The First Civilization

The eastern quarter was still smoking when Aren returned to the council hall. The fire had been contained before it could reach the neighboring houses, but the smell of burned wood remained in the air. Villagers were still outside, talking in low voices while warriors checked the streets for anything they might have missed.

Aren entered the hall with Doran beside him. Lira came in a few moments later, carrying her medicine pouch. Chief Aldren was already waiting. Harok stood beside the table, his face unusually serious. Varek remained near the far wall. No one spoke until the doors were closed.

Aldren placed both hands on the table. "We lost nothing important."

Harok gave him a questioning look. "That’s not what worries me."

Aren knew what he meant. The fire had barely touched the supplies. Whoever started it hadn’t been trying to destroy Stone River. They had wanted everyone looking in one direction, while someone else moved somewhere they couldn’t see.

Doran leaned against the table. "They knew exactly how we’d react."

"Which means they’ve watched us before," Reth said.

Aren shook his head. "Maybe."

Everyone turned toward him. He continued carefully. "Or they’re testing how we respond."

Harok’s brow furrowed. "Testing?"

"The message at the northern gate. The tunnel. Then the fire." Aren tapped the table with one finger. "Each one forced us to react."

Doran’s expression tightened. "They wanted to know how quickly we’d move."

"And who we’d send."

Aldren looked toward Varek. "Why?"

Varek remained silent. Harok finally lost patience. "You’ve been giving us half-answers since you arrived."

Varek looked at him. "Because I don’t have the other half."

"Then tell us what you know."

For a moment, Varek seemed to consider leaving the room. Instead, he walked toward the table.

"The Seekers don’t usually attack settlements."

Reth frowned. "Then what do they do?"

"They observe."

"Observe what?"

"People."

Aren’s attention sharpened. Varek continued. "They look for anyone connected to the old civilization."

Harok crossed his arms. "And now they’ve found Aren."

Varek didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Aren already knew what everyone was thinking. The words carved into the northern gate had made that clear. The heir has returned. Aren still didn’t know what the title meant. But someone out there believed it did. And that was enough to make him dangerous. Or valuable. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

---

Aldren slowly sat down. "You should leave."

Aren raised an eyebrow. "Leave?"

"Yes."

Harok looked at him. "You mean Stone River?"

Aldren nodded. "They’re interested in you. If you remain here, they’ll keep coming."

Aren thought about it. Then he shook his head. "They already came."

Aldren frowned. "And?"

"And they didn’t find what they wanted."

Doran glanced at him. "You think they’ll follow us."

"I think they’re already watching."

The room became quiet. Aren looked toward the doorway. "Which is why we shouldn’t stay here any longer."

Harok understood first. "You’re going home."

Aren nodded. "Our people have been waiting for us."

Doran immediately stepped forward. "I’ll come."

Lira spoke before Aren could answer. "So will I."

Aren looked at her. "You don’t have to."

"I know." She adjusted the strap of her medicine pouch. "I’m still coming."

Jarek raised a hand from the back of the room. "And me."

Harok laughed softly. "You’re collecting people now?"

Jarek shrugged. "Someone has to carry the food."

Doran gave him a sideways look. "You mean someone has to eat it."

"That’s part of carrying it."

Even Aren couldn’t stop himself from smiling. For a brief moment, the tension disappeared.

Then Aldren stood. "Take enough warriors to protect the group."

Aren nodded. "I will."

Harok pointed toward the eastern road. "Don’t take the main trail."

Aren looked at him. "Why?"

"If someone is following you, that’s the first road they’d watch."

Doran straightened. "We’ll use the old hunter’s path."

Harok nodded. "It adds several hours."

"That’s fine."

Aren looked around the hall one last time. "Better late than predictable."

---

They left before sunrise. The eastern gate opened quietly. There were no speeches. No celebration. Only the sound of boots touching the damp ground as the group moved away from Stone River.

Aren walked near the front with Doran. Lira stayed a few steps behind them, while Jarek carried a heavy pack that he had complained about since the moment they left.

The morning air was cold. Mist hung between the trees. Behind them, Stone River slowly disappeared into the gray. Aren looked back once. The village seemed peaceful. Almost too peaceful.

Doran noticed. "Something bothering you?"

Aren faced forward again. "Everything."

Doran laughed. "That’s a long list."

Aren smiled faintly. "I don’t like leaving when we don’t understand what happened."

"We don’t understand much."

"Exactly."

Doran was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "You think the message was about you."

Aren didn’t answer immediately. "I think someone wants me to believe it is."

Doran frowned. "What’s the difference?"

"If they’re trying to lure me somewhere, then believing I’m the heir is exactly what they need."

Doran thought about that. "And if they’re telling the truth?"

Aren looked at the road ahead. "Then I have a past I don’t remember."

Neither of them spoke after that.

---

The forest became thicker as they moved away from Stone River. They avoided the main trail and followed an old hunting path that ran between two ridges. It was slower. It was also quieter. Too quiet.

Around midday, Lira caught up with Aren. "You’ve barely eaten."

"I’m not hungry."

She handed him a piece of dried meat anyway. "Eat."

Aren stared at it. "You sound like my mother."

"Then listen to me."

He took it. Lira smiled and continued walking. Aren chewed slowly. After a while, he said, "You aren’t afraid?"

"Of what?"

"Everything that’s happening."

Lira thought about it. "Of course I am."

Aren looked at her. She shrugged. "Being afraid doesn’t mean you stop walking."

Aren smiled. "That’s surprisingly wise."

"Don’t get used to it."

He laughed quietly.

---

Ahead of them, Doran suddenly raised a hand. Everyone stopped. The warriors spread out. Aren’s hand moved toward his spear.

"What is it?"

Doran crouched beside the trail. He pointed to the ground. There was a footprint. Fresh. The mud around it was still wet.

Jarek whispered, "Ours?"

Doran shook his head. "No."

Aren crouched beside him. The print was smaller than his own. Barely visible. Whoever had made it wasn’t wearing heavy boots. A second print appeared farther ahead. Then a third. They followed the trail for several meters. It ended near a tree. Nothing else. No broken branches. No discarded equipment. No sign of where the person had gone.

Doran stood. "Someone’s ahead of us."

Aren looked toward the trees. "How far?"

"Could be an hour."

"Or less."

Varek approached from behind. He stared at the footprint. His expression changed.

"What?"

Aren noticed immediately. Varek crouched. He touched the edge of the print. Then slowly stood. "This isn’t a hunter."

Doran frowned. "How do you know?"

"Because I’ve seen this before."

Aren waited. Varek looked deeper into the forest. "A scout."

"Seeker?"

Varek nodded. Aren’s grip tightened around his spear. "Then they know we’re coming."

Varek didn’t disagree. Doran looked toward the group. "Should we turn back?"

Aren shook his head. "No."

"Why?"

Aren looked toward the eastern road. "Because if they’re watching us—" he paused, "—I want them to think we’re walking exactly where they expect."

---

They continued. But the group was more careful now. No one spoke loudly. The warriors checked the trees whenever the path curved. Every sound made them pause.

A bird suddenly flew from a nearby branch. Jarek nearly dropped his spear.

Doran laughed. "Relax."

"I was relaxed."

"You almost jumped out of your skin."

"I was checking my reflexes."

Lira shook her head. Aren smiled. For all the danger around them, having familiar voices nearby helped. It reminded him why they were going home. Not because the journey was safe. Because there were people waiting for them. People who didn’t care about ancient civilizations. Or forgotten heirs. Or the Seekers. They only cared that Aren came back alive.

---

The sun was already falling when they reached the final ridge. Aren stopped. Beyond the trees was the valley. His village was somewhere on the other side. Home. He could almost hear the familiar sounds. The training ground. The voices of the hunters. The children.

He took one step forward. Then another.

Doran came beside him. "We’re close."

Aren nodded. But something felt wrong. There should have been smoke rising from the cooking fires. There wasn’t. The valley looked strangely still.

Lira noticed it too. "Where is everyone?"

Nobody answered. Aren narrowed his eyes. They moved farther up the ridge. From there, the village should have been clearly visible. Instead, only a thin trail of smoke rose from somewhere near the center. Not cooking smoke. Too dark. Too thick.

Aren’s expression changed. Doran tightened his grip on his spear. "That’s our village."

Aren stared at the smoke. For several seconds, he couldn’t move. Then the cold voice returned. Not loudly. Not like before. Almost like a whisper inside his head.

[Civilization Legacy System]

Warning. Abnormal activity detected.

Aren’s eyes widened. A second message appeared.

Village Status: Unknown.

He slowly reached for his spear. "Everyone stay together."

Doran looked at him. "What did you see?"

Aren didn’t answer. His eyes remained fixed on the valley below. Something had happened while they were gone. And they were finally close enough to see it.

End of Chapter 48