(The riverside camp, Riven’s POV)
Once Riven was done washing himself, he happily made his way back toward the campfire, as although the cold river water had washed away the dried Night Panther blood clinging to his body, it had done nothing to diminish the excitement that had settled inside his chest after meeting Garsim and Dara.
Finding Mary and Stacy still seated near the campfire, Riven immediately walked over before lowering himself onto the ground beside them, as the broad smile stretching across his face was so obvious that both sisters noticed it almost immediately.
"What happened?"
Mary asked, as Riven’s grin widened even further.
"While I was bathing, two boys came looking for me."
He replied, as both sisters quietly turned their full attention toward him.
"They introduced themselves as Garsim and Dara.
One’s the blacksmith’s bastard son, while the other’s the butcher’s bastard son, and they told me that since we’re all going to be travelling together from now onwards, they thought it’d be smarter if the stronger people looked after one another.
They also said they’ve seen me spending time with the two of you during training, and that they think both of you are strong enough to be part of the group as well, so they asked if all five of us could be allies?
And I told them I’d ask you before giving them an answer."
Riven explained, as the excitement in his voice became increasingly difficult to hide.
"So... what do you think? If you’re alright with it, then the five of us can form a small group, share our food and supplies whenever necessary, and look after one another throughout the journey.
I personally think it’ll make surviving everything Garron talked about a lot easier."
He added, as he looked between the two sisters with hopeful eyes.
However, instead of answering immediately, both Mary and Stacy frowned at the proposal, as the enthusiasm upon Riven’s face slowly began giving way to confusion.
"I’m not against the idea of forming a group."
Mary said, as she briefly glanced toward the opposite side of the campfire where Garsim and Dara were still talking amongst themselves.
"In fact, I think forming an alliance is absolutely necessary.....
Since out here, people who can rely upon one another are far more likely to thrive than those who try doing everything alone."
She admitted, as Riven quietly nodded in agreement.
"However, I don’t think Garsim and Dara are necessarily the best people for us to place our trust in."
Mary concluded, as Riven’s smile noticeably faded.
"The two of them are bullies, Riven."
Stacy added, as she quietly folded her arms across her chest.
"They’re not slaves like we were.
They’re bastards, and although that certainly isn’t an easy life, they’ve still enjoyed far more freedom than people like us ever did.
They were allowed to wander around Ashfang Village, help their fathers in their shops, and sleep in proper beds instead of on cold wooden floors."
She explained, as her expression gradually became more serious.
"They’re part of the ultra-trash group, but their childhoods were nothing like ours, and I think that difference shows in the way they treat people.
I’ve watched them around the training grounds these past few weeks, and I honestly can’t remember either of them helping somebody unless they believed there was something to gain from it."
She continued, as Riven quietly listened without interrupting.
"I’m almost certain that the only reason they approached you tonight is because you killed the Night Panther and everyone now believes you’re one of the strongest children here.
However, if you were still the same weak slave boy from a month ago, I doubt either of them would’ve even bothered even speaking to you."
Stacy concluded, as both sisters looked toward Riven with genuine concern rather than suspicion.
Listening to everything they had said, Riven slowly lowered his head, as although he genuinely believed he had brought back good news, he suddenly found himself wondering whether he had been too quick to trust the first people who had ever approached him seeking friendship.
However, before the silence between them could linger for too long, Mary slowly shook her head once more.
"That being said..."
Mary continued, as she let out a small sigh before looking back toward Riven.
"Whether we like their personalities or not, it’s undeniable that both of them are strong."
She admitted, as Stacy quietly listened without interrupting.
"Garsim especially is taller and physically stronger than almost everyone else in our training group, and if the five of us genuinely learn to trust one another over time, then having people like them watching our backs would make us considerably stronger than we would be on our own."
She explained, as her expression gradually softened.
"So I suppose the real question isn’t whether Garsim and Dara are good people, because I honestly don’t think either of us knows them well enough to answer that yet."
Mary said, as she briefly glanced toward the two boys sitting across the campfire.
"The real question is whether we want strength or morals to become the foundation upon which our group is built."
She concluded, as both sisters quietly turned toward Riven.
"What do you think?"
Mary asked, as the responsibility of making the final decision suddenly fell upon him.
Riven lowered his head for several long moments, as he carefully thought over everything the sisters had said before eventually arriving at his own conclusion.
"If you ask me... I’d rather choose strength."
He admitted honestly, as neither Mary nor Stacy interrupted him.
"If we fill our group with weak people who constantly need protecting, then sooner or later they’ll become a liability instead of an asset.
The world doesn’t revolve around kindness.
Us slaves understand that better than anyone.
It revolves around strength, and if we’re going to survive everything Garron warned us about tonight, then I’d rather have strong allies standing beside us that can help us in times of need, than weak people who are loyal but will become a liability."
He explained, as his tone remained calm despite speaking with surprising conviction.
"As for loyalty... I don’t think that’s something we can judge after one conversation."
Riven continued, as he slowly looked toward Garsim and Dara.
"If we travel together for a while and realize we aren’t compatible, then we can always go our separate ways later. But for now, I think we should at least give them a chance to prove themselves."
He concluded, as silence briefly settled between the three of them.
Mary and Stacy quietly looked toward one another before leaning closer together, as the two sisters spent the next several moments whispering in hushed voices that Riven could not quite make out, until eventually Mary straightened her back before looking toward him once more.
"Alright."
Mary said, as although the hesitation had not completely disappeared from her face, she nevertheless gave a small nod.
"If that’s what you genuinely believe, then we’ll trust your judgment this once."
She replied, as Stacy slowly nodded beside her.
"It’s a yes from me too."
Stacy added, as although she still looked somewhat unconvinced, she ultimately chose to place her faith in Riven’s decision.
The moment those words left their mouths, the smile that had faded from Riven’s face immediately returned, as without wasting another second, he sprang back onto his feet before turning toward the opposite side of the campfire.
"Garsim! Dara!"
Riven called out, as both boys immediately looked in his direction.
"The sisters agreed."
He announced with obvious excitement.
"Come over here. From today onwards, the five of us are a team."
Riven said, as both boys exchanged delighted looks before immediately making their way across the camp.
"Glad to hear it."
Garsim replied, as he offered Mary and Stacy a polite smile before extending his hand toward them.
"I will do my best to protect your backs from here on out."
He said, as although Mary hesitated for a brief moment, she eventually reached forward and shook his hand.
"We’ll see."
Mary replied, as her voice remained polite but reserved.
Dara then stepped forward and greeted Stacy in the same manner, as after a moment’s hesitation, she also accepted the handshake before quietly introducing herself.
And just like that, beneath the warmth of a small campfire deep within the wilderness, five children agreed to watch one another’s backs throughout the long journey that still lay ahead, as although each of them carried different hopes, fears, and expectations into the alliance, they nevertheless chose to place a measure of faith in one another.
What Riven did not know, however, was that the decision he had made that night would quietly shape the course of the rest of his life, as the very first friends he had ever chosen for himself would one day become the source of some of his deepest regrets and the beginning of burdens he could never have imagined carrying.