Moses then broke the silence. "All right, Seth, not everyone in this place is our enemy. I get that. But what else have you been talking to that person about? Where exactly are we? Where do we begin our search?"
"More importantly, how do we communicate with them?" Another elder added to Moses' questions.
Seth looked at them both. "Regarding the language, there are several languages and islands in Ihaes. However, according to Ihk, there are ways to learn these languages easily.
As long as we know the language of this tribe, we can communicate with the people of the Vridor Dynasty. If we want to go somewhere else, all we have to do is go to a place in the largest city in this state and buy a language crystal."
"Language crystal?" Atlas didn't understand what that meant.
"A language crystal is a device made by the Sky People, something useful for people with superpowers to transmit linguistic knowledge," Seth explained what he had heard from the Ihk. "Each language of the Ihaes can be easily learned by purchasing the corresponding language crystals.
From what the elder said, this is even more effective than the way I used to learn the local language."
"So all we have to do is learn the language of the people of this village, and we can learn whatever we want by buying this thing," Dax commented.
"That's it. I'll prepare something for you to study their language. After that, we can solve linguistic problems without any problems." Seth reassured his people before answering the rest of their questions that he could for the moment.
"As for Elder Moses' questions, as I said, we're in the Vridor Dynasty, or more specifically, Werton Province, Belletham Timberland. Elder Ihk said it's a month's ride from the nearest city. We should get better information there.
Unfortunately, the people in the village are ordinary people who don't know much about the different groups on the continent. So we don't have much to do except look for places with people who have access to more information."
Ihk and the people of this village knew much more about this world than any of the survivors of the Misty Woods Tribe. But they only had basic information.
Without more in-depth knowledge, they couldn't help the group of Giant Island survivors find their way to those responsible for the probable extermination of their people.
"So our first target is this city," Emery commented as she continued to stare at Seth's drawing in the dirt path.
"Is there anything else? Is that what you spent so much time talking about?" Moses asked, looking at Seth with narrowed eyes.
Seth looked into the eyes of his tribe's most difficult elder to deal with and remained silent for a moment.
"Indeed." He murmured before shifting his focus and beginning to walk from side to side. "You see, we are what the people of this village call Sky People. Like the sky, we have no boundaries... Just like us, there are many others with special abilities in this vast unknown world."
So far, none of them saw a problem with Seth's words. Until a few weeks ago, they had only known themselves. To them, strangers were just people without abilities, like the villagers. When they set foot in this land, they expected to meet people with abilities, maybe even more powerful than them.
But then...
"However, not all Sky People are the same. Contrary to what we've learned, there are several differences between people with superpowers.
According to Ihk, there are different classifications that rank types of powers, talents, power levels, combat abilities, and everything that can be measured.
Elder Ihk doesn't know about these classifications, but in Ihaes society, people are divided according to these classifications.
Unlike us, who consider ourselves "equal," the people of this society quantify the social "value" that each person can contribute. Thus, they give more value to some and less to others.
Not only that, but some of these people seem to have discovered ways to enhance the abilities of superpowered people."
Seth once again shocked everyone there, especially some of the older ones who had grown up with the teachings of the Misty Woods Tribe.
On the Giant Island, they followed an egalitarian model of society, where one's powers did not determine one's social position.
Everyone had the same rights, the same amount of food, and the same opportunities. In a sense, they lived without distinctions, with one exception.
Once a year, they celebrated the transition from childhood to adolescence, adolescence to adulthood, and adulthood to old age.
What determined when someone would change phases was not well defined, as it depended on several criteria. But aside from these specifics, these were moments when people with different abilities showed the entire tribe what they were capable of, often through combat.
Those who were more skilled in combat had an undeniable advantage over others at these times and were able to stand out and take home the prizes from these celebrations.
But this was the only time when you could distinguish yourself from the others on the island.
Moreover, there was no way to artificially increase one's strength or abilities from what the elders had passed down to the younger ones for generations. According to them, the growth of their powers depended on themselves, their inner peace, and their generosity.
Wanting to get stronger quickly or evolve with special methods was considered a possibility that shouldn't be attempted. Firstly, it wasn't possible and would be blasphemous to their beliefs. Secondly, even if the possibility existed, it was a method without merit and would soil the reputation of those who used it.
What's the point of getting something easily without any effort?
What comes easy goes easy; eventually, that person would lose that "borrowed" power.
They had lived with these practices for generations without considering the alternative of becoming stronger with secret methods because they did not exist.
But Seth's words went directly against these beliefs!
"Blasphemy!" One of the older elders of this group shouted, not liking what Ihk had said to Seth. "We shouldn't pay attention to everything that man said."
"Hmm, it sounds strange." Another agreed while the younger ones pondered the possibility in silence.
Moses closed his eyes but said nothing. 'Is this really true? Have the elders been lying to us all along?' He asked himself, sensing that things were more complicated than they had been taught.
Dax, Seth's rival, ignored the rest of the group and asked the young man in a low voice. "What do you think about this? If it's true, then much of what we know is in danger of being false. Our cultures, our ideals, everything. It could all be a lie."
"Whether it's a lie or not, I don't know." Seth looked into the eyes of Dax, whom he had beaten twice in the tournaments he had fought on the Giant Island. "And even if it is, I'm sure there's an explanation. Either way, I trust the elders and our ancestors. Lies or not, I am a member of the Misty Woods Tribe, and nothing will change that.