When spring arrived snow still lay on the ground, but though chilly, the worst of frost had passed. I found myself surveying the fields, recently the creatures of the forest had gotten a little restless, perhaps due to the advent of spring. Some of the ridiculously sized insects had been agitated, causing constant harassment and annoyance to us.

Despite their size, and the cold, they were somewhat formidable threats. They possessed impressive mobility, and their exoskeleton, though I doubted it was made of chitin, deflected most attacks, due mostly to lack of purchase. I’d taken to borrowing a spear, sheathing the sword unless other threats had to be taken care of. The bees were horrific, about twice the size of my fist.

Normal bees are tiny things. Due to the limitations of chitin and the barbs, the stinger rips off when it pierces something thick, like human skin, or bear skin. It was made to combat other insects after all, a function in which it performs admirably. Now shed of the limitations of chitin, and made larger, the wounds it could make were like pulling barbed arrows from your own flesh, excruciating.

For the second time I skewered one of the Devil Stingers on the spear, drawing their aggression as the others fell back. My armour was far stronger, but when it pierced… I had a few new wounds, shallow but ripped open from the inside.

It had been a bit of a difficult choice for some when I had decided I would draw them and face them. My armour was better, but my wounds healed slower when compared to the alchemical potions that they could use. When at rest, such a potion hastened their recovery, knitting flesh and bone together unless the part itself had been severed. I couldn’t use it, a sip caused indigestion and was poisonous to me.

[Monitoring your condition with the nanomachines was an illuminating experience. It is likely also poisonous to them, but the alchemical properties heal them and purge it from them, explaining the short duration of effect.] Page had said, after I’d spent a day writhing in hot and cold sweats.

The two that were left closed, and I batted them aside, skewering another as it passed. I kicked the three wriggling bees off the spear as the last one circled, before it was knocked out of the air by a clay bullet. I walked over to it as it tried to recover, crushing it under my heel.

“They should not yet be active, nor do they usually travel in packs like this.” Yinea said, concerned. My wound ached, ignoring it was difficult. Again, skin had healed over it, though I’d had to rearrange and cut out some things for everything to fit properly. The wound beneath however was slowly knitting itself together.

The other three bees stopped moving after a while. If there were a nearby alchemist, I could remove and sell their poison sacs, useful in certain mixtures. They would have rotted away by the time I got them to one however, so I opted to burn the corpses instead.

“That’ll quiet it for the next week or so.” Teb said, as the acrid stench of burning insects hung in the air. “Wish we had a horse. We could be off to Hrothan and back by sunset.”

Oxen were indisputably noted to be slow moving creatures unless provoked, but they were hardy and strong, which was why oxcarts were used. If we weren’t bringing supplies, a single person, or a few people alone, travelled faster.

He eyed me for a moment, but turned back to the farm itself. I wouldn’t make it alone, one good ambush was all it would take. Fighting with Sense gave awareness, but it didn’t mean I could process it all, especially with multiple attackers from multiple vectors. The armour wasn’t infallible either, though it could one day, with enough practice be unreasonably strong.

He approached me a while later, as I returned from one of the patrols around the farm. “Could you go and check with Hrothan? It’s probably nothing, but having someone from the city tell me that would do my heart some good.” He said, staring me straight in the eyes. I wouldn’t deny it, I owed him, and I’d promised to myself to help to the best of my ability, but alone the risk was high.

He seemed to sense my hesitation, stepping back. “It’s too dangerous isn’t it? I cannot spare more than two people when the forest has us so much on edge. It will have to wait.”

[We could do it, we haven’t taken into account goblin inactivity, and the lack of foliage currently, aside from the evergreens.] Page said, [The snow could silence our footsteps now as well. If it is something unexpected, the possibility it’s something beyond our capabilities is significant.]

“I’ll do it.” I said, voice just above a whisper, Teb’s blinked, surprised. He assured me that it wasn’t necessary, while I in turn, stubbornly persisted. I spent the night preparing, packing weapons, food and redesigning the armour.

It was less than a half day to get to the city, it would be shorter if I ran. I didn’t, carefully watching the path and the trees to the side. Bereft of many of the leaves within the forest, a stiff, chilly wind blew in almost constantly. The outer layers of the armour cooled rapidly, though I remained warm due to two reasons.

First, the density of an object helps determine its heat conductive abilities. By trapping air between the outer layers of the armour I reduced heat loss from that layer onwards.

Secondly, the amount of internal energy held in the material was a constant. Lowering the specific heat meant that for the same amount of internal energy, the material would be a higher temperature. Conversely raising specific heat meant lower temperatures. Since temperature differences dictate nett heat transfer, I was able to gain more heat before and reduce heat loss after.

I’d escaped the third snow slime for the day, the sealed white armour easily keeping me from their scent-based detection. Occasionally, one would catch a small whiff of the air that exited the valves built into the suit, beginning an erratic search across the fallen snow. Its colloid form sliding across the snow, leaving a damp trail in its wake.

I felt unease as the city entered my view. The walls showed signs of repair, fresh stone starkly visible in two patches on the wall within sight. The gate guards stopped me, spears held steady and pointing towards me. “Declare yourself, man or demon?” Their guarded response took me off guard, far from the friendly smiles the oxcarts had received. I wasn’t with them now, but their response was still colder than I had expected, though my armour could be to blame as well. Fully white material styled in a manner invocative of modern and steampunk design.

I removed the faceguard, opening my mouth to speak. “I hail from the farm of Soren. We’ve had a rash of attacks from insectoids and dire beasts.” They nodded cautiously, but ushered me inwards and pointed out the guard barracks. As I passed I noted the condition of their armour, no longer as bright, and in some parts they seemed scratched. They’ve seen combat. I thought.

They muttered as I entered, looking at the armour that I wore. It definitely stood out, Lanth explained that he’d thought me a golem, a guardian of the forest. The stories of golems were of benevolent creatures of the forest, which was why he hadn’t been afraid of me. The current design was much different, and perhaps evocative of fear instead.

The blacksmith was inside the building when I entered, talking to someone at a desk placed within it. The officer sat up as I walked in, prompting the blacksmith to turn around. Her eyes widened as they settled on me.

“What brings you here… sir?” The officer asked, as he tore his eyes from the armour to settle on my face.

“Soren has had a rash of attacks by insectoids and dire beasts, I’d like to know if the guard has any insight, or could render assistance.” I said, the helm pushed back like a cloth hood.

He stared at me uncomprehending, his eyes narrowed in confusion. “You wish to report an attack on a farm.” He said, speaking in slow cadence. “Who are you exactly?”

“I owe the farm a debt, and I have been assisting them to pay it back.” I said, evenly.

He stared at me, seeming to mull over something, before the blacksmith interjected. “You’re the person who came in for the sword before winter.” She said, and the officer faced her. “I guess if you were living on a farm until recently you wouldn’t know. We’ve had a demonic invasion during the winter solstice. We only just managed to push them away from Hrothan.”

The officer turned back to me, steepling his fingers as he rested his elbows on the table. “Due to the situation, we do not have many men within the city, our armies having joined to the main army in an effort to repel the invasion. However, I believe the problem you are facing will not be an issue for long. The demons have disrupted parts of the ecosystem by rampant slaughter, which is likely what has agitated the insects and deprived the beasts of meals.”

I nodded. “And since the demons have been pushed back their number won’t be added to.” He nodded. “So all that needs to be done is to wait out the beasts.”

The blacksmith spoke, “Whatever allegiances you claim, it would be best if they joined the efforts to repel the demons.”

I shook my head. “I’m alone, and unaffiliated.”

He watched my face, candid about his distrust. I didn’t blame him, magical artefacts were rare, and in many cases, extremely powerful. The ones that had lasted for millennia were game changers. Some were a bit more worthless, like a stone dagger that was incredibly sharp, for a stone dagger.

The blacksmith followed me out, halting me after I’d left the building. “I’d say don’t think too badly of him, but you aren’t exactly friendly yourself.”

“I’m not joining the army.” I said, my voice firm.

“That’s not what I was going to ask you. Besides, they wouldn’t put green recruits on the battlefield, regardless of the armour they wore.” She said. “How’s the sword holding up?” She gestured to the blade hanging at my hip. I raised an eyebrow in reply.

“It’s a good blade, the craftsmanship is incredible, especially for its price.” I said. Especially since it’s been seeing a lot of use in the recent weeks. She nodded, smiling.

“That’s good, help keep Soren safe then. The army will be short staffed throughout the war.” She said. “If you can keep even a part of the world safe, that’ll be more than enough help. I don’t know how you got that armour, but I believe that would be what its creators had intended.”

I smirked, I found it somewhat cliché, but she was correct in a way. The Brigade had been formed in order to protect people, even their dissolution had been motivated in part by that. I pondered that as I returned, dodging more slimes on the way.

It seemed that the constant threat of wildlife had caused many civilizations to form a permanent army, contrast to much of the army in Raque’s world, formed of peasants and some trained members with heavy leaning towards the former.

That was the thread I had reached when I heard something sniffle from beside me. It was a dire wolf, collapsed into the snow bank beside the road. It looked up at me as I drew near, and stopped whining, its breathing became heavier. Closer it’s wounds became apparent, claw marks upon its side and back, a small bit off its ear.

[Are you entertaining the thought of training it?] Page said, curiosity tinging its voice.

If it survives in the snow after I find out what caused these wounds, perhaps I will.