The Kaine party had made minimal camp in a small wooded clearing, the morning light filtering through nature's canopy.
Benii, a wiry young man with restless eyes, kept casting suspicious glances toward Brimmah. "I still don't like it," he muttered. "He was accused of being an Elmerian spy only days ago. And now he's suddenly one of us?"
Vey, the only woman among them; sharp-featured and quick with a grin, smirked and nudged Drunn. "Benii's just jealous. Brimmah has taken his spot as the baby of the pack."
Benii flushed. "I have nothing to be jealous about!"
Vey cackled.
Drunn grunted. "If the boy turns out to be a spy after all, I'll happily say 'I told you so.'"
Eldric, grizzled and heavy-set, looked Brimmah up and down with open condescension. "You don't need to prove yourself here, pup. Just sit back and watch how real soldiers work."
The party's Runecaster, Caelis the Enchanter, a calm, middle-aged man with steady hands and quiet authority, cut in. "Everyone here has a past. If Lord Fredder didn't think Brimmah belonged on this mission, he wouldn't have sent him."
Brimmah exchanged a grateful glance with Caelis.
During a lull in the banter, a stray dog bounded into the clearing, tail wagging. Vey yelped in delight and rushed over, dropping to her knees. "Look at him! He looks just like Brimmah!" she laughed as the dog enthusiastically licked her face — then wriggled out of her clutches.
The animal made its rounds, delivering sloppy greetings — while eluding Vey as she kept pursuing it around. Laughter broke out as it jumped up on Drunn, who shook his hand dry with disgust. "Clearly doesn't like you, Vey — keeps running away."
Caelis grinned, though his tone carried a mock threat. "If anyone teases Brimmah again, I'll make sure they end this mission with the lowest kill count."
The group chuckled uneasily.
Vey sidled closer to the Enchanter, cheeky as ever. "Then I'll definitely stay on your good side. I won the kill count last mission, after all." She shot Drunn a smirk. "Remind me — when was the last time you won one of those, Dru?"
Drunn rolled his eyes. "I let the rest of you win. Someone has to be busy saving your hides."
Laughter rippled again.
During another lull, Brimmah casually drew his sword a few inches to check the edge. In an instant the atmosphere changed. Hands dropped to hilts. Vey's smirk vanished. Drunn's eyes narrowed dangerously. Caelis's fingers sparked with runes. The entire group tensed, ready to strike.
Brimmah froze, then slowly sheathed the blade.
The moment passed with forced chuckles, but the message was unmistakable: they were watching him, and they were prepared to kill him the second he gave them a reason.
A heavy set of footsteps approached. The laughter died as the Kaine Sealbearer entered the clearing, silver hair catching light like polished metal.
"Enough," he said.
The party huddled around him as he spoke with authority. "Our objective is to capture the Black Batch lieutenant alive for interrogation. We expect one or two Runecasters and a few dozen fighters inside the hideout — as per Lord Fredder's information. Even if their numbers have swelled, we are more than capable. Failure is not an option."
The party straightened at once.
The Sealbearer continued, "For this operation: I will act as Archer. Caelis will serve as Watcher. Drunn and Vey, Rangers — as usual. Eldric is Claymore, while the rest of you: Benii, Soren, Torin — will be support." He paused, then looked at Brimmah's intent yet puzzled face. "Right, you have yet to receive proper orientation to the Kaine Order. I will briefly explain our class system. Unlike Elsem Soul-soldiers that is simply divided into Frontliners and Runecasters, we class warriors into one of 4 classes depending on their strongest skill and a complete Kaine party must contain at least one person of each class. We prioritize teamwork here. Claymores break enemy line at close range. Rangers control space and reach. Archers provide precision from afar. Watchers shape the battlefield with runes while Supports are essentially reserves. They protect the Watcher and ready to replace any of the previous classes in the event of death or injury. You are not yet assigned a class. Merely observing how we fight is enough for your first expedition. You do not have to engage unless absolutely necessary. If combat finds you, fight to the best of your own ability. Do not try to match our rhythm. You will be assigned a fitting class in future missions."
Brimmah nodded silently.
As the party began marching through the woods toward the distant mountain, Brimmah fell in behind them, a heavy crate of spare blades and weapons strapped securely to his back. The load was substantial, but he bore it without complaint.
Caelis drifted closer, lowering his voice. "Sorry about earlier. Our reaction when you drew your blade… it wasn't personal. Lord Fredder has not given his own verdict on your spy allegation yet. The Queen may have cleared you, but Lord Fredder trusts our eyes in the field. He is a leader who has deep trust in his followers. That's why he leaves us to judge you in his stead — in combat, where a man shows his true nature."
Brimmah's jaw tightened, but he listened. He recalled Satorii's face when she halted his execution. "Nothing to be sorry for," he replied Caelis. "I'm just lucky to be alive."
Caelis continued, a touch of genuine curiosity in his tone. "I heard you held your own against Principal Esq, a Runemaster. During my years at the Academy, I never once saw him cast openly. Is he truly a conjurer or an enchanter?"
Brimmah answered, mind recalling Esq's plant rune during their short fight. "He wields the Rune of the Green. Seems he possesses equal strength in both conjuration and enchantment."
Caelis stopped for a moment, surprised. "I always thought the Rune of the Green was strictly enchantment."
Brimmah shook his head. "Conjuration creates. Enchantment manipulates. Most runes actually blend both… Casters weak in conjuration can only enchant existing plant life. Those strong in conjuration but weak in enchantment create lifeforms they cannot easily control. Only those with balance — like Esq — can do both freely. Because if you conjure with enough aptitude in enchantment, what you create is enchanted by default."
Caelis looked genuinely impressed. "They call me "the Enchanter" yet I never knew that. You have real depth of knowledge… despite lacking Runestrings."
Brimmah's expression tightened, a bitter feeling crept in. "All that study meant nothing in the end. I never awakened a single rune."
A while of silence passed between them. Then the Enchanter spoke. "Haven't achieved the title of Runemaster yet — but I am considered a strong Runecaster. Yet I could never imagine holding my own against Headmaster Esq. Knowledge is a weapon in itself — one that can tilt fights even against those who wield runes. Take pride in your advantages instead of cursing your shortcomings."
Brimmah said nothing, but the words lingered as the party continued toward the mountain.