Lichstein Kingdom — City of Atris
Bullet Tavern, Headquarters of the Mercenary Guild
The air smelled of spilled beer, pipe smoke, and roasted meat. The usual mercenary commotion mixed with the clinking of mugs and rough laughter in the background.
But at a corner table, the usual cheerfulness had no place.
There, Neil's group sat in an uncomfortable silence.
Candles flickered on the table, reflecting on the light wounds and exhaustion they still carried from their last failure.
Brock, with a half-dazed gaze and a split lip, lifted his mug, took a long swallow, and let out a loud burp.
Brock: —"Well… we've been through worse."
The tension loosened slightly.
Débora smiled, idly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Débora: —"Unfortunately, Jeffrey always gets the worst of it."
The three—Neil, Brock, and Débora—let out a light laugh, just a spark in the dimness.
But Jeff did not join them.
He kept his head down, gaze fixed on the edge of the table, where his fingers trembled slightly over the damp wood.
The air between them froze again.
Neil watched him in silence for a few seconds, until his voice came out, soft but firm.
Neil: —"Are you alright, Jeffrey?"
Finally, Jeff lifted his gaze. His eyes were glassy, exhausted.
His voice came out dull, as if it weighed too much.
Jeff: —"I've decided I will retire from the Guild."
The words fell like a stone into a pond.
Débora, Brock, and Neil exclaimed in unison:
—"W-What?!"
Jeff let out a long sigh, staring at his empty mug.
Jeff: —"I think it's time to return to Enath… go back to my family. Since I couldn't achieve my dream."
Neil: —"But didn't you say they hated you to death, just for being half-blood?"
Jeff: —"Their hatred toward me won't change… no matter what I do. But I am still a Sounders, right?"
Brock: —"You also told us your talent for blacksmithing was basically trash."
Jeff gave a bitter half-smile, shrugging.
Jeff: —"Yeah. I'm not proud of my incompetence… But at least I'm politically correct.That's been my way of avoiding death back home."
Débora: —"But if you return to the Enath Kingdom… we probably won't see you again."
Jeff: —"I know. My kingdom's policy is still isolationist, to protect state secrets. But I am a Sounders. Somehow… I'll find a way to contact you."
Neil: —"Jeffrey… the group isn't, and won't be, the same without you. Despite your shortcomings, you're basically the soul of the team."
Jeff swallowed.
His eyes moved across each of them, one by one, as if trying to memorize their faces.
Jeff: —"I appreciate your words, senpai. But I'm tired of my failures. Besides, Raymond can easily take my place and be more useful than me."
Débora: —"No, you're wrong. Raymond is strong, yes. But he's also reckless… and arrogant.He acts on impulse, without listening to anyone. Basically… he's a lone wolf, not a team member."
Brock: —"Débora's right, Jeff. Raymond is strong, probably the strongest person I've ever met. But…" —he lowered his voice, staring at his mug— "there's something about him. As a warrior… you can't help feeling like a burden when you stand next to him. And that's not a good feeling for a team."
Neil: —"Jeff, even if you sometimes feel like a burden… you are a valuable member. We all agree that we value you as a comrade."
Jeff smiled, but his expression broke somewhere between gratitude and sadness.
Jeff: —"Thanks, guys… but my decision is made. I'll arrange everything and leave in the next few days."
Débora: —"You don't… you also don't… It was already enough with Noelle, and now you too?"
The three men looked at her, confused.
—"What are you talking about?"
Débora lowered her gaze, idly stirring the foam of her beer with her finger.
Débora: —"Noelle went on a journey, as everyone knows… but if she was right, and Raymond really can help her… then if he succeeds… Noelle will stop being a mercenary."
Jeff slowly lifted his head.
Jeff: —"Then… that would mean…"
Débora: —"That the group would practically be dissolved."
Silence fell over the table.
Only the distant murmur of the tavern and the tapping of a spoon against a jar at another table could be heard.
The candles crackled, as if echoing the weight of that certainty.
Neil leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
Neil: —"Then… how about we organize a farewell?If we're going to disband… we'll do it in style."
Brock raised his mug, smiling sideways.
Brock: —"I like the idea. Once Noelle and Raymond return to Atris, we'll do it."
Jeff nodded, with a barely visible smile.
Jeff: —"They should be back in the next few days. Since I've already arranged my return."
Débora: —"Then let's hope they come back soon."
A wordless toast sealed that moment. The mugs clinked softly, and the bubbles rose slowly, as if even the alcohol understood the weight of that night.
Northern Zone of the Gregorian Empire
Gernumia Province — Between the mountains
The smoke from the previous night's fire still hung in the air like a recent memory.
Despite the chaos, the village was still standing.
After a full day of rebuilding.
Some of the shops were blackened, but they held firm, and the stream ran tinged with ash.
But what truly kept everyone in suspense was not the fire… It was her.
The last daughter of the former clan chief had returned. And she had done so with a determination no one knew how to interpret.
Inside the chief's tent, voices rose amid the tense silence of the guards waiting outside.
The villagers murmured among themselves, knowing a discussion was taking place that could change the fate of the entire clan.
Kyont: —"I understand you've returned, but… leave for a place we don't even know?"
Noelle: —"Listen, I know you've been appointed leader…but how long are you going to tolerate them kidnapping our people?"
Kyont frowned. His gaze, tired and hardened by years, locked onto his younger sister.
Kyont: —"Sister… do you know how many centuries we've lived here? Do you know?"
Noelle: —"What kind of question is that? You yourself know those stories are only revealed to the leaders of each clan."
Kyont lowered his gaze for a moment, letting out a deep sigh.
Kyont: —"Noelle… if you hadn't been taken, you would probably be the clan leader."
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious.
Noelle: —"What do you mean?"
Kyont: —"I know the elder told you about our origins."
Noelle: —"You knew?"
Kyont: —"Of course. Of all Father's children, only you and I were born with the White Wolf elemental power."
Noelle clenched her fists.
Noelle: —"Then… are you aware of Father's atrocity?"
Kyont: —"From my point of view… he only eliminated his natural competitor.According to ancestral order."
Noelle: —"That's your explanation? That's how you justify murder?"
Kyont did not answer. He stood up and moved aside a Zaynak hide covering the floor.
Under it, he began digging until his hand hit a black stone chest.The sound of metal scraping rock echoed like an ancient memory. When he opened it, a green glow emerged from inside.
Inside were several jade tablets, covered in ancient inscriptions.
Kyont held them with reverence, like someone holding the memory of gods.
Kyont: —"As you know, we are not from here, Noelle…But the elder didn't tell you everything."
Noelle looked at him, confused, a mix of doubt and fear.
Noelle: —"What do you mean?"
Kyont: —"Our ancestors were not native to this continent. But there were many more beastmen clans than the four that survive today. Back then, each clan was protected by its guardian god…And not only ours. Every race, every species, had one."
Noelle raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her nervousness with a forced smile.
Noelle: —"This is a joke, right?"
Kyont: —"No, it isn't. These tablets record a war between races… so large it nearly wiped them all out. And it all began with the firstdisappearance of the Mother Goddess."
Noelle stepped forward.
Noelle: —"Wait… first? Why did she disappear?"
Kyont: —"No one knows. It is only recorded that the first time she left, she was accompanied by many gods, the strongest and most powerful. There is no mention of where they went."
Kyont paused, letting his words echo through the tent.
And continued:
Kyont: —"And with their departure, the balance of the world broke. Without their gods, the races began fighting each other. And when we were at our weakest… creatures from the sea emerged: colossal serpents, monsters that wiped everything out."
Noelle: —"And what does that have to do with the war between races?"
Kyont: —"I theorize that, without gods, species began fighting for divine power. Each race holds a spark of that power, but without control. The Mother Goddess knew how to guide it through worship… but that doesn't explain the Madness."
Noelle: —"Wait… Madness? You mean all of this was because of divine power?"
Kyont: —"I don't know. According to these tablets, the reason we are still stranded here in the north is because our ancestors were saved by the FoxGoddess. She helped us escape… and since then, clan leaders have awaited her return order."
Noelle: —"The Fox Goddess…? When did all of this happen?"
Kyont: —"I don't know. The elder made estimates.But in the jade tablets, it is only called the Era of Beginnings."
Noelle remained silent.Her breathing slow, her gaze deep.
Noelle: —"And why are you telling me this now?"
Kyont placed the tablets on the table, and the nearest candle made their shadows dance.
Kyont: —"Because I know I am not a good leader.I am only skilled in battle, thanks to the White Wolf power I inherited.But leadership… that was never my thing."
Noelle: —"What are you implying?"
Kyont: —"I never wanted to be leader. When you disappeared, I had no choice. Nyon always had talent for leading, but he couldn't inherit the title.He didn't have the blood power. My only salvation was you… and you were taken."
Noelle smirked ironically.
Noelle: —"You were always so lazy… so lacking leadership."
Kyont: —"Hey! As an older brother I never had the luxury of being weak. Since childhood I had to act like the heir… even if I never wanted it."
Noelle crossed her arms.
Noelle: —"So what you're proposing is…"
Kyont: —"Yes. I want you to be the new clan leader."
Noelle blinked, surprised.
The silence between them became almost sacred.
Noelle: —"Does that mean you agree with the plan to leave on the ship?"
Kyont: —"Of course. But it will be your task to convince the other clans. By the way… you never explained how you got your tail back."
Noelle sighed, staring at an empty point on the ground.
Noelle: —"I'll be brief… I was bought in the Kingdom of Kemet, by an important family. That man hired a priest who managed to regenerate it…but after that… I was defiled."
Kyont clenched his teeth.
Kyont: —"I see… so that is the cruel fate of female clan members, huh?"
Noelle: —"Once I gained their trust, I escaped. I hid on a cargo ship… and ended up in a kingdom called Lichstein, south of the continent.I became a mercenary. And now… here I am."
Kyont nodded, with a mix of pride and sadness.
Kyont: —"Good. Then I will announce my decision to the clan now."
Noelle: —"Now?"
Kyont: —"Any problem?"
Noelle: —"No… alright. Let's do it."
Outside, the clan drums began to sound slowly, as if the mountain itself were waking up to hear what was about to be announced.
The rhythm was slow.
Deep.
Ancient.
Noelle stood before the clan, gaze firm. The air still smelled of ash and fresh blood… but the ritual was never broken.
Kyont stepped back.
Elders of the clan advanced.
Hands marked by years touched Noelle's shoulders. Then her forehead.
A simple gesture.
Enough.
Elder: —"From this moment… you lead the White Fang Clan."
Silence.
And then…
A single drumbeat.The clan bowed their heads.
Noelle took a deep breath.
She said nothing.It wasn't necessary.
And then…
a shadow crossed the sky.
Noelle looked up.
She recognized it instantly. The Comfort ship descended. A faint smile crossed her face.
Noelle: —"They're alive…"
The doors opened.
First came the automatons.
Then…
them.
Beastmen.
Many.
Too many.
But something was wrong.
Noelle stepped forward.
Her smile disappeared.
They weren't shouting.
They weren't running.
They weren't embracing.
They walked.
Ordered.
Silent.
Empty.
Noelle frowned.
Noelle: —"What…?"
Her eyes scanned familiar faces.
But found no reaction.
She turned slightly.
Looked toward the ship.
Noelle: —"Why did you take so long?... No. What did you do to them?"
Pause.
A voice descended from the sky.
[The efficiency during the boarding phase didn't match my calculations.]
[Too many assets and variables affected my performance.]
[Although I optimized the dialogue, rescue time, and overall performance.]
Noelle clenched her jaw.
Noelle: —"They're traumatized."
Silence.
[There is no perfect intervention… with individuals who refuse to be helped.]
Noelle did not respond.
She looked again at her people.
At the other clans.
And understood.
It was not visible damage.
It was something else.
She thought, silently:
"Sam… what did I borrow from you?"
The wind blew.
Carrying stillness.
Minutes later
The leaders of the remaining clans gathered.
Hard eyes.
Tense postures.
Pure distrust.
One of the bears spoke first.
Horthon: —"Explain it."
Another, smaller but firm.
Mia: —"Everything."
Noelle did not hesitate.
She spoke.
About the ships.About the merchants.About the massacre.
And what came after.
Silence.
Heavy.
Horthon: —"So… we belong to that now."
Noelle shook her head.
Noelle: —"No."
Pause.
Noelle: —"But we can stop being prey."
A low murmur.
Mia: —"And in exchange for what?"
Noelle looked around.
Then pointed.
The Tank-700 stood motionless.
Children approached it.
Touched it.
Laughed.
The machine did not react.
Noelle: —"In exchange for living."
Silence.
Noelle: —"Raymond… I know he doesn't need us."
Pause.
Noelle: —"And yet… his help got us out of there."
Crossed looks.
Doubt.
Fear.
Noelle stepped forward.
Noelle: —"Or would you rather this…?"
She looked around.
Noelle: —"live waiting for them to come back for our children?"
Silence.
One leader lowered his gaze.
Another nodded slightly.
And then…
one by one…
they yielded.
Not out of faith.
Out of logic.
They boarded the ships.
The wind changed.
Noelle lifted her gaze.
Pointed at the sky.
As if the moons were now witnesses.
Noelle: —"Good."
Pause.
Noelle: —"Now we go to the Black Stripe Clan."
The clans looked at her.
Their eyes were no longer the same.
Noelle: —"It's time our people live…"
Pause.
Noelle: —"…in a new way."
In the sky…
the ships began to move.
And for the first time in generations…
the beastmen were not fleeing.
They were heading toward something.
Even if they didn't yet know what it was.