“Despite what you say, Ignav, you can't ignore that one of ours was pivotal in saving your colony from the Goliath Scorpion Mother.”

  The colony leader's son, Ignav, rests his head on his hand and speaks.

  “And for that, I'm thankful. Conversely, three who are… more aligned with us did do as well.”

  Pugnis smirks and says, “I've already agreed. Very well, I'll end this meeting here. I hope you will be honest to your citizens as I will be to mine.”

  The tribal leader stands up from the table, pushing his seat backward with a scrape. As he approaches the door to leave, Ignav slams the table with his fist and shouts, “Fine. I'll do it.”

  Pugnis glances back with a smile on his face before he steps out of the building.

  He looks to his left to see the four heroes waiting outside.

  “Father, it sounds like it went well. How long has it been since you visited this colony?”

  “Its been years, and in that time the leader seems to have begun passing down his position. Ignav might be young and inexperienced, but he's a good kid deep down.”

  Vis’ father sighs and continues.

  “Seriously, I can't thank you enough. I'd no idea how terrifying that monster would be. I don't know if our tribe even could have handled that without severe damages. You guys are shockingly powerful.”

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  ?elare hesitantly asks, “Would you say that it was as powerful as a unique monster?”

  Pugnis looks back at him with a thoughtful expression for a few seconds and replies, “No, but I suspect it wasn’t all that far off. Our tribe's founder, Lanio Magnus, managed to slay one at the cost of his life, granting us this land mostly free from monsters, and he was renowned by even the Emperor back in the day.”

  ?elare crosses his arm with a small frown and Vis speaks up.

  “Consider this progress towards my vow. I may not intend to become the next chief, but I’ll leave my mark in an even more significant way- peace between our tribe and the rest of the continent.”

  The father and son share a grin before Astraea interrupts them.

  “What caused you to seek us out? The timing of your arrival was suspiciously convenient.”

  Pugnis replies, “The one who informed me you would be arriving appeared again a while after you left, telling me to follow. I didn't see a reason not to and so I did."

  The girl narrows her eyes.

  “I grow tired of this uncertainty. Novus knows too much, he can do too much and yet he reveals so little. I refuse to be led around any longer.”

  Hunter shakes his head and says, “I don't think that's a good idea.”

  Vis frowns and adds, “Same. He's working with us, so there isn't a problem.”

  Astraea turns to ?elare, who is wearing an ambivalent expression. He shrinks away from the girl's glare and turns his head to the side to avoid looking back.

  “Why are all three of you so accepting of this? Hunter, did he not bring you here against your will?

  Vis, you as well find him suspect. Has he affected your minds, or something?” she shouts, her voice reflecting the exasperation evident on her face.

  Receiving no answer, she closes her eyes and exhales. Seconds later, ?elare speaks with a trembling voice.

  “Let's just go back, please?”

  The healer nods slowly, looking to have calmed down.

  Pugnis coughs and says, “I will pretend I didn't see that. Good luck on your journey back.”

  He and Vis punch each other’s fists one more time before the four of them head to the carriage station at the border of the colony, taking the next ride back to Alpha.