Feldway's POV
"Time for a meeting!!" Veldanava cheered.
Of course. Why me? Just because I led a project team in my past life doesn't mean I'm qualified to manage supernatural entities.
And don't even get me started on that 'duel.' I was unconscious through half of it. I didn't win. Not really. I just survived.
Veldanava paced ahead of us.
"The reason for this meeting is to announce the prototype for populating the Cardinal World."
Huh?
Zalario immediately praised the idea. Veldanava basked in the flattery.
I frowned. "What do you mean by prototype?"
"Simple," Veldanava said. "I'm going to send a group of humans to the Cardinal World. Just humans."
…That's idiotic.
"That's reckless," I replied. "You say you want peace and diversity, but humans are historically prone to war. Without control systems, they'll tear that world apart."
"There's a purpose behind it," Veldanava said, waving a hand. "I've done smaller projects. They failed. This is ambitious, but I believe in it."
Smaller projects. He means other worlds. Other failures.
Nothing is ever truly stable. Peace always dies. I saw that in my old world. I lived it.
"Stop monologuing," Veldanava muttered.
"Right. So… if the prototype fails, then what?"
He grinned. "I'll create a being who will help populate the world properly."
Now that… made sense.
Garasha asked about our roles.
"Watch the prototype," Veldanava explained. "Protect them from external threats. No interfering. No guiding them."
Reasonable. Possibly doomed, but reasonable.
The meeting wrapped up. Veldanava vanished.
Leaving me with the six I fought—and beat.
I tried to break the silence.
"Um—I mean, hello there."
Wow… didn't knew my communication skills went out the drain.
They stared. Silent.
Zalario finally stepped forward.
"What's our objective, Commander Feldway?"
Commander. That… sounded good. But don't get carried away.
Zalario continued. "There was a covenant. A punishment agreed upon. As the losing side, we must now honor that agreement."
He stepped aside.
Dino and Obera approached. Eyes locked on me.
"You can do… whatever you wish with us," Obera said, kneeling with unnerving grace.
She looked… beautiful, strangely enough. But I dismissed the thought.
Dino tried to speak, but Obera struck him with sharp discipline.
"We pleaded. Be serious, Sir Dino."
He whispered something. Something stupid, probably.
Obera replied, unwavering. "A covenant is a covenant."
"I'll forgive both of you."
…
…
I noticed Zalario raised a brow. "That's unexpected. Are you certain?"
Even Obera looked up slightly.
"Yes. They upheld their end of the covenant. That's enough."
Mercy was a weapon—one just as sharp as any blade. It earns trust, blinds enemies. Fear earns obedience…
…
Mercy earns loyalty.
Dino brightened. "Thank you, Commander Feldway! I won't let you down!"
Too easy.
Obera… said nothing at first.
"…Thank you, Commander."
She didn't trust me. I could see it in her eyes.
That's fine.
Trust is just another piece to build—or break—when the time is right.