By nightfall, several more soldiers have arrived, transforming the small outpost into a large army camp.
And despite the villagers still protesting for hours on end, they couldn't do anything against the increasing number of strong mages.
Inside one of their tents…
Dom sits on the edge of a bed. A standard army jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders, revealing his bandaged torso. Even though his eyes remain fixed on the floor, he couldn't see it.
All he could see was the hateful looks the villagers gave him. The sound of their cry still bouncing against his ear drums… the moist feeling from the thrown tomato still fresh on his now dry cheek…
The tent entrance flap opens but he doesn't react… until he instintively catches a bottle thrown his way. He turns and finds Dae walking up to him, an identical bottle in his hand.
"You should eat something." Dae said as he sits on the bed just opposite Dom's.
"I'm not hungry." Dom said as he drops the untouched bottle aside.
Dae doesn't respond as he opens his bottle and drinks its sweet content.
"Did we do the right thing?" Dom suddenly asked, earning a confused look from Dae mid-drink. "No matter how many times I think about it... my gut keeps telling me we're in the wrong here."
Dae sets his bottle down, his brows furrowed in thought for a moment before he answers, "I'm also very skeptical about this job… but it's already too late." He gestures to the low humming sound that's been filling the air for hours.
"They're already going in to take out the pack." Dae added with his expression somber "And a transports on its way to move the alpha. There's nothing we can do anymore."
Dom groans with frustration as he lies on the bed. Meanwhile, Dae frowns at the sight.
Despite being annoying, he had grown accustomed to Dom's cocky, teasing side… He never thought seeing this dark, depressed side would be even more uncomfortable.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, he forces a smile. "But at least we did it, right? Now the Council will have no choice but to give you a sub-divis-"
Dom suddenly stands, completely ignoring Dae's words as he heads fro the exit.
"Hey." Dae said as he stands just as Dom stops at the tent flap.
"If I stay here any longer…" Dom said, his fist clenched at his side. "I'll go crazy."
Dae narrows his eyes. "Then what are you going to do?" He said as he sets his drink aside.
Dom doesn't turn. His eyes remain fixed on the tent flap, even though its firm smooth design is not what his eyes are seeing.
"I'm going to see her." Dom said.
Dae frowns. "And do what? I don't know about you but we're practically the ones she despises the most here."
Dom grabs one of the flaps. "I know. I just…" He tightly clutches the tent material in his hand.
Dae stares for a moment… and then sighs. Within a few steps, he stands beside Dom and holds the other flap.
Dom gives him a confused stare which Dae notices.
"I'm just following you to make you don't do something stupid."
Dom gives him a little grateful smile as they step out of the tent.
A couple minutes later, they walk through the camp which bustles with activity.
Several soldiers move about, barking out orders to lower ranked workers who quickly move to complete their task. But what draws Dom's attention is that large machine in the middle of the camp.
For a nation who still uses horses for transportation and carrier pigeons for communication, this technology appeared largely advanced. A large metallic body with several gauges, gears and tubes along with what appears to be a long steel drill on its longest end.
Dom stop to get a better look at it. "The fuck is that?" He asked.
Dae looks and shakes his head. "I've never seen it before." He said before quickly moving aside as a mechanic pushes a cart filled with tools towards the contraption.
Dom then looks over the other different tools being arranged in horse-pulled carriages nearby. "Aren't these a little overkill for some wolves?" He asked.
Dae frowns once he sees Dom's point. They have already eliminated the biggest threat to the army, so why go through the stress of recruiting so many gadgets… unless these are designed for something else.
But before Dae could ponder more on that, Dom taps his shoulder, reminding them of their current objective.
A couple more minutes later, they arrive at the outpost where Dom suddenly ducks behind the building and pulls Dae with him.
Before Dae could speak up, two voices suddenly emerged from the corner.
"What do you think they're going to do to her now that we know she's just some beast mage?" One of the soldiers said as they slowly stroll towards the outpost.
"Hmm… Since she's not some evolved beast, they'll probably just lock her up… but she also killed a lot of our guys… so they'll most likely execute her."
"Good point." The first soldier responded.
Dae notices the way Dom clenches his fist but says nothing.
"Still…" The first soldier said, drawing their attention again. "I can't believe such an isolated forest like that has that much Rapore."
Dom's brows furrowed with confusion. "Rapore?" He mumbled.
"It's an element." Dae whispered. "… a rare resource that contains naturally occurring mana. It's the source that powers most advanced technology… like our comms."
Dae's eyes then widen once he recalls those strange machines. "Those weren't for hunting… they're mining equipment."
They both then quietly shift away as the soldiers get closer to their hiding spot.
"But isn't rapore mining an eco-hazard? I heard the toxins alone almost wiped out one of the small kingdoms." Soldier 2 said.
"Oh yeah. Pretty nasty stuff. That's why the Council tried to buy the village months ago." Soldier 1 said as they finally walk past the outpost, completely oblivious to their spectators hidden in the building's shadow.
"The Chief and his elders refused… Said some bullshit about this place being sacred and all…" Soldier 1 added with dramatic hand gestures. "But since they don't own the forest itself, we're still legally allowed to mine there."
"So what'll happen once people start getting sick?"
"The next great plague." Soldier 1 said with a dramatic gesture. "Just announce that and everyone'll be too scared to get too close."
"Damn. Now I feel bad for these guys." Soldier 2 said with a frown on his face.
Soldier 1 scoffs. "They had their chance. No use pitying them now. By the way, how's yo…"
Dae narrows his eyes as he now struggles to hear the words of the soldiers already a considerable distance away. But this finally allows him to sense the cold sensation beside him.
Once he turns, he sees Dom's trembling body. His wide blue eyes remain fixed on the soldiers, his deathly glare completely unrecognized by their senses.
Dom suddenly emerges from his hiding spot only to stop as Dae gets in his way.
"I know what you're thinking…" Dae said, his expression calm. "… and that's a very stupid idea."
Dom steps up to Dae, his eyes staring deep in Dae's.
"I came here thinking that I could save everyone."
As Dom speaks, Dae briefly looks down, noticing the blood tricking out of Dom's tightly clenched fists.
"But… I fucked up… Both the village and the forest they were trying to protect."
Dae stiffens; his eyes widened under Dom's intense gaze. The fury focused not only on the soldiers or the council so ready to discard these innocent civilians… but also on himself, for giving them the chance to do it.
Dom brushes past Dae, his steps determined as he turns to corner, his mind already made up.
"But do you think freeing her now is going to change anything?" Dae asked.
Dom stops, his expression unfazed as he responds, "We're the only ones here who can stop her right now. If I release her, she'll go back and protect the forest. They won't be able to mine, and the village will be safe."
Dae turns; his expression now as serious as he stares at Dom's back. "You do realize that she'll kill the soldiers, right?" Dae said. "Which means that in a way, you killed them."
"I know." Dom replied immediately.
Dae flinches, his eyes once again widened at Dom's determined eyes as he turns to make eye-contact.
"I'll go with her. Take out as many soldiers I can before she gets them… but I know I probably can't save all of them. Besides…"
His fists clenches even tighter with audible twist.
"They're all better off dead anyway." He said, his tone laced with poison so thick you can almost taste it.
Dae's expression goes through different stages. First, shock, then awe and finally concern as he frowns. "Are you sure about this? Forget getting a squad, you could become a fugitive."
Dom's eyes widen a bit. Those words just now, reminds him of a similar conversation with Pops over 3 years ago.
That's when Dom's signature grin returns; "If this is what it takes to get my squad…" He said. "… then I don't need it."
Dae simply stares, now completely speechless at Dom's intention.
Is he really serious about this? Not only would he destroy his path to his goal, but he could make it practically unfeasible. Does he really intend to throw away the effort he'd put in for years for people he'd barely known a single day?
These thoughts keep Dae's mind turning.
Dom notices Dae's expression and smirks. "If I don't have a squad, it means you don't have to follow me, right? If anyone is going to be the Council's enemy, it should be just me."
At first, Dae's eyes widen even more until he closes them with a little smile on his face. "It really is a mental illness."
"Huh?" Dom asked, clearly confused.
Dae shakes his head as he walks up to Dom. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm also against all this. I just wanted to make sure you knew exactly what you were getting into."
Dom's grin quickly returns. "I thought you were here to stop me from doing something stupid?" He asked.
Dae sighs as he stops by Dom's side. "Don't get me wrong. I still think what we're about to do is incredibly reckless and stupid. Especially when you consider the fact that the Council will just send someone stronger to stop us once they find out."
Dom shrugs. "We'll figure something out."
Dae rolls his eyes. "An expected response from a muscle-brain like you."
Instead of his usual comeback, Dom gives Dae a suddenly serious look.
"Are you sure about this? You can still save yourself." Dom said.
"Squad or no squad, I already I said I'll follow you, right?" Dae said, slowly revitalizing Dom's smile.
"Besides, something like this is exactly what my grandfather was talking about. It'll make me stronger too."
With a wide grin, Dom faces forward, his eyes filled with determination. "Thanks for having my back."
Dae cracks his neck as he responds, "Just try not to die before I get my revenge, Captain."
Dom's body tingles at the sound of the title as they finally move forward…