The tribe members erupted in cheers after Usato's words, a wave of proud murmurs rippling through their ranks. They looked at each other with a newfound understanding of their role.
Seeing their enthusiastic response, Usato allowed the moment to linger, a small smile playing on his lips. But the energy of the young ones threatened to bubble over into playful chaos.
"Silence!!" Usato's voice suddenly boomed across the gorge, the unexpected outburst surprising the tribe into immediate quiet. All eyes turned back to him, a mix of shock and attention on their faces.
Usato continued, his tone firm but encouraging, "Soldiers are not just brave. They are also disciplined, brave, intelligent, and law-abiding. Can you do that?"
A few hesitant voices called out, "Yes, Chief." Then more joined in, but the response was still uneven and lacked coordination.
Usato raised an eyebrow. "I can't hear you!"
As one, the tribe members roared back, "Yes, Chief!"
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Usato's face. "Good. From this moment on, I am your Commander-in-Chief!! Is that clear?"
"Yes, Chief!" they replied with more confidence.
Usato, still not entirely satisfied, pressed further. "No! As soldiers, you will respond properly. You will say, 'Sir yes Sir!' Is that clear?"
A moment of confusion passed before one brave voice called out, "Sir yes Sir!"
Soon, the others followed suit, a chorus of "Sir yes Sir!" echoing through the gorge.
"Again!" Usato commanded.
"Sir yes Sir!" the tribe members repeated, their voices gaining strength and synchronization.
Usato kept them repeating the phrase, his gaze sweeping across their faces, until he sensed a newfound level of understanding and discipline settling among them.
"Now, you thirteen young ones who are yet to awaken your totems, step forward," Usato said, his voice carrying a new weight of responsibility. The group of youngsters stood before him, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Usato looked at each of them in turn, making eye contact. "I see before me the future of the Evergreen Tribe. You may not yet wield the power of the totems, but you possess a different kind of strength – the strength of potential, the strength of youth, and the strength of unity."
He began to recite their names, his voice resonating with a sense of respect and recognition. "Bram, son of Hakur," Usato stated, a nod of acknowledgement to the sturdy-looking boy. A proud smile touched Bram's lips.
"Lyra, daughter of Fira," Usato continued, his gaze shifting to the girl with the bright, curious eyes. Lyra's chest puffed out slightly.
"Finn, son of Ronan."
"Kaelan, son of Borin." Kaelan's shoulders straightened noticeably.
"Sena, daughter of Maya."
"Jiro, son of Takeshi."
"Hiro, son of Kenzo."
"Naya, daughter of Suki."
"Torvin, son of Ulf."
"Wren, son of Jasper."
"Kana, son of Taro." Kana grinned widely, clearly pleased the Chief remembered him.
"Rela, daughter of Anya."
Finally, Usato's gaze rested on Ren, his expression softening slightly. "And Ren," he said, his voice clear and respectful, "who has shown great resilience and stands here with us." Ren met his gaze, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.
"Each of you," Usato continued, his voice now ringing with authority, "from this day forward, you will hold the rank of Private First Class in the Evergreen Army! Wear this rank with pride, knowing that you are valued members of our tribe and that your training begins now to forge you into the protectors we need."
"Privates, you are dismissed for now. Take a few steps back and observe," Usato instructed the young recruits. They moved back, their faces still alight with their new status.
Usato then turned his attention to the more experienced members of the tribe. "Now, all those who have awakened their totems, step forward."
Kael, Elara, Syka, Vala, and Gorthok moved forward, their expressions a mix of anticipation and readiness.
Usato looked at each of them, a sense of trust and confidence in his eyes. "For your bravery, your skill, and your dedication, you will now receive your ranks."
He addressed Kael, Elara, Vala, and Gorthok first. "Kael, Elara, Vala, and Gorthok," Usato announced, his voice strong and clear, "from this day forward, you will each hold the rank of Corporal!" Each of them nodded, a sense of responsibility settling on their faces.
Usato then turned to Syka, a slight smile gracing his lips. "Syka," he began, but a look of confusion flickered across Syka's face. She stepped forward hesitantly.
Did I truly deserve this? she thought, her brow furrowing. Is it only because I am the granddaughter of the former Chief?
Seeing her uncertainty, Usato's smile softened with understanding. "Syka," he continued, his voice reassuring, "I bestow upon you the rank of Sergeant not because of your lineage, though your heritage is certainly respected. I give you this rank because I witnessed your actions during the fight with the dark wolves."
Usato's gaze became firm as he recalled the battle. "I saw how you took charge when some of our members ventured too deep into the pack. You ordered the groups, you coordinated their movements, and you brought them back safely. And when I temporarily handed command over to you all, your leadership was clear, decisive, and effective. You have earned this rank through your own merits, Sergeant."
Syka's eyes widened slightly as Usato spoke, a flush of pride rising in her cheeks. The doubt in her expression faded, replaced by a newfound confidence. She met Usato's gaze, a determined glint in her eyes as she nodded firmly.
Usato then addressed the entire group of awakened warriors. "As Corporals, each of you will now lead a fireteam of four soldiers. Sergeant Syka will be your overall leader, second only to myself. She will coordinate your movements and ensure our strategies are executed effectively. Is that clear?"
"Sir yes Sir!!" they responded in unison, their voices filled with newfound purpose.
A wide grin spread across Usato's face. "Now for some truly good news! Remember those who hadn't awakened yet their Ancestral Totems? Well…" he paused for dramatic effect, his eyes twinkling, "I can make that happen for all of you!"
A wave of joyous shouts erupted from the young unawakened ones. Even the awakened warriors exchanged excited glances. The possibility of others joining their ranks, of the tribe growing stronger, filled them with hope.
But Usato held up his hands, effectively splashing them with cold water, just as you described. "Everyone, everyone, settle down!" he called out, his expression becoming more serious. "I know all of you want to awaken your totem, and I respect that desire. But," Usato prolonged the word, drawing out the tension, "I need to tell you something."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across every face in the assembled tribe, holding their rapt attention. "Based on my observations," he announced, his voice grave, "Totemic awakening, as you currently understand it, is a limited path!!"
A collective gasp rippled through the tribe. Shocked whispers and murmurs filled the air. For a fleeting moment, some of the tribesmen looked at Usato with doubt, the weight of his words shaking their fundamental understanding of their power.
Without acknowledging their shock, Usato continued, his voice firm. "Think about it! You witnessed the strongest warriors in our tribe, and in other tribes, right?" He waited for their hesitant nods. "What realm of power have they reached? Have they surpassed the strength of the beasts we face, the threats to our survival?" A heavy silence fell over the crowd, their disappointment palpable.
Usato's heart ached at their expressions. "I'm not saying that Totemic awakening is a dead-end path," he quickly added, trying to soften the blow, "but I am saying it is… limited in its potential."
Just then, Rela, one of the newly appointed PFCs, couldn't contain her curiosity. "But Sir," she asked, stepping forward slightly, "you also awakened your totem right?"
Usato's grin returned, this time with a hint of mischief. "Ah, a sharp one! What is this?" he said, reaching into his tunic and pulling out the shimmering Golden Cicada totem. The crowd gasped, their eyes wide with wonder.
But Usato didn't stop there. With another flourish, he produced the dark, menacing totem of the dark wolf they had just defeated. "And what about this one?"
The crowd was stunned into silence. Murmurs of disbelief rippled through them. How could one person possess two totems?
Usato held up both totems for all to see. "These totems," he declared, his voice ringing with a hint of pride, "are… cheap imitations of your Ancestral Totems. I merely researched the totemic symbol of animals I hunted, and then I manifested them using my own energy."
A wave of absolute shock crashed over the tribe. Their mouths hung open, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"What!!" someone finally managed to exclaim, the single word echoing the astonishment of everyone present.