Then he crouched by the firepit and gestured for the others to bring everything they had gathered during the night.
One by one, they placed their spoils before him: six Bronze I crystals and two Bronze II from his own watch, added to the three more Bronze I crystals gained from the second shift. Eight Bronze I, two Bronze II in total—ten essence crystals glimmering faintly in the morning light, their glow casting pale colors across the dirt.
Beside them lay the meat—wrapped in leaves, piled carefully, though some pieces were streaked with blood from the harder fight. The hides and bones were fewer this time, but still serviceable. Even scraps could be shaped into tools, armor patches, or traps. Karl's eyes measured each piece with quiet calculation, his mind already arranging where each resource might be used.
He picked up one of the bronze II crystals, its glow stronger than the rest, and rolled it between his fingers. The faint thrum of energy pulsed against his skin—a reminder that progress was being made, slowly but surely, even if the night had been harsh.
When he looked up, his eyes rested on Grok. The big man sat stiffly, leaning against his shield as if the weight of it kept him upright. Blood had dried dark across his side where the bandage was already beginning to soak through.
"Sit straighter," Karl said gently. "Let me see it."
Grok hesitated, but obeyed, peeling away the rough cloth with a grunt. The wound was ugly—three jagged slashes raked across his ribs, shallow enough to avoid organs, but deep enough to leave muscle torn.
Karl's brow furrowed as he examined the wound more closely. Mira's paste would slow infection, but the depth of the gashes would take days to heal on their own. Too long.
He drew in a slow breath, centering himself. The faint thrum of his own vitality stirred, flowing in rhythm with the essence crystal he had touched moments ago. He placed one hand gently over Grok's side, fingers splayed just above the wound.
"Hold still," Karl murmured.
A faint green shimmer flickered across his palm, soft as spring leaves stirring in sunlight. The glow spread slowly, seeping into Grok's torn flesh. Accelerating Grok healing ability which was nothing less than a miracle.
Grok stiffened as warmth coursed through him, the pain dulling from a sharp burn to a muted throb. The torn edges of muscle eased together, not closing fully, but knitting just enough to relieve the worst of the strain. Blood stopped seeping, the angry swelling calming little by little.
Around them, the others watched in silence. Mira leaned forward, eyes wide with something between relief and awe. Lysa pressed her lips together, quiet but attentive, while Renn exhaled softly, as though he'd been holding his breath the whole time.
When the glow faded, Karl withdrew his hand, his expression pale from the effort. "It won't heal fully," he said, voice quiet but firm. "But it will enough for you to move without bleeding now, though you still need rest."
Grok flexed his arm, testing the bandaged side. His deep voice rumbled low. "Thank you, My Lord."
Karl only shook his head. "I'm not enough on my own. We need to rely on each other—that's what keeps us standing."
Karl stood and looked toward the forest, where faint howls still echoed in the distance and then looked at each of them in turn, the morning light soft on their tired faces. He kept his voice low and steady. "The wolves are still around the barrier. We'll need to kill them, barrier is going to fade, soon and with their cunningness and revengeful nature we might encounter problem sooner or later."
Mira stirred the fire, her voice quiet. "Then let's spend the day preparing. I can brew more poison. Stronger this time."
Renn nodded. "I'll fix the traps. Some were too weak last night."
Grok cracked his bark-like fists together, grinning despite his wounds. "Next time, I'll crush more of them."
Karl turns to Grok. The big man's grin had already settled into something fiercer. "You'll rest," Karl said firmly. "Your wounds are sealed, but not whole. Train Thorn and Ember instead with Lysa and increase their synergy in combat.
Grok exhaled through his nose, as if ready to argue, but Karl's tone left no room. At last, he gave a short nod. "Fine. But when they come… I'll be ready."
Good, Karl gave a small smile. "That's all I ask."
He closed the list with the simplest order. "Eat and rest for an hour. Then work as I've said.
They obeyed without argument— They ate slowly, finishing the last of the meat. Then, in the warm, careful rhythm of a small team used to hard days, they moved into their tasks—securing spoils, tending wounds, sharpening spikes, and preparing poison. Their tired bodies moving with the slow efficiency of people who'd learned how to make every moment count.
Karl stayed a while with Thorn and Ember, guiding hands where needed, the weight of plans already forming in his mind. Karl held the pouch for a long moment before opening it, as if weighing the choice again in his mind. Inside, the crystals glimmered faintly, their light soft in the morning air.
He picked out a single Bronze I and placed it in Thorn's waiting grasp. "This one is for you," Karl said quietly.
"It will raise you to Bronze II."
The crystal dissolved into Thorn's body, its glow spreading slowly through his vines. The faint shimmer deepened into a steadier pulse, and his tendrils quivered as if testing their new strength. Thorn let out a low, rustling breath and bowed his head toward Karl in gratitude.
Next, Karl reached for two more crystals. He held them in his hand for a while, his thumb brushing over the smooth edges. He could have kept them for himself, but his gaze drifted upward to Ember. The bird tilted her head, feathers catching the light, her presence sharp and watchful. Karl's thoughts settled—Ember's wings meant more to them now than his own strength. She was their eyes above the forest, their first warning and their swiftest hunter.
Gently, he offered two bronze II crystals to her. "Ember," Karl said, stroking her feathers, his voice low,
"Take these and Grow stronger."
Ember leaned forward and accepted them. Her body shimmered with light, her wings spreading wide as the power coursed through her. For a heartbeat, her eyes burned bright like small stars, and then the glow faded, leaving her form steadier, sharper, more vibrant than before. She gave a soft cry, a sound that carried strength but also trust.
Karl let his hand rest against her for another moment before he straightened. His eyes moved between them—Thorn rooted firm in the soil, Ember alight with strength. Together, they looked ready to shoulder more of the weight that lay ahead.
When the last spark of light from the crystals faded, Karl gave his next orders, his tone calm but steady.
"Ember, circle the skies near the barrier. Watch carefully for movement, especially the wolves. Thorn, patrol the edges. If weaker beasts come near, drive them off or take them down. Keep the ground clear."
Both answered in their own way—Thorn's vines coiling tighter, Ember's wings snapping once before she took to the air. And with that, the day's first tasks began.