Four Is a Crowd
Morning brought drums.
War drums.
An entire battalion of armored soldiers marched into the valley. Behind them rode a woman clad in crimson armor, spear blazing with disciplined qi.
She dismounted gracefully.
"I am Captain Mira of the Royal Vanguard."
She scanned the group.
Her eyes lingered on Sam.
"You are the anomaly."
"I object to that term."
"You are altering strategic balance."
"I tripped."
She ignored that.
"The Kingdom faces coordinated monster offensives across three fronts."
"Yes."
"You will assist."
"No."
Silence.
Her spear ignited brighter.
Sam stared at it and the flame dimmed.
She blinked.
"…What did you just do?"
"Reduced enthusiasm."
Darius buried his face in his hands.
Mira exhaled slowly, "Whether you like it or not, your presence shifts morale, enemy behavior, and tactical outcomes."
"I am walking."
"You are redefining war."
Sam paused because that felt… uncomfortably accurate.
He looked east again.
He felt it clearly now.
The Sovereign presence adjusting.
Learning faster.
Testing more aggressively.
He sighed.
"…Where is the nearest monster front?"
Mira's eyes sharpened, "You will help?"
"I will walk in that direction."
"That counts."
Lyra grinned.
Borin pumped a fist.
Darius looked proud.
Mira studied them, "You fight well together."
Sam blinked.
"We do?"
Borin laughed.
"We kind of do!"
Lyra twirled a blade.
"Accidentally."
Darius nodded.
"Repeatedly."
Mira mounted her horse, "Then come. The Kingdom needs heroes."
Sam muttered under his breath as they followed, "I am not a hero."
The ground beneath him hummed faintly.
The distant Sovereign presence shifted again.
Four companions now walked at his side.
Unplanned.
Unwanted.
Unavoidable.
And somewhere beyond the mountains—
Something smiled.