Hunting

Lucius lay restless, the specter of his conversation with Elias haunting him through the long, unbroken night. As the first light of dawn began to creep across the horizon, the force wielders stirred from their slumber. Some rose with the deliberate effort of those not yet ready to embrace the day, only to be greeted by reprimands for their tardiness.

Lucius, still enshrouded in his brooding thoughts, observed their groggy movements with a detached air. His reverie was interrupted by the approach of Harriet, who, with a hint of mirth in her eyes, addressed him directly.

"Didn't get any sleep, did you?" she inquired with a tone that combined both amusement and empathy.

Turning to her, Lucius replied, "Why should I?"

Harriet, without missing a beat, chuckled softly and gave his back a light pat. "Not much of a morning person, I see."

Lucius exhaled deeply, a trace of wryness in his voice. "You seem unusually energetic for this hour."

Harriet's laughter rang out, bright and unrestrained. "That's how one ought to be as second in command!"

She then turned on her heel and started walking away. "Come now, it's time to assemble the group and divide into teams."

Lucius, offering no further comment, followed her to the central gathering place of the force wielders among the survivors.

As Lucius approached the gathering place, he was taken aback by the absence of many force-wielders capable of holding their own in a fight. His eyes scanned the room, a flicker of confusion in his gaze. Harriet, sensing the unrest, stepped forward with authority, her voice steady as she addressed the group.

"Alright, everyone, listen up," she began, her tone carrying the weight of leadership. "Today, we'll be dividing into those who will remain here to keep watch and those who will venture out."

A hand rose from the crowd, its owner a young force-wielder, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he asked, "Ma'am, why isn't the leader here?"

Harriet let out a small laugh, a sound that echoed with a hint of nonchalance. "Elias isn't feeling well today," she replied smoothly. "But don't worry, we'll manage just fine without him."

Lucius narrowed his eyes, suspicion gnawing at him. Only the day before, he had seen Elias, seemingly in perfect health. Something was amiss. He watched closely as Harriet began to assign groups, dividing the members with deliberate precision.

"You there," Harriet commanded, pointing to a pink-haired girl with pigtails, whose muscular build was similar to her own. The girl wore a crop top, exuding a confidence that matched her appearance. "And you two," she continued, gesturing towards two other force-wielders—one a small, fragile young man who was visibly trembling.

"You will head south," she concluded, her tone leaving no room for objection.

Lucius remained silent, his gaze fixed on the scene before him. He observed their appearances, each detail seared into his mind, as he awaited his own assignment, uncertain whether he would be chosen to stay or to join the hunt.

As Harriet turned her attention to the next group, her voice resonated with authority. "For the third group," she declared, "our newcomer, Lucius, along with Yu Xuan and myself, will venture out to hunt together. That concludes today's assignments."

She then addressed those who had not been selected, her tone firm yet dismissive. "The rest of you who were not chosen will stay behind and keep watch over the non-force wielders." A murmur of mixed emotions rippled through the remaining force wielders—some sighing in relief at being spared the danger of monster hunting, while others grumbled quietly, frustrated by their exclusion from the mission.

Lucius felt a muscle in his jaw tighten at the announcement of his team assignment. Being grouped with Yu Xuan—a seasoned force wielder known for his prowess—seemed more a punishment than an honor. His frustration was mirrored in Yu Xuan's expression as the older warrior stormed over to Harriet, his eyes blazing with indignation.

"Why did you team me up with him?!" Yu Xuan demanded, his voice laced with anger. "He's a novice, untested in the field, and we can't afford to place our trust in him!"

Harriet met Yu Xuan's outburst with a measured sigh, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "These are Elias' orders," she replied, her tone calm but unyielding. "I'll be overseeing the both of you personally. Now, let's not squander any more time with arguments. Lucius!"

Her voice rang out with unmistakable command as she called him forward, her eyes locking with his. Without hesitation, Lucius stepped forward, his mind racing but his expression betraying nothing. The weight of what lay ahead was heavy upon him, but he knew better than to show weakness. Harriet's leadership left no room for doubt, and as he joined her and Yu Xuan, he steeled himself for whatever trials awaited them beyond the shelter's walls.

To be continued -