The group of warriors and volunteers arrived at the settlement, and their somber mood was noticeable. Gregory's lifeless body was carefully placed inside a tent, draped in a simple cloth, awaiting its journey back to his grieving family. Captain Donovan took it upon himself to supervise the preparations, ensuring that their fallen comrade would receive the respect and honor he deserved.
While the preparations for Gregory's farewell were underway, Bennet approached Captain Igor with a pressing question that had been weighing on his mind.
"Captain Igor," Bennet began tentatively, "I can't help but wonder why we couldn't request more warriors to support settlements like this one. There are so many dangers out there, and if we had more experienced warriors, we could have prevented this situation."
Captain Igor, his gaze fixed on the tent where Gregory's body lay, sighed deeply before responding. "Bennet, you have a point. But you must understand that since my father granted me the privilege to venture outside the border just over a month ago, I have learned that there are more than ten areas that require our protection. The number of warriors is limited, and we're stretched thin trying to cover them all."
Bennet frowned, his frustration evident. "So what's the solution, Captain? Are we just supposed to watch as settlements like this one suffer because we can't be everywhere at once?"
Captain Igor met Bennet's eyes, his own filled with a mix of understanding and regret.
"The solution we've been given, for now, is to train non-warriors into a militia. We need to empower the people within these settlements to defend themselves to some extent. It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do given our current situation."
"What made your father change his mind and allow you to venture here?" Bennet asked, genuinely curious about what happened during the time they were not together.
Captain Igor looked at Bennet with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "I told him that I'd be a pirate if he didn't allow me."
Bennet's eyes widened in surprise. "A pirate?" he repeated, not quite sure if he had heard correctly.
Captain Igor nodded, a sly smile forming on his lips. "Yes, a pirate. You see, my father was always very protective, and he thought that venturing beyond the border was too dangerous for me. So, to convince him otherwise, I told him I'd become a pirate if he didn't let me become a warrior."
Bennet couldn't help but chuckle at the audacity of Captain Igor's plan. "A pirate does sound like quite the extreme alternative to being a warrior, Captain."
Captain Igor joined in the laughter. "Indeed, it was a rather extreme measure, but it got his attention. My father couldn't fathom the idea of his son becoming a pirate, so he relented and allowed me to join the warriors. I guess you could say it was a bit of a bluff, but it worked."
As the conversation continued, Captain Donovan emerged from the tent where Gregory's body was being prepared for transport. The warriors stood in a loose circle, their armor glistening in the fire's glow, while the volunteers, some still in their civilian attire, joined them, holding makeshift weapons or tools.
"Listen up, everyone," Captain Donovan began, his voice firm yet carrying a tone of concern. "We've faced a challenging night, and it's not over yet. Our scouts have already paid a heavy price for our mission."
He paused for a moment, allowing the gravity of their situation to sink in.
"We're divided into shifts for guarding this settlement," Captain Donovan continued. "We can't afford to let our guard down, not now. The orcs may attack, and we must be prepared."
"Each shift will consist of a mix of young warriors, veterans, and volunteers," Captain Donovan explained. "We need everyone's strength and vigilance to ensure our safety. Some of you have already had a long night, and you'll get a well-deserved rest. But remember, this night is far from over, and we must remain alert."
He looked around the circle, his gaze falling on Bennet's group for a moment. "Rest when you can, but be ready to defend when needed. Our mission is to protect this settlement and the people who call it home."
The warriors and volunteers nodded in understanding, a shared determination evident in their eyes. With Captain Donovan's clear instructions, the group split into their designated shifts, knowing that their united efforts would be their greatest strength in the challenging night ahead.
Bennet and the group that had been on scouting duty were commanded to rest. They were grateful for the chance to recuperate, as the events of the night had left them physically and mentally exhausted. Inside their shared tent, they settled down, finding comfort in the warmth and security it provided.
Lucio leaned in close to Bennet and asked in a hushed tone, "Do you think we should tell Captain Donovan about the summoned beast?"
Bennet pondered for a moment, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Not yet," he replied softly. "We couldn't find any trace of it earlier, and we're not entirely sure how it works. It might just complicate things if we reveal it now."
"You're right. We should learn more about it before disclosing anything." Lucio agreed.
Their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected guest. A small black puppy had wandered into their tent, its tail wagging with enthusiasm. The friendly canine approached Bennet, nuzzling his hand affectionately as if it had known him for years.
Bennet couldn't help but smile at the adorable pup. He scratched behind its ears and gave it a gentle pat. "Well, hello there, little one."
Lucio joined in, grinning at the playful dog. "Seems like it's taken a liking to you, Bennet."
As they enjoyed the company of their newfound furry friend, Bennet's keen eyes spotted something unusual—a collar around the dog's neck. But what truly caught his attention was the pendant hanging from the collar. It was the same gemstone that he had thrown earlier, the very artifact that had summoned the powerful beast during their encounter with the orcs.
Bennet's heart raced with curiosity and intrigue. How had the gemstone found its way onto this dog's collar? He wanted to think more about how the gemstone but the exhaustion from their earlier ordeal washed over him, making it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open. He decided to lie down for a moment, closing his eyes.
"Bennet... Bennet... Can you hear me?" the voice echoed from the darkness.
"Huh, who's there?" Bennet replied.
"Who do you think? Dummy!" the voice teased.
Bennet's drowsy mind began to connect the dots. "Toma? Is that you, Toma? I can't see you," he said, recognizing the voice.
"You can't see me because your eyes are closed," Toma laughed from somewhere unseen. "You are in the dream world."
"Dreamworld? What's going on?" Bennet asked, trying to make sense of this ethereal encounter.
"Well, I can't tell you much," Toma began, his tone serious, "but the puppy that's with you. That's me now."
Bennet's confusion deepened as he tried to process Toma's words. "What puppy? Sorry, being in the dream world feels like I'm floating, the information just comes and goes," he admitted.
Toma sighed, the urgency in his voice palpable. "The black puppy, Bennet. I don't know why I became a puppy, but... Dang it, we don't have enough time..."
Before Toma could reveal more, Bennet was suddenly woken from his dream by Leo, who stood nearby with a concerned expression.
"Bennet, it's your turn to guard," Leo said softly, shaking his friend awake.
"Already? I've been asleep for just, like, ten minutes," Bennet protested, still groggy from his dream.
Leo chuckled, though worry lingered in his eyes. "You've actually been asleep for six hours. Time flies when you're sleeping, huh?"
Shaking off the disorientation, Bennet reluctantly got up, ready to take his turn at guard duty following him was the black puppy he met last night.
"Toma, I'm glad that you are back with me," Bennet said with a smile.
The black dog made a swirling movement before barking as if saying that he was glad to be back as well.
Zaira greeted Bennet as he stood guard, the night air embracing them with its coolness. "I hope that you are doing well, Bennet."
Bennet nodded in response. "I'm hanging in there. You were very quick last night. I didn't even see you go," he remarked, genuinely impressed by her stealth.
Zaira, known for her tactical prowess, replied with a hint of pride, "Intelligence is power. While we were surrounded, I was checking the best route."
"And you left me behind, your long-time friend." Lucio playfully chimed in.
Zaira chuckled softly, her tone apologetic. "Sorry, Lucio... I didn't expect that you would be caught up."
"Well, it was a good thing that Bennet helped me," Lucio admitted with a grateful smile.
"Of course, Lucio, we're a team, after all. We watch each other's backs." Bennet answered.
"Yup, just the two of us are a team. We don't count those who left us behind," answered Lucio, a rare joke coming from him that made Zaira frown while Bennet and Lucio laughed.