CHAPTER 37: CH 37: GUESTS FROM OUTSIDE - PART 4

The soft crunch of footsteps carried over the quiet evening valley. The air smelled of damp soil, the snow outside the barrier melting into rivulets that fed the sprouting green beneath.

The captured soldiers were beginning to stir, one after another, confusion heavy in their groggy voices.

"...Where the hell are we?"

One muttered, blinking against the fading sunlight.

"Wait—my hands...Damn it. We’re tied."

Another rattled his bindings and cursed under his breath.

Their groans overlapped, some muttering angrily, others sitting silently as though still trying to grasp the situation.

None of them, however, dared to raise their voice too loudly.

Something about the place—the warmth, the strange comfort in the air—stifled their fear just enough to keep them from panicking.

Minutes passed, and the first of them lifted his head, truly noticing the ground beneath him.

"...Grass? This can’t be right. We were marching through a snowstorm this morning."

The others followed his gaze. It was true. The frozen dirt they had trudged over for weeks was gone. In its place, faint blades of green were pushing through the earth, lively and soft against their bound hands.

The entire valley seemed immune to winter’s cruelty, its warmth sinking into their skin even as their breath still fogged faintly.

"This... this isn’t natural"

One whispered, almost reverent.

Before their questions spiraled, the sound of light footsteps drew their attention. A girl, hardly older than the youngest among them, approached with a basket in her arms.

Her hair was tied messily, her cheeks flushed from running around. Mira stopped just short of the cages, grinning despite the wary stares she received.

"You’re awake! That’s good. You must be hungry, right? Here."

She said brightly.

She bent down, pulling out neatly wrapped bundles of food and slipping them through the bars.

The prisoners exchanged confused looks. One of them hesitated, then carefully took the offering. His wrists were bound in front, just enough for him to manage. When he bit into it, his eyes widened.

"This... tastes good."

The others didn’t wait any longer. One by one, they accepted Mira’s food, chewing quickly as though their bodies had only just remembered what hunger was.

More than one of them muttered thanks, though their pride made it sound grudging.

Mira, however, beamed at each word.

"I’m glad you like it. I worked hard to grow it, you know! Took forever to make the soil listen. Berry said my rows were crooked, but I told him it’s because the worms kept running away when I watered them—"

"Mira!"

The girl jumped, cheeks puffing as she turned toward the call. Berry stood at the edge of the field, one hand shading his eyes against the setting sun.

"Stop chatting and come help. The irrigation’s clogged again."

"Coming!"

Mira huffed. She looked back at the prisoners, as if she wanted to brag more about her vegetables, but ran off reluctantly, her basket swinging.

The captured men followed her retreat with wide eyes. Their murmurs began again, but this time softer, tinged with disbelief.

"Those were fresh crops... in the middle of snow season?"

"And did you see the fields behind her? Rows upon rows of food. It’s... impossible."

The more they whispered, the heavier the air grew in the cage. No answers came, only more questions, until the sound of deliberate footsteps silenced them.

Lucian appeared, small frame outlined by the dusky light. Though he looked like a boy—five, maybe six years at most—his calm gaze and slow pace made the prisoners tense instinctively.

He stopped before their cage, hands folded behind his back as though he were inspecting livestock.

"Good. You’re all awake."

He said. His voice was soft but carried an edge of weight, like someone used to being listened to.

The leader, Jamie, stiffened immediately. Her eyes narrowed, but she forced her tone to stay steady.

"What do you want with us?"

Lucian ignored her question.

"I’ll ask instead. What is your plan, if I let you go?"

Jamie exhaled slowly.

"The same as before. We’ll head back. Forget this place. You’ll never hear from us again."

Her voice was smooth, almost convincing. Almost. Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver, but inside, the flicker of his system’s response confirmed his suspicion:

[Sincerity—10%.]

He tilted his head slightly, the faintest of smiles curling at his lips.

"A lie that thin won’t buy your freedom."

Jamie’s face darkened, but she didn’t answer.

Lucian shifted his gaze to the others.

"And the rest of you? What will you do?"

Silence stretched. Many looked away, others clenched their jaws. But one man, younger than the rest with sunken cheeks and weary eyes, finally spoke.

"I... have nothing to go back to. No home. No family. If you’ll let me, I’d rather stay here. Work for you. At least here... I won’t starve."

He admitted.

The others gawked at him, some whispering curses under their breath. Betrayal. Weakness. Desperation.

But Lucian only studied him calmly, and once more, the system’s clear chime rang in his mind:

[Sincerity—90%.]

He nodded once, sharp and final.

"Berry."

He called.

The man appeared swiftly from the rows of fields, wiping dirt from his hands. Lucian pointed at the soldier.

"Free him. Have him sign the contract."

Berry didn’t question it. He pulled the man from the cage, guided him toward the system’s ritual circle, and began the binding.

The remaining prisoners, watching the process, grew restless. Their voices overlapped, desperate this time.

"I’ll stay too!"

"Yes, me as well—please, I’ll work hard!"

"Better to serve here than rot out there, right?"

Lucian let them speak, his expression unreadable. The system whispered again, line after line, each verdict the same: Insincere.

Finally, he raised a hand. The voices died instantly.

"Do you all truly want to stay here with me? Think carefully. You still have time to change your minds. But lies won’t pass here. Not in my valley."

He said.

The weight of his words sank into them, colder than the snow they had once marched through.

Now, they all had a choice to make.