Chapter 156 – Journal Entry 6: Band of Elvens

It took quite awhile before Elena told me that she was tired. Finally, we went into the Inn where she just vouched for me and told me to choose a room. I picked the normal room for the simple reason that a bed is a bed. Elena was quite pleased with my choosing and left me alone with Grom.

“Hi?”

“...”

Grom didn’t speak to me.

Well, he doesn’t really speak to anyone. I could see that after Elena goes to bed he just stands in the lobby of the Inn. His appearance is quite intimidating just by the armor alone of his. I asked Elena if he ever takes that armor off but according to her the armor he has is ‘glued’ to him. It might as well his natural skin. His skull masked helmet that looks absolutely formed fine on his face makes one shiver.

The night was quite deep so I went to bed.

The next morning, I walked out of the Inn’s room. I found Grom in one of the tables sipping on a soup near the window. He was quite solemn, the sun’s light illuminating him making that creamy soup of his shade with red. The sun’s light is red in this world, I got used to it but it makes me bothered that the sun isn’t normal.

But it is okay according to Elena. The Mistress of Fernery Island has a great seal formation that allowed the Island and the other corresponding Islands to feel that the sun is normal. Fernery Island is protected not only by those Ymir giants, they also four elemental shrines that protect the territory from any harm.

Although the seals can only let the light be normal while it doesn’t stop what they call as warp gates from appearing out of nowhere.

Anyway, I ordered some breakfast while Grom was eating. He was quietly sitting, like a dumb mute so he wasn’t really bothered when I started eating noisily, trying to grind the meat that is quite hard to bite into. Grom looked at me funny, with his red eyes that are so vacant.

His helmet is quite something for allowing him to eat all that soup without spilling it on his capelet or fur coat. If I didn’t see that pale mouth of his then I would have been sure that the guy was a monster. Good thing he is just some guy trapped in his own skin armor.

The food in the Inn was quite okay. It didn’t have anything that made the food stand out so I just gobbled them out like a natural. After that, I went out of the Inn since we still have long ways to go before we go to this Fernery Island anyway.

I walked along the building lined streets of Soren. I heard that the city got destroyed and that it took many years before the city got to fill the giant holes that appeared in the city. Instead of totally filling the holes, they just made use of it to build a sewer system, making use of the abyss like holes.

That Smith sure was quite knowledgeable about this city. Too bad that I didn’t get his name since he seems like a good guide. Continuing my sightseeing around this grand city I noticed a commotion over the main road. Holding the pommel of my sword, I stride nonchalantly to the place, squeeze in with the crowd and looked at the commotion.

A carriage filled with long eared ones, carrying majestic bows. The ones in the front looked quite androgynous and I couldn’t tell if it’s male or female. The people in the carriages seem to have problems with their carriages, and looking the way they started taking their luggage from the carriage. Most of the rowdy people dispersed back to normal, leaving my listlessly watching them.

One of the people spotted me and approached me.

“Are you by chance a citizen of this city?”

“Kinda? I have no idea.”

“What’s with that?”

This yellow green haired person laughs quite sweetly. I have no idea what her real gender is so I am just going to ask her.

“Are you perhaps a male or a female? I do not mean to be rude but you confuse me and I do not know how to properly address someone like you.”

I am quite polite when it comes to it so I do not want to be rude. Oddly, the person that I am currently talking found it funny again. He or she laughed sweetly and answered me.

“I am female...I do get it a lot how androgynous us Rangers are. I am Leona, a representative of the Elven Nation. It is nice to meet you, Sir?”

“Ah, I am.”

I introduced myself to this elven but the moment she heard my borrowed name. Her eyes widen, flickered as if she was remembering something.

“Is there anything wrong?”

“Your name, it made me remember of an old love of mine, alas, that was over hundred years ago.”

“I see, I guess you didn’t end up with him?”

“Sadly, I was forced to choose my duties over love, and my love for my nation put me into this choice. And it seems that I wasn’t wrong with that choice. With this age casted with a curse, I say that fate told me rightly the proper way.”

She spoke with a tinge of sadness yet there was no firm belief in her words. I could tell that she has quite a story but seeing that she didn’t want to speak of it anymore, I stopped the urge to ask and told her.

“Is there anything you want from me, Miss Leona? I am merely a curious citizen.”

“Ah yes, do you know the right place to lodge here?”

“Not really familiar with this place, but I could direct you to an Inn I was staying.”

“That would be helpful!”

Saying that, she turned to her fellow elves and informed them that she found some lodging for them, it seems that their travel has been quite rough and their carriages have been totaled. I could see some injured along them and by those long stretched wounds, I say that they are no normal monsters.

“Can you direct us to the Inn?”

“Sure.”

I wanted to explore the City more so I lead them to the Inn to be done with it.