The group wanted to know more about what happened some minutes before they got there. Those four seemed to be interested in Dean now that the boy had let such a thing slip from his mouth.
Dean could comprehend why they were so flabbergasted. After all, he knew how strong a Dread of 5th generation was, and a boy having enough power to make it get frightened was something nearly inconceivable.
They decided to set up camp. It was the end of the night. At that time, the Dreads' senses became blurrier, so it wasn't as dangerous to set up a camp, and they could still get some time of the day to walk around.
"We were about to set up a camp when we heard the fuss that happened here. I think that the loud explosion must have reverberated through all these fields and got to the nearby refuges. Your luck is that there aren't too many Dreads around here at this time." One of Rick's men spoke, setting their tents.
He was a bulked man, but not that tall. He had almost 1.68 meters tall. His armor was more reinforced than the others, and he wore a helmet as well, which covered his short hair. He had tanned skin, which wasn't too common those days. People had a limited time to get sun, most of the day they would be stuck in an extended night, after all. His name was Kevin.
'Since he is an Ascendant and stays walking through these lands all day, then 6 hours of sunlight should be enough to tan his skin, I guess...' Dean reasoned.
"Kevin is right, boy." The man who was carrying the heavy bag filled with resources reinforced his friend's affirmation. This one was thinner and taller. He wore light leather armor. His movements were precise and quick. He was doing the campfire at that moment.
"As you may know, Dreads have good senses. If they weren't from the 7th generation, then they wouldn't be frightened by the explosion and would come here. The smell of your blood would be your most clear track." He swiftly finished lit up the campfire, celebrating.
"Yes. I and Hector are surviving in the outside world for a long time, so we know how they are attracted by blood." Kevin added.
Another man was fixing a bow on the side. He didn't talk too much with them. He was more of an introverted guy. When people spoke to him, he would answer without problems, but usually would prefer silence.
Dean didn't remember very well his name, but he was 80% certain that it was Clay.
Lastly, there was the leader of the group, described before. His name was Rick.
He was doing rounds around the area, trying to spot any traces of Dreads or potential threats.
Soon, the group finished the camping, then gathered around the campfire. Even if the night would end in just two hours or less, there was no signal of the sun on the horizon.
"Ok, your name is Dean, right? We already presented ourselves to you. We will talk more about what our group does, but we will need you to tell us what happened before we got here. Do you really intimidated that Dread all alone?" The leader asked.
Dean nodded his head vigorously. Now that he was talking with Ascendants and could brag about his feat, he was feeling kind of proud of himself. He had a bright smile on his face, but tired eyes which showed how much the boy strived to get to that point.
"Hmm, tell us the story, brat. We are curious now." Kevin, the bulked man, prompted him.
For some minutes, Dean told them about his story. Since the start of his day in Refuge Sarah, his teleportation, and all the fight against the Dead of the 5th generation. As he narrated everything, the group seemed to get more and more surprised, exchanging glances with each other and smiling discreetly.
The boy, though, was too absorbed in his own story to pay attention to them, and just looked at them again when he finished.
"Wow! So, are you saying that you just Ascended after years trying!? That's pretty nice. You just experienced the only time in your life when you will feel like being able to move a mountain with one finger! We all passed for this as well. You probably know that we are Ascendants, after all." Hector congratulated the boy, shaking his hand. He took a bunch of sticks and began to put some meat on them, placing it on the fire camp.
"This event surely demands a commemoration. Help me with it, Kevin!"
Those two began to roast the meat while Rick and Clay looked at each other, then at Dean again.
"Since you were wielding a sword while fighting against that Dread, I suppose that you know the basics about swordsmanship, at least. Am I right?" Rick was serious for some reason, which somewhat intimidated the boy.
Clay didn't take his eyes out of him, as if analyzing Dean.
"Well, yes. My father taught me a bit." He rubbed his neck, confused and shy at the same time.
"Your body is probably exhausted as well, huh?" Rick passed his eyes through Dean's body, looking at each bruise and cut, also as his trembling muscles.
"Yes. It was a tough battle, and I pushed my body above its limits."
Rick and clay nodded. The latter explained the reason.
"That's what "Willpower" does with humans. It's a double-edged blade if you don't use it carefully."
Dean felt kind of helpless there. He didn't want to seem like a lost child who couldn't take care of himself, but analyzing his own condition, it was reasonable to say that he couldn't keep going on his own.
Rick leaned his body toward the boy. His tired eyes, with dark circles under them, focused on his face.
"Look, Dean, you are still a youth, but I feel the need to say the reality for you. I have two terrible news and one good for you. Which one do you want to hear first?"