Eliss had just floated a cluster of smaller bones out of the window when there was a sharp knock at the door. Mor, lying lazily on her bed, groaned and rolled off, muttering about interruptions. She lumbered to the door and opened it. Standing there was the innkeeper with crossed arms.
"Stop throwing trash out the window," he said curtly, glancing past Mor at Eliss, who froze mid-spell.
Eliss turned to the door, still holding a cluster of bones with her magic. "But there's garbage everywhere already," she protested, her voice tinged with frustration. "This room reeks. I won't be able to sleep in that smell."
The innkeeper shrugged indifferently. "No one's ever complained before. If you want to clean it up, take it behind the inn. Don't dump it out front."
Eliss sighed heavily, letting the bones clatter to the floor. "That's going to take forever. I can't just float it all through the hallways."
The innkeeper smirked faintly and shrugged again. "Then don't clean it." With that, he turned and left, leaving the door ajar behind him.
Eliss let out a loud sigh and turned back to the room. She glanced at the remaining garbage scattered across the floor and grimaced. "Great," she muttered under her breath.
Without a word, she started moving the trash again, this time carefully levitating it toward the hallway to carry it outside. Each trip took longer, as she could only manage a few larger bones at a time. Mor watched her from the bed. After a few minutes, she got up and approached Eliss, grabbing a pile of bones with her hands.
Eliss looked at her in surprise. "Why are you helping me? I thought you didn't care about this mess."
Mor shrugged, casually tossing the bones into a makeshift bag she found near the corner. "I don't care. But it might be interesting. And since you're so determined to clean, I figured I'd help. Not like I have anything better to do."
Eliss blinked at her, then smiled faintly. "Thanks."
The two worked together, hauling the garbage through the hall and out to the back of the inn. Eliss used her telekinesis to carry the smaller pieces while Mor handled the larger bones, tossing them over her shoulder as if they weighed nothing.
Once the last of the garbage was cleared, Eliss flopped onto her bed and exhaled loudly, wiping sweat from her brow. "Much better," she said, her tone filled with relief.
Mor sat down on the other bed, her lips curling into a small smile. "I'll admit, it is quite refreshing without all that clutter and smell."
Eliss looked at her and smiled. "Thanks for helping. To be honest, I was pretty nervous about sharing a room with you. I thought you wouldn't like me."
Mor tilted her head slightly. "Why would I dislike you?"
Eliss hesitated, glancing down at her hands. "I don't know. I mean, your friend—Ghak, if I remember correctly—doesn't seem to like us very much. I thought you might feel the same way."
Mor leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms. "Ah, Ghak. Don't mind her. She has her reasons for feeling that way."
Eliss looked up at her. "Reasons?"
Mor nodded, her expression darkening slightly. "You see, orcs don't live as long as most other races. We're a... spirited people, and our love for battle often means we don't make it to forty. Most of us die during the fight. Ghak's lived longer than most, so she's seen more than her fair share of loss."
She continued. "She was around during the last phases of the war between orcs and humans. She lost her parents and was trying to survive with her little brother. And one particular time, when she was trying to hide from the conflict, she met a human that was dying of thirst. But it was a trap. When they turned their back to that human, he killed her brother."
Eliss was silent, and then she said softly. "That's... horrible,"
Mor nodded. "It was. She's carried that with her ever since. To her, every human is a potential enemy. But she is a good person overall. She is very loyal to Naguk. She would do everything for him and us."
Eliss hesitated, then nodded. "I can't blame her for feeling that way. If something like that happened to me... I don't know if I'd ever forgive the ones responsible."
Mor glanced at her and gave a faint smile. "You're not like most humans I've met. Maybe she'll come around eventually. Just... don't push her too hard."
Eliss nodded. "I'll try."
The next day, before the sun had fully risen, the entire group gathered outside the inn. The morning air was crisp, and a thin layer of frost coated the ground.
"We're setting up for the speech today," Naguk began, addressing everyone. "Our goal isn't just to speak; it's to ensure the safety of this gathering. I want no risks. You'll all have roles: some of you will be visible with me. Others will blend into the crowd, watching for anything suspicious. The rest will take hidden positions—on rooftops, in alleys, or wherever you can cover key vantage points. Understood?"
A collective murmur of agreement rippled through the group, followed by nods and straightened postures. Amukelo put on cloak, making sure his face was hidden.
As they began moving toward the square where the speech would take place, the streets were quiet, with only a few orcs bustling about in the early hours. Naguk walked at the front of the group, flanked by a few of his key guards, while the others dispersed into their designated positions along the way. A few early risers had already begun to gather.
Naguk gestured to his mages, who quickly got to work casting an earth spell. The ground trembled slightly as a portion of the square shifted, rising to create a modestly elevated platform. It wasn't elaborate, but it gave Naguk the height needed to command attention once the crowd grew.
Amukelo and Eliss moved to their positions. Eliss slipped into a shadowed alleyway overlooking the square. Amukelo, wearing a dark cloak to obscure his features, melted into the forming crowd, keeping an inconspicuous watch from the midst of the gathering orcs. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, hidden beneath his cloak. He cast quick glances at the rooftops and alleyways, checking for any sign of potential trouble.
As the morning progressed, the square began to fill. Orcs from all walks of life trickled in—warriors in worn leather armor, traders with goods strapped to their backs, and even a few elders leaning on intricately carved staffs. The murmurs of conversation grew louder as more orcs arrived, drawn by the promise of Naguk's speech. Some looked skeptical, others curious, and a few seemed outright hostile.
When Naguk stepped onto the platform, the growing crowd fell into a hush.
"Fellow Orcs," he began, spreading his arms to encompass the crowd, "I have traveled here to present to you my solutions for the issues we, as orcs, face because of our impulsive and aggressive nature."
His opening words captured the crowd's attention, and the murmurs faded entirely as all eyes fixed on him. He continued. "As you might know, we have recently entered a trading alliance with humans, and we are possibly heading towards having them as our allies. This is a new and fragile relationship, and the situation is tense—especially because our lands lie directly along the border."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the crowd. "This is why I am here, standing before you today. I want to propose changes—changes to our values and principles. Many of you value physical prowess above all else. And I understand that, for it is a quality I value as well. Strength is close to me, as it is to many of you."
Naguk's gaze swept across the crowd, as he continued. "But look where that has led us. The war that ended twenty years ago began because of our aggressive nature. We and the humans were negotiating for peace—a fragile peace, yes, but peace nonetheless. Then, during those negotiations, a group of orcs, eager to showcase their strength, challenged the human representative who visited our lands."
His voice grew harder. "That representative died in that challenge. That one act—an act driven by pride and the need to prove one's strength—was no less than a declaration of war. And look where it brought us. Decades of hatred. The loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives lost to a conflict born of a moment of thoughtless aggression."
The crowd was silent, the orcs' expressions ranging from contemplative to conflicted. Amukelo watched from his spot in the crowd. He could see the weight of Naguk's words settling over them, stirring emotions and memories.
Naguk paused, letting the silence stretch for a moment before he continued.