beyond the open door, dozens of other runners were barging into the other red team rooms as well.
“Captain Nuro. The council requests your audience immediately.” The runner’s voice echoed through the team room. Even Tau was awake to listen.
Nuro didn’t flinch and instead let out a heavy sigh. “Jake?” He called.
“I didn’t do anything,” Jake spat. Why was he in trouble now?
Nuro stood up and threw the boy a side glance before shaking his head. “With me.” The dark elf grabbed his cloak from the back of the chair and put it on.
Jake sucked his teeth and took a heavy bite of the last of his fruit before tossing the last of it into the bin. The runner led the pair out into the hall and then instructed them to follow the group to the main administration courtyard. There they would be briefed. Nuro and Jake looked at each other but once more, Jake shook his head. There was no way this was as a result of his request, nor did it have anything to do with his attack on Maedra's nest with Darius. He had never reported it to the council directly nor had he shared the information with anyone connected to them. So, whatever this was, it wasn’t about anything he had done.
“Great,” Nuro muttered. He pulled his cloak tight around his body to keep out the Ravine’s chill and the pair fell in with the other scout captains. A number of rooms were empty and the teams were missing but as the day waned the majority had returned. Even as Jake and Nuro stepped out of the building, runners were busy catching up with the returning captains and escorting them to the gathering area. What surprised Jake most was the fact that there were Blue and Green team leaders present as well.
“I don’t like this,” Jake said. Nuro hummed and glanced around them.
“Neither do I. You sure you didn’t do anything?” Nuro asked again. Jake rolled his eyes.
“Really?” Jake grumbled and glared at his team captain. Nuro chuckled and grinned faintly.
“Just checking.”
At the front, scout and warrior team leaders merged. Both associations had been summoned and the herd of leadership personnel filtered through the small archway leading to the open grounds of the Council building. Nuro led Jake through the crowd and the pair kept to the rear of the grounds, circling around to the side. They nearly reached the edge of the herd when a few familiar faces came into view. Captain Lin and Sergeants Tux and Ryn. They were all dressed in the same colored armor with emblems denoting their squad- Tomb.
“Nuro!” Captain Lin shouted, waving to get the elf’s attention. Nuro flinched and suddenly stopped, turning as though he had never seen the warrior. Jake stifled a laugh. “Don’t you ignore me, you bastard!” Lin approached, weaving his way through the few in the way. Nuro let out a groan.
“Another annoyance is here…” he moaned. Captain Lin laughed and slapped the dark elf on the back.
“Ah, don’t speak like that! How are you? Your handy mage here has been quite a blessing, hasn’t he?!" Captain Lin grinned wide, his eye meeting Jake’s as the two exchanged smiles. Jake stepped back from the two to give them space and found himself standing beside the Sergeants.
"Glad to see you, mage.” Sergeant Tux spoke first and held out a hand. Jake smiled and gripped it firmly.
“Likewise. You two been alright?” After shaking Tux’s hand, Jake looked at Sergeant Ryn. The Oryx didn’t smile but he did extend for a shake. Stiff as always.
“Yes. Lost a man the other day but overall, the team is good. We’re integrating nicely with Tomb.” Tux spoke for the two of them as Ryn turned to face the distant raised platform.
Jake found that calming to hear. The last time he saw both of them, they were part of their own teams. It seemed after their outpost mission, Captain Lin had recruited them. They might have been out on missions when he met with the captain earlier. “That’s nice to hear. Stay alive, would you?” Jake smirked as he turned towards the platform.
“It’s harder for us than you think, mage.” Ryn finally spoke up, spitting out his words with a little heat on them. Jake huffed.
“No, I think that’s just you.” Jake jabbed back. Tux smirked and gave Ryn a nudge.
“Definitely just you.”
“Oh shut up.” Ryn rolled his eye and crossed his arms. “Heard some whispers, mage. You’ve got more work for us?” Ryn looked to his right, as did Tux. Both of them eyed Jake as the boy nodded.
It seemed that Captain Lin was already doing his part. “Hope you two are ready for some payback.”
“Always.” Ryn’s stoic expression cracked as his lips curled ever so slightly. It seemed even he was frothing at the mouth to attack the Maedra.
A short while later, the crowd stopped growing and Jake found himself standing at the rear of an impressive gathering of bodies. He knew that there were a lot of Oryx in the two associations, but he had never seen them all together at once. Those in this group were just the leaders. For each individual, or pairing, there were at least five or six Oryx assigned to them. If not more depending on the side of the element beneath the leader. Jake had seen the numbers before but in person it was even more impressive. To think, there were this many people fighting against the Maedra and it was still a losing battle.
Truly, it was unfortunate.
“Team leaders, may I have your attention?" At the head of the crowd, an Oryx clad in a familiar set of armor stood atop the small platform. The Guard Captain that Jake had seen earlier. The voices of the crowd died off as the herd gave the new face their undivided attention. Jake noticed Nuro tense up. The Dark Elf crossed his arms and sucked his teeth loudly.
“Shit,” he muttered.
“Aye.” Captain Lin nodded his head and similarly took a tense stance. “This isn’t good.” Jake raised an eyebrow but didn’t need to wonder as to what they were worried about. The captain began to speak.
“There’s no need to be coy. Earlier today the beasts attacked a caravan traveling through a White Tunnel. The caravan was ambushed and all of its members were killed. The only survivor was a runner who escaped, as was their job.” The statements brought ice to the air. A few whispers tickled the air but for the most part, everyone present remained silent. Even Jake. Something didn’t feel right about those words.
“For those who are experienced, you know what this means.” The Guard Captain scanned the crowd slowly. “The beasts are upon us. We don’t know when they will find the village but it is only a matter of time now. They have breached a core tunnel and will likely be using it to launch an attack in the near future." He paused. At the same time, he pulled out a scroll and let it fall open.
“As of this moment, the village of Ewana has been placed on Emergency Status. All tunnels have been declared red and passage out of the village has been denied to all personnel, citizens, and adventurers. Until the situation within the White Tunnel is dealt with, Ewana will be on high alert and all reserve individuals will be called back into service.”
As with the initial statements, the crowd remained iced. Whispers, exchanged looks, and uncertain emotions rolled over those present. The words spoken by the Guard only reaffirmed their fears. It was indeed only a matter of time before this happened and most of the Oryx within the village knew it. They only hoped it wouldn’t happen in their lifetime. Especially those who were looking for an easy ride from the cradle to death.
The declaration also provided a reason to retain them. The Council declared that Ewana was under immediate risk of assault. Not only were its borders being sealed to prevent further incidents, but it was also calling back into service all those who had retired or left the associations. The majority of the civilian population had just been conscripted to fight. For such a decision to be made, there must be a reason. Something they found in the tunnels.
“Why?” The question they were all asking in their minds was shouted by a member of the crowd, which spurred several other dissidents to echo it. The Guard Captain rolled up the scroll and then raised a hand, silencing the shouting.
“This is no ordinary attack. It was organized and planned in advance. The beasts attacked in a coordinated manner that allowed for no retreat.” The guard folded his hands behind his back. “They let none escape. No bodies were found. The caravan was purposely destroyed. Supplies, equipment, and weapons were scavenged in the area. Additionally, when my reinforcement team arrived to kill the beasts and clear the tunnel, they found that none of the beasts were loitering. They attacked, looted the caravan, and then retreated.”
Jake’s hands furled and he tensed. The Maedra had evolved again, hadn’t they? Not only had they attacked in a smart way but they raided that caravan for weapons and armor. If the bodies were missing, they were likely bringing them back to feed the rest of the horde. If that was the case, then there was definitely a nest nearby. Somewhere, the Maedra were gathering and organizing a force that would inevitably attack Ewana. There was no doubt about that.
Most likely, the Maedra already knew where the village was.
“The beasts aren’t that smart!”
“Yea, it had to be another village!”
“Those Ruftan bastards attacked the caravan, didn’t they?!”
The Guard Captain weathered the storm for a few moments, his expression still as stone. Eventually he raised his hand again. “My team reported finding three freshly created tunnels within the White Tunnel, connecting the White Tunnel to a deeper section that we had not scouted before. The entrances to these tunnels were found to have been concealed prior to the caravan passing. The beasts had set up and conducted an ambush. We have seen advanced tactics before, but nothing on such a scale. Thus, we need to proceed with caution until the situation is handled.”
The guard took a pause and then once more clasped his hands behind his back. “Thus, the Council has deemed fit that a subjugation operation will be conducted in three days.”
Murmurs and a few disgruntled shouts echoed through the crowd. The Guard Captain turned and an assistant Oryx stepped up to pass him a piece of paper. She took the scroll from him and stepped back. The captain raised the paper in front of him to read it.
“In three days, we will conduct a two-pronged operation. First will be Operation Trident. The operation will be conducted by a combination of Red Squads, Blue Squads, and attached Guard teams. They will push into the White Tunnel and into the three newly found tunnels at the caravan spot. Three teams will split off and scout the tunnels. Judging by the attack and the size of the beast force encountered, we can assume that there is a sort of gathering area for them nearby. They will push up the tunnels and find the location. Runners will be attached to return to the main tunnel and notify the village of its location. Scout teams will remain on the outskirts of the beast gathering area until the second phase of the operation.”
The Guard Captain paused to take a breath, then turned the paper over to read the back. Each side likely contained information for the specific operation on it.
“The second phase is Operation Cinder. Warrior teams composed of red squads, blue squads, and guard teams, will advance into the beast gathering area with the support of Scout Mages, Healers, and volunteers. They will directly assault the gathering area and clear it out.” With that, the Guard lowered the paper and addressed the crowd directly.
“In three days in the morning we will begin phase one. Phase two is expected to be conducted one to two days after the success of phase one. Should either phase fail, teams will be pulled back to the village and we will conduct a large-scale assault utilizing a mass of combined forces to defeat the beasts. All participating teams will be given priority for equipment, supplies, and any additional assets to assist them with the operation. The Council will provide financial assistance to pay for costs should individuals be unable to pay for them individually.”
He paused again. Taking a slow breath, he signaled that he was finished. “Any questions?”
Several shouts erupted, and the Guard Captain stared them all down. Jake sighed and shook his head. With the word out, those who were already terrified let their fear take over. They screamed for more information, information that didn’t exist. They shouted that it should be on the Council to handle the problem or for the guard forces to deal with it since it happened in a white tunnel. They roared for the ability to leave the village if they didn’t want to fight, for their families to be allowed to leave if they didn’t want to stay.
However, they all failed to realize the true problem. Or they chose to ignore it.
“So, we either succeed the first time or we march to our deaths. Fitting choice for those cowards.” Nuro rumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose. Captain Lin shook his head.
“Well, at least we have a fighting chance." Captain Lin tried to see the positives but Nuro just pinched harder.
“Chance? You really think this place has a chance anymore, Myx?” Nuro looked at the Captain, staring the Oryx straight in the eyes. Captain Lin's lips curled into a smile full of pain and mixed emotions.
“What do you want me to say, Nuro?” He asked. Nuro stared at him, quiet, for a few seconds. The Dark Elf opened his mouth as if to respond, then he just looked away.
“Nothing,” he muttered. Captain Lin reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“All we can do is fight, Nuro.” Captain Lin gave the Elf’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “Useless or not, it’s a chance we must take."
Nuro reached up and gently nudged the hand away. “It never had to come to this.”
Captain Lin grunted in agreement. “No, it didn’t, but here we are.” The captain turned around and looked at Jake. “Looks like you’ll get your chance, boy. Seems your recruitment efforts have gone to waste in one way but opened a door in another.”
Jake nodded, not taking his eyes off the Guard Captain. Indeed, he would get his chance. The Maedra were right on the door, banging hard and loud. In three days, whether he wanted to or not, he would get the opportunity he was looking for. Something that would work perfectly to bring the village together. Though it would come at a heavy price. He hoped the payoff would be favorable.
Of course, he knew never to invest heavily in such hope. Thus far, doing so had only led to dead friends and setbacks. This time he would make sure to prepare for everything. From ambushed to drawn out fights to potential casualties. Everything he could think of, Jake would make sure to take note of.
Yet one thing was bothering him, something he felt like he already knew the answer to and wished he was wrong about. Something was fishy about the Maedra’s organization. The beasts never coordinated in such a way. They weren’t smart enough, not yet. They were just barely able to build nests and had just begun learning how to send out patrols. He had come across an ambush before but it was a fluke, or so he thought. He hadn’t encountered anything like that since. For the Maedra to perform another one, one with a higher level of planning involved, Jake could easily conclude that there was an additional factor involved. Someone was pulling the strings and teaching the Maedra. Someone that could either control them or had enough power to force them to listen out of fear.
Someone Jake was unsure if he was ready to fight just yet.
“Three days, huh…?” Jake muttered. He looked up at Nuro’s back and stared at the Dark Elf. “Nuro.”
Nuro looked over his shoulder at the boy but said nothing.
“Volunteer for the first phase.” Jake needed to get eyes on those tunnels. If the Maedra were involved in such a way, he wanted to make sure to be as much help to the village as possible. Even if he had to force his way in, he would be there. If Nuro could somehow get Pharos as a whole to go, then that would certainly increase their fighting abilities. Besides, Pharos already had a record of being able to kill the Maedra in a high capacity. To leave such an asset sidelined was a waste.
“I know.” Nuro grunted, looking away. “I know.”
The Guard Captain shouted from the front again. “Teams that will be participating in the upcoming operation will be contacted by runners by the end of the day. The runners will also be instructed to collect your requests for supplies and equipment should your team need them. The lists will be brought to Council funded craftsmen and your orders will be handled swiftly. On the day of the operation, equipment will be distributed.”
After another pause, the Guard Captain nodded. “Spread the word as well. Deserters and those who attempt to flee the village will be detained and guards have orders to defend themselves. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, Council representatives will be dispatched to the Associations to answer them. Dismissed.”
Shouts and yells echoed across the courtyard as the crowd erupted. Jake found the situation to be quite dangerous and elected to back out of it entirely. Nuro, Captain Lin, and the two sergeants made the same choice. The group, along with many others, quickly left the courtyard before things turned violent. Forced to fight and forced to stay under threat of punishment. Things didn't seem to be looking up, and Jake figured things would only get uglier.
“Jake,” Nuro stepped out of the way once they were clear of the courtyard and waved Jake over. “I’ll return to the team room and inform the others. You know the deal already. Start preparing for the operation and come back in three days. Check in every morning but otherwise, get yourself sorted.”
“Roger, sir.” Jake nodded. “Nuro, sorry.”
Nuro’s eyes widened a bit. “For?”
“I thought I’d be able to stop something like this. Guess I was just too slow.” Jake rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced, uncertain of how he felt. He felt like he could have done more if he had pushed himself. Maybe if he was more selfish and took more missions on his own, he would have been able to simply kill more Maedra and keep their numbers low. Maybe if he hadn't been so concerned about the village, he might have been able to change things. It was odd to think of it that way, but he didn't feel himself to be entirely wrong. Jake wished for the village to someday be autonomous. It already was before he arrived. However, he wanted the Oryx to be able to not only fight the Maedra to a stalemate, but he wanted them to be able to advance.
“None of this is your fault, Jake,” Nuro chuckled and started to head for the scout compound. “The beasts are an inevitability down here. They all know it, and so do we. I think we’re lucky that you’re here when it’s happening.” Nuro raised a hand and waved as he shouted. “You still have a chance to change things, boy. Don’t give up just yet.”
Jake squeezed his fists and clenched his teeth. Right. The fight wasn’t over yet.
Not yet.