Chapter 2 A new start

Before the rats started waking up Xerx was already doing archery practice.

When the first rats got up they saw Xerx already training.

So they started waking the other rats.

They soon joined Xerx in training. First, they were ordered to spar in pairs.

Then in small groups and after that was training by species.

They also began practicing on fighting as a whole team.

After the training was done Xerx got on his way to the Barracks.

When Xerx arrived he saw two guards standing at the door.

One is a giant zombie fully clad in Armor.

The other guard is a skeleton like Xerx only better equipped.

When Xerx tried to enter Barack he was stopped by the guards.

They asked why he tried to enter and who he was.

Xerx answered that he was Xerx and that he was was told to come here by the commander.

The skeleton on guard entered inside to check after several he came back.

And said you may enter the commander was expecting you.

The skellington guard then led Xerx to the commanders his chambers.

While walking to the commander they exchanged some small talk.

One of the things he got to know.

Was the guards his name it was Trax.

As they arrived Trax knocked on the door.

And they heard from inside you may enter.

As Xerx entered the chamber he saw the captain doing some paperwork.

Trax was asked to leave and then the commander turned to Xerx.

Welcome, Xerx I asked you to come here.

To give you your rewards to discuss something with you.

But first your rewards.

As the commander said that there was a familiar knock on the door.

The commander said that the person can enter.

As the door opened Jax and some other skellingtons and zombies.

Came inside carrying some wooden crates and boxes.

in some, there were breathing holes.

After they all dropped off the wooden boxes and crates they left the room.

As soon as they closed the door the commander continued talking.

Where was I? oh yeah your rewards inside the crates are exotic species of rats

We had them collected for the zoo that is opening in a couple of months.

But the owner insisted you could make better use of them.

And as a reward for saving his daughter yesterday.

she was one of the villagers you saved.

In the boxes are Armour, training equipment, seeds and food for your rats.

We also sent somebody to upgrade your training field. Try opening the boxes and look inside

Xerx thanked the commander and opened the boxes.

Inside where weights and all kinds of equipment to train him and his rats.

As he opened the first crate Xerx saw it filled with pure white rats.

That had pitch-black wings and looked young.

Xerx recognized them immediately as baby twilight rats.

He asked them if they wanted to join him and they immediately agreed.

He did that crate after crate.

In total, he had 10 new exotic species 6 that are almost extinct.

3 that were supposed to be extinct and 6 everyone believed to be fables.

When Xerx was done the commander continued.

I have an offer for you with the contribution you made to the army.

And your group of rats we have got a special job for you.

The job is exploring the surrounding area, giving weekly reports, developing the area and making new towns and villages.

But the most important task is growing your group of rats.

And training your rats and your self.

To do that we give you your own outpost in the silver light forest.

It is your choice to accept or not.

Xerx immediately accepted. and the commander told him.

That he will be dropped off tomorrow noon at the outpost.

The rewards will be delivered there also then.

And the commander saw him off.

As Xerx arrived home with the new rats.

He introduced them to the others then got to training them.

And told them the news and his plans.

Afterward, he started packing his stuff.

He then said his goodbyes to the local rat colonies.

When the rat was asleep he got to writing his journal.

Also adding the new rats to his bestiary for every kind of creature he has one.

He started with the twilight rats they were thought to be extinct.

But aren't, they are known for their mastery of light and dark kinds of magic.

Then he got to writing about the others like the baby three-headed elements rats.

Each head has a different kind of magic the control and they can think of their own.

Every rat has another combination of elements. They were thought to be just some fable.

As he was done writing basic descriptions of the rats.

It was already time to begin morning practice after practice they were picked up by the commander and Trax.

As they were traveling to the base they saw all kinds of different creatures.

Like for example some dead bringer deers.

Or some flaming fireflies and booming mosquitos are annoying.

Soon they arrived at the outpost and started unloading the carts and wagons.

Xerx immediately got to work after seeing the commander of.

Before leaving the commander explaining why this job was so important.

It was because of the creature from the places surrounding the village.

Kept on attacking the village the forest was chosen for the first outpost.

Because it is a suitable place for the rats to grow and breed.

The rats soon started making their dens in the outpost.

and the areas surrounding the outpost like for example the clearing behind the outpost.

Or the lake beside it but not before making it save by clearing out the dangerous creatures

Xerx himself started on plowing a field and planting some of his seeds and saplings.

The others he planted throughout the outpost and some even outside it.

As he was done it was time for another training session.

As he began training he remembered that he must gift the outpost a name.

Xerx named it Ratburg because it Will be the home of his rats and him.

He also remembered that in a week the first people that would be helping him run the outpost Will arrive.

The training was longer than ever before because they could do a lot more here.

Then they could back home the facilities were that more advanced but also more numerous.

As the day came to an end Xerx began writing again.