"I am Neska which beautifully translates into flowing river and I am the Chief of this little Funari village. I'm most pleased to meet you. Now, tell me all that happened."
Finrod stared at the old Funari, he had spaced out.
"Hmmm hmm!" The old chief cleared his throat bringing back Finrod's attention.
"Ahh about that."
Finrod then proceeded to narrate all that happened, how the goddess fought and as he expected, the Terians saw the battle as well. He spoke of the horrific demons that poured out in masses plundering the lives of his people and animals, the quake. How he fought to survive and his time in the forest.
All this took about ten minutes and after he was done, there was a silence that lasted about two minutes, the chief was collecting his thoughts.
"I grieve with you, Finrod. The elves were good friends of mine and it pains me to hear they had such violent deaths." He said with his right hand placed on Finrod's shoulder.
"Thank you Chief Neska. I shall remember your kindness."
"You're a good elf, a resilient and strong one too. I see the flames burning in your eyes and I understand your rage. In this reality we've been thrust into, we have no choice but to resist with violence, to dirty our hands in the blood of monsters, it's a hopeless hellish reality, but we will persevere. Now, you can stay here all you want, I can give you a hut of your own and you'll be accepted as one of us. If that's what you want."
Finrod felt sadness grow inside of him, he hated remembering the carnage that happened and alongside that sadness was a little sprouting feeling of camaraderie, the chief said all the right words and he felt persuaded to stay.
"I appreciate your kindness Chief Neska, however I'm unsure of your proposal, i'll think about it and give you an answer. I only crave for a change of attire and a meal now." Finrod unashamedly said.
"One can't grow with an empty stomach. I'll instruct Elessar to make you a meal and a change of clothes. Remember, we would love to have an extra fighting arm in this ordeal, we are stronger together."
"Well, if you excuse me." He stood up and bowed slightly paying respect to him just as young elves did to their elders.
The Nature Sage simply smiled in response. Finrod went to the wall that had let them in and it opened up, giving him passage through it.
"Are you versed in the manipulation of mana within you?" The sage's question stopped him in his tracks.
"Your mage class, albeit a specialized one, indicates you have the godly energy within you. How well can you tap into it?"
Finrod slowly turned and he chuckled lightly, "My control over the energy is so juvenile and I fear my luck will run out sooner or later."
Finrod paused and then he continued, "Do you have the energy in you?"
"I do, and a very few others as well." As soon as the chief answered, Finrod noticed that his face saddened although he quickly brushed it aside and maintained his kind countenance.
"However we don't have anybody with an explicitly offensive class like you do and that's something I'm very curious about, it isn't a small feat to survive in a demon-infested wilderness like you did, it is commendable and I would love to shape you to the best of your potential."
Finrod felt he could trust the Chief, his being alive was due to an action he made, he was empathetic with him and he didn't belittle and pity him like most people would.
"I have only been able to make lightning and constructs of the energy, I can reinforce my body as well."
"Ahhh, to be able to create a bolt of magic, how wonderful but alas, I'm restricted to plants. I love my abilities and I would still choose it at every chance but I can't help but feel limited at times." The Funari said, gazing at his hands.
"We've accustomed ourselves to the ways of mana long before the system Initialization, mostly for reinforcement and for healing however it did come in handy when it was time to serve our people. Plant magic in this terrain is second to none, Finrod."
"I can do this." Finrod swung down his hands and swiftly brought it up, this time, a glowing blade of blue light formed around his hand, it was about a meter long, sure to pierce through a man.
"Most impressive, Let's talk some more and hopefully practice the arts of magic next time. Go change your clothes and eat."
Finrod went out of the hut and began to descend starting from the branch below and then the next until he finally landed on the ground jolting up the sleeping Graimpuf at the side.
It groaned and then sprawled back down and continued its nap.
There were no signs of Elessar anywhere.
'She has left.'
Finrod walked forward back into the collection of huts. As he got closer, he spotted two kids that looked like early human teens wrestling each other and he saw fresh wounds pouring streaks of blood inflicted by their antlers.
The two Funari kids had nothing on but a brown skirt that exposed their brown underwear as they twisted and turned each other about.
Finrod simply looked away and went on. He was on the path to the village's square and he saw that many had their eyes on him, it made him self-conscious and he began to quicken his steps looking for Elessar.
'Where is she?'
After many steps and turns, Finrod finally spotted Elessar in front of a hut talking to a female villager.
[Healer- lvl 4]
"Elessar!" He cried and quickened his steps and then halted as soon as he saw her unhappy face, she exchanged some words with the healer and soon, the healer left leaving just the two of them.
Now, Finrod didn't particularly know Elessar, he knew nothing aside from the fact that she was a tamer with those creatures under her rein, a Funari, and her name.
Yet, he couldn't help but feel concerned, he didn't like the way her face was at all.
"Is everything okay?"