The First Civilization

The eastern gate closed slowly. The wooden beams dropped into place one after another, and several guards immediately took their positions along the wall.

The wounded scout was still sitting on the ground. Aren crouched in front of him.

"Where are the others?"

The scout took a few deep breaths before answering. "We were following the old trail."

"Which trail?"

"The one that runs beside the creek."

Aren nodded. Doran had probably chosen it because the creek would make tracking easier.

"What happened?"

The scout looked toward the forest. "We found tracks."

"Human?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"I couldn’t tell." He swallowed. "They had covered most of them."

Aren frowned. "Same as the tracks we found in the Whispering Forest."

The scout looked at him. "You’ve seen them before?"

"Yes."

The man nodded slowly. "Then it was probably the same people."

Chief Aldren stepped closer. "Continue."

The scout rested one hand against his wounded side. "We followed the tracks for almost an hour. Then Doran stopped us."

"What did he find?"

"A campsite."

Aren’s attention sharpened. "An abandoned campsite?"

"No." The scout shook his head. "They were still there."

Several guards nearby exchanged looks. Aldren asked, "How many?"

"At least ten."

"Black Fang?"

"I don’t know." The scout lowered his voice. "They didn’t wear the Black Fang mark."

That made everyone quiet. Aren looked at Aldren. "Then who were they?"

"We don’t know," the scout answered.

"What happened after that?"

"They saw us." The scout closed his eyes for a moment. "Doran ordered us to retreat."

Aren waited.

"We ran."

"What about Doran?"

"He stayed behind."

Aren’s expression tightened. "Why?"

"He said someone had to slow them down."

Doran was buying them time. That sounded exactly like him.

Aren stood. "How long ago?"

The scout looked toward the sky. "Maybe two hours."

Aren immediately turned to Aldren. "We have to go after them."

Aldren didn’t answer immediately. The chief looked toward the forest. "If they’re still there, we could lose more people."

"We can’t leave Doran."

"I know." Aldren looked at the guards. "Prepare twenty warriors."

Aren nodded. "Take me with you."

Aldren looked at him. "No."

Aren frowned. "I’m going."

"You don’t know the forest."

"I know enough."

"You know how to organize people." Aldren pointed toward the wounded scout. "That’s more useful here."

Aren didn’t like the answer. But he understood it.

"If Doran is still alive," Aldren continued, "we’ll bring him back."

Aren nodded. "Then don’t waste time."

---

The rescue group prepared quickly. Twenty warriors gathered near the eastern gate. They came from different tribes. Greenleaf hunters stood beside Stone Brook spearmen. Red Moss warriors carried short weapons. Iron Ridge fighters brought shields.

For the first time, the mixed command signals were being used outside training. One whistle. Advance. Two. Retreat. Raised fist. Stop.

Aren stood beside the gate and watched them prepare. He wanted to go. Every part of him wanted to follow. But he knew Aldren was right. Someone needed to remain in Stone River. If the scouts had been attacked by more than ten people, sending everyone into the forest could be a mistake.

The gate opened. Aldren looked back at Aren. "Keep the settlement ready."

Aren nodded. "Bring Doran back."

Aldren gave him a brief nod before leading the warriors into the forest. The gate closed again. Aren stood there until the last footsteps disappeared.

Jarek walked up beside him. "You should have gone."

"I know."

"Then why didn’t you?"

"Because someone has to think."

Jarek looked at him. "That’s probably the most annoying answer you’ve ever given me."

Aren smiled slightly. Then his expression became serious. "Get the other warriors ready."

"For what?"

"Anything."

---

Two hours passed. Nothing. The eastern wall remained quiet. Aren kept checking the forest. The sun was already beginning to fall.

Lira eventually found him there. "You haven’t eaten."

"I’m not hungry."

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

Aren looked at her. "Lira..."

"You’re going to need your strength."

He took it. "Thanks."

She stood beside him. "Do you think Doran is alive?"

Aren didn’t answer immediately. "I think he is."

"You’re not sure."

"No."

Lira looked down. "I don’t like that."

"Neither do I."

For a moment, they simply watched the forest. Then Aren noticed something. A bird flew from the trees. Then another. Then several more. He narrowed his eyes.

"Something is moving."

Lira looked toward the forest. "I don’t see anything."

"Neither do I."

But the birds kept flying away from the same direction. Aren raised his hand. The guards nearby immediately noticed.

"Get everyone ready."

One of them looked confused. "Why?"

"Just do it."

The guard ran. Within minutes, warriors gathered along the eastern wall. No one spoke loudly. Everyone watched the forest.

Then a figure appeared between the trees. Aren’s heart jumped. It was Doran. He was walking slowly. One hand was pressed against his shoulder. Blood covered part of his clothes. Two warriors were supporting him. Behind them came Aldren and the rest of the rescue group.

Aren immediately ran toward the gate. "Doran!"

Doran looked up. He smiled weakly. "Took you long enough."

Aren stopped in front of him. "You disappeared for half the day."

"I was busy."

"You look terrible."

Doran glanced down at himself. "I’ve looked worse."

Aren almost laughed. Almost.

"What happened?"

Doran looked toward the forest. "We found their camp."

Aren’s expression became serious. "Who are they?"

Doran shook his head. "I don’t know."

"How many?"

"More than ten."

"Black Fang?"

"No." Doran hesitated. "At least, I don’t think so."

Aren frowned. "Why?"

"They had no tribal markings."

"Then who are they?"

Doran looked directly at him. "I heard them talking."

Aren waited.

"They weren’t speaking any language I’ve heard before."

The words made Aren’s expression change. "Not Black Fang?"

Doran shook his head. "No." He looked toward the forest one more time. "And that’s not the worst part."

Aren waited. Doran lowered his voice.

"They were looking for something."

"What?"

Doran stared at him. "I don’t know." He paused. "But they had an old stone tablet."

Aren froze. An old stone tablet. His mind immediately returned to the ruins in the Whispering Forest. The ancient roads. The ruined city. The golden dragon carved into the gate. His recovered memories. Stone Architecture. Civil Planning.

Aren felt a familiar pressure behind his eyes. The Civilization Legacy System appeared.

════════════════════════════

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP DETECTED

Ancient Artifact Detected

Location: Eastern Forest

Connection: Unknown

Investigation Recommended

Memory Synchronization: 28% → 29%

Recovered Knowledge: Ancient Writing

════════════════════════════

Aren stared at the final message. Ancient Writing. He had never learned it. At least, not in this life. But somewhere inside his forgotten memories, he already knew how to read it.

Aren looked toward the forest. The missing patrols suddenly made sense. The strangers weren’t simply watching the tribes. They were searching for something.

And whatever they were searching for, Aren had a feeling he had seen it before.

End of Chapter 41