Muinin stood guard at the fortress, his gaze sweeping over the distant wall. A soft crunch of footsteps breaks his concentration, and he turns to see a fellow guard approaching.
"Boy! Vice Commander Conan is summoning you" ,the guard says with a hint of urgency. "He needs you in his quarters right away."
Muinin, confused but without questioning , leaves his post to the other guard and hurries toward the training quarters.
When he arrives, Conan is in the midst of honing his sword technique, his movements precise and powerful. Noticing Muinin's arrival, he stops, sheathing his blade and facing him with a neutral expression.
"Muinin", Conan begins, "I hear you've expressed interest in joining us on the next raid for gathering resources and intelligence."
Muinin's eyes widened, surprised that Conan knew of his request to Aiden. He's barely had the chance to speak with Aiden about it, much less expect a response so soon. Conan notices his reaction and gives a slight nod.
"There's no need for surprise. The Commander himself informed me" ,Conan says, his tone almost reassuring. "Your ambition is known."
Muinin, visibly relieved, composes himself before asking, "Then… Why did you summon me, Vice Commander?"
Conan's gaze sharpens. "I've discovered traces—marks and trails in the nearby forest that hint at a monster's nest. While I can't be certain what type of creature it is, I need a second pair of eyes to investigate further."
Muinin, his curiosity now piqued, questions Conan. "Shouldn't we inform Commander Marius or Lord Aiden? If there's a monster nest nearby, it could be dangerous for everyone."
Conan shakes his head. "This is merely speculation at this point. I can't go to them with half-formed intel. They're occupied with fortress matters—recruitment, training, managing supplies. I can't afford to bother them for what might turn out to be nothing."
After considering Conan's reasoning, Muinin slowly nods. It makes sense, but he remains hesitant about investigating alone. Conan, sensing his reluctance, presses forward with a tempting offer.
"Look at it this way," Conan says smoothly. "If you assist me in this, not only will it prove your abilities, but I'll personally vouch for you in front of Commander Marius to join us on the raid."
Muinin, impressed by the opportunity, agrees without further hesitation. "Alright, when do we head out?"
Conan's lips curl into a smile. "Right now."
Without another word, they set out into the forest. As they make their way through the thick trees, Conan allows a sinister smirk to flicker across his face when Muinin isn't looking.
Aiden in his command room, where he's joined by Lina, Marius, and Kellan, is discussing the current state of the fortress and its needs.
Turning to Marius, Aiden inquires, "How are the new recruits holding up? How many soldiers do we have now?"
Marius answers promptly. "The numbers have risen steadily, My Lord. They're progressing well, though they'll need more equipment soon to keep up with the training demands."
Aiden nods thoughtfully before turning to Kellan. "Then let's increase the production of steel swords, bows, and arrows. With our numbers growing, we can't afford a shortage."
Kellan, however, looks concerned. "Well, the materials we confiscated from the slavers are nearly exhausted. If we don't gather more resources soon, production will grind to a halt."
Aiden acknowledges this and takes out a long sigh replying, "We'll organise a raid as soon as the recruits are competent enough to defend themselves. In the meantime, we'll make do with what we have."
Kellan shifts, glancing hesitantly at Aiden. "There's also the matter of more workers. I need extra hands in the workshop to speed up production."
Aiden turns to Lina. "What about the notice I asked you to post in the village square ?"
Lina winces slightly. "Oh! That notice for craftsmen and miners. My apologies. We've been swamped with other duties, and I haven't posted it yet, but I'll do it immediately."
Aiden nods, then calls for the guard outside to accompany Lina for her task. The door opens, but instead of Muinin, a new face appears. Aiden raises an eyebrow. "Where is Muinin?"
The guard hesitates. "He… he wasn't feeling well, so he went to rest."
Aiden's expression sharpens slightly, sensing something off as Muinin was very active and fresh when he saw him the last time.
"Very well. You'll accompany Lina in the meantime.", he dismisses the guard.
Back in the forest, Conan and Muinin move deeper into the undergrowth, searching for signs of the monster nest. Conan finally halts, scanning the surroundings, and frowns.
"It seems we may have lost the trail" ,he mutters, glancing over at Muinin. "We'll need to split up to cover more ground."
Muinin, uneasy, voices his concern. "Are you sure that's wise, Vice Commander? If there's a monster nearby, we should stay together."
Conan brushes off his concern with a confident smile. "If you encounter anything, just call out—I'll be close by."
Reluctantly, Muinin nods and heads off in the opposite direction, combing through the forest. As he ventures further, the atmosphere grows thicker and darker, the sounds of the forest seeming to fade around him. Suddenly, a rustling sound nearby catches his attention.
Emerging from the shadows is a Hellhound, its eyes gleaming with hunger as it fixates on Muinin. Muinin quickly draws his weapon, calling out for Conan—but there's no response.
Muinin, trembling with fear yet engulfed in silence, steeled himself with a thought: "I have to fight… I have to! If I don't kill it, I'll never prove my worth!"
The Hellhound snarls and lunges, forcing Muinin to dodge and retreat, realising too late that it isn't alone. Two more Hellhounds emerge from the brush, surrounding him.
Muinin's breathing grows rapidly as he faces the beasts, realising he's vastly outnumbered. With no sign of Conan, panic rises in his chest. Conan, meanwhile, watches from afar, his eyes narrowing as a cruel smile tugs at his lips before he silently slips away into the shadows, leaving Muinin to his fate.