Chapter 34
The aftermath of the battle left Galene in disarray. The remnants of our once-thriving camp were now overshadowed by chaos and confusion. With loyalties divided and distrust at an all-time high, many arguments erupted throughout the afternoon, the sound of raised voices cutting through the heavy silence. Tension lingered in the air like a heavy fog, stifling the hope we had expected our arrival would bring.
John was stretched thin, his hands full as he attempted to mediate disputes and restore order. After breaking up the fifth fight in less than an hour, he finally sent Felix and me out to check in on the community, urging us to get a handle on the current state of things. “We need to know how everyone is holding up,” he said, his voice strained. “Get a sense of who’s feeling safe and who needs support.”
As we walked through the camp, I could feel the weight of unease pressing down on us. The people who had come to Galene after the raiders took over were the hardest to engage. Most were incredibly untrusting and scared, their eyes darting with suspicion at every shadow. From their perspective, we were just as dangerous as the raiders who had terrorized them before. The memory of oppression under Matt's rule still loomed large, and after days of quiet compliance, dissent seemed like a distant memory.
“Look at it this way,” Felix said quietly as we passed a group of initiates, their voices rising in agitation. “They don’t know us. To them, we’re just a new set of raiders, trying to take control like Matt did.”
I nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. The fear of punishment had kept many from speaking out against Matt, and now that he was gone, the silence was almost deafening. People were a turbulent mix of being afraid to share their thoughts or being incredibly vocal- looking to pick a fight with anyone who looked their way.
We decided to make a stop to see Susan, hoping her familiarity might ease some of the tension. As we approached her tent, I felt a flicker of hope. “Maybe she’ll have a better sense of what’s happening,” I suggested, trying to keep my spirits up.
When we arrived, we found Susan hunched over the finishings of lunch. She looked frazzled. Her usually neat hair hung in ragged strands around her round face. She looked up in surprise. “Oh Maura dear! Felix! You’re both okay.” Relief flooded her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks.
After catching her up, Felix reached into the Spacial Relocation Cube and pulled out the Cook’s Station. Susan’s eyes lit up as she ran a hand along the wooden surface of the station, tracing its smooth contours as if it were a treasured relic.
“Oh, this is wonderful!” she exclaimed, a genuine smile breaking through her frazzled demeanor. “This reminds me of my kitchen at home. It even smells good. I can’t believe you managed to get this! It will make a world of difference.” She looked up at us, gratitude shining in her eyes. “I’ve been trying to prepare meals with just a few pots and a fire pit. It’s been a struggle to feed everyone with the limited supplies we have.”
“It’s the least we could do,” I replied, feeling a sense of warmth at her enthusiasm. “From our understanding you should be able to connect with the station and claim chef as a profession. I’m hoping that it will help you level and become stronger without the need for any fighting.”
Susan concentrated on the station and after walking her through selecting menu options she was all set up as head chef on the station. There were several people who helped off and on with food prep and she thought she may be able to convince at least one or two of them to take on the profession and join her entourage.
“It’ll be like the first night again- nothing brings people closer than coming together over good food, right?”
“Absolutely!” Susan laughed, the sound brightening the atmosphere around us. But as quickly as it came, her laughter faded, and her brow furrowed again. “Still, with everything that’s happened… People are on edge. They’re struggling to process the loss and the changes. It’s hard to feel safe.”
I nodded, understanding all too well the turmoil that was brewing beneath the surface. “We’re doing our best to help. Felix and I are checking in on everyone, trying to reassure them.”
As I spoke, I noticed Susan glancing toward the group of initiates milling around outside her tent. Their voices were still raised, the tension palpable. “It’s going to take time for them to adjust,” she said quietly. “Especially those who came here after Matt took over. Everyone has been through so much. Trust doesn’t come easily.”
Felix shifted slightly, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll need to show them we’re different. That we’re here to help, not hurt.”
“Yes,” Susan agreed, a flicker of hope returning to her eyes. “And this cooking station will help! If we can get a good meal together, it might lift their spirits. Everyone loves a good warm dinner.”
As she began to set up the station, I felt a spark of determination. If we could get the community to come together over food, maybe we could begin to heal the divisions that had formed.
Stolen novel; please report.
“Let us know if you need any help,” I offered, feeling a surge of purpose. “We can gather ingredients or help with preparations.”
“Thank you, Maura. I have a few people in mind who I will ask,” Susan replied, her smile brightening once more. “I also have some herbs and vegetables I’ve been saving. I’ll whip up something hearty for everyone.”
After we finished setting up, I caught a glimpse of movement outside the tent. A few initiates were glancing our way, some still whispering to each other. My heart sank a little; the air was thick with lingering tension.
“Let’s check on the others,” I suggested, reluctant to linger too long in the atmosphere of uncertainty. “We need to keep the momentum going.”
As we stepped back outside, I could still hear the distant echoes of raised voices. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead.
But as I scanned the crowd, a familiar face caught my eye—Darren, standing off to the side, looking troubled. I knew we needed to address the fractures in our community before they grew any wider.
“Let’s go talk to Darren,” I said, my voice firm. “We need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”
“Right behind you,” Felix replied, his tone supportive as we made our way toward him.
As we approached, I could see the strain etched on Darren’s face, his posture tense. He looked like he was caught in a storm of his own making, and I felt a sense of urgency rise within me.
“Darren,” I called, catching his attention. “We need to talk about what happened. Should we go somewhere else?”
He looked at me, the conflict in his eyes unmistakable. “I know,” he said, his voice low. “I thought I was helping. I thought by winning over Matt’s trust with Jared we could cause a fight between them before you even arrived. I gave him the wrong time, though!”
The words hit me like a slap. “You shared our plans?” I asked, incredulity flooding my voice. “You told him what we were going to do?”
“I didn’t think he would find you at Jared’s tent!” he protested, running a hand through his hair. “I thought he would be caught off guard because I told him later and I thought-”
“Thought what? That he would get mad at Jared and just leave?” I interrupted, anger flaring up again. “You have no idea what it was like in that tent with Jared and Matt. You have no idea what your reckless idea caused..”
Felix stepped in, sensing the rising tension. “Maura, this isn’t the time or place for this.” He placed a calming hand on my shoulder. “Darren, we’re going to have to bring this up to John. We’ll talk about this more later.”
Darren nodded slowly, the weight of his mistake hanging heavily in the air. “You’re right. I’ll do better. I just… I didn’t want to see anyone else die.”
“Well you succeeded Darren. You didn’t have to see anyone else die. I did. And one of those I’m responsible for. John will decide what to do with you, but frankly I don’t trust you.”
Darren’s eyes flared with anger and turmoil as his fingers twitched at his side. “Whatever.” Darren said turning on his heel and walking away.
As we stood there in the silence for several minutes, the air around us began to settle, the tension slowly easing. I turned to the to Felix and Byte. “I have an idea. Let’s move these two tents and set up a crafting area.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, we got to work. At first, the three of us moved supplies slowly, unsure of where to start or how best to arrange everything. But as we began to clear space, something shifted in the atmosphere. People nearby started to take notice, and before long, other settlers joined in to help, eager to contribute to the cause.
The clearing grew larger, and it wasn’t long before we had a suitable area for the crafting tables. Felix pulled them out of the Spacial Relocation Cube, his movements quickening with excitement. “This is going to be great,” he said, his voice infused with enthusiasm. “People are really going to enjoy this.”
Around us, the crowd watched, keeping their distance at first but clearly intrigued, like a group of feral kittens peeking out from behind a bush. I could see their curiosity brewing, and as we continued to set up, the energy began to shift. One by one, people crept closer, their apprehension fading as they took in the sight of the tables and the possibilities they held.
“Look at that one!” a voice piped up, pointing to the inscription table. “What do you think we can make with it?”
The idea of professions wasn’t new to the settlers; several had received notifications for various crafting roles based on their previous actions around the camp—Builder, Fisher, and the like. But these new options were intriguing: Alchemy, Inscription, Blacksmithing, and Transmutation offered a broader range of skills and abilities that could transform our community.
“Do you think we can really learn how to create potions?” another voice asked, stepping forward. I recognized her as one of the newer initiates, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Absolutely!” I replied, trying to infuse my voice with confidence. “You can use any of the tables you want. We even set up a chef’s table over by Susan.”
Felix nodded eagerly, adjusting the positioning of the blacksmithing table. “Just imagine—potions to heal wounds, weapons to defend ourselves, and even magical inscriptions to enhance our gear! We can become stronger together.”
As more people moved closer, the atmosphere shifted from one of uncertainty to a burgeoning excitement. They began to exchange ideas, sharing what they hoped to learn and how they could contribute to the camp's success.
“Can I try my hand at alchemy?” the young woman who had expressed interest earlier asked, stepping forward with a determined look on her face. “I’ve always been good at mixing things.”
“Of course!” I replied, feeling the spark of hope flicker to life. “You’ll have to gather ingredients, but this is a great place to start.”
As we continued to set up, laughter and chatter filled the air, pushing aside the shadows of doubt that had clung to the camp. I caught Felix’s eye, and he smiled faintly, a glimmer of relief evident on his face. Perhaps this was the turning point we needed.
With each table we set up and each curious initiate that approached, the spirit of community began to grow stronger. It was a small victory, but it felt monumental. In that moment, I realized that despite the challenges we faced, we had the potential to build something meaningful together.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said. “Let’s gather all of the community supplies and bring them over for crafting, I want everyone to be able to start choosing their professions by the end of the day.”
Felix grinned, and together we dove back into the task, the sense of unity among the settlers weaving a new thread of hope into the fabric of our community.