"Good," Bramm nodded absentmindedly. "There’s not much to do for the day, daylight is giving in, and the forest gets livelier at night. For now, we wait for a brother in arms to return, then we can get a good night’s sleep in."

Not long after dusk had settled, Keren and Bramm sat around a fire midway up the clearing. Mestin returned, bloody and covered in grime. Bramm caught the stench of blood before Mestin came close. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"There is a clean tub just outside my cabin. Get yourself cleaned up and join us for some dinner. I’ll introduce you to each other once you return," Bramm spoke without looking up as he continued to focus on the meat hanging over the fire.

They had quickly gone out to hunt and found a few rabbits and an unlucky deer or two for the night.

"The big fella ain’t much of a talker from what I can gather, so don’t mind too much if he doesn’t speak a lot." Bramm nodded to the lumbering giant as he made his way towards the cabin.

"Well, it matters naught, for I’d no mind tae be pokin’ a Great Bear o’ a man like that anyway—no’ unless I’d a longin’ tae be crushed beneath his hammer."

Bramm chuckled before returning his attention to the fire.

"Well then, I’ll have to do some in return. Your accent, it reminds me of an old friend I had a couple years back. You’re from the Iron-Crags are you not?"

"Aye, that I was. Sprung frae the Steelfell clan... ye’ve a sharp mind on ye. There’s no’ many a soft southerner kens the way o’ those high lands, nor the names of us who bide there." Keren shrugged, and his eyes lingered on Bramm for a couple of seconds.

"Haha, been living on the sea for a long time. You learn a couple of things voyaging around here and there."

"I see, then. Why stay your hand and bide here? Lookin’ at ye, the frost hasna’ settled in your beard yet—ye’ve years left tae ye. Is it the ol’ wounds catchin’ up, or has the marrow gone cold in your bones?" The man questioned with interest.

"Something like that." Bramm shrugged and showed no further intent to speak.

Keren wanted to speak but was interrupted when the sound of footsteps crept up towards them, and the two men turned to see Mestin making his way down the slope.

"Well, aint that better. Welcome back," Bramm nodded approvingly.

"Mestin, this is another brother of ours joining the cause, his name-..."

"...The name’s Keren Steelfell, and it’s a fine thing tae be meetin’ ye!" The man stood up and reached out his arm.

Mestin gave a grunt and took Keren’s forearm in greeting, "Mestin Highmalt."

Seeing the two men, Bramm could not help but smile. They greeted each other in the standard greeting of warriors, grabbing the forearms, and with a shake, they released one another, smiles creeping onto their faces.

"Now, Mestin. How did everything go?"

Once the two men got acquainted, Bramm asked the question that was burning on his mind.

"Mhmm... once I’d wandered off, it wasn’t long ’fore I was mixin’ it up with a few primal beasts, maybe a mile or so out. Hard to see the bottom o’ the tun with all that thick leaf and branch. I let the eastern woods settle for a fair bit, but once the sun started to dip and the brew turned dark, I knew it was time to pull the plug and head on back." He spoke slowly and softly, but even that could not stop his deep voice from rumbling out in echo across the field.

"Good, then tomorrow, you should take Keren as well. I want you to search the southern areas along the cliff. Kill as many primal beasts as you can without putting yourselves in too much danger." Bramm nodded towards the southern forest area running along the cliffs.

"I want this area around 2 kilometers cleared of primal beasts. If you encounter something you can’t handle. Retreat, I have no intention of giving a farewell so soon."

"As the Mormaer commands," both received the order with a nod and thump of the chest.

"Well, I’ll leave you, boys, to it then. I’m going to call it a night. If one of you wishes to take up a guard post, you’re more than welcome. Primal beasts typically won’t venture too close to the clearing, though.

With a grunt and a heave, Bramm stood up and made his way towards his cabin.

The cabin wasn’t too large, although Bramm had made a lot of effort in building it. It was cozy and comfy to say the least. Once inside, he took a seat on his bed, and with a deep sigh, he started breathing rhythmically in some sort of pattern, and it wasn’t long before a light red hue surrounded him.

The world of Anathorn was a massive place, too large for one man to venture in most of his time. It was jam-packed with strange races and cultures and histories, and there was one common thread amongst them all.

Vitre - the energy in the world, some call it elements, some call it mana, and a variety of strange names. But Vitre floods the world, and it is what gives life to the forests, to the oceans, and the skies.

It is the lifeblood of the world, and those who can use Vitre are called The Gifted, and those not capable of wielding Vitre are known as Hollowed.

Warriors of any race are able to absorb Vitre into their bodies, which in turn strengthens their bones, muscles, tendons, and overall capacity for strength and power. Essentially, turning them into something akin to superhuman.

Bramm had spent most of his life on open waters and traveled to many lands, where he was able to learn much of how to control and use Vitre.

Something akin to small light particles kept floating closer to Bramm, and some even entered his body as he continued to breathe slowly but steadily.

He was seated for hours on end until the moon was at its peak before he stopped.