Meldor agreed with Jin's proposal. Moving from the caves to a proper settlement like the Priyan Kingdom would be something good for the Freya race. The resources around the northern caverns were just too scarce for them to thrive and grow.
For a decade of independence; they barely grew their population to around a thousand.
Although they never had a time of famine, they never experienced abundance as well. Everything they had was only enough for all of them to get by. Meldor tried his best to open ties with the outside world, but the sheer prejudice against them made it simply impossible. Players, even NPC's, would never normally interact with races such as trolls, orcs, ogres, and the like; it had been this way since the dawn of any role-playing games.
These races are hated and seen in a different light; often painted as evil or malaligned. However, the Freyans were an intelligent— even sociable— race. Only with their odd appearance were they impartially judged— never to have any chance of showing what
they're capable of; things as such had been at a constant for over a decade.
...
It didn't take long for the Freya race to prepare for the travel, after all, they did not have much to bring with them. Jin patiently waited for Freyans to finish. After completing his very first quest, he felt somehow relieved. He spent around four hours of wait flipping through his grandfather's journal. The book was thick, around the same thickness as that of Jin's arm, so he couldn't really read through everything at one sitting. Jin was tired as well, and nothing from what read really caught his attention.
'I'll have to read through this once more when I get proper rest.' Albeit having a zero on his fatigue meter, mental exhaustion was entirely a different case. 'Wonder if an increase in a stat point could change that… an increase in INT, perhaps?' Jin pondered. However, he immediately reserved the thought as Meldor came and approached him.
"We're all set. It had been a while since my last venture near the Priyan Kingdom, so it would be best for you to lead the way." Meldor suggested. Jin nodded in reply; he then gestured everyone to follow. With a slight bow, Meldor beckoned everyone to obey; as if saying that everything's fine and that they could trust the demon who's leading them.
A crowd of inexplicable creatures then paraded the northern areas.
...
With the travel becoming longer due to the sheer size of the group, Jin decided to learn more about the Freya race by inquiring Meldor. Although it was quite a sensitive topic, Jin tried his best to tread lightly upon it and ask broader questions. He then learned of how the society works within the holes of the northern caves, which the Freya race call home:
Each and every Freyan had their unique oddities, but overall, they're only divided into four different groups— ethnicities if you will— depending on common quirks that they have with each other. Common residents of the caverns— those that live nearest the entrance and exits, like Gor— are called Balks; they make up for half of the entire Freya population.
Although they do not look all alike, with evident differences in appearance such as skin color and various facial features, they do have something in common: they all lack the know-how of proper communication. Albeit they have learned how to speak, they tend to have a mental limit in learning, and as such, no Balk have learned spells and incantations which requires a decent amount of fluency in the language of man.
The second group is called Doriens; what differed them from Balks was their proficiency in all kinds of knowledge, be it language or science. Although none of the Freya parent genes were even relatively smart, Demon King Krell somehow found a way to create a brilliant mixture. The number of Doriens barely reach a hundred, making them the least populated of the bunch. However, this was an indirect result from their hunger for knowledge; most Doriens would rather spend time learning than procreating.
The third group are called, Heaths; they were the Orc-like guards that were with Meldor. Although none of the Freyans were small, Heaths were just enormous in comparison. Putting it in perspective, they easily tower over Jin who's roughly two meters in height. Although their physical strength could be best used in martial rulings, they are more in line with hardworking laborers; they work well side-by-side with Doriens to create wondrous works such as the expansion of the northern caverns— making room for the Freya people.
"... and finally, I am a from the group of Corus. Our numbers amount the least among the Freya race, however, it could easily be compensated by our abilities. We learn things beyond science— we learn what the Doriens don't. You would easily identify us from our stubby noses and yellow skins. We're descendants of hill trolls, and as such, we learn the arts our ancestors." Meldor vaguely explained his own group, knowing full well that other things about them might be irrelevant or otherwise, worthless, to Jin.
If it weren't for the fact that Jin showed potential during their bout— may it be his skills in leadership or combat— Meldor wouldn't even think of detailing anything to the young demon king, all the more entrusting the lives of a thousand people to him.
"I'm assuming that your ancestor's art were those lightning spells you used back then? If so, is it possible for the others in your race to learn those? Seems quite useful, don't you think?" Jin inquired. If those spells were something that Meldor learned rather than he inherently had, then Jin would gladly want to know if it was possible for him to learn anything similar. If not, then it would still be best for him to know whether others, beside him, could. Imagine having two, or even a dozen, Meldor's casting fatal spells against the enemy; not even a raid part could stand a chance against them.
"As a matter of fact… they could," Meldor pulled out a grimoire from one of his rugged satchels. "This is a spellbook handed down to me by one our great forefathers. During those times when your grandfather wasn't yielding that much successful results from his experiments, our ancestors under him were studying forgotten tribe secrets instead." Meldor detailed the possibility, "However... If you're thinking of learning any; you can't."
As if he read Jin like a book, Meldor immediately guessed the young demon king's intention, "I am not against the idea of you learning our secrets, however, it is physically impossible for you to learn our spells simply because you are not of our bloodline. Demons have their own specialty, Hell Sorcery, I assume you know that, correct?"
'Hell sorcery…' As if he was poured with a bucket of cold water, Jin suddenly felt dejected.
Demon King Jin, a great ruler of the Priyan Kingdom— who proved himself worthy of the throne at such a young age— was someone who couldn't even invoke a single demonic spell. This fact was never a laughing matter for the citizens of the Priyan Kingdom. Although it was saddening, they weren't discouraged by it, only when it proved crucial for a king to fight in a war, did the importance of knowing hell sorcery reflected.
Seeing Jin's sudden change of expression, Meldor became curious. Something seemed strange. Looking at the distance, he could see the walls of the Priyan Kingdom, barely peeking at the clear horizon.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
Meldor inhaled the surrounding air. Closing his eyes, he solemnly muttered.
"I smell no other demons… your kingdom is— empty?"