CHAPTER 232: REPRIMAND

I stepped away from the fire, only to catch sight of Talia heading straight for me, brows furrowed and lips pursed in a deep pout.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

She was clearly unhappy with the chores she’d been assigned—cutting vegetables, hauling firewood, stirring pots. Things that, while necessary, didn’t exactly match her particular talents. She was trained for more... subtle work. And here I was, letting that go to waste.

It wasn’t intentional though, I just haven’t had the time to assign her tasks.

She opened her mouth, no doubt ready to voice her frustration, but before a single word left her lips, a voice called out, urgent and strained.

"Chief!"

I turned sharply.

It was Thok.

He came sprinting down the slope, eyes wide, mouth tight, his whole body tense with alarm.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, trying to stay calm even as his expression told me whatever was coming wasn’t good.

Thok stopped a few steps away, hands on his knees, catching his breath between gasps. It looked like he’d run the whole way without stopping.

He looked up, face grim.

"Dead Chief’s daughter... she escaped," he said.

I stared at him. "What?"

"She knocked out the two Chosen watching her. Put them to sleep. Then she ran."

Just like that, the weight of a dozen new problems landed squarely on my shoulders.

Dead chief’s daughter?

Zivra?

She took out Gork and Nira? How the hell did she manage that?

No doubt it was her ability—the one she’d awakened recently. The one I practically pushed her into unlocking.

So she could already use it freely? That fast?

I let out a slow sigh, dragging a hand across my face.

I shouldn’t have rushed her. Should’ve waited. Should’ve thought it through. But now... now she was out there, using that ability to knock out two of my Chosen and vanish into the wild like a shadow slipping through a crack.

And honestly?

I was tired.

Tired of making excuses for her. Tired of chasing someone who didn’t want to be caught.

If she wanted to leave, then let her.

I wasn’t going to waste any more time trying to cage a wild spirit.

I had bigger things to worry about.

Why the hell was I even trying so hard to keep her around in the first place?

But then Thok, still catching his breath, added between pants,

"Zarah, Gobbo, and Zonk... they took weapons and went after her. I came to tell you."

I froze.

"They did what?!"

The words exploded out of me before I could stop them. I shot to my feet, calm completely gone.

Thok flinched at the volume, but he stood his ground and repeated, "They went after her."

Tch.

I clicked my tongue in frustration. This was exactly the kind of chaos I didn’t need.

Without wasting another second, I activated [Warp], locking onto the mark I’d placed on Zarah days ago as a precaution.

The world twisted for a blink—

And then I was behind her.

She was mid-sprint, moving fast through uneven terrain, her weapon strapped to her back and her expression sharp with focus.

I didn’t hesitate.

I reached out and grabbed the back of her tunic by the collar, yanking her off balance.

Zarah let out a startled grunt as I pulled her backward, caught off guard, but her reflexes kicked in immediately.

She twisted mid-motion, pulling her blade free in a smooth, practiced arc and drove it straight toward me—no hesitation, no warning.

It connected.

But the moment it struck, the blade froze, stopped dead an inch from my chest as it collided with the protective ward I kept constantly active.

An invisible barrier shimmered faintly at the point of contact, pulsing for a second before vanishing.

Zarah’s glare softened the instant she recognized me.

"Chief," she said, breath steady as she withdrew the blade and straightened her posture.

Behind her, Gobbo and Zonk skidded to a halt, both of them holding crude spears, eyes darting from her to me.

"What are you doing here?" Zarah asked, brows pinching slightly in confusion.

I didn’t answer right away. I just stared at the three of them, my jaw clenched, the silence thickening as they waited for me to speak.

I let the weight of my gaze press down on them before I finally spoke, my voice low, sharp.

"Where were you three going?"

Zarah met my stare but her tone was cautious now.

"To hunt the captive that escaped," she said slowly, like she already knew I wasn’t going to like the answer.

"And who asked you to do that?" I said, voice sharp, eyes locked on Zarah.

Her gaze narrowed, defiant.

Behind her, Gobbo and Zonk shifted uncomfortably. They glanced at each other, clearly unsure whether to speak or stay quiet.

"Do you have any idea how reckless that was?" I continued, stepping forward. "Chasing after a dangerous foe without orders, without a plan—" I paused, letting the weight of my words land, "—do you understand the risk you took?"

"We’re strong enough to handle it," Zarah said flatly, her tone unshaken, face hard.

I snapped.

"Is that what you think? She knocked out two Chosen. Not ordinary goblins—Chosen. What makes you think you had even the slightest chance?"

The air went still.

Gobbo and Zonk looked down, shoulders tense under the weight of the reprimand.

Zarah didn’t flinch. She held my gaze, jaw set, but said nothing.

I stared at her for a moment longer, then let out a breath, forcing the heat out of my voice, and spoke with a steadier tone.

"Head back. All three of you. I’ll handle things from here."

Gobbo and Zonk didn’t hesitate.

"Yes, Chief," they muttered in unison, their heads low as they turned and began the walk back, their footsteps heavy with the weight of a scolding.

I turned my eyes to Zarah.

She was still staring, lips pressed into a thin line, arms stiff at her sides.

But I wasn’t backing down. Not on this.

Her expression didn’t shift, but after a beat, she gave a short bow and said, "Yes, Chief."

Then she turned and walked past me, her shoulder brushing against mine just enough to feel the tension she didn’t say out loud.

I didn’t stop her.

The three of them retreated into the trees, and silence returned to the forest.

Left alone, I exhaled and dragged a hand across my face, pausing to rub at my temple.

Yeah... I might’ve overreacted.

But after...