Chapter 205: A Middle Ground
The trio traveled through the terrain in silence. Ler walked between Naguk and Ezukar with thoughtful expression. Finally, he broke the quiet.
"Why do you even try so hard to make this happen?" Ler asked. "I don't think you'll be able to accomplish much, and you're putting yourself at great risk. I mean, this war—it feels like it'll never end."
Ezukar glanced at Ler. "Aren't you sick of it?" he asked. "So many people die for no reason, while the ones making the decisions sit far away, safe in their meetings and debates. It's sickening, isn't it? They decide who lives and who dies without ever stepping onto the battlefield. If there's even a sliver of a chance we can do something to change that, then it's worth the risk."
Ler was quiet for a moment, processing Ezukar's words. Then he said, softly, "I'm happy there's someone like you. Honestly, I didn't think anyone—human or orc—still cared about anything other than survival in this mess."
Ezukar's face softened slightly, and he nodded. "Thank you. I just… I've seen enough death to know that it can't go on like this."
Then, with a small smile, he added, "By the way, we never properly introduced ourselves. My name's Ezukar, and this is Naguk." He gestured to Naguk, who had been walking in silence. At the mention of his name, Naguk glanced at Ler but said nothing.
Ler hesitated for a moment before replying, "My name's Ler. It's nice to meet you, I guess."
Ezukar chuckled softly, but Naguk's expression remained unreadable. Though he didn't say it, the look on his face betrayed his thoughts: Why is Ezukar so eager to make friends with someone who, just hours ago, was our enemy?
The group continued their journey in the awkward silence. Ler kept stealing glances at the two young orcs, trying to decipher what kind of people they were.
After several hours, they finally reached the outskirts of the camp they helped defend.
As they approached, the camp's leader looked at them, narrowing his eyes slightly as they la ded on Ler. "This human again…" he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for the others to hear.
Stepping closer, the leader crossed his arms and addressed Naguk and Ezukar. "So? How did it go? Because if he's standing here, I assume they were eager to listen. Does that mean they agreed to your little plan?"
Ezukar nodded, his expression hopeful. "They didn't agree immediately, no. But they're open to discussions—on one condition. They want to meet with our leader to negotiate."
The leader frowned, his brow furrowing deeply. He was silent for a moment, clearly weighing the situation in his mind. Finally, he sighed and spoke again.
"I'll admit," he said slowly, "I'm glad that you decided to precive that mission. And will support you in this persue of peace, as much as I can."
But the leader wasn't finished. His voice hardened as he added, "However, the real question is whether the chief commander from your camp will even agree to this. I can't guarantee anything until we bring it to him. And I'll tell you this now: we won't agree to any terms that put us at a disadvantage. Like meeting them on their territory."
The leader sighed again. He turned his sharp gaze to Ler. "So what exactly would you suggest? What terms do you think we could realistically negotiate with your commander?" he asked.
Ler straightened. "I think the best starting point would be to suggest neutral ground—a location where neither side has the upper hand. That way, both sides might feel safer and more willing to engage in talks."
The orc leader nodded, his expression softening slightly. "A neutral ground, hmm? That could work if it's a location that both sides agree on. But remember, human, this isn't just about finding a place to talk. The terms of the ceasefire must ensure no more lives are lost unnecessarily."
Ler nodded eagerly. "I'll do everything I can to make sure my commander understands that. We all want this war to stop, sir."
The orc leader chuckled dryly. "You're young, idealistic, and perhaps foolish. But I like that. It's refreshing in times like these."
He turned to Naguk and Ezukar. "Now, return to your camp and speak with your leader. Tell him what's been discussed here. If he agrees, we can proceed further."
Ezukar nodded solemnly. "Thank you, sir. We'll do our best."
With that, the trio began their journey back to Naguk and Ezukar's camp. As they approached the outskirts of the camp, the atmosphere grew tense.
When they arrived, they were greeted with a mix of suspicious glances and open hostility from the orcs on guard. A soldier who had been with them during the support mission stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Ler.
"Why do you bring this human here?" the soldier demanded. "I thought you were negotiating with the enemy, not bringing them to our doorstep."
Ezukar raised his hands in a calming gesture. "We are negotiating. The humans are open to talks. Their commander wants to discuss a ceasefire, but we need our leader's approval before anything can happen."
The soldier folded his arms skeptically. "I understand that, but bringing him here… Do you think the others will see it that way? Now the enemy knows our position. If this is some kind of trick, we're all dead."
Ezukar stepped in. "It's not a trick. Ler came here willingly to help us bring an end to this war. He's risking as much as we are. Besides, the humans already know roughly where we are—they've attacked us before. This isn't about secrets. It's about ending the bloodshed."
The soldier sighed. "I don't like it, but… I hope you're right. I hope this works. If it does, it'll be the best thing for all of us."
He stepped aside, allowing them to pass. As they walked deeper into the camp, more orcs stopped and stared with hostility. Ler kept his gaze fixed ahead, doing his best to ignore the glares.
When they reached the command tent, Ezukar and Naguk hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The camp's chief commander sat at a sturdy wooden table, surrounded by maps and reports.
Without looking up, he waved them off dismissively. "I'm busy. Come back in two hours if it's not urgent."
Ezukar took a step closer, his voice steady but firm. "Sir, this is urgent. Many lives depend on what we have to say."
The commander's brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced up with irritated expression. But the moment his eyes fell on Ler, his demeanor shifted. His gaze hardened, and he stood abruptly, his fists resting on the table.
"A human…" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Can you explain yourselves? Why do you bring one of them into our camp?"
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