Chapter Five: History Of Glitches
The old elf was put to sleep and Benign stayed outside the house while the young elven ladies tended to their chief..
He wasn't even in the mood to admire their bodies within the tight clothes they wore, and he tried to ignore the curious looks most of the male elves gave him.
"Would you tell me what the chief meant? Have I been in this realm before, Legal?"
[Have you?]
"Obviously not. I didn't even know this shit could happen."
[Well, there's your answer. There's nothing to do here, gather information and a unit, then set off.]
Benign left were he sat. Legal had information hidden from him but truthfully, it didn't affect what he had to do.
He needed a unit to help combat whatever hostiles he'd meet. Gathering the core would also need information on where the pieces were.
He also had to reach Noria and speak to their leader about stopping the wars that affected the Core.
"It'd be easier if I just find these protectors of the realms and work with them. They'd probably be more useful and have more information." He strolled to the chief's cottage.
The elves made way for him as he passed. He made a knock before walking in. "Miss elf, how's he doing?"
The elf girl made a 'shhh' sign with her finger. "He's old and says random things, so ignore what he said before. You're not the first he had said it too."
That relieved Benign, but also made him curious.
He knew his case was special as a transmigrator and he'd have assumed what the chief meant was, 'you're from a different realm and have spilled blood on both realms.'.
So this other person that he had told the same thing, were they a transmigrator too? He knew Legal would not give a clear response but since the system once said that skills weren't always available, it heavily hinted that they may be other transmigrators who were in the same boat as him.
It roused the competitive spirit in Benign.
He might get his second chance at a glory taken from him if he slacked. "I need the unit now. We need to get information from surrounding villages."
The elf girl looked up to think. "With the chief down, I'd need to assume leadership position, so I can't go with you. We also need to protect here from the glitched so I can't give you all my men."
Benign folded his arms as she spoke.
"I'd give you our strongest and our smartest. We know almost nothing about the glitches, but ask Loran station. Tell them you were sent by Kiron station."
Two hefty men were brought to Benign afterward and he wondered who supposed to be the smartest one when they both looked like they weighed tons.
"I didn't know elves had buff settings." He said under his breath. He rested there for the night and was given supplies to travel with the next day.
"For the record, what is your name?" he asked the elf girl, while strapping the bag behind him. The two elves were ready, each carrying backpacks and steeled rods by their sides.
"Lyra." The elf said proudly. "I am quite well-known in the capital of Noria, so if you ever meet a Two-Winged sister, you can tell them you have the blessing of Sister Lyra."
Like a catholic sister? "I hear you. Thanks for the help and take good care of your old man. We'd be setting off."
The entirety of the station stood by the entrance to tell them goodbye. It reminded Benign of his little townspeople wishing him good luck on his first battle.
He had never returned to the town but he heard they were still in good health and that was enough. Their long living and good health was the reason he had volunteered for the war anyway.
"Don't worry, soldiers, I'd do my best to make sure you all return to your families." He patted the shoulders of the elf men with him. They turned to him and slowly nodded. "By the way, what do you know about the glitches?"
That was when he knew the smart one, who cleared his throat immediately and brought out a scroll from nowhere. "Allow me, good sir. My name is Vargel Crosspath."
Benign nodded. "Nice to meet you. I'm Benign Cross."
Vargel paused, noticing the similarities between their surnames, before he continued. "Yes, now according to the history of the realms, this is the first time the glitches had started in small scales before."
"Elaborate."
"There was a time when many realms glitched places and most realms ended up being lost within time and space. The only surviving realms being Noria, and those two."
The way he said 'those other two' made Benign chuckle softly. His unit would've to accommodate citizens of the other realms to work together. "Was this just speculated or there's evidences somewhere?"
"Speculated. But they're some caves with relics belonging to neither Noria, or the others, so it backed up the theory that other civilization must've existed but got glitched out."
Benign stopped walking and turned to him. "The surviving realms didn't notice this?"
How closed off were they from each other that they didn't notice something as huge as a whole realm going missing? It seemed the squabble with each other had stayed long.
"Well, we are separated by a space wall and don't visit each other much. The surviving realms did notice their realms had different climate and settings afterwards."
Benign shook his head. "Any other proof?"
"Yes, another thing that backed up the theory was Norians being depicted as winged elves, fairies or whatever, in our history books. But now, due to our realm glitching to a hostile environment not suitable for flying, our wings evolved out." Vargel's tone sounded disappointed.
Benign remembered Lyra mentioning a Two-Winged sisterhood. "I see. If only you and the other realms were at peace, you'd have had intelligent minds come together to study the effects of the glitches, and would have known how to handle it if it ever happened again."
Vargel opened his mouth to counter but closed it again.
"That is to assume that the other realms have intelligent minds." The other elf spoke, his voice a bit grumpy. "They only think, eat, and breathe war. We have no idea where they glitched from."
Benign turned to him and smiled. "Intelligent minds exist everywhere. They are always special people like that. Well now, if I can see me those caves. I'd like to look myself and see if there's any additional information they left us."
Back on earth, cave drawings had done a good deal to improve civilisation to what it became, so Benign hoped for a similar insight.
They wandered far away from Kiron station and into the desert were everywhere looked familiar.
The sun kept scorching and their trail marks disappeared after a while. Benign began to wonder if they had gotten lost. His sense of direction horrible failed him in this place.
At that point, Vargel's steel rod began to glow and they all stopped walking. Vargel dropped everything he held holding and stepped away from the rest.
"What does that mean?" Benign asked, his eyes darting about to identify any incoming danger. "Vargel, are you about to glitch?"
"No, instead a glitched is coming towards us. And with the way the rod is glowing brightly, I fear an army of glitched guests are on their way."
Benign looked up. The skies were darkened as awfully familiar birds soared and let out disturbing screeches above them.
Another hostile and Benign worried on what weapons or skills he'd use to handle this.