Captain Moore stared at the strange shimmering portal, poking the energy flaring from the sides and frowning when his hand phased through the strange purple 'frame' that surrounded the magical doorway. He stood and waited even after the others passed through, sticking his head from the forest side to the other side twice before urging his entire body through.

"Why couldn't we do that the first fucking time?" Sergeant Wells grumbled, stretching his neck and giving a side-eye glance at the Grand Elder.

The group moved instantly from a random place within the forest to the village entrance, overseeing the bustling settlement below. After the ceremony, the elves had returned to their former business, though even Captain Moore could sense a shift in the atmosphere.

He wasn't sure whether it was due to the prospect of war, the declaration of two prophets from two divines, or the humans themselves.

To the Grand Elder's credit, he only looked amused at the complaints. He planted his staff and took in the sight of Anidom with spread arms as if he was basking in the wondrous underground construct. "You asked for demonstrations of my power. I simply showed you the various ways I can make a simple, mundane task seem interesting."

"Is there a limit to the range of teleportation or that doorway magic?" Lieutenant Li asked.

"The only limitation is one's creativity and power."

"So, could you teleport yourself off this planet?"

The Grand Elder frowned. "What do you mean "off this planet?""

"Beyond the sky."

"What a preposterous thought. That is the domain of the divine; even I dare not to stray anywhere near that place."

Sergeant Wells gave a shit-eating grin to the captain, switching to English. "Do we tell him?"

"No," Captain Moore said. He felt something ringing in his ear and tapped his earpiece. "Iris, what's up?"

"It's from command."

Without waiting for his response, a foreign voice entered his ears and spoke to him briskly. "Boar Six, this is Overlord."

"Where's Corporal Chen when you need her?" Captain Moore looked over at the others and made a cutting hand sign on his neck, earning only interested glances from the elves. He cleared his throat and responded. "Overlord, this is Boar Six."

"Boar Six, return to Foxtrot Charlie immediately. Group follows, I spell Delta Wun Fife Ait bearing heading District Echo."

"Overlord, this is Boar Six. Roger that. Will be returning to base promptly. Out."

The Grand Elder twisted his staff and stared at the metal contraption in Captain Moore's ear. "And what sort of tool is that for?"

"Long-range communications. It allows me to talk to people many leagues from my location," Captain Moore answered. "I just spoke with my superiors back at our fort. It seems like my group, and I will need to return."

"How soon? Because I would also like to see a demonstration of that tool."

"Immediately. Though, I assume another group will be coming to replace my men since we hope to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with your tribe."

"I see… and I assume your replacements will have the same tools and trinkets?"

"I would be surprised if they didn't."

Nodding with a hint of satisfaction on his face, the Grand Elder waved his hand and created another doorway. "Go then. I will leave this pathway open for the new human group. Tell them I am very interested in your tools and the likes."

Captain Moore peered inside and saw familiar tall shapes towering over the vast trees in the distance. "How?"

"I know and see much."

Instead of asking more questions, Captain Moore motioned for his men to proceed before turning to Caelu. "Are you coming with us?"

Caelu turned around and glanced at the Grand Elder before turning back. "I think that might be best."

"It seems your destiny expands further than the reaches of our quaint village, Caelu," the Grand Elder stated while Captain Moore and Caelu walked towards the portal. "I will pray upon Tesa for your safe return. May you experience the joys of the outside world and avoid its horrors."

"I will pray for your health, Grand Elder." Caelu bowed and briskly walked through the magical doorway.

The captain also bowed his head. "Thank you for your hospitality and assistance."

"Of course. Do return soon with more things from your world. I expect great things through our partnership. But do remember, our Symbol of Friendship only lasts if we work together and do not betray each other."

Those final words left Captain Moore with a strange chill in his blood, though he hardly had time to consider as they promptly arrived at Fort Colossus.

+++++

"So you're telling me that one of those elves can just waltz in here, completely disregarding our defenses? Then what the hell were they digging those tunnels for?"

Lieutenant Colonel Turner chewed on his gum incessantly and took off his cap to scratch his head as Captain Moore remained nearby with Lieutenant Li and Caelu. They were at the meeting place where the captain had met with other company leaders just days prior. Despite his position as XO, Lieutenant Doe was elsewhere with First Sergeant Wilard to prepare Bravo Company for its next assignment.

An assignment that command believed Bravo Company was uniquely suited for, considering their previous mission and their 'extraterrestrial' attache.

"Magic involving long-distance travel is extremely taxing and requires an enormous amount of magic, usually enough to kill those that are not sages," Caelu answered. "I believe the Grand Elder was allowing the elders to act upon their own will until he came to a final decision."

"Anything to know about this "Grand Elder?"" Lieutenant Colonel Turner asked. "I know you're going to write your report later, but I would also like a heads up."

"There's something off about him. Not really sure what, though," Captain Moore said.

Caelu sighed. "He's a sage. All of them are 'off,' as you may say."

"Right, immortal, lots of magic," Lieutenant Li said. "He seemed very curious about our technology."

Captain Moore tapped his fingers on the table irritatingly. "And seemed like a warmonger that wanted to use our technology for his own conquests."

"That as well."

"Hold the phone. Lots of magic? Immortal? Warmonger? What?" Lieutenant Colonel Turner exclaimed.

"A sage tends to be more inclined towards… aggressive tendencies. They sacrifice their soul for the pursuit of magic. Immortality is only a byproduct, though it is a terrible curse as a gift. As time passes, their... mortality is stripped away. It seems the Grand Elder is very much the same," Caelu stated.

"Did something happen between you and the Grand Elder?" Captain Moore asked. "You're usually a bit more reserved about mentioning things regarding your tribe or its secrets."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"As our two tribes have signed a Symbol of Friendship, and the Grand Elder has approved of your tribe, I see no reason to hold back any longer."

There was something behind those words that Captain Moore sensed to be false, especially when Caelu's face twitched when speaking of the Grand Elder. Her previous reactions in the Grand Elder's presence also prompted some understanding on his part.

Before continuing his conversation with his superior, Captain Moore switched to English. "Right. So… I was going to recommend him as threat level Charlie, but Delta might be more apt."

"Delta?" Lieutenant Colonel Turner asked. He still looked a bit miffed at the words exchanged in his presence, though he shifted in his seat and sat up straight at the captain's words. "Is that…"

"I think it might be necessary."

Before landing on Roana, the peacekeepers had been briefed on the expected 'threat levels' of various creatures and sapient beings across the planet.

Alpha being the lowest, while Delta being the highest.

The divine were… on another level entirely. And they could not be feasibly tracked.

"Isn't he… well, friendly? Despite the whole 'warmonger' bit?"

"That bit doesn't worry you?"

"It does, but the last thing the general or the others want is to provoke our only contact and ally in this world."

Captain Moore sank back into his seat. "He wants to use as a mercenary army and conquer the ancient elven homeland or whatever else he wants. The trouble is, he thinks Tesa ordained our arrival, and he seems keenly interested in our weapons. I don't think a powerful guy like him will take "no" as a serious answer, especially when he thinks it's a mission given to him by a god."

"What about that prophet kid? Can't that Chiu kid talk to Tesa and tell the Grand Elder off?"

"I don't think Tesa will tell him off 'cause the god seemed pretty adamant about war from that time we saw him. Not to mention, Chiu was dragged off to god knows where."

"... Duly noted. I'll make sure to report it to command after this and brief the new team heading to that village."

"Who's going?"

"A Chinese team. Lieutenant Li will still be with you, so don't you worry about that."

Lieutenant Li glanced off to the side and hummed, earning a side eye from Captain Moore.

Lieutenant Colonel Turner cracked open a can of instant coffee and sighed. "What a goddamn mess. We'll make contingency plans regarding the teleportation bit and other feats of magic. I'm assuming he's close to Tesa regarding raw power?"

"Definitely on a similar scale, even if he denies it. He's been alive for a few centuries at least."

"I'm sensing another headache coming. Thank god for cigs and coffee… But for your next assignment. Since you're the resident 'extraterrrestrial' negotiator and already been through this rodeo once, the general wants you out there again dealing with the next group."

"The group from the Duchy," Captain Moore said.

A picture appeared on the far wall through the projector. It displayed about a hundred medieval soldiers, the majority of whom were lightly armored foot guards, a mix of heavily armored knights, and three robed individuals on horses.

The footguards were dressed in chainmail and spears, and a select few carried shields and swords. Several of them carried banners. One of the most distinct ones was a large banner with the image of some strange… black beetle-looking monster on a bold red background.

The banner that flew the highest over the group was the picture of a… mix of a dragon and tiger with six limbs and two giant horns. A single golden crown was perched between its horns, while its paws held various weaponry: an axe, a sword, a spear, a bow, a mace, and a hammer.

The red creature was reaching for the sky in the banner, and the black and silver backdrop emphasized the fierce crimson beast glowing in the center.

"The banner of the Unitary," Caelu growled. "bɒmn ƨɔum."

"Close, Ms. Caelu. They are technically a vassal of the Unitary. However, these are the local troops. As you can see, the Duchy has decided to throw us a surprise visit," Lieutenant Colonel Turner said, waving his hand at the image. "It seems like they hate having new neighbors. If it wasn't clear to you, we have strong suspicions that those cloaked people are well… magicians, wizards, mages, whatever you want to call them."

"I believe the Grand Elder mentioned that earlier," Lieutenant Li interjected. "What, the communion of two divines in a short amount of time in a specific place has attracted every mage and sage in the area?"

"And when were you going to mention this?"

Captain Moore coughed. "We were preoccupied with some… magic and shenanigans. Though, the fault remains with me. I will make sure to clarify my oversight in the report."

"Not all of the blame falls upon the captain. I believe I am also at fault," Lieutenant Li said. He adjusted his uniform and folded his hands on the table. "Since I also had a radio and the repeater needed to use it underground. If you will punish him, I believe it is only fair that I am reprimanded as well."

The response prompted the captain to raise his eyebrow, though his Chinese counterpart only offered a subtle smirk.

"Fine, whatever. The last thing I want is to write more paperwork to the Chinese side of all things. I've seen your bureaucracy, sheesh. Cover it up for all I care. We would've seen them with drones anyways, which we did," Lieutenant Colonel Turner emphasized, throwing his hands at the image again. "The important bit is that they're due to reach the eastern edges of the forest within a day."

"And you want Bravo Company to intercept, preferably away from the forest," Captain Moore replied.

"That was our deal with Tesa, so yes."

"You think things will get out of hand?"

"Do I hope that things will go tits up? No. Do I think it will? Considering what has happened to this god… scuse me, gods forsaken planet? Yes. Which is why you'll have air assets on stand-by, and the Third Marine Recon Force will be nearby in wait."

"Noted."

"Anywho, I'm just the messenger for today. I have enough meetings and reports to last me a lifetime."

"Why just Bravo Company? Why not a full battalion?"

Lieutenant Turner stared at him incredulously. "We're trying not to fight them. Do you think they would react calmly or with extreme fear and suspicion if a thousand soldiers popped out of the woods?"

"... Point taken."

"Besides, your unit has already taken the insanity in stride. Plus, you have Caelu with you."

The elf was drifting off in her seat when her name was called. Like an embarrassed student caught by a teacher, Caelu stood up and waved awkwardly. "Hello!"

"What can go wrong?"