Sefu leaned back against his rugged wooden chair, studying the weary travelers before him. His gaze flicked from person to person, their clothes ragged but their faces marked by quiet resolve. Several times, the Warrior-King let his aether stir beneath his skin, testing the subtle pulses. So far, none had shown open hostility; they merely radiated uncertainty.

  Clearing his throat, he began his questioning, his tone measured but firm. "I want to know what time you came from," he said, folding his arms. "And what you previously did in that time."

  They exchanged hesitant glances before speaking up one by one. Mira's introduction as a medical student earned a faint, approving smile from Sefu. "Competence in healing is always needed," he said, inclining his head toward her. "We have many to feed and care for. The rest of you—carpenters? Builders? Soldiers, perhaps?"

  Elias stepped forward, introducing himself with a calm precision that suggested some experience in warfare. Jace, Theo, Aera, and Darin offered their backgrounds in more subdued tones—enough to convey their potential uses, but with visible reluctance. Joran, leaning against a makeshift crutch, spoke last, describing his earlier days and his time as a teacher.

  "That is good," Sefu nodded thoughtfully. "You could all serve well here. Construction, watch duties, perhaps more. Our growing settlement demands every able body, and the Orisha guide my hand in deciding each person's place."

  His expression shifted to one of quiet confidence as he fixed the group with a steady gaze. "We need no more aimless wanderers. Join us, help expand our reach, and you shall be rewarded with security—and purpose."

  Joran cleared his throat softly. "I'm sorry, sir, but we… we haven't actually decided if we'll stay."

  A slight frown darkened Sefu's features. "Why resist the inevitable? You have seen enough of this cruel land to know it offers only peril." His eyes flicked over Joran's silvered hair and lined face. "Surely your years have granted you wisdom. Look around: we are building something miraculous here. With the Orisha's blessing, we will conquer all lands and usher in both peace and divinity."

  Shifting on his feet, Darin mustered courage. "We… we already have a group, sir. Two men led us—Kurai and Gaius. It wouldn't feel right to commit to staying without them."

  "And who might these two be?" Sefu inquired, brow arching in interest.

  Darin hesitated, suddenly unsure what to reveal. Elias took over. "They're from another time, like you."

  Sefu's gaze sharpened. Another time, he echoed in his mind. They might be like me, apostles chosen by the Orisha or perhaps harbingers of strife. Outwardly, he kept his tone calm. "So they share my condition? Are they under the same quest?"

  "They never said," Elias replied. "Not once have they mentioned any divine mission or… or anything like that."

  At the mention of potential rivals—other time-lost warriors—Sefu's brow furrowed. Could they be a specific test from the trickster Orisha, Esu? Tension pulled at his expression. "And where are these two now?"

  "We lost them," Elias admitted. "Some… giant flying abominations attacked. Kurai and Gaius held them off so we could escape."

  Sefu's eyes widened slightly. "You fought one of the larger Ajogun?" he murmured, using a name that seemed to carry grim weight.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Elias hesitated. "I wouldn't call it a fight. Kurai and Gaius held them of. The rest of us ran."

  A flicker of relief flitted across Sefu's face. If these mysterious time-crossed fighters were gone, they could pose no challenge to his divine mandate—nor threaten the cohesion of his settlement. "So they are dead?"

  Silence answered him, a pall of regret settling over the group. None could say for certain.

  Elias cleared his throat. "We… don't know."

  Sefu exhaled slowly, disappointment tensing his jaw. No confirmation, he thought. But perhaps the Orisha will reveal more when the time is right.

  "You may all leave," he said at length, voice clipped. "Elias, remain. I have certain expectations you must follow if you choose to stay under my protection. You can inform the others later."

  Al murmur rippled through the group—Mira, Jace, Theo, Joran, Aera, and Darin bowed their heads with some uncertainty, then filed out, casting worried glances at Elias. Left alone with Sefu, the former military man squared his shoulders, bracing for whatever rules the Warrior-King would impose.

  Perhaps, Sefu mused, this is but another step in my test. He watched the tent flap rustle shut behind the others, then turned his full attention to Elias.

  "Come closer," he commanded.

  ***

  Back at the tents they'd slept in, the group gathered under the midday filtered sun, waiting for Elias's return from his private meeting with Sefu. When he finally arrived, the sober expression on his face told them he hadn't come with idle news.

  Aera broke the silence first: "So? What did he say?"

  Elias exhaled slowly. "We can stay, at least for now. But we need to earn our keep. Sefu has the camp organized into different roles: hunting, medicine, construction, guard duty… Basically, if we want a share of resources—tents and food—we have to contribute."

  "What do you think?" Theo asked, glancing around. "Should we stay here or head out again?"

  Elias's gaze flicked to Jace. "I still think we can't do much for Kurai and Gaius. Here, we have a chance to grow stronger without risking our necks every night."

  Jace nodded. "Yeah, the man might be a religious zealot, but this camp's the best thing we've seen so far."

  Uncertainty rippled across some faces. Elias, noting their hesitation, spoke more firmly. "We can gather points and aether here. If we train under safer conditions, we'll have a better shot at facing the horrors of the jungle. No sense in chasing after Kurai and Gaius if we'll just slow them down—or get ourselves killed in the process."

  Joran frowned, lines of disapproval etching his features. "And the longer we stay, the more we risk Kurai and Gaius running into something they can't handle."

  Elias countered, "You think us stumbling around would help them? They're skilled fighters, and we're… not, at least not yet."

  Joran's expression hardened. "Maybe they're out there searching for us right now. We might be the reason they land in deeper trouble."

  A hush fell, tension humming between them. Joran's anger—and guilt—was palpable, while Elias's practicality hung like a shield around him. Theo and Darin wore uncertain looks; Jace continued to stand in quiet support of Elias.

  Finally, Elias spoke again, calm but unyielding. "Look, I say we join hunts and grow stronger. Once we're ready, those who wish can go searching for Kurai and Gaius. Right now, we'd be liabilities."

  Joran opened his mouth to protest, then sighed in resignation. Perhaps he saw there was little point in arguing. The man in front of him was set on this course; persuasion would do no good.

  Suddenly, Aera stepped forward, chin high. "I'm going."

  Her statement caught everyone off-guard, and Elias's brow furrowed. "Splitting up is a mistake," he insisted. "It won't help any of us, especially not you. How'll you handle the creatures out there alone?"

  Aera shrugged. "I won't be alone, will I?" She turned to Darin, then Mira. "Remember what Gaius did for us? He sacrificed he himself time and again to keep us safe. Kurai, though we've known him shortly, saved us twice already. I won't abandon them again."

  Darin hesitated only a moment before nodding. "You're right. Count me in."

  Mira glanced at Joran, sympathy evident. "I'll go too, but… Joran, I think you should stay behind. Your wound's still raw."

  Before Joran could protest, Aera laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You need time to heal, old man. We'll be back before you know it." Her confident tone stifled his argument. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Be safe," was all he managed.

  Mira's gaze flicked to Theo. He looked away, avoiding her eyes. That silence spoke volumes, and a faint disappointment flickered in Mira's expression as she turned back to Aera. "Let's go," she said quietly.

  The three left before anyone could talk them out of it, passing beyond the cluster of tents into the heart of Sefu's camp, determined to find their way back into the jungle. Elias stared after them, annoyance tightening his jaw. "They'll get themselves killed," he muttered.

  "That's not for you to decide," Joran said, voice edged with quiet reproach. "Your facade might fool some here, but not all of us."

  Elias's lips pressed into a thin line. "Keep your illusions to yourself," he returned tersely.

  Theo and Jace exchanged uneasy glances. The conversation had turned unexpectedly personal, yet the moment to pry had passed. Eventually, Elias shook his head and walked off, leaving Joran by the tents in stony silence.

  Sefu having followed Elias at a safe distance without being detected watched with a frown as he the trio leave his camp. He brought two of his trusted soldiers: "Follow them, stay hidden. If they chance upon their former comrades, report back to me. I'll be out hunting, tell Tallak to keep watch here."