"My dear nephew, you won't hold it against me, will you?" The Chieftain had just brought Azar to the Council Hall. Before he had even sat down, he spoke first.
"Of course not. I'm your nephew, and we're family." Azar played the family card without missing a beat.
"That's good. You can probably understand that we had only just settled down back then. I couldn't have made any drastic changes." The Chieftain seemed lost in memories as he spoke with deep feeling.
"I understand. You had to consider the whole tribe. So, have you made your decision?" Azar asked cautiously.
"Yes, my child. From your performance today, it's clear that the mysterious power in this lake can make us stronger." The Chieftain spoke with confidence, his voice rising a little. It was as if he could already see the day his tribe would reach glory!
"What do you plan to do? Whatever you decide, I'll be unconditionally loyal to you." Azar knew this was the moment to declare his loyalty.
"Excellent, my child. I'm going to establish an Elite Guard, and you'll be its first commander. You're my nephew, and I trust you." The Chieftain seemed to have settled on the plan during their walk. The moment Azar asked, he had an answer ready. Azar was thinking about how to respond when the Chieftain spoke again.
"The legion's mission won't just be to protect me. It will have an even more important purpose: to set an example for the tribe's future armies. Its training and combat strength must be the best. Every member will be handpicked. They must know how to fight and command, and, most importantly, they must have the right mindset. They all need to understand their mission and be unconditionally loyal to the tribe and its leader. And you, my dear nephew, as their commander, will join the tribe's leadership. Together, we'll witness our tribe's rise." The Chieftain gazed at Azar with hope, as if to say, "These terms are so good—go on, accept them!"
"I'll follow your will, Uncle. I'll choose the members according to your requirements. I do have an idea, though, and I'm not sure if I should bring it up." Azar stole a glance at his superior's expression. Seeing no sign of anger, he felt half his worries fall away.
"Speak freely. You should tell me everything that's on your mind." The Chieftain answered readily.
"What will happen to the old troops—that is, Zhakun and his Shadow Hunters? They've shed blood for the tribe, after all. They've served it well." Azar chose his words carefully before replying. After a brief silence, the Chieftain said, "Don't worry about them, my child. If you want, I can give you the authority to choose anyone you admire. I'll form a Sweep Legion from the remaining troops, dedicated to fighting abroad during this period. What do you think?"
"I'll follow your will. I'll do my best. Could Zhakun be put in charge of the Sweep Legion?" Azar asked cautiously again.
Azar had mixed feelings about Zhakun. He understood that someone of Zhakun's standing would be hard to win over. But Zhakun had once been a hero of the tribe and had saved Azar's life. Azar couldn't bear to see him become a casualty of the reforms.
"That's even better. I agree." The Chieftain readily accepted. The weight on Azar's heart lifted completely. After bowing, he left the Council Hall.
"What do you think of him, my High Sorcerer?" the Chieftain asked casually as a figure emerged from behind the curtain.
"He's courteous and composed, and knows when to advance or retreat. He has great potential."
"That's high praise! Apart from Azshara, you rarely compliment anyone like that."
"I can tell you're very fond of your young nephew."
"To help our tribe rise, we must nurture talented young people."
"We'll succeed."
The next morning, at dawn, at Zhakun's residence.
"Did you come here to laugh at me?"
"I told you that, win or lose, I'd tell you the answer."
"Go on. I'm listening."
"We chose different paths, so we drifted apart. I chose order; you pursued slaughter. Neither of us was wrong."
Zhakun nodded gloomily. "I knew this day would come sooner or later. The truth is, I don't even know when I became this way. I pursued strength. During the Hundred Years' War, I watched my kin fall in battle and swore I'd grow stronger, protect those around me, and crush every enemy. I fought desperately, and when I was wounded, I kept fighting without a moment's rest. The more I killed, the stronger I became. I grew bloodthirsty. Killing and bloodshed drove me mad. Whenever I stopped killing, I felt empty inside and didn't know what to do. I began to change. I grew cold and merciless, no longer the person I used to be." He grew so agitated that he broke into a violent coughing fit. A maid poured him some water and rubbed his back. Once he had calmed down and caught his breath, he continued, "We killed Insectoids to ensure our race's survival. But why did we kill our own during the Great Migration? I told myself, 'It's for survival too.' That's the Trolls' innate drive to kill."
"You're a hero of the tribe. No one can erase what you've done! You opposed savagery and hated slaughter and bloodshed, so the Chieftain chose the Great Migration. You stood firmly by his side, which shows that deep down, you're the same kind of person. There are things even you can't change. Since they can't be changed, why not let them keep flourishing?"
"What do you mean? Get to the point!" Zhakun grabbed my hand in agitation, his eyes blazing.
"You sacrificed a great deal for the tribe's survival. I know it, and the Chieftain knows it too. You're conflicted about the tribe's growth. Since that can't be changed, why don't we burn ourselves out for it? After all, the Trolls' path to righteousness is fraught with hardship. Better to charge forward into battle than be pushed aside. Even if you die in battle, you'll have died for a worthy cause. A true hero expects nothing in return. I don't agree with your way of fighting, but I'll defend to the death your right to choose it. We must hold our fate firmly in our own hands. So go fight. If you die on the eve of victory, wouldn't that be the best end for you?"
"To die with honor? To die just before achieving my life's ambition? Hahaha! I understand! I am the hero of the Zarzan Tribe! I'm bloodthirsty and brutal, and I've eaten countless people, but I have no regrets! Everything I did was for the tribe's survival and prosperity! Even if I die, I'll have died for a worthy cause."
"A man should kill, and show no mercy.
An immortal legacy through the ages lies in killing.
When the deed is done, brush off your sleeves and leave,
Burying your achievements and fame deep within!"
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