Chapter 15 – March towards Naga Forest
8th, March; Carnatic City
The sun had yet to rise, and a thin mist clung to the stone streets of Carnatic City. The world remained hushed in the predawn hour, with only the occasional sound breaking the silence, footsteps on cobblestone, and a faint breeze rustling through alleyways.
Vector Astrum moved swiftly through the quiet alleys, the mist curling around his cloak as he approached the Silver Crown Alehouse, a familiar path he had walked many times.
Upon entering, a discreet nod to the attendant was all it took. Without a word, he was led through the private room and down into the hidden basement beneath the tavern.
Descending into the hidden basement beneath the tavern, he found that preparations were already underway.
Stacks of barrels and crates filled the stone chamber— essential supplies, preserved food, and forging materials had been placed there overnight.
Additional stock waited in nearby commercial district warehouses, property owned discreetly by the Astrum family, originally for the alehouse and Leon Restaurant's supply chain.
By the time the first silver threads of dawn began to stretch across the sky, 65 loyal members of the Astrum family stood assembled in the basement.
Thirty-one of them were Vector's subordinates— the same who had attended the secret meeting the night before.
The remaining 34 were a mix of craftsmen, guards, and logistical support, who had now gathered after being freed from routine responsibilities.
These were not common members.
Every one of them bore Astrum blood or was sworn into its service. Their loyalty wasn't pledged to a cause, it was inherited.
Vector stepped before them, his expression calm and resolute.
"Good morning," he said simply.
In response, the gathered members saluted and wished Vector in unison.
Vector continued, voice steady. "As you all know, we are gathered here to march toward Vantara Village— to prepare for the coming war with the Lionheart Empire."
A deep voice echoed through the room, followed by others;
"Young Master, we will not fail!"
Vector nodded in approval. Their spirit was strong.
"Good. Now, I want all of you to gather upstairs and wait. Sebastian, Marcus, Tristan, Rhea— stay behind."
Once the group had been briefed, he dismissed them, the basement quieted. Only Vector and his four most trusted lieutenants remained: Sebastian Sinclair, Marcus Rowan, Tristan Vale, and Rhea Arden. Around them, the supplies towered— metal bars, crates of dried food, weapon parts, and construction materials for the forge.
Vector stepped forward calmly, eyes scanning the inventory.
Vector turning towards them said, "I'll handle the transportation of all this myself."
The three commanders exchanged glances, visibly confused. Marcus's brow furrowed, his voice quiet but uncertain.
"Are you sure, young master?" Marcus asked. "Everyone here today is from the Astrum family, and most of us are marching to Vantara. How do you plan to move all this without involving anyone else?"
Vector offered a slight smile, reassuring, yet unreadable.
"I have my ways," he said. "Just trust me. Everything will be where it needs to be, and when it needs to be."
The three commanders glanced at one another but said nothing further. Their faith in Vector was absolute.
Vector gave further orders to them "You three will divide the 65 members in three groups and head towards the Naga Forest. We will all meet at the junction of the road where we have to enter the Forest."
He paused to make sure they absorbed the instructions.
"Travel discreetly. Move like a trade caravan. Keep your profiles low—blend in as merchants, craftsmen, or common laborers. Don't draw attention from the city patrols."
He looked each of them in the eyes.
"If anything goes wrong, contact the other groups immediately. Tristan—assign scouts to each team. Keep communication open until we meet."
"Understood, Young Master," the three replied in unison.
Tristan added, "I'll make sure the scouts are placed strategically. We'll stay in constant contact."
Vector nodded, satisfied.
His gaze finally landed respectfully on Sebastian, "Sebastian, you will move with me to the junction of the road leading to the Naga Forest."
The group was visibly relieved. With Sebastian by Vector's side, his protection was assured.
Sebastian nodded. "Even if you hadn't ordered it, I'd still follow."
Then he gave them a lame excuse to drive them out of the basement to store Materials here in the Storage space.
"Alright, you all head upstairs. I'm going to inspect the materials here one last time." He nodded toward the stairs after giving the order.
With a final glance, the three left the basement, followed by Sebastian, who paused at the stairs, then continued without a word.
Now alone, Vector moved quickly.
He placed his hand on each crate and barrel— iron bars, grain sacks, timber, tools, forge components— each one vanishing silently into the Void Library's storage.
When the last stack disappeared, he exited the basement and met the group waiting on the ground floor.
Marcus, Tristan and Rhea have divided them in three groups.
Vector gave a final glance over them and addressed the room.
"Travel separately, avoid attention, move as traders, craftsmen, or laborers. Regroup at the Naga Forest's North-eastern entry point, we'll wait there, for regrouping, before moving toward Vantara."
With that, the groups began departing Carnatic City in staggered formations, blending into the early morning flow of travelers. No one noticed them, just another set of faces in a busy city.
Once the last group had departed Carnatic, Vector and Sebastian made their way through the quieter streets toward the commercial district warehouse.
A discrete structure nestled in the back of the commercial district where very few people went, except the trader and merchant of course to procure their product or material stored there.
As they approached the heavy wooden doors, where the other materials are stored which need to be transported, Vector slowed his steps.
Inside the warehouse, more materials awaited: larger barrels of oil, cottons, sealed crates of nails, and spools of leather and rope, lead, brass, paper and many materials needed to make firearms and the forge.
"Sebastian," Vector said calmly, "wait outside. I'll check inside to make sure all the materials are in place."
Sebastian gave a short nod. "Understood."
Vector entered the warehouse alone, the faint scent of oil and wood filling the air. Crates and barrels lined the walls, everything arranged and all the materials were there without anything missing.
Then, without delay, he activated the system's storage.
He moved quickly, placing his hand on each stack. The supplies vanished one by one into his Void Library storage, barrels of oil, iron beams, timber, bolts, nails, cords, and leather.
Vector asked the system, "System. How much storage space is left?"
================
>[System Notification]
Storage Space: 15.8 m³/20 m³
================
"Around 4 cubic meters left…" he murmured, satisfied.
Vector exhaled quietly. "Perfect. We're ready."
He stepped back out into the morning light out of the warehouse, where Sebastian waited silently, arms folded.
Sebastian was waiting, seeing Vector, said, "Young Master."
"It's done," Vector said simply, and ordered, "Let's move."
Sebastian also said, "Yes, Young Master."
Together, they slipped into the outskirts, their destination set, the Naga Forest, where the others waited... and now they are going towards their destiny to establish their future stronghold.
---
Three hours later, Vector and Sebastian arrived at the junction near the Naga Forest. All three groups had arrived ahead of them and were waiting in silence.
Vector looked over his people with pride.
"Any issues during the journey?" he asked.
Marcus stepped forward. "No problems, Young Master. Everything went smoothly."
Tristan and Rhea both confirmed with nods.
Vector replied, "It's good that Lionheart Empire didn't get the wind of it."
Then, his gaze moved towards the forest in front of him.
Vector's eyes narrowed slightly. "Good. It means the Lionheart Empire hasn't noticed our movements."
Then he turned his gaze toward the forest ahead.
A vast expanse of ancient trees stretched before them, cloaked in mist. The dense canopy overhead cast deep shadows, and the air carried the distant echoes of beastly roars and bird calls. The Naga Forest was wild, untamed— and perfect.
Within that forest lay Vantara Village.
It was here, amidst the wilderness, that Vector would carve the heart of a new empire.
He looked back once, at the road to the city, at the life they were leaving behind.
Then he faced forward.
"A glorious future awaits," he said. "Let's move."
With those words, he stepped into the forest.
The others followed in silence, their boots crunching softly on moss-covered soil.
[To be continued…]