When Exarchi returned to his fort, he was surprised to find the human archpriest Agrianos waiting for him. They immediately got into business once Exarchi brought him into a secured building in the outer section.

“You’ve managed to hold this place for some time… is what I deduced from the rumors,” Agrianos began.

“Indeed. We left Martyr’s Rest then secured this place as a base of operations,” Exarchi explained.

“I didn’t really think one could simply just strut into an undead fortress and casually kick them out,” Agrianos sighed. “But I’ve no objections. I hired you to help us push the enemies of humanity back, and you seem to be doing just that.”

Exarchi nodded. “Do you have any business here though?”

“Indeed. It took some time, but I had this prepared.” Agrianos motioned his men forward, and they placed a wrapped object onto a crude table. “I have a proposition.”

“Go on.”

“I would like you and your warband to stay here as a sanctioned military order under my name. You’ll be handsomely paid, of course,” the archpriest offered.

“What does that mean?”

Agrianos tapped his chin then explained, “You’ll run this land for me. Simply put, you’ll receive this land, but as my vassal.”

Exarchi waved his hand. “I answer only to Mount Varangia.”

“I’m sure we can arrange something with… your liege in Mount Varangia,” Agrianos suggested. “Isn’t your kin also holding parts of Northwestern Rhankia as vassals to Vyssium?”

“No. You’re mistaken. We answer to Mount Varangia only,” Exarchi clarified.

“Ah, shame.” Agrianos shook his head with disappointment plastered all over his face.

“Besides, my goal isn’t the undead. It’s the kojans. It would be counterproductive if I decide to stay here instead,” Exarchi added.

“You want to face the kojans? Why?”

“For curiosity’s sake.” Exarchi shrugged.

Agrianos scratched his head. He had intended to use the drones as an ‘experimental’ weapon, but he didn’t think they would be eager to face the kojans as well. Gears started to run in his mind, conjuring a new set of plans. At last, the man gave a smile and said, “Alright. But I’ll need you to stay and guard this fort for a bit longer.”

“For how long?”

“A month. I want to plant a Hand of Humanos at the base of this fort,” Agrianos answered as he revealed what was underneath the cloth sheets of the wrapped object. It was a tree sapling. Other than the red leaves and twisted branches, there was nothing remarkable about the sapling.

“A tree?”

“The Kojan Forests stretch far and wide, and it would be madness to try and make a wall that stretches across the horizons. Instead, we planted trees which created a… barrier of sorts against dark creatures along the land. It doesn’t completely block them, but at least it’s better than letting hordes of them through the open lands.”

“These ‘Hands of Humanos’ can do that?”

“Not by themselves, no. They require regular maintenance by priests, as they only serve as conductors of our powerful magics given by our dearest Humanos. What you just need to know, Varangian, is that you need to protect this place while the tree grows.”

Exarchi crossed his arm and pointed out, “My men and I are doing a decent job sweeping the undead off this region already.”

Agrianos shook his finger as if a young student just gave him a wrong answer. “I’m sure the enemies of Humanos wouldn’t like the idea that they would lose another chunk of land to us. The biggest weakness of these holy trees is that their presence shines brightly to those sensitive to magic, and… strange as it may seem, the area around the trees is where the barriers are at their weakest.”

“What a strange design. They protect the place around them, but not itself. One would expect the reverse,” Exarchi mused. “So what you’re saying is that the moment you begin planting the tree, the undead will desperately try to destroy this place?”

“Indeed. You’d best prepare.”

Exarchi went silent. He knew that for some time that the undead had been increasing its presence in the region, but he didn’t think it was because of this reason. Had the undead sensed the presence of this strange organic device a long time ago?

“I was already expecting an attack, so I was already prepared a long time ago. Let’s get this over with,” Exarchi declared.

It was a new day, and the skies looked gloomy. Yet, the humans had high hopes as they watched the priests of Humanos dig a hole in the middle of the outer section of Exarchi’s fort. The humans prepared defenses all over the fort in anticipation, and the ever-enigmatic drones stood guard in the inner keep. Reinforcements from nearby human-held bastions arrived as well, so morale was at an all time high.

A new Hand of Humanos hadn’t been planted for decades or perhaps even centuries. Everyone was nervous and excited as their names were about to be entered into the annals of glory. Nobody exactly knew what was going to happen, just that they had to be ready for the worst.

As the priests unveiled the sapling and lowered it into the ground, Exarchi was flooded with a warning.

[Alert. High presence of mana detected!]

The drones started absorbing more mana in the air, though how this actually affected was still unknown to them.

The sapling’s roots grew longer as it dug itself deep into the dark soil. Slowly, fresh grass started to grow around the tree, and the twisted branches started to snake around its own body. The priests surrounding the Hand of Humanos raised their swords simultaneously, then slammed the end of the blade into the ground. Afterwards, they placed their hands against the pommel of their swords.

“And thus, it has begun!” Agrianos declared. “Until Humanos’ reach has extended into this place, the undead can attack us from any angle! We must hold fast or die trying!”

While the humans got on with their business, Exarchi took the time to report back to Custodian. ‘Master Custodian, have you read the report on the device the humans have?’

‘Yes. So you’re staying to defend that tree?’

‘Affirmative, but only for one month, then the human Agrianos will take us to the land of the kojans,’ Exarchi confirmed.

‘I see. But what happens after one month? Wouldn’t the undead still be able to attack the fort?’

‘Correct, but it would be attacking through a narrow pass. The angle of attack for the undead would become too limited, which is why the undead have a hard time attacking the human bastions. I suppose this is the inverse result of when the humans lose a bastion to the forces of the undead, hence the reason the undead had become much more stubborn in these days.’

‘You’re on your own. Reinforcements are still far,’ Custodian pointed out.

‘I have my own reinforcements,’ Exarchi said as he noticed Oyuf approaching him.

“I never would have thought the day my name would be forever remembered in Vyssium will come! I can hear it now! Oyuf af Kentfeared, the Vanguard of the Faith!” the large man boasted.

Before Exarchi could give a generic response, a voice boomed loudly, “Typical of the Vyssians to steal the credit for work they’ve barely done any work in.”

Captain Rems, along with his Rhankish contingent, approached with a smile. Oyuf’s joyful face turned into a sour one, and he spat onto the ground before turning towards the mercenary captain. “Bad enough that I have to listen to a Rhank talk Vyssian with a thick accent, but now I have to look at an ugly Aviognese!”

“A Kentfeared! News has reached my ears that my people kicked your arses beyond the river so badly that even the Iron Chancellor felt the pain,” Rems mocked and his men laughed.

“Gentlemen, please! We’re all allies against a common foe,” Agrianos interjected loudly with a scowl.

“It’s just… friendly competition, your lordship,” Rems said.

“Aye. That much so. I’ll have ye know, me men will give more undead their final rites than the Aviognese weaklings,” Oyuf boasted with a grin.

“This shan’t be true, Kentfeared. You’ll soon understand why serjents are respected in the north.”

Exarchi, unamused by how the humans bickered with eachother, decided to ignore them and return to his post. He had better things to worry about, such as the inevitable battle with the undead horde.

He opened every file related to siege defense, video recordings of Smith’s defense of Castle Marcoir, and details about the undead. The drone commander wasn’t sure what he was feeling. He tapped the spider drone attached to him repeatedly, unable to contain what was stirring inside him.

‘I can’t wait,’ Exarchi thought to himself.