《Getting Up Again》 Message to him (prologue) Everyone holds onto hope¡ªuntil they can¡¯t. For some, it is instinct. For others, it is effort. And for the rest, it is a lost cause. But we will all have hope. Not for ourselves, not for our children, not even for our ancestors. We will have hope¡ªjust to spite those who would take it from us. This is not about survival. Not about happiness. It is about vengeance.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. While other lands still battle your shadow, we fled. Not in fear, but in strategy. They fight to stall you, to weaken you, to wound you. We fight to prepare. To build. To finish what they began. Azunas may be lost, but we are not. We are here. And we remember. Oh, great evil, will you come searching for the ones you never found? Will you cross the vast ocean, only to arrive where you are no longer the strongest? Or will you count your victories and rule over the hollow ruin you desired so desperately? Sincerely, The Others Chapter 1 - Percil ¡°Come on, Sloco¡­ I know it¡¯s in your name, but you really need to chop these trees a bit faster.¡± The voice belonged to Garan, a broad-shouldered man with arms like tree trunks and a patience thinner than twigs. He watched as Sloco¡ªaxe in hand¡ªchipped away at the same tree with a steady, unhurried rhythm. ¡°I¡¯m not even slow. Stop nagging.¡± Sloco muttered, not looking up. ¡°You are. Everyone¡¯s finished their three trees for the day, and you¡¯re still on your second.¡± Garan crossed his arms. Sloco sighed. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t work faster¡ªhe just spent most of his time lost in thought. The rhythm of chopping was good for thinking, and today, his mind was miles away from the forest. He opened his mouth to answer, but before a single word could leave his lips¡ª A scream. Sharp. Panicked. The sound cut through the air, freezing the workers in place. Then, someone spoke the words that made Sloco¡¯s heart jolt. ¡°That came from the mine.¡± Sloco didn¡¯t hesitate. His axe hit the ground as his legs carried him forward before he even had time to think. ¡°Wait! No one should be in the mine today! Wait for us!¡± Garan¡¯s voice thundered behind him. But whether Sloco heard or simply ignored him, he didn¡¯t stop. His breath came fast, his heartbeat louder than his pounding steps. He knew that voice. He had known it his whole life. Percil. The slightly older girl who had raised him. The one person he could always count on. Why? Why are you in the mine today? The entrance wasn¡¯t far. Within moments, he reached it¡ªand his stomach twisted at what he saw. Percil stood inside, back against the rock wall, swinging her pickaxe wildly. Her face was tense, her hands shaking. And before her¡ªThis story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. A pack of wild boars, their eyes locked onto her like she was a cornered beast. Sloco didn¡¯t think¡ªhe acted. His feet barely touched the ground as he snatched up a thick branch near the entrance. He ran straight toward the boars, shouting at the top of his lungs. ¡°Get out of here! Go! Get!¡± The nearest boar flinched as Sloco swung the branch, its tip cracking against the rocky floor. The rest hesitated, their small, dark eyes darting between him and Percil. They weren¡¯t used to someone charging them. He pressed forward, swinging again. The boars let out a chorus of snorts and grunts before they turned and scattered, their hooves kicking up dirt as they fled into the trees. Silence followed¡ªexcept for the sound of Percil catching her breath. ¡°You alright?¡± Sloco asked, stepping closer. Percil lowered her pickaxe, still gripping it tight. She nodded. ¡°Yeah. Thanks. That was... unexpected.¡± Sloco glanced at the mine entrance. ¡°Why were you even in there? No one was supposed to be mining today.¡± Percil sighed, rolling her shoulders like she was working out the tension. ¡°Gor¡¯il told me to.¡± That name made Sloco¡¯s jaw tighten. ¡°Of course he did.¡± Percil gave him a tired look. ¡°Sloco.¡± ¡°No, really, of course he did.¡± Sloco threw up his hands. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t the ¡®great chosen leader¡¯ send someone into an empty mine alone? What, did he think the ore was going to dig itself up and walk over to the smelter?¡± ¡°He wanted an iron report before the next council meeting.¡± Percil rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°Said it was urgent.¡± ¡°Urgent?¡± Sloco let out a dry laugh. ¡°Right. I forgot. Nothing is more urgent than preparing for a war that isn¡¯t even happening yet.¡± Percil exhaled through her nose. ¡°We all agreed, Sloco. We need to be ready for when it comes back.¡± Sloco shook his head. ¡°I know we need to be ready. But that¡¯s all he ever thinks about. Revenge, not rebuilding. War, not people.¡± He turned to her. ¡°Tell me¡ªwhen was the last time Gor¡¯il said a single word about the families struggling to build houses? Or the kids who barely get enough to eat some days?¡± Percil opened her mouth, then closed it. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Sloco muttered. She looked at him carefully. ¡°You¡¯ve never liked Gor¡¯il.¡± ¡°Maybe because I never got to vote for him,¡± Sloco shot back. ¡°We both know if I had, he wouldn¡¯t be sitting on that council.¡± Percil¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°You were too young, Sloco.¡± ¡°I was old enough to work. Old enough to live with the consequences.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But not old enough to choose who decides my future.¡± For a moment, neither of them spoke. The cool wind from the mine brushed past them, carrying dust and the faint scent of iron. Finally, Percil broke the silence. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get back before Garan turns red from yelling.¡± Sloco let out a breath. ¡°Yeah, alright.¡± But as they walked, his mind didn¡¯t leave the conversation. Because one day¡ªwhether Gor¡¯il liked it or not¡ªhe would have a vote. And when that day came, he knew exactly what kind of future he wanted. Chapter 2 - Somewhere else Sloco adjusted the weight of the iron report under his arm as he and Percil made their way down the rocky path from the mine. The sun hung lower now, stretching the trees into long shadows. The air smelled of earth and metal. ¡°I still don¡¯t see why this couldn¡¯t wait,¡± he muttered. ¡°Because Gor¡¯il said it couldn¡¯t.¡± Percil¡¯s tone was practical, but not unsympathetic. Sloco exhaled sharply through his nose. ¡°Right. Of course. When the great leader speaks, we all jump.¡± Percil glanced at him. ¡°You know, if you stopped criticizing him for five minutes, people might¡ª¡± ¡°I want to leave Camp Barkat.¡± His words stopped Percil mid-step. She blinked at him. ¡°What?¡± Sloco kept walking, eyes forward. ¡°I want to go on an expedition. Like my parents did.¡± Silence stretched between them. He knew what she was thinking¡ªlike his parents, who never came back. ¡°Sloco¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± He cut her off before she could say it. ¡°I know what happened to them. But I don¡¯t want to sit here and just¡ªjust exist. I want to see what¡¯s out there. Maybe even find them.¡± ¡°Or find their graves.¡± Percil¡¯s voice was quiet. Sloco swallowed. He wouldn¡¯t say it out loud, but he¡¯d already accepted that possibility. Maybe he needed to see it with his own eyes. ¡°Either way,¡± he said, ¡°I want to see if there¡¯s a place out there where people come first. Where war isn¡¯t the only thing that matters.¡± Percil exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. ¡°And here I thought you wanted a normal life.¡± Sloco smirked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t suit me, would it?¡± They walked in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation settling over them like the cool evening air. As they neared the treeline, voices broke through the quiet. The woodcutters were gathered near the edge of the forest, their axes resting against tree stumps. When they saw Sloco, a few of them crossed their arms. ¡°Well, well, look who¡¯s back.¡± Garan, the broad-shouldered man from earlier, leaned against a freshly cut log. ¡°Hope you enjoyed your little jog, Sloco.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Yeah,¡± another woodcutter grumbled. ¡°We sure enjoyed cutting your trees for you.¡± Laughter rippled through the group, but it wasn¡¯t mean-spirited. Sloco rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Ah. Right. Thanks for that.¡± Garan huffed. ¡°Not doing it again, you hear me?¡± Then, after a pause, he smirked. ¡°Unless, of course, you start paying us for it.¡± More chuckles. Sloco shook his head with a grin. ¡°You¡¯d be lucky to get a single coin from me.¡± ¡°Ha! Kid doesn¡¯t even have a single coin.¡± Sloco rolled his eyes, but his chest felt lighter. He might frustrate them, but he knew they¡¯d never truly leave him behind. The warmth, however, faded when they stepped into Camp Barkat. It was subtle, but it was there¡ªthe shift in posture, the averted gazes, the way people talked just a little quieter when he passed. Sloco wasn¡¯t hated, not exactly. But he was that person. The one who always questioned, always argued, always challenged Gor¡¯il¡¯s decisions. And in a camp where survival depended on unity, that made him an outsider. And then, as if summoned by thought alone, Gor¡¯il appeared. He stood near the central fire pit, speaking with a few council members. When he saw Sloco and Percil, he dismissed them with a nod and approached. Sloco straightened his shoulders. He had expected tension, maybe an argument. Instead, Gor¡¯il simply said: ¡°I assume you have the report.¡± Sloco hesitated, then handed it over. ¡°Yeah. All there.¡± Gor¡¯il flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the numbers. ¡°Good.¡± A pause. ¡°Thank you.¡± Sloco blinked. ¡°What?¡± Gor¡¯il raised an eyebrow. ¡°I said thank you.¡± Sloco narrowed his eyes. ¡°Since when do you thank me for anything?¡± ¡°Since you did something useful instead of complaining.¡± Sloco¡¯s fists clenched, but Gor¡¯il¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t mocking. Just¡­ practical. Direct. ¡°You have potential, Sloco,¡± Gor¡¯il said. ¡°But you waste it fighting battles that don¡¯t need to be fought.¡± Sloco¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Not wanting people to suffer isn¡¯t a waste.¡± Gor¡¯il nodded, as if he expected that answer. ¡°Maybe. But I don¡¯t have the luxury of thinking like you do. We lost our home once. We won¡¯t lose another.¡± He turned to leave, then paused. ¡°Try to sleep tonight, Sloco. You might need the energy.¡± And just like that, he was gone. Sloco let out a slow breath. That was¡­ not what he expected. Percil nudged him. ¡°You okay?¡± Sloco shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± They walked home in the dimming light, passing the wooden houses that made up the camp. Their own was small but sturdy, nestled near the trees. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was home. As they stepped inside, Percil stretched her arms. ¡°Long day.¡± Sloco nodded. Then, after a pause, Percil said, ¡°If you go¡­ should I go with you?¡± Sloco looked at her. She wasn¡¯t joking. For a long moment, he didn¡¯t answer. Because he didn¡¯t know. Chapter 3 - Special request Sloco woke before the sun. The air outside was cool, still carrying the bite of the night. The camp was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of voices from the early risers. A few hunters were gathering their gear near the edge of the trees, and an old woman sat by a firepit, stirring the embers back to life. Sloco wandered without direction, his mind caught on Percil¡¯s question from last night. "If you go¡­ should I go with you?" He had wanted to answer¡ªwanted to say no, or maybe yes, or something in between. But he hadn¡¯t. Because part of him knew she¡¯d made up her mind already. And part of him¡­ Part of me doesn¡¯t want to be alone. The thought settled in his chest, uncomfortable but impossible to ignore. He stopped near the training pit, where old weapons leaned against a rack, dulled from use. Would he even survive out there? Could he? The crunch of boots behind him made him turn. Gor¡¯il. Sloco stiffened but didn¡¯t move as the leader approached. Gor¡¯il¡¯s expression was unreadable, his posture as calm as ever. ¡°Up early.¡± His voice was even. Sloco shrugged. ¡°So are you.¡± A small smirk, barely there. ¡°I usually am.¡± Silence settled between them. Then Gor¡¯il exhaled through his nose. ¡°Look. I know we don¡¯t agree on a lot of things, but I¡¯d rather not spend every conversation at each other¡¯s throats.¡± Sloco crossed his arms. ¡°That¡¯s up to you.¡± Gor¡¯il studied him for a long moment, then sighed. ¡°Fine. Straight to business, then.¡± Sloco tensed. ¡°I want you to go on an expedition.¡± A beat of silence. Sloco¡¯s heart kicked against his ribs. ¡°¡­What?¡± Gor¡¯il folded his arms. ¡°It¡¯s not an order. It¡¯s a request. But I think you¡¯ll take it.¡± Sloco narrowed his eyes. ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡± Gor¡¯il didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he glanced toward the camp entrance, where the trees stretched eastward, past the known lands. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s out there,¡± he said. ¡°We need more land. More options. If we stay in one place too long, we weaken ourselves.¡± Sloco knew this argument. He didn¡¯t disagree, but he hated the way Gor¡¯il always framed it¡ªsurvival, strength, positioning. Never people.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Still. The offer was tempting. Too tempting. He forced himself to frown. ¡°And what if I refuse?¡± Gor¡¯il tilted his head. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± The certainty in his voice made Sloco bristle. ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± Gor¡¯il glanced past him¡ªjust for a second, toward the woodcutters¡¯ camp. The movement was subtle, but it was enough. Sloco exhaled sharply. ¡°Garan told you, didn¡¯t he?¡± Gor¡¯il didn¡¯t confirm or deny. Sloco clenched his jaw, then relaxed it. He wouldn¡¯t give Gor¡¯il the satisfaction of seeing how much he wanted this. ¡°¡­Fine.¡± Gor¡¯il nodded, unsurprised. ¡°Good. You leave soon. Percil will go with you.¡± Sloco blinked. ¡°¡­What?¡± Gor¡¯il¡¯s smirk returned, just a fraction. ¡°You already accepted. Can¡¯t back out now.¡± Sloco opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. Damn it. A voice behind him made him jump. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Percil stepped into view, arms crossed, her expression as neutral as ever. Sloco groaned. ¡°How long have you been standing there?¡± ¡°Long enough.¡± She didn¡¯t sound upset. If anything, she looked amused. Sloco shot Gor¡¯il a glare. ¡°You planned this.¡± Gor¡¯il simply gave a slow shrug. ¡°She deserves to make her own choice.¡± Percil nodded. ¡°And I made it. I¡¯m going.¡± Sloco dragged a hand down his face. He should¡¯ve known. Before he could argue further, another figure approached. Garan. He walked past Sloco without a glance and stopped in front of Gor¡¯il, speaking in a low tone. Sloco couldn¡¯t make out the words, but Gor¡¯il¡¯s response was clear enough. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re going too.¡± Sloco¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°What?¡± Garan finally turned toward him, arms crossed. ¡°Problem?¡± Sloco stared at him. He hadn¡¯t expected him. The woodcutters liked him, sure, but that didn¡¯t mean they wanted to babysit him across unknown land. Gor¡¯il gave Sloco a pointed look. ¡°If you want an expedition, you need someone who knows how to handle themselves.¡± Sloco bristled. ¡°I can handle myself.¡± Garan smirked. ¡°Sure you can.¡± Sloco muttered something under his breath. Gor¡¯il, as if sensing the conversation was about to spiral, changed the subject. ¡°Go east.¡± Sloco blinked. ¡°Why east?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only way with any real promise.¡± Gor¡¯il gestured behind him. ¡°North leads to water. South leads to water. West is just more water.¡± He paused. ¡°East is open.¡± Sloco looked toward the treeline. Open. Unknown. Full of possibilities. Gor¡¯il¡¯s voice pulled him back. ¡°Write a report when you return. If you return.¡± Sloco narrowed his eyes. ¡°That almost sounded like concern.¡± Gor¡¯il smiled, but it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Think what you want.¡± Then, just before he left, he added: ¡°And if you find something worth bringing back¡­ well. You¡¯d best make sure it¡¯s worth the trouble.¡± Sloco frowned. The words were casual, but something about them lingered. It almost sounded like he knew. Like he knew what Sloco was really looking for. Before Sloco could say anything, Gor¡¯il was gone. Sloco let out a slow breath. Percil nudged him. ¡°Well. Guess we¡¯re going on an expedition.¡± Sloco ran a hand through his hair. ¡°Yeah.¡± Garan clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. ¡°Try to keep up, kid.¡± Sloco sighed. This was going to be a long journey. And somehow, he already knew it wouldn¡¯t just be about the land. Chapter 4 - Into the trees The sun had barely climbed the sky when they left camp. Sloco led the way, his strides determined but careful. The air was crisp, and the damp earth beneath their boots made little sound as they moved eastward. Behind him, Percil walked with practiced ease, her eyes scanning the treeline. Garan trailed slightly, his axe slung lazily over his shoulder, whistling under his breath. They didn¡¯t speak at first. The only sounds were the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant call of birds. The mine and lumber area wasn¡¯t far¡ªhalf an hour at most. Sloco had passed through it many times before, but now, in the early morning, it looked different. The logging site was quiet, save for a few workers sharpening their saws. The mine entrance yawned like a dark mouth, its depths swallowing whatever light tried to reach inside. They walked past without stopping. The workers barely spared them a glance. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the treeline beyond that Percil finally spoke. ¡°Alright. We should talk about what we¡¯re actually doing.¡± Sloco didn¡¯t answer right away. He kept his eyes forward, stepping carefully over a patch of exposed roots. ¡°We know what we¡¯re doing,¡± he said eventually. ¡°We¡¯re exploring.¡± Percil sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not a goal. That¡¯s an excuse.¡± Sloco frowned but didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Gor¡¯il wants land,¡± she continued. ¡°That¡¯s our priority.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Sloco exhaled through his nose. ¡°That¡¯s your priority.¡± Percil didn¡¯t bite back. She just studied him, waiting. Garan, who had been silent until now, chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just here for a break.¡± Percil shot him a look. ¡°A break?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He grinned. ¡°Nothing like a nice little walk through the deadly unknown to clear the mind.¡± Sloco snorted despite himself. ¡°But,¡± Garan added, ¡°if we¡¯re talking priorities, mine¡¯s simple. Get out there, come back alive, maybe not lose any limbs in between.¡± Percil raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± She shook her head but let it go. Instead, she turned back to Sloco. ¡°And you?¡± Sloco hesitated. He could tell her the truth. That he wasn¡¯t just looking for land. That he was looking for something¡ªanything¡ªthat hinted at civilization beyond their camp. That he was looking for his parents. But he didn¡¯t say that. Instead, he just said, ¡°I want to see what¡¯s out there.¡± Percil watched him for a long moment but didn¡¯t push. They walked in silence for a while, the trees growing denser around them. The further they went, the quieter it became, the sounds of the camp fading behind them. Eventually, Garan sighed. ¡°Well, at least we brought plenty of food.¡± Percil nodded. ¡°Enough for a week if we stretch it.¡± Sloco glanced at her. ¡°Did we pack firewood?¡± She blinked. ¡°¡­No.¡± They stopped. Garan looked between them. ¡°Firestarter?¡± Silence. Sloco clenched his jaw. ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± Percil pressed her fingers to her temple. ¡°We¡­ did not think this through.¡± Garan sighed dramatically. ¡°And this is why I push for safer choices.¡± Sloco groaned. ¡°Great. So we have food, but nothing to cook it with.¡± Garan scratched his chin. ¡°Well, if we really had to, we could eat some of it raw.¡± Percil grimaced. ¡°Not unless you want to get sick.¡± Sloco glanced at the trees. ¡°We¡¯ll have to find dry wood.¡± Percil nodded. ¡°And fast, before the sun starts setting.¡± Garan stretched his arms. ¡°So. First problem of the expedition. Feels like home already.¡± Sloco sighed. This was going to be a long trip. Chapter 5 - Setting camp The argument didn¡¯t last long, but it had enough bite to be annoying. "We should all look for wood. It''ll be faster," Percil insisted. "And if something happens while we''re all gone?" Sloco countered. "We need a camp set up." Garan sighed, arms crossed. "Fine, then I''ll go alone. You two can have your little tent party." Percil frowned. "That¡¯s not what I¡ª" "No, no, it¡¯s fine." Garan put a hand on his chest dramatically. "I¡¯ll be the bigger man. Brave the wilderness. Risk my life. For the sake of comfort and warm soup." Sloco rolled his eyes. "Just don¡¯t get eaten." "By what? The trees?" Garan grinned, swinging his axe onto his shoulder before walking off. With him gone, the work of setting up camp fell to Sloco and Percil. The clearing they had picked was wide enough to fit their tents, with some space left for a fire pit. Sloco took out his knife and started clearing away rocks and loose branches. Percil laid out the tent fabric, pinning down the corners with stones. "I hate this part," she muttered. Sloco, crouched by the ground, glanced up. "The tents?" "No. Waiting." She tugged at one of the ropes a little too harshly, then let out a small sigh. "I just¡ª I don¡¯t like being stuck. Just standing around, hoping nothing goes wrong." Sloco didn¡¯t say anything at first. He understood the feeling.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. They worked in silence until the tents were up. Sloco had just finished reinforcing the fire pit with extra stones when Percil suddenly tensed. He followed her gaze and spotted them immediately¡ªwild boars, snuffling around the edge of the clearing. Percil took a step back. "Sloco." "They won¡¯t attack." "How do you know?" "Because they¡¯re just looking for food." He gestured calmly. "See? They¡¯re not even looking at us." Percil didn¡¯t look convinced. The boars weren¡¯t hostile, but they were still big, heavy creatures with sharp tusks. She gripped the hilt of her knife, just in case. Sloco stayed relaxed, watching as the animals rooted around, then shuffled off back into the woods. Only then did Percil let out a breath. "I still don¡¯t trust them." Sloco smirked. "I¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t eat your soup." She scowled, but the tension in her shoulders eased. They went back to their tasks, but something else began to gnaw at Percil. At first, she thought it was just the quiet, the way the forest seemed to press in around them. Then she heard it. A voice. Distant. Yelling. She spun around. "Sloco." He was tying down a tent post. "What now?" "Did you hear that?" He raised an eyebrow. "Hear what?" She swallowed, scanning the trees. "Garan. I think¡ª I thought I heard him." Sloco stood up properly, listening. The forest was still. There was no shouting. No sound of struggle. Percil frowned, rubbing her arms. "I could¡¯ve sworn¡ª" "You worry too much." She shot him a look. "And you don¡¯t worry enough." Before Sloco could answer, the underbrush rustled, and Garan emerged with an armful of firewood. Percil¡¯s whole body relaxed before she could stop herself. "Took you long enough," Sloco muttered, but there was a small relief in his voice. Garan grinned. "What, you missed me?" Percil rolled her eyes, but Garan noticed the tension leaving her. His grin softened as he nudged her shoulder. "Glad I¡¯m back?" She huffed. "I was more worried about the wood." Garan snorted and turned to Sloco. "And you? You don¡¯t seem like the type to get emotional, but I think I caught a bit of happiness there." Sloco scoffed. "Shut up and start the fire." "Ah, there it is." Garan winked. With the firewood set, they started a fire. The small flame crackled and grew, sending warmth into the chilly evening air. Soon, the scent of cooking potatoes filled the camp as they stirred the soup. Sloco sat back, watching the fire flicker. The journey had barely begun, and already, things felt strangely¡­ normal. For now, at least.