Lukazio didn't feel particularly confident, but while holding the Break Soul Sword, he realized he wasn't going to learn more by standing around.
His sparring with Sinthell earlier made him realize that his skills still needed massive work and improvement. His movements were awkward and exaggerated, with additional inefficiencies that made his strikes sometimes lack accuracy or power.
The benefits of the currencies he had received couldn't be understated in correcting his physical condition, but he knew that he was really still a rookie with fighting. He needed to improve his skills, or he wouldn't get anywhere with his goals.
Even worse, he thought that the possibility of dying again in another universe would most likely be the end of the road for Lukazio whoever-he-really-was.
Sinthell and three others would be joining him on the run to sneak attack the Rakshasa Caverns. The elves would be happy with just thinning the Rakshasa numbers, as dealing any sort of blow to the evil creatures would be a boon to the surrounding communities.
Sinthell explained that Tel'Amirin's giant planet Amrashai was populated by thousands of races of creatures that had made their way here. The deity himself took no action to regulate the creatures' activities. Those living in the Courtyard Capital were relatively safer than those who lived outside Tel'Amirin's massive castle, the 'Infinite Stronghold.'
That didn't mean that some nastier creatures, such as the Rakshasas, couldn't find their way in. The refugees that took solace in Amrashai weren't always good. In fact, many were fugitives or monstrosities exiled from their origin worlds.
Because there was little regulation from the Gladiators or any other forces of Tel'Amirin's, the communities were largely left to themselves for defense.
Sinthell and Lukazio waited a short distance away from the clearing where the elves trading bazaar was held earlier. Now, as the multicolored clouds above began to darken, they awaited the arrival of the other three tasked by the elven Elders to assist him.
Alonzo, one of the honor guard outside the tower arrived in full gear. He had a longsword at his side within easy reach. Lukazio could also see the handle of a smaller blade jutting from around Alonzo's back, so as to enable him to draw both weapon's effortlessly and without entanglement.
Next to him was an elf of equally short height but having brown hair so dark it was very nearly black. He carried no weapon, but his traveling gear and cloak seemed sturdy and well-made, if a bit light for combat.
Looking down at the traveling clothing he wore, Lukazio realized some actual protective gear was going to have to be his first investment.
'This will have to do for now.' Lukazio thought as he manifested the Break Soul Sword and took a few easy practice swings.
Alonzo's companion introduced himself curtly as 'Razario, the High Enchanter's journeyman wizard.' Lukazio expected things to be terse or awkward with Razario simply based upon his initial introduction, but Lukazio was surprised when the dark haired elf was polite, if brief in conversation initially.
Alonzo informed the rest that their final member would be meeting them closer to where they would stage the attack.
They began moving along the road at first but the silver groves eventually gave way to fairly normal looking green trees, though some had silvery veins on their large leaves. The well-maintained groves gave way to a fairly wild looking forest.
The group quickly departed onto a narrow trail by way of a path that was hidden by overgrown brush shortly after the area started looking wild and normal.
Confused at how a clearly cut trail could be hiding behind other shrubs, he simply asked.
Razario chuckled, answering "It's just a game trail. They don't always use just their eyes, and these sorts of paths are clearly seen, at least when you know how."
Lukazio also tried his best to imitate the elves style of travel through the woods but his body betrayed him. His inability to move silently and lightly was constantly met by giggles from the elves. Lukazio's footsteps seemed to contain heavy weights and while he kept trying, he was mostly unsuccessful.
After their laughs, Razario began to instruct him a bit about the creatures they were heading to engage. "We elves are powerful in balanced groups, but the caverns' narrow passages make fighting the Rakshasas in groups difficult."
"That is a thin branch compared to the thickness of the roots." [1] Razario said while shaking his head wistfully as he watched Sinthell climb a nearby tree on the outskirts of the forest- so as to scout the surrounding area.
Razario continued, "Elves are resilient against magic, but that only means that there is a chance that spells might fail when used against us. Rakshasas are notable because their magics are so innately powerful that they are able to cut through our resiliency! Some may even penetrate more powerful resistances to magic or even protective spells and barriers."
Sinthell dropped lightly from the tree. "All clear in the surroundings. Our fifth member is an expert in caves and has such natural resistances to the Rakshasas magic as Razario here has mentioned."
"Our final member is Goredal, a dwarf and fellow ranger. He'll be expecting us shortly after the river to the east. That river separates the plains from the rocky area where the Rakshasas make their cavern stronghold."
Exchanging only small talk thereafter, the group quickly moved on. The silver forests gave way to grassy plains. The grasses and other plant life had really taken over and spread heavily. By this point all traces of silver were gone from the surrounding plants as the time wore on.
Although the increased density of plant life made it difficult to navigate those portions of the travel, the elves were experts in making their way through as easily and painlessly as possible.
Alonzo and Razario even joked about Sinthell's attempts to help Lukazio as he stumbled through.
Though even with her timely interventions he was nonetheless scraped by poisonous brambles, which burned furiously. He also only narrowly managed to avoid a grouping of slugs with acidic slime.
Reaching the river, they traveled along its length for awhile and found a narrower portion to swim across as none of the elves had any spells available that could do the trick.
Lukazio's irritated scrapes felt much improved from the rushing water. He would have been surprised to know that the water was only partially responsible, as his improving physiology was also assisting in processing the irritants.
Once everyone was on the other side of the river, Sinthell led the party to a large grouping of boulders nestled amidst thick mosses and a few trees with wide peach colored fins growing vertically out from the trunk.
Between two massive boulders with the largest fin-edged 'tree' in-between was a narrow entryway wide enough for three of the party to walk into at once leading down into the earth.
Inside the small dim cavern sat a short, burly chested warrior. Covering most of his face was a chainmail veil under a ridged helmet. He held several metallic javelins ending in pick-style points, across his lap.
Nearby, a ragged cloak covered a conspicuous looking lump. Sinthell saw the lump and wrinkled her nose but then raised her arm in greeting to the warrior. "Goredal, fine day!"
Standing, the warrior only came to somewhere between Lukazio's sternum and his navel, but his limbs were thick and powerfully built. Despite his short stature, he moved with the grace and poise of one who had seen many battles.
He examined the party. Upon reaching Lukazio, he seemed startled for a
moment. Recognition in his eyes.
Lukazio didn't understand how, but this dwarf recognized something about him.
Goredal lowered the chainmail veil, grinning widely with a black, closely cropped beard. "Yes. A fine day indeed. I have already taken care of one of those whose home we are planning to visit in but a few short hours."
He walked over and pulled back the cloak. Lying there was a creature that had a small lion head, fangs bared. Malicious and vividly bright reddish purple eyes were cloudy and starting to fade in brightness. The lion head had large red and black mane that gave it an even more ferocious appearance.
In contrast, it wore formal white robes made of a puffy material, now splattered with a gelatinous yellow ichor through the midsection and thighs.
The Rakshasa had two arms and legs and it had mostly normal hands, except that its fingers worked in the opposite, curling away from the palm instead of toward it.
"It chained a pile of lightning around me but the bloodline activated and returned it back at it. Stood no chance at that close of a range." Goredal recited. He seemed to take pride in his work but quickly covered the Rakshasa up again and dusted his hands.
Alonzo, Razario, and Lukazio were introduced to Goredal one by one through Sintell.
When Goredal shook Lukazio's hand he asked him, so quietly that Lukazio could barely hear it, the most mysterious question: "You traveled the roads at the end too far and showed up here too? Any others?"
But something in Lukazio's confused expression said it all and Goredal dropped the matter with a wistful expression.
They discussed specifics about the Rakshasa Caverns. Goredal explained that the rangers had been inside before, to rescue elven children and merchants that had been kidnapped while traveling.
"Lost a couple of good friends, but we're better prepared this time." Goredal said, nodding at Razario and gesturing by rubbing his fingers and thumb together in the apparently-universal gesture for money.
Razario opened his pack and removed several clinking bags on chains. He distributed them to everyone, even Lukazio, explaining "My
Master has crafted these amulets, which can absorb a large amount mana based attacks before one of the glass orbs inside shatter. Once all orbs are gone then the amulets are just junk, having no further effects."
With that said Razario stood and began chanting quietly for a few seconds before translucent spheres etched with symbols appeared around the elves.
Another globe appeared, flickered for a few moments, then established itself around Goredal, who stood smirking.
Razario explained while side-eyeing the dwarf. "These are mantles, they will also absorb spells sent against us. Sorry, Lukazio, but as I've been told, it is completely ineffective on you."
Lukazio nodded and shrugged, not much worried about it. His racial ability 'Mind Over Matter' could step in to cover attacks of other types, while something else prevented mana from reaching him.
A short time later, the party had finished their preparations. Studying the area outside, Lukazio saw what the nights in Amrashai looked like.
The dark skies' multicolored clouds had dimmed and were swirling into a kaleidoscopic vortex of color. The sight stirred something within Lukazio. A longing he couldn't place.
With the hunting party gathered and initial preparations made, the group left the small shelter entirely, headed towards the Rakshasa Caverns.
[1] an elvish colloquialism, roughly referring to something being a minor issue in the 'grand scheme of things' i.e. overall.