After a whole night’s work, the village was somehow fortified. Using felled logs and sharpened stakes, the villagers and Thornefang had erected makeshift palisades in key chokepoints, especially the southern and western points.
The walls weren’t tall, barely chest-height to an adult, but enough to slow a charge and force attackers into predictable angles.
They also placed angled spike barricades made from old fences and wood debris, pointing outward, to deter cavalry or reckless charges. Lucen doubted cavalry would come, but better safe than sorry.
With shovels and brute labor, shallow ditches were dug along the forest edges. Hidden under leaves and thin branches, they were meant to trip or slow the enemy, buying moments that could mean survival.
The watchtower was a crude platform, just three logs high, barely stable. It had been raised at the western edge of the village near the treeline.
It could support one man, and though rickety, it gave a view of the nearby hills and woods. A makeshift ladder led up to it.
To light the field and deny darkness to would-be raiders, fire pits and torches were spaced in a loose perimeter, offering enough visibility without making the defenders too obvious.
By first light, Dorsen was no longer a vulnerable village. Even though it wasn’t a properly built outpost, it was good enough for now.
In each key position was a mage ready to use the first circle spell: detection. It was a simple spell that alerted the user to any living presence within fifty meters away from the user. Each mage would cast it every two hours.
Even though it was a rather simple spell, its mana consumption wasn’t much. The mages of Thonefang were mostly first circle mages, who had a limited mana pool. This is why Lucen compromised and told them to use detection every two hours instead of every half hour.
"Little leader, someone wants a word with you." Harlik approached Lucen, who was organizing his equipment.
"Who is it?" Lucen stopped what he was doing and turned around.
"It’s the brat who was protecting those little ones."
"Milos? What does he want?"
"No idea. The brat just said he wanted to speak to you personally."
Lucen tilted his head, trying to figure out what Milos would want to talk about, but nothing came to mind.
The young man, Milos, who was now wearing better clothes than before, entered the room. Harlik stood at the side, his arms folded, interested in what Milos was about to say.
Lucen now had a better look at Milos since the situation wasn’t as urgent as before. Milos had sandy-brown hair stuck out in unruly tufts, like he had tried to tame it with nervous hands but gave up halfway.
He was thin, wiry in the way that came from eating little and working hard, less like a fighter and more like someone used to hauling wood or pulling water from a well. Not strong, but not soft either.
The demeanor he had before, like he was going to bite that came near him in desperation, had disappeared, and now he was looking at Lucen with some sort of resolve.
"So, how can I help you today, Milos?"
When Milos heard Lucen’s question, he suddenly knelt on one knee with his head bowed down. This motion of his surprised not only Lucen but even Harlik, watching from the side.
"Milord, please give me a chance to become part of Thornefang!"
Lucen stared at Milos for a few seconds.
’Doesn’t this guy have the basic setup for a main character in a game. His village was attacked, but was saved by a group of soldiers, and he joined them to become a knight. A coward who was inspired to become something more. Heh, if I didn’t know about Alexander, I might have mistaken this guy for this game’s MC...’
"First, stand up and take a seat."
Lucen sat down in a nearby chair, and Milos stood up and also sat down in front of Lucen. The two were now looking at each other face to face.
"So, do you know how to wield any weapon?"
"Uncle Jeffrey taught me how to use a bow. Aunt Helena taught me a little bit on how to use a sword, but I’m still better at using a bow."
"Have you ever hunted before?"
"You do know that joining us means leaving this village. Depending on the situation, you might not be able to see your parents or the people of this village ever again. Do you understand that?"
"Do you also understand that being part of Thornefang means you become a soldier of Stellhart. It means you will kill for Stellhart, and would most likely die on a battlefield for Stellhart. Do you understand all that?"
Milos’s eyes were looking directly at Lucen. He had already thought about all of that last night while he was helping fortify the village.
"I’m sure that I want to be part of Thornefang. I want to help protect those who were like me, who were afraid and helpless."
"That’s not our duty. We serve where the Duke commands. It just so happens that this time we came to aid you."
"I know you’re trying to dissuade me, milord. But my mind’s made up. Please allow me to join Thornefang." Milos stood up from his seat and bowed his head.
Harlik raised an eyebrow. "Kids these days. Grow a spine one night and think they’re ready to die for some banner."
Milos looked at Harlik without backing down.
"I’m not ready to die for some banner, but I think I’m ready to die to become like Milord. I no longer want to be the coward I am. I want to be someone like you, milord."
"Little leader, I brat. He’s got some iron in him."
"... Have you told your parents what they think of this choice of yours?"
"Yes, I have. They told me to simply go for it. Dreams will only be dreams if we don’t take action. That’s what my father said."
’Even his lines are like a protagonist’s or the best friend of the protagonists. I think this guy would be quite enjoyable to be around.’
Lucen stared at the bowing Milos and finally made a decision.
"You might regret this decision later. But if you still stand firm in your decision when we’re about to leave, then I shall grant you permission to join."
"Thank you for giving me this chance." Milos happily replied.
Milos stood up, his posture straighter than before. He gave Lucen a respectful bow, then turned to Harlik and did the same.
"I will not back down, and I will show you that my decision will never waver," he said with quiet determination. "Until then, I’ll keep helping where I can."
Lucen gave a small nod. "Go on, then."
With a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Milos turned and left the room, the wooden door creaking shut behind him. Once they were sure Milos was no longer near, Harlik spoke.
"Why were you pushing him away so much, little leader?"
"If he had backed down with just that much, then we didn’t really need him in Thornefang," Lucen replied with a simple answer.