Half an hour later, Rhatheth's hunting party solemnly stood around a mountain formed from all the corpses in the village. Smoldering embers burned in the orcs' eyes as Grovitch and Durst approached the pile with a torch in their hand.

Durst's eyes gleamed with hardened resolution as he knelt in front of the hill. "We failed to protect you. But rest easy, I swear we'll bring those responsible to you for judgment. Until then, sleep for a bit."

Durst placed the torch at the base of the hill. Elephant grass caught the flames and spread it up the mountain.

"Wait for me," Grovitch muttered in a grave tone and threw his torch onto the mountain.

Grovitch and Durst walked away, and two orc shamans took their place. The shames uttered chanted a spell and stomped their staffs on the ground. A flaming rose fower sprang up from the field and engulfed the mountain within its petals. Plumes of black smoke rose to the skies, and if one listened carefully, they could almost hear the wailing of unresigned souls.

Similar scenes played out in numerous villages around that region, the wails of the deceased creating dense dark clouds that hung over the region and blotted out the sun.

The orcs in Rhatheth stood still amidst the crackling of flesh. Smoke and ash burned their eyes, and the pungent stench of burning flesh stung their sensitive noses, but the orcs did not move a muscle until the hill crumbled into a pile of ash.

The orcs, led by Grovitch and Durst, rubbed the ash all over their skin. They would carry their family's vengeance with them until those responsible lay dead at their feet. Only then would they be free of this debt.

Durst and Grovitch shared a look then led their brothers out of the village. They mounted their warboars and pushed toward the only city large enough to hold all the orcs in the region, the great Orkish City, Oerbora.

***

Oerbora

The Orkish city, Oerbora, was a testament to the evolution of the orcs as a city and culture. The city's ten meter stone walls were built brick by brick by their ancestors who sought a safe haven for the tribe in this deadly land. Over time, it grew from being a simple hideout to a trade city for the orcs.

Orcs in the region traveled from far and wide to trade spoils from their hunts for medicine and other provisions. The city, in turn, sold the items to the wisben from Ederwood in exchange for precious materials required for the production of these goods. The wisbens even had a special district allocated to them. It was markedly much more beautiful and stylish than the rest of the city.

In prime orkish fashion, the city also housed an arena where orcs battled against each other and captured beasts. After all, no matter how 'civilized' orcs got, they would always put strength above everything else.

Today, a grave atmosphere hung over the usually boisterous city. The typically rowdy orcs wore hard glares and had their hands tightly gripped around their weapons. The news of the massacres had spread to the city's public. Many orcs here had family in the attacked villages. Words could not explain the rage boiling within them. They only needed the name of the responsible party, and they would immediately launch an attack.

The orcs had no idea that within the wisben district, a young woman sat at a table and nodded as she received reports of a particular successful mission. The contemplative wisben, dressed in a set of plain brown robes had a pair of deep-set eyes the color of ripe lemons and peach-colored, thick, straight, neck-length hair that she wore in a severe style.

This young woman was Nakahara Akiko, tactician for the Silver Spear guild. Her in-game persona was a wisben mage that went by the name, Honne Onna. She was the woman in charge of their latest operation, and she was more than pleased by the result.

A massive, intimidating nordic man with the aura of an unavoidable bloodhound stood by her right. A pair of almond-shaped burning, orange eyes glared at the wisbens that came to give the report. The man sported a red mohawk and was garbed in tough leather armor that evoked thoughts of wild barbarians. This man was Takahiro Ken, the muscle of Silver Spear and went by the in-game moniker, GrizzlyDiamond.

A tall, mature, elegant wisben sat at Honne Onna's left, deep-set emerald-like green eyes lit up with a smile as she regarded the messengers. She was dressed in traditional, elven armor and her fine, straight, white hair trailed down her back like a ribbon. This woman was the eldest in Siver Spear, Yamazaki Hitomi, with the in-game moniker 'Rustyreaper,' named after the personification of pain spirits.

GrizzlyDiamond's bushy eyebrows furrowed as he listened to the reports. He looked at Honne-Onna with confusion in his eyes. "Why did you change the plan?"

Honne-Onna's thin lips curled upwards in a cold smile. "I just figured, why waste our strength when we can make them kill each other?" She looked at Rustyreaper, who was admiring a dagger in her hand. "How did it go?"

"I made sure to leave one alive," Rustyreaper replied with a small smile.

"What? Why!?" GrizzlyDiamond questioned with shock on his face. "I thought you said we shouldn't leave any survivors."

"Yeah, that was your order," Honne-Onna confirmed. "But I gave Rusty-san a different task. She had to make sure someone survived long enough to report the last thing he saw, but not so long that he would be able to report everything that happened in the village." She looked at GrizzlyDiamond with a smile. "Do you think you could've accomplished such a delicate task?"

"Probably not," GrizzlyDiamond admitted with a laugh as he scratched the back of his head. "So, why did you do that?"

"To pin the blame on the dwarfs," Rustyreaper answered. "Those dumb orcs are blind with rage right now. They'll lash out at anything and anyone, let alone when there are witnesses."

"Mm, I understand," GrizzlyDiamond muttered. "Your shape-shifting would've been perfect for the job."

"Ugh, don't remind me," Rustyreaper complained and scrunched his nose in disgust. "I never want to shift an orc ever again."

"Don't worry, Rusty-san," Honne-Onna chuckled as she consoled the older woman. "Grizzly's the star of the next round."

GrizzlyDiamond's eyes lit up in delight. "Oh? What do I have to do?"

Honne-Onna's light yellow eyes gleamed with a cold light. "What you do best of course. Massacre a bunch of fools."

"Perfect!" GrizzlyDiamond cheered as a prodigious amount of ki burst out of him.

Honne-Onna smiled and looked out of the window to the streets below. She watched the tense orcs with a cold smile. "Struggle for as long as you can, maggots."

***

Lymar Village,

Kirkcour Woods.

Achoo!

A puzzled expression appeared on Kashi's face as he sneezed. Hm? Was somebody talking about him? The daeben revealed a smug look. Well, can't be helped if I'm that famous. Kashi chuckled inwardly as he absent-mindedly toured the centaur village atop Drixlia.

As was to be expected of a tribe of centaurs, most of their buildings were twice the size of a regular home, resembling large barns from the outside rather than huts. As it was with most woodland tribes, the houses were constructed with thatch and wood. The roads were wide to accommodate the large centaur frames walking side by side, and a weird smile like that of a wet dog filled the air. Kashi could not help but doubt the centaurs' grooming tendencies.

Why was Kashi going through the village on horseback?

Earlier that day, Darian went to report to the council, leaving Kashi with nothing to do. The daeben decided to tour the little town to see what centaur civilization was like. His quest took him through the central market where he first faced the shame of being a daeben in a centaur community. His head barely reached the stalls, and he had to stand on his toes to get a look at the goods. A few centaurs laughed when they saw his uncomfortable position and offered to carry him, but Kashi vehemently refused.

Ever since then, the daeben went everywhere on Drixlia's back, so he was not forced to look up at everything. The centaurs warmly welcomed Kashi into the community, and willingly explained their complex cultures to the daeben. The warm reception was not without merit. Every centaur in the village knew about the daeben's role in saving the chief's son from certain death.

"Kashi-dono."

Kashi looked over his shoulder to see two centaur guards with their right fists clasped in their left palms. Kashi smiled and returned the salute. "Is it time?"

The senior guard's eyes lit up in delight at Kashi's salute. "Yes, Kashi-dono. The council is ready to meet you. I apologize for the delay."

"It is fine," Kashi said with a laugh. "I know how these things work. Can I get my companions?"

"Do not worry Kashi-dono. Guards have been sent to pick them up."

"Oh? That's good then," Kashi remarked. "Lead the way."

"If you will."

Kashi followed and eventually came across a beautiful life-sized statue of a strange centaur with the upper body of a satyr, that held a spear that looked very similar to the one Darian had. The figure proudly stood at the center of the village in front of a large barn with numerous text written in an unfamiliar language etched into its walls. The guards stopped at the entrance and motioned for the daeben to continue on his own.

Kashi spurred Drixlia, and the duo crossed the threshold into a typical village meeting hall. The council of elders, was, as expected, a gathering of all the old farts in the village. The centaurs formed a semi-circle whose base was close to the entrance. At the head, located at the other opposite wall, was the tribal chief of the centaurs. A small gap at the bottom of the semi-circle allowed Drixlia to trot to the center of the room where they met Larsial, Shadow, and Darian.

Kashi's eyes narrowed as he noticed a fresh set of injuries on the warrior's back. He knew he had healed the centaur to full health without leaving any scars. Darian definitely got those scars after he came to deliver his report. However, there were no signs of resentment in the young stallion's eyes, so Kashi chose not to pursue it.

Kashi turned his attention to Shadow and Larsial, who, unfortunately, did not get the memo to arrive on their horses. Kashi sent a gloating smirk Shadow's way. The assassin coldly regarded the daeben as he slightly pulled out his dagger from its sheath.

Uwah... Scary, scary. Kashi made a mental note to never tease Shadow in the future. He was no Hektor. Kashi could not confidently state Shadow would not do something to him in his sleep in retaliation.

"Kashi-dono, for the favor you have given us, our village will always be in your debt," the chief saluted and humbly thanked the daeben.

Kashi looked at the chief. Indeed, he could see the resemblance between the old man and Darian. He imagined Darian would look somewhat similar if he grew a beard and lost a bit of the rashness in his eyes. The chief's warm eyes exuded wisdom gained over a long period of time. "No, no. I only did what any honorable warrior would have," Kashi laughed as he returned the salute. "This is an auspicious day. There is no need to ruin it with talk of debts."

"Mm, you are correct," the chief mused. "I do not believe I have had the pleasure of introducing myself. I am called Mando Alshmeer. The foolish boy you saved is my only son. Please allow me to thank you to at least as a father."

Kashi smiled and nodded. "I accept. One day, I will come to collect this debt." The daeben's eyes glowed as he spread his arms out wide. "I'll ask for about this much!"

Mando Alshmeer's eyes went wide then he burst out in laughter when he realized the daeben was teasing him. "Fine, as you wish. I will not speak of debts. But if you do not mind my asking, and I apologize for my rudeness," Mando said as his eyes slightly narrowed. "But, why have you really come to our village."

"Straight to business huh," Kashi chuckled.

"Apologies, the times are as you see them. We do not have time to do things the usual way."

"No, no. This works out perfectly for me," Kashi revealed with a smile. "I detest all those bureaucratic stuff anyway." The daeben's eyes flashed as he patted Drixlia's mane. "I seek a method to improve my partner's bloodline if you please."

Mando's eyes hardened. "And you believe we can help with this? Why?"

"Were you not the one who said you do not have the time for the regular rope skipping games?" Kashi teased. "Why start now? Just tell me. Can you help me or not?"

Mando's gaze searched Kashi's eyes for any clues, but could not find the doubt he was searching for. "You seem to know a lot about our culture."

Kashi shook his head. "Not so much. I only have knowledge of the era one thousand years ago. I cannot express how delighted I was when I found out you had not abandoned your tradition."

"I see," Mando muttered. "Let me take a look." Mando's eyes suddenly glowed with green light as he examined Drixlia. "Sweet Mera, this stallion! Its genes are excellent!" Mando praised as he stared at Drixlia in disbelief. "Where did you find him?"

"Bought him at a stable near Kerta," Kashi replied.

"Sweet Mera, what luck," Mando exclaimed with a sigh. "Yes, yes, if the genes are this good, we can indeed help improve its bloodline." The chief shook his head and sighed. "Unfortunately, it is impossible."

Kashi's brow shot up. "Why is that?"

"The ritual requires five shamans," Mando explained. "One lives in our tribe, but the other four are in different clans within in the forest."

"Why is that a problem?"

"The other clans are under attack by the blight as we speak," Darian said, speaking for the first time since Kashi entered the hall. The daeben had almost forgotten the centaur's voice. "My father is wary of sending troops to assist them."

"Darian! You have yet to complete your atonement!" Mando roared at his son, eyes burning with anger. "You will not speak unless spoken to!"

Kashi watched as Darian slunk back and hung his head. Ah, the classic new generation vs. old generation clash of ideals. "What does he have to atone for?"

Mando glared at his son as he said, "He stole the village's sacred weapon and caused the deaths of six brave warriors by embarking on an unsanctioned task. In normal times, he would have been immediately exiled for such behavior."

"But right now, you need all the hands you can get. Is that it?"

Mando nodded. "Exactly. I am loathed to admit it, but my boneheaded son is the best warrior we have in the village, and a lot of the younger generation look up to him. An exile at this time would be detrimental to the well-being of the tribe."

Kashi's brows rose once again. "In that case, how about I take him with me to liberate those villages. Is that fine?"

"You wish to take Darian alongside you?" Mando asked with a frown.

"I need a guide anyway, so I don't get lost," Kashi said with a light shrug. "I'm already used to him, and he can handle himself in a fight. You can consider it a part of his punishment."

Mando looked at his son. "Do you believe this man has what it takes to liberate our brothers?"

Darian nodded with a grim look in his eyes. "If even he cannot, nobody can."

"I see." Mando focused his attention on the daeben. "My son will be in your care then."

"Leave it to me." Kashi nodded. "More importantly, do you have a graveyard? I believe it is time we laid those brave soldiers who fought alongside your son to rest."

Kashi's words reminded the chief of the matter he had forgotten. Mando quickly ordered his people to begin preparations for a hero's funeral.

Kashi watched the bustling streets, and a strand of inspiration hit. He took out a sketchpad and pencil from his inventory and began a brand new sketch.

*****************

*****************

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PATREON STARS:

Residents: Andrew Maurer, Eli Calabria, Rusty Reaper

Adventurers: Hyproxy, Merlin252, Michael Barton, OlusholaAbidakun

Warriors: Caleb Ian Melton, Ragnaf

The High Council: Paul C. Bergeson (@facemaster), Raymond Russel, Jacob Morgan

You Guys are the Best!!!

Please Support me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Renoe_K

Come bug me and join the community on discord at https://discord.gg/fHRA2qj

*****

Picture of the Day

For those who are wondering if there are any significant changes in the Definitive Edition, a small sample has been put up on my page...  You may Judge it for yourselves.