As expected, the refugee convoy had noticed their approach some time ago, but under the absence of aggression from Aziz’s little group, it didn’t take long before one of the convoy’s guards came forward with a cloth flag in hand. The messenger was unarmed, and at first glance, he looked like a normal soldier like anyone else.

Save for one detail.

“What type of beastfolk is he?” Captain Aziz whispered to Colonel Marie. “I’ve never seen one with a third eye at the forehead.”

“I’m not sure either,” the colonel replied back. “But if his nation is fleeing from another Second Extermination-like threat, we are duty-bound to defend him. Let’s go.”

The diplomatic party slowed down as Colonel Marie signalled for them to stop. She stepped out a moment later, the captain and the company commanders of Thunderbolt following closely.

“Who are you?” The colonel asked. “Where did you guys come from?”

“I’m Sage Meloda, the leader of this convoy.” He looked around, at the escort party behind Captain Aziz and Colonel Marie. “I’m not sure where we came from. We’re a…old tribe that was forced out of our ancestral homeland a few months ago.”

“An old tribe?” The colonel repeated. “What beastfolk type are you guys? Maybe we can trace your roots back.”

“Beastfolk?” Sage Meloda repeated. “I guess you can call us Ars.”

The people around Aziz exchanged glances. Marie, however, nodded smoothly. “I’m Colonel Marie, from the Republic of Francois’ armed forces, and these men and women are my subordinates. We actually came over to see if you need assistance, and to update ourselves on the situation. If your group is fleeing from your homeland, it’s possible that there might be enemies still after you…although I don’t really think that’s a possibility now.”

The captain voiced his agreement mentally. A refugee convoy on the move for months would have been long destroyed by any pursuing enemy. Most likely, these people were exiles of their old home or something. The sheer scale of these exiles was incredible, however.

“There’s no one chasing us, but we can’t return either.” Sage Meloda hung his head sadly. “Our ancestral homeland was completely destroyed, overrun by fearsome enemies. The non-combatants of our tribe were able to flee through a teleportation formation, but it’s a one-way trip. Now, we’re looking for a new home, that is all.”

Captain Aziz sighed. He could barely imagine the scale of such a war. The size of an army was usually proportionate to that of its non-combatants. For there to be that many refugees, it had to be a war on around the same levels as the Second Extermination.

Frankly, it was unthinkable that a war of such magnitude could take place without anyone in the South Continent knowing, but the man was well aware that World’s End was far larger than what the map marked out. Mapping it out was a job that perhaps only Lords and beyond could do, but the chances of such personages carrying out a job of this type was…pitifully low.

“I see.” The colonel tapped her nose for a moment. “Would you like us to escort you into the Southern Continent proper? Right now, you’re in territory claimed by the God of Fire, Liamar. With us around, you guys shouldn’t run into much trouble.”

“The God of Fire?” Alarm flashed through Sage Meloda’s eyes. “Me and mine will be eternally grateful if you are to escort us.”

“We’ll do just that, then.” The colonel swept her gaze across the sea of beastfolk refugees. “My nation, the Republic of Francois, is a newly born nation. You can consider settling down in the Republic territory — there’s more than enough land for everyone here. Just remember to pay the taxes.”

“The Republic of Francois?”

“A nation that treats all races equally. Humans and beastfolk are the same in the eyes of the law. It’s a new nation, formed after a near-total genocide of beastfolk in the Five Lands,” Marie answered. “All are welcome, especially victims of war.”

“We just ask for a place to settle down now,” said the soldier. “I suppose the Republic’s a good a place as any. Do we need to take note of anything?”

“Follow the laws of the Republic while you’re there, I guess.” She turned back to Captain Aziz and the other company commanders. “You lot have anything to add?”

“Don’t insult other people, including the humans. Even if you don’t like them.”

“Don’t be a jerk.”

“Help others if you can.”

“Don’t insult the colonel. Remember to praise her before every meal too.”

“Who said the last one?” Colonel Marie asked, annoyed. “I thought I told you guys to drop that one!”

No one stepped out. It wasn’t the first time that this had happened before — the colonel had tried to stamp out this cult of personality that formed around her multiple times in the past year or so, but her efforts were as fruitless as a dead tree. The captain had a feeling he knew who the person was, but there was no point in outing him either. After a few seconds, the colonel slapped her forehead and turned back to Sage Meloda, who was trying to suppress his laughter.

“Other than the last one, the rest are perfectly legitimate.” She sighed. “Any other questions?”

The soldier swallowed his laughter and shook his head. “Pertaining to the arrangement of your escorts and the refugee bands under my charge, I guess. I’ll leave this matter to a discussion between your subordinates and mine.”

He clapped his hands, and two women ran out, closely followed by a bleary-eyed man. Like Melodas, all three of them had a third eye in the middle of the forehead, and for a moment, Captain Aziz wondered what type of beastfolk were the Ars like. It was clearly a question that Colonel Marie was keen to ask too — he could see her burning curiosity very clearly.

“There are some questions I have regarding this…Ars Tribe,” said the colonel.

“We can discuss this over some tea, colonel.” Sage Meloda replied with a smile. “I too have a lot of questions, but it’s just that I can’t vocalise them yet.”

Captain Aziz looked at the two and rolled his eyes. He had a feeling that the poor guy was going to be bombarded by a whole host of questions within the next few days. More importantly, their travelling speed was going to drop…but it wasn’t something they had control over now.

Once again, the two groups picked up speed, resuming their slow, slow journey back to the South.