The ground shuddered under the feet of Rion's group members as they scattered through the forest in search of a beast.

—

Yuura's squad:

Yuura sat crouched on the branch of a tree and muttered, "You are fast."

Mirak, who was sweating profusely, replied with a faint smile, "Shouldn't we slow down for others?"

Yuura glanced at his remaining squad members and roared, "If we aren't first to capture a beast, I'll make all of you run throughout the forest for the next whole week!"

—

Dora's squad:

Dora walked through the forest, and Kaya asked, "Where are we going?"

Dora glanced at her and muttered with a grin, "Don't worry, I know a cave of a brown bulk wolf."

Kaya's eyes widened in disbelief, and she let out a soft chuckle.

—

Karhun's squad:

Karhun and his squad stood by a tree with confused expressions, and Karhun mumbled, "Where are we supposed to go?"

Zaka stepped forward and suggested, "Wouldn't it be better for us to continue moving instead of standing here?"

Karhun glanced at him, nodded and said, "Let's move."

—

Tarun's squad:

Tarun climbed to the top of a tall redwood tree, and Bala asked, "What are you doing, lord Tarun?"

"Looking for a beast!" He shouted.

"Oh!"

—

Balak's squad:

Balak and his squad ran through the forest, and Balak commanded, "Find a water source, that's where we will find them."

The squad members nodded, and their eyes sharpened as they searched for a water source.

—

Zukah's squad:

Zukah sat on a rock, and his squad members stood before him.

"All of you have gone through the ritual of youth, so you must have captured a game before. But if you haven't, then you don't have to force yourself to do so," Zukah said.

A bitter smile appeared on his face, and he said, "The only thing that matters is that all of you are safe and fine."

—

At the cliff.

Rion's smile vanished; he stated, "If you're still not convinced by then — you'll leave."

Haden furrowed his brows in confusion and asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Rion turned towards him, his lips arched upwards, and he answered while gazing at the forest before him,

"They have called back the kareths to strengthen themselves, so we no longer need to break apart our strength... the battle next year would decide everything, so," he paused for a moment and added, "Let us join everything together."

Haden watched him with a calm expression. "The other group leaders won't join that easily."

Rion shrugged and said, "I know, but I have to try. It is the only way for us to continue..."

Quiet pride rippled in his red eyes like a white petal drifting onto still water, and his voice carried softly, "Do you need my help?"

Rion turned his head towards him, his mouth agape as he blinked a few times. A few moments later, he shook his head and spoke with a warm smile on his face, "If I wanted you to do it for me, then I would've asked you myself."

Haden nodded with a faint smile. He lifted his hand and softly patted Rion's back a few times before he turned around and left the place.

The gravel cried under his steps, and Rion watched his departing back with a silent gaze.

Just as Haden vanished from his vision, his hands moved towards the dark wolf fur cape strapped to his shoulder and gripped at its end as he remarked in his head, 'Father has held himself from using his strength to command others, yet he was ready to do it for me.'

His lips formed a pleasant smile, and he whispered, "It feels good..."

He folded his arms across his chest and mumbled to himself, "I must get them together now."

He lifted his spear and took a final glance at the northwestern forest before he turned around and left.

The time for change has come.

The three rebels — Armin, Moria and Waron — watched him leave with varied expressions.

"He sent them to hunt, and himself is going back to laze!" Commented Armin.

"Why did the vice lord choose a kid instead of Balak?" Moria asked with a frown.

"Because he is worthy of it," Waron answered impassively and sat down on the ground.

The other two gave him a confused look, and Armin asked, "Waron... why did you deny his command?"

Waron's lips arched up in his naturally cruel grin, and he responded in an amused tone, "I wanted to see how he would deal with this."

Armin and Moria's frown deepened. They looked at each other and mumbled under their breath, "Scary bastard..."

—

The ground crunched under Rion's determined strides. His steps were quick and steady as he made his way forward to the vice lord's hut.

As he walked through the road of Redwood Den, the trainees and squad members placed a fist on their hearts, and he regarded all of them with a smile and nod.

After a few minutes, he reached the door of the vice lord's hut. He softly pushed the door and stepped inside.

Marin was in his chair, checking a leather parchment. Hearing the slight creak, he looked up at the door, and his eyebrow rose in surprise when Rion fell into his vision.

His lips formed his usual warm smile, and he asked softly, "Group leader Rion, are you here to learn the outside language?"

Rion shook his head while stepping closer to him.

Marin put down the parchment, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hmm? Why are you here then?"

Rion stopped before his table and replied with a wide smile, "I wish to hold a feast."

Marin tilted his head and mumbled, "A feast?"

Rion nodded, leaned forward on the table and explained, "My squads would catch the game and prepare the feast."

"Oh!" A sound escaped Marin's lips before he frowned and asked, "Are you here to invite me?"

"I am," Rion said, "But I need your help."

Clouds of confusion gathered around Marin's head. "My help...? Ah! You mean my strength!" He chuckled and asked, "Do you think I am vice lord because of my strength?"

'Hmm? That's not what I was talking about...' Rion remarked inwardly, but he didn't stop him from revealing things to him.

Marin smiled sheepishly and added, "I am vice lord for two reasons."

He lifted two fingers and folded one of them as he said, "First, I know the language of Sylvarae, so I can use the key of the barrier."

He folded the second finger and said with a wide smile, "Lastly, I am the one who designed the workings of the Redwood Den."

"What?!" Rion exclaimed and thought, 'Marin designed the workings of the Den? How is that possible?'

Seeing his puzzled expression, Marin chuckled warmly and asked, "You don't believe me, do you?"

Rion shook his head.

Marin's eyes gleamed in reminiscence, and he said, "The current Den is way different from before. The one before didn't care how many died fighting, but this one does..."

'I see... He is the one who added the system of ranks,' Rion noted inwardly and said evenly, "I don't need your strength."

Marin's lips dropped slightly. "What do you need then?"

Rion leaned in and muttered with an excitement-filled sheen in his eyes, "I need your power."

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