"Are you alright, Lady Pelica?" Galthor asked.

It was morning and everyone was gathered in front of the Chief's building. The masters and the advanced warriors both. All the masters were ready for battle.

Han and Lady Pelica were also present.

And since most of the villagers knew their Chief would be away to the Abyssal land for a while, they had also come to see him off.

"I am fine, Chief Galthor," Lady Pelica said with a smile and respectful voice.

Galthor looked her over carefully. Although others might have missed it, he noted some kind of peculiarities in her behaviors. For starters, she was far more respectful to him than she was before, even going as far as to bow very low to him.

Another thing was the way she carefully avoided looking at him.

The biting sting he gave her must really be effective.

"Very well." Galthor nodded. "We will continue with the brief meeting then, although everything that should be said has already been said.

"We masters will be away for a while and Grimvar and the advanced warriors will be in charge." Galthor paused. In truth, he wanted to put a master or maybe even two in charge of the village but it would not make sense if he did.

He needed all the strength that he could get his hands on to enter the Abyssal land and he could not spare a single one. At the same time, he would have loved to take them with him into the Drowning.

But in the end, it was not the mode of transportation that mattered but the location. Nobody knew what would happen in the Abyssal land and he would not risk the anchors he had at the moment for something like that.

Grimvar bowed his head. "Thank you for this, Chief. I will take this responsibility very seriously."

Galthor turned to look at the villagers. They all looked at him with a combination of anxiousness and weariness as if they were witnessing the disappearance of their new Chief.

Is that not how their old Chief went and never returned?

"Brakthar has already handed over money and resources to Grimvar. Your food and everything will be taken care of. Have no worry about that. You must listen to the advanced warriors for they are an extension of my will."

The villagers bowed.

There was not really much to say after that but Galthor felt the need to assure them. "I might be going now but have you forgotten something very important? Unchanging Warth is still with you!"

Lady Pelica and Han had the biggest reaction to that name. They instantly became weary as if they expected lightning to rain down from above.

Galthor raised his hands. "Unchanging Warth, breaker of chains. You are the one with the everlasting anger of the lost ones. Hear me, lord of carnage and master of the mountains. Hear me, everlasting anger!"

The air around Galthor visibly whined and a golden glow enveloped him, shining bright and spreading to the other barbarians.

Galthor was spending lesser miracles to do this. Calmness and warmth seeped into the bodies of all the barbarians in an instant and they felt their anxiousness melt away.

Galthor smiled as the golden light spread away. "I might be going but the will of our god is still here, in the heart of everyone. He hears all."

Grimvar suddenly bowed and stepped forward, his eyes shining with a feverish light. "Even if he does not hear, we still have Young Korgath. He is the only chosen of our god and it is said that his prayers never fail."

Indeed, Galthor had placed Korgath in something of a priority list in his subconsciousness. Fortunately, due to the boy's grandmother and father, he never made any absurd demands or prayers.

In a way, he had truly become Galthor's chosen.

Galthor stared at Grimvar deeply. "I am considered something of a chosen myself, you know."

Grimvar shook his head. "You are different. You are a warrior, not like Korgath. That boy is one of the villagers. He is a proper chosen."

Galthor sighed. He should have known better than to start anything with Grimvar. He looked at the villagers and raised his voice. "He is right. You still have Korgath the chosen among you!"

He realized that what they needed was something more physical and they all sighed and nodded with a smile when they heard that.

Now he kept his voice low and only those in his immediate surroundings heard him. "Grimvar, make sure you pray the instant you sense any troubles. And list the troubles in detail. He will answer you."

Grimvar's eyes widened. "How do you know all of this..."

"I am his Apostle, Grimvar. His only Apostle for now and the highest mortal authority in the Sanctum of Unchanging Warth."

The words were not only meant for Grimvar but for Lady Pelica and Han. He knew they were trouble and he was giving them a warning.

Grimvar bowed. "Of course, Chief, we will do as you have told us. But since you are the Apostle, can you talk to Unchanging Warth about me? I am his most faithful devotee and I even tried to build an altar to his name. He should give me something. I have seen his back once, sitting on a mountain..."

Galthor opened his mouth to instantly dismiss him but then he paused. Everyone has their work and places. And looking at Grimvar, the guy was obviously madly loyal. Maybe he could find something for him?

After all, he still had not set up a proper Sanctum.

He nodded his head slowly. "I will, Grimvar Stronghide. By seeing you once he has already placed a mark on you, a connection. Not everyone can see him, you know."

He was speaking to Grimvar but it was Lady Pelica who flinched. The thought of a god placing a mark on her instantly made her feel itchy and panic started setting in her mind.

Galthor clapped, oblivious to all of this. "Alright, time to start killing monsters! Lady Pelica..."

She jumped lightly as he suddenly called her name.

Galthor looked at her. "...I have to ask you once again, do you really want to follow us into the Abyssal land? We cannot protect you, everyone has to put their life on the line to fight."

"I can hold my own."

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