As we stood outside the important-looking hut, Irene turned to me, her gaze curious. "May I ask your name, traveler?" she inquired politely.
It was strange as to why she was only asking my name now.
Maybe it was a cultural thing, but her surface thoughts were not telling me much.
I considered her question for a moment before deciding there was little harm in revealing it. "Ivan," I replied simply, the name rolling off my tongue with ease.
"Ivan," Irene repeated, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "In the ancient elven tongue, Ivan means 'Man of War.' It was quite an aggressive and manly name."
And in the ancient elven tongue, it seemed to be pronounced 'Ei-vaan'.
I nodded, offering a small smile in return. "A manly name, indeed," I replied, though inwardly I couldn't help but find amusement in the irony. Man of War. If only she knew the true extent of my past deeds.
Funny thing was… I almost thought she was flirting with me.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Irene gestured for me to follow her into the hut. As we entered, I was greeted by the sight of an elderly elf seated behind a wooden desk, her features weathered with age but her eyes sharp and alert.
"This is Elder Marah," Irene introduced, gesturing to the elder. "She is the leader of our village."
I inclined my head respectfully, acknowledging the elder's presence. "It is an honor to meet you, Elder Marah," I said politely.
Marah regarded me with a keen gaze, her eyes seeming to bore into my very soul. "And who might you be, traveler?" she asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"I am Ivan," I replied simply, offering no further explanation.
Marah nodded, seeming to accept my answer without further question. "Welcome to our village, Ivan," she said warmly. "I trust Irene has made you feel at home?"
I returned the elder's smile with one of my own, though it held little warmth. "Indeed, she has," I replied diplomatically.
"Good, good," Marah said, her tone turning more serious. "We are always pleased to welcome visitors to our forest. But know that we value our privacy and do not take kindly to outsiders who may threaten our way of life."
I nodded, understanding the underlying warning in his words. "Rest assured, Elder Marah," I assured her, "I mean no harm to your village or its people. I am merely a traveler seeking knowledge and... friendship."
Marah regarded me for a moment longer before nodding in apparent satisfaction. "Very well, Ivan," she said. "You are welcome to stay in our village for as long as you like. We'd love to have another male in the tribe."
"What was the war about?" I inquired, my tone casual yet filled with curiosity.
"Slavery," Marah replied, her voice heavy with the weight of the memories. Her response was simple, yet it spoke volumes about the atrocities they must have endured.
The notion of being welcomed into the village with such openness and warmth was a stark contrast to the world I had left behind. Yet, as Marah spoke of the recent war and their struggles against slavery, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. The chaos of conflict often provided ample opportunity for someone like me.
Beside me, Irene winced, her reaction not escaping my notice. It was a subtle gesture, but it spoke volumes about the pain and suffering they had endured.
I nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of their situation. "I'm sorry to hear that," I offered, my words sincere despite the calculating thoughts swirling in my mind. "It must have been a difficult time for your people."
Marah's expression softened, a mix of sadness and determination flickering in her eyes. "It was," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "But we have persevered, and we will continue to protect our way of life at all costs."
Way of life— this was the second time I heard the same phrase from the elder.
Slavery. War. Lack of males. Way of life.
This was an opportunity I hadn't anticipated, a chance to exploit the vulnerabilities of a community still reeling from the aftermath of war. With their guard lowered and their trust seemingly granted, I knew that my true work could begin.
Though I wouldn't be able to reproduce with them as the elder might like to think, I should be more than capable enough to prop them up. I shouldn't be reckless though… While unlikely, considering that this was an entirely different world with different civilizations, I should still be careful of the presence of other supers.
"May I ask, Elder Marah," I ventured, my tone careful yet curious, "did your village once have individuals with extraordinary abilities? People capable of incredible feats?"
Marah's gaze darkened, a shadow passing over her weathered features. "Yes," she murmured, her voice heavy with sorrow. "We had three such champions among us."
Intrigued, I pressed on. "What abilities did they possess?"
Her eyes flickered with memories, sadness mingling with a hint of reverence. "One could communicate with the wind, another could run so fast that he seemed a blur, and the third could summon fire from their fingertips."
A sense of regret washed over me as I considered the existence of supers in this world. "And what became of them?" I inquired, though I feared I already knew the answer.
"They perished in the war," Marah replied, her voice tinged with grief. "Their sacrifices will forever be remembered by our people."
I nodded solemnly, absorbing her words. It was a tragic tale, yet it offered me insight into the vulnerabilities of the village. If they once had individuals of such power and prowess and they died in the war, then it meant the other side also had supers within their ranks.
These people whom I had labeled 'elves' in my mind were more than meets the eyes. If they had supers even with their small population, this meant that their awakening turnover rate was higher than my species.
It was interesting—
One that could communicate with the wind, they seemed to be either clairvoyant-class or telepath-class of the psychic-type.
One that could run so fast they blurred, definitely a speedster-class of the attribute-type.
One that could summon fire from their fingertips, most likely a fire-class of the esper-type.
It almost seemed jarring to me that they qualified as the same power set my home world followed.
But I wouldn't be so sure. I was in an entirely different world, and the way supers in this world worked might be different. The best choice I have was to get in contact with a super and confirm things in real time.
First and foremost, the elves as a species also interested me. I must find an opportunity to study them from their culture, history, and especially physiology.
Without warning, a commotion erupted outside. An elven boy, barely reaching my chest in height, burst into the hut with a panicked expression etched on his face.
"The Frost Fire Sect! They've come again to the forest's periphery!" he exclaimed breathlessly, his voice trembling with fear.
Elder Marah's features contorted with disgust at the mention of the sect. It was evident that their arrival brought nothing but trouble.
I exchanged a glance with Irene, and in that moment, a silent understanding passed between us. This was no ordinary disturbance. The Frost Fire Sect's presence posed a significant threat, one that required immediate action— I immediately knew as I detected a powerful presence on the fringes of the elves' territory.
The mental strength in totality was the accumulation of memories, experience, and willpower. I counted roughly three powerful presences that could pose harm to the village.
"We must act swiftly," Marah declared, her voice commanding as she rose from her seat. "Prepare the defenses. We cannot allow them to encroach upon our territory."
With a sense of urgency, the villagers sprang into action, mobilizing to protect their homes from the impending danger. As they moved with purpose, I couldn't help but feel this was it – an opportunity to prove my worth and earn their trust.
I followed suit, ready to lend whatever aid I could in the face of adversity.
Amidst the chaos, I made a mental note to learn more about the Frost Fire Sect – who they were, what they wanted, and most importantly, how they could be defeated.