It wasn't long before the boys had cleared the ranch and their objectives while informing the crew of the Nyx over short-range comms. Returning to Vicus they immediately went to the mayor's office and began to slowly but firmly state their findings. Wide eyes soon replaced the looks of surprise at their expedient return followed by worry then suspicion and doubt.
The mayor coughed into his hand and gave his secretary an unsure glance. No doubt they had dealt with troublesome folk who had lied in grandeur before and were cautious of what wording to use with the armed boys.
"Not to say we don't believe you gentleman but-"
"You don't just say it. You're wasting time otherwise" interrupted Caelum from behind the gas mask.
The man stayed silent despite the gruff response. His secretary then stepped forward, clipboard nervously clenched to her waist. "If you could just please provide us some evidence for your claims we could begin an investigation. Perhaps you could give us some credentials to refer to such deductions even?"
Lukas waved his hand dismissively. We've already given you photos of our hunt at the ranch and our findings. It's likely territorial between the Grimm. Younger weaker ones are being pushed out by older stronger beasts or even natural disasters. Our deductions lie with contemporary consensus that you have a Grimm incursion coming, and soon."
"That is just the thing" stated the Mayor. We are aware of what an Incursion is and its devastating effects. Our town has survived one before with terrible losses in life and property thanks in part to huntsmen like yourselves and our militia. But we can't simply bend over backward because four young men like yourselves have a hunch."
Raiden raised a hand politely as he spoke up. "With all due respect sir, we have given you substantial evidence for our claims and have nothing to gain from advising you to prepare defenses and stand alert."
"But we simply can't derail fifteen hundred people's daily lives or disrupt our local economy for an unreliable source lad. If it's true what you say then we can place a request in with the kingdom and Beacon Academy. I'm sure with your assistance they would prioritize us and send help soon."
"No," stated Caelum stepping forward. His voice muffled slightly by the mask and his glare hidden by the slightly tinted lenses. He cut an intimidating figure with his mysterious visage and short speech but the mayor would not be cowed in his town, let alone his office.
"And why is that boy?"
The mayor's subtle attempt at asserting himself over Caelum was ignored as he gave an excuse. "Vale is preoccupied with the Vytal festival and even with Atlas has little to spare in manpower. Beacon itself is dealing with shortages in trained huntsmen and has little to offer in assistance.
The mayor sputtered slightly at the reply as if the answer was ridiculous. "Then what do you propose we do?"
Caelum glanced at Lukas who replied with a shrug. Caelum sighed behind the mask before turning to the man and his secretary with an answer. "Two weeks is our shortest estimate before you have hundreds if not a few thousand Grimm knocking at your walls. Have the men working in eight-hour rotations. One half the first part of the day, the second half the following part, and the final eight hours are rest. While they do this for twelve days the women keep the bare essentials running and the children old enough to help will assist either side."
"What?!" hissed the older man placing his hands atop his desk. "That is ludicrous, the people will never accept such despotic measures for a stranger's guess."
Caelum slammed a hand down in response. From behind the mask, the mayor could barely make out the fierce glare in his eyes as his voice grated out a reply. "Then show them the pictures we took at the ranch. We documented every corpse. Men, women, and children butchered and left in puddles of their own shredded viscera. They can prepare or have their families end up the same."
The mayor pulled back in his seat, the image painted by his unpleasant guest leaving a fear that manifested across his expression. "What if we increase the militia's patrols and numbers temporarily? Would that suffice?"
"We'll leave this town and you all to your fate if you don't heed our warning," responded Caelum coldly.
Frustrated the man snipped back. "Then why are you four here?! If the kingdom cannot help why are you in my office?"
The four boys shared a unified glance. It was as the three nodded to Lukas, that he answered. "We are here at the behest of the academy for an investigation that we cannot disclose" answered Lukas with a look and tone of sincerity that immediately changed the man's disposition towards them. The lie was so fluent and natural that it had seemingly shifted his trust towards the four boys.
"I-is that so" coughed the mayor awkwardly. He sighed and began tapping a finger on his desk in thought. "Dear" he called to his secretary. Please begin writing up a report and send out a notice for an emergency meeting." He looked up at the boys. Financing this will be tedious and straining on our town and people let alone repairs. I don't believe we will be able to pay you for any services rendered if what you say is true."
Lukas waved the thought away. "So long as you keep our presence here to just this town we will be glad to serve our purpose as Huntsman." The statement was so unlike Lukas that Niel had to turn away to hide the snicker he was suppressing from everyone in the room.
"The mayor nodded his thanks. Will you four be joining us for the meeting? Your word may help convince the others."
Caelum raised a hand before Lukas and shook his head. "No. It would only stir them negatively as it had you. Convince your people and we will be patrolling the outskirts of Vicus. We will report any findings and dispatching of local Grimm. Once you convince them, we may begin and then discuss the employment of your militia on the new defenses."
The man grumbled slightly. "Very well. But if this is to occur, you four will have to become acquainted with the townsfolk and at least have them become comfortable with your presence. Lukas, Raiden, and Niel glanced at Caelum before nodding and answering in unison.
"We will do our best."
The man cleared his throat and stood offering a hand. Then, I hope this will all be worth it." Caelum stepped aside for Lukas, who was presumed to be the leader, to shake the mayor's hand.
That night bore productive results. The emergency meeting of the town council led to arguments and doubts as to the report from the unknown and young Huntsman but was ultimately passed with much grumbling and limited resistance.
As Caelum had predicted, fear played into the hearts of the older folk once they saw the images taken from the ranch. Familiar scenes of carnage and loss that only those with experience or age could provide, swayed the vote heavily in favor of preemptive measures.
It was the young and those who wished to see no interruption to their daily lives who resisted but with pressure and insistence on those who already had families at a young age, the close-knit and family-oriented community decided to comply with the plans laid out by Caelum and delivered by Lukas when the news of confirmation came.
The team of four, assured the town would comply, had arrived at the mayor's office at daybreak. The first day was organizing the town into separate workforces. A twelve-day unified effort of the towns one and a half thousand populace would be put to labor. If their predictions were correct, they would make it in time for the incursion.
Ultimately this timeline was decided as the most practical in regards to realistic goals and preventing too much disruption and malice from the populace. The local government would then reimburse the labor to the citizens regarding their hours and with harvest season having finished, there was certainly enough time for all able-bodied men. With this, the two eight-hour shifts and roles were assigned along with daily goals for defensive measures.
Progress was slow but soon work began to flow smoothly as the town settled into its two-week venture. Building began in the Northeast and worked around the town perimeter both clockwise and counter-clockwise simultaneously. Soon a defensive parapet, spiked outer perimeter of wooden stakes, and reinforcements as well as repairs to the town walls were being made.
As hundreds of men and their older sons worked moving dirt, cutting and shaping wood, and using what limited concrete the town had in stock, Team CRLN sat at the front of their work areas, maintaining a watch for any sign of Grimm as even the militia was assisting in construction.
Located in open prairie land centered slightly south of the deep forests that housed the Nyx to its west-northwest, Vicus was in prime farming land. This naturally made it difficult to defend, however. The rich farmland surrounding its walls held no natural defenses but did grant visibility. Only a few croppings of brush and treelines separating farmland offered anywhere for Grimm to encroach. Even though unlikely and the Grimm would be seen well before getting close, it eased the working people's minds that Huntsmen were watching over them.
Naturally though, many were still begrudging the new chores and the boys who had caused it. Many even doubted their skills due to their age and suspicious appearance. Some even stated that it was too coincidental to have such evidence of a Grimm incursion out of nowhere. Rumour spread amongst the usual gossipers in town causing minor stirs that were just as easily disputed as others pointed out their attentiveness to watching over them, refusing to take their eyes off the distance. Bickering arose that they would not help with building and others defended they were guarding them. It all came down to grumblings in the end.
Niel however had an easy-to-sway conscience and after asking permission from his partner and Caelum, went out of his way to help the townspeople with some of the more intensive tasks and hauling. Using his semblance and natural strength he quickly earned the favor of the working men while unintentionally shutting many nay-sayers quiet.
Lukas allowed it so long as he wasn't dragged in. In contrast, Raiden was the main speaker on the southern end of construction as Caelum was difficult for most of the townsmen to acknowledge let alone approach.
After a few days and quick progress, the majority of people warmed up to the boys quickly. Perhaps small-town living and politeness but they adapted well to the new schedule. Treating it as a bonding activity with neighbors and enjoying themselves as their wives, girlfriends, and children brought them meals and encouragement.
After dispatching a few wandering Grimm with ease over the days, directing and speaking with the town leaders, the boy's polite and humble dispositions were soon found genuine. Even Caelum's frightening appearance and few words were soon chalked up to a personality quirk as they waved and greeted him as if he were just another neighbor. It became an inside joke for the boys to whisper amongst each other how the people of Vicus may react if they learned the truth of their identity as Team CRLN.
It then became common for random towns folk to ask the boys questions in passing or as they worked in proximity of their watch. Initial distrust and suspicion finally gave way to curiosity about the casual foreigners.
Most were typical. "How old are the lot of ya? What kind of things have you seen? What fights or battles have you been in?" Then there were the older or more uncouth men asking about their experiences in 'romance.' Even rarer was the occasional thank you for watching out for them. For Niel and Raiden this struck their very soul as pride resonated within. Lukas accepted their thanks but played it off as a joke even as he was cynical about the people's safety if this incursion really were to come. Caelum, still worried over his identity, limited his interactions and so Raiden accepted all talks on his behalf.
The men were welcoming, the women thankful and kind, and the children looked on at them in admiration and wonder while some of the young women seemed to flutter their eyes and wave at the interesting new boys that caught their attention on occasion. Lukas would go on to tease Caelum who got little other than curious gazes while he flattered the women with Raiden as his wingman. Niel, having shown his strength, received a few admirers himself and was on cloud nine while taking Luaks' advice of 'Don't talk and ruin their perception.'
The days crept by like this for the boys as they seemed to wait more anxiously than the townspeople even as they built defenses and their militia was between building, drafting, and training.
Raiden waved to a few men who had given him two flasks of water as the sound of dozens at work emanated nearby. Walking a hundred meters away from the construction, he treaded over a small incline no more than a few feet high and plopped down atop it. Crossing his legs, he looked down at the base of it where Caelum sat, hidden out of sight from the Villagers.
"Suffocating in the mask again?" he asked tossing a water at his partner's back.
Caelum turned, giving a sideways glance as he caught the flask. The gas mask was resting atop his head, giving him a short reprieve from its confines without any prying eyes as he sat on watch. "It may be autumn but it does get sweltering in there" responded Caelum as he took a drink.
Settling into silence and enjoying the cool breeze rolling across the plains, Raiden relaxed with his halberd propped against his shoulder as he leaned his head against it, dozing slightly. He jerked slightly as he heard a series of metallic clicks. Looking down, he saw Caelum disassembling and cleaning his weapon once more, a habit of his when bored.
The peaceful scenery and quiet accompanied by rhythmic clicks continued for a moment until Caelum spoke. "Your turn." The announcement snapped Raiden awake as he looked at his partner. Caelum sat focused on his weapon, reassembling it as he moved his head, gesturing into the distance.
Three hundred and fifty meters out in the low brush of a tree line, a snout appeared followed by two tusks. A decently sized boarbutusk was prowling around.
"Better get to it before the Villagers start panicking and accusing us of slacking on the job again" instructed Caelum.
"It's four hundred and fifty meters out from them" defended Raiden as he crossed his legs and attached a cable to his weapon. "I don't think they'll be that strict."
"Get to it" instructed Caelum as Raiden stretched his arms and his railgun shifted before humming with a blue resonance.
The image transferred to his glasses HUD as he shouldered his railgun. With a steady breath, he fired. A blue light emanated with a bizarre sound and no recoil, the sight still surprising the villagers from afar as they didn't know what to make of it. Unannounced to them, the Boarbutusk had been cleanly eviscerated from afar.
With his weapon still hooked up, Raiden scanned the distance. Surprisingly, he found another Grimm two hundred meters from the last in another treeline, scratching its back against a tree. "Your turn."
"Where?" asked Caelum looking afar.
"Ursa. southeast of the last. That way" informed Raiden pointing with his rail gun.
"Fine" sighed Caelum. "It'll be a minute. I just cleaned this and I'm not doing it again. I'll walk out to it. With Radien shrugging indifferently to the declaration, Caelum shifted his weapon into its scythe form and shouldered it. Nonchalantly he strolled towards the unaware Ursa. From a distance, he could have been mistaken as a farmer with the tool over his shoulder, if it were not for his unusual attire and mask. Then again, thought Raiden, he probably would appear as a heart-wrenching scare for the elderly.
Now a couple kilometers away due to the rapid progress of the townsfolk, Niel and Lukas were having a much more relaxed time as they sat atop a small shack near the workers. The close proximity left them chatting with the locals regularly as they shared personal stories. It was Lukas' curiosity as to his partner's origins that led to Niel opening up and their current talk.
"To be precise we are traditionally nomadic but as of the past half century and with technology, we only migrate twice a year along with game and weather. Otherwise, we set down in a preferential area and erect a small settlement. It helps us to raise the young ones and give them a proper home to focus on their education and training without the dangers of being on the hunt" explained Niel.
Lukas gave a half-hearted hum as he stared up at the clouds, his mind trying to process how living like that would be. Niel didn't take any offense to the wandering attention of his partner as he continued indulging in his exposition.
"Every youth is trained to fight since our people are limited in number. Purebloods like myself and other head families of the tribe, you can tell us by the black hair and blue eyes, we receive priority training to ensure our tribe's honor isn't besmirched. There is even an old tradition that the elders still participate in. If they request it, they can have a 'final hunt' where they pursue Grimm until they meet their end. A team of veteran hunters will tail behind him for a day or so to retrieve his remains and write down his final hours. If they cannot then they are given a final mercy and lit upon a pyre. Their life story is then interred and kept within a series of books. Those books, having so many and so heavy, are sent to Vale to be interred in the national library."
"You sound like you miss it there? Why didn't you take Caelum's offer to leave?"
"Well, I was seen as exemplary compared to my peers so my tribe put in the extra effort to make up in my absence and pushed for my application. That hope and faith is a burden I cannot disappoint. In one way or another, I have to bring pride to the Taklachin name. Even if I become an enemy to the world, I must keep my honor to my leader and benefactor."
"Pfft Caelum really ended up indenturing you with that honor code huh?"
"It's not as bad as you make it sound" snickered Niel. Despite his curiosities, I believe he does have faith and good intentions for us. Even if his plans do not come to fruition, I believe he may even try to save us at his own expense."
Lukas raised an eyebrow. "That's some high hopes there." He was unsure how to feel towards his close confidant and friend who just so happened to be from a completely different background. Not to mention his humble and innocent personality contrasting his own. It always left Lukas wondering how Niel had tolerated himself the first few months they had known each other. Laughably it hadn't even been half a year since then.
Disrupting Niel's fond reminiscence and Lukas' pondering, two young girls around the age of ten came up to the boys with small hand-woven baskets. The girls were bashful and fumbling over their explanations but as Lukas noticed their mothers watching from afar with the other women who had brought meals for the workers, Niel had already caught on.
With a smile and thanks, he gratefully took the small baskets with wrapped sandwiches and small drinks, promising to return the baskets once finished. The girls seemed to glow as they accepted his thanks and ran off to their parents giggling. As Lukas watched them, perplexed at how he didn't understand rural folk, Niel handed him a basket.
Glancing between the extended offering and his partner's innocent joy at already munching on the meal, Lukas snickered and joined him.
-Chapter End-