The squads did not stir even when dawn came, and Sagiri did not stir for a long time until the sun rose, and he finally stirred. He needed to circle the perimeter and check as far out as he could, like always.

He jumped down from the stone roof just as the sun started to peek from behind the horizon. The sun in this place was an enemy. Having grown up in the east and spending time in the northern pentagons for a year, he had never seen such relentless sun, and it took him a while to adapt. Same to the Tatani. They had been living underground for a decade or two, and some had passed away in the early days from heat stroke. save to say they all had to build shelters quickly.

"Good morning, chief?" A group of women going to the only well-greeted. It had taken a month to build the well Nokai had dug and dug and dug for days before touching the water table that was a million feet underground.

Sagiri nodded to them. He was still covered like always, and it is safe to say not many, even in Tatani, knew his face. Just his mismatched eyes. Well, and his foreboding presence. He, however, had not been able to fully merge with the people. Yes, they respected him, and he joined in festivities, but deep in his heart, he still wanted to go to his own tribe. Former tribe ruins to say goodbye to them and see for himself what remained.

The morning patrol did not take long, and it always took Sagiri just an hour or two. One, when he was feeling at ease, but two, like today, when he knew Seya and Ninoka were away. He got back just as the sun began to get hotter.

Food had been served in his chamber. He assumed Tinka had put someone on the duty, yet it remained untouched. The boys were sleeping, and from the steady heartbeat coming from Seya’s house, Lira was still dead asleep too. The desert clothes the squad now wore were warm, meant to protect night travelers in the cold of the night in the desert, and even with most of them sleeping on the floor, they were dead asleep.

The room was full of snoring matters from time to time, but it was safe to say they were out cold and would be for a long time. Well, after being stuck in Bono Valley for up to nine days without proper sleep and scared for their life, it was safe to say they had not slept well. Then they travelled south with him immediately after. It is safe to say they needed a week’s worth of sleep.

Even Ulekai had one foot resting on Kaka’s arm, which showed how deeply even Kaka was sleeping. It would be funny if they woke up in the same position.

The inside of the house was cool, especially since it was made of stone, which made it quite comfortable to sleep in at any time of the day.

How could they be out cold in enemy territory without a care? Sagiri wondered. They could even sleep like this in the south. How careless. If word got out that a northerner was in the south, they would be sought after and killed, yet they had offered to go with him to the heart of the south.

How careless indeed.

He was beginning to think they got more careless whenever they knew he was around. Kiuga, more so, could cuddle an enemy. Somehow, it made his heart feel warm. He looked at them sprawled for another second longer before he moved out. He did not wish to travel during the day anyway.

He sat just outside the room door and went to sleep himself. It almost felt like he was protecting them by sleeping outside, yet even he was out cold afterwards.

He snapped awake out of habit at midday. It was about the time he trained the fighters in using the spear and hand combat, just like he was taught in the Galka war academy. He even taught them how to use small blades sometimes. They were not badly off, but their means of fighting needed to be elevated. Sagiri was now fully rested. Lunch had been dropped by and the breakfast taken away, but still it remained untouched. Sagiri helped himself after stretching.

Still, the squad was not up.

Sagiri changed into his training light fabric garments before he stepped out. He met up with Tinka just at the doorstep.

"I was just coming to tell you the fighters are gathered," Tinka said.

"I was on my way there. Join me." Sagir said, and Tinka nodded.

They both headed for the training grounds where fighters ranging from young boys to adult males were sparring in hand combat.

"Get in line!" Tinka said. He was the general after all, and Sagiri wanted to turn the Tatani fighters from just fighters to warriors and deadly ones at that. He might not be able to protect them for long, and he needed them to stand on their own feet and not depend on him like squad 25.

Sagiri walked ahead and stood at the front of the now-thin lines.

"Tatani warriors in line! CREED!!" Sagiri announced

"Tatani belongs anywhere we choose! Anyone who denies is an enemy!!" They sang in chorus.

Seya was extreme in her creed, but Sagiri was not completely against it. Well, even the first man to settle in Tagayia or Tatani did not ask permission. People just get selfish when they settle first, thinking that they have the right to live more than anyone else.

"second creed!!"

"We live in peace unless provoked. We fight not to kill but to protect ourselves!" They sang again in chorus. He had taught them this second one. If it were up to him, he wished they had never had to fight and live peacefully, but well, if only wishes were horses.

"Hand combat! Position one!" Sagiri announced, and everyone fell into a stance.

The training began. From stances to offensive moves to defence to sparring." It took around three hours, as usual, before it was men’s time to go to the baths they had carved from stone. deep under a huge stone at the edge of the village.

Sagiri bathes alone before everyone. Maybe because he was the chief, or because no one dared shower with him. Either way, he loved these moments when he sat in the bath alone for a few minutes. And that’s what he did before he headed to his house. It was now almost 5 pm. Sagiri walked to his house, hoping to find the guys awake, but they were still very much asleep. They had not even stirred.

Just how tired were they?

Were they dead or asleep? He let them sleep another two hours while he did a lot of nothing but sitting around before he woke them up.

They had the guts to jump up and act as if they had been startled from a two-hour nap instead of a century of sleep.

"What is happening?!" Kiuga gasped, looking like he did not remember where, what, or who he was. Even hoping he remembered his name was far-fetched.

"Where are we?!" Ulekai jumped up, looking fearful.

"So much for you helping me go to the capital when all you have done is sleep for a week," Sagiri said, turning around to the eating place attached to his room.