As they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, the villagers couldn't help but gawk at Emperal. They had heard the old tales of the mighty Blood Elves—their grandeur, their powers, their seemingly immortal legacy—but nothing could prepare them for the sight of one in the flesh. The awe was palpable, with many of the elven girls already whispering excitedly amongst themselves, casting furtive glances in Emperal's direction.
However, the excitement came with caution. The noticeable scar that ran across his face, a deep and unmistakable mark of some hidden past, caused an undercurrent of wariness to ripple through the crowd. It wasn't just the scar that kept them at bay. The air around him seemed oddly still—there were no discernible mana fluctuations radiating from his body, no hum of energy or aura like the villagers were used to seeing. This made him seem even more enigmatic, as though he was an immovable object, an unfathomable being whose presence made the very environment around him seem muted, as if his power lay dormant or perhaps, hidden.
Emperal, however, wasn't paying attention to the attention he was drawing. His thoughts were elsewhere, focused on his next task. "I should probably first learn about these Mana Cycles before meeting the village head", he mused. He had only just arrived, and despite his vast reservoir of knowledge from his previous life, he realized that in this new world, he was a complete novice when it came to magic and cultivation. "I have Solustasis, but my gut tells me that it's not enough... I need to understand more about this world for future plans", he concluded as he glanced at the strange creature trotting beside him.
Looking down at Grimblaze, who was once again stuffing his face with a watermelon, Emperal couldn't help but feel an odd sense of familiarity. He could only shake his head in bemusement. "Oy, pi—Grimblaze!" Emperal called out, his voice sharp but carrying an undertone of amusement.
Grimblaze's head shot up at the sound of his name, but the small, stout creature was too focused on his food to comprehend the urgency in Emperal's tone. "Who is calling this daddy pig?!" Grimblaze shouted, his voice high-pitched and muffled by the watermelon in his mouth. As he turned, his wobbly, short legs barely managed to steady his large body. His eyes scanned the air, trying to figure out who would dare interrupt his important eating time.
Before the pig could make another move, something unexpected happened. The moment he tried to move, he froze mid-step as though some invisible force had gripped him. His tiny legs trembled. "Santri, I—today, I am tired. I would like to rest somewhere," Grimblaze suddenly declared, as if accepting his temporary paralysis as a sign that he needed a break. He looked up at Santri, the elf who had been guiding them through the dense forest.
Santri, although surprised by Grimblaze's sudden change of demeanor, nodded. "Huh? Okay, ," he responded, somewhat baffled by the pig's behavior, but seeing Emperal nod he didn't question further. He led them toward a nearby inn, a humble wooden structure with a welcoming fire in the hearth. After settling them in, Santri bid them farewell with a bow and a polite "Rest well, my lord."
Emperal, however, suddenly remembered something important as the door of the inn creaked shut behind them. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked around. "Wait, what currency do they use here?" he called out, raising an eyebrow at Grimblaze, who was now attempting to nibble at a freshly sliced fruit on the table. "Oy, stop stuffing your face and come here to help me," he added with a smirk.
Grimblaze paused in his chewing and blinked in surprise. "What!? You don't know?" he exclaimed, his voice exaggerated as he looked at Emperal. Even a pi— ahem, a handsome hippol beast like him knew the basics! "Fine, fine," Grimblaze continued, waving a hoof dramatically. "The currency we use here is called Elyths."
Elyths were a unique form of currency in the elven world, unlike any other. Instead of simple coins or bulky notes, Elyths were akin to traditional rectangular notes, but with an ethereal touch that set them apart. These notes were composed of leaves—highly styled, radiant leaves—that had been carefully harvested from the sacred tree, Astrysis-Eltharion, the ancient and mystical great tree that was the heart of elven society. The number of branches etched onto the leaf was directly tied to its value. The greater the number of branches, the higher the denomination.
At the lowest end, an Elyth note with just one delicate branch signified a modest amount—enough to buy simple goods or pay for minimal services. However, as the number of branches increased, so did the value of the note. The highest denomination, a grand note with one thousand branches, was rare and immensely valuable. It represented wealth that could purchase grand estates, rare artifacts, or the services of the most skilled artisans.
Emperal, now understanding, nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So, these branches represent the value?" he asked, more to himself than to Grimblaze. "That's certainly... unique."
Grimblaze nodded proudly, pleased that Emperal had grasped the idea so quickly. "Exactly! One branch is the lowest, like I said. And the more branches, the more purchasing power. If you're ever in a pinch, just show them your Elyths and they'll know whether you're a high roller or just someone trying to get by," he said with a grin, though it seemed somewhat comical given the pig's tendency to hoard his own food.
"Alright then, thanks for the lesson," Emperal muttered, his thoughts drifting again to the task at hand. With this new knowledge, he would be able to better navigate his interactions with the elves here. Still, he needed to focus on the cycles of mana cultivation—without understanding that, he couldn't hope to make real progress. "I'll need to gather more information about this world's magic system first", Emperal thought. "But before that," he added, glancing at Grimblaze, "You should probably finish eating and get some rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
Grimblaze didn't need any further encouragement. With a satisfied snort, he returned to his food, leaving Emperal to contemplate the future. In this new world, there was much to learn. And the first step was understanding how mana flowed—both in the world and within himself (If it even did).
"Hey, come with me. Let's go ste— ahem, borrow some money," Emperal said, his lips curling into a devilish smirk as he glanced down at a man who was busy rummaging through a stack of crates nearby. The man didn't notice them approaching, completely absorbed in his task.
Emperal leaned toward Grimblaze, whispering something in the pig's small, floppy ear. The words were soft but carried an unmistakable hint of mischief, the kind of scheme only someone with a touch of wickedness could hatch.
Grimblaze's eyes gleamed with excitement, his tiny nostrils flaring as he took in the plan. "Huh? Hehe, now that's the partner I know," he replied, his own grin stretching across his face. The pig's expression mirrored Emperal's—sly, mischievous, and downright evil. "Let's make sure he 'generously' shares some of that coin with us, eh?"
Emperal couldn't help but chuckle at Grimblaze's enthusiasm. "Exactly. But remember, we're borrowing, not stealing. It's all about the 'honor system'—except we're the ones who get to walk away with the goods." He gave Grimblaze a wink, as they both set off, silently moving through the shadows, their plans of "borrowing" money coming to fruition with each step.
The two of them moved with precision, their mischievous hearts in sync, ready to execute the most devious of plans. They'd get what they needed, and no one would ever know the difference. And if they did—well, that was just part of the fun, wasn't it?
"A little light-hearted thievery never hurt anyone... right?" They both thought in unison.