Extra - Rei

Extra - Rei

*PhuShahalidin (The Eternal Forest) 51 Years Ago*

*ReiReihammara Solily POV*

The only thing worse than the knowing looks and empty platitudes that the older elves gave me whenever I expressed my boredom was knowing that the platitudes werent empty and that they were right. I had been taught about this well in advance, this boredom and the accompanying urge to do something, anything but spend another year practicing my Skills here in the forest. A forest I felt I knew so well by now that I could navigate it blindfolded.

After all, Phushahaldidin was eternal and unchanging. Nothing happened here that wasnt part of some cycle, nothing happened that hadnt happened before and that wasnt expected to happen again on schedule. Outsiders, especially the humans who lived such short lives, might believe it to change but the passing of decades would reveal that it was all a part of some repeating cycle or another.

The path I was running down now was a bitter reminder of this, one I reflected on. Morning light shone through gaps in the leaves of the giant trees, illuminating parts of ground and shifting as the wind moved the branches. The path wound around the trunks of the giant trees, taking care to avoid the worst of the roots and rocks - but only the worst of them.

I always passed this rock, that slightly jutted out from the path and was almost completely unnoteworthy save for a small splotch of lichen, with extra care. There was little special about it, and I passed it without slowing my stride, but once years ago I had tripped over it and afterwards had thought to remove it.

I dug it out without effort and felt like I had accomplished something. Something minor, true, but I was young enough that it had felt important to me. Fifty years ago I had only been thirty. Of course, the next time I walked along the path the stone was back.

First I simply tried removing the stone again, but over the course of a few weeks I ended up trying many things that all ultimately failed. I took the rock with me, hauling it back to my home only to find it gone when I woke up in the morning. Putting it in a locked chest didnt help, and neither did, with the help of a hammer, breaking the rock into pieces.

Eventually, frustration gave me courage to approach one of the [Rangers] and ask them to get rid of it somehow. That was when the knowing and amused looks started, the [Ranger] had that expression as she gently informed me that there wasnt anything they could do. Humans called PhuShahaladin The Eternal Forest and they were more right than they knew. The cycles of the forest had continued for ages before and would continue long after I entered reverie, eternally unchanging and unmoved by anything but its own cycles.

However, today would be the smallest break from that tedium. Human [Merchants] - probably Ian Gregor and his caravan - had come to visit. They would bring things in from outside the forest, although what I really looked forward to was the tales they brought with them. The older elves who traveled rarely did the same because very little caught their interest in the first place. Which kingdom was rising or falling or at war or facing calamity and what kind, they had seen it all before and would see it all again and there was little that could touch them.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

No one was sure if the incredible Vitality that came with us elves gaining one point of Vitality every year was the cause or if it was just an intrinsic part of our species, but as time wore on less in the world could touch us and we in turn fell out of touch with the world. Eventually I too, many years in the future, would slow down until I slipped into reverie and just stopped.

It always surprised humans that I was comfortable with that.

I slowed down as I approached the clearing, trying to see if I could catch a glimpse of one of the [Rangers] who were no doubt keeping watch. Considering how the forest was, I imagine that they were probably watching just to make sure I dont leave with the [Merchant]. Still, trying to spot the [Rangers] was one of the other small bits of excitement I could find, even if I knew that any time I did see them it was because they had let me.

I didnt catch a glimpse of them this time and walked into the clearing, blinking at the light as I stepped out of the shade. There were a few, small, human style buildings here that were normally empty, but were now full of people bustling in and out. A few other elves were here as well, probably to trade but I wasnt really interested in checking. Instead I was looking for

Gregor! I called out and waved to greet the large man and walked over to help him with the table he was setting up. It is good to see you again.

It is good to see you as well Rei, Gregor laughed and said. I have quite the tales for you this time, and I have someone I would like you to meet as well.

He gestured to his side, drawing my attention to the boy - young man, I suppose - standing nearby.

Ah, it is that time already, I murmured my thoughts aloud, but it just caused Gregor to laugh again.

That reminds me, my father told me to say hello for him.

The first human [Merchant] I had met was Gregors grandfather just before his retirement from traveling. He had introduced me to Gregors father, who had introduced me to Gregor, and now he would introduce me to his son. It always required me to adjust my thinking a bit, when I was really reminded of what it meant to think on a human timescale. At only eighty one years old, I imagine I thought more like the humans than I did the older elves, but I still didnt really think quite like them - or even entirely understand them.

Gregor would introduce me to his son, and I would see them come back together for years - somewhere between ten and twenty, perhaps - until one day Gregor retires and it is just the son. In another decade, the son would introduce me to his son and then he would retire in another couple of decades as well.

I was a young elf and already I had seen two humans learn their trade, make and execute their plans for their lives, and complete them.

You know this isnt exactly my favorite topic, I sighed. I cant help but envy you. You live your entire lives while I just exist and get told to work on my Skills more

Which reminds me, he turned to his son to shout. You have to work harder, kid! Your Skills wont level well if you dont put effort into it! One of the most important things a [Merchant] has to learn is Hauling, because you will be doing a hell of a lot of it!

*Later That Night*

I was sitting by the fire, mildly amused at how much humans seemed to enjoy telling stories around it, and happily listening to those stories. A lot of it was just news, hearing about how the world outside the forest had changed since his last visit. That was good, but the best was when news and tales mixed. Whenever possible I liked to hear the how and the why as much, if not more, than the what.

I have got a good one for you too, Gregor took a pull from his drink before continuing. Some high-level came back with news about land over the sea to the south. Dunno why they were flying over the ocean, but they didnt get to stay. Monsters chased them out, but some others put together an expedition and went over by boat. Turns out there is a whole nother continent.

Really!? I started to excitedly ask questions, What is it like? You said there were Monsters? Strong ones?

Terribly strong. As far as anyone can tell the land to the south hasnt ever been purged.

That got a bit of a gasp from me as I sat back. Purging monsters was Well it wasnt something you could just stop doing. If Experience wasnt removed from the ecosystem the strength of monsters could become dangerous. Strong monsters either got stronger or died to another monster and made them stronger and there was nothing stopping them from reaching the higher levels of power.

And monsters rarely have the kind of restraint a Sapient would, if they went on a rampage the damage would be cataclysmic.

The expeditionary group was almost overwhelmed, he paused for dramatic effect. Until one of your elders showed up.

An elder had woken up!? There must have been something truly dangerous To the point I am not even sure I would want to know, the elder elves dont move from reverie for much. I tried to tamp down the surprising frustration that had bubbled up as well, wondering why none of the older elves had told me about this and why I had to learn about it from a human [Merchant].

Of course, what followed was the elder vaporizing the monsters and then wandering off without saying anything.

It is because after a while, I tried to explain how the older elves think to Gregors son. Nothing matters except what matters.

Gregor started laughing and his son made a face at me, and I could only sigh. It isnt like I think like that too much, yet, so I can only explain the behavior as others had explained it to me and give a few examples of how I thought.

You see it even in me, I thought back to earlier today when I came to visit. Every day is It is just another day, another week, another month - these things dont matter to me. I watched your grandfather grow up, and your father, and I will watch you grow up but I wont grow with you. Each day matters to you, but they mean so much less to me, it is only the things that stand out that draw my attention.

Now imagine that the knowledge of this is part of everything you do, I pressed the point. Imagine that behind every daily routine is a kind of fog. Just like a fog, it isnt terrible, but it isnt something you can escape. It blankets everything you do and as you live it slowly gets deeper and deeper. Anything new, anything different, is like a ray of sunlight piercing through a fog bank.

That sounds horrible, Ryan - Gregors son - muttered, his eyes getting a far-away look as if he was visualizing it. Gods, I-

Both Gregor and I give a bit of a chuckle and I say, it doesnt really work like that, I dont mind it like you might think I do.

You have to stop thinking like a human and think like a [Merchant], Gregor lectures. Elves have a lot of time - a lot of days, so each day isnt worth much. If you want to sell to elves you have to think about what they dont have, what would be valuable to them.

It was an easy question for Ryan to answer, much like it was for Gregor when he was in Ryans place decades ago. After all, they had helped to stock the wagons and so they knew what they were selling here in the forest.

Novelty.

Exactly, his father confirmed and Ryan smiled, but Gregors next statement caused him to glance at me nervously. Elves crave novelty, and it becomes harder and harder for them to get as they get older which makes it even more valuable to them. They will pay far more than what something is worth if it is interesting enough.

Um Should we be? Ryan was clearly hesitating to ask, so I just decided to answer the unspoken question.

You know, us [Rangers] interact with the outside world more than most other elves, he didnt bother to answer my last question, he didnt need to - I was keenly aware that I had another two centuries to go. And having spoken to Sapients and Demihumans of all kinds, and even Monsters, I think that elves are among the worst at raising children. By the time we have kids we have long forgotten what it was like to be one, and with the passing of millenia it is so easy to dismiss a few centuries You must be bored out of your mind.

Yes! Yes, I am!

Well I am looking for an apprentice

I agreed on the spot.

*Kingdom of Gracel Border, Two Years Ago*

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a calamity and I shouldnt let my excitement show. With how much of a struggle it was I wouldnt be surprised if the effort cause me to-

[Etiquette has leveled up! Etiquette is now level 18!]

Sometimes I wondered if the System was aware and sarcastic. I had asked and received the answer, mostly not. Which was not exactly a helpful answer, but the explanation I inevitably asked for made my head spin. Drys, my teacher, had said that it would make more sense after I had encountered golems and elementals, however this couldnt distract me for long today.

I was following behind Drys as he walked through the army camp, doing my best not to be noticed - practice was practice - even though I was always spotted before Drys was, and he wasnt even trying. I had never been around so many humans before or seen a place so busy! Although the less said about the smell, the better Regardless, all these [Soldiers] had gathered to fight the goblin swarm, but Drys and I werent going to be with them. No, our destination was the camp within the camp, where all the high level adventurers were.

According to Drys, I would even be able to watch them in action through a divination circle back at the camp. I wouldnt be able to see anything like this again until I was strong enough to survive nearby, or if another disaster like this happens again. Id rather that didnt hap-

DRYS, YOU LITTLE BASTARD! The voice knocked me over, and I wasnt the only one. All around people stumbled, and more than a few shouted back at the voice to shut up.

Dre, Drys replied with dry calm. I see you are just as loud as ever.

Only around you, a giant human man, wearing plate and leather armor and a helmet from under which an untamed beard burst out of, walked up. You still owe me ten silver!

You lost that bet and you know it Dre, Drys laughed as I stood up and brushed myself off looking up, and up and up, fuck he was tall! Do you even care about ten silver anyways- how bad with money are you?

The change in my teacher was a bit shocking. To the point I almost missed being introduced.

Rei, this oaf here is Dre, Drys gestured. Whatever else you do, dont listen to him- you dont even have any money, so stay away from his gambling. Dre, this is Rei, my apprentice.

I have been an instructor and advisor for the Adventurers Guild for two decades-

Rei is older than you, you know.

Two decades and I know for a fact my Etiquette is higher than yours-

Which would only matter if you used it.

And I am way more famous and well known-

What kind of [Ranger] would I be if people knew I was there? Meanwhile people cant forget you even if they wanted to.

And you still wont even let me finish a sentence! Dre shouted at the end, causing me to cover my ears. I had no idea what his level was, but it must have been high. Just being around him was difficult!

Ah Dre, isnt hating people in the best way what being friends is all about? Drys gave a grin, and after a second of glaring they both started laughing and walking back towards the central camp. I, in utter confusion, followed.

So an apprentice, huh? Dre gave me a look. Never could have imagined you doing that, she isnt your daughter is she?

Nah, she just wanted to be a [Ranger] and I thought it would be interesting, Drys shrugged. It hasnt been that long yet, she started right before you somehow tricked people into becoming an advisor.

I will never get used to how old you elves are, Dre grumbled. They have me running orientations on the topic and half the time I wonder how the hell I am supposed to explain something I know they wont understand until they see it.

I am, technically, an adult you know, annoyance giving me the courage to interject, only to get Dre laughing as well.

Well, at least something between us is the same. Wouldnt be a kid if they weren't claiming they were mature, Dre chuckled. Tell you what, Im going to call you kid until you are strong enough that shouting across a bar wont knock you on your ass, fair?

I didnt respond. At one hundred and twenty nine years old, I had lived long enough to dig myself any deeper into a hole here. Not when Drys found this too funny to intervene in.

For the next few days, I mostly stayed around Drys and Dre. While I wanted to explore and meet the people around me, I was too intimidated - and it wasnt just in my head. The overlapping effects and magics and sheer, raw stats created a kind of pressure. It wasnt impossible to walk around, but it just didnt feel comfortable.

Thankfully, staying quiet turned out to be the right choice, because I was allowed to be in the room where the scrying divination was performed. Not every high level individual was combat focus, and having an [Archmage] focused in divination allowed information to be relayed directly to the [Generals] overseeing the battle. They had dug out and filled a fairly large pool of water for viewing and it was through it that I first saw what a goblin swarm was like.

There were so many that they had to crawl over each other. So many that they were several layers deep. So many that they had eaten everything in Gracel and left nothing but more goblins. So many that despite the massive level differences, the [Soldiers] were already taking casualties.

And then, suddenly, a hole opened up as a wave passed through an uncountable number of goblins and they were torn apart. Dre strolled forward, pulled his axe from his harness and then I learned why he had been given the epithet, the massacre. It was not pretty, no, it was actually horrifying. The friendly - almost jolly, if boisterous - man would swing his axe and waves would ripple out from him like someone had thrown a pebble in a pond. Anything caught in one of those waves was butchered. Rended limb from limb, torn apart, dismembered- it was carnage on a scale I had read about, heard about, but never truly appreciated.

I had to leave, it was more than I wanted to see.

Outside, I saw a bunch of the younger adventurers getting on wagons and went over to ask what they were doing as a way to get my mind off the images I saw.

We are leaving, one of them replied. We have the wrong Classes to fight in an army, so we were just here for the setup. Now we need to head back and try to keep Monster populations under control while all the important people are here fighting.

It was then that a crazy, wild idea came to me.

I suppose I am in the same boat, I said. Mind if I join you?

They just shrugged, and so I did. Drys wouldnt be able to retrieve me for weeks, who knows what I could see in the meantime!

*DrysDryssilwrden Jama POV*

I immediately noticed the mark I had left on Rei moving and snorted, the brat was trying to sneak off

Well it was about time, I had expected her to be plotting something like this but she had never taken the bait before. A little real world experience would do wonders for her and it would certainly improve her personality.

I ran over the goblins, who failed to notice me even as I stepped on them, the difference in our levels was just too great. Really, it wasnt that they failed to notice me so much as they never could have noticed me. Nor, for that matter, could Rei when I landed on the wagon next to her.

So she was going with the adventurers? Well, so long as she didnt imitate Dre everything would be fine, so I left her to it and went back to scouting for survivors.