The world is in chaos, the feeling of insecurity chills the hearts of the once hopeful, all this started since the Tarsost's attack on the nation of the Valley of Waterfalls.
Tarsost are not described with a specific appearance. In fact, they are part of several different evil races that obey the great Generals of Shadows.
We thought that this ancient attack was due to some personal intrigue between them, and no other kingdom interfered in this dispute.... and as a consequence.... today we pay dearly for it.
Death was carried to all nearby realms like a cancer attacking neighboring cells, sneak attacks that left no room for these peoples to seek help from allies. Defeat was inevitable.
Women and children were ordered to flee through the forest, so as not to extinguish their races, seeking help from other allied nations, those who could of course...
Two years have passed in constant war between the kingdoms and the Tarsost, once colorful and beautiful forests, now they are a territory of darkness, and until the present moment more than 54 million deaths have been recorded, and the only kingdoms left were the that live in extreme temperature conditions, which makes it difficult for these monsters to attack. Some survivors of the other decimated races sought shelter from allied kingdoms, but the locals were treated unequally. It's difficult... but... we must endure it until everyone gains strength to put an end to this nefarious enemy that marches outside.
-Porlov come this way, I'm almost certain that this is the way....
-Don't talk nonsense, the Centaur Province doesn't stop there, I think it's this way here...
-My God in heaven, as dwarves are stubborn, I already said it's around here Porlov....
-Okay... let's go there, but if we enter the Elves' territory... we're screwed, and it's all your fault Maralom.
(https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/034/423/587/large/guluc-art-capa-skilled-world.jpg?1612264664)
Maralom hurries his walk even with the fatigue reaching his muscles, they couldn't stand the 12 hours of walking. Then after another 30 minutes walking they reach the end of the path, and realize that they are at the top of a cliff, in front of them they look at the face of a giant statue, which starts at the bottom of the descent. It was a statue of a centaur with his arms outstretched and his head bowed, as if he expected to receive the blessings of some divine being.
-This is Porlov, finally..., I'm dead tired..., I need food... and a beer urgently.
-Beer? I didn't even know that Slimes drank beer, hahaha... it's going to turn into an alcohol slime... hahaha.... this one was awesome.... hahaha.....
Laughing loudly, Porlov made the birds in the trees around them startled, and Centaur soldiers, hearing the sounds, went to the place to find out what it was.
-Maralom, by the beard of the Sacred Kouemah..., look at those rock stairs..., let's go that way, it's the quickest access, unless you fly and you didn't tell me, of course..., hahaha.. ...
The two walk along the white stone stairs, embedded in the cliff walls, and after descending about 5 meters they find 4 centaurs, who, despite their bodies being horses, do not have the same feeling of tranquility as this lovely animal, transmitting in the place a incredible empowerment, as if its sturdy legs could break through any enemy defenses with ease. They were wearing bronze armor that imposed volume on the upper part as well, which makes us deduce that they are soldiers and not ordinary citizens, so they order them:
-Hey there.... what do you want in the Centaur Province?
The horseman stomps his paw to the ground, which echoes through all the listeners' blood.
-We are fleeing the Dwarven Kingdom, we were attacked by Tarsost and few of us managed to escape, we need shelter, please help us...
Maralom said this trembling with hunger, and tiredness.
-Just a minute....
Saying that, one of the centaurs took a leather necklace around his neck with a red stone tied to it, and holding it, it starts to glow, and he describes the situation:
-Captain, we have 2 citizens of the Dwarven Kingdom asking for shelter...
He waits for a few moments, nothing could be heard, it was as if only he received the answer in his head.
-Okay, you can come in, welcome to the Centaur Province.
The 2 travelers enter the city happy with the reception, and go in search of a tavern to eat.
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-Bo...Good afternoon, I would like to order a dish of the house, and a glass of cold beer...
The attendant who was drying a glass with a gray cloth spits out his chewing toothpick and says:
-It will cost 10 silver coins, and payment is cash...., if you don't have it, get out of here, we don't like deadbeats....
Maralom opens his bag hanging from what appears to be his slimy neck, and takes out the coins to pay the centaur behind the counter.
Porlov didn't like the way the clerk spoke to them, and he frowns and stares into the horseman's yellow eyes. Marlom quickly notices, and tries to calm him down so a futile fight doesn't occur.
-Let's sit there in Porlov corner, let's go....
Phew... that was close... (he thought)
When they arrived at the table in the corner of the tavern, they came across some wooden chairs with very high legs, as if those who had used it were people of short stature, who needed to be close to the height of the table, Maralom saw that it was ideal for Porlov but wouldn't be comfortable for him, so he asks for help from a centaur who was talking to his friend:
-Co... Excuse me sir, how can I ask for a lower chair?
-Just press the gems that are attached to the side of the chair, so you adjust the height you want.
And the 2 centaurs returned to conversation, ignoring the low slime compared to them.
Maralom asks Porlov for help in squeezing the yolks, as their gelatinous texture did not allow him to put much pressure on solid things, he could only lift up to 2kg without the object passing through his hand.
After talking for a few moments the food is served to them. A plate full of oranges and reds with 2 roasted hams, they were huge for a slime, but he looks around and realizes it must be a reasonable dish for the centaurs to indulge in. The dwarf quickly begins to devour the dish, as if it were his last meal before death, he eats everything and takes a sip of his beer.
-Haa... that's a good thing... now I'm ready to fight those bastards from Tarsost...
-Po...Porlov, do you want the other ham? I don't think I'll even be able to eat one completely, it's too much meat for me.
-Are you asking if monkey wants bananas? pass me this meat soon, I'm hungry...
Maralom is ashamed of the way his friend ate, but looking around he realizes that no one was calling them.
-Let's go... Let's go from here to an accommodation..., I have enough for us to stay for about 2 months, but until then we must look for some way to earn money..., or we will have a hard time.
Porlov scratches his food-stained beard and with one eyebrow raised and one lowered he says:
- And what do you think we can do for service in this city of centaurs? do you think you have something for us?
-Ma... But of course, there's always something that not even centaurs like to do, we can get this kind of service.
As they leave the establishment, they see a homeless mother with her son asking for alms:
-Please can you guys help us with any amount, my son is hungry and hasn't eaten for 2 days.
There were 2 Squirits, a mixed race of fox and human. Looking at that poor skinny child, Maralom was moved and quickly opened his bag to take out some silver coins.
-You are crazy? we already have few resources and are you still going to give it to these people? let's starve like this...
The child frowns at Porlov who uttered those words.
-But they are needy like us, we need to help our allied races.
-You can only be kidding...
He snapped the dwarf with a vein bouncing from his forehead.
-Thank you gentlemen.... may the Gods pay you...
He thanked the fox woman.
-Whatever... let's leave soon...
replied the short man, pulling the slime towards the Jobs Agency which was on the corner of the public square.