Point of View: Tharok
I froze.
My father's words echoed in my head, heavy, impossible to ignore… as if each one had been driven straight into my chest.
No.
I couldn't allow that to happen.
I stood up abruptly, the wood beneath my feet creaking sharply.
"Father, we can't do this."
The murmurs around the fire died down almost instantly.
All eyes turned to me.
But him…
He simply looked at me.
Coldly.
As if he had already expected my reaction.
"Then give me a reason, son."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
I clenched my fists.
"If we touch their dungeons, the rulers of the plane will attack the tribes living near their cities," I said, not breaking eye contact. "They'll wipe them out, thinking they're responsible… as an example to the others."
An uneasy silence spread.
Some exchanged glances.
Others chose not to intervene.
My father didn't react immediately.
He simply tilted his head slightly.
"I know, son," he replied at last. "What's the problem?"
For a moment, I thought I hadn't heard him correctly.
My body tensed.
"What do you mean, what's the problem?" My voice rose more than I expected. "Innocent people will die!"
The fire crackled between us.
Shadows danced across the faces of those present.
My father slowly shook his head, as if disappointed.
"If the rulers of the plane conquer a level two world," he continued, completely ignoring my reaction, "they'll gain an enormous advantage. We'll never be able to catch up."
I felt my breathing grow heavier.
"But…" I swallowed, "what about those who will die because of this?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"I don't care what happens to other tribes."
Silence fell completely.
"The only one that matters to me… is ours."
My lips parted, but no words came out.
I didn't know how to respond to that.
There was no argument against that logic.
It was cold.
Direct.
And completely alien to everything I believed in.
"As chief," he added, crossing his arms, "my duty is to secure my tribe's future. And this… benefits us."
Around me, several began to nod.
Some with conviction.
Others with doubt… but they nodded anyway.
Marek stepped forward.
"If we take the resources from their dungeons, we slow their progress," he explained calmly. "And we'll also be able to supply ourselves for our own conquest."
My father looked at him with approval.
"Exactly."
Then his gaze swept across the circle again.
"As I said… this is our opportunity."
He paused briefly.
The distant sounds of the celebration reached us—laughter, shouting, the clinking of mugs.
But here…
The atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
Darker.
"While they're occupied…" he continued, "we'll advance."
His eyes shone with determination.
"We'll take the resources from their dungeons."
A knot formed in my stomach.
"If we don't act now," he added, "we'll never catch up."
No one responded.
No one objected.
And that…
That was what hurt the most.
The meeting ended shortly after.
No debate.
No more words.
Just decisions.
I returned to my hut in silence.
The noise of the celebration surrounded me, but it couldn't reach me.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The interior was dark.
Familiar.
But that night… it felt different.
Emptier.
I dropped onto the wooden chair.
"Damn it…"
I ran a hand over my face.
"Why couldn't I just stay quiet…?"
I clenched my teeth.
Maybe… if I had said more…
No.
I shook my head.
That wouldn't have changed anything.
My father had already decided.
He always did.
My gaze fell to my hands.
They were trembling.
"What can I do…?"
There was no answer.
Only silence.
And guilt.
A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
My body tensed.
I took a deep breath.
Slowly.
Once.
Twice.
I needed to calm down.
Otherwise… I wouldn't be able to think.
I walked to the door and opened it.
It was her.
Sara.
Torchlight softly illuminated her face.
We stood in silence.
For a few seconds that felt eternal.
"I ruined everything… love," I finally murmured.
She didn't respond right away.
Her eyes watched me.
Analyzing.
Waiting.
"Do you have any idea how to fix it?" I added.
Sara lowered her gaze for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Tharok… this time, I agree with your father."
It felt like something pierced through my chest.
"I thought you'd support me…"
My voice came out weaker than I expected.
She shook her head gently.
"No," she said. "He's right. And as a member of this tribe… I have to follow him."
Silence fell again between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Painful.
"Then…" I swallowed, "why did you come?"
Sara hesitated.
She bit her lower lip before answering.
"I wanted to ask you to come with me…"
Something inside me broke instantly.
"No."
The answer came out on its own.
"No, Sara. I won't be part of this."
She stepped closer.
"Tharok…"
"No," I repeated. "This is madness. Those tribes are going to be wiped out."
I looked at my hands.
They were still shaking.
"I… I caused this…"
Silence returned.
But this time, it was different.
Heavier.
More personal.
Sara spoke again.
Her voice was soft.
But firm.
"You're being selfish…"
I blinked.
"What…?"
I didn't understand.
She pressed her lips together.
"I always support you. In everything," she said. "And when I ask you for something for the first time… you refuse."
"This is different," I replied immediately. "Ask me for anything and I'll give it to you, but this… no."
My voice cracked slightly.
"I can't be part of this."
Sara lowered her gaze.
And when she spoke again…
Her tone had changed.
"In the last conquest… I died three times."
The world stopped.
I stared at her.
"What…?"
"This is my last life," she continued. "If I die again… I'll disappear."
A knot tightened in my throat.
I didn't know.
She never told me.
She took another step forward.
And hugged me.
Her body trembled.
"I'm scared…"
Her words were a whisper.
But louder than any scream in my ears.
My hands hesitated.
But finally… I hugged her back.
My mind was in conflict.
She was right.
She had always been there for me.
Always supported me.
But this…
This was wrong.
"You could stay," I said quietly. "Stay here with me."
She shook her head against my chest.
"I can't," she replied. "I'm a warrior of this tribe."
She pulled back just enough to look into my eyes.
"And it's my duty to go."
Her words hit me hard.
"A duty… that you also have."
I didn't know what to say.
There were no words.
Only pressure.
Only weight.
Only impossible choices.
Sara placed her hands on my face.
Her gaze was intense.
"I know this is hard for you…" she said softly, "but you can come just to protect me."
My breath caught.
"You don't have to participate," she added. "Just protect me."
"Sara…"
"You're the strongest in the tribe," she continued. "Even stronger than your father."
Her eyes never left mine.
"Just come with me."
She paused briefly.
"This mission will be more dangerous than any before."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Will you protect me?"
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Everything inside me screamed no.
That it was wrong.
That I shouldn't do it.
But…
It was Sara.
And she was afraid.
I opened my eyes.
And I knew I had already lost.
"…Alright," I murmured. "I'll go."
Her eyes lit up slightly.
"But only to protect you," I added. "Nothing more."
I needed to say it.
Hold onto something.
She nodded.
"Thank you…"
She hugged me tightly.
Darkness returned all at once.
Cold.
Heavy.
Unchanging.
I opened my eyes.
The dungeon.
Again.
The damp air.
The pain.
The chains.
Everything was still there.
My breathing became uneven.
"…I remember now…"
I clenched my teeth.
"That was the reason…"
I lowered my gaze.
"…why I'm here…"
I shut my eyes tightly.
"I didn't want to come to the continent of Rasganorte…"
My voice broke.
"It was because of you, Sara…"
Silence didn't answer.
It never did.
But this time…
It hurt more.
Much more.
"Why…?"
The words came out on their own.
Broken.
"Why did you betray me…?"