The Right Choice and the Prelude.

Gedhe was holding a simple axe while chopping down the frozen trees around the clearing, which would then be handed to the team near him to drag it back to the center of the clearing to be processed and turned into thick planks.

Several sturdy houses had already been erected, under the supervision of two men in a brown fur attire and holding a measuring tape. These abodes were much superior to the ones his tribe has constructed in the Inner Layer. Gedhe had already entered one of them and could feel that the bitter cold from the outside was forcefully maintained outside, creating a warm and cozy ambient.

Gedhe has been silent throughout the whole time, only answering the tribe's question with short sentences, most yes or no. He felt guilty and disgusted by his actions. He sold his own people and killed his teacher, who had supported his rise as the leader. He was a sinner, even though he led his people out of the Inner Layer, a step closer to a comfortable life.

"Boss, you are the last one." – A black-haired woman, a soldier who fought in his army and was recently released from Stahl's prison, said as she picked up an axe.

He nodded silently and leaned his axe against a tree, then walked towards the village where a fire pit was lit, and a pan was being heated up. An old woman was the only one there, stirring the contents of the pan. For the past few days, Gedhe had made it a point to ensure that everyone ate first before he did, as a leader he felt it was important to set an example.

Gedhe served himself a bowl of meat soup and ate it with his hands, drinking the broth directly from the wooden bowl. As he ate, he observed his people, noticing how quickly they had adjusted to their new surroundings. The children played and helped with the tree-cutting, their faces alight with joy.

Men and women carried newfound hope and enthusiasm in their eyes, envisioning a better and bright future. The feeling of desperation slowly writing off.

"I made the right choice. I can sacrifice my honor and pride for this"- Gedhe thought, as he finished the soup and poured another bowl. - "I may not be welcomed by my ancestors anymore, but it's worth it. I gave them a choice."

Gedhe was willing to do anything for his kin, even sell his soul. He was prepared to follow Henry's every command if it meant that his people could continue to live this way, unconcerned about the day of tomorrow.

"It's good, but I need to get going." - Gedhe said, finishing his soup and standing up to retrieve his axe.

"Thank you!" – He thankfully bowed his head towards the old woman, which flashed a toothless smile at him, and walked away.

On his way, a careless child bumped on his body as he played tag with another one, falling on the snow butt first.

*Ouch*

He painfully got up, rubbing his buttocks. But when he raised his eyes to meet the immobile boulder, he and his friend froze.

"Are you alright?" – Gedhe asked, patting the kid's hair.

"Y-Yes, Sir!" – The boy immediately said, his voice and eyes filled with respect and reverence.

"Good! Be careful!" – Gedhe patted the boy again and resumed his walk. He had a lot of trees to chop down.

"I want to be like him."

Gedhe could hear one of the children say to the other, filling him with a sense of pride.

"I made the right choice." – He said, clenching his fist.

-x-

On Stahl's Royal Palace, Henry sat in front of a huge pile of documents.

"The clans and representatives of the villages and cities in the interior of the Kingdom has been unresponsive" – Henry murmured – "We have basically lost our influence over most of the territory."

"I need to recover it…"