Of course the smile that was on her face was not of unbridled jealousy but an honest smile that seems glad that both of us were talking.

She walked and stood beside me.

“Lunch is about to be serve, so get ready and also, Ruigne, the representative, Sarralus, wished to see you regarding reports of several tribal grievances and disputes after lunch.”

Just like that huh? Due to my presence in our group and most likely my fame for leading the summoned before, they had already relegated the duty of summoned representative to me. I don’t mind though since this is something that I can definitely do.

“Ah I see! Well then, I need time to prepare myself so please excuse me.”

She reverted back to her timid self and hurriedly closed the door without waiting for our replies.

We stood there slightly shocked at her speed. We then broke into chuckles.

“Do you need to prepare anything?”

“Nope, let’s go straight to the dining hall.”

We got out from there and proceed to the dining hall which was located quite far from here.

Along the way-

“It’s the first time I seen her so animated and passionate while talking to another male. Not even her cousin, Therius could have made her like gushing in excitement that.”

“We were talking about something that she had devoted herself into which is Eomancy. Who would have known that she was a descendant of a famous Pioneering Eomancer and a Second Generation summoned, Ghazra Helsion.”

I found out about that when I saw the name in the basic guide for Eomancy although at that time I didn’t know the connection until I noticed her full name. No wonder she was trying so hard to invoke an Origin Circle at that time although I failed to understand why she does that on the roadside also at that time.

“Still it’s just like that you smoothly continued the exchange that actually revealed that side of her. How skilful as expected.”

“You made that sound like I manipulated the situation. It’s called people skill. Wait, was it just recent or were you watching me the whole time?”

“Of course that’s what it was called. Anyway, are you having a third candidate in mind? Oh, I managed to sneak around when you were handing her the note.”

“What? Seriously? Anyway, you should know by now that I’ve only fancy women who can physically dominate me, if she is qualifying, then maybe!”

I lightly joked as such but seriously in all honesty, Vefal alone is quite unnerving. If we added Ghiscra to the mix, I don’t think I can handle any of them. Of course, in my deepest and wildest fantasy, I imagined being pampered by these beauties like Vefal, Rino, Ghiscra, Aeriasus and Tevalini and they would do more than just pampering…

Of course fantasy is fantasy as I can’t imagine any of them would degrade themselves to what I fantasize.

Huh, better hide these thoughts. At times like these, women would have a sudden development in mind reading.

“How many women were at your beck and call and how debauchery was it?”

Vefal looked at my face, her gaze piercing through with a mischievous glint.

Of course my thought was read by her as she was this close to receive my wavelength.

“… It was still within one digit!”

Seeing her chuckling after hearing my answer felt like the time had almost stopped. One thing for sure is that I’m glad I’m beside her on this moment. I do felt like I had something to ask her but that something is eluding me.

Oh well.

After some minutes, we arrived at the dining hall that was especially separated for the summoned.

--

After we ate lunch, I was heading my way to the representative office although I’m alone as Vefal who was my bodyguard had to go along with Shakil as they were asked to inspect the archery of the Warriors here. It seems that their fame of their exceptional and phenomenal archery had even reached here.

Erganisu, Ghiscra and Ghrukka had decided to pay a visit to the Archive here.

It seems that I was actually representing not for Athryshiayl but for my fellow, lazy summoned.

But just as I came out from the door of the dining hall, I heard rough and rushed footsteps approaching from behind.

When I turned back, a timid figure of Ghiscra was facing me.

“Ruigne, is it okay to ask for your assistance regarding my research? Your insight on Eomancy is astounding and the discussion we had earlier was enlightening enough that I had several ideas I wanted to try out but I need your help to rectify them as I try. So is it possible tomorrow...”

Letting her words trailed off, her confidence to even speak to me had gradually waned off.

Guess I’ll send out a life-line.

“Well, if it’s tomorrow, I am free after breakfast so I don’t mind. Is that timing okay for you?

“Yes, absolutely, well then, I won’t be holding you anymore, see you later.”

She spoke immediately in a rapid when I agreed and dashed off swiftly. It seems as just asking my help was too much for her but I understand that much.

I only smiled kindly, looking at her back.

--

“The Beast Den and The River Sons are disputing claim on the border of their territory. This has happened for quite some times. The Forest Keepers are demanding that their chieftain’s daughter to be returned after they sent a report that The Blazing Eyes Scion had eloped with her-”

Sarralus was giving the summaries of all the current problems occurring in the land. As expected, the word ‘tribe’ was suitable to describe these eighty six groups of people: Independent, prideful and quick to anger. Problems such as these were something that I had expected.

Although I am surprised by the sharp contrast of how different it was here compared to Tchekaz. In Tchekaz, most of the citizens over there had a resolute unity that was almost similar to nationalism.

After Sarralus had finished summarizing, there were about forty eight reports and twelve internal reports in the regiment. For the Regiment, Kadar Nara who was the sit-in for one the deputy representative had asked for a leave as Ghin Ka Shib had already requested leaves during Ubermensch administration. Because of that one of us Summoned must chaired the deputy representative and Sarralus had asked me who should fill that role. I nominated Ghrukka since they have plenty of time on their hand and they are responsible enough.

The previous summoned representative goes by the name, Horamel and that was about forty years ago. After she died and most of the ninth summoned were also dead or missing due to the expeditions, Sarralus who was the deputy representative had assumed the role but he was just a sit in while waiting for the next generation summoned to assumed the role.

Basically these three months are a selection process to decide which of the current summoned would be the next representative to be assigned here.

Since that was the case, I had long decided to show an average performance just so I don’t become one. With that, the most likelihood to be chosen would be either Tevalini who has a bit of control freak perfectionist personality or Ghozano the straight lace.

Ubermensch was excluded because he’s an Heir.

After the briefing, Sarralus had left but before her did; he told me that I was given three months to solve most of the issues in these.

The whole day was spent reading the reports and finding anything particular about any of the issues.

After, reading all the reports, I spotted a peculiar one that had caught my interest due to its strangeness and there seems to be some sort of indirect and subtle connection with us Summoned.

I decided to pay a visit to the Archive before dinner was ready but even then I would still have some time, so I think I’ll asked the local about some news of the current issues and rumours in the meantime.

--

After dinner, I went up to look for Shakil before I go to the tower. I’d told Vefal this morning to wait at the tower where we were last night as we promised for a spar and stargazing.

Of course, to be safe, when I found him staring at stars just outside of the courtyard, I ushered him to our corridor and inside my room.

“Shakil, sorry to inform you but I have something that I need you to do.”

“Goddamnit, I knew I shouldn’t have said yes…”

He sighed and continued-

“-What is it? Although I’ll be honest, if it’s something beyond me, I have to count myself out.”

“It’s a reconnaissance. Look at this.”

I hand to him a copy of a report.

He scanned through. After a few second, he frowned.

‘46 missing individuals from six different tribes in the Northern part of the Symokiva for the past six months’ “I don’t see anything wrong except the large scale of missing people.”

“That’s part of the problem. The other part is that the six tribes as shown in a another report, are all affiliated and associated, informally speaking, they’re all in an alliance and the period when these people started to go missing was six months ago, when we were summoned.”

I was watching his reaction as he was connecting the dot. After a minute or so, he seems to have thought it through. He then leaned in closer towards me and whispered-

“Are you saying that we are being implicated in a sense? Even so it’s still a far possibility, almost ridiculous and can be dismissed for a coincidence.”

“One we still can’t ignore and I like to believe how coincidental it was too but after reading the report, I went to the archive and read the profiles of the six tribes. They have a history of being more prone to believing in superstition especially omens. As I said before, right after we were summoned, their tribesmen started to ‘disappear' with no traces. I asked some of the Guards and Warriors earlier and there were some hearsay coming from the north, that the Tenth Summoned are cursed and sacrifices are to be made but of course, all those were said in hushed tone. Horatius told me about the difficulties in governing here but now I’m actually here, I can deny something is up and this missing case is only the tip of the iceberg.”

“… What’s an iceberg? Anyway, I wonder why Mister Perfect last time didn’t resolve this missing case but you’re right, I have bad hunch about this as well. Tribes like these at a time would act irrational.”

“Never mind about that, I’m gonna handle that part. Tomorrow you’ll set out for the nearest of these tribes and get information about the current status over there. I’ll estimate you can get this all done in the earliest a week. Also I can arrange part of the regiment to accompany you.”

I too wandered why Ubermensch had disregarded this but perhaps there was a reason to it. I’ll guess I would write to him and try to find anything else related to the missing report.

“Fine, I packed things up tomorrow. You ain’t kidding around, so I like that.”

Shakil had a determined grin as though I had made him motivated.

“Well, I rather see that all of us summoned would live through till ripe old age rather than dying prematurely.”

“Including Therius?”

“Fuck that guy but yeah, including him.”

Both of us laughed and we went to our respective room.

After reading the reports and spending time in the Archive, I now have a clear objective to accomplish in the land of Symokiva as initially coming here, I didn’t have any but now, there’s an opportunity to be seized and if done correctly, it would benefit us summoned in the long term.

Oh, I have to warn Erganisu too.