Mash and the others were currently heading through to the Elder’s world. He wanted to apologize to them first. These people had suffered the most from his actions and they deserved his apology first. He would have left earlier, but he had discussed with the others a lot before finalizing his decision. He figured that he should consult the others more frequently. However, he didn’t know what to think about what Priscilla had done.

Pricilla had gone beyond what she was supposed to do and had shared his thoughts without informing him beforehand. He knew that it was for his own benefit, but it still worried him a little bit. The strongest emotion he felt though was gratitude. He was grateful since he knew that his friends didn’t care. That was a poor way of thinking about it. They did care, but they cared about him and wanted to help him. The more he thought about it, the more he believed that Priscilla was the same. At least that was what he wanted to think. He had pressed Priscilla on the matter and found her to be somewhat embarrassed as she admitted her concern. It had been a very human decision to her, one fueled with more emotion than she was familiar with. That was a can of bugs that he didn’t want to open just yet and left her to figure it out herself for the moment. He had enough problems on his own plate right now.

He focused on the portal as he stepped through it. The world shifted around him, and he found himself in a familiar crater. Long metal tubes pointed at them. Hundreds of soldiers looked down at them. They didn’t look certain, and Mash could feel the apprehension. The air almost quivered with the tension. Mash had heard a little of the situation here and was unsurprised to hear what had been said. Apparently, most of the sects who had joined refused a peaceful alternative outright. Oddly it was the sects in Daniel’s world that didn’t want peace. The world had resources that were incredibly valuable to the people on Daniel’s side. The problem was that those resources extended to the people. Even if Daniel’s sect had pursued peace, the rest of their world hadn’t agreed. This world was suffering for it. There was more than just this one portal that connected the two worlds. Jill had told them that they had found over a dozen portals that linked the two worlds.

Mash raised his arms in the air, a universal sign of peace or surrender. It worked that way back home, but it didn’t seem to be the same situation here though. A single soldier had yelped at the sudden movement. The sound of a single explosion could be heard, and Mash finally got to see what the metal tubes did. They contained a handful of small pellets, and the explosion seemed to happen behind the pellets. They flew out in a mess of metal bits and flew incredibly quickly. Faster than most archers could manage with a bow, but it was slow compared to his own speed. He instinctively knew that they wouldn’t be able to harm him, but he didn’t want to take and needless risks. So, he moved one of his hands and caught the pellets that would have struck him. Only a few would have even come close to hitting him. None were even close to hitting the others. His actions had obviously startled the soldiers, but Mash just looked at the metal fragments in his hands.

They were not all the same shape, and he noticed that they felt hot. Strangely they were getting hotter, and he moved them around with his thumb. As the temperature of the metal continued to rise, he heard a noise from the distance.

“Stop! Drop the rounds!”

Mash recognized the strange voice as the Elder’s way of speaking was very unique. He looked up to see one of the elders crest the ridge of the crater. He was surprised to realize that he recognized the man from his appearance alone. Elder SerJi had been the one to speak, but Mash was slow at realizing what had been said. He turned down to the face of the now scalding pieces of metal when the first exploded. It exploded causing the other pellets to react similarly. It was stronger than mash expected, strong enough to make him move his hands a little. It didn’t do much more than that though. There were a few small cuts on her hands, but they were tiny. It wasn’t all that dangerous, and Mash could see that the elder was surprised by the fact.

Mash waved casually at the elder, his hand healed the cuts in a few seconds. Mash spoke loud enough that anyone could hear. The soldiers actually grew tenser as he shouted, but Mash just continued.

“Hello, can we talk? Please.”

The elder and all of the soldiers jumped a little at the words but settled down quickly. The Edler nodded once but spoke for the soldiers to hear.

“Why? Would it change anything?”

Mash shook his head; he didn’t think it would change anything for them. The words were meant for his self-satisfaction, and he knew it. It was something he felt compelled to do, almost as if he was duty bound to do it. Even if it was for himself, he needed to tell them the truth. In the end, he decided to think through his words before speaking. He wouldn’t lie; that wouldn’t help. Still, he wanted to say what was needed.

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“No, I don’t know if it will. Honestly, I don’t think they will change anything, but I need to say them. I want to explain things to you and your people.”

The Elder stared at Mash, and Mash stared back. Even if the great distance, neither side flinched. Eventually, the elder broke and nodded.

“Come. We will talk.”

Mash followed with little hesitation. The soldiers didn’t follow after the elder made a gesture with one of his hands. He didn’t say anything more and they walked in silence. The ground passed under their feet. The trees of the forest quickly blocked the sight of the soldiers. Once out of earshot, Mash asked the question that had built in his mind.

“Why did you agree? Isn’t it-“

“Dangerous. A risk? I have lived a long time and have learned to judge people. However, the simpler answer is that I believe you to be powerful. Strong enough to kill us all if you wish. The fact that you asked for a discussion is enough of a reason to assume you are not here for a fight.”

Even with the Elder’s strange voice, Mash could hear the aged wisdom in his words. Although, mash didn’t know if he would have been able to do the same. He imagined he would have just tried to fight a fruitless battle. However, it was that kind of decision that led him to these kinds of situations. After walking for a short distance, the elder stopped and turned around.

“I will however choose not to take you to the city. We are beyond what any can hear, so I would like to hear your words before we present them to any others. Forgive my impropriety, but your people’s actions have not been pleasant as of late. Even those who had tried for peace have grown needlessly greedy. I cannot take you further without learning what you wish to share.”

He understood the man’s words but hesitated with his words anyway. Red didn’t let the silence build and started to explain. They had come up with an explanation, something Red insisted was needed if he was going to apologize.

She told him of almost everything. Explaining the situation of the different worlds and how they believed the portals to work. She also explained more and told him who they were. Also mentioned that they were not of either world. In fact, their arrival here had been entirely by chance. When she was done the Elder asked a few questions, and she answered to the best of her ability. Some questions went by without any answers as their knowledge was limited as well.

Eventually, their discussion finished, and she looked toward Mash. It was time for him to give his apology, and he spoke while letting out a held breath. He had been holding it for a while, but the words still came out properly. His voice didn’t shake, but his heart felt like it did.

“I’m sorry. I was the one who told Daniel and his people that the portals were an invasion. I prompted this violence. I based it on foolish assumptions. This war was my doing.”

Mash didn’t know what else to add, Red’s explanation had covered most of the reasoning. The apology was short, and he realized that it wasn’t quite what he wanted. It felt insufficient and he added to it.

“I don’t know what I can do, but I’m sorry for everything.”

That was the crux of his apology; the most important thing he wanted to get across. All he wanted to do was apologize and help however he could. Although he wouldn’t go about killing Daniel’s people he would do something else if he could. The elder didn’t immediately speak, but just stared at Mash. A silence hung in the air for a moment, and eventually, the elder let out a long sigh. His head turned up and he made a very human gesture. He raised his hands and rubbed his forehead in consternation. Mash waited, expecting an outburst and a violent yell. Instead, the elder spoke with the utmost calm but there was an edge of sadness to his words.

“It is fine. You had made a mistake, but the blame cannot be placed at your feet alone. We have tried to speak with those of the otherworld, to establish peace but none give us the time of day. They are filled with greed and opportunity, seeking to progress themselves through the bodies of our people. Your actions may have sped up the process, but it was inevitable with the portals.”

The elder wasn’t done as he continued. His words turned more somber and were tinged with anger. It was a rant, one of someone who was losing a war. The elder kept going and Mash realized the gravity of the situation. He understood how many bodies would be laid at his feet.

“We are weaker than these other people. They possess abilities that we cannot match, and we cannot even surrender. What they desire is our death, our lands, everything. There is nothing you can do. We will continue to fight. It is the only option left to us. Unless you can stop the war or stop the portals then there is little you can do. No, that is not likely. I will spread the word of your apology to the elders and people, though I doubt any would blame you.”

Mash listened attentively, and couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Daniel’s people were painted very differently than he had believed. It sounded like they were planning on killing everyone. When he had talked with the others, they had said that Jeral had been trying for peace, but the elder’s worlds almost seem to refute that. Mash wanted to check, but he realized that he could do something for these people. It was a big decision, and not one he could make himself. Well, it was something he could offer, even if it was rejected it was something.

“I don’t know if I can promise anything, but I will try to talk to Jeral. He’s a ruler of the other world. Although, I might have another solution though. I have a world that has no portals or anything. I don’t know if you can trust me, but it is the only thing I think will work.”