"Who goes there?! Reveal yourself!"

The voice cut through the forest cleanly, sharp and controlled.

Ronan didn’t move immediately.

He doubted he could get away.

So he stepped forward instead, just enough for his presence to be seen through the gaps in the trees.

"Class B," he said. "Resource group."

Three figures emerged fully into view.

Then a fourth.

They spread slightly as they stepped out, maintaining distance without speaking. Their spacing was deliberate, each one positioned so no single angle was left exposed. Weapons were already drawn, but not raised.

"Class B?" One of them said, more to their own group than to Ronan himself.

Ronan answered anyway. "Correct. We are the resource group in charge of gathering materials to make base."

The leader nodded.

"Alone?"

"No, I have allies nearby."

It wasn’t a complete lie. He was sure they were around, but he had wandered far enough to where they wouldn’t be able to help if he got attacked.

The leader stepped forward, eyes flicking briefly to the pack on Ronan’s shoulder, then to the lack of materials in his hands.

"Doesn’t look like you’ve been gathering much."

Ronan hesitated for a fraction of a second, then responded. "Just started, and terrain isn’t great for it."

The leader’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but one of the other members spoke.

"He’s the Ashbourne brat," one of them said mirthfully. "He probably just got lazy and wandered off aimlessly."

The others seemed to chuckle at that, but Ronan didn’t correct them. It was better than them getting suspicious.

"Where is your base?"

"Near the river."

"River?" The leader seemed intrigued. "Wide? Or just a stream?"

"Wide," Ronan replied without pause. "Cuts through the terrain. The water is clear."

They glanced at each other. The tension was rising, and Ronan had no idea how they would react.

"That’s convenient," one of them muttered.

The leader took another step forward. The distance between them shrank.

"Then you can come with us."

Ronan did not move.

His eyes flickered at them again, and their formation. It was at times like these where he cursed his lack of actual power. Right now, he could do nothing but listen.

But from the looks for it, they didn’t plan on hurting him, or using any kind of force. They had their weapons out, but none of them had pointed it towards him in any way. They wanted to talk. Maybe I can use that.

"I have a better idea," Ronan said.

The leader’s eyes narrowed.

"I don’t think you are in the position to be making demands."

"Not a demand, but more a proposition."

Ronan pointed at their lack of tools for gathering.

"You’re obviously not gathering, that means you’re securing the parameter. Correct?"

"Correct. How does that matter?"

"Well, you found it. Now you can just take me to your base and hope I talk," Ronan pointed to his left. "Or you can just let me take you to our base."

That got a reaction. The leader of the group looked interested.

The one who had recognized him earlier scoffed lightly. "And why would we do that?"

"Because it’s faster," Ronan replied. "And safer."

"Safer?" another one echoed.

"For both sides," Ronan said calmly. "You already know we’re near the river. If you drag me around, you risk immediately antagonizing my class. And we all know what that leads to."

That part landed. They didn’t want unnecessary fights. If they were our securing parameter, they didn’t have authority to antagonize other classes, especially if it could be avoided.

"You’re assuming we care about that," the one who recognized him earlier said with a sneer.

"Reddy, shut up," the Leader said simply, causing Reddy to sneer. But he listened.

The leader turned back to Ronan.

"True enough. So you are saying you’ll willingly take us?"

Ronan met his gaze without hesitation.

"I will," he said. "On one condition."

That drew a reaction immediately.

Reddy let out a short laugh. "You’re really not in a position to–"

"Enough," the leader cut in again, sharper this time. His eyes remained on Ronan. "What condition?"

Ronan didn’t rush the answer.

"If I take you there, this doesn’t turn into an immediate fight," he said. "You get what you came for: information. No one benefits from a clash this early."

Ronan pressed just slightly.

"You’re not here to start a war," he continued. "Not yet. Otherwise, you would have attacked already."

That was the truth.

If they wanted him dead or captured, he would already be.

The forest went quiet again, the tension shifting from confrontation to calculation.

Reddy clicked his tongue. "Or we just take you and skip all this."

"You could," Ronan said evenly. "But then you lose control of how the situation unfolds."

"...Fine," he said. "You lead. But understand this – if you try anything, you won’t get a second chance."

Ronan gave a small nod.

Reddy raised his sword and pointed it at Ronan’s back, earning a glare from the leader, but Ronan waved it off.

"It’s fine. You don’t trust me, don’t sweat it."

The leader of the group nodded, hesitant.

The forest began to thin as they moved, and Ronan led the way, sword still pointed at his back.

They didn’t have to walk for long before the faint rhythm of something being constructed filled their ears.

Voices, too. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The leader didn’t respond, but Ronan could feel his attention sharpen.

Another few steps.

Then the trees parted, and the clearing came into view.

Class B had already made progress.

The outer perimeter was loosely established, with several students positioned along natural choke points. Others moved through the center, clearing space, stacking materials, marking rough boundaries. It wasn’t anything refined yet, but it was a work in progress for sure.

The first person he made eye contact with was Elara.

Darius was next to her, and they seemed to be conversing something before Elara turned his way.

Elara’s expression hardened almost immediately their eyes met, her posture straightening as her gaze shifted past Ronan to the figures behind him.

Ronan put on a shit eating grin just cause.

"Hey, I’m back. And I brought guests."