A wooden hut. The presence of such a structure in the middle of the vast wilderness sparked a sense of wonder and curiosity in Orion and Mira.
"This might be an important discovery," Orion remarked, eyeing the hut closely. The fact that it could be an abandoned dwelling or currently inhabited indicated the possibility of sentient life in the small world, a rarity in such places usually dominated by creatures.
"We should take a look, but let's stay cautious," Mira suggested, her voice laced with a mix of excitement and caution.
Approaching the hut with a blend of eagerness and wariness, they observed its rustic appearance, indicating it was well-maintained and possibly recently occupied.
Just as they neared the door, contemplating whether to knock or call out, it suddenly opened. Standing in the doorway was a figure that neither Orion nor Mira had expected – a beastman with distinct fox-like features. He had keen, intelligent eyes, a coat of reddish-brown fur, and sharply pointed ears.
Orion and Mira halted, momentarily taken aback by the appearance of the fox beastman.
"Who are you, and what brings you to my home?" the beastman inquired, his tone articulate and laced with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
The beastman spoke, his words flowing in a language unfamiliar to Mira. She looked at Orion, confusion evident on her face, signaling her inability to comprehend the beastman's words.
Orion, however, stood with a look of comprehension. Thanks to his Universal Language skill, he could understand and communicate with the beastman.
"My name is Orion, and this is Mira. We're explorers from the Keepers of Void clan. We didn't expect to find anyone living here. We come in peace," Orion replied, aiming for a tone of peace and diplomacy.
The fox beastman's gaze lingered on Orion and Mira, his curiosity apparent. "I must ask, what kind of beastmen are you? I have not seen your kind before in this land," he inquired, scrutinizing them with interest.
Orion, realizing Mira couldn't understand the conversation, took the lead in responding. "We're not beastmen. We're humans from Earth. This small world was recently opened for exploration, and we're part of the first expedition to venture here."
Mira, standing silently beside Orion, observed the interaction closely, relying on Orion to translate later. Her expression showed a mix of curiosity and attentiveness as she watched the exchange between Orion and the fox beastman.
The beastman nodded thoughtfully, absorbing this new information. "Humans from Earth, I see. I have heard tales of other worlds, but we have different paths and never cross."
After a moment, the beastman gestured towards the interior of the hut. "Please, come inside. It's not much, but you're welcome to share a moment of rest," he offered hospitably.
Orion nodded in acceptance and turned to Auf. With a quiet command, he unsummoned the dire wolf, knowing the hut was too small to comfortably accommodate them all. The beastman observed this with a nod of acknowledgment, clearly recognizing the strength of the bond between Orion and his companion.
Inside the hut, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The beastman invited them to sit and poured herbal tea for them. Orion, cautious by nature, discreetly used his Basic Inspection skill on the tea. The skill confirmed it was just a simple, harmless herbal blend, slightly sweet to the taste. Reassured, he took a sip and found the flavor pleasantly soothing.
Orion then asked, "May I know your name?"
The fox beastman responded with a gentle nod. "My name is Fenris," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride.
Fenris, the fox beastman then asked with genuine interest, "Could you tell me more about your expedition?"
Orion, realizing the value of sharing their experiences with Fenris, began to explain. "Not long ago, a portal to this world appeared near our home on Earth. Our leaders decided it was important to explore this new realm, to understand its nature and potential. So, they organized an expedition comprising about 100 groups, which makes up roughly 400 awakeners in total. Each group has its own objective and area to explore."
He paused, then added, "Mira and I are part of one of these groups. We're a smaller team, focused on exploration and gathering information. Our journey so far has been full of surprises, just like finding your hut here.", Orion continued, capturing Fenris's full attention.
Curious about the extent of sentient life in the small world, Orion posed another question. "Are there more like you living here? Other beastmen or perhaps different beings?"
Fenris nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Yes, there are others. In this world, there are a few towns and villages inhabited by beastmen. We are a diverse community, with around 20,000 of us living here. Our societies are scattered throughout this land."
Orion and Mira exchanged a surprised look. This was a significant revelation; the small world was far more populated and developed than they had initially thought.
Fenris continued, "I, however, prefer solitude. That's why I chose to live here, away from the towns and villages. The forest offers peace and a deeper connection to the world around me."
The information about the existence of organized communities of beastmen added a layer of complexity and depth to the small world, something Orion and Mira hadn't anticipated. Intrigued by this new revelation, Orion inquired about the location of the nearest village.
Fenris, the fox beastman, provided directions. "To the east, where the forest ends, there lies a village about 17 kilometers from here. You should be able to reach it in less than two hours if you maintain a good pace."
Orion expressed his gratitude for the information. Before leaving, he shared a word of caution with Fenris. "While our world's laws prohibit harm to non-aggressive inhabitants of small worlds, not everyone adheres to these rules, especially in remote places like this."
Fenris responded with a knowing smile. "You two do not possess any bloodline power, as I see, and in this world, the absence of a bloodline often equates to weakness, given the level limitations."
This statement about bloodlines piqued Orion's interest, but he decided not to probe further at that moment. He thanked Fenris once again and, with a respectful nod, left the hut with Mira.
As they left the hut and ventured back into the forest, Orion began explaining their conversation with Fenris to Mira, detailing everything the fox beastman had shared.
"Fenris mentioned there are communities of beastmen in this world," Orion began, "with around 20,000 inhabitants spread across various towns and villages. It's a significant number, suggesting a well-established society here."
Mira listened intently, her eyes reflecting the surprise and curiosity that the news brought. "That's fascinating. I had no idea we'd find such organized societies here."
Orion nodded. "He also said there's a village about 17 kilometers east from here, at the edge of the forest. We could reach it in less than two hours."
"The presence of such communities changes our understanding of this world," Mira observed. "It's not just a wilderness; it's a place with its own cultures and social structures."
"There was one more thing," Orion added. "Fenris mentioned something about bloodlines being a mark of strength here, suggesting that those without them are considered weak due to the level limitations in this world."
Mira's brow furrowed. "Bloodlines? That's a concept we haven't come across before. It sounds like it could be a crucial factor in how strength and power are perceived here."
Orion nodded. "We'll need to learn more about this as we explore. Understanding the social and power dynamics in this world is going to be key"
With this new knowledge, Orion and Mira continued their journey towards the east. The revelation of an organized society of beastmen and the concept of bloodlines added new layers of complexity to their mission. They moved forward with a sense of cautious anticipation, eager to discover more about the intricate world of the Trial of Mortals.