LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Lyerin's eyes flickered open to the sight of the familiar ceiling above him, the ornate carvings on the wooden beams casting faint shadows across the room as the early morning light crept in through the windows.

The air felt still, but there was a comforting weight pressing down on his chest.

Slowly, his mind began to register the softness and warmth against him. He tilted his head down and found two familiar faces lying peacefully across his torso—Corora and Cornelia.

Carefully, he shifted, trying not to disturb them as he lifted their heads and gently placed them back on the bed.

The two girls barely stirred, their breaths steady and soft, still deeply asleep. With a slight smile, Lyerin pulled himself from beneath them, slipping off the bed and quietly standing. He took a moment to stretch, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders before walking towards the door.

Outside, the morning greeted him with a crisp breeze, and he paused at the threshold, inhaling deeply.

The air smelled fresh, the scent of dew-kissed grass and flowers lingering from the early dawn. He looked around and noted how clean the area was.

This santuary, once rugged and scattered, now gleamed with newfound order and polish. Everything was arranged neatly, and there wasn't a trace of dirt or debris anywhere.

He mumbled to himself, almost amused, "Girls really are good at cleaning. They make the world such a beautiful place." His gaze wandered toward the sky, as he tried to estimate the time, but something else caught his eye instead.

At the edge of the santuary stood a tall, slender figure, her long blonde hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of golden silk. Her form was graceful, with curves that seemed almost sculpted by a divine hand—her hips, perfectly shaped, swayed slightly as she moved.

Her skin was flawless, glowing under the soft morning light, and her face… it was mesmerizing, with piercing blue eyes that shimmered like gemstones in the sunlight, and full lips that curved into a small smile, though tinged with a hint of sorrow.

Lyerin blinked, trying to shake himself out of the trance her beauty had momentarily put him in. Her aura was almost magnetic, and it took him a moment to focus. He then glanced back at the sky and mused aloud, "Sophia, it's too early in the morning. Why are you awake?" His voice had a teasing edge as he added, "Weren't you tired yesterday?"

The girl—Sophia—froze in place, her face turning a deep shade of red. She glanced at him, wide-eyed, clearly flustered. "How… how do you know my name?" she stammered, her voice almost shaking.

Lyerin raised an eyebrow, amused by her reaction but also distracted by the way her hair gleamed in the sunlight. "I have my ways," he said casually, walking towards her. "But what's on your mind? You look worried."

Sophia seemed to hesitate for a moment before she gathered herself, clasping her hands nervously in front of her. "I… I couldn't sleep," she admitted softly, avoiding his gaze. "I miss my family. In this… apocalypse, I'm always worried if they're still alive or if they… if they…" She trailed off, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm worried about my boyfriend, too."

Lyerin absently scratched his chin, barely registering the mention of a boyfriend. "And where are they?" he asked, looking off into the distance, his mind half-drifting toward the tasks he needed to accomplish for the tribe in this word.

"They're in Trevor City," Sophia replied quietly.

"Trevor City?" Lyerin mumbled the name, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall the place. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he turned back to her and said, almost as if he had known all along, "They're safe."

Sophia blinked, confused. "What…?"

"They'll be safe for a month," Lyerin clarified, his tone distant but confident.

Sophia's mouth hung open for a moment as she stared at him in disbelief. "Do… do you know Trevor City?" she asked cautiously, taking a step closer to him.

Lyerin nodded absentmindedly and began to walk away, but Sophia, still desperate for reassurance, quickly followed after him. "How far is this place from Trevor City?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope.

"Not that far," Lyerin replied, still walking. "You could get there in half a day."

Sophia hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before finally gathering the courage to ask, "Could you help me get there?"

Lyerin paused in his tracks, glancing back at her with a faint smile. "Sure. Why not?"

Sophia's cheeks flushed again, and she smiled shyly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You're welcome," Lyerin replied casually. Then, with a slight smirk, he added, "But what about my orders?"

Sophia's face turned serious as she remembered the task she had been assigned. "Right, about that," she began, straightening her posture. "The old Sanctuary used to be a twenty-acre land. But now, after it was abandoned, it's shrunk to only eight acres because of the neighboring landowners shrinking them. Now it has become a wide adoption center instead."

Lyerin narrowed his eyes, processing the information carefully as she continued. "How does she know?" But it's not important so he didn't ask.

"There are still a few animals left," she explained, her voice tinged with sadness, "but many of them were injured during the outbreak. Most of them probably didn't survive… but Corora managed to save a few."

Lyerin raised an eyebrow. "Which ones?"

Sophia sighed softly. "Well… there is one hungry tiger we couldn't feed, two barely alive camels, sloth bear, seven woodpeckers, five skinless earth moles, and etc…"

Lyerin's eyes widened. "Wait… did you say woodpeckers and earth moles?"

Sophia nodded slowly, looking at him with confusion. "Yes, why?"

Lyerin felt a jolt of shock run through him. Woodpeckers and earth moles were incredibly rare creatures, known to have significant eldritch properties once used. Their presence here, after the apocalypse, was nothing short of astonishing.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, his voice now laced with urgency.

"Yes," Sophia replied, frowning. "I'm sure."

Lyerin's mind raced. The implications of this discovery could be massive. If those animals had truly survived and were now within the protection of his tribe, it could mean the beginning of something much larger than he had anticipated.

Woodpeckers were known to have resonance with nature, and the earth moles had powerful abilities tied to the land itself. With them under his care, his tribe would gain a significant advantage.

Not just that, woodpeckers and Earth moles are what they need.

He looked at Sophia, his thoughts still racing. "We need to secure them," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Their survival could change everything."

Sophia blinked, taken aback by the intensity of his words. "O-Okay," she stammered, unsure of what exactly he was planning, but trusting him nonetheless.

Lyerin nodded, his gaze distant as he began to strategize in his mind. His past experiences had taught him that every opportunity had to be seized if he was to survive and thrive in this new world. The presence of the woodpeckers and earth moles could mean more than just survival—it could be the key to expanding his tribe's power and influence far beyond what he had originally envisioned.

With that, he turned back toward the santuary, his mind already working out the next steps. There was much to be done, and he knew time was of the essence. But with the creatures now in his possession and the tribal spirit at his command, the future looked brighter than ever.

As Lyerin walked away, his pace quickened, with determination burning in his eyes. "The world is changing," he muttered to himself. "And I'll make sure it changes in my favor."

Sophia watched him go, still confused by the sudden shift in his demeanor but feeling a strange sense of hope welling inside her. She contemplated, should I follow him?