There Was No Time to Grow Up

The blazing red light that shot into the night sky was impossible to miss. It took quite a while to fade, and Tian Sang watched it with his heart pounding. Whatever was happening could be seen from this far away. Just how big a fire had the Horde started?

No one knew when the red glow had vanished from the horizon. Lost in a jumble of thoughts, Tian Sang drifted off to sleep. By dawn, the light was gone, and Barhan was already calling for everyone to get ready. The hunting party packed up their spoils, loaded them onto their tamed black bears and raptors, and hurried back to Zul'Aman.

Unlike the journey out, when they had spent several days observing the land and hunting along the way, the hunting party took the most direct route back at a forced march. By the time they reached Zul'Aman, it was nearly dark. Flames dotted the moss-covered stone walls, and wild cheers rose from beyond them.

"What happened? Did we win?" Barhan strode through Zul'Aman's stone gate and questioned the Troll warriors they encountered along the way.

"Chieftain Zul'jin sent Lord Dakkalai back with good news."

"The Horde launched a surprise attack on the Pale Ones."

"They burned down the Pale Ones' forest."

"We won."

"Our forest will soon be ours again."

The Troll warriors cheered as they shared the good news, but the details were vague. Barhan hurried toward the Altar of Deities, while Tian Sang had the hunting party unload and process their catch before following as quickly as he could.

The Altar of Deities was Zul'Aman's political center. The temples of the Loa worshipped by the Forest Trolls of Zul'Aman stood there: Snake Goddess Ulatek, the bear spirit Nalorakk, Eagle God Akil'zon, the lynx Halazzi, and Dragonhawk Jan'alai, among others.

Besides the many temples, the Amani chieftain Zul'jin and his trusted followers would usually announce major decisions concerning Zul'Aman at the Altar of Deities. It was there that he had announced the Forest Trolls' decision to join the Horde.

A huge crowd of Forest Trolls had gathered before the Altar of Deities, cheering. Tian Sang followed Barhan through the throng, then looked toward the altar steps. There he spotted a fellow with a build a head taller than an ordinary Troll, muscles bulging beneath a coat of green moss. He was hunched over, with a smooth, bald forehead, and looked rather slow-witted.

"Lostro!" Tian Sang recognized the towering Troll at once and called out. The big Troll turned at the sound of his voice and immediately came down the steps.

"Zul'ra, stand up straight." Looking at the figure among his stooped, hunched brethren, the big Troll Lostro couldn't hide his surprise.

"How else would you see me, Lostro? What's the news from the front?" Tian Sang looked at the fellow, who was a little taller than him even when he stood straight, and built as if he had a case of obesity. Lostro was a follower of his mentor, Kal'ma—a Nightmare Troll.

Nightmare Trolls were unusual among Trolls, like people born with gigantism. They were naturally taller and sturdier than ordinary Trolls, with more muscle, but they weren't shunned by the other Trolls. Some Troll leaders were happy to have them as followers, thanks to their strength.

"You're so conspicuous now, of course I can see you. The priestess told me to pass along a message: autumn is coming, and you must organize everyone to gather enough food." Lostro spread his two broad hands.

"Gather food? I asked about the news from the front!" Tian Sang blinked at Lostro's answer.

"The priestess told me to pass on that message. As for the front, I know no more than they do. Those green-skinned Orcs, just like us, fought bravely and burned down the Pale Ones' forest. The priestess isn't pleased with what they did." Lostro scratched the back of his head with his three-fingered right hand as he answered Tian Sang's questions, but didn't elaborate.

"Fine!" Tian Sang looked at the Nightmare Troll, who seemed slow-witted but was actually quite sharp. After a moment's thought, he understood what Lostro was getting at. Kal'ma was opposed to burning the forest, but given the scale of last night's blaze, that meant Zul'jin had agreed—or at the very least, turned a blind eye.

"Have we won the battle yet?" Hearing the cheers around him, Tian Sang suddenly remembered something and looked at the Nightmare Troll in front of him.

"No. We just came back to deliver the news and rally some warriors to reinforce the front." Lostro shook his head.

"..." Looking at the cheering Trolls around him, Tian Sang pressed his tusks together. Was Zul'jin crazy? He'd sent word of a victory that hadn't even happened, and called for more warriors to go to the front. If they lost, how was he going to explain it to the people? Had mentor Kal'ma asked him to gather enough food for autumn to provision the army—or to prepare for the hardships of defeat?

"Zul'ra, what's wrong?" Following Tian Sang's gaze, Lostro glanced around and asked.

"N-nothing. I was just thinking about something." Tian Sang shook his head.

"You seem different." Lostro looked at him as he shook his head, an inexplicable feeling tugging at him.

"Oh? Do I?" Looking at the big fellow's uneasy expression, Tian Sang felt a sudden jolt in his chest. He put on a surprised look. Could the big guy have figured out he was an impostor? Then again, did that make him an impostor?

"You used to be a little gloomy. Never mind. Maybe I'm just tired. We need to get back to the battlefield as soon as possible." Lostro studied his surprised expression and shook his head. Something seemed off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Oh!" Tian Sang saw the big fellow eyeing him suspiciously, as if he could tell something was wrong, and felt his heart sink. From his memories, he hadn't interacted much with this big guy. If Lostro could tell he was different, would Kal'ma, who had raised and taught him, realize he was a transmigrant? Was this the part where he was supposed to get scared?

"We're leaving tonight. You need to start organizing the gathering tomorrow." Lostro saw that Tian Sang had gone quiet again and didn't have time to dwell on it. He had to leave Zul'Aman that night and return to the front, but the priestess's instructions still had to be carried out.

"Already? It's dark out. Are you going to march straight away?"

"Yes. Only when we've defeated the Pale Ones and driven them from our forest can we feel safe. But the priestess's task..." Lostro nodded, then brought up the task again.

"I understand. I'll call on everyone in my teacher's name, and the tribe will cooperate with me, right?" Seeing Lostro repeat his instructions, Tian Sang promised to do it. At the same time, he glanced around uncertainly. Zul'jin had ordered the warriors away. Would those left behind listen to him?

"Yes. Dakkalai and I have already given the tribe their orders. These supplies aren't necessarily..." Lostro nodded at Tian Sang's uncertainty, but trailed off before finishing. The supplies might not be for the army; they might be needed in case they lost the war.

"Not necessarily what?" Tian Sang could tell what the big fellow was worried about, but pretended not to understand and asked anyway.

"Just do it." Lostro looked at Tian Sang, who seemed not to understand, and said no more.

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