Upon the arrival of the three on the island, its inhabitants welcomed them warmly, believing them to be the heroes who had slain the beast that had long terrorized them. The villagers gathered around them, watching with curiosity and anticipation.
An elderly man stepped forward, his face bearing the marks of wisdom and dignity, and introduced himself, saying: "My name is Kael, chief of the Loran Tribe. I thank you for your courage. You have freed us from the monster that prevented us from leaving the island and fishing the seas. Thanks to you, we are finally liberated."
Hamza spoke while supporting Travis, who struggled to remain standing despite the clear signs of wounds and bruises covering his body. "Chief, our friend has suffered grave injuries. Could you help him first?"
Kael looked toward Travis, then gestured to several men standing beside him and said: "Take him to the healing hut, and make certain he receives the finest care."
The men carried Travis into a wide hut, where the healers gathered around him and brought forth herbs and medicinal oils. As Travis lay there, he felt a faint sting with every bandage placed upon his body, and so he closed his eyes, surrendering himself to rest without complaint.
Hamza thanked the chief, while Basil looked toward the healing hut where Travis was receiving treatment, then turned back to Kael and said, "Chief, there is something important we must tell you."
Kael turned to him in return and asked, "And what might that be?"
Basil replied, "In truth, it was not we who killed the beast. There is a man named Julinz, a mysterious figure of whom we know very little; he appeared suddenly and slew it. Before departing, he left us a warning message that read: Prepare yourselves, for a fleet of ships shall invade the island in six days."
A heavy silence descended, and the joy upon the faces of the villagers transformed into shock and dread.
Voices rose among the people: "An invasion?! Dear heavens... only six days remain before they arrive!... What will become of us and our children?.. Can we truly repel them?"
No sooner had those words spread than anxiety consumed the villagers, and murmurs rose from every side as fearful glances were exchanged among them.
After several tense moments, Kael looked toward the people and said, "Calm yourselves..." Then he turned to Basil and Hamza and added, "Strangers, if this message is true, then why would they seek to invade our island? What is it they desire here?"
Hamza answered, "I believe they possess information concerning the lost island."
Those present exchanged uneasy glances, as though something had just been confirmed in their minds.
Hamza continued, "We cannot withstand a possible invasion without preparing for what is to come."
Kael drew a deep breath, then pointed toward a great hut standing at the center of the village and said, "Come. Let us discuss how we shall face this threat."
Basil answered, "We will do all that we can to help you."
After several moments of silence hanging over the place, the tribal chief sighed and said, "It would seem matters are not as we believed. If ships truly come to invade us, then we stand before a danger far greater than the beast that terrorized us for years. We must prepare ourselves; therefore, we need to understand the true strength of the fleet that approaches."
Hamza spoke, "If the fleet comes as Julinz foretold, then perhaps their numbers reach ten thousand warriors."
Kael replied sorrowfully, "Unfortunately, we do not possess such strength. Our fighters number no more than three thousand. And despite the courage of our men, we lack both the resources and the numbers required to face an army of such magnitude alone."
Hamza said in a serious tone, "We need to know more about the island. Are there other tribes or important places that could influence this battle?"
Kael replied, "Yes... our island is not entirely isolated, for we are not the only ones who dwell upon it. There is another tribe living in the eastern region of the island, known as the Asoran Tribe. In the past, we lived together in peace, but that peace soon transformed into a bitter conflict."
Kael continued, "The wars between us and the Asoran Tribe began because of vengeance and hostility, and over time the tension between us only grew until members of the Asoran Tribe began abducting women from our people and forcing them to bear children, leading to bloody conflicts that endured for decades, exhausting both tribes and destroying all trust between them."
A heavy silence followed his words before Basil intervened, saying, "If your warriors number only three thousand, and another tribe also lives upon this island, then I believe facing the approaching fleet will prove difficult for either tribe alone."
Then he added, "We are here to help you, but we must understand that this battle is not the battle of the Loran alone. If we wish to protect the island from this invasion, then we must unite our ranks and seek an alliance with the Asoran Tribe."
Kael lifted his head sharply, his gaze hardened: "You ask me to ally with the Asoran Tribe? Years of bloodshed and vengeance lie between us... How are we to trust them after all that has happened?"
Hamza said calmly, "I know this is not easy, and I understand your anger. But the situation we face now is different. Whether you are enemies or not, the approaching fleet will not distinguish between the Loran and the Asoran, and if one tribe falls, the other shall not survive alone."
A long silence followed, until Kael finally sighed and said, "Very well... but there is another obstacle. A river separates us from the Asoran Tribe, and during this season the river floods twice each year, its waters rising to dangerous levels. We are now within the season of flooding, and it cannot be crossed until three days have passed and the waters begin to recede."
Silence filled the hut for several moments before Hamza and Basil exchanged understanding glances, realizing that only three days remained before they would be able to cross toward the Asoran Tribe.