Chapter 3 - Mike Tower

Soon enough, they were within Sogen's borders now.

The enemies, the ambushes, were over for now, or so they hoped.

Chesed led the way, with Maedyn following behind, a makeshift bandage wrapped tight around her injuries, an improvised crutch slung under her arm. Neither spoke for some time. The weight of what they'd survived—and lost—was a stone in their hearts.

They'd spent over an hour looting after the battle.

From their fallen allies, they retrieved everything they could. Arrows. Daggers. Spare energy potions. Personal effects. Dog tags. Each item was meticulously removed, wrapped, and packed. They left no one unnamed, even if they couldn't carry the bodies back. From the enemy, they looted plenty of equipment, much bloodstained and damaged, but salvageable. Nothing should be left to waste if possible. Gear could easily be salvaged or repurposed- not to mention plenty of usable items like daggers or smoke bombs.. One of the enemy rogues had a curved dagger forged from obsidian glass, it was fancy enough that it could probably be sold for a good bit.

"You move too fast," Maedyn muttered, grimacing with every step. "I'm only half a woman now."

Chesed halted and turned back, waiting. "You're doing better than I expected."

Maedyn chuckled weakly. "Thanks."

Chesed gave a faint smile, rare but sincere. "You earned it."

They walked on, more slowly now. Not because they felt safe enough- but because Maedyn simply couldn't move any faster. "Back there," Maedyn began, eyes scanning the trees as though he could still see the rogue in the shadows, "I thought we were done for. I really did. But you… You just kept going. Kept reading the battlefield. Calling every shot."

Chesed shook his head. "I made mistakes. Soriel, Halden, Bren... They're dead because of me."

"No," Maedyn said firmly. "They're dead because we were ambushed by a fucking monster. You kept me alive. You got rid of him, or close enough to it. You also did the actual mission- perfectly. Getting ambushed twice wasn't part of this. That's more than anyone else could've done. No wonder you're known as a Soka Genius."

Chesed didn't respond immediately. After a small moment, he noted, "My clan taught me how to fight. They didn't teach me how to lead."

Maiden replied, "Then you figured it out yourself. Impressive."

The silence between them grew warmer after that. Not comfort, but kinship. The kind that forms only when blood is spilled together. As the trees thinned and the road widened, Maedyn adjusted her crutch and asked, "Do you think leadership will see it that way?" she asked.

Chesed hesitated. "No."

The pause carried more weight than either expected. They walked on.

Later, as the lights of Leyfeyr broke through the treeline, they paused for a long moment to take it in. Banners flapped lazily in the distance, marked with the insignia of Nine—the current sovereign. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter in pairs, always alert, always watching. It was… home.

"Ready to report in?" Maedyn asked, voice tight. She understood the issue. Chesed Soka. That Soka- the Soka clan- and nation leadership- have almost always existed in opposition.

"No," Chesed admitted, "But I have to."

Micheal Tower.

Don't be confused by the name- this was the most important building in all of Sogen. Right in the center of Sogen's capital, Leyfeyr. It was where the Soverign of Sogen lived, alongside high level adventurers, elders, advisors, and administrators. It was called the Micheal tower- for it was alleged that this is where decisions that followed the Will of Micheal were made.

Guards eyed Chesed and Maedyn as they passed, especially Chesed, with a subtle tension behind their helmets. Though they said nothing, the distrust was obvious. Even the marble echoed seemed to sound differently when a Soka walked it—like the stone itself disapproved. 

Nine waited in the upper chamber—a man draped in white, standing before a half-circle of advisors and council members.

His hat was white. His gloves were white. His boots were white. His suit was white. His pants were white. His staff was white.

"You return," Nine said.

"With the intelligence requested," Chesed answered, bowing. He produced a sealed scroll from his pack and approached to present it. "Nyvarra has begun fortifying the Stonecall ruins. We estimate a forward operating base within weeks."

Nine took the scroll but did not open it. "And your team?"

"Deceased, save for Maedyn."

There was a long silence. The council exchanged looks. One elder, Andronius T, a wrinkled man with a pinched expression, leaned forward.

"How convenient, that the only survivor was a Soka."

Maedyn stiffened. "I was there. I saw what happened. Chesed kept me alive. He did his best."

Another elder waved his hand. "You're injured, lad. You may not have seen the full truth."

"What truth?" Maedyn lightly questioned, trying not to be disrespectful but clearly not understanding.

Nine raised a hand, and the room quieted. "No need for outbursts. We are merely considering the implications. Chesed Soka, we acknowledge your return. You have fulfilled the letter of your mission, and as such, you will be compensated. However—the cost of three trained adventurers lost, under your command, is no small matter."

Chesed kept his face unreadable. "Understood."

"Further," Nine continued, "you are hereby restricted from taking missions for one month. Time to reflect. To assess your decisions."

The cold slap of injustice didn't show on Chesed's face, but it burned in his chest. The taste of politics had always been bitter, but now it was searing.

"Dismissed."

The Soka clan headquarters lay nestled deep in the southeast corner of Leyfeyr, behind thick wooden walls and under watchful towers. Unlike the gleaming marble of the Mike Building, the Soka compound was raw stone and tempered metal, every inch practical. It looked like a military camp- which it might as well be.

When Chesed returned, word had already traveled quickly. Somehow- news had already spread throughout the capital.

"The man who came back without his team."

He barely made it through the outer gate before a cluster of his kin met him. Mostly kids, and newbie adventurers, locking onto Chesed.

"What happened?" "I heard your team died?" "Are you being slandered?" "How was the mission?"

Soon enough however- a stern voice cut through the noise. An old, experienced clansmen landed in front of Chesed, "The Clan Leader awaits."

He was gently escorted to the Clan Leader's house- it was obvious you had to report mission details to your clan too, but it was especially urgent now given the strange reputation that had already spread about Chesed so quickly.

Chesed soon found himself standing infront of Emb Soka, current patriarch and clan leader.

Emb was a tall, older man with a strong jawline, a relatively broad face, and a consistently serious expression. Both his hair and eyes were as dark as the void. He carried a composed, almost grim look. "Tell me about your mission."

Chesed recounted everything—the mission, the ambush, the enemy rogue, the losses, and Nine's punishment. He left nothing out. He didn't need to embellish; the truth was weighty enough.

Outrage rippled through Emb's expression, though he remained composed.

"They think we sent a spy?" he hissed. "As if we wouldn't die for Sogen like the rest. This is politics, they can't strike at us directly, so they smear our honor."

Emb looked directly at Chesed, face carved in stone. "They always feared us. Always hated our power. Our bloodline's special power is a gift they envy and curse in equal measure."

He gave a pause, to see what Chesed thought.

Chesed gave a thoughtful pause, and when he was sure he was meant to respond, he replied,. "Then they'll continue to misunderstand. We do our duty regardless."

Emb laid a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Chesed. But beware, it's not a matter of simple dislike. They'll stop at nothing, they'll never allow a Soka high up in the political sphere. This month time out isn't so bad, you can take time to train."

Chesed glanced down at his hand, the one that formed the Okhen symbol. He thought of Soriel's last gasp, of Halden and Bren falling in the leaves, the intense fighting, all the death. That rogue who had appeared… disoriented, muttering strange things.

"Leader Emb," Chesed started, a bit of panic starting to rise within him. If he was right… then things were much worse than he thought. "The second job rogue that attacked us- he was lost, disoriented. He said straight up he didn't understand what was happening that day." He asked, "Who even are you. Where even am I?"

Chesed continued, gravely, "Could this be an insider scheme by our own nation to kill me?!"

Emb's face turned grave, and he smacked his desk with his hands, "Enough! Do not insinuate that our own leaders would plot against us!" He understood the possibility well, but some things you couldn't say out loud!

That night, three families mourned. A small pyre was lit- it ended up being located in a private corner of the Soka compound. It was just a good, free, open area to do so. Each name spoken aloud, each tag laid beside a stone to mark the fallen. Soriel. Halden. Bren. Rangers who had given their lives in the line of duty. Who would not be forgotten.

The ceremony was quiet, except for the sobs. The endless cries. These people had families- parents, siblings, and more. Children too young to understand stood beside parents with downcast eyes.

Chesed and Maedyn stood side by side as the flames burned. No tears were shed—not because they didn't care, but because sorrow was a luxury warriors could not always afford. And yet- they gripped hands together, gritting their teeth, staying strong even if they didn't have to right now.