"In the records of my ancestors there are cases of barbarians living in the mountains. Tribes... some are cannibals. In the School's library, I found several accounts when I studied Gothen. We can find goblins, orcs and forest trolls on the way" I said, trying to organize the information.
"I've never heard of it. What are these three?" someone asked, curious.
"They belong to the green blood" Hircine replied, next to me, firmly. "Goblins, Orcs and Trolls are part of the same tribe. They mature and evolve as they devour flesh and eliminate their enemies."
"Are they strong?" he asked again.
"We can face a separate orc, but a troll can only kill if we work together. The weapon of these creatures is the trees" she continued. "And this considering the weakest. If we find someone with magical talent, our chance decreases a lot. We are just masters of physical combat."
Irrespective of. If this is our destiny, we will fulfill it. Everyone here has already made that decision.
As they spoke, I was concentrating on the open scroll in front of me.
"There are three more teams" I announced.
The group stopped the discussion immediately upon hearing my words. Morrissa made a serious expression.
"Are there three more teams?" someone repeated.
"We are going to the center of the ruins. There are three paths that lead there. What an interesting puzzle" I added, feeling the weight of the mission.
"So do we have competitors?" Ermmind seemed happy to hear this. He and his sister exchanged glances and sketched smiles that looked more like threats.
"Not necessarily" 01 replied, but for some reason he was shaking, as if he was hiding something.
"Will it be a test? If it is, we have to be in first place" Orisis spoke with a competitive look that almost shone.
That's when Anker appeared, his white, fuzzy tail waving excitedly, which made him look cute.
"What are the three routes like?" he asked, curious.
"That's what's weird" I said, frowning. "The route that comes from the capital to the center is almost without obstacles, an avenue practically in a straight line. It's longer, with no shortcuts, but it has almost no enemies. Only the eastern and western flanks present challenges to reach the south"
Hearing this, a chilling aura seemed to emanate from those proud nobles.
"Are you saying they're giving privileges to another team?" someone muttered, indignant.
"Strategically, yes. I don't know why, but this is the safest way to go. I don't understand why we were assigned to this difficult path" I replied, making my discomfort clear.
The place plunged into silence.
I held out three fingers, ready to make my next point clear.
"I have two theories" I said, looking at the group. "Either they are testing us, or they want to prevent us from meeting the people who come from the north to the south. Or both. It is quite possible that our group will be seen as a threat to others. So, as a leader, I will ask each one to present themselves now"
"Presentation?" someone asked, surprised.
"Yes. Have their names, where they were born, ever killed anyone? What is the family history? And, of course, the criminal history" I said, making it clear that I was not joking.
I pointed to Ermmind.
He looked away at the time, but not before exchanging a quick glance with Morrissa, who nodded. Then he sighed, seeming to try to control the rage that gnashed his teeth.
"My sister and I were born in the North, we are the children of Duke Poloneli. We traveled for months to the east coast, and we didn't even know there was a route from north to south" he said, his voice full of frustration, as if the whole world was to blame.
"Are you problems?" I asked, directly.
"What?" Ermmind puffed out his chest, playing indignant. "We are worthy and adored nobles of the empire, we have never committed any infraction. My most worthy sister and I are pure and innocent. We discovered this while studying at the imperial academy"
The ways they averted their eyes made clear what they already suspected: there was something they didn't count.
I noticed that everyone was evasive, avoiding my gaze.
"Look, you appointed me leader, so I'm going to do it right. We are a team, and teams need transparency. Let's leave the cards on the table now, understand what's going on. Consider this a vote of commitment" I said, firmly, looking at each one of them.
Ermmind crossed her arms, closing in on the defensive.
"If it's so easy, why don't you do it first?" his sister's voice came sharp, her eyes sharp.
I hesitated for a moment before speaking, feeling the weight of the words I carried.
"I am Zaatar Udrak, first son of Baron Udrak. I grew up in the city of Lua Nova and graduated from the Full Moon School. I killed for the first time when I was 12 years old" I began, feeling their heavy gaze on me. "It was a Black Emblem assassin. I hit several arrows before he approached. After that, I massacred half of my family's servants and broke into the Rolsvince house, next door to my father's fief. I killed his heir, his guards, and a count's son. A year and a few months ago, I killed Dagen Spear in a formal challenge. I lost control at the time, so I ended up doing some unusual things..."
The group stared at me with different eyes now. I didn't look like someone capable of such acts; My stature was thin, strong, but my appearance was delicate, even harmless at first glance.
The climate around me has changed. They didn't seem bothered anymore, but rather a little more relaxed, maybe even impressed.
"So you're the mad dog?" Hircine looked surprised. "I heard about you on the way here. People fear you a lot in that city"
I watched them stare out of the corner of their eyes. For some reason, at that moment, I felt that they were more at ease.
It was Ermmind who spoke, with that crooked smile that only he knows how to do:
"My sister and I killed some nuisances... I mean, they were annoying, you know? So we dragged them to our territory, took them to our room... We did this with several nobles, some guards and peasants. Our father couldn't stand it, said it was inhumane and disowned us. We are wanted by the Empire of the Dawn"
Hircine, with a calm expression, added:
"The bloody twins... Hey, you've been on the run for five years. These two kidnapped people they found interesting and tortured them in their father's territory. I learned that when they investigated the site, they found more than two hundred bones. They kill from the age of eight"