Central Alliance

As Aries left the training grounds, his newly chosen trio of companions trailed behind. The three young individuals he had selected as his allies would join him once they had adequately prepared. The journey back to the leader's hut was brief, and before long, Aries arrived at his destination.

Waiting for him was the leader, whose presence immediately directed Aries towards his own dwelling. The leader explained that the house belonged to his family and was significantly larger than Aries had anticipated. Upon entering, Aries began to acclimate himself to his new surroundings, establishing a sense of belonging for the time being.

"I've heard that you're returning to the forest. I'm not privy to the specifics of your conversation with the chief, but I'm concerned about your decision," the leader voiced his worries.

"Rest assured, I won't be venturing alone. I now have companions who can assist me. While I'm eager to aid the village, I recognize that I can't do so effectively if I remain here," Aries responded, highlighting the limited resources within the village compared to the forest's abundance.

"I understand. I wish you success. As for myself, I'm about to embark on the next hunt," the leader shared, exuding an unexpected warmth towards Aries.

"Before you go, could you shed some light on what happened to my parents?" Aries inquired, a wave of curiosity guiding his question.

The leader inferred that Aries' memories might be hazy due to the traumatic nature of his parents' fate. "I realize this might be difficult to believe, but your parents had goals divergent from yours. There's an alliance of larger tribes situated in the central region of the main land, distant from here. Their aim is to unite all tribes under a single ruler. Initially, their purpose seemed noble, but once established, they resorted to ruthless methods. Tribes that refused to align with them faced annihilation, and survivors were subjugated as slaves. Due to our village's remote location, the alliance dispatched emissaries to recruit us. This angered the chief, leading to a confrontation. We managed to repel them, but our losses were significant, as the emissaries were well-equipped. After this incident, your parents secretly swayed a considerable number of our tribespeople to join the alliance. Under the cover of darkness, one-third of our population departed, absconding with half of the village's resources. Enraged, the chief led the hunters to eliminate the traitors," the leader revealed, his words laden with a mixture of hesitance and somber recollection. While he refrained from articulating the conclusion, the leader's meaning was clear: Aries' parents had met the same fate as the other defectors. "Yet... the chief spared you," he added, concluding his tale.

A new understanding dawned upon Aries as he contemplated the reason behind the chief's cold demeanor. "The chief may harbor concerns that I could potentially follow in my parents' footsteps. From his perspective, my endeavor to persuade the villagers to support me might mirror my parents' actions. No wonder he warned me that failure could culminate in my demise. He's granting me an opportunity to redeem and vindicate myself," Aries realized, connecting the dots internally.

"Thank you. I hope your hunt yields bountiful results," Aries conveyed his gratitude to the leader.

The leader detected no discernible emotion in Aries' demeanor, allowing him time to process the weight of the information he had just received. "May your journey be safe," the leader wished him well before departing.

The house, though more spacious than the leader's hut, felt strangely barren. Its interiors lacked any notable items save for the basic shelter it provided. Somehow, Aries' thoughts drifted towards his past life and the parents he had lost prematurely. In that other existence, his parents had met with a tragic accident, leaving him to fend for himself from a young age. Bereft of guidance, he had succumbed to gambling, which had cost him dearly. With no parental figure to guide him, he had spiraled into a hopeless pit, ultimately choosing to end his own life.

Reflecting on his parents' story within this new world and his memories from his past life, Aries was struck by the unfortunate reality that he had not been blessed with parents who could enjoy a long life. It dawned upon him that despite two lifetimes, he had been denied the privilege of experiencing his parents' presence for an extended period. However, this realization also strengthened his bond with the child whose body he now inhabited. Understanding the circumstances that had prompted the original owner of this body to leave the village, Aries recognized that this was now his life, his opportunity to make the most of it.

As a few hours elapsed, the sound of approaching footsteps reached Aries' ears. "Master, we have arrived," announced the male youngster. A twinge of surprise overtook Aries as he processed being addressed as "master." The three youngsters seemed to view themselves as Aries' servants, despite his earlier clarification that they would be his loyal companions.

"Please, come in," Aries invited them. Each of the youngsters carried a leather backpack, their contents protruding from the overstuffed bags.

"Where's the food, master?" the petite female youngster inquired eagerly.

"Before we delve into that, I believe it's time we assign names to each of you," Aries proposed.

"But..." the male youngster began to protest, only for Aries to interject. "No objections. It's crucial for effective collaboration that I can call each of you by name. Do we understand each other?" Aries established the importance of this step, and the trio nodded in agreement. He was aware that naming conventions in the village were often tied to individuals' roles, such as "Chief," "Elder," "Hunt Leader," and so forth, rather than unique monikers.

"I'll address you as First," Aries designated the male youngster. Turning to the chief's daughter, he continued, "You will be known as Second." Lastly, he focused on the diminutive female youngster. "And you, Third." With these names, their identities were defined.

"Understood," the three responded in unison, affirming their acceptance of their new designations.

Having concluded this matter, Aries proceeded to reveal the storage area for his food supplies. The assortment included preserved boar and wolf meat, in addition to smaller game. He produced a stone utensil resembling a cooking pan and prepared a substantial meal, infusing the meat with various herb spices. The tantalizing aroma and delectable taste of the dish delighted his companions, who spent the entire day indulging in the feast. Fortunately, the house provided ample space for Aries, the three youngsters, and their post-meal repose.