Raziel stepped into the medium-sized stone building, immediately hit by the potent scent of medicinal herbs and concoctions. The atmosphere was solemn, with men and women moving quietly in and out and greeting him on the way, their expressions a mix of concentration and concern.

Turning towards the hall, Raziel’s breath caught in his throat at the sight before him. Ten of his fellow tribe members, both men and women and the bravest people he knew lay on soft sheets, their bodies wrapped in bandages. The sight of familiar faces, now marred by injury and pain, tightened Raziel’s chest. Some slept, a merciful escape from their pain, while others sat up, their bodies too weakened to move. The severity of their injuries, evident in missing limbs and heavily bandaged bodies, reminded him once more how dangerous it was outside.

“Little Raziel, what are you doing here? You might feel lazy seeing us,” chuckled one of the injured men, trying to lighten the mood despite his own eye being covered in a bloodied bandage.

“Don’t worry about me, big brother Azel. You should focus on getting better first,” Raziel managed a strained smile, trying to offer some comfort.

“Haha, this is nothing, just another day. We will be fine, don’t worry,” Azel replied, his voice laced with a mix of resilience and pain, his hand waving dismissively even as he winced slightly. The others around him nodded in agreement, offering each other strength and determination.

“They at least returned alive. We have lost so many people over the last few years. This is a miracle,” came a light but aged voice from behind.

Raziel turned to see the eldest of the tribe, dressed in white robes, his white beard and hair slightly tussled, “Grandpa Caius…” Raziel greeted, respect and affection evident in his voice. He then glanced back at the injured, his voice lowering to a somber tone, “But most of them won’t ever be the same… will they?”

Caius let out a deep sigh, his hand resting on Raziel’s shoulder in a comforting gesture, “You are right. Losing limbs or organs like an eye or skin is permanent. As for the rest of the injuries, with our Common Class bloodline, there’s only so much we can heal. The rest depends on the medicines Matron Selene used to treat them. But our resources for such medicines are running low.”

Raziel’s expression was a mix of frustration and determination as he clenched his fists tightly, “Those damn werewolves. They just keep preying on us even though we’re just trying to survive. We never get to gather enough resources to sustain and help our people,” he muttered angrily while thinking about curing his mother’s eyes and so many others who had all kinds of ailments.

But powerful medicines were so expensive that nobody would even dream of getting them.

Caius, his face etched with the weight of years of similar frustrations, nodded in agreement, “Other than their hatred for our kind, they find pleasure in attacking us and stealing whatever little resources we have. We might have to move earlier than usual. It’s possible the Bloodclaw Clan will catch our scent within a matter of days now that they’ve attacked our group.”

The mention of relocating struck a chord of dismay in Raziel, “Move already? But we just got here like two weeks ago. We can’t even call any place our home, and every time we move, it’s hard on all of us. Some of us won’t even make it on the way. Just during the last relocation, we lost Grandma Lein and her children. How long are we going to keep running? We shouldn’t be living like this. We should fight back,” Raziel said, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and desperation.

Caius sighed deeply, his grip on Raziel’s shoulder tightening momentarily, “Most brave ones here think like you until they go outside. I thought like you when I was young like you. But you have been protected and kept safe inside here by us. You don’t know how bad it is outside. All kinds of vile things are waiting to prey on people like us, either for resources or for pleasure. At the same time, we have to risk our lives surviving against them and also by fighting Hunters to gain life crystals to survive.

“That is the way of our world. The strong prey on the weak, and it is a harsh truth that our tribe is one of the weakest. Our strongest only consist of Matron Selene and me, and we are just Soul Slayers. Even if there were ten of us, we would never stand a chance against a few Soul Hunters, let alone a Soul Reaper, who is the clan leader of the Bloodclaw Clan who attacked our people. So when we are faced with such enemies, survival is what matters most. Fighting back will only kill us all.”

Raziel lowered his head, the weight of Caius’s words sinking in. However, he soon lifted his gaze, a fire of resolve burning in his eyes, “I don’t want to be protected anymore. I know we aren’t strong enough yet, but we should never give up, and I’m not saying we should fight back now. But we should find ways to increase the strength of our tribe, maybe take in other smaller tribes and build our community. We can do something,” Raziel asserted, his voice firm with conviction.

Caius gazed at Raziel with an appreciative look, a hint of pride in his eyes, “The one thing I appreciate the most about you, Raziel, is that you have a certain fire inside that we don’t. If used carefully, it could be a boon to us. You are very young and have yet to learn and understand a lot of things, but your heart is in the right place. We, including your mother, know we can’t protect you forever. That’s why I’m giving you the chance to prove yourself. Small steps first. Once you convince our tribe that you can protect them, then one day you can convince them to follow your ideas.”

Caius smiled as he added, “Our tribe is one of the very rare few who doesn’t follow the preying mentality. I believe we can always find strength by supporting each other instead of bullying the weak. By focusing on such a lifestyle, we can build a stable and happier life.”

Raziel’s face lit up with a determined smile, “I know. Thank you, Grandpa Caius. I won’t let you down. I will prove myself to you.”

Caius laughed lightly, his eyes twinkling with wisdom, “I already know the outcome, but I want the people to see it as well, to make them happy. And in the meantime, why don’t you collect some logs from the nearby forest? We’re going to have a small celebration tonight to celebrate that nobody died yesterday. It’s these small celebrations that help lighten our people’s hearts. I would rather we move by tomorrow, but we can’t with these injured ones.”

“Of course. And about Matron Selene… I heard she returned without much injury, but I want to know if she’s really alright,” Raziel added, his concern for Selene evident.

Caius chuckled, clearly aware of Raziel’s feelings for Selene, “She’s the best of us, don’t worry. But if you’re that concerned, you could just pass by her house on the way. She should be there, but don’t disturb her if she’s resting. She had a long day yesterday.”

Raziel nodded in agreement, “Thank you, Grandpa Caius. I will be back soon,” he said, his resolve and care for his tribe shining in his eyes.

–

Raziel approached a small stone house in a secluded area with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. It was the home of Matron Selene, a place he had visited before, but never alone. This time, the context was different, more personal, and it made his heart beat a little faster.

Nobody visits her without notice since she was an elder of the tribe and everyone gave her the utmost respect, no different than that of Grandpa Caius.

However, she had once told him that he can come by her house any time, though clearly this was his first time.

He was relieved Morv and Voren weren’t here. Otherwise, they would have teased him to death after realizing he did what they exactly predicted, though he was here out of genuine concern.

Reaching the door, Raziel cautiously checked for the latch. He found it securely in place, indicating that Matron Selene was likely not inside. The discovery left him slightly disappointed, his brows furrowing in thought. Where could she be? If she was meant to be resting, the most logical place would have been her home.

After a moment of contemplation, Raziel decided to extend his search. He walked around the house, heading towards the small stream located at the back. The stream was a serene spot, and he remembered playing here a long time ago. It was also a spot where sometimes she would make the kids meditate since the sound of the stream was very relaxing.

As he made his way to the stream, Raziel’s steps were careful and quiet, not wanting to disturb Matron Selene if she was sleeping or meditating nearby. The rustling of the dark leaves and the gentle flow of water grew louder as he approached, the peacefulness of the place washing over him.

But suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he heard a distinct sound.

Raziel crept closer to the stream, drawn by the faint sound that reached his ears. The gentle splash of water and a pleasant fragrance guided his steps. But as he neared the source of the sound, Raziel’s body suddenly froze, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief at the sight before him.

There, in the tranquility of the stream, stood a stunning, slender figure.

She stood unclothed in the water, her spine arched elegantly, showcasing a pair of perfect shoulder blades while the water droplets trickled down to her bare waistline.

Her lower half was submerged in the clear stream, while her long, wet red hair draped elegantly over her front, partially concealing her form.

Her sleek shoulders arched gracefully as she lifted one arm to wipe the cascading droplets off her pale, smooth skin. Raziel’s face flushed a deep shade of red, his mind racing with embarrassment and guilt, not expecting to accidentally run into the matron taking a bath.

He felt the urge to keep watching, captivated by the mesmerizing sight, yet he knew he shouldn’t be there and that this wasn’t right.

He was about to turn and leave, hoping to leave unnoticed, but in his haste,

*Krchk!*

He stepped on a dry branch. The crisp snap of the branch breaking underfoot echoed loudly in the quiet surroundings.

He winced at the sound, quickly ducking behind a large tree for cover. His heart pounded in his chest, fear and embarrassment mixing in a dizzying blend.

“Who’s there?” Selene’s voice rang out, gentle yet wary.

Raziel held his breath, cursing his luck. He pressed himself against the tree, hoping she wouldn’t discover him. The thought of the matron thinking he was a pervert, spying on her while she bathed, filled him with dread. He couldn’t bear the thought of her looking at him with disgust or mistrust.

His mind raced, trying to think of a way out of this situation without further embarrassing himself or disrespecting her But the question was how was he going to escape?