Kai’s mind was buzzing with questions but the smell of roast meat wafting through the night air made his stomach rumble. He’d lived off honey for weeks and that meat was calling to him. The fire pit itself also looked inviting, but staying here would be unwise.

The fire crackled heartily.

Maybe just a few moments?

Moving to sit by the fire, he picked up a meat skewer.

“Is this sa-safe to eat?” He raised the yellow-looking meat into the air questioningly.

Algrom glared at him like he was daft. It was a look Kai was familiar with and his temper began to simmer.

“Yah, safe to eat.” Algrom sat down with a thump and took a giant chomp, juices running down his beard. Followed by grunts and slight head nodding. Kai licked his lips and took a tentative bite; then inhaled the meat like he was going to win a prize. It tasted like bacon and fried banana. The fire sputtered in protest as Algrom threw more wood in. Matt joined moments later, though he roasted mushrooms on the skewer.

They all stared wordlessly into the fire for a time, watching the flames crackle and lick the wood. Deep thoughts reflected in their eyes.

Eventually Algrom looked at Kai, a glint in his eye. “…why do you reek of wet dog and honey?”

Kai raised his eyebrow mid chomp. Matt let out a snicker that he tried to turn into a cough. Classy, seems some things are universal.

“So that’s why you’re both s-sitting on the other side of the fire huh?” Kai smiled softly.

“Well that, all the claw marks, burns and bruises,” Algrom said. Matt leaned in conspiratorially. “Though it’s hard to see under the grime and past the stench,” he chimed in helpfully. Despite the commentary and his hobo-like appearance, Kai noticed Matt’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Uh, yeah — g-got a spare shirt? Perhaps a magical shower?” Kai said, hope painted on his face.

The weird tension broke as Algrom burst into laughter, followed by Matt and lastly Kai.

“So who or what”—Kai gestured wildly around him—“did all this to Earth, and why?”

Kai had built up many questions while he was trapped underground and with someone to finally ask, they spilled forth from him rapidly and haphazardly.

“…and are all Lizardfolk like that? Why did only one have an aura? What do you know about the system?” he said, his deluge of questions betraying his placid face.

“Where is all the technology, buildings, weapons, guns?” Kai said.

Algrom blinked, then put his hands together and turned his gaze to the crackling fire.

“Look, the short story is that technology almost ended the universe. At that point grand orders took over as faith in technology was replaced by faith in the system. These orders each claimed they would restore the universe from the chaos of the collapse. For thousands of years it worked too.”

“What do I need to know about these orders?” Kai said.

“For now, it would be useful to know about the three grand orders that have dominion of this sector, unfortunately I can only be sure of two at this point. The order of the Infinite Void: mostly Lizardfolk and those who enjoy a militaristic matriarchal society. Logic and strength, ruthless practicality. Their supposed mission is to keep the post-collapse cycle intact.”

Algrom took a breath before continuing, “The order of Dawnbreakers: mostly Vanara; that’s my race, the finest tinkers and industrialists in the Universe. They claim to believe technology is good and aim to restore some parts of it.”

Kai noticed that Algrom said ‘they’ and not ‘we’ when referring to the order of Dawnbreakers and pocketed the information away. If they knew what a gun was, they’d probably hate technology too.

“So you’re a dwarf?” Kai blurted.

Algrom looked visibly offended, borderline shocked. “My height is perfectly normal, thank you very much!”

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“Sorry, never mind,” Kai mumbled.

Algrom’s tail deftly snatched a meat skewer from the fire, delivering the tasty morsel into his hands.

“I have not seen any but I suspect the third could be the Shadar.” Algrom pulled on his ears. “Pointy-eared bioluminescent fellows, look like they had a bath in space—”

Kai’s attention strayed while he wondered if the Starforger or Arcturus were Shadar. His errant thought caused him to miss the rest of the sentence to his dismay.

So much for improved memory, seems I still have to pay attention.

Algrom gestured towards Matt. “Rakin are one of many independent factions unaffiliated with any orders. Same for you humans really.”

Algrom shrugged. “The system has been around since the collapse. However the integrations have changed, been manipulated slightly somehow. Benefiting the rulers of the three grand orders more obviously. It doesn’t help that they sponsor”—Matt coughed, “bribe”—“participants to join them as disciples with crystals,” Algrom finished, making no effort to refute Matt’s cough, which caused Kai to grin.

“So, this dominion mode is not normal?” Kai said, wondering about the messages at the start of all this. Was it a way to make it harder for native species to claim dominion of their homeworlds?

Algrom nodded. “On established worlds within the system, there’s no opportunities left.” Algrom made a ‘everything’ gesture. “Here, there is opportunity. Unique rewards. Hunters come from across the universe to immigrate, grow, fight, and trade. The system limits who can enter the planet for the duration of the trials, which is usually a few years. Rewards and achievements are limited in every world, the easiest time to acquire more is on baby worlds freshly integrated into the system. It’s savagely competitive, because eventually there’s nothing left. Apex bonuses are even more unique, as only one individual can ever hold that bonus.”

Kai glimpsed at Kura; she was truly one of a kind.

She held her head high and basked in the praise.

“What do you mean limits their power?” Kai said.

“Newly integrated worlds may swell with aura several times before integration is complete, usually but not always, at the start of a new trial. Creatures of the world grow stronger and higher grades may enter through new incursions at that time. It’s a rare event, but it can happen,” Algrom said.

“Okay, and what are hunters?”

Algrom bristled his beard like a flustered peacock before continuing, “Last few questions, boy. So unblooded are those who have never earned aura or vital traits, usually people born on established worlds.” Algrom tilted his head towards Matt.

“I was out here trying to change that!” Matt squealed. He puffed his cheeks out as he regarded them both with jealousy.

Algrom guffawed, “After that you get vital hunters; they have levels and stats but no aura — footmen really.” Algrom’s tail pointed in the dark towards the splattered Lizardfolk. “Then there are aura hunters; those who focus solely on aura; usually crafters, forgers, healers, builders — that sort of thing. Then you have apex hunters; those who seek the best of both vital traits and aura traits.”

Algrom stretched his back.

Kai wondered if the term hunter was coined from the act of tracking down and hunting specific types of primals for traits that best matched your build or goals, something he’d been thinking about. His heart thumped enthusiastically at the idea of being an apex hunter, though his mind tried to remain calm.

“Then there are those who compete in the global trials for dominion, but usually this is just a battle between the grand orders’ chosen disciples. Anyone else who competes is usually a daft idiot about to die.”

Kai started sweating.

Algrom yawned. “Without support from one of the grand orders it’s impossible to compete against the advantages disciples–also called champions–have. Good luck beating one let alone placing top in every trial to even stand a chance at having enough power to become a progenitor and claim dominion in the last trial.”

Kai recalled the rewards for the first trial; one of them was to become a candidate. “…what if you become a candidate for one of these orders?”

“Oh, in that case I’d have to kill you,” Algrom casually remarked with a mad glint in his eye.

Kai’s face paled, slowly realising just what a disadvantage he had. Should I share that I’m competing?

“…Anyone who competes also has a massive target on their back,” Algrom said as he poked the fire.

So that’s a no on the sharing, however I feel like Algrom’s testing me for some reason.

“So why are you here, aren’t you part of a grand order?” Kai said.

“Nay, not for some time. I’m just here to get rid of some weeds,” Algrom said cryptically.

Kai suspected there was more to the story… but Algrom seemed decent, and easily irritated. So he didn’t press more questions for now.

They made small talk, drank, and ate late into the night. Kai even got a new shirt. Matt’s ears always perked up when aura was discussed, peppering them with questions. When Kai joked that he could introduce Algrom to Iron man, the Vanara had whipped out an alcoholic beverage he’d never heard of in celebration, calling it his ‘special gift.’ Ordinarily he would not have partaken, but he’d survived the apocalypse and was having dinner with a raccoon and a monkey-dwarf. So, why not? Perhaps it will help settle my mind a little, he thought.

After sipping it, he grimaced before adding some of his honey. Kai gave the rest of the honey jar to a wide-eyed Matthias who greedily slurped the rest, his long tongue easily getting to the bottom of the jar. Algrom drank the strange alcohol as if it was water and he was stranded in the desert. Sometime later Kai blurted out: “Why’d you call that guy a-ass dandruff?”

Algrom puffed his chest out proudly. “Surely it’s a fine insult based on what I have observed from human culture?”

Kai laughed himself off the rock. Lying on his back he listened to the banter and crackle of the fire, thinking strange thoughts, then yawned. He watched more and more stars gather and fill up the night sky till he fell asleep.