Technically, I was still on my first tour as I had never left the Savage Lands. But I had seen somewhere over thirty tours arrive, be decimated—some even almost fully destroyed except for me and few other maybe-lucky souls—and depart.
In all that time, I did what I could for the Disposal Troops.
Even though I had gotten into trouble on multiple occasions early on, and even had been threatened with death on more times than I could count, I was still alive and well. In recent tours, they had used me as a commander for the Disposal Troops. And because of my ability not to receive their so-called-purpose they started to leave a unit of Tier Five runners nearby.
Bad mistake on their part as I had woven their Tier Fives into a unified Tier Three and Tier Five joint unit.
And as I was doing my best to be that annoying bit of sand, I built myself a proper home out of wood over the years. It wasn’t just for me, though; I built it for my unit. Looking back, I believed I had gone from an annoying grain of sand to a pearl.
Still, I kept my options open to escape if need be. So much so that I started to trade with Tier Fives for various weapons and training. Not just for me, but for the elite units of the Tier Three. That was another change I brought it. Ability to change the units so that the best were focused in quality. After some time, I would cycle the veterans around newer units, giving the veterans somewhere they could have some time away from the most dangerous fighting, and, at the same time, allow them to teach the new Tier Three recruits.
After bringing this into full operation two tours ago, the death rate of the Disposal Troop rapidly decreased even further than it had before. I was also teaching the other members of my unit how I led. So that if, when, I escaped—even if the escape was death—then hopefully things would carry on.
With each leadership change that came, that was with each tour, I was worried the new leader would be force change upon me from above to dismantle everything. But it never had. In fact, sometimes they enforced further change which I had wished for but dare not put into place.
In fact, despite the fact we were Tier Three the latest leader, a Tier Nine from the Fastidious House, forced the issue that as this was a winter camp we needed better facilities for the Tier Three so they forced the mana-capable to build a permanent camp for the Tier Threes.
They even constructed a larger barracks for my unit. And it was to there that I was heading, escorted by armoured Tier Five and Tier Seven troops. The only thing they hadn’t done was to pave the ground or enclose us within a wall. That was too far for them, as it would mean we would be equal to Tier Five.
Not that I minded.
It allowed me some perverse sense of joy being set apart from the rest of those elitist fools.
Other things had changed too. Tier Three were acting as proper troops, exercising, practicing with their weapons, doing drill, and having fun. Gone were the tours where there was constant silence in the Tier Three camp. Now there was plenty of noise, dead eyed people were fewer than ever, and as fewer of us died, some were being rotated out for breaks back in the Heartlands. Some of them, and I had evidence of this, were promoted as honorary Tier Five Light Seekers for temples in newly built towns, and they had their Traits unlocked to allow for higher Mastery levels.
And the reason why all of this was allowed to carry on was the death rates for Tier Five, which carried on up to the Tier Seven and even Tier Nines, was also lower than ever. Also, more and more Fissures were safer than ever before, leading to less monster waves threatening the outer edges of the Heartlands.
There was also talk about moving this Outer Heart further away from the encroaching Heartlands.
Today there was silence in the Tier Three camp. Not because it was ordered, but because of what was happening to me. Though I was surrounded by the fully armoured and armed Tier Five and Tier Seven, and was being escorted by them, they were nervous.
Not that I blamed them. Lining the path they were taking was every Tier Three Disposal Troop; soldier and prostitute both. Even though they were not armed with their shield, short sword, or spear, the number of them, silently watching as I was escorted past, wore on my escorts nerves.
And it buoyed me up.
All of my escorts had their hands on their weapons, their heads scanning for any trouble in the crowd. Not that it was a crowd. That implied a disorganised mass. No. All the Disposal Troop were standing smartly as if they were on parade. Something the Tier Fives struggled to match. It was something that Tier Sevens and Tier Nines thought below them. And, to be honest, how they operated and fought within the Fissures, they were likely correct.
Not that I had any control over them, nor did I want it.
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Finally, my escort reached their destination. It was the only two story building in the Tier Three camp. It was also larger on the ground than the others. But like every other building out in the Tier Three camp, it had a simple, plain design, unlike the ornate decorations that covered every building hidden behind the walls.
Personally I preferred this design. Again, it was something which showed we were unique and no-fuss.
The lead Tier Seven of my escort opened the door for me. ‘You are to enter alone.’
I gave him the best smart military salute I could. Not because I respected him, or the chain of command, but because it was something that I introduced to the Tier Three and lately had been introduced to the Tier Fives. I could see the semi-hidden wince in their face when they saw it. A reminder that though I was deferential to them, it was only because I was winning.
That Divine Blessing Trait really had saved my life and made things easier for me as I introduced everything. So I thanked Death, well I guessed it was him who made me into a Demi-God after partly ruining my soul, after I was stupid enough to upset him.
Unlike the other barracks, which entered a combination common room and bunk room, this was a pure common room, and one which was much larger than the other common rooms. I guessed it would also make a good briefing room. Off to one side I saw an open door, and next to it stairs leading upwards.
‘Come on in, Brother,’ a voice shouted out from the open doorway.
I walked to the doorway. Inside was a fair sized room dominated by a large table, a few chairs were stacked up under the gap under the stairs. One chair had been taken out and placed in front of the large table. On that chair was a person who looked familiar, and similar, to me. They were looking over the shoulder with a pained smile.
It had been a long time since I had seen their face last. This time his face wasn’t sad, but a painful mix of joy and pain.
He had bulked out better than me, probably because of the better diet he’d had. And his hair, well, he had hair, mine was stubble and awaiting another shave. But that strong jawed face and those intense eyes: they were almost a mirror to mine.
The main difference was his eyes were still bright and full of life. Mine were more jaded and wary.
‘What would Father say if he heard you call me Brother?’
‘He died two winters ago.‘ There was no hint at sadness in my brother’s face or tone. I didn’t feel any sadness either, which didn’t surprise me. ’I’m the House Head now.’
I remained quiet, standing in the open doorway.
‘Come, sit, Brother. Your chair is on the other side. Please, take it.’
There were so many layers to what he said, I couldn’t fathom them all. But I did as he asked. It wasn’t a command, more of a friendly permission. I walked around the large table which really dominated this room and sat down in the chair. It was remarkably comfortable, almost as if it had been made for me.
‘I had it made for me before I departed for Outer Heart, and I hoped it would be comfortable for you. It looks like it is.’
It really was, so I nodded.
‘There is a secret I must admit to you. Within my System Trait I have Detailed Analysis at 5M-0. I’ve hidden this from the administration portal, masking it as Standard Analysis 4M-1.’
‘Okay, what does that mean?’
‘It means I don’t need an administration portal to see someone’s traits. And I can tell if they’ve masked or altered them. Which no known administration portal is able to do.’
I nodded, hoping he would continue with the point he wanted to make.
‘You’re a Nine Trait, aren’t you, one who has had six Traits Locked.’
‘Yes,’ I said carefully. The shock of him telling me this wasn’t as great as I expected. Probably because I felt like he was playing a game, and I was doing my best to play the same game by trying to lead him on, but not trying to overplay my limited hand.
‘Well, seven years ago I had an interesting discussion with a god.’
I nodded. Hoping he would not see the surprise, I felt deep inside. I sighed and gave up playing the game. I waved my hand, hoping he would stop leading me on and finally get to his point.
‘They somehow had mistaken me for you, just for a moment. But I was grateful they did. Because it means I am able to help you.’
‘How?’
‘Please, take my hand.’ He reached over the expanse of the table which separated us.
Seeing no reason not to I reached over, meeting him in the middle, and took his hand.
Initiating Secure Communication Protocol