Ellias and Tyra walked back to the city. On their way there, Ellias met an entirely new world from what he had imagined the plain of madness to be. When he played the game from a spectator's perspective, there were no infrastructures or communities. He remembers everything as being devoured by hate.
"If you don't mind me asking... How come everyone is still living as a community and as if nothing ever happened?", Ellias asked her.
"What is your goal?", she asked, evading the question.
They both stopped and looked at each other. She had a different expression than before. They probably had two completely different goals in mind. He sat down and looked back right at her, thinking of how to put his thoughts into words.
"Let's say I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be doing here... I guess I'm supposed to grind to the top.", he said, thinking hard about it, "But I think that what matters most to me right now is to learn if my friends are safe."
"Where did you lose them?", she asked, surprised that this was all he was looking for.
"I really don't know... They could be anywhere, and there's no telling if I'd find them back alive...", he said.
The atmosphere became tenser, and a reality check was put into perspective. This was his new reality. He had to keep fighting and hope they were also fighting and staying safe. He got up, and with a bright smile, kept walking. Tyra also got going and passed him to lead him toward the right way.
They arrived near some infrastructure, marking the end of the desolate land. The houses inside the town were made from scrap gathered from other structures that could no longer be salvaged. He looked in awe at the sad world Tyra and her people were now living in. This was the vestige of war and destruction.
"Welcome to Lionstrom, home of the Lionback tribe.", she said in a cheerful voice, "As you can see, this is what remains of our land and of our people."
She met up with some of the soldiers that were waiting at the entrance of the town. It was defined by a barricade made out of wooden scraps. They looked concerned and remained on their guard, seeing a living man approaching their home. Ellias could sense their stares and understood that no matter what Tyra told them, he will be an intruder.
"He is with me. He will come with me to my father's court and we will discuss a serious matter. Let us in.", she said.
They acted with a lot of resistance and failed to move after being asked by their superior.
"Miss... How do we know this is not part of his plan and that you are not his pawn!", one of them said.
"Idiots, he is in no position to pose us any harm!", she responded, "Well at least for now..."
She returned to him and brought him to the front with her by force. Even Ellias was scared by her menacing glare set on the guards. They both flinched but reverted again to looking at the suspicious man.
"Who is your master?", they asked Ellias.
"My master?", he mumbled, "I do not have any superiors, but if I am to be of any help, the leader of Lionstrom will be my master, I suppose."
The soldiers looked puzzled by his answer. Tyra took him by force, annoyed, and whispered in his ear.
"What was that answer... Stop being so suspicious."
Of course, it was. There was nothing he could do to make him trustworthy in this circumstance. The soldiers realized this was going nowhere.
"Our mission is to protect the people in this town. So, Tyra do you mind if we acompany you while he is inside. I want to make sure he does not harm you when you least expect it.", the soldier said in a devoted tone before introducing himself and his colleague, "I'm Omer, and the shorter and younger one is my cousin Many. If Tyra is wrong and you do end up going against us, you better be ready to be cursed and to remember our names for the rest of your life."
"Nice to meet you both, I'm Ellias. Thank you for having me."
The cousins looked at each other, annoyed or amazed by the cockiness of the one before them. What could their leader possibly see in him that makes him worthy to enter the town freely and even meet and discuss with the tribe's leader? Omer led the way inside the town with Tyra while Many was now walking next to Ellias.
"He's a bit intense, but once you get to know him, he's not a bad person", said the younger one to Ellias.
He was soft-spoken, and his expression was a lot less tense than his cousin's. He was around Ellias' age, in his early twenties, while Omer, who was constantly leading him and the rest of their team, was in his thirties. However, Omer has always been jealous of his younger cousin for learning to fight at such an early age. He never once won a duel against Many.
Ellias looked at him with admiration. These were the people that are still devoted to protecting this town. Although they all experienced death and despair, they stayed strong and are staying true to themselves. He had a kind face and a muscular build for his height. He had fairly feminine facial features other than his beard. His eyes looked pure and beautiful in contrast to his cousin's death glare and frozen expression.
"Are you not scared of me to? I mean, I completely understand your cousin for wanting to protect this place from intruders like me.", Ellias said.
The man looked at him with confusion. There were no signs of any distrust in his eyes.
"I don't think you're scary. Not only do I trust Tyra more than my cousin, but I can sense it with your aura that you are a good person.", Many said, "Only people who have trained enough can sense other's aura. Tyra and I can see it."
Ellias tried to look for his aura, but he could not see anything. He remembers earlier when they fought that he had unlocked some sort of aura, but he had no clue what it really meant or what it looked like. Seems like everyone has one.
"I can't see mine or anyone else's...", Ellias said, disappointed, "How can you tell what my aura means?"
"It stimulates every senses. I can see it's shape and color. It's warm, airy and green. Fairly inviting. What I can feel is comfort and loyalty. A beautiful thing to have. I can also hear it, and it sounds very melancholic and friendly. I could tell you what it tastes like, but that would be weird wouldn't it.", Many explained to him, playfully laughing at the end.
He locked his arm around him as though they were already friends.
"Maybe it isn't that bad here after all...", Ellias thought to himself.
They stopped at the town's shop. Omer went inside with Tyra after his request that it was important they get something for Ellias.
Ellias observed the structure of the store. Like everything here, he knew it looked beautiful at one point. But now, it was reformed into a half-inside and half-outside store. It looked fine on its own. The remaining part of the building was rebuilt properly and was even repainted. The exterior part was well protected and well supported. Behind it, there was a tall crater.
"What used to be here before?", Ellias asked.
"This used to be where the great river separated our tribe's home to another town under the Kingdom of Pleiades' control. There were a few town around, some were also owned by the Vhir Kingdom after they both expanded. We complied to share the teritory and to trade together.", Many explained.
He continued and explained in more detail what led to the war. Ellias listened in wonder. It was nothing new that conflicts could arise between territories. But what happened to them was unfair.
If only there was a way for them to have a better life than this now. If only they did not have to live a second life in misery and false hope.
"I'm not sure what Tyra has in mind...", said Ellias, "But I will do my best to help you and your people!"
They both smiled, and at that moment, it is evident to Ellias that, like him, these people were fighting for the people they loved and cared for; they fought for their families.