[Yalak OPV]
We all met again in egghead before the fireplace. This week was intense. We bothered the whole tribe. What I appreciate in orcs is that nothing will distract them from accomplishing a goal once they are set on an objective.
"So, what did you learn this week ?"
"I learn that we'll need survival skills for our trial." First, answered Shufa.
"Good"
"I learned that we will have to fight beasts that have yet to awaken. However, when I asked what 'awakened' meant, they said I would learn it after our ceremonies. Apart from that, they also told me how and when they started to train themselves" completed Fashu.
"Very good !" A brimming smile appeared on her face.
I then turned toward Troch, who started to look at the ground feeling a bit ashamed.
" I only learned that nights were more dangerous than the day as more beasts are hunting during it," He then also added, feeling a bit ashamed" I also learned how to make some potions."
"That's great," I exclaimed.
He quickly looked up with a surprised expression. To him, learning how to make a potion wasn't the primary goal of this mission. I explained
"Potions are essential. They will help us in specific situations and could even save our lives !"
"But Grukk, my teacher, lives alone, far from everyone. Isn't it a shameful profession ?"
"Is it shameful to save lives ?" I asked.
"No, but..."
"Did you like making them ?"
"yes"
"Then you should visit this teacher of yours and ask him the question."
I was really glad he had found a new passion and an orc willing to teach him. It will help a lot to have someone knowledgeable on this subject in our group. Even if it's for his weird passion for scaring people, they're bound to be useful !
" I learned how to count till ten !" said Noa proudly.
" You did well, Noa !"
"As for me, I learned the rules..."
"And I learned about the additional rewards.."
They all shared what they discovered this week on the trial that awaits us. And that is what we discovered : the ceremony will always take place two weeks before the summer solstice. Some hunters will bring us to a mountain, it changes from one year to another, and our mission would be to get back to the tribe. The only two rules are that we aren't allowed to kill each other, and we shall not bring anything with us. Nothing prevents us from cooperating with others. The beasts living in the mountain are powerful. They can easily rip apart an old tree of 300 years. But if we ever succeed in killing some and bring back proof of our victories, we'll get an additional reward from the chief. In the mountains, it's possible to meet young orcs from other tribes who are going through the same trial. There is a high probability of them being from rival tribes. In that case, they will want to fight us to the death. We should also be wary of quite a few plants that are able to secrete poisons. Thanks to all these pieces of information, we had a better overview of the ceremony.
I asked for silence before continuing.
"Now that we understand our test better, we can plan how we should prepare ourselves. But first, I have an important question to ask the girls. Will you fight for freedom or back off and marry an orc ?"
The girls looked at me, thinking deeply. Zala didn't need to answer since everyone already knew her answer. The little and cute Uzu was the first to answer :
"I will fight."
Soon after, the other followed. Then came the Ushha's turn.
"I... " She only had a year to prepare herself, and she would have to do it alone. All others had agreed to fight, which put her in a difficult position.
Unfortunately, some orc had set their eyes on her and knew she'd be 14 next year. Otherwise, we would have lied about her age and won her one year, but it's impossible.
She didn't talk for a minute before taking a resolute and determined expression.
She had made her choice and confidently said :
"I will do it !"
Everyone was both pleased and concerned after hearing her answer. We were glad she followed us but worried that she would have enough training.
"Alright, since everyone has made their choice, we can now truly start," I said.
"First thing first, what do you know about us, orcs."
"What do you mean ?" asked Wolfteeth.
"What are our racial advantages? What makes us strong ?"
That was Zala's turn to answer.
"I know we have multiple racial advantages. Not only are we, on average, three to four times stronger than humans, but we have also better regenerative and recuperating capabilities. However, we have to eat much more as well."
" We also have sharp teeth and green skin that help us to hide in the wilderness," added Burny.
"True," I confirmed.
" And some a really stupid," mumbled Yurim looking intently at Trosh.
I rolled my eyes and went on.
" You both are correct, so here is my plan. As Ushha will have less time to prepare, we will first help her more by giving her a part of our food. Then I want everybody to do a thousand push-ups, a thousand sit-ups, and run for 20 kilometers daily. It will develop our bodies and make us stronger. Thanks to our super regenerative abilities, we'll be able to train longer and harder. We'll get better effects this way. But we'll also need more meat. That is why we will learn how to craft our own spears before going to the lake for fishing. It will also help us in the trial. I will also find someone willing to teach us how to fight, so twice a week, we will learn how to fight. "
I then looked at Rorm, Yurim, and Wolfteeth.
"After Ushha's ceremony, it will be Yurim, Rorm, and Wolfteeth's turn."
Yurim and the boys frowned.
"Shouldn't Wolfteeth pass his trial a year after us" asked Rorm
"Yes, but you will have better chances if you are all together. When you're in the forest, you will mark the trees with a special to find each other easier. You will then have a better chance to survive and maybe even kill a beast. Do you agree ?"
"Isn't it against the rules ?"
" No, no one said someone under 14 couldn't participate, besides no one will bother you knowing you'll get it a month later. Besides, no one is interested in us, so how would they know our age ? And would you prefer to pass it next year or be one of the youngest orcs passing it ?"
" Be one of the youngest, of course !"
Suddenly Uzu, who was losing patience and wanted to go back to play, asked :
" When will big sis Vae will come back ?"
" Well, she should come back this week."
" I will wait for her at the entrance of the village !" declared Zala.
" And your training ?"
" I'm stronger than you, so I don't need it as much as you, but I still can train there."
"You !"
'Sigh, this girl is impossible.' But I knew she said it only to tease me and would train seriously.
" I also want to go," said Vorl.
"Actually, It's a good idea. But we should take turns so that there is always someone to wait for her. Do you agree"
"YES," they all enthusiastically.
...
Five days later. While we were eating our lunch, Burny suddenly erupted in egghead.
" She's Back !"