9 We are not here to survive but to rule

In the morning a frosty chill hung in the air. The sweet surrendering scent of the morning dew filled the campsite of the elves with a fragrance that did not belong on land, the cold wind breezed through the four people and a winged lion standing at the campsite. Obviously, these four were Don, Arwen, Amaryll and Uncle Dior, and the winged lion was Knight duh.

Uncle Dior was telling Don to depart in the afternoon so they can reach the Slave city without any hurdles. Amaryll still didn't know that Don is planning to go there.

"What you're three up to?"

Amaryll walked towards the gathering while yawning and rubbing her eyes, her golden hair was ruffled up in the wind, she was crossing her hands and gently rubbing them to get some heat, her eyes still had weariness because of recent events, she looked at Arwen then a small surprise appeared on her face when she noticed Uncle Dior.

"Uncle Dior"

"Good morning Amaryll"

"Good morning uncle, is there any problem?" Amaryll asked and looked at Arwen and Don, Uncle Dior didn't say anything as he just glanced at Don and Arwen.

Amaryll stared at Arwen for an answer but Arwen didn't give her one quickly while he sulked for a moment before answering

"Uncle Dior is here to accompany Don to Minister Brian's manor in the Slave city."

"What!"

"What!!"

Amaryll and Uncle Dior yelled at the same time.

Amaryll saw genuinely shocked uncle Dior when he heard about going to Brian manor, she realized Uncle Dior was also in the black.

"Arwen you didn't say anything about going to Brian's manor are you mad?" Uncle Dior shouted at Arwen even though he stared at Arwen, the question was directed towards Don.

Arwen knew that but he just scratched the back of his head and glanced at Don.

For a while, only the chirping and the sounds of trees moving in the wing could be heard as the group stood in silence.

But Amaryll was panicked when she heard about Brian's name and her face went pale.

If the bandits caught her last night, Brian's manor was the place she would have ended up she knew that very well so she immediately turned to face Don

"Don, why are you going there? are you trying to get yourself killed?" Amaryll began to shiver while asking.

Everyone was looking at Don to see what was he going to tell them, but Don calmly looked at Amaryll, the girl was still slightly shivering not due to the morning cold more like in the fear of Brian.

"The bandits he sent were just lackeys he was the head, we should kill him before he realizes his lackeys failed"

Knight nodded in approval he knew that destroying the head and the body would fall apart and he always supported Don.

Don's true purpose in engaging Minister Brian was to gather information about the mysterious mage, killing Brian was just icing on the cake but he didn't want to remind them about the mysterious mage or his real plan.

Arwen knew Don's motive and why he didn't reveal to Uncle Dior and Amaryll, his sister was already pretty shaken up, reminding her of the mysterious mage was just asking for trouble.

Uncle Dior and Amaryll couldn't come up with a counter-argument as they know it must be done.

"So will you come with me?"

Uncle Dior knew why he was chosen for this journey and he knew killing Brian would mean less trouble for them but he couldn't just agree to go with him he needs assurance.

"I can show you the quickest way to the Slave city but if you want me to come with you, I need time to think about it"

Amaryll was going to say something when Arwen shook his head.

He knew Uncle Dior was a cautious person and he wouldn't just agree to go with Don but they couldn't talk so freely with shivering Amaryll beside them.

"Amaryll go and see how Elrond is doing"

Amaryll just stared at Arwen and she found out that he was quite adamant in sending her away by looking at his stubborn face

"I am not a little girl you know" she pouted and started to walk in the direction of Elrond's camp which was made by Don.

Uncle Dior waited till Amaryll was out of listening range.

"By the way, I know why you really going to Brian's manor Don"

Arwen and Knight looked surprised when they heard Uncle Dior.

"You wanted to know more about the mysterious mage the bandit leader told you about" uncle Dior sneered when he talked about Bandit leader, a hint of irritation could be found in his voice

Knight frowned at the tone and the way Uncle Dior was behaving, he doesn't like when people talking to Don like that,

Arwen also noticed Uncle Dior's tone and Knight's reaction, he was ready to jump between them at the second if the situation elevated but for his surprise Don calmly said

"You have something to say?"

Uncle Dior was a clever man. He could sense no threatening vibe was coming from Don, so he decided to give him peace of his mind.

"I am thankful for what you've done for us but killing the bandit leader was a wrong move, he could have more valuable information about Brian and the mysterious mage"

Don didn't interrupt or argue with, he just listened to Uncle Dior while Uncle Dior continued

"If you didn't kill him we would have gained more valuable information about Brian and the mysterious mage"

"Yes you are right, that was a mistake I've made. I am used to killing my enemies without giving them more time"

The three of them were shocked at the fact that Don admitted his mistake including Knight, especially uncle Dior. He thought the young man would behave arrogantly or argue with him.

This made a good impression on Uncle Dior, he would appreciate a person who was honest with himself and admit his own mistakes.

"I won't make that mistake if you were there with me when I deal with Minister Brian" Uncle Dior could see that Don's not acting but honestly admitting his fault, he lived long enough to tell when people lied, it was one of the skills he learned through experience.

So because of this skill, Uncle Dior knew that Don was telling the truth since he made sure of that, he didn't need to argue with him and agreed to come with him.

"Alright I'll pack somethings for the travel and meet you here in a while"

Uncle Dior began to walk towards his tent and Arwen followed after him.

In Uncle Dior's perspective, only fools would not acknowledge their shortcomings, following a fool would only get yourself killed and now he knew that Don is not a fool.

If Don argued with him or acted arrogantly he would have shown him the way to the Slave and let him go alone, after all, he was a half-elf, he had more arrogance than a human by nature.

Knight waited till they leave, he was still knitting his brows because of Uncle Dior's attitude,

"What were you thinking Don? You should have kicked his elven butt"

Its obvious Knight didn't like Uncle Dior.

"If you admit your fault they will think you were weak"

"I would have kicked his butt if we were in the Divine continent and we are not"

"What's the difference you know better than anyone it's the rule of the jungle only the strong survive, this world is not an exception " Knight declared in absolute certainty.

"We are not trying to survive anymore Knight we are here to rule, not every problem can be solved by brute force, we need " he didn't finish his sentence just tapped his head.

"And you think we don't use our brains" Knight frowned while saying.

"Not always we need to change if we want to succeed, to change we need to learn from someone who uses their brain more than their fist"

Knight started to get the point Don is making,

"Uncle Dior was just like that someone, we need people like him"

"But didn't he get captured by the bandits?"

"Did he?"

Knight started to reminisce about yesterday's events and remembered that Uncle Dior was not with the group of elves captured along with Arwen and Amaryll but with the elves Knight himself rescued.

"I didn't notice in the heat of battle but Dior wasn't in danger when I saw him he was just stood there along with some injured elves"

"See even if you didn't come here he would have escaped... brain" he tapped his head again.

"What about his people? what about them if he just escaped"

"What could have he done? if he just went to rescue them he would have ended up dead, self-sacrificing is a coward's way just people labeled it as heroism"

Knight knew he was right when he considered the things Don said, he came to this world not too long ago but he was learning and starting to change the way he was thinking.

"It's hurting me to say but we do need people like Uncle Dior," Knight said with gritted teeth and addressed him as Uncle Dior.