The First Civilization

The training ground slowly returned to normal after the trial. The twelve warriors were still standing near the center, talking about what had happened. The members of the mixed team seemed especially pleased with themselves.

One of the Red Moss warriors slapped the Stone Brook spearman on the shoulder.

"You’re slower than I expected."

The spearman looked at him. "And you’re louder than I expected."

The Red Moss warrior laughed. "You noticed?"

"I think the whole settlement noticed."

A few warriors nearby laughed. The mood was much lighter than it had been before the exercise.

Aren watched them for a moment. That was what he had wanted. Not perfect cooperation. Just a beginning.

Doran came to stand beside him. "You know, they’re actually getting along."

Aren nodded. "That’s good."

"I thought they’d start fighting."

"They still might."

Doran gave him a look. "Very encouraging."

Aren smiled. Before they could continue, Chief Aldren approached.

"Enjoying your success?"

Aren turned. "I wouldn’t call it success yet."

Aldren looked across the field. "Perhaps not. But yesterday, half of these warriors wouldn’t even stand beside someone from another tribe." He paused. "Today, they’re arguing like old friends."

Doran chuckled. "That’s usually a good sign."

Aldren nodded. Then his expression became more serious.

"Come with me."

Aren noticed the change immediately. "Something happened?"

"We need to discuss something."

---

The council hall was much quieter than the training ground. Several chiefs were already inside. Chief Harok was seated near the table, his spear resting against the wall beside him. Chief Kael was looking over a wooden map. Captain Reth stood near the entrance.

When Aren entered, Aldren motioned for him to sit. Aren took the empty seat beside Doran. Aldren placed a small wooden marker on the map.

"We lost another patrol."

Aren frowned. "When?"

"Yesterday evening."

Doran leaned forward. "Where?"

Reth pointed toward the northern road. "About half a day’s travel from Stone River."

Aren studied the location. "How many?"

"Four."

"Any bodies?"

Reth shook his head. "Only their weapons."

Harok crossed his arms. "That makes four patrols in two weeks."

Aren looked at the map again. Four separate markers had been placed along the roads surrounding Stone River. At first glance, they looked unrelated. But when he followed their positions, he noticed something.

"These aren’t random."

Everyone looked toward him. Aren stood and moved closer to the table.

"The first patrol disappeared here." He pointed to a marker near the eastern road. "Then another one here." His finger moved north. "Then here." And finally, "Here."

Doran slowly leaned over the table. "They’re moving closer."

Aren nodded. "Not toward Stone River directly." He traced the routes with his finger. "They’re following the roads that connect the smaller settlements."

Captain Reth frowned. "What does that mean?"

"They’re learning the area."

Harok shook his head. "Or we’re looking too deeply into it."

"Maybe," Aren didn’t argue. "We don’t know enough yet."

Aldren looked at him. "Do you think it’s Black Fang?"

Aren took a moment before answering. "I think they’re one possibility."

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the honest one." Aren pointed toward the map. "We haven’t seen Black Fang warriors near these patrols. We only know that people are disappearing." He looked around the table. "If we decide it’s Black Fang without proof, we might send warriors looking for an enemy who isn’t there."

Harok frowned. "And if it is Black Fang?"

"Then we need to know how many there are before we act."

The room became quiet. Doran nodded. "He’s right."

Reth looked toward him. "You agree?"

"I’ve spent most of my life tracking people and animals through forests." Doran pointed at the map. "Whoever is doing this doesn’t want to be found." He tapped one of the markers. "They’re leaving almost nothing behind."

Harok looked down at the map. "Then what do you suggest?"

Aren answered. "Scouts."

Reth frowned. "We’ve already lost scouts."

"Then don’t send hunters looking for a fight." Aren pointed toward the three main routes. "Send small groups. Two or three people."

"Three?"

"Enough to help each other if something goes wrong, but small enough to move quietly."

Doran nodded. "I can choose people for the eastern route."

Reth looked at the map. "I’ll handle the river."

Harok studied the northern road. "Then Iron Ridge will take the north."

Aldren looked around the table. "Good." He placed three wooden pieces on the map. "Three groups. One eastern road. One river route. One northern road."

Aren added one more thing. "They don’t engage anyone unless they have no choice."

Harok looked at him. "You expect them to run?"

"I expect them to come back."

The old chief stared at him for a moment. Then he laughed. "Fair enough."

---

The meeting lasted another hour. They discussed food, weapons, routes, and signals. The command signals Aren had introduced earlier were included in the plan. One whistle meant advance. Two meant retreat. A raised fist meant stop. They also agreed on a new signal — three short whistles. Enemy nearby. It was simple enough for every tribe to remember.

By the time the meeting ended, the sun had already started falling behind the trees. Aren stepped outside with Doran. The air was cooler.

Doran stretched his shoulders. "That took longer than expected."

"Everything does when chiefs are involved."

Doran laughed. "True."

They walked toward the guest quarters. After a few steps, Doran became quiet.

"Aren."

"Hm?"

"Do you think we’re ready?"

Aren knew what he meant. "The alliance?"

Doran nodded. Aren looked toward the training ground. Warriors from different tribes were still sitting around the fires. Some were eating together. Others were repairing weapons. A few were practicing the command signals.

"Not yet."

Doran looked surprised. "Then why do you seem so calm?"

"Because we’re better prepared than we were yesterday."

Doran thought about that. "That’s a good answer."

"I wasn’t trying to give you one."

Doran laughed.

---

Near the guest quarters, Lira was sitting beside a small fire. Several bundles of herbs were spread around her. She looked up when Aren arrived.

"You’re back. Finally."

She smiled. "How was the meeting?"

Aren sat down. "Long."

"Did you win?"

Aren laughed. "There wasn’t anything to win."

Lira raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you look tired?"

"Because everyone had an opinion."

Doran sat beside them. "She should’ve seen him. He nearly started arguing with Chief Harok."

Aren looked at him. "I did not."

"You were about to."

"I was explaining."

"That’s what you call arguing?"

Lira laughed. Aren shook his head. "Forget it."

For a while, they talked about the training exercise instead. Lira had heard about it from the other villagers. She smiled when Doran described Jarek trying to beat everyone to the finish.

"He really did that?"

"Of course."

"He always does."

Aren laughed. The conversation slowly became lighter. But then Doran looked toward the forest.

"Tomorrow morning, we leave."

Lira’s smile faded. "For the patrol?"

Doran nodded. She looked at Aren. "Are you going?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Aren glanced toward the dark trees. "Because someone needs to stay here."

Lira nodded. That answer seemed to satisfy her. But Aren knew there was another reason. He wanted to understand what was happening. If the missing patrols were connected to Black Fang, then their next move could change everything.

---

Later that night, Aren returned to his room. He sat on the edge of the wooden bed and looked at the small window. The settlement was quiet now. Only a few fires remained outside.

The Civilization Legacy System appeared.

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CIVILIZATION LEGACY SYSTEM

Alliance Development

Cooperation: Improving

Military Coordination: Developing

Shared Signals: Established

Reconnaissance Plan: Ready

Civilization Points: +40

Memory Synchronization: 27%

════════════════════════════

Aren looked at the final line. 27%. He still didn’t understand where those memories were leading him. Every increase brought something different — architecture, roads, organization, military knowledge — pieces of a life he couldn’t remember. And yet they felt strangely familiar.

Aren closed the system. Tomorrow wasn’t about his memories. It was about the scouts. Three groups would leave Stone River before sunrise. If they found nothing, the mystery would continue. But if they found something, the tribes might finally learn who had been moving through their territory.

Aren lay down. Outside, the night remained quiet.

For now.

End of Chapter 39