The first beams of morning light slipped through the crooked doorway of the nursery, nding softly across Aleana's resting face. Her eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep. Though still fatigued, her mind was less foggy, and her body ached less.

  The result of a good night's sleep.

  She looked around the room, and a realization hit her.

  It wasn't a dream, I'm really in this pce.

  Thinking back, her conversation with the one called Raruk had been very strange. To imagine there was a nd where creatures unknown to her lived — it was simply incomprehensible.

  She y on the bed for some time before sitting up. Just to the side stood a small wooden table, and above it sat a bowl of steaming food that tugged at her stomach.

  He must've left it while I was sleeping.

  "..huh?"

  At the foot of the bed, just beside the fire pit, she noticed a fairly big bucket filled with what seemed to be clean water. Draped over it was a piece of cloth.

  She held out her hands and observed them, then touched her face, her hair, her body.

  "Dirty and grimy," she said softly before sniffing herself.

  "!!!"

  Aleana's face burned with sudden embarrassment.

  "I smell... What would Mother say—" she muttered, but her words faltered as sadness overtook her.

  Her eyes dimmed as a single tear trickled down her cheek.

  "Mother... Father... Katia, Orem..." she whispered, remembering her family.

  Her family was gone. Her home, her status — everything. She had been reduced to this pitiful woman whose fate now lie in the hands of the strange creature providing her shelter and food.

  Resolving herself, she wiped her tears away and approached the bucket.

  He must want me cleaned, she thought, heart beating heavily in her chest.

  But why? What was Raruk pnning that required her to be clean? Or did he simply find her smell unbearable?

  What will he do to me?

  Her thoughts raced as she stood there, cloth in hand, contempting.

  Though still hesitant, Aleana dipped the cloth into the water and peeled off her filthy, tattered garments. The coolness of the damp cloth sent a shiver through her as she dragged it over her skin. She moved delicately, her slender frame bearing the bruises and scratches of her desperate escape. Though thin from hunger, there was still a fragile beauty to her form.

  Her skin, smooth and pale like porcein, glistened as water trickled down. Her ample breasts lightly jostled as she ran the cloth between them, washing away the grime that had accumuted. She reached up, wringing out her long hair, letting rivulets of water trace down her bare shoulders and along the gentle curve of her waist.

  Then—

  The wooden door creaked open.

  Aleana froze mid-motion, the damp cloth clutched desperately against her bare chest.

  Her breath hitched. Her heart smmed against her ribs, frantic and wild.

  A single thought tore through her mind—

  I'm trapped.

  For a moment, neither of them moved.

  Raruk stood framed in the doorway, a hulking shadow against the morning light.

  In his arms, he held a bundle of something — clothes, maybe — but Aleana barely noticed.

  All she saw was the sheer size of him — towering, broad-shouldered, wild.

  Her stunned mind raced to estimate — he had to be at least six foot nine inches tall, if not more.

  A giant by her people's standards.

  Time stretched unbearably.

  She braced herself, trembling, expecting the worst—

  a harsh ugh, a lunge forward, rough hands—

  —but it never came.

  Instead, Raruk stiffened, as if realizing too te what he'd walked in on. His golden eyes widened, not in hunger, cruelty, or lust, but in arm.

  Almost... embarrassment.

  Quickly, awkwardly, he averted his gaze, turning his head aside.

  No leering, no steps forward, only a rough, uncomfortable grunt.

  With his face turned away, Raruk thrust out the bundle toward her, his rge hand gripping the clothes tightly but not moving closer.

  "Old clothes... no good. These..." he fumbled for the words, his voice low, almost sheepish, "...cleaner."

  Aleana pressed the cloth tighter against her, her fingers trembled with fear.

  Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out with one hand and took the clothes from him, brushing briefly against his skin.

  It was like touching stone — weathered, solid, rough. It was though it had been used to its fullness.

  "T-thank you," she managed, her voice a fragile whisper.

  Raruk gave a stiff nod, still not looking at her.

  "Call when done. Talk after," he said gruffly.

  Then, without another word, he stepped back through the door and pulled it shut behind him with a soft, almost apologetic thud.

  Aleana stood frozen, the clothes clutched to her chest, her breath coming fast and shallow.

  Her legs threatened to buckle under her, but somehow she remained standing.

  Not harmed.

  Not touched.

  "..haaaaaah" she let out a sigh as her shoulders dropped in relief.

  A moment passed before she gathered herself again. Drying herself as best she could, she slipped into the new garments. Though coarse against her skin and a little loose, the clothes provided to her were warm, and whole, far from the tattered garments she was wearing moments ago.

  A few more minutes ter, Raruk stood still just outside the door, his mind racing.

  "That surprised me.." He thought to himself. This was the first time, in a long time, that he had seen the body of a female. He had long since forgotten the power it wielded over men. "I should be more careful from now on."

  Suddenly, he heard a faint, almost whispering voice from the other side of the door.

  "R-Raruk?" the woman inside called out.

  Hesitating briefly, he turned and slowly opened the door.

  What welcomed him was the sight of a woman who looked utterly out of pce from the world he'd come to know.

  The clothes he had given her were too big, that much was certain, but her cleaned-up appearance was so surreal that Raruk could not help but stare.

  Her skin, pale and soft-looking, shimmered faintly under the soft light, her golden hair, still damp from her bath, fell in waves down just above her waist. He had noticed it before, but the way it glistened now, as though freshly spun from sunlight, made his heart lurch in an unfamiliar way.

  Her lips, slightly parted, were delicate, painted with a soft natural pink. There was an almost ethereal grace to her, so at odds with the harsh world that surrounded them.

  But it was her eyes that held him the longest.

  Sapphire blue, like the ocean on the clearest of days, deep and endless, yet somehow fragile and turbulent, like they could shatter if you looked too long.

  There was a depth to them he had not noticed before, a haunting, but resolute look.

  The words he had meant to say caught in his throat.

  Beautiful, he could only think, and the realization struck him like a blow.

  He had not known beauty like this until now — not since... well, not since he had become what he was.

  He cleared his throat and quickly averted his gaze, heart thumping harder than before.

  “F-feel better?” he stammered, the words slipping out before he could stop them. His voice, usually gruff and steady, sounded odd in his ears.

  Aleana didn’t speak at first, and for a moment, he feared she hadn’t heard him.

  But then, she offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, her expression still guarded.

  Scratching the back of his neck, Raruk shuffled toward the small table, his boots hitting heavily against the stone floor.

  Noticing the still uneaten food, Raruk grunted in worry.

  "Food, no good?"

  "Ahh, no no, it's good, it's just—" she hesitated, "I wanted to be clean before eating."

  Offering just a simple nod, Raruk sat down and gestured for her to do the same.

  "Eat while talk," he said, leaning on the table, his massive body looming over her with quiet patience.

  Cautiously, Aleana sat down and picked up the utensils. Though the hunger was still unbearable, it wasn't as bad as it had been when she first woke up. She had the presence of mind to conduct herself in an orderly manner.

  While she ate, Raruk watched her intently. Just by observing her now, with her refined and graceful movements, he could tell:

  This is no common woman, a noble, perhaps?

  The first to speak was Raruk.

  "You tell more," he said as Aleana paused eating and looked up at him.

  "W-what do you want to know?"

  "Tell. More. Where come. Who?" he said, feigning to struggle with the words.

  Aleana tilted her head. "Are you asking me to tell you more about myself?"

  Raruk grunted in affirmation, his brow furrowing in mock confusion.

  It pained him, speaking this way — hiding the truth — but he couldn't reveal himself yet.

  Seeing this, Aleana worried that Raruk might have been growing impatient.

  "A-ah, sorry, uhm—" she stammered. "As I mentioned, my name's Aleana. Uhm.. I'm a human."

  She began to speak of her homend.

  A pce called Errowind — a vast continent divided into nine kingdoms, each ruled by different races.

  Five of the kingdoms belonged to the humans, her own kind.

  Two were ruled by the long-lived Elves, known for their pointed ears and innate command of magic.

  One kingdom, nestled high among the mountains, belonged to a subrace of Elves — the Dwarves. Stocky, proud, and sturdy folk renowned for their craftsmanship and mining.

  The final kingdom was home to the fierce Beastkin of Fangsworth — humanoid creatures with animalistic traits and instincts.

  As she spoke, Aleana gnced at Raruk. She wasn't sure how much he could follow, but something about talking — about remembering — soothed her.

  It reminded her of simpler times, when she taught her younger siblings about the world.

  "My family is from the eastern kingdom of Orwin," she said. "It’s a small realm, ruled by a kind-hearted king named Hubert the Kind."

  She looked up, hesitant.

  "Do you... do you know what a king is, Raruk?"

  "Umu. King — chieftain. Leader," he replied without pause.

  A faint smile touched her lips. He understood more than she thought.

  "My family," she continued, eyes lowering slightly, "we were... minor nobles. Landholders under the king's rule."

  It was a lie — a small one. In truth, her father had been a marquess, a powerful man of influence and wealth. But here, where power meant something entirely different, where she was alone and uncertain, it felt safer to be small.

  "Minor... noble," Raruk repeated, tasting the words. "Many nds? Big hold?"

  She nodded.

  "Yes, we lived on a rge estate, near the capital — Adeide. It was beautiful. Lush forests, blooming gardens... My siblings and I used to race horses across the fields."

  A wistful smile crossed her face — fleeting, swallowed by sorrow.

  Raruk leaned in, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.

  "Lush... forest? Alive? Animals — alive?"

  His tone puzzled her. "Um... yes? Thousands of trees, thousands of animals too, I believe. Isn't it the same here?"

  But when she asked, his expression lit up — like a fire catching wind.

  "I knew it..." he thought. "Their nd is not dying."

  "What happened?" he asked carefully. "Why leave?"

  Aleana’s breath caught. For a moment, no words came. She stared at her food, her appetite fading.

  "Our home..." she whispered, "was attacked."

  Raruk remained silent, solid and unmoving.

  "I don’t know by who," she went on. "It all happened so fast. Fire... screams... our knights led me to a boat."

  She clutched at the fabric of her borrowed clothes, knuckles whitening.

  The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the crackling fire.

  Then Aleana sat straighter, brushing the pain from her expression.

  "I... I have questions too," she said, her voice steadier now. Her sapphire eyes met his.

  Raruk grunted softly. "Ask."

  "How did you find me?" she asked. "I remember sailing east with the knights. Then... nothing."

  He scratched his chin. "Fishing ds. Out at sea. Net you instead of fish."

  Aleana blinked. "In a net?" she echoed, incredulous.

  "Umu," he replied, a flicker of amusement at his lips.

  A small ugh escaped her, quick and disbelieving. The first in days.

  "You lucky," Raruk said, "Fishing ds find you near Thunder Dome."

  "There it is again," Aleana thought, leaning forward.

  She looked Raruk in the eyes, "you mentioned it yesterday too. The Thunder Dome. What is it?"

  Raruk's face grew serious. He csped his hands, leaned in. His voice was low and deliberate.

  "Thunder Dome... barrier. Great wall of storm. Lightning. Fire from sky."

  Aleana's eyes widened.

  "No one knows where it came from," he said. "Always been there. Since first Oruk. Circle whole Orkungthar. No leave. No enter."

  "But... how does it work?" she asked.

  He shrugged. "Any who touch — die. Lightning strike. Burn to bone."

  A chill ran down her spine.

  "So no one's crossed it before?" she whispered.

  Raruk looked at her, his gaze unreadable.

  "None... until you."

  She sat back, stunned.

  A noble's daughter — somehow breaching a barrier that had existed since time itself. Ending up in this strange nd.

  How will I ever get back? she thought. Do I even have a pce to return to?

  "Do you know how I passed through?" she asked, arms hugging her body.

  Raruk shook his head. "Don't know. But... it means there are other nds."

  For the first time, she saw something strange and unfamiliar in his eyes.

  Hope.

  "D-do you want to leave Orkungthar?" she asked, cautiously.

  He nodded.

  "Why?"

  Raruk’s expression darkened, but not with anger. Just memory.

  Aleana flinched. "S-sorry! I didn’t mean to pry—"

  "No need apologize," he said. "Just thinking."

  He leaned back, gazing at the ceiling. "Orkungthar... dead. Few trees. Few animals. Need new home."

  Aleana sat in silence. The idea of a dying nd settled over her like fog.

  But then, a more troubling thought emerged.

  "If you and your people need a new home..." she said quietly, "do you mean to invade my homend? To conquer it?"

  The question hung like gss between them.

  Raruk’s eyes locked on hers — not with fury, but solemnity.

  "No," he said at st. "No invade. No conquer."

  She let out a slow breath.

  "Only live," he said. "Only future. Orkungthar dying. Cn in danger. Need nd. Hunt. Survive."

  Aleana watched him — the worn scars, the weight in his gaze. Not a conqueror. A survivor.

  They spoke for hours more. She told him about her world, and he about his. By the end of it, they reached an agreement.

  Aleana would teach Raruk her tongue. He would teach her his.

  It was, to Raruk, a perfect cover. No one would question how he understood her speech — he'd simply say she taught him.

  But his thoughts soon turned darker. His brother, Boruk, had requested to meet the girl — hence Raruk’s insistence she be cleaned. Boruk was wary, but he trusted Raruk’s judgment.

  The real problem was their father, Borg — the chieftain.

  Raruk didn’t know how Borg would react. But he suspected it would not go well.

  Just as he was lost in these thoughts, Aleana’s voice broke through.

  "Raruk?"

  He looked over, golden eyes focusing on her.

  "Am I... your prisoner?" she asked.

  He blinked, caught off guard.

  "Ah... no. Not prisoner."

  "Then... am I free to go?"

  He frowned, visibly conflicted. Aleana pressed gently, "I want to see the outside... just for a little."

  Raruk hesitated. He hadn’t pnned to keep her here long — just until the others were ready. Tonight, he had pnned to introduce her properly.

  Can’t you wait a little longer? he thought.

  Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud crash.

  Raruk shot to his feet. In a blink, he flipped the table to shield Aleana, knocking her to the ground.

  "Kyaa!" she yelped.

  He seized his axe, baring his tusks.

  "Raruk!" came a voice—urgent and panicked.

  It was Gorik, one of the Oruks close to Raruk's age.

  "What is the meaning of this?!" Raruk snarled. "Why barge in like that?!"

  "It's—it's an emergency! Boruk sent me! Scouts spotted a rge group of Oruks near the northern border!"

  Raruk’s eyes narrowed. "How many?"

  "Fifty. They're flying the mark of the Iron Tusk cn."

  Raruk cupped his chin, processing.

  To think they'd strike now—when most of our seasoned warriors are down south with Father.

  He couldn’t help the slight smile tugging at his lips. A dangerous grin.

  They had 150 warriors in the cn, but most were gone, helping to establish a southern foothold. Only around sixty remained in the stronghold, and some of those had never seen real battle.

  A grim situation.

  They couldn't leave the stronghold undefended. At most, they could spare thirty to meet the enemy’s fifty.

  Outnumbered by twenty.

  But Raruk’s blood boiled hot. His Oruk instincts roared for battle. In his culture, victory in a lopsided fight brought great honor.

  "We can take them." He thought.

  "R-Raruk? W-what’s happening?" a soft voice pulled him from the fire in his thoughts.

  He turned. Aleana peeked out from behind the overturned table, her eyes wide with fear.

  "Enemy. Attack. Dangerous. Need fight," he said, clipped and simple.

  Then he turned to Gorik. "Head to Boruk, tell him I'm on my way."

  "Understood!"

  Raruk turned back to Aleana, crouched, and gently helped her up.

  "Stay. I’ll be back."