CHAPTER 3

[ WORD COUNT - 1979 ]

After an hour, Steve stepped out of the tent and took in the scene before him. The camp was teeming with over 500 wildlings busy with their daily tasks.

He observed some engaging in combat training with spears, their movements honed and precise as they practiced on the icy, frozen ground.

The crisp air carried the distinct sounds of clashing weapons and the grunts of concentration from the sparring wildlings, highlighting their little to no discipline and rough mastery of their craft.

Steve was topless, his long black hair flowing down his back in silky strands, giving him a relaxed yet striking look.

His dark eyes, with a subtle hint of red, drew in anyone who dared to gaze at him, adding intensity to his commanding presence.

Although his face had a boyish quality, his well-defined six-pack and muscular build captivated the hearts of wildling maidens.

They couldn't help but watch the lines of his sculpted chest and broad shoulders move with each step he took, drawn to his undeniable, smoldering sex appeal.

As Steve walked through the camp, he noticed the young women murmuring excitedly about him. Their whispered conversations and quick glances in his direction revealed their interest and intrigue. After all, it wasn't often they got to see a hot man like him, as most wildlings look like pigs with beards.

"Hey, I heard he's the new slave that Uncle captured. Look at his strong back and broad shoulders! I've never seen anyone like him!"

"Shh, keep your voice down! He's not a slave, don't you know?"

"Aww, I don't even care! I wonder if, with those arms, he could easily lift me off the ground! And then, hehe..."

"His abs are incredible... what a man!"

"If he wins tomorrow, I'm going to ask my father to request his hand in marriage. And then ...We'll be tied in the knot for sure!"

"I can't wait to see him fight at dawn! Maybe he'll take an interest in me after his victory!"

Even with all the chatter and whispers around him, Steve, a man of steel and determination, remained focused on his own thoughts. He marveled at how his body seemed immune to the cold, feeling no chill despite the frigid air - it was as though he had some kind of resistance to the cold.

Another thing weighing on his mind was the fight he needed to prepare for at dawn. He wasn't afraid, but he knew one wrong move could turn 500 wildlings against him. And as a kind-hearted warrior, he didn't want to be forced to kill them all.

'I have to win this fight for my own survival. I wonder if there are specific rules for the fight...sheesh, these people are too fierce. Good thing I got no habit of underestimating others.'

As he walked, Steve thought silently.

Momentarily, he forgot about his memory crisis, focusing instead on the immediate task: winning the fight and leaving this primitive settlement as soon as possible.

Determined, Steve approached a group of wildlings huddled together, their breaths visible in the freezing air.

He introduced himself, maintaining a calm demeanor despite his unusual situation.

"Hey, I'm Steve. I have a fight at dawn tomorrow, and I need a weapon to practice with. Can anyone please help me out?"

One of the wildlings, a woman with braided hair and a calm expression, responded. She seemed open to conversation, perhaps because others in the group were disgusted by him due to his status as a slave.

Who the hell wants to deal with lowlives anyway?

"I'm Jara. You've got a tough day ahead, boy, but I can lend you a spear to practice with. It's a bit old, as I mostly use a bow myself. Don't expect much help with practice around here, though."

Steve nodded, grateful for her assistance.

"Thank you, Miss Jara. I appreciate the help. I just want a fair chance, that's all."

Jara corrected him with a light smile.

"It's Mrs. Jara. I'm married, you know. Also, why are you topless, not wearing anything in this cold? My husband has some old clothes I can lend you if you want."

Steve shook his head, a smile on his face.

"No need, Mrs. Jara. I have my own suit, and besides, the cold doesn't really bother me much for some reason."

Jara raised an eyebrow, finding his answer unusual but accepting it nonetheless.

"Well, that's quite strange, but anyway, good luck for tomorrow, Steve. Most importantly, remember to return my spear after practice." With a nod, she turned and walked away, leaving Steve to focus on his preparation.

Seeing the fierce and loathsome expressions on the other wildlings' faces, Steve also walked away.

Soon enough, Steve found a quiet spot in camp where he could practice. His mind was focused on the upcoming fight and the challenges he would face.

Even though Steve had never actually learned spear techniques before, he watched others practice and quickly adapted, figuring out the basics on the fly.

His thrusts and parries were deliberate, albeit a bit clumsy at first, as he refined his skills with each movement.

Steve's approach may have been unconventional, but his dedication and natural combat instincts allowed him to hold his own in this strange new world.

But even then, he realized that the shield suited him better than any puny spear.

Nonetheless, Steve practiced diligently without slacking off.

What Steve didn't know was that while he was practicing, the tribal chief's wife, Cadra, had intentionally made her way to observe him. H

Her husband had mentioned a man who resembled the legendary warrior with a pale face and powerful build, piquing her curiosity to take a closer look.

After a long search, she found him in a secluded area near the backyard of the camp, where the tribe often butchered animals and made offerings.

Steve was toying with a spear, and as Cadra watched his half-naked body in motion, her breath caught. His mastery and precision with the spear didn't hold her interest as much as the man himself.

Cadra found herself drawn to Steve's sculpted form and fluid movements. She traced every drop of sweat that trickled from his body, a heat building within her.

She felt a throbbing sensation in her vagina as she watched his toned muscles and confident demeanor.

Her hand involuntarily moved downwards to reach her dirty pussy above the clothes. With a slight touch on her clitoris, her cunt almost wanted to splurt venom.

Meanwhile...

As days in the frozen land tend to wrap up quickly, Steve didn't notice when evening arrived.

The sky blackout suddenly, shrouding the landscape in near total darkness, with just a hint of redness.

Overhead, a faint half-moon appeared, joined by a few twinkling stars that cast a soft glow, making the whitish snow look slightly silver in the subdued light.

As it was almost nighttime, Steve knew he needed rest since he had a brawl scheduled for dawn.

Although he wasn't feeling as tired as one should be, a good night's sleep is what a man needs after a long day of hard work.

Still in the fighting zone, he realized his throat was dry and he craved warm water as he had already sweated much; he needed to rehydrate again.

Steve donned the coat that Jara had given him a few hours ago, insisting he should just accept it because she had spent a lot of time finding him as he was training in quite the desolate place.

Although he was hesitant, she had practically forced him to wear it, so he complied.

Currently...

After putting it on, he walked away and continued along his path.

Along the way, he encountered a strange old man sitting by a fire.

"Sir, do you know where I can find water?" Steve asked.

The old man, Deron, responded with a mocking laugh.

"Hahaha! What does this fucking slave want with water? Eat snow, you dumbass! Everything freezes here; there's no moving water. Now get lost!"

Deron was the one who had captured Steve, and the chief now wanted to give him a chance to become one of them.

It was something that his old bones couldn't approve of, as he was quite biased when it came to southern people, he saw all  southern people as shameless and selfish cunts.

Steve wanted to respond but held his tongue, knowing these people wouldn't help him and would likely just ridicule him he walked away.

Soon....

Steve arrived at the hut that had been designated for him due to his lowly status within the tribe.

The hut was located on the outskirts of the main camp, away from the central activity and tucked into a secluded area.

This separation made his low standing clear and allowed him some peace to rest and prepare for the fight at dawn.

As he approached the entrance, he heard a woman's voice from behind him.

"Warrior, do you need anything?" she asked.

Steve turned and saw the woman standing there. He was initially cautious, not wanting any trouble, so he asked,

"Huh...Who?"

"My name is Cadra," she replied. "I don't like the behavior of others in the tribe, so I thought I should help you out...So let me know if you need anything."

Steve took a careful look at Cadra and was immediately struck by her presence. Her thick red hair and confident demeanor commanded his attention. Though he felt a bit uneasy staring, he couldn't help but be drawn to her voluptuous, athletic figure, which had been honed by her life as a wildling.

Her nasty breasts seemed even larger than his head. Although on weekdays he may ignore women, she had captured his attention, but he quickly shifted his gaze to her dark eyes.

"Ma'am, I need fire," Steve said, hoping Cadra might help him find a way to melt ice for water.

"Huh?" Cadra responded, a little taken aback.

"You see, I wanted to drink water, but I wasn't able to find any. Now my only option is to melt ice."

"Hmm, you're right, but I don't think it's allowed for slaves to use fire. In the past, there was a slave who burned the entire settlement, so ever since then, it's been strictly forbidden," Cadra explained.

"I see," Steve said, understanding the caution behind the rule. "Then could you give me some warm water, ma'am?"

Cadra hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Uh, well, let me see what I can do."

The wildlings faced several challenges in maintaining water supplies in the frozen lands. They broke ice to access water in rivers, streams, and lakes. Melting snow was a common practice but inefficient, as it required time and resources.

Natural springs could provide unfrozen water, but threats from creatures like polar bears prevented any tribe from having absolute control over water resources. For slaves, the situation was even worse, as they were often denied access to clean water due to their low status..

Thus Cadra struggled to find a solution to the water scarcity. If she chose to return, it would be impossible to come back without drawing unwanted attention.

Even asking someone nearby to warm ice cubes could attract attention and damage her reputation, making the situation extremely difficult for her.

Nevertheless, she looked deeply into his eyes.

'My husband said that this man is a warrior who can help him and is also a righteous person.'

'My husband's eyes never lie, so it must be true. If he fails to defeat the criminal tomorrow, he could be killed. I need to quench his thirst, but returning could get me into trouble.'

'Think of something, Cadra...damn ..you aren't dumb...are you?'

She thought, unsure of her next move.

But Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she asked him eagerly,

"Would you mind drinking my milk?"