The Thousand-Meter-Long Ship
The room fell into an intense silence. The enormity of what had just been said took a moment to sink in. A thousand-meter-long ship! The very idea was hard to comprehend, yet everyone knew in their hearts that the Silver Mane Tribe would eventually make it a reality. The sheer shock still lingered in the air, as if the weight of such ambition was too great to dissipate all at once.
Logan, the leader of the gathering, broke the silence. His sharp eyes turned to Astari, who had been waiting anxiously for his approval.
"Astari," he began, his voice firm yet encouraging, "I agree with your proposal for the dock town. Now, you must move quickly. We need the design plans for the dock and a precise location as soon as possible."
Astari, her heart racing, nodded eagerly. "Yes, Cheif Logan!" she replied, her voice filled with respect and a hint of relief.
Her breath escaped in a slow exhale as the tension in her shoulders eased. This was her moment, and she had passed the test. The Silver Mane Tribe had grown too far from the water, and the snake people, her people, were struggling to adjust. Building a dock was not just an idea; it was a necessity for the tribe's survival and growth.
She had drawn up an ambitious plan, knowing it was risky, but the reward was now within her grasp.
Logan, as astute as ever, probably understood more than he let on. But for now, the need for the dock outweighed any reservations he might have.
Turning his attention to another matter, Logan looked at his uncle, Begon, who had been observing quietly from his seat. "Uncle," Logan said, "organize the construction workers immediately. As soon as Astari finalizes the location and the dock's blueprint, we need to break ground. The sooner we start, the better."
Begon, a man of few words but immense experience, nodded firmly. "Yes, we'll get to work right away."
Logan then paused, as if gathering his thoughts, before looking around the room at the other leaders. "There's one more issue to discuss," he said, his voice growing serious. "It concerns the army."
The word "army" caused a ripple through the room. Kro and Lotts, both seasoned military leaders, straightened in their seats, their eyes fixed on Logan with keen interest. An army matter? What could this be about?
Military expansion? the thought raced through their minds. Logan had previously expressed doubt about expanding their forces, so what had changed?
Begon, too, raised an eyebrow in curiosity, though military decisions were not his domain. As far as he was concerned, his nephew handled those matters perfectly well on his own. Meanwhile, Astari remained composed, her mind already drifting away from the discussion. The dock town was all that mattered to her now. Once the military discussion began, it was no longer her concern.
Logan could feel the weight of their gazes and allowed a small smile to creep onto his face. He enjoyed these moments of suspense, knowing he had their full attention.
"Let's put the idea of expanding the army aside for now," he said, causing an immediate wave of confusion to sweep over the room.
No expansion? Kro and Lotts exchanged puzzled glances. Just yesterday, Logan had visited the army and seemed to come to some agreement with them about its future. Now, he was pulling back?
Begon, too, was taken aback but quickly masked his surprise. He didn't particularly care whether the army grew or not, he had no hand in military affairs, nor did he want one.
Logan, sensing their confusion, quickly moved on. "However," he continued, "I do have an idea for something else. I'm thinking of forming a Youth Guard."
"A Youth Guard?" The room was stunned, heads turning toward Logan in disbelief.
"Yes," Logan said, his tone growing more animated. "I want to gather orc Youths, ages eight to nine, and train them alongside the army. If we ever face conflict in the future, these young guards could provide support during battles."
He paused, letting the idea settle. "Of course, this is all based on the condition that these young Youths prove they are strong enough to participate."
The idea stirred a range of emotions in the room. Kro and Lotts, veterans of many campaigns, couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. The formation of a Youth Guard was bold, perhaps even revolutionary. If trained properly, these young warriors could grow into a formidable force in the years to come.
The room fell quiet again, but this time, the silence was one of awe and anticipation. Everyone could feel it, the Silver Mane Tribe was on the verge of something great, and Logan, with his bold decisions, was leading them there.
Astari had always been a sharp thinker, and she certainly wasn't going to miss the opportunity to secure this incredible advantage for the children of the Snake People. Her mind was already calculating the potential benefits. Having their youth trained alongside the werewolves and other orcs by such elite warriors would be a game-changer for their tribe.
Logan, noticing the determination in her eyes, nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, Astari," he said. "The Snake People's children will have the same opportunity."
Astari's intuition had once again proven right. She had seen through Logan' intentions immediately. Even though the Snake People's children were considered minors at ages 13 and 14, that didn't diminish their potential. Each race within the orc tribe had its own unique timeline for reaching adulthood.
Werewolves matured by the age of 10 and lived around 50 to 60 years, while the Snake People, with their more deliberate growth, could live up to 70. This variation in maturity was well-known but often misunderstood. Logan' decision to include all the tribes spoke volumes about his foresight.
Around the table, murmurs of understanding spread. Lott, Kro, and Reynolds, whose children were right at the age to join the Youth Guard, could barely hide their eagerness. The thought of their own sons being trained by level-six warriors was more than tempting, it was a rare chance to set their children on the path to greatness.
Even the elders, who were normally cautious, were excited at the possibilities.
Lott, Kro, and the others exchanged looks, silently agreeing that they would have to meet with these powerful new instructors as soon as possible. If their children could benefit from their teachings, why couldn't they? The opportunity to learn from these high-level warriors might even allow them to glimpse the elusive power of the sixth level themselves.
Logan, sensing the excitement in the room, looked around and asked, "Does anyone have any other opinions?"
Lott, the first to find his voice, leaned forward. "Chief, this is a good thing. The tribe lacks a strong foundation, and this Youth Guard will provide just that." His words carried weight, and heads around the table nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes," Kro chimed in. "This will strengthen the tribe."
"Support!" Lotts and Kodiak added, their voices echoing across the hall.
The room was filled with murmurs of approval. It was clear: this decision had unanimous backing.
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"Good," Logan said, his tone final. "It's settled then."
He stood a little straighter, ready to make the next important announcement. "Now, for the leadership of the Youth Army Guard, Kevin will be the chief captain. Ken and Relk will serve as deputy captains." He paused for a moment, letting the names sink in before continuing. "The systems and regulations will be the same as those of the military."
At this, Kevin and his two companions, seated near the back, jumped to their feet, excitement radiating from them. "Yes, big brother!" they chorused, their faces glowing with pride as they gave a sharp salute.
But Logan' expression darkened slightly as he glared at them. "From now on, you are not to call me 'Big Brother' in the conference hall," he warned, his eyes locking onto theirs.
Kevin and the other two glanced at each other, wide-eyed, before straightening their posture and correcting themselves. "Yes, Chief!" they said in unison, though their grins betrayed their excitement. The gravity of the moment was still settling in.
The room buzzed with energy as Logan, with just a few decisive words, had solidified the appointments. But not everyone was so sure about the choices. Some felt that the enthusiasm of the young warriors might be misplaced.
Lott, ever the cautious elder, raised his hand to speak. "My Lord Chief," he began slowly, his voice measured. "The Youth Guard will be held to the same standards as the military, yes? Isn't it a bit... hasty to appoint Kevin and the others as captains?" His tone was careful, but his concern was clear.
Even though Kevin and the two others were his nephews, Lott wasn't about to let personal connections cloud his judgment when it came to the future of the tribe.
The weight of his words settled over the room. The excitement dimmed for a moment as everyone considered the gravity of the positions Logan had just assigned.