Those words pierced Kano, making his heart stutter. He knew that to the High Orcs he was the chieftain; they saw him as their leader, their hope, and that had long been familiar. But now it wasn't just his small band standing before him. It was a crowd. Hundreds, even thousands of orcs who could not have been part of his original unit.
Kano slowly looked around. Bonfires, tents, forges blazing with heat, workers who didn't stop even at night. This city didn't just exist—it lived. It wasn't a temporary camp or a forward post—it was a new orcish capital, and all of it had happened without him.
The guards at the door were down on one knee, eyes lowered. Their voice wasn't a plea or a question. It was a statement of fact.
Kano drew a long breath. He knew he couldn't panic, couldn't show doubt. Even if everything inside him was tangled, even if only one question pulsed in his head: "Where did all these orcs come from?"
He lifted his hand slowly and nodded.
—"You are free. Go celebrate."
The guards rose without a single question and slipped quickly into the crowd. Kano looked at the city again. His people were here—he saw the High Orcs loyal to him, the ones who always followed. But beside them were many others. Common orcs. His gaze slid quickly over them, assessing.
They were orcs from other clans. Not his. Not the ones he had brought here.
Kano tensed. He knew that in the orcish world the title of chieftain wasn't an empty word. You couldn't just take it, couldn't earn it with fine speeches or charm. You had to win it. The High Orcs were with him, they backed him—but what had happened with the others? Why had they become so many?
His feet carried him forward on their own. He had to find those he knew. Those who could explain what had happened while he was gone.
The central square was the city's most crowded place. Around a vast bonfire, groups of orcs sat drinking, laughing, clashing in friendly bouts. The spirit of their people reigned here without restraint. And in the midst of that orcish tide he finally saw familiar faces.
Elgot was waving a mug, loudly spinning some tale, and even Naira—who usually wasn't fond of drinking—seemed relaxed, watching his chatter. Grimtar, Selina, and Lianel sat nearby. They looked as if they'd finally allowed themselves a little rest.
Kano came up to Grimtar and set a hand on his shoulder.
—"May I sit?"
Grimtar didn't even manage to answer. He reflexively turned his head, ready to bark at the impudent one, but the instant his eyes met Kano's, his face changed. He sprang to his feet and then, as if something clicked in his mind, dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
—"The Chieftain has returned."
The words cut through everyone gathered around the fire. Conversations died.
Kano took a step back.
—"Grimtar, enough. Rise."
But the orc didn't move.
His friends froze as well.
Selina covered her mouth, tears sparkling in her eyes.
Lianel stared as if she'd seen a ghost.
—"You're alive..." whispered Selina.
Then she rushed forward and hugged him so tightly it felt as if she were trying to make sure he wouldn't dissolve into air.
—"Praise the gods, you're alive!"
Lianel seized his hand and squeezed so hard her fingers nearly bit into his skin.
—"You scared us so much, Kano... We thought we'd lost you."
Kano didn't know what to say. It felt as if he'd awakened in a new reality where he'd lost something without knowing what it was.
He turned his gaze to Naira.
She didn't move.
Her hands gripped her mug, knuckles white. Her eyes shone, but she allowed herself no needless motion.
Kano knew what she wanted to do. He knew that if this were any other moment, she'd have rushed to him too, just to make sure he was truly here. But she was a warrior. A warrior of the horde.
So he took the first step.
He walked to her slowly and… bowed.
—"Thank you, Naira."
She froze.
Naira narrowed her eyes, and something flickered in her gaze that Kano couldn't decipher. It wasn't just relief. It was a blend of anger, relief, and… irritation.
She took a sip from her mug, set it on the table, and finally spoke:
—"Make me wait that long again—and I'll finish you myself, clear?"
Her voice was low, almost even, but Kano knew there was far more behind it.
He smiled and nodded.
—"Understood."
Their eyes held for a heartbeat more, and though she didn't show it, he knew this moment meant more to her than any words.
Kano still felt the crowd's stares on him when soft, gliding steps reached his ears. The sensation was strange—as if something slick and yet refined had slipped into the very fabric of reality here.
—"Sweetheart, back to full strength? Perhaps you'll tell me what's going on?"
Kano knew that voice before he turned his head.
Revena.
The demoness stood before him in the dark, her violet eyes glinting with a sly fire. She didn't look as she usually did—her clothes were simple but elegant, yet even so she radiated a natural predatory grace.
Kano felt the crowd's mood shift at once. The silence turned menacing.
The orcs froze.
Even those who had been celebrating a moment earlier stopped and stared at her as if Death herself had appeared.
Kano didn't have time to answer, because Naira was already on her feet.
—"What is she doing here?"
Her voice wasn't angry or loud. It was dangerous.
Lianel rose as well, her hand settling on her bow.
—"Kano, just say the word."
Revena tilted her head gently, her lips curling into a cunning smile.
—"Oh, such tension… Honestly, I expected as much. Orcs don't know how to trust, do they?"
Naira's eyes flashed, and for a moment Kano thought she'd cleave the demoness in two.
—"There is no reason to trust a demon."
Revena let her gaze travel the circle, then returned it to Kano and smiled lightly.
—"But you, sweetheart, you trust me, don't you?"
Kano went still for a moment.
It was a trap. He knew it perfectly well. If he said "yes," it would only fuel the hatred for her among his friends and warriors. If he said "no," she'd use it against him later.
So he did what he did best—he didn't answer directly.
—"She seeks shelter. And now she is one of us."
His words fell like a stone into water.
Grumbling rippled through the crowd; Naira and Lianel were clearly not pleased.
—"This is madness!" she hissed.
—"They don't change," Selina added coldly.
Revena only shrugged, as if it were all a game to her.
—"Oh, how sweet… You're even protecting me."
She trailed her fingers across his chest.
Kano disliked anyone intruding on his space—especially a demon. He stepped back sharply.
Naira gave a low growl:
—"Pull that stunt again and you'll be dead, understood?"
Revena laughed—soft, playful, with a thread of hidden mockery.
—"You're all so tense. You need to relax."
She ran her tongue along her lips and murmured:
—"I, for one, don't mind sharing."
Naira's hand snapped to her axe haft.
—"One more word—and I'll cut you down."
Kano raised a hand, stopping her.
—"Enough."
He turned to Grimtar.
—"Find her a place to sleep."
Grimtar stood with arms crossed, but at the order he slowly moved.
—"Come with me, demoness."
Revena traced a finger along her chin, as if weighing the moment, then finally stepped back.
—"As you say, sweetheart."
She turned and vanished into the dark with Grimtar.
Kano finally felt his shoulders ease—if only for a moment.
Because the instant the demoness was gone, a wave of rage crashed over him.