"Ragnar, what makes you think you have the right to barge in like this?!" shouted the old orc towards Ragnar.

The door was wide open and an orc named Ragnar stood in the doorway. The orc named Ragnar's body was bulky from muscles with his giant frame indicating that he did some sort of training. His face is fierce but had a look of youth. His hands were rugged from the all the training that he did.

Inside was a room with a wide round table with multiple orcs sitting around it. At the very far end of the table, an orc covered in battle scars were seen staring at Ragnar.

"How long are we going to continue this cowardly way of living? We used to be a warring tribe with pride and honor! We were feared by many! Now look at us, like tiny little beasts running away." Ragnar said with spiteful words. Anger and annoyance was clear in his ragged face.

The elder orc frowned at Ragnar's statement and looked down. There wasn't a single word wrong in Ragnar's words. They were the truth, however...

"Then, do you have a better way for our tribe to survive?! A better way for our race to keep on existing on this Land!? We don't have a choice!" Another elder shouted in anger as he slammed the table with all his might.

The scarred orc raised his hand signalling everyone to shut up so he can talk.

"Ragnar, you're the most talented warrior I've seen. However, you're still too young. You haven't seen the reality of it yet. I'll ignore your faults this time. Now, Leave"

"But, Father-!" Ragnar tried to refute but was stopped immediately by the sheer pressure that emanated from his father, the chief of the tribe, Korzak.

Ragnar looked down and said in a low voice.

"Yes, chief"

Ragnar exited the house and closed the door behind him. Korzak dispersed the pressure he was releasing and relief washed over the elder orcs.

"Forgive my son Ragnar. He's just a young orc that's too ambitious for his own sake." Korzak apologised to the elder orcs.

"No, we understand what he's saying. Afterall, he's not the only orc frustrated by being oppressed by the demons. Fighting and war is in our orc blood."

The atmosphere of the room turned gloomy and dark as they reminiscent of their old warring lives.

"Now, back to the main topic. Regarding our trade with the Sekshar Tribe, they are demanding for woman in exchange for their men. How many woman do we have to spare?" Korzak discussed about the trade to break off the dark atmosphere.

"Regarding that, we got quite a few of women that can be sent for the trade. Afterall, we're lacking in manpower currently."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ragnar walked towards a tree and punched it as hard as he could. The tree fell down from his punch as a great chunk of it was gone. After the tree fell down, Ragnar sit down on the fallen log. He calmed himself down and began to think rationally.

"Hoo, calm down. It's true that I haven't seen how grim the situation is but it's still frustrating that our race is being pushed back to this degree."

Ragnar remembered the tales of the former glory of the orc tribe. The orc wasn't a tribe, but formerly was a kingdom. They boasted having slayed dragons and yearly wars were waged between the Sorakhi Kingdom every year. It was everything an orc warrior could have ever dreamed of. However, that was all destroyed whrn the demons from the Nether Realm started to invade the Mortal Realm.

"If only those damned demons haven't attacked us..."

Ragnar clenched his fist and hit the log beneath him. His hand lodged in the log and he pulled it back out with ease.

Ragnar stood up and walked towards the wisest orc in the tribe, Magician Moraine. Although her magical abilities are not even close to that of a sage, her knowledge is a different matter. She traveled the whole world and gained various knowledge in the process. There's no one more knowledgeable than her in the entire tribe.

Ragnar entered Moraine's house and saw her reading a grimoire. Ragnar walked towards her. Moraine stopped reading her book and looked at Ragnar.

"Did you come to learn about the war strategies again this time?"

Ragnar smiled faintly with his mollusks and said in return.

"You know me all too well old hag."

"Hey, I'm not that old okay?! I'm only 5 years older than your father, Korzak! You get that?!"

"Yeah, old hag"

Ragnar laughed and Moraine smiled at the laughing Ragnar. Although Moraine is a strong magician, she is still looked down by some orcs for being physically weak. To Ragnar however, Moraine is a special orc. Ragnar has never seen his mother so Moraine really helped to fill the hole in his heart. Moraine is an orc that Ragnar looked up to beside his father.

"Then, do you want to learn about how the nothern Veiraks was able to capture a fleet by using only cavalries?"

"Isn't it obvious? Tell me everything about it!"

...And the day went by just like that.

After Ragnar left, Moraine sat down on her chair and began talking.

"What a lively kid. He would surely achieve great achievements in the future, don't you think so Korzak?"

A brutish looking orc walked in from the front door and looked at Moraine. His expression was monotone and he sat on a chair opposite to Moraine.

"He's still too young."

"And yet his Coming of Age ceremony is next year."

Moraine stopped talking and turned to face towards Korzak.

"If you don't teach him about our situation, he'll just be a stupid and reckless chief. If not him, who else is gonna succeed you?"

"You can succeed me."

"I'm not a true orc. I'm a half elf, Korzak. You can't expect the others to accept a half-wit like me to be their leader."

Korzak looked down and didn't refute her claims. Indeed, Moraine is a half-elf. That is the reason why her height is not like the other female orcs. It is also why she's not as strong as a normal orc and more adept at magic.

"You should quickly teach Ragnar everything you know before it's too late. The demons are attacking again next month, aren't they? All the tribes fighters are going to be sent except for the ones that hadn't experienced their coming of age. If you die there, then there's no more chance for you to teach Ragnar." Moraine added more.

Korzak sighed and sat there silently. Moraine looked at the pitiful Korzak and said in a sweet voice.

"And... I don't want to see the orc I love die with regrets."

After her words, Korzak raised his head and looked at Moraine. A slight bittersweet smile can be seen on his face.

"You're right, Moraine. I'll be sure to heed your words."

Korzak stood up and hugged Moraine before engaging in their passionate night.

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