Rick wasn't joking when he said that they would leave that place in eight minutes, at most. Exactly eight minutes and some seconds after they woke up, he was already taking his backpack and starting to walk toward the west.
The man didn't even say something to his friends, he just walked off as if he was going to a little stroll and would come back as soon as possible. He wasn't willing to stay there for much more time. Not with Dreads lurking around.
Dean, Hector, and Kevin were still eating their food as quickly as possible before Rick decided to go. They needed to hurry in order to catch up with him, also as finishing the last details to disassemble the camping.
Clay, who had finished his tent long ago and was eating a snack while walking, was the only one that left the camping and reached their leader.
"Is he always this rigid with his orders?" Dean asked Hector, murmuring.
The tall guy said gave an ironic smile, leaning his body toward Dean and whispering in his ear.
"He is an ass most of the day, but he needs to be like this in order to maintain everyone here attentive and obedient. If one day you find yourself needing to lead a group, you will face the same problems as him and shall make the same thing." Hector winked at him while taking the heavy bag in his slender back and carrying it.
"Kevin is the most bulked here. Why doesn't he take the heavy bag instead of you?" Dean was a curious boy, so everything that got him pensive would be enough to make him ask something.
"Well, Kevin is the one going to the frontline, tanking the Dreads at a short distance. When you were fighting against that lion, exchanging blows, what is the most excruciating thing that you experienced?"
"Well, whenever my sword hit his claws or paws, I would sink more in the ground and my knees would snap loudly. I thought that my legs would break back then..."
"Exactly. That lion isn't the only Dread that is strong in a physical fight. If not for you Ascending, then your legs would have broken for sure. However, Kevin can't make this same mistake, got it? He needs to be standing on his feet till the end, no matter what kind of harm or pressure he takes when fighting. That's why we don't make him carry this heavy thing just to diminish his endurance."
Dean nodded in understanding. Now he could see what was the function of each member without even asking Hector.
Clay was carrying a bow on his back, which showed that he was at the rearguard. He probably encharged to take the vital spots of the monster and deal the most damage he could in a short time, exhausting the monster and increasing the advantage of the group every second.
Hector was the one making the most physical effort, so probably his power as an Ascendant allowed that he could keep on the rearguard as well and not use much his muscles. Dean concluded it because he didn't have any weapon with him.
And, finally, since Kevin stayed in the vanguard, Rick remained in the middle of the formation. Or else, he would take a position in the vanguard when more enemies appeared.
'So, their group isn't based exactly on friendship or randomness. They take someone convenient in different ways. I bet that they have their skills not only on the battlefield but outside it as well. For example, the one hunting our food seemed to be Clay, but Hector is the only one who knows how to dissect, cook properly and make a campfire. Kevin can fix the equipment of the group.'
Kevin, who was beside Hector, heard their conversation about his function. He could notice that Dean was looking to each one of them as if analyzing that matter. He found it curious and thought that the boy was smart.
'It's indeed a good choice, Rick. A good choice...' He smiled at the boy.
"Look, Dean, everyone here needs to have their own utility. That's how a group works, just like the gears of a watch. That's why you need to dominate your "Willpower" soon and learn your place in this group, and how you can contribute, because idleness isn't the best way to go when you are in this kind of environment."
Dean nodded energetically to him. He was determined to find his utility on that group. He knew that he would be following them for a good part of his journey.
Of course, one day they would need to depart since Dean had different plans for that trip, but during this time he didn't want to give them a headache.
"Look..." Kevin moved toward the bag in Hector's back, searching for something inside it. "This is the sword of another person that belongs to our group, ok? He is around your age, so it will fit you. Since you know the basics of swordsmanship, you can be of use at least in the battle."
Kevin gave Dean a sheathed sword, one of those especially made to kill Dreads. The boy thanked him several times, giving him a bright smile.
"So, where are we going now? Where is the destination of this trip?"
"Well, we are moving away from the center of Saphyr. Depending on the season, this place can have a lot of different Dreads of all sorts of generations. We came here to accomplish a mission before, but now we are done and just need to come back to the settlement we passed for and take our reward. Also, this other integrant of our party is in this settlement, so we need to take him."
"Is it a refuge?"
Hector gave him a sarcastic smile, patting his head slightly.
"Every place with humans inside it that could survive for more than a decade can be considered a refuge, boy. Just don't be flabbergasted once you find out that not all refuges out there are similar to the Three Greatest of the north."
Dean was unaware of the expression Three Greatest, but he found it cool. Also, regarding the first part of his statement, he didn't have any idea of how a refuge could be different from his. In his mind, maybe Hector was talking about the aesthetics or something, but he would find out just when he arrived there.
Hector, Kevin, and Dean finally could reach Rick, so they walked together, following the river's flow, toward their next stop.