The journey to the camp didn't take as long as Ragryno initially expected. On the way, he and the others avoided complex topics like the concept of time and similar matters. This is how Ragryno learned that the idea of creating the camp belonged to none other than Livia. She decided to gather as many people as possible for one simple goal – survival.
Ragryno also learned a disturbing detail, one he had already suspected deep inside. Escaping the Shadow Forest was impossible, at least for now. Zack explained that it was because the forest literally wouldn't let them leave. Anyone attempting to exit would find themselves in impenetrable darkness, where no magic or any other source of light could shine. Eventually, after wandering in the darkness, they inevitably ended up back in the forest.
There were no other ways to leave the forest, at least for now.
From afar, Ragryno noticed the many lights of the camp. As they got closer, he couldn't help but gape in astonishment. It turned out that even though everyone in the column was a child, it didn't change the fact that many had gained useful professions, which helped create this miracle.
The large stone walls were the first thing that greeted the elf. They were enormous and resembled the walls of a castle. Standing next to them, Ragryno felt like a small ant before a giant colossus. He even shivered at the sight.
"Who… who built this?" the elf asked in shock.
Zack placed a hand on his shoulder and explained with a sly smile.
"This was mostly done by wind and earth mages. The earth mages created the stone foundation, and the wind mages helped lift the heavy stones onto each other to recreate something like this. What you see here is the result of three months of meticulous daily work by everyone in the camp."
They approached a large arch guarded by two sentries. They greeted Livia and the others without asking any questions. Only when they saw Ragryno did they give him a piercing look, but he soon disappeared beyond the large arch.
Inside, the camp looked… less impressive. While the massive walls gave the impression of a castle, everything inside resembled the slums. Many makeshift tents, clusters of people huddled together around campfires, trying to keep warm in the night. Since it was night, there weren't that many people around.
'Maybe those are the ones who can fight?'
At least, that would make sense, since if the camp were suddenly attacked, not only the sentries but also everyone sitting by the fires could defend it. A sort of inner guard.
Ragryno noticed one single building, aside from the many tents. It wasn't too tall and resembled a small house from a village. As it turned out, that's exactly where they were leading him. Along the way, Alex and Catherine left them, heading to rest in their tent.
"What's that building?" Ragryno casually asked, breaking the silence between them.
"It's where we discuss the forest routes and make various plans."
The elf raised an eyebrow. Why did they need a separate building for that? Shouldn't everyone in the camp know about the leaders' plans? But noticing the serious expressions on his companions' faces, he decided to stay quiet and wait until they reached the building.
Something unexpected also happened along the way, at least for the elf. People frequently approached Livia, practically glowing with gratitude as they spoke to her, thanking her for saving them and giving them a chance to survive. Livia responded with a smile. A fake smile.
Even during their journey to the capital, Ragryno had noticed how the girl hid her true emotions. It seemed nothing had changed during the time they hadn't seen each other.
Finally, they entered the building. Inside, everything looked rather modest. The elf realized they were in a small room with a long stone table in the center – another work of the camp's builders. Several tree stumps were placed around the table, where the two people and the elf sat. Ragryno chose a seat to the right, Livia sat in the middle, and Zack sat across from the elf.
"So, what's your impression?" the red-haired boy decided to start the conversation.
Ragryno thought for a moment about how to phrase it gently, but in the end, he decided to be honest. It was better not to hide anything.
"Your camp is a temporary measure. Yes, the large walls will protect you from a dozen first-rank creatures, but I'm not so sure about a couple of second-rank ones. Still, it's better than nothing," Ragryno shrugged, watching his companions' reactions.
Livia noticeably tensed at his words, but she understood that he was telling the truth.
"Yes, you're right, but what do you think we could've done? Do you even understand how few people in this camp can actually fight? Those people sitting by the fires when we entered – they're not warriors. They just can't sleep because of the fear they've gained over five months of this hell. Do you think we have that many people who can fight? No. It would be lucky if at least ten people, including our group, could put up any resistance," Livia said, clearly frustrated.
Ragryno frowned at the girl's reaction. She wasn't hiding her anger at his criticism, but he understood why. Still, if what she said was true, how had they survived for so long? Five months was a huge amount of time, and Ragryno had already experienced how difficult it was to survive for just two days, so this truly puzzled him.
Zack saw the elf's reaction, sighed, and looked at Livia. They exchanged glances and nodded at each other, making Ragryno frown even more. After a few moments of silence, Zack finally spoke up.
"You mentioned a large brazier when you first entered the forest, didn't you?"
The elf looked at Zack and nodded silently. Zack glanced at Livia again, and after receiving her approving nod, he finally explained.
"Then I won't hide it – those braziers are some sort of magical devices, or at least that's what we think. When you pour enough fire magic into them, they start to emit a special magic and light up. For some reason, the shadows are very afraid of these and won't approach them if they're lit. We have one of them, but it's hidden."
Ragryno's eyes widened. So he had been so close to such a protective device from the very beginning? Although, considering he had a completely different affinity, he probably wouldn't have been able to activate the brazier… or could he?
What kind of magic did he even have? He could manipulate the mana inside his body, but what was its exact name, and what did it do? If it was clear with others, then what about him? Just mana magic?
"Why did you go quiet?" Livia's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
The elf quickly recovered and cleared his throat in embarrassment.
"Oh, it's nothing, just thinking about something not too important right now. You can continue."
Zack cleared his throat and continued.
"So, these braziers are the foundation of the camp. The one we have is in a place where it's hard to find. We found it by pure chance" – Zack shrugged and went on – "When we were on the brink. It's the main defense of our camp at night. For some reason, the shadows don't appear during the day, so the night is the most dangerous time. For now, we won't tell you where it is, simply out of personal concerns, no offense, alright?"
The elf didn't like being distrusted, but he understood their position, so he just nodded. At least they shared some information with him, and that was worth a lot. The braziers were like safe zones, around which camps were built, meaning they were invaluable in this vast and dangerous forest. That's what Livia and Zack were trying to convey to him. But who built them? Were they solely meant to protect against the shadows?
Who lived in the forest before, and what was the true purpose of these braziers?
Naturally, no one had answers to these questions, so Ragryno decided to change the subject. Maybe he would learn more once he reached the second rank, so there was no need to rush. Instead, he decided to ask a more pressing question at the moment.
"I'm curious about something… Why is this building necessary? Wouldn't it be better if everyone knew the camp leaders' plans?"
This question genuinely intrigued him. If everyone wanted to survive, why hide something so important? To his surprise, both of his companions' expressions darkened, and the atmosphere in the room became much more somber. Livia decided to explain why things were done this way.
"Because we're not the only camp in this forest," the girl's hands clenched tightly as she said this, and Zack lowered his gaze, staring into the void.
Now Ragryno was more confused than surprised. Not the only camp? Why were there other camps, and why hadn't they managed to unite with them? Meanwhile, the girl waited for him to process what she said before continuing.
"There are at least three other camps, each radically different from ours. To put it simply, we didn't see eye to eye, which is why there are so many. But all you need to know is that life in those other camps is far worse, and their leaders… are mostly scumbags."
Ragryno could practically feel the hatred in the girl's voice. This made him a bit uneasy, but he tried not to show it and kept a serious expression. Why were the other leaders scumbags? He immediately got an answer from Zack.
"Each of them in a similar situation just wants power. No matter what, they remain the same people they were before. And most of them are from the same place as you, Ragryno."
That much was clear now. If a person from the slums ends up in power, it's easy to see why his comrades viewed them as scum. But both Livia and Zack were obviously withholding something.
'What's really going on in the other camps? Livia's voice seems distant, like she's hiding something...'
"But that's not the only reason, right?" said the elf, noticing some confusion on the girl's face. Sure, most people from the slums were bad, but take him, for example. He wouldn't call himself completely horrible. He felt a slight sting of offense when people from the slums were spoken of that way, but he decided to hide it. The girl just sighed heavily and responded.
"Yes, you're right. That's not the only reason. The truth is, what we call the scouting party only exists here. The other camps don't have anything like it. Many of the people who came to us came from other camps. They were the ones who told us what's happening there. Mainly, they have a strict hierarchical system where everyone follows the leader's orders. If the camp leader says to do something, people have to obey."
The girl fell silent for a moment, as if recalling something.
"If someone refuses... they're just exiled, which is as good as a death sentence," she said in an even tone. It seemed like she'd regained her composure, but her hands trembling with anger said otherwise. Noticing this, Zack decided to continue, not wanting to push her further.
Now things made more sense to Ragryno. But something still bothered him. He decided to save his question for the end of their conversation so as not to interrupt his companions. Internally, he couldn't say he felt any particular anger. It just felt... ordinary? Living in the slums, he had gotten used to this kind of life, which is why something extreme felt so normal.
"You might think it's acceptable under the circumstances, but it's not. In our camp, we don't just want to survive or stand at the top of the hill. No, we want to leave the forest at any cost, and that's what sets us apart from the other camps. That's why we couldn't unite."
Ragryno sat, processing all this information. It was painfully familiar to him, and he understood why. The slums. The camps were like gangs that didn't want to escape the slums but rather stay and rule over the weaker ones. The elf couldn't help but sneer. It was the very thing he tried to escape, yet wherever he went, the world remained the same.
And it made him sick.
Realizing the conversation about the camps was coming to an end, he decided to ask the question that had been bothering him the most. A question about himself.
"What do you want from me?" Ragryno asked bluntly. It was a reasonable question, though the answer was staring the elf in the face. He even knew what they would say.
"We want you to join the scouting party with us," Livia replied, emotionless.
The elf was silent for a moment, thinking about his options. To some, the decision might seem obvious, but... was it worth risking his life for others? No? Was it worth taking responsibility for someone else? Sure, he wasn't sure if he could survive in the forest alone, but at least he knew that all his mistakes would fall on him alone. If he died, it would be his own fault.
Could he trust his companions? Could they trust him?
Livia and Zack understood he needed time to think and suggested postponing the decision until tomorrow. He still had many questions, like why only two days had passed for him while five months had passed for the others. But all of that would wait until tomorrow since it was already very late.
They assigned Ragryno a tent in the camp, and the elf immediately left the building. He glanced at the people warming themselves by the fires. It was fairly chilly. Closing his eyes, the elf scanned the people in the camp, frowning as he felt a slight heaviness in his chest. Rank 1. All of them were still at Rank 1 despite five months passing. Had they not trained or improved at all?
Was it worth defending people who hadn't even tried to better themselves for their own survival? That doubt was the reason he hadn't immediately said "Yes" to joining the scouting party.
Sighing, he headed to the nearest empty tent, which was his, at least for the night. Despite the deep night and the general quietness, Ragryno couldn't help but notice the occasional glances people gave him. Many whispered about who he was and why he had entered the leaders' building. Honestly, the elf didn't enjoy the attention and just wanted to reach the tent as quickly as possible.
Once there, he slipped inside and found a bed made of leaves, similar to the one he had made by the river. Without hesitation, he removed his bow and lay down. The tent was spacious enough, but besides the leaf bed, there was nothing else inside.
As soon as he lay down, he felt an overwhelming weakness wash over his body. He had forgotten that, not even fully awake, he had already been in danger. Would it be safe to sleep in this camp? After all, Livia and Zack wanted to make it different from the slums. At least, that's what Ragryno thought based on what they'd said.
But why did they want him in their ranks?
The elf shifted to his side, propping his hands under his head. He stretched out his wooden arm and stared at it.
'Hey, can you talk now?' Silence... or was it?
[A little.]
The elf immediately sat up, staring at his arm. What should he ask it? There was so little time, and he had so much to find out! Nervously scratching his head, he decided to ask the question he often asked himself.
'What should I do?'
Silence followed. His arm remained quiet for a while before finally answering.
[Stay. Grow stronger. Reach Rank 2.]
Each word felt like it could be the last. And it was, for after that, the arm stopped responding, perhaps falling into sleep, leaving the elf alone with his thoughts.
Irritated, the elf lay back on the leaf bed, staring at the ceiling. It annoyed him that he couldn't have a proper conversation with his wooden arm, as it always kept harping on about Rank 2 and how he just needed to grow stronger. But wasn't that the best answer for him?
'I know, I know! I just need to get stronger and survive... Has anything ever been different?'
With these thoughts, he drifted off to sleep, where he was once again met by a nightmare in the form of a Rank 4 creature. Once more, it chased him, eventually piercing him through. But this time, at the end, he saw something new. The bodies of the guards, shouting at him that it was all his fault. Because of the mana explosion he had caused.
Ragryno awoke with a start, finding himself drenched in cold sweat, breathing heavily. He quickly looked around for any threat, but... there was nothing. He was still in the tent, perfectly safe.
Calming his breathing, he got to his feet, feeling that his body had fully rested. However, his stomach was still empty, and his throat was dry. He hadn't eaten before sleeping, so that was his first goal. Exiting the tent, he was greeted by the sun, pleasantly warming his slightly pale skin. Surveying the camp, he could now see its full size.
There really were a lot of people. About 40 individuals busied themselves with various tasks. Some were shaping things using earth magic. Water mages, for example, used their magic to provide others with water. Fire mages used their abilities to heat what looked like meat. Everyone was doing something, and the elf could sense the abundance of mana being used around him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a red-haired figure approaching — Zack, carrying a wooden plate with a piece of meat on it. Ragryno immediately focused on the food, practically drooling.
"Haha! Look at him drooling! Good morning, sleepyhead. Here's your breakfast. This time, I graciously brought it to you like a real prince, but next time you'll have to get it yourself," Zack teased, watching the hungry elf's face.
Ragryno felt a bit embarrassed but still took the meat. They sat on the ground near his tent, and the elf began devouring the tender piece of meat that practically melted in his mouth.
"Damn, with breakfasts like this, I'd sell you my soul, never mind joining your camp!" the elf said, his mouth full. Zack handed him a small stone cup, which Ragryno accepted, drinking the magical water that tasted... surprisingly good!
"Sorry, not interested in your soul, but joining the camp would be nice!" Zack replied, shrugging.
The elf silently continued eating, savoring the taste, not paying attention to anything else. He glanced around the camp again and asked the simple question — where was Livia?
"Hey, where's Livia?" the elf asked casually, tossing the last piece of meat into his mouth, feeling the surge of energy in his body.
"Dunno. Probably training? Ever since we ended up in the forest, that crazy girl hasn't skipped a single day of improving her magic," Zack said, feigning annoyance, though they both understood it was the right thing to do.
But for Ragryno, this was useful information, as he now understood the girl better. If she's training, it means she truly wants to make her goals a reality. But how exactly does she train?
This question intrigued the Elf, but he figured now wasn't the best time for that; he would find out later anyway. After all, he had decided to join the camp. Yes, he would have to take responsibility for the lives of others, something he absolutely didn't want to do, but deep down, he knew it was truly for the best. In just two days, he had come close to the brink of death almost three times, so for him, this was simply the most logical and best choice.
"I'll stay, but I won't promise to be loyal to every order. As long as it suits me, I'll follow through," the young man abruptly declared. He valued his freedom and didn't want to restrict it by obeying absolutely everything.
Zack looked at him in surprise, as if not expecting such an answer, and simply smiled, patting his comrade on the shoulder.
"Then welcome to our camp's scouting squad! Honestly, I thought you'd hold out a lot longer. Man, I didn't think a piece of meat could work miracles... But whatever!"
Zack got up from the grass and stretched. Ragryno followed suit, and Zack gestured for him to follow. The Elf raised an eyebrow, as if asking, "Where to?" To which Zack quickly responded.
"We're going to a place not many people know about, but first, we need to gather Livia and the others. I'm sure you'll like it there!"