It had been around a month since Rufus had beaten Tride. Rufus was now the official Raja of the grey skins. All the tribal leaders had come to swear fealty to Rufus. Word had spread among the grey skin tribes all over the mountains about a human who had also been wronged by the humans who wished to create a nation for both humans and grey skins.

Day by day hundreds of grey skin poured into the grey skin capital Lehasa. A large army was being gathered and Rufus was the one to lead it.

Armors and weapons were being forged. Warriors practiced with their weapons. Commanders and tribal leaders rehearsed with everyone different commands and orders.

Black Yaks were gathered to be the cavalry of the army. They were coated in thick armor and the riders practiced movements hitting dummies on rocks. Black yaks were not as nimble or fast as a horse, but their charge against an enemy formation was extremely devastating.

"Seems like a lot of preparations are needed," Haley said looking at all the grey skins pouring into the city.

"War is not just about soldiers and weapons. An army cannot work without good logistics. Food and other supplies are needed. An army marches on its stomach. We also have to make sure that the supply lines also work," Doreen explained while taking count of everything.

"We have always warred against the humans by feeding off the land. All of this is unnecessary," Amala said while looking around.

"Yeah, and how well those wars went. I believe those wars always cost a lot also to you and didn't last long. They were anyway raiding wars. Not a war of conquest meant to occupy lands. Supplies play an even bigger role than you might think," Doreen explained and reassured them that everything was necessary.

"Where anyway is our great Raja," Haley asked.

"Oh, he is locked in the room in the great tribal building. It seems that the fact that he is the Raja hasn't yet sunk in. Heard him saying 'I am not ready for this, I am not ready for this over and over again," Edward said and laughed a bit.

"Oh, you are exaggerating. I may not have known him for that long, but I am sure he is not like that," Amala said.

~ ~

"I AM NOT READY FOR THIS! I AM NOT READY FOR THIS!" Rufus was saying to himself while sitting on a beautiful bed inside the great tribal building.

Gwon was also in the room. He was taking a nap on a sofa that had beautiful red cushions on top of it.

The room was extremely extravagant with a window that had a view of the great pond of the city. It had an extravagant table and all kinds of ornaments from the golden time of the grey skins.

"It will be fine. You are super strong," Gwon said and woke up trying to cheer him up.

"Thanks, little guy. But I believe words really don't seem to help me right now."

Someone knocked on the door. Rufus said to come in. Edward, Amala, and all the rest came in.

"Hahaa. Look at you. This room looks super nice," said Edward and looked around the elegant bedroom.

"Yeah, it does. Why is that? I mean. Why do I have to stay here? I rather would be with all of you," Rufus asked feeling uncomfortable staying in such a luxurious room by himself.

"The great tribal building is the Raja's palace if there is a Raja to lead us. This could be considered your royal palace," Amala explained.

"Yeah, but why do I have to stay here?"

"You are the Raja. You need to act like it. It includes staying in your own bedroom," Amala explained.

Rufus looked sad and disappointed.

"You though don't have to stay here alone…...," Amala said and blushed a bit.

"Yeah. I heard this place has a real harem. Want me to bring you some women here. I already checked it out. The grey skin women are not bad-looking," Edward said and blinked at Rufus.

"Idiot," Doreen said and facepalmed.

"Yeah, I am fine. I anyway have Gwon here with me," Rufus said.

"You also are an idiot," Doreen said to Rufus.

"What for?" asked an oblivious Rufus.

"For being oblivious," Doreen answered.

~~

"Aaaaah. This feels nice," Rufus said and entered a bath.

The great tribal building had a large thermae or a bath built under it. The water was heated from a natural hot spring that came from deep beneath the earth.

Pema was completely out of it. He had never been to a bath and looked like he was having the time of his life.

"Yep.....I would still have chosen the harem though. But this is still super fine," Edward said who also enjoyed the hot spring.

Gwon ran to the pool. He jumped into the air and uncontrollably turned into his Seng form. The water splashed all over, but neither Rufus, Edward, or Pema cared. Gwon started to swim around to the pool like a happy dog.

"The girls really have to experience this too. I mean when was the last time I had a warm bath," Rufus said while having his eyes closed.

"What do you mean. Why wouldn't I be here also," Amala said.

"Aaaah. Okay, good Amala that you are here also enjoying."

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"AMALAAAAAAA!?"

Amala was in the pool also. She was bear naked and didn't seem to care at all there were also men there.

"What the hell are you doing here, you perverted woman?!" Edward said and yelled.

"What. In grey skin culture, it is normal to bathe with everyone. Bathing is a luxury and hot water shouldn't go to waste. Look at Pema he doesn't mind," Amala said explaining the customs.

"Yeah and look at him! He looks like me when I once smoked some questionable grass a vendor gave me. He probably wouldn't flinch right now if the sky fell on him! He hasn't moved from the spot and has had the towel over his head this entire time!" Edward yelled and pointed at Pema who was enjoying too much the bath to care about all the screaming and yelling.