"Rivewclaw?" Elian shook his head, "I don't know what that is."
"The Riverclaw, is a formidable denizen of the lush forest by the river, stands as a symbol of primal strength. It has a tough body, scales in greens and browns, blending right in with the green stuff around. On its head, there's this bony crown that makes it look real fierce. Eyes are like slits, always checking its home, and its teeth, all sharp and jagged, that can smash even bones. Legs are strong with pointy claws for land and water tricks. Even the tail's heavy and deadly. This creature just feels all primal and is king around these green bushes and flowing waters." Mark explained.
"It's real picky 'bout its space, ready to fight if you cross its line. And 'cause it's so strong, not many dare mess with it."
"Ohh, I think that's the one, yeah." Elian nodded, not noticing the doubt on their faces.
"Uh, Sir, do you want us to go with you to our village?" Richard asked, having made up his mind.
The group was stunned, even Shawn, who had been quiet, was surprised by their leader's sudden decision.
"No need, if you can just point me in the right direction, that's enough."
"Got it. If you follow the river downstream a bit more, you'll reach a spot where the river splits. There should be signs of human activity, 'cause that's where some of the patrols rest before going back to the village," Richard explained.
"And those trees you were asking about earlier? The ones right there can be eaten. Tastes pretty good," he added, pointing at a nearby tree.
"Thanks. Well, time for me to head out." Elian's voice carried as he followed the downstream path. He had made up his mind not to travel with the group, wanting to avoid any potential clashes with a certain individual known for causing problems.
As he walked past the spot where Hanks was taking a break, he noticed Hanks glaring at him with an intense gaze, seemingly ready to tear him apart. Elian wasn't particularly bothered by it; he simply brushed off the man's hostility and continued on his way.
The quartet stayed put, their eyes following Elian's figure as he gradually vanished into the leafy curtain of trees lining the river. Once he was out of sight, curiosity got the better of Shawn. He broke the silence, voicing the questions lingering in his mind, "What got into you? Why did you decide to help him find our village? You even revealed its location. Don't you realize he could pose a threat to us?"
Richard shook his head slowly, countering Shawn's concerns, "You really believe that this guy is weak? Despite his looks, he's managed to survive in this forest. Remember, following the river upstream only takes you deeper into the woods. And let's not forget, he took down a riverclaw—a feat that even us couldn't manage to replicate."
"When I saw him earlier; he had a steady stride, no sign of tiredness. Then, he just collapses out of nowhere? Can you buy that? Even when he got hurt, he didn't seem bothered by the pain. You, Mark, know how it feels when your power heals something; it's never without a sting or an itch yet he..." Richard shook his head.
"Anyway, I thought building a positive rapport with him might be a smart move. It's just..." Richard's brow furrowed as he glanced over at Hank, who was resting by the riverbank with his eyes shut.
"That's true. It's hard to wrap my head around." Emily murmured, her brow furrowing. "But what I can't grasp is why he'd want to keep his strength a secret."
Mark seemed to have an idea, "Perhaps he thought we'd be more cautious around him if we knew what he's capable of?"
All of a sudden, Shawn swiftly turned on his heel, peering deep into the forest. The others in the group, picking up on his sudden alertness, tensed up. Weapons were gripped a little tighter, and spells poised on their lips.
"We might be in trouble everyone." Shawn warned, his voice tight.
Then, echoing through the trees from a distance, came a chorus of howls.
. . .
Without realizing the group's misunderstanding, Elian walked on, humming a tune. He munched on a fruit, sort of like an odd-colored apple from the tree Richard had shown. He didn't think they'd poison him since they could've taken him down earlier, but he didn't feel the so called 'danger' they talked about.
He reached the spot Richard had mentioned, the place where the paths split. He spent nearly an hour searching for the supposed "tracks," growing increasingly frustrated. "What the heck did he mean by 'obvious trail'? I've been looking around for an hour, and I haven't seen anything that stands out," he muttered in annoyance.
Just when he was about to give up, he spotted a bit of mud scattered in the grass, with some flattened patches. "Finally, huh? It'd be easy they said." he said with a touch of sarcasm.
Before continuing his journey to follow the trail, he took a moment to rest and make sure he was adequately hydrated and rested.
The journey went surprisingly smoothly, perhaps because he was getting close to the village. As he went on, he observed the trees thinning out and suddenly found himself in a clearing atop a hill.
What he saw next left him utterly astonished.
. . .
He had steeled himself for the possibility of encountering ancient or medieval-style architecture based on the group's outfit, yet what greeted his eyes were towering skyscrapers. The area around these skyscrapers was a bustling scene, filled with numerous buildings and houses that extended toward the outer edges near the protective walls. The morning light bathed the skyscrapers, causing them to shine brilliantly from a distance, reminiscent of modern structures on Earth.
The primary difference lay in the encircling thick walls, adorned with towering watchtowers. At the center stood a colossal gate, where a continuous flow of people are moving to and fro, creating a lively atmosphere.
"This... What in the world did they mean by 'village'? If this is a village, then what the heck would they call a city? Or even a metropolis?"
As he neared the gate, the crowd grew denser, and he started noticing people accompanied by various types of elementals. There was something resembling an opossum with metallic claws, horses that seemed to carry the wind with each step, birds adorned with flaming feathers, and many other intriguing creatures.
Each sight sparked his curiosity, igniting a desire to learn more about these creatures. He felt a sense of nobility just by being close to some of them. "This is my first time near an elemental." he couldn't help but exclaim within himself, completely forgetting that Cappy was an elemental as well.
Elian then spotted a crowd gathering in a certain area. Intrigued, he followed the group to see what was going on. Among the bystanders, he overheard snippets of their conversation. It seemed that a traveler was aiming to enter the village but was unwilling to pay an extra fee to register his elemental companion.
Then he saw a guy in a uniform who seemed like some kind of village cop, and a worn traveler. What caught Elian's eye, though, was the huge crocodile-looking creature beside the traveler. It had stuff strapped to its back and looked ready to move.
Elian got closer, and he could hear the argument.
"I can't allow you entry to the village with an unregistered elemental, sir. Either you dismiss it or pay the registration fee." the enforcer's voice held firm, his finger pointed at the crocodile.
The traveler stood his ground, not yielding. "Why should I pay extra? It's not causing any problems."
Elian grasped that when summoners like him entered the village, an additional fee was required to bring their elementals along. This fee aimed to ensure that everyone kept their elementals under control and safe.
The enforcer elaborated, "The fee is there to maintain order. We can't have untamed elementals causing chaos."
As the argument persisted, Elian comprehended that not registering an elemental was a serious violation of village rules. It entailed consequences like fines, probation, or even mandatory training to better manage one's elemental.
Finally, the traveler relented and agreed to pay the fee. The village enforcer handed him a scroll, somewhat like official documentation. This scroll indicated that the traveler's elemental was permitted within the village. Apparently, the scroll held magical properties, capable of registering the elemental's mana signature. It functioned like an identification card.
Observing the situation, Elian had an epiphany about the significance of using one's powers responsibly. The dispute served as a reminder that rules existed to ensure the safety and well-being of all, emphasizing the importance of being accountable while wielding unique abilities.
. . .
Upon arriving at the village entrance, Elian was halted by an officer donned in emblem-adorned armor on the cuirass' right side. "ID," the officer's request was direct as he extended his open palms.
"Um, about that, sir... I don't have an ID," Elian confessed, scratching his head.
"Is this your first time in the village, by chance?" The officer's inquiry was accompanied by a discerning gaze cast upon Elian's rather unkempt appearance.
"Yes, that's correct, sir."
"Understood." The officer beckoned to a fellow colleague. Then, addressing Elian while indicating the approaching officer, he instructed, "Please follow him, sir. He'll assist you in obtaining an ID. But let me caution you, if it's discovered that you're already a registered citizen in another village or has committed any crime, you'll be apprehended immediately under the suspicion of fraud."
He turned to his colleague, "New guy." he said. With that, he shifted his attention away from Elian, resuming his task of checking others entering the village.
Elian turned his gaze to the new officer.
The officer greeted him with politeness, "Hello, sir. Please come with me, and I'll assist you in the registration process to obtain your ID."
As he trailed after the officer, Elian had the chance to take in the buildings and towering skyscrapers from up close. The modern architecture was strikingly familiar. He even noticed technological advancements, like buildings with automatic sliding doors. His eyes caught sight of something resembling a car but with a unique twist. The spectacle left him astounded and his excitement surged. His yearning to explore and discover new things grew stronger than ever.
"I reckon their sense of scale might be a bit off. This sure ain't what I'd call a village," Elian mused.