The rest of the night passed by with little incident. The two that were guarding Nix were sent to the make-shift ramparts to keep watch while the rest of the Armored personnel helped where ever they could. It was just before midnight when the third group trudged in with their wounded. Thankfully, there weren't many Dark Beasts that tried to draw close to them as they reached the clearing to the village thanks to Clark's Runes.
The rest of the night was filled with stories being passed around, as well as questions asked of the Armored Personnel about them and their equipment. It was only after Nix had given the go-ahead that the personnel were allowed to answer a few of these questions to goad people into joining their ranks.
Finally, with the red sky slowly forming above the trees, the 15 people chosen to go assist the last two groups back to the village. After some farewells were exchanged, they all walked off into the forest in formation while the first two groups watched. The third group of refugees were busy settling down within the outside wall, listening closely to the stories the others who came before them about the village that took them in.
While everyone bustled around, a small group had gathered within Nix's lab. Drevid stood in the front with Ju'Shall and Stoll, who'd come in with the third group of refugees. Behind them stood the four that were chosen to join Nix and Sheeva with the production of equipment and medicines. Behind them stood the Tiger-Kin named Kilik and the Gnome Junker as escorts. Though the people had been there for a while, Nix had decided it was best to have a show of strength by having at least one guard follow them as they worked until their trust was earned. Yu'Rai stood outside with the other Gnome named Stretch as a way to deter people from flooding to Nix's lab as they had throughout the night.
"Now, allow me to introduce them. Starting from the left, you have the Gnome Striker. He is the apprentice mage to the Ghoul standing next to him named Je'tak. Beside her is her brother and his partner, Gi'Tak and Rishad. All four of them have passed the tests you set as mages the other day." Drevid introduced the four as he stepped to the side and gestured to them.
Nix was sitting in her chair with her back to the screens, some hushed voices coming from her desk while two of the screens showed some groups walking with a rather amazing detail. The others were filled with texts that Nix had to study after Sheeva pestered her to do so. She was leaning forward with her elbows on the sides of the chair, her mouth hidden behind her intertwined fingers as she glared up at the four with her deep red eyes.
They could all feel a cold sweat building up with everything happening. The guards keeping a close eye on them, and the woman sitting so coldly who was introduced as the new Chief of the village. They felt trapped, like one mistake could cost them their lives.
Nix sized each person up, starting from the red haired, deep screen skinned Gnome. He looked much younger than the other Gnomes she'd seen, making her satisfied that they had recieved him as he could learn from Sheeva. Sizing up the Ghouls, she realized that they hardly had any differences between them. If it weren't for the bumps on Je'Tak's chest, it was almost impossible to tell which ones were male and female.
Finally sitting up straight, Nix let her arms down and gently tapped the left rest with her fingers. "So, why do you four wish to join me in the lab then?"
The room fell silent as the four began to think carefully about the question. The first one to speak up, however, was the apprentice as he nodded. "Unlike other mages of our village, we pursue artifacts over learning more about regular magic."
"So you four have deemed the equipment our people have as artifacts?" Nix asked a little annoyed, but she did understand where they come from.
"My apologies Chief, my apprentice has yet to come of age, so he can be rather forward." Je'Tak apologized as she bowed quickly, forcing the Gnome to do the same as she pushed down on his shoulder.
"Please, it's fine. It's better to be forward than mince your words. If you are to work with me, I need clear and concise answers. I'm more sorry that you'll have to adapt to me rather than me adapting to you." Nix's aura warmed a bit as she spoke and raised a hand to let the other to stand back up. "I must also apologize for the misunderstanding. The equipment are not artifacts, but rather an advanced technology. Think of it as melding Mana with the armor and weapons in a different fashion than what blacksmits or other professions do."
The four then looked at each other a bit confused before looking over at Drevid. He could only sigh as he realized what was happening. "Nix, the only ones able to do what you are able to do so easily are those that are blessed as masters. Even then, they spend a tremendous amount of time just to make one set of armor or weapons. Each master is only able to make at least 3 sets of each year if they worked by themselves, 10 a year with proper help."
It was then that Nix realized why everyone was acting the way they did when Sheeva made so many sets of equipment so fast. She heard it took Sheeva a while to calm them down, but now it all started to make sense.
"Then it seems we have more reason to hole up in the forest while removing any threats as we see them. This is where you four will come in. As you learn about this technology, you'll eventually start working in pairs on operations as overwatch, or support as we grow. For now, we will focus on making equipment for ourselves so we may better the lives of the people that wish to stay with us in this village." Nix explained before turning to Drevid and nodding. "Once Jennifer and Vela gets back, we will have them take some people and give new recruits basic training before admitting them into our guard. As much as we need to balance our resources, the sudden danger in the forest is something we cannot ignore."
Drevid bowed his head before turning to leave. "I'll call her up and make plans. I'll also have Clark gather some people to expand the village as well."
"Stoll, you'll gather those willing to help hunt and gather. We need to get ahead of the food situation. Luckily for us, there is plenty of game recently with all of these territory battles happening. Only those with our armor are allowed to fight those rank four and above."
"Understood, I'll be taking two more Scout types with me for safety and rotate shifts." Stoll spoke quickly before turning to follow Drevid out.
"Ju'Shal, you'll remain here and watch over these four. I apologize, but this is for both my daughters and your safety. Until your training is complete, you'll all bunk up here to prevent those outside from both barraging you with questions and deter those who's envy have become poisonous."
"Poisonous? Do you believe they would grow to the point of killing?" Gi'Tak asked as he brought a hand up in question, the others nodding together with the same quizzical looks on their faces.
"That is not a risk I'm willing to take. The first thing I must have you all learn is to place caution above everything else. Your lives are no longer just your own now that you have been brought here to work with me. Not only those in this village, but those outside of our walls as well could wish to take you and force you to teach them what you learn here one way or another. I'm sorry for being so forward, but I've seen better people than you fall to the shadows, and they were heavily guarded."
As Nix spoke, the four looked down to the ground and began to think on their new positions. Perhaps it would be nice to have such an important position, but how could this Chief stoop so low as to believe their own people would stoop so low?
"Nix, I believe a proper introduction is needed." Ju'Shal spoke as she took her helm off and giving the woman a gentle smile.
Understanding what the Wolf-Kin meant, she nodded to Sheeva before letting out a soft sigh. "I'm sure you have heard rumors, but I am not originally from this world."
As Nix spoke, Sheeva grabbed her pad and walked to the four in front of her while holding the tablet flat in her hands. Suddenly, a scene from Nix's old world was projected in the air. Tall buildings made of steel and glass was shown, as well as moving metal contraptions that weren't pulled by any sort of beast, some of them flew through the air over the buildings at an impossible height. This scene shocked the four as they carefully studied the projection while listening to Nix speak.
"I lived until I was about 77 years old before being killed at the start of a new war. I was then brought here by Mother Moon to help this world. I will not divulge for what purpose, but just know that what you see is what could be possible in the future give the resources we could obtain."
"These buildings, they are made of metal like the art- er, equipment you've made?" Rishad asked as he glanced over at Nix.
"Yes, though the metal there is much better than the metal we have here. Unfortunately we have no raw metals to make our equipment out of."
"Could I suggest we ally with Stone Keep? I'm sure they would be willing to trade for food and pelts." Je'Tak asked as she leaned a bit closer to the projection before Sheeva ended the program and tucked the tablet under her arm.
"Don't even go there, do you not remember what happened last time? A whole village was wiped out by them when they proposed a trade. Those bastards will sooner wipe us out and take everything we have." Ju'Shal snapped at Je'Tak as she stamped her foot hard on the stone floor.
"That is why I'm suggesting an alliance. We have not only the means to defend ourselves, but in time we will have the numbers to fight back if things go wrong."
"Wait wait wait, are the people of this Stone Keep of military standing?" Nix asked as she raised her brow.
"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't know. Those of Stone Keep are of Dragon descent called Dru'Kel. They have dragon blood flowing through their veins and follow the will of the Dragon they serve. These one's serve under the Dragon Hellfire, an ancient fire Dragon that has disappeared a few centuries ago." Ju'Shal sighed as she rubbed the back of her neck and turned away. "Much like you, they have a domineering aura about them, and use it to take what they want instead of trading kindly like the rest of us. We made the plan years ago to form as one small army to fight back against Stone Keep if they tried to take control of the forest."
"Ah, so that's why Drevid immediately sent people out while I was asleep. I figured it was just to check on the status of the other villages."
"What's worse is we have no idea if they were attacked as well. If we aren't careful, they could send out a force to forcibly take us in as slaves or soldiers for their army." Kilik spoke up as he raised his hand in gesture.
"I'm against this idea Chief. They control the mines up in the mountains containing Dragon Steel, a powerful metal that only the Dru'Kel can mold into armor and weapons." Junker interjected as he shook his head.
"Then why suggest asking for their metal if only they can mold it?" Nix asked Je'Tak as she folded her arms over her chest.
Je'Tak then motioned to the table on her right, that was busy dismantling some Mana Cores and various pieces of equipment for further use. "Seeing this technology tear apart metal like this, I assume you have the means to mold their metal in a different way."
Nix then fell into a deep contemplation. Yes, it would be better to to find new ways to make their equipment as cheap metal could only go so far. Even after all of her tests, this scrap can only circulate a little over 20% of the Mana each person holds. But is it really worth the risk of going to war out of nowhere?
"I'll take this into consideration after the other groups get here. Once everything is settled and we've expanded, we will talk more about our-"
"Nix, we have a problem." Jennifer suddenly called from the screen behind her, an alarm following her voice to tell Nix there were intruders.
Hearing this, Nix suddenly swung her chair around and pulled up to her desk. "Jennifer, what's wrong?"
"We have a force rushing at us quickly. The system isn't picking them up as Dark Beasts, instead there are people dressed in a heavy armor."
"Form defensive positions and check your fire. If they are dangerous, you have permission to go all out." Nix ended the call before turning to Sheeva. "Get my armor ready. Ju'Shal, you're with me. Kilik and Junker will stay in the lab and defend it."
"Mother, you still haven't fully recovered."
"Sheeva is right, leave it to us to-"
"I'm sorry you two, but this is necessary. Considering the timing, I have a feeling we finally have our culprits." Nix interrupted the twos pleads, swinging her chair around and pushing herself towards the next room.
"Culprits?" Sheeva asked as she followed Nix while tapping on her tablet.
"You guys said Mother Moons Blessing had faded a few months ago, causing the Dark Beasts to flood the forest right?" Nix asked as she quickly took her shirt off to reveal she wore a sports bra underneath.
Ju'Shal turned away with a flick of her ear. Though she didn't recognize the cloth Nix wore over her chest, she found it pretty alluring. "Wh-what about it Nix?"
After finding her feet, Nix trudged to her open armor and took her pants off before flipping around and stepping into it. "I had a hard time believing that all of them sensed the Blessing ended at once and flooded to us simultaneously. My suspicions were confirmed after hearing of Stone Keep."
As the armor began to hug Nix's white flesh, everyone began to realize the sophistication the armor had now. Not only was it much thinner compared to everyone else's armor, but it also was wrapped in a black cloth that helped to hide the neon lights etched into the metal. While the robe looked like it hung loosely, the hood was stitched to the neck, and the waist clung to the cloth to let it hang to Nix's knees. There wasn't much to say about the chest as it was open down the middle, but the arms fell just down to the wrists.
"So you're saying?" Ju'Shal stopped as she came to the realization. Before Nix arrived, those at Stone Keep had been making suspicious movements in the mountains, but they couldn't confirm anything as they feared to get to close.
"Yes, I believe we will have to fight before negotiations could even begin." Nix spoke before the helm wrapped around her face. Reaching up, she pulled the hood over her head before reaching over to grab her newly made rifle and sling it onto her back. She then grabbed a belt complete with Knives and pouches filled with metal containers of various sizes. "Gather the troops, we will make our way to Jennifer first. Sheeva, you'll be overwatch while you four look on and learn."