The Clans of Arra (2/4)

Oh yeah. It's been 10 thousand years. Even with long-lived mages, over a dozen generations still would've come and gone. That's plenty of time for history to be lost or warped out of recognition.

"Well, the Fortress here protects a World Gate that leads to a world full of humans," Haalfrin explains. He then points to the Hawk clan folk. "We had to build this fortress because their clan kept trying to invade our land. They'd sometimes incite the dragons against us too."

All the other Rehkin swivel their heads around and glare at the 5 Hawk clansfolk in the room. The Hawk captain goes red in the face, and she looks like she's about to burst a vein. She then glares at Haalfrin and hisses, "You trying to start something!?"

"Not really," Haalfrin shrugs. "Our humans provoked your clan first, and I'm well aware of how famously unforgiving your race is. Anyway, it's all in the past. In fact, some of your clansfolk were trapped in the black barrier with us, and they helped us win the war. I can't think of a reason why we should still be at odds."

"Well then, as I was saying…" Haalfrin goes on to explain his story.

The Rehkin seem particularly curious about the nature of the black barrier of Death Aura. Haalfrin really does have nothing to hide, so he just tells them that it was a result of his Syl Name. He even tells them how the power works.

After all, there are already 10s of thousands of people who know this particular power of his. There's no point in trying to hide it from anyone since any villain with the barest investigation skills would find out within a day.

Funnily enough, one of the Rehkin – some people from the Badger Clan – actually ask Haalfrin if the Death Realm is on the other side of the World Gate.

Hearing this, Haalfrin lets out a snort, and he bursts out laughing.

The Threshold's general didn't need to answer that question. His reaction already told everyone the correct answer.

Knowing the truth for sure, all the Rehkin let out relieved sighs. It's good to know that the realm on the other side of the World Gate is just another world – not some land where the gods and dead dwell together.

Everyone knows that the Death Realm is many times more dangerous than the Mortal Realm. Being neighbors to such a Realm would put everyone on edge.

When it comes time to talk about the meat of the war, Haalfrin just shrugs. "Yeah… The war took so long, and I don't feel like explaining the whole thing. If you're curious, feel free to ask any of the Arkin soldiers here, and they'll be happy to tell you. Just make sure that they're not spinning tall tales or exaggerating anything."

"Anyway…" Haalfrin finishes by saying, "It took 10 thousand years, but we defeated the Ant Queen with a few of your Ancestors. The barrier went down, and we've been celebrating in the castle ever since."

"…Are you done?" the Lioness asks. She seems to be the most forward of anyone here, so the other Rehkin seem to be giving her the right of way in asking questions. Maybe it's because she's the strongest spirit mage among them?

Haalfrin nods.

"Ok. I have one last, important question," she says slowly. "Why are you the only living person here in this fortress?"

Without hesitation, Haalfrin explains in short words, "My Reh Name lets me summon warriors from the Death Realm. How else could we fight for so long without any reinforcements?"

Immediately, something clicks in the guests' heads.

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"Y-you mean…," the Hawk woman asks slowly, "that some of our Ancestors are here?"

Haalfrin DID mention that some of her clansfolk helped to end the war. If he's the only living soldier here, then…

Haalfrin nods. "Yes. There's some Wolf, Lion, and Fox Ancestors here too, though it's mostly Hawks." Not wanting any of the other clans to feel excluded, Haalfrin adds. "I can only summon a warrior from the Death Realm if he or she fell in battle near me. I'm afraid those 4 clans were the only ones that our humans had any wars with while I was here."

The spirits of all the other Clansfolk droop down in disappointment, but the 4 clans he mentioned perk up. Haalfrin can tell just from the way their spirits are knotting themselves up eagerly… that they want to go meet their Ancestors.

After all, due to the Rehkin's strong Spiritual ties to their predecessors, most Clans practice Ancestor worship. Telling them that their ancestors are here is the same as telling them that their gods are walking these halls.

Before the commotion and Spiritual ripples die down, the Lioness woman is the first to speak up again.

"What do you plan on doing now? You mentioned that the World Gate is sealed, so you can't return home. Are you going to demand territory from the other clans?" she asks.

"Why would we need it?" Haalfrin crosses his arms. "I'm just one man. My soldiers belong in the Death Realm. Even if I do keep an active army summoned, they can just live off of crops from the Death Realm. A few square miles of farmland is more than enough to sustain us. I'd say, just leave the land that my barrier previously covered to us."

The Lioness leans back in her chair – satisfied. Her Clan has the largest border with the previous black barrier, so her clan would stand the most to lose should this human want to expand his territory.

Haalfrin studies the Rehkins' faces, and he sees that most of them appear satisfied that he, a stranger, isn't demanding much of anything from the Clans. They have the feeling that he's powerful enough to make trouble for them, so hearing his apathetic attitude reassures them.

… They'd hate to have to go back to their Matriarchs and give the bad news – that a new race had appeared and was planning on starting another round of Clan Wars…

Still, a few of the other Rehkin only seem to be getting more suspicious of Haalfrin's people, and their motives. There's no such thing as a person without ambitions!

Seeing the suspicion in these people's spirits, Haalfrin addresses them specifically. "There is ONE thing that I'd like you to go back and tell your Matriarchs."

He reaches his hand up, and one of the Arkin steps forward to hand him a long scroll.

Haalfrin unravels it and traces a spell along the edge of the scroll.

Then, the scroll splits up into a dozen separate copies, and he hands one out to each set of scouts so that they can bring his proposal to their Matriarchs.

The Rehkin look at their respective scrolls curiously, then they look at Haalfrin for answers.

"That's an official treaty my advisors drafted up for your clans. I know you people don't have the authority to make these kinds of decisions, so don't stress yourself out over it…"

"I DO have authority," the Lioness suddenly speaks up. "I'm the Matriarch's daughter, and the crown princess of the Ak'Veri Clan."

The princess looks around and glares daggers at the other Clansfolk. "Unlike YOUR Matriarchs, our royal family isn't so cowardly that we only send servants and lackeys to explore dangerous, new lands…"

"You!" the Boar man squeals with bloodshot eyes. "You say that again! You insult my Matriarch again, and I'll rip your tongue out!" He, and several other Clansfolk, draw their weapons and look at this foreign princess with murder in their eyes.

"ENOUGH!" Haalfrin puts his foot down. "I'll not have guests bring their petty squabbles into my territory." He turns to the Ak'Veri princess. "Just read the proposal and tell me what you think about it. And… Don't try to rile the others up again while you're here."

It still surprises Haalfrin every time how little it takes for these Rehkin to be provoked to murder.

JUST an insult? Really?

The princess nods her head in apology, then she opens up the bindings on the scroll. There, a proposal is written…