After the armored man left the tent, the six leaders of the settlement remained behind and drew closer together. This was not a casual talk, but an important matter that decided whether their people lived or died, and none of them treated it lightly.
For a long moment, no one moved. The large tent felt emptier than it should, even though all six still stood inside. The weight of his presence seemed to linger, as if the ground had not fully settled after something heavy passed through.
Breathing slowly became easier, but no one spoke.
Karsen was the first to break the silence. He was a rough looking man, broad shouldered and thick through the chest, with scarred skin that spoke of years spent hunting and fighting in harsh terrain.
His bald head carried old marks from past wounds, and his hands were heavy and calloused from gripping spears and hauling carcasses for most of his life. He shifted his stance now, boots scraping lightly against the ground, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to ease tension that refused to leave.
"Can we trust that guy?" Karsen asked.
His voice stayed low. He did not sound afraid, but the strain was clear. His eyes flicked toward the tent opening more than once, as if scared that the armored figure to return.
Another leader turned toward Talren. "What did you think, Talren?"
Talren remained still, his arms hanging at his sides as if weighing more than they should. His fingers curled slightly, then loosened again, the motion slow and controlled. He did not answer right away. His gaze dropped to the packed ground beneath his feet, and his thoughts drifted back to an earlier moment he could not shake.
"I don't know..." Talren said at last.
"He helped us when we needed it most. That alone speaks miles.. And besides."
Talren lifted his head and looked at each of them in turn, making sure they were paying attention before continuing.
"With how equipped he was, did you truly think we could defeat him if he decided to attack us?"
As he spoke, the memory returned clearly. He remembered watching Aiden lower that massive shield to the ground. It had not been dropped or thrown, but set down with care.
Even so, the earth had trembled beneath their feet, a dull vibration that traveled through the soil and into their boots. Talren had felt it in his legs, in his chest, and for a brief moment, disbelief had overtaken him.
That kind of weight was not something a normal man could handle, yet Aiden simply handled such tool without strain.
Talren knew the others had felt it too. He had seen their reactions in that instant. Stiffened backs. Sharp breaths drawn without realizing it. Eyes widening before they were quickly lowered. The moment had left a deep and unsettling impression on all of them, one that words could not easily dismiss.
The question settled over the group like a weight.
No one rushed to answer.
Karsen swallowed remembering the unforgettable sight. One of the leaders tightened her grip on her sleeve without realizing it. Another exhaled slowly through his nose. The silence stretched, uncomfortable but honest.
They all remembered the same details.
Aiden carried an otherworldly presence that none of them could ignore. Talren was a seasoned veteran who had faced trained soldiers, elite fighters, and men who only thought they were strong.
Talren knew the difference between confidence and real danger. What he felt from Aiden was not arrogance or show. It was certainty, the kind that did not need to prove itself.
Standing close to him, the air felt heavier, and Talren realized his body had sensed the threat long before his mind could put it into words.
Talren spoke again.
"He felt on par with the top elites of the Ravanis Kingdom."
Several of them stiffened at that.
Talren did not explain himself right away. He did not need to. Everyone there already knew his past. He had been a squad captain, and was trusted with several soldiers under his command. Men trained to fight and survive under pressure. He had trained alongside elites and watched strong fighters fall when they misjudged an opponent.
"When he held that shield..." Talren continued, his voice steady.
"I knew. If it struck me even once, I wouldn't be able get back up. And he carried it like it weighed nothing."
Rethan stepped forward then, leaning lightly on his staff. His age showed in his posture, but his eyes were sharp as they moved across the group, measuring their reactions.
"For now, we trust him..." the elder said, looking at each of them in turn and making sure the words sank in. "There is nothing to gain from doubt. We do not provoke him. We treat him with respect. Make sure everyone understands this."
The six leaders nodded together in agreement. No one argued or questioned the decision. Given their situation and what they had witnessed, there was no other reasonable choice.
They did not know why a man like that was in the forest or what his goals were in the long run. But one thing was clear to all of them. If this exchange meant food, medicine, and weapons for their people, then survival came first, and every other question could wait.
******
The next morning arrived.
The settlement stirred earlier than usual. People stepped out of their tents while the air was still cool, before the sun fully cleared the tree line. This time, they were not driven by hunger alone. There was expectation in their movements, a quiet alertness that spread through the camp as more eyes turned toward the forest.
When a familiar armored figure appeared between the trees at the edge of the settlement, the murmur grew.
Aiden had returned.
Talren watched him approach, taking in the same controlled pace and steady posture as before. Nothing about the way he moved suggested haste or uncertainty. The pack on his back was heavier now, sitting firm against his armor.
Without hesitation, Talren stepped forward to meet him and guided him toward the larger tent at the center of the settlement, signaling that the exchange was ready to proceed.
Once they reached the large tent, Aiden lowered himself to one knee and unfastened his pack. He spread a clean cloth on the ground and began setting the items down one by one, each movement controlled and deliberate.
The first items were ten sealed jars. Each container was thick and solid, filled with pale green cream that clung to the sides without running.
"This is Greenbind..." Aiden said. This was the agreed exchange for twenty rabbit cores.
His speech was clearer than the day before, the pauses shorter as his understanding of their language improved. He picked up one of the jars, twisted the lid open, and tilted it slightly so they could see inside. The cream was thick and smooth, clinging to the container instead of dripping.
He dipped two fingers in and lifted them slowly, letting the paste stretch to show its texture. "Use once a day." Aiden continued his explanation slowly.
"Rub on wound. It reduces swelling and pain. It also helps the wound heal faster."
Talren watched closely as Aiden spoke, his eyes fixed on the jar and the cream inside. He did not interrupt, committing every instruction to memory. When Aiden sealed the jar again, Talren nodded once and turned to an attendant nearby.
He gave firm, clear instructions to bring the jars to the injured, explain how the medicine should be applied, and make sure it was used only once each day, exactly as Aiden had instructed.
Next came the weapons.
Aiden reached into his pack and pulled out four antler spears, laying them down one by one on the cloth until they rested side by side. These were some of the first spears he had ever made, crafted back when his hunting targets were weaker. Since then, he had taken down stronger deer and refined his tools further, which made these older weapons easier to give away without hesitation.
Talren watched the spears closely, already able to tell they were well made, but Aiden was not finished.
He reached back into his pack again and pulled out a thick slab of steelwood, the dense grain dark and heavy even at a glance. He planted it firmly against the ground, then picked up one of the spears.
"I demonstrate." Aiden said.
He shifted his stance, feet setting into the soil with purpose. The movement was smooth and controlled, not rushed. Then he drove the spear forward.
The antler tip punched into the steelwood slab with ease, sinking deep with a dull, heavy sound. The slab shuddered from the impact.
A sharp intake of breath moved through the tent. Someone let out a quiet gasp. Another voice muttered in disbelief, low and strained. No one laughed. No one doubted what they had just seen.
Aiden pulled the spear free and set it back down calmly, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Inside his suit, Aiden was fully aware of the reason. The force came from his exoskeleton, not the spear alone. He did not need to explain that. What mattered was the result. With enough strength behind it, the weapon was durable, reliable, and capable of piercing hard targets. He had made it with that purpose in mind.
Talren stepped forward and checked the spear again, running his hand along the shaft and examining the tip where it had struck. His expression changed slightly. This was not just a tool. With weapons like these, hunting would become safer, and facing monsters would no longer feel as desperate as before.
Aiden placed one more item on the cloth.
An antler dagger.
It was smaller than the spears but carefully shaped, the edge thin and even, made for precision rather than force. Aiden tapped it lightly with one finger to draw attention to it.
"This is for skinning.." he said. "Clean cuts. Better hide. Better trade."
He paused, then added, his tone unchanged but deliberate.
"This one is free. For friendship."
The words caused a brief stir among those watching. Aiden continued before anyone could speak, slowing his words to make sure Talren understood.
"Use this only for skin. Do not rush. Good hides matter. If hide is clean and undamaged, I trade more things."
Talren nodded, his hand closing carefully around the dagger. The weight of it felt different from the spears, lighter but more personal.
"I understand. Thank you, friend."
Talren was more affected by the gesture than he expected. It was not the value of the dagger itself, but what it represented. It was a sign that Aiden was really open to cooperation.
The intent was clear to Talren. This was no longer a one sided favor. It was a give and take now. As long as he provided Aiden with good hides and the materials he needed, food and tools would continue to come in return.
That understanding eased the weight on his shoulders. This was a fair trade, one that gave his people a way forward instead of relying on mercy alone. Talren already knew what he had to do next.
He would personally lead the hunts, make sure the hides were clean, and ensure they could exchange more in the future, both to help their people survive and to keep their standing with Aiden strong.
"Also, I need deer sinew..." Aiden added. "This one... From legs and back. I need many."
He reached into his pack again and took out a preserved section of deer leg. Holding it steady, he pointed to the long, pale strands running along the muscle, tapping the area to make it clear where the sinew was taken from.
His movements were slow and precise, meant to avoid confusion. He traced the same line along the back portion, showing the second location where it could be harvested without damaging it.
Talren leaned in slightly, watching closely. Aiden made sure the message was clear.
"Do not cut it short. Do not tear. Clean first then dry."
As he spoke, Aiden thought ahead. He intended to gather as much sinew as possible over time. With enough of it, he could twist and bind strong cord, enough to make a proper net.
The idea of catching fish without wasting energy on constant hunting was appealing, and the thought of eating grilled fish again briefly crossed his mind. For now, he kept those thoughts to himself and focused on making sure they understood exactly what he needed.
Talren took a moment to process the request. Sinew was not something they usually kept with care. In the past, it was often discarded or damaged during hurried butchering. But now, knowing its value to Aiden, the task felt different.
One of the leaders stepped forward.
His name was Marrek, a broad framed man with thick forearms and stained hands that never quite lost the smell of blood. Back in the Ravanis Kingdom, he had been a butcher by trade, trusted to process game and livestock for entire districts. Even now, his movements were precise and practiced.
"I will handle that.." Marrek said. "I know a thing or two about keeping sinew intact."
Talren nodded without hesitation. He was about to speak, already forming words of thanks in his mind, the weight of the first proper trade lifting something heavy from his chest.
Before he could say anything, Aiden reached back into his pack.
He placed a clean cut portion of deer meat onto the cloth, thick and well prepared. It was not scraps or leftovers, but a full share, enough to be clearly counted as one whole medium deer worth of meat. The smell alone caused several people nearby to drool.
Then Aiden added more.
He set down a bag filled with forest fruits gathered from nearby trees and undergrowth, fresh and varied, still carrying the scent of leaves and soil.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then the reaction spread through the settlement. Quiet murmurs rose as people leaned closer to look. Faces softened. Shoulders eased. Some smiled openly now, no longer bothering to hide it. Relief did not need restraint anymore. It showed plainly in their eyes and posture.
Aiden looked at Talren and spoke again.
"Another gift." Aiden said. "I hope we cooperate well as neighbors."
Talren felt the words settle deep. He smiled, a genuine one, and bowed his head slightly.
"Of course. Of course." Talren replied.
The other leaders nodded along, their expressions brightening. Karsen let out a deep, hearty laugh, the sound cutting through the tension that had lingered for days.
For the first time since they fled the Ravanis Kingdom, the settlement did not feel like it was merely surviving. It felt like it had taken its first real step forward.
Aiden gave a small signal that he was leaving.
Talren fell into step beside him and escorted him toward the edge of the settlement. Neither of them spoke as they walked. The sounds of the camp faded behind them, replaced by wind moving through leaves and the dull press of packed earth underfoot. When they reached the boundary where tents ended and trees began, Talren stopped and bowed deeply.
Before turning away, Aiden reached into a compartment of his gear and placed a small device into Talren's hands.
"What's this, friend?" Talren asked.
"If urgent.." Aiden said. "Life or death. Use this."
Talren looked down at the object in his hand. It was compact, smooth, and cold to the touch, with no markings or obvious purpose. He turned it slightly, uncertain, until Aiden spoke again.
"Aim it at the sky." Aiden said. "Press this."
He pointed to a small recessed section along the side, easy to miss without being shown.
Talren nodded and memorized the motion. That was all Aiden explained. No long details. No promises.
As Talren closed his hand around the device, he did not fully understand what it would call or how far it could reach. What he understood was simpler. This was something to be used only when things had gone terribly wrong.
Aiden had been alone in this place before he ever met them. That much was clear from the way he moved and decided on his own. After seeing how close the settlement was to collapse, he chose to leave them a small chance, a thin but real thread of hope.
"If I am nearby." Aiden added, "I will come."
"Thank you..."
Talren thanked Aiden and nodded slowly. He did not fully understand the device, and the idea of something calling a machine he had never seen was unsettling.
Still, this man had already helped them more than anyone else since they fled. If a situation was desperate enough to use this, then having even a small chance of help could mean lives saved.
Talren closed his hand around the device carefully. As a leader, the responsibility weighed heavily on him. If his people faced death and this tool could make a difference, then it was his duty to use it. It was much better that such time did not come.
Aiden turned away without further words and walked back into the forest.
Talren remained where he was, watching until the armored figure faded between the trees and the forest swallowed his outline completely. Only then did he lower his hand, the device still secure in his grip.
Far beyond the settlement, Aiden made his way back to the base. The cores he received from the settlement were secured with him, added to the ones he had already hunted and stored. Together, they were more than enough to bring J.E.M. back online.
The trades were done. The delays that pulled him away were over.
With no immediate obstacles left, Aiden focused on the path ahead. He was already thinking about unlocking the secured storage and powering the systems back up.
It was time to bring J.E.M. back online.