Upon leaving the shop, Orion made his way towards the village gate, intending to meet Mira and Auf. As he approached, a tense scene unfolded before him. Mira was in a heated argument with a group of human awakeners, their weapons drawn. Even Auf was in a battle-ready stance, his body tense and alert. Orion immediately recognized the opposing group as members of the Azure Serpent Clan.
Quickening his pace, Orion reached the gate and immediately sought clarification from Mira. She explained that the Azure Serpent Clan group was insisting on entering the village, but she had told them they couldn't because it was beastmen territory and communication would be impossible. Despite her explanations, the clan members were adamant about entering, leading to the escalation of tensions.
Orion stepped in, urging both parties to calm down. Addressing the Azure Serpent Clan members, he said, "The beastmen genuinely do not welcome those with whom they cannot communicate. As you can't speak their language, you cannot enter. Persisting could lead to your capture or worse. These beastmen are equivalent to level 30 in strength due to their unique power system."
To prove his point and to de-escalate the situation, Orion turned to communicate with the beastmen guards, subtly hinting to them to remain vigilant. The Azure Serpent group, observing this exchange, seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation.
The atmosphere, while still tense, began to cool down as the reality of the potential danger they faced sank in for the Azure Serpent Clan members. The presence of Orion, who could communicate with the beastmen, served as a bridge and a deterrent to potential violence.
Just as the situation at the village gate began to stabilize, a sudden, uniform sound echoed from the communicators of all the human awakeners present, including Orion and the members of the Azure Serpent Clan. In the small world, known as the Trial of Mortals, they hadn't received any signal until this moment. Curiosity piqued, everyone quickly retrieved their devices.
The message displayed on their screens was from GARB – the governing body responsible for managing the awakeners. Orion read the message aloud for Mira's benefit:
"Dear awakeners, GARB engineers have successfully established a communication center, enabling the use of communicators within the Trial of Mortals small world. Currently, only text messaging is available. Please respond to this message to confirm your safety. If no response is received within 24 hours, we will consider you as deceased."
The sudden ability to communicate, albeit via text, was a significant development for everyone in the small world. It meant that they could now report back, request assistance, or even receive updates from outside the small world.
The members of the Azure Serpent Clan, their confrontation momentarily forgotten, were also engrossed in reading and responding to the message. The tension that had built up at the gate dissipated as both groups were distracted by this new development.
Orion quickly typed a response to confirm their safety and status. He realized that this new line of communication could be a valuable tool in their exploration of the small world. It also meant that their activities and discoveries could be reported back more efficiently, providing GARB and Keepers of Void with real-time updates.
Only a few minutes after responding to the initial message from GARB, Orion and Mira received another notification on their communicators. This time, it was a message from someone within their own clan. The sender was one of Lila Bright's assistants, known to them as Elara Winters.
Elara's message read: "Hello Orion and Mira, this is Elara Winters, assistant to Vice Leader Lila Bright. I have been assigned as the communication officer for our clan during the expedition to the Trial of Mortals. I'll be your point of contact for any updates, information exchange, or assistance you may need. Please keep me informed of your status and discoveries."
Orion swiftly composed a detailed message to Elara, outlining the key points of their exploration and findings in the Trial of Mortals so far. He wanted to ensure that the clan was well-informed about the significant aspects of this small world.
In his message, he wrote:
"Elara, we've made several important discoveries in the small world. Firstly, we've encountered a sentient species known as beastmen. They have established settlements here, including the village of Lyrathorn, where we currently are. These beastmen communities seem well-organized and culturally rich.
Furthermore, we've learned about a unique aspect of their society – the bloodline system. Each beastman possesses a bloodline inherited from their ancestors, which determines their potential and strength. It's a key part of their identity and social structure.
Another interesting discovery is the role of mana stones in their economy. Here, they're referred to as 'blood purification stones' and are highly valued for their ability to cleanse and purify their bloodlines. This has significant implications for trade and interaction with them.
Lastly, we've acquired a detailed map of the nearby territories, covering about 10,000 square kilometers, with Lyrathorn at the center. This will be invaluable for our continued exploration and understanding of the region.
Will keep you updated on further developments."
After sending the message, Orion felt a sense of accomplishment. Keeping their clan updated not only ensured they were well-informed but also allowed for strategic planning and support based on their findings.
After the members of the Azure Serpent Clan hurriedly left following the receipt of the message, Orion felt a wave of relief. This gave him the opportunity to speak freely with Mira, and he began to relay everything he had learned from the beastmen, including details about their culture, the bloodline system, and the role of mana stones in their society.
Just as he finished updating Mira, Orion's communicator buzzed with another message from Elara. The message conveyed that their clan, the Keepers of Void, had formed a temporary alliance with The Mystic Shadows clan. Elara instructed Orion to visit their camp, located near the village, as soon as possible.
Understanding the importance of this new development, Orion prepared to leave. Before departing, he took a moment to thank the village guards. He also shared a few basic phrases in the human language with them, enabling them to communicate a simple message to any outsiders: that they were not permitted to enter the village. This small act of bridge-building could help prevent future misunderstandings and conflicts.
Remembering the broader implications of their discoveries, Orion sent a quick message to GARB, informing them about the beastmen and suggesting that they advise other expedition members to avoid confrontations with the local inhabitants. Such information was crucial for the safety and success of all explorers in the Trial of Mortals.
With these tasks completed, he joined Mira, and Auf and together they headed towards the camp of The Mystic Shadows, curious about the nature of this new alliance and how it might influence their ongoing mission in the small world.