Chapter 398: Companionship

"[Orc] I see…  These are quite… hmm… Interesting issues, I guess…" With a wry look on his face, Aiden sighed as he glanced over the list that Roas, Glohn, and Gob presented to him once they were inside the hut.

Around him dozen-strong elders sat around a large wooden table, looking at his youthful figure with mixed gazes. Some looked with worry, some had hopeful glints shining in their dark bead-like eyes, whilst others simply frowned, unsure of how to treat this enigmatic figure. They were all aware of his strength and power either by meeting it directly during their confrontation or by simply just feeling the heavy pressure he exuded simply by being present in the room.

At his sides the trio of his faithful servants stood with worried looks, not daring to utter any word, whilst their Young Master was deep in thought.

After what seemed like an eternity for those present in the room, but in reality, was at most like two or three minutes, looked up, gazing at Glohn's figure at his left then at Roas's at his right, mostly ignoring the other elders present in the room.

"[Orc] So…" He spoke up, the tone of his voice sounded calm, but it seemed to be rather forced. Though, through their shared mental connection, Roas could feel confusing emotional signals coming from the Master. Emotions, such as embarrassment, shyness, even some confusion, and a tiny strand of anger could also be felt.

"[Orc] So these are the most pressing matters currently?"

"[Orc] Yes, Young Master. These are the challenges we are facing, what do you think about it?" Roas responded, with a worried look, and a weaker, meek tone of voice.

"[Orc] Well… Let me make sure I see this right. According to the list, you have all written together…" He glanced over at the crowd of elders as he phrased his thoughts. "…The current top-ranked issue, your most pressing problem is the lack of 'companionship'?"

"[Orc] Yes, Young Master, that is true." Roas nodded, his expression still worried, though his eyes were now carrying a hint of hope glimmering in them.

"[Goblin] Just to make this perfectly clear, Young Master. That issue is the most pressing to the Orc community. The Goblin half of the villagers have not expressed this problem!" Glohn added with a smug-looking smile on his face, which caused a wave of elated smiles and nods to spread through the Goblin Elders' faces, while the orcs could only frown, and avert their eyes through the embarrassing nature of their request.

Not minding the small commotion in the room, Roas turned to look at his Master and explained what they meant.

"[Orc] You see, Young Master, the problem is mostly present in ours, the orc's side of the population. For Goblins, when they arrived with Brother Glohn and Gob, they came as a whole, functioning village already. Their community ranged generously, they had children, young adults, middle-aged, and even elders. But most importantly they had males and females!"

He paused for a moment, to give more power to his words, before continuing.

"[Orc] As for us, Orcs, we all came during the last clash when we left the Tower. Being a war camp, there were no females, except for the slaves the leaders have brought. We… uhm… consist mostly of adult males,  Orcs that had a role in the upcoming planned war."

"[Orc] I think, I get it…" Raising his right hand in the air Aiden nodded at Roas.  As he turned silent, awaiting his Master's response, Aiden heaved an exasperated sigh. "Huah… though this just makes this problem currently quite challenging to resolve… Well, at least for now."

Then, turning to look at Roas and even glancing at the Orc Elders he continued.

"[Orc] To resolve this, we need to bring in Orc Females, I suppose. Since most of you came from different tribes before everything went down, I suppose the rest of your people are still waiting for you somewhere. We can just go visit them and offer them to come to this world and live with you." 

He offered, carefully checking the reactions of the elders before asking.

"[Orc] So, what do you all think?

Interestingly, there was quite a mixture of facial expressions on the elders' faces. For Roas, his look turned sour, which was shared by almost half of them. Others retained their neutral looks, whilst only two of the present Orc Elders responded with vigorous, elated looks on their faces.

Turning to Roas, he asked his first guardian. 

"[Orc] What is it that is weighing on you, Roas? Don't worry, you can tell me."

"[Orc] Young Master…" Roas looked at his youthful lord with a bitter, sorrowful look. "In our case, and I assume this is the same for several others as well… We have no 'rest of the tribe' waiting for us at all. When we were invited, there was a certain… cost, for us to set out and join. We couldn't leave behind our elderlies, our children our females. Everyone came, but the harsh climate, the long, arduous travel without any safety, the recurring clashes with the locals took its toll. In the end, all that was left from my old tribe are already present." 

He sighed, turning away from the group, and wiped away an escaping drop of tear from his face.

A heavy silence descended on the room upon his words. Just from looking over, it was clear that most of the present elders had similar issues.

However, there were two that seemingly didn't share the same sentiment. Their tribes didn't share the same gruesome fate as it was clear from the smug, proud looks on their faces.

Eventually one of them, -probably the bravest of the two- gave a light cough and spoke up, breaking the ensuing awkward silence in the room.

*Khm*

"[Orc] Young Lord, if I may…" His voice was faint, powerless in front of this enigmatic youth. Though he looked incredibly young, his presence was dominating. He could still clearly remember how this young figure devastated their proud ranks with ease on that fateful night, before offering a new chance in life.

Although his orcish nature was still quite conflicted, he wasn't stupid, nor blinded by his orcish pride. As a warrior race, they respected power atop all else. As the saying went in their kind: "Might makes Right!"

True, they turned a new leaf with this new settlement, but the change was never instant, but rather gradual. Not everyone could change like that big grey giant shaman ex-tribe-leader that stood at the young man's side and looked like a faithful puppy.

After Aiden nodded, allowing him to speak, he coughed once more to clear his throat and also his mind before speaking.

"[Orc] Luckily, my…" feeling a gentle poke in his waist, he coughed again, fixing his mistake. "…sorry, OUR tribes were luckier and not shared the same fate. Unlike the others, we lived inside hard-to-reach areas, deep inside the Saronite Mountain. We left behind the weak with a few guards to protect them and ventured to this campaign. Those that didn't come with us should still be there unless something had happened to them."