In the Steppe, the bull headed people noticed a large group getting closer to their tribe. Sending Scouts they came back panicked and hurried to the Chief.

  Right afterwards all the warriors of the tribe were called to defend before a Carriage dragged by a two headed dog was stopping in front of the wall of Warriors.

  Out of the Carriage came Null and Snow. Some of the Warriors remembered their faces and were a bit torn on what to do right now.

  “You are not welcome”, Chief Huffing declared loudly. “We do not want to see you ever again. Because of you one of our own was dragged away.”

  “And whose fault was that, dear brother?”, the next who came out of the Carriage made people even more perturbed. It was Hoof, whose daughter was stolen by the alliance of Beastmen.

  Seeing his brother Huffing was a bit shocked, but knew he could be with him, as he ordered him to tell Null about Spot being abducted.

  “Hoof, I know you might be angry, but right now we should be united, as my niece was abducted because she was too close to the Unbeing. Please be sensible and go back to your wife.”

  “I will go back to my wife, but I will bring my guests with me.”

  “This is not possible. He is the one-”

  “He is the one who saved my Daughter! As per rule I am allowed to give my benefactor water and food as thanks.”

  Huffing was not ready to hear what Hoof just said: “Did you say he saved your daughter?”

  After that Spot came out of the carriage. At first she did not want to get out as she felt too humiliated and wanted to not show her wounds. But after hearing the voice of her Uncle she could not hold back.

  Seeing Spot coming out of the Carriage the Warriors were shocked and some even glad to see her alive until they saw the bandages and horrible burn marks on her skin. Spot herself glared at her Uncle like she wanted to rip him apart.

  “Spot, you are alive! Hoof, please bring your daughter to your wife while we make them leave.”

  “As I said, I will not let the benefactors of my Daughter go just like that.”

  “...Hoof be reasonable.”

  “I am reasonable, if I were not, you would not stand anymore.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “We will discuss that later. Now let me through with my guests.”

  “Hoof, are you disobeying my orders?”

  “Are you disrespecting my benefactors Brother?”

  The fronts were clear and while the Warriors of the tribe were following the order of the Chief, they were more inclined to Hoof as his Daughter was saved and not only was she on the side of Hoof, but they were remembering how explicit they were told to stand down while the Elves took Spot.

  “...As you wish, Hoof, but be sure of where you draw the line.”

  Entering the Tribe the eyes of some people were filled with hostility, while others with confusion and worry. No one could understand what they should do, as they remembered under Red Horn he was a precious guest, while under Huffing Loudly he was deemed a Calamity. There were many interested in what was going on, but no one was brave enough to say anything.

  “Spot!”

  Seeing her Daughter, Flower came running. She hugged her hard but noticing how bandaged she was, Flower instantly stopped herself and looked at her daughter with sorrow.

  Bringing her back to their tent her little brother was laying in his woven crib sleeping. Her small brother did not do something interesting so he did not have a Name for now. As Spot saw her little brother she smiled and shed some tears.

  “I did not think I would see my smelly brother again. Now I am happy even if he peed on my favorite dress once.”

  While Spot was reminiscing about her brother, her Mother started to take off the bandages to see the wounds. While the salve and specially drenched Bandages closed most wounds, the scars were telling the whole story. Many Neighbours and friends came to see what happened to Spot even if Huffing tried to make them leave.

  Incensed Huffing was helpless and even the Warriors did not follow his orders like they should do. While he was the new Chieftain he had a rather problematic stance. Many knew how Red Horn was favouring Hoof more, but as he never had any Shamanistic dreams, he never wanted to be Chief. Now after Huffing not only let some other tribes take Spot but Hoof came back with her alive, they were questioning if the right brother had become the Chief and if having dreams of the Future are so necessary for leading the tribe.

  To alleviate the tension Huffing tried to sound glad: “Spot, I am so glad you are back. You look in bad shape, you should rest to recuperate-”

  “Shut up, Uncle!”

  Shocked by how Spot reacted to his worried words Huffing was at first at a loss for words and after a few seconds enraged.

  “How do you speak to your Chief?! I am worried and you are so ungrateful, you calf!”

  Worried? You were worried?” Spot sneered, “Are you not rather worried I came back alive? You told the Warriors of the tribe to stand down. They took me because you let them!”

  “We would have lost too many lives for just one calf! Can you not understand that?”

  Hoof interjected: “I can not understand. You just gave your Niece to ravenous beasts and now you act like Family matters to you?”

  “You know that time was perilous. If I had not given her, we might have lost many Warriors.”

  “And how did they know about Spot?” Null was questioning Huffing now.

  “You do not have a say in anything, Unbeing!”

  “Then let me ask the question”, Hoof added: “How did they know the close relationship between Spot and Snow? While Red Horn and my Family knew, no one else had an Idea they were close friends. And why did they come to get her instead of me? I was a way better bait, but somehow I was spared as I was made to visit the Crater to lure Null into the trap.”

  “So they had heard rumors and made a plan. What are you insinuating?”

  “Red Horn gave me a letter for Null, if Spot were ever in Danger. I should give this Letter to him, after he rescued her.”

  “Father did that?! What was written in the letter?”

  “I honoured our Father and did not read it, but gave it to Null. You want to know what was written inside? Speak with him.”

  “I do not speak with the Unbeing! He shall leave as he will be turning our Tribe into despair and make us fight each other. Chaos will be brought by his presence and many of our people will be drawn into the Darkness!”

  “So that is your dream?” Null said interested: “It is totally different from Red Horn’s.”

  “What do you know, Creature?!”

  “I know what he wrote to me before he died. And one thing was most interesting.”

  “Do you think anyone would believe a word you say?”

  “You heard from Hoof I had a letter, I state the letter has interesting information, but before I even say anything you say no one would believe me? I do not need to say anything, everyone here should understand you are hiding something.”

  Hearing those words Huffing looked hurriedly around with slight worry in his eyes. The words of Null made sense but no one wanted to believe them, but after seeing how Huffing tried to ascertain how the people were viewing him they found it hard to not understand. Red Horn had written something damning in his last Letter.

  “Somehow it is funny how you made yourself less trustworthy before I even told anything about what is written in the letter.” Null made a snide comment before following up, “I do not care if you think about me as some vile creature, I do not care if you had traveled away and hidden from me, I would not even bat an eye if you were on the Side of those grass gnawing Elves which think of me as their arch nemesis, but selling your niece to be a sacrifice, that is going too far.”

  “What are you talking about? Just because I did stop a slaughter, does not mean I sold her! How many would have died if we fought just for one person?!”

  “Brother you are despicable!” Hoof had enough, he could not hold back anymore, “Because of you Spot is in this state! You told the alliance about the relationship between Null, me and my daughter! You used her as bait and me as a lure! Because of you, she was captured!”

  “Hoof, Brother you are too believing. Null must have twisted the words of Father, better wake up before you do something you might regret!”

  “He twisted the words? Here is the Letter.” Hoof held the Letter up, many were getting closer to read the words. It was the handwriting of their former Chief.

  “You said you did not read it! So you are even lying to your Family now?”

  “I said I did not read it and gave it directly to Null. He gave it back after reading it for me to read it too. When did I ever say I had not seen the contents?”

  “So he has shown you a fake. Why would Red Horn-”

  “It was MY order from Father to give the letter to Null! Are you an Idiot, or do you think you can just say some words and change reality?”

  “I am your BROTHER!”

  “Not anymore!”

  “If you are so determined to defy the chieftain, then I will exile you for the harmony of the Tribe!”

  “Not necessary. We will leave ourselves. Flower I am sorry, but please pack everything. We will leave this den of venomous Snakes.”

  “Dear, no need to apologize. I would rather go to exile than be in a tribe who sells our Daughter.”

  “Thank you honey.”

  Being ignored, Huffing was incensed. “Fine! Just go and never come back! Without you no one will threaten my position anymore! Because of you being the favourite I was working hard and even after being blessed with Visions, you were seen as more promising!”

  “I was never the favourite, I just listened to what Father said and was honest with my opinion. You were trying to please Father by trying to say what he wanted to hear while doing things behind his back.”

  “I worked hard and became Chieftain! What do you know of how hard it is to negotiate with other tribes?! We made dealings with the Unbeing, so showing our sincere apology by giving them a way to capture it was the best way to strengthen the frayed bonds between tribes! If it had worked, we would have been absolved from our sins!”

  “By sinning against your own blood, you want to wash away some kind of Sin Father made?” Hoof became eerily calm. “If that is what you think, I will never see you as my blood ever again.”

  “This is better that way! You are exiled with your tainted Family! Warriors, throw them out!”

  After giving the command, the Warriors… did not move.

  “Did you not hear me? I ordered you to exile them!”

  Silence was the only answer. No one did anything, the people around were also rather silent.

  “Don’t waste your breath, Huffing.” Hoof stood tall and looked at his former Brother with disgust. “We will go ourselves. Friends and Family! I will go away to someone who saved my Daughter without wanting anything in return. While I am indebted to them, I am going by my free will. If anyone wants to come with me, you are welcome to travel with me to another home.”

  There were murmurs but after a while many people just left.

  “You think you can make people leave because you said so? I am the Chief and you are now an exile. Begone and never come back!”

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  “There is still something I must do.” Null was taking the word again.

  “You are also to never come back!”

  “Are you forgetting who you are talking to?”

  “Of course I know, you are the Unbeing! A creature that should not exist in this World, now you should disappear with my Brother and never come back!”

  “I fought against thousands of beastmen and came out victorious, I am dreamt of being a calamity by most tribes and many ran if they noticed me close by. But you not only are thinking of me as a nuisance, but as an insect you can just swat away.”

  The high and mighty demeanour of Huffing was deflating extremely fast as he noticed what he had done. Because Null was being so passive he forgot what kind of Creature he was. Not only was he gloating, he stood in front of all the Warriors like a fearless Leader or better an extremely foolish Leader.

  “Red Horn wrote to please not kill you, and I respect his wishes, but-”

  Appearing in front of Huffing Null grabbed the left horn and yanked it down.

  *crack*

  “You deserve some punishment.”

  Realizing the stinging pain in his skull being overwhelming, Huffing was not even able to shout. Paralyzed by the agony he fell to his knee and started to hyperventilate. One of his precious horns was broken off just like that.

  “I heard you people see your horns as something you pride yourself for. If anyone asks you, you might lie how you lost it, but you will always know you lost your Horn because you sold your blood relative to lick the feet of other tribes.”

  “hah… hah… WARRIORS! KILL! KILL HIM!”

  Pressure suddenly came out of not only Null but Snow. Both of them were frightening enough to make all around shiver.

  “One false move and I will break the promise I made with Red Horn and kill whoever tries to even touch one of my Family members.”

  Feeling like being a small chick being stared at by a giant snake, people shivered and took steps back, if they still had enough willpower to even move.

  “Standing down to an Alliance to let them steal one of your own blood but ordering an attack against someone who eradicated that Alliance, because of crushed pride, you all should really think if this kind of Chief is the one you really want to follow.”

  Kneeling down to the shivering Huffing, Null looked him in the eyes.

  “You made enough damage. Better be silent until we are gone.”

  Huffing thought himself so strong as he finally became Chieftain, but right now he felt so small. In his mind he could not understand why he can be so humiliated, as he was the Chieftain. No one should disrespect him like this. Even the great tribes showed honour to the smaller tribes. He does not understand how his Brother could embarrass him like that and how this Null could do something so humiliating without the Warriors retaliating. Wondering where the awe and respect were which was always surrounding Red Horn, he could not fathom what went wrong.

  In his mind the Position itself gave the fame and not the person working hard to create the fame. While he listened to his Father, he never put anything to heart. This wakeup call was shattering his pride and beliefs.

  While Hoof was packing with his wife some Warriors brought the cursing Huffing into his tent. Delirious because of the pain Huffing just repeated how useless all around him are and how he will punish all of them later. Hearing those words made him even less liked as he already was.

  While Hoof and Flower were packing, Spot was delegated to take care of her Brother. Reasoning was both her Parents did not want to make their Daughter do anything right now as her scars showed how much pain she must have endured. While worrying about her they were also extremely proud of how she was handling it.

  As half of the tent was already packed some People came to Hoof.

  “So, we told our Families and most of them will come with you, Hoof. The happenings are discussed and there are people who do not trust your path, but will leave this Tribe to split off.”

  “Huh? You want to come with me? Sure, but I thought you would not want to.”

  “You know we had to discuss those things with our Families. Do you think my wife would not skin me alive if I just said we will go? You know her, I am more scared of her than anything.”

  “Tailwhip, you are one of a kind. Marrying Headbutt and still complaining about her being violent. I am so glad I will not have to leave all my Friends. Welcome to the trek to our new home.”

  With time more and more came to tell Hoof of their decision to come with him. At the end there were two hundred of the thousand people of the Tribe. A different convoy had collected themselves on the other side. Those people wanted to split from the Tribe and create a new one. Multiple came to Hoof and asked him if he would merge with them if they gave him the Chieftain position, but Hoof declined. He would not want to be in the Steppe anymore as he lost faith in the Beastman ways after seeing how they tortured his beloved daughter.

  While disappointed the people mostly understood him while others tried to persuade him for a while longer before being directly asked to leave.

  —

  “Everyone ready? The trek is a bit long, but we will be there in at most four days. Let’s go!”

  Hoof called the people and the convoy started, while on the other side of the tribe another Convoy distanced themselves. At the end only dozen people were staying under Huffing and while he wanted to force them to stay, most of the Warriors were in the departing groups making it impossible to stop them. At the end only his Family and closest friends stayed, while many were looking as if they were already regretting their decision seeing both parties distance themselves from their former Location.

  “And what happens to the ones which are now alone?”

  Null was interested in what will happen to the rest of the dozen.

  “Those will either merge with the new Tribe or die out. They are too few to survive alone. Worst thing would be, they will be raided and either enslaved or eradicated.”

  “So you kill small tribes off?”

  “There is the law of necessity. If a small tribe can survive, they will grow but under Huffing? No chance. He sells his own for benefits, who would take him seriously anymore?”

  Null nodded. The Rules of the Steppe are strange and convoluted. While Killing is rare if it is a small Tribe killing is suddenly common.

  “I just saw one tribe of a species, if they split, why do I see mostly one?”

  “They merge often again. the one which prospered makes the rules and the others adapt. Law of change.”

  “Such a weird system, but whatever.”

  On the travel back was one single Beastman standing on the road and looking like he was waiting for Null and his caravan. When Null noticed the strange person he deflated a bit and held his head.

  “Not them again… What is it this time?”

  While the Carriage was driving right next to the Beastman he held up a bound scroll with a creepy smile. Null just opened the door and took it before ignoring the person entirely. As if the person expected the reaction, he just bowed and went back into the grass vanishing like he never was there.

  “Null, this guy was-”

  “Yes Hoof. He was and I can not do much against their nagging. Let me see first what is it this time.”

  Reading the Parchment Null was feeling like he gets a headache.

  “Snow, I need to go to ground zero again. You do not need to come with me.”

  “You mean…”

  “Yes, that ground zero. The time is not fixed but they might already know when I am visiting before I know it myself.”

  “It is creepy there… But I will come with you.”

  Esther’s interest peaked: “Ground zero? What are you talking about? Can I come too?”

  “Not there. That place is worse than you can imagine. I feel horrible getting close that place and I had no feelings wrangling that Geode while it drilled into my soul space.”

  “Sounds ominous. Can I really not-”

  “If you do not want to get contaminated with something worse than Miasma, better stay home.”

  “Yeash. Fine I stay. But better explain thoroughly what is going on later, is that clear?”

  “Since when are you so domineering?”

  “Since you made me curious only to let me hang to dry!”

  —

  After entering the tunnel Null made Oros wait on the side of the main road while the rest of the Monsters was going right back to the Castle.

  “We are finally home! I am pooped.”

  “I feel you Snow. This time was rather stressful, but for now they will not mess with us again. Spot is here and everyone else in the Steppe is irrelevant for now.”

  “So we do not need to go there anymore?”

  “...Those guys asked for me, so I will go. They helped so better help them too. Whatever it is this time.”

  While talking Baphomet came closer to say something themselves.

  “Lord, we would like to go too. We might have an idea what will happen and if I am right they might need me there too.”

  “You know something?”

  “It might be their end and we would need to do the rite.”

  “Can’t you be any more ominous Baphomet? Well if it is needed you can come too if our Schedule makes it possible. Somehow I feel I am the only one who does not understand anything that is going on.”

  “Null, I do not understand it too! Well I do not understand many things, but I am still with you!”

  “Thank you Snow.”

  Patting Snow on the head, Null thought about how to accommodate the Beastmen. Spot needs to go to the castle first. Her Wounds are severe and without special care scars will be inevitable.

  —

  “Hoof, I know you are still a bit shocked, but are you sure you want this? There is no going back and just for Power it is not worth it.”

  “It is not Power I seek Null. You know that better than anyone else, don’t you?”

  “You want power to protect, I understand, but it will change you.”

  “Only in Body.”

  “You can not be sure.”

  “I spoke with your Family. Most say it is without harm to the mind. I just don’t want to be helpless again.”

  “...like Father like daughter, huh?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Spot said she does not want to be helpless too.”

  “So she made the same decision. I can not stop her even if I want to. She is of age to choose her own way, still I would like for you to not do it to her.”

  “And you are so selfish you want to do it yourself?”

  “...”

  “Speak with your daughter after she is healed in a week. If you two come again I might consider it. You are here not even a day and already want to be turned into something different. Especially talk to your wife or I will do it.”

  “...you are making it rather hard for me. I just want to be one of your troops.”

  “And I want you to be my friend first! Think about it further, before you just change what you are.”

  “I will talk to my Family first.”

  “Yes, thank you. And now visit your daughter. She is in that vat over there. She is bored out of her mind by soaking in the Nourishment Fluid. Scars will be removed after her body is at peak vitality, so tomorrow.”

  “Thank you. Until later.”

  *sigh* “Why does everyone who comes to my Castle suddenly want to become an enhanced Creature? Is it the air? Must be something in the air, better check…”

  —

  At the north eastern corner of the Misty Forest a caravan was nearing the Mist. At the front was an Elven Woman with a team of humans behind her. Behind those were two large carriages filled with basic necessities and also rare metals and ingredients.

  Entering the Mist the sight got from bad to worse in seconds. Even the Elven Woman was having a hard time to pierce the Mist with her sight.

  {You are early.}

  Hearing the words through the Mist the Mercenaries wanted to draw their weapons but Lyra stopped them before they made a mistake.

  {I greet you esteemed Root.}

  {Let us skip the pleasantries. Follow the wisp and do not veer of the path, if you do not want to die}

  {...understood}

  Lyra was a bit incensed, but this Root Elf was at least direct. As every Elf has his own demeanour Root were no different, the only difference is the arrogance seated deeply in their bones, which goes even against their own distant kind.

  A wisp was summoned by the Root to lead the Convoy. Afterwards she jumped back into the Mist and was gone before anyone could ask anything more.

  “Such rude behaviour. Well Elves are prideful.”

  The Mage on the Carriage was grumbling but as he was hired by the Peddler King to especially be courteous, he held his tongue before he was ranting even more.

  If it weren’t for the payment being in Magic Ingredients he would have not even thought of helping a simple caravan, but as he knew what was being tried to be bought he had the ability to maybe buy more of the Food with his own money. If he could, he might have enough to bring the Mana in his body to a new height and might even be a step closer to turning into a Magus.

  Sitting in the second Carriage was Bickle nervously watching the Mist with nervous eyes. He could not see through it at all, so he did not knew what horrors might be hidden behind the Mist. Right now he was not sure if not seeing the Forest through the Mist was a blessing or curse as he does not know what would be worse.

  “Just take over the contract, they said. Smile and kiss his ass, they said. This Null is vindictive and I should have not taken this job. How bad my luck is nowadays.”

  Traveling along the way the Woods felt like they were drawing on endlessly. While some thought of turning back, the would not even know which direction was ‘back’.

  —

  “We are here it seems. The row of Trees there seem to be the guarding the Tunnel for some reason.”

  “Finally. Lyra I trust you, but this was the most scary work I had in a long time.”

  “Not only for you. I think we are underpaid for this.”

  “So it was not my imagination, huh?”

  Getting closer to the Tunnel Lyra stopped.

  “What is it?”

  “...I am sorry, please wait a second.”

  Scouring the mud Lyra was looking intensely at something many do not understand. Another scout came forward and suddenly did the same. While the serious face was normal, the sweat and pale skin was not.

  “What is it?”

  “Something… No, many things came into this tunnel recently.”

  “So Null is back?”

  “If that was the convoy of Null, I do not want to meet him.”

  “Why so?”

  “This there is a webbed foot imprint. Next to it I thought it was first just something lying down, but no it is the same foot but way bigger. I found a scale like from a fish and then there are different kind of creatures. I can not even understand what they might be. Those things I have never seen before, but they should not be natural.”

  “Monsters?”

  “If yes, we might have someone from a different Continent inside this Mountain range.”

  “Someone who can order Monsters? A Tamer from Carrona?”

  “Or a Summoner.”

  “A what?”

  “I met someone a few Centuries ago, who could summon Monsters. Summoners are extremely rare I believe. Not enough Mana to summon something decent.”

  “So whatever he is, he might be dangerous?”

  “That was clear even before we took the job. I am more worried about what kind of Creatures are under his command.”

  With uncertain steps, the Guards of this Caravan entered the Tunnel, unsure of what awaited them behind the Darkness.