Velt had explained the plan to Rychbi, but the elder didn’t seem fully convinced.

  “I understand your plan, Velt, but…” he said, his tone clearly uncertain.

  “What’s the issue?” Velt asked.

  “If they truly were prisoners, I doubt they’ll be willing to fight. Now that they’ve escaped, their families could be in danger,” Rychbi replied. “That alone might be enough to stop them.”

  “…Yeah. You have a point,” Velt admitted after thinking for a few seconds.

  “It would be best to talk to them directly, don’t you think?” Rychbi added.

  “You’re right,” Velt said as he stood up.

  Outside, Velt saw a large group of people gathered together. Some women were holding their husbands or lovers tightly, while others desperately tried to get a reaction from those who still wore collars, their minds already shattered.

  “We’ll take care of those whose minds are broken. Don’t worry,” Rychbi said from behind.

  “Thank you. Now I need to convince the others to fight,” Velt replied, walking toward the center of the group.

  “Good luck,” Rychbi encouraged him.

  Standing in the middle, Velt cleared his throat.

  “Excuse me. May I have your attention, please?”

  Everyone turned toward him at once.

  This makes me nervous… he thought before continuing.

  “For those who don’t know me well, my name is Velt. I know all of you have suffered greatly—and for good reason. What was done to you was unforgivable. I don’t want to force you to relive that pain, but I need to ask you for help. Please… help us defeat Eivan.”

  An uncomfortable silence spread through the crowd. People looked at one another, but no one spoke—until a woman stepped forward.

  “I… I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know how to fight, and my husband isn’t in any condition to do so either.” She pointed to a bandaged man beside her.

  “I’m not sure either,” someone else added.

  More refusals followed, one after another, until a shout cut through the air.

  “You’re all a disgrace!” Ky yelled. “Velt helped you, and this is how you repay him? Cowards. I see plenty of men here who are capable of fighting, yet they refuse. Do you really think you deserve to be called men?”

  Several people lowered their heads.

  “I’ll say it again,” Ky continued. “Velt could have ignored you and walked away, but he chose to help and free you. I’m sure more than one of you begged him to lead you.”

  Silence returned, until a man spoke with a trembling voice.

  “I can’t. They probably have my family. If I fight, I’ll put them in danger. I’m sorry… but I won’t fight.”

  “Then leave the village,” Ky snapped angrily.

  “That’s enough, Ky,” Velt intervened, placing a hand on his shoulder. “They don’t have many options either.”

  “Please, help us,” Rurhy said, stepping beside Velt. “I know you’ve all suffered deeply. But if you don’t help us, I might end up just like many of you. Please… don’t let others suffer the same fate.”

  She bowed her head respectfully.

  “Rurhy…” Velt murmured.

  “I’ll fight,” a woman said as she stood up. “I saw them torture my husband and my son. I won’t stay silent.”

  “Me too,” Jack said from a tree branch. “I’ve got unfinished business with those damn guards. And besides… I owe you.”

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  “I can’t ignore what I’ve seen either,” Dash added.

  “I guess I’m in too… though I might take something from the castle,” Luke said with a grin.

  “A-and me as well. In a way, this is partly my responsibility,” Rosa added.

  Little by little, more people stepped forward. Some had never held a weapon before, but even so, they chose not to stand idly by.

  The next day, Ky trained several men and women in a clearing, pushing them to their absolute limits. Not far away, Rosa trained with Dash and Luke, while Velt sparred with Jack.

  “You sure about this?” Jack asked, spinning a dagger between his fingers.

  “I need to learn how to fight someone who specializes in long-range combat,” Velt replied. “So yes, I’m sure.”

  “Fine. But don’t complain if you get hurt,” Jack warned.

  He leapt onto a nearby branch and threw several daggers.

  Velt dodged them and rushed forward, but Jack retreated, jumping from branch to branch while tossing more blades to keep his distance.

  “Fighters like you just throw and run,” Velt commented.

  “Obviously,” Jack replied. “If we let you get close, we’re dead.”

  “Then I’ll make it easier,” Velt said.

  He activated his Orc King form and stomped the ground, causing a small earthquake.

  “What the—?!” Jack exclaimed, leaping to another branch to keep his balance.

  He didn’t even have time to react. Velt appeared in front of him and smashed the tree with a single punch, sending it crashing down.

  “Hey! You could’ve hurt me!” Jack complained after hitting the ground.

  “Sorry. I was just testing something,” Velt said as he returned to his human form. “But now I know how to deal with fighters like you.”

  “Yeah… it’s not that complicated,” Jack admitted while picking up his daggers. “You just force us to get close.”

  A shout interrupted their training.

  “Velt! Food’s ready!” Rurhy called, approaching with a bowl of meat.

  “Perfect timing. I was starving,” Velt replied, eyeing the food.

  “And this is for you,” Rurhy added, handing a piece of meat to Jack.

  “Thanks… I guess,” he replied.

  “Don’t thank me,” Rurhy said, pointing at an elf woman talking with a small group. “She wanted to give it to you, but she was too shy.”

  When Jack looked at her, the elf covered her face in embarrassment.

  “I see,” Jack said as he tasted the meat.

  “Looks like someone has an admirer,” Velt teased.

  “S-shut up,” Jack snapped, slightly red.

  “She said you look cute and mysterious,” Rurhy added.

  Jack choked on the meat, making Velt and Rurhy laugh.

  “Don’t laugh!” he protested.

  “What’s going on here?” Dash asked as he arrived with Rosa and Luke.

  “Nothing important,” Velt replied dismissively.

  Suddenly, a distant shout echoed.

  “Is that all you’ve got?! The women aren’t giving up, and you’re already on the ground! Pathetic!” Ky was yelling at one of the trainees.

  “Don’t you think Ky’s being too harsh?” Velt commented.

  “I heard several people quit his training and went to a gentler instructor,” Rosa said.

  “Yeah, some of them came to me wanting to learn archery,” Rurhy added. “Ky gets like that sometimes.”

  Good thing he’s not training me, Velt thought with relief.

  “Hey, does anyone know where we can bathe? We’re drenched in sweat,” Dash asked.

  “Ah…” Velt hesitated.

  “Right, you’ve never seen the waters,” Rurhy said with a smile.

  “The waters?” Velt repeated.

  “The place where we bathe in the village.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a bath,” Dash said.

  “Let’s all go,” Rurhy suggested.

  “A-all together…?” Rosa murmured, blushing.

  “No, don’t worry,” Rurhy clarified. “There’s a wall dividing the water. Men on one side, women on the other. Only couples bathe together, and only when they’re alone.”

  “Oh… I see,” Rosa said, visibly relieved.

  “I’d rather keep training,” Velt tried to say.

  Rurhy grabbed his arm.

  “Come on, don’t be like that… or do you want me to help you later?” she whispered teasingly.

  Velt turned red instantly.

  “Do you two really do this often?” Jack asked.

  “We’re married,” Rurhy replied. “Is it wrong to show affection?”

  “During the day it’s affection. At night, it’s something else,” Ky commented as he approached.

  “Shut up!” Rurhy snapped.

  “The newcomers don’t know yet,” Ky said with a shrug. “They’ll understand eventually… I need a bath.”

  In the end, everyone headed to the waters.

  The spring was wide, carved into stone, with a bamboo wall separating both sides.

  “Is the water okay? Want me to wash your back?” Rurhy asked.

  “N-no! I’m fine—stay on your side,” Velt replied nervously.

  “You two never stop,” Ky complained, staring at the sky.

  “I think they’re a lovely couple,” Dash said.

  “Though Rurhy is a bit…” Luke started.

  “Shut up!” Velt interrupted, sinking into the water.

  On the women’s side, several of them relaxed in silence.

  “Ah… this feels amazing,” Rurhy sighed. “My body finally stops aching.”

  “Y-yeah… it feels nice,” Rosa admitted.

  “Hey, you should remove the cloth before getting in,” Rurhy told her.

  “I-it’s just… I’m not used to bathing with other people,” Rosa replied.

  “I understand,” Rurhy said after a moment. “You were Velt’s companion, right?”

  “Y-yes… I asked to join his group.”

  “Did anything happen between you two?” Rurhy asked casually.

  “N-no! I’d never touch someone who already has a partner!” Rosa replied quickly. “I’m not like my sister…”

  “Do you like Velt?” Rurhy asked bluntly.

  Rosa turned completely red.

  “N-no… I don’t…”

  “Just be honest,” Rurhy said. “I know how you look at him.”

  “I really don’t want to…”

  “What if, instead of taking him from me, we shared him?” Rurhy interrupted.

  “Y-you’re serious…?” Rosa asked, shocked.

  “I’m not stupid,” Rurhy replied. “Velt will attract women sooner or later. But listen carefully: I will always be first. And if you want to be with him, he has to accept you.”

  She stood up from the water.

  “That’s enough for today. Esmeralda needs to eat.”

  Rosa remained silent, processing her words.

  On the other side of the wall, Velt’s voice could be heard.

  “Dash, stop splashing! Are you a child?!”

  “Such a killjoy,” Dash replied between splashes.