Chapter Five: Glitched
"These... These clothes are the proud uniform of the Jarshi Military Forces. Have respect!" Benign ordered, slapping his dark blue uniform.
He didn't see her expression change as she scrutinized him. Did she wonder if he was an elf? By her features, he could be deemed tall for an elf, and he had colourful hair. But his ears weren't pointy and that should be a giveaway.
She pointed away from the village after her judgement. "Leave already. You are not an elf. We do not host the people of Olien or Karnak here."
He felt offended even if he knew he was neither. This was a desert, and anyone would die here if they didn't get water and food.
Possibly the only reason he hadn't fainted was because his Regeneration skill were replacing his dead cells but it couldn't replace the food and rest he needed.
"Your type of elves are a heartless bunch." He reached for the sickle. "I guess I have to get in by force."
[What are you doing!]
"Relax, she probably can't even fight." he assured.
But he paused when the steel rod she held separated to two and the tips grew red arrow heads. She bent down in a attack stance.
[I believe I said this in my first introduction but elves have magic! She might not look like a warrior but she is one!]
Benign slowly and discreetly returned the sickle to his waist. He totally forgotten that. "I tested you to be sure you are truly an elf. Don't worry, you can put it down."
To his surprise, she actually dropped her stance and reconnected her weapon to form the steel rod. "Testing me? Who're you to test me? Where are you from?"
He wondered if he could use that to get somewhere. "I am... part of the protectors of the three realms." He said with hand demonstrations. "I know about the glitches and I genuinely want to help solve it."
Her eyes softened as he said that and she looked down. "Protectors of the realms. They reunited again? I didn't think they'd ever grow a conscience."
So there are actual protectors of realms? Benign hummed. It sounded like being soldiers and that was something he could easily claim to be.
"Yes, but I'm new so I don't know what made them fall out in the first place." He said that so she wouldn't assume that he knew more about the organisation. "My point is, I need warriors to help me solve the cause of the glitches. It's been a long walk and I need rest."
The elf looked like she understood and he felt relieved. She turned to the village and waved her hand. What Benign thought had been a village faded into an entrance with flowery vines around it.
"I'd take you to my father, the chief. We don't have many warriors to spare but we'd do what we can to help you." She squinted her eyes. "If you're truly a protector of realms."
Benign nodded reassuringly. Acting like someone else wasn't new to him. He'd been part of a spy unit even if it was for a short while.
"I mean no harm, that's the bottom line of everything."
He followed her past the entrance and the inside vastly contrasted with the scorching desert. The place was cool and birds danced about.
They were trees too and he understood that they might've grown a forest in the desert using magic and that's why they had to keep it in an enclosed space.
The entrance closed and Benign's senses sharpened. He was either in enemy's territory or ally's territory, depending on her father's view of him.
What if he realized he sees through him and realises he wasn't a part of this world? He had no backup for that.
"Would I have to eliminate him since he'd become a threat to my life?" he asked Legal.
[Likely. You'd have to keep the whole place under you, as well. In return you'd get skills and the soldiers of this station, Kiron of Noria. You can also contact the two other stations around the desert.]
Benign sighed, rubbing his hands together. He didn't even have skills to keep up with biologically engineered lizards, talk less of magical elves. Hopefully it wouldn't get to that.
"Can I come in, father?" the elf girl stood in front of a cottage surrounded by bright red roses and hibiscus.
Benign looked around at the other cottages, but they were just wood and small leaves. This was the only one that looked more spectacular.
"Father?" she went inside, leaving Benign out. "No! NO!"
Benign rushed inside. His eyes took in the place in a second, before dropping on the figure convulsing on the ground.
His eyes widened in surprise as the figure morphed into something with a thin body and longer ears before shifting to a dragon like creature, then back to an old elf with straight ears.
"He's... he's glitching!" Benign pulled the girl from him when her father stretched his hand to her. What was he supposed to do with a corrupted person?
The elf girl fell to the ground, sobbing. "I-It got to him... What will... what will happen to Kiron now!!"
Benign wanted to reach for her, but took him self back, contemplating. If the glitching already infected the place, shouldn't he be looking for a way out?
He saw the elf girl's hair, the pink streaks scattered on the blonde, slowly dim down to a pastel shade, as she held her father crying. "Legal! What can stop this?"
[Glitches don't affect Legal Systemists, but will affect her.]
"Wha-Why didn't you say so immediately!" he held the girl back from touching her father. As least he should save one.
[Have contact with the elf chief to stop the glitches, before he'd be transported to another realm with his biology infected permanently.]
As Legal gave the information, Benign rushed to the chief and held his shoulders. "Breathe in, sir. Breathe in and try to relax. I got you, breathe in."
The older elf tried to do as instructed while clenching Benign's hand. Slowly his reddened body and elongated neck slowly returned to their normal colour and size.
He still breathed heavily with fear struck eyes that began dancing about in panic. He dropped those eyes on Benign.
"You... you are one of them..."
Benign nodded, assuming he meant the protectors of the realm, but the old elf's eyes became sharp and hateful.
"You... you've returned with these cursed glitches! Your body is stained with the wars of many realms!"
What? Benign let go of the elf and his daughter rushed to him, wrapping him in a hug and calming him down. "No, father. He saved you, this man is a protect—"
"Lies!" the old elf barked and his eyes began to glow.
The soldier stared at the old elf in disbelief. What did the elf mean by 'stained by wars of many realms'?
He turned towards the door when he heard men banging on the door to know why their chief yelled. Was he in trouble? This was his first time here...
...wasn't it?