Ed spent the next couple of minutes trying to convince Sharog that the orc in front of her was indeed Vorgarag. Ultimately, what convinced her was when Vorgarag began to recount all of their experiences together to even the smallest of details. That fateful last stand where he lost his life was by far the most convincing.
Vorgarag even talked about his thoughts and feelings at the time and Sharog found that to be particularly interesting. Truthfully, she still held her doubts but with evidence being so clearly presented in front of her, Sharog couldn't continue to live in denial.
"But… how?" Sharog asked and looked at Ed. She had heard of his small venture outside of the settlement even while working on organizing things around the settlement.
Although the majority of the tribe did not accept her leadership, there were still many loyal orcs from among her Bloodshed tribe. They were the ones that really appreciated how much effort she put into trying to rid them of their famine.
These orcs were dotted around the settlements in positions that would allow her to know of any strange happenings. It just so happened that Ed was usually the most attention-grabbing and suspicious orc in the settlement meaning she would often receive reports about him and his actions.
"It's a long story but I'll keep it brief…" Ed then began to speak about his origins. As he had met Sharog rather late her knowledge of Ed's origins, as well as his powers, was shallow at most. She had for example being kept in the dark about Ed's resurrection.
To be fair, only the orcs from the angekok tribe were present at the time, and even then little of them knew or completely overlooked the fact due to Ed's low recognition at that point.
Therefore, all of the words Ed spoke and informed her of sounded completely ludicrous while being entirely reasonable! Who wouldn't be able to become powerful when provided with such overbearing advantages? Even if their performance was not as dazzling as Ed's they would still get there eventually.
Finally being enlightened, Sharog felt lightheaded. She didn't think she was trustworthy enough to know this information but that only made her more likely to keep it a secret, odd as that might be. Nonetheless, she looked around the room trying to find herself a seat only to fall flat on her butt.
"I'd say that's a normal reaction" Ed muttered and nodded shooting Vorgarag a short glance. Vorgarag simply shrugged in response while secretly justifying his reactions to Ed's oddities.
"Anyway, what do you plan to do now Vorgarag?" Ed decided to shift the conversation topic back to Vorgarag himself rather than his own unfair quirks.
Hearing this question, Vorgarag stopped to seriously ponder on the matter.
One moment he was being burned alive feeling excruciating pain like he never before had before everything simply turned to black. After what felt like a short tiring sleep, he was faced with Ed and a grass field.
The first thought that popped into his mind was why was Ed in heaven, it was a surreal moment for sure. Nevertheless, he had somehow managed to keep a rational mind and hear Ed out. Taking all of that in however was still taxing on his mind. The body he entered was also not very compatible with him and the remnant memories of the brain had given him quite a headache.
With all of that going on he didn't stop to consider what exactly he was supposed to do now. Vorgarag did believe that Ed probably had some plans for him given that he went through the trouble of reviving him but… he wasn't sure he wanted to take part in it.
A sense of responsibility was what had kept him going. It was what allowed him to pour all his efforts into protecting and alleviating the problems that the tribe faced.
But it was also that sense of responsibility that burdened him, that kept him awake at night, that kept him practicing and experimenting for a way out.
Now he had a way out. The eyes of his tribe members couldn't recognize him. Plus, he had done all he could for them already, did he not die for them? He had already lived a life devoted to the orcs and their necessities. Wasn't it time for him to catch a break? Who told Ed to revive him? Certainly not him.
Thus, after a minute of careful consideration… he made his decision.
"I want to follow you" With all of the things he thought, how did he land on such an inane decision?
Well, yes Ed had revived him without asking him. But how could he? He was dead!
Instead of being angry, Vorgarag felt… appreciated, touched too. The dumb orcs that followed him never thought of him and the burdens he might be carrying, they never even thought to bring him back from the dead!
Of course, holding that against them would be unfair but the fact that Ed thought to make it possible and did indeed make it a reality showed that he had been thinking of him, highly even.
He owed Ed this new lease on life even if he was now burdened with a new responsibility, the responsibility of living up to expectations.
"Really?" Ed didn't believe in the possibility of Vorgarag retiring or anything but... that meant that he had considered it. The fact that the thought even crossed his mind was a source of worry although now clearly unfounded.
Vorgarag was not his skeletons. Ed couldn't guarantee undying loyalty. Actually, could he guarantee undying loyalty from the skeletons? If the truth of their birth were to be known would they still treat him as they do?
Ed believed that they, having lost their memories, took him as a pillar of support. Like a baby chick but far more creepy.
Not only that, the undead seemed to have a fear of one's more powerful than themselves which at a higher level took the form of respect or servitude. If he were to continue improving them there was the chance that the effect would at one point be minimized.
"Of course" Vorgarag confidently replied to Ed's reaffirmation. Was he supposed to reconsider his decision?
"Thank you then" Ed said with sincerity feeling genuinely moved.
"What do we do about the orcs?" Sharog butted in and asked having by this point got a grip on what she presumed was reality.
Both Ed and Vorgarag started to think after hearing her question. Ed found no benefits in revealing Vorgarag to the rest. It would only make his rulership more unstable.
Vorgarag on the other hand found that if he were to be working for Ed then having some people on his side wouldn't hurt. His current body was that of the enemy so that could spark both discrimination and loathing. Which reminded him...
"Ed, where is Nag?" Vorgarag suddenly asked making both Ed and Sharog flinch. While neither of them could tell what brought Vorgarag to this question, they knew that it was bound to be something important to him.
"He… he is undergoing treatment" Ed said purposely downplaying the severity of Nag's situation. Yet, he wasn't lying. There were orcs in charge of feeding him potions and serving him food. It was a treatment even if the passing days had proven it was ineffective.
"Treatment? What happened to him?" Vorgarag calmly asked. He knew the severity of the things that happened in his absence from Ed's personal briefing. At the time Ed didn't mention who was injured but Nag must have been one of the unfortunate ones.
Vorgarag didn't think much of it as he had long since been accustomed to the death and injuries of his tribesmen. Hell, he had died himself.
"One of the odd large orcs Ed had talked about smashed him through a wall when he tried to help me..." Sharog who was present when it happened and had pleaded Nag not to rush towards her said to Vorgarag with a hint of remorse.
Sensing the regret in Sharog's voice, Vorgarag started to get a bit worried.
"But… he is fine, right?" Nag was nitwitted but he was loyal and he was also a friend. Though they didn't talk much outside of their individual duties, they had grown up together. That alone cemented their friendship.
"He might have trouble fighting… or walking… or, well, moving" Ed said informing Vorgarag in a very awkward manner.
"This…" Vorgarag didn't mind the awkwardness and was instead shortly overcome by a weird sense of defeat. His responsibilities as a tribal leader meant that he was always trying to protect his people. This inevitably meant that each failure would hurt him.
"Sigh… at least he is alive" But that also meant that each death or injury would make him stronger. These moments had tempered his will and made him share only brief moments of grief.
Following that short interlude, the trio got back to figuring out the administrative matters. Ed found it impossible to delegate any tasks to Vorgarag without revealing him to the people.
That however meant giving him a new name which Vorgarag was vehemently against.
"No! My mother gave me this name" Ed didn't think that Vorgarag was the sentimental type but he also couldn't judge him for it. He wished he could still remember his mother.
'Is my mom and dad now the system and dungeon?' Ed joked bitterly to himself while Vorgarag and Sharog continued to discuss the matter.
"I suppose we'll have no choice but to say it's a coincidence" Vorgarag said and shrugged.
Though Ed found this conclusion to be stupid he also couldn't think of a better alternative.
"I guess it's a coincidence then…" Ed said in resignation.
The trio planned to gather everyone in front of the cathedral in a couple of days and formally introduce Vorgarag. The decision to postpone it was made to give Vorgarag enough time to adjust to his new body.
The case of Vorgarag's reintroduction into the tribe was thus closed.