After another week, neither Kai nor the elves had successfully killed the Banchlain. The process made them increasingly frustrated, but he was a little more optimistic every day. It was a strange feeling.

Every day he was getting better, both due to his own training and observing the elven hunters. He still felt nauseous at times and the chakra wine still overwhelmed him, but he thought he was making some headway. It was like instead of having a natural dantian, he needed to build the capacity with chakra, so he was making progress even if none of it stuck with him. He was also accumulating more weak monster essence, which would be very useful when he finally ate the Banchlain.

Hopefully it would be enough to help the others, when they ran out of time.

With the elven hunters doing their best, he stopped worrying about defending others and focused on his training. So one day, when he saw the Banchlain charging at someone, he almost didn't act. Yet he realized that the hunters had been on the other side of the jungle, not anywhere near... was this a traveler from somewhere else?

By now he had a feel for elves, but this one was standing directly in the path of the Banchlain as it charged. Too weak to resist the aura of fear? Kai was already running in to defend whoever it was. He leapt past the ragged cloaked figure and struck the Banchlain in a flying kick with both legs.

Normally he'd love to test his strength against it again, but he didn't want to risk the civilian. When he looked back he saw an elven woman who seemed to be shocked to see him. There was something odd about her, less radiant than the other elves. But there was no time for that, he needed to ward off the Banchlain.

After another clash, the Banchlain tromped away to seek easier prey. He still couldn't entirely shrug off its fear effect, but he was getting better at resisting it and fighting anyway. As soon as he thought they were secure, Kai turned back.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "Sorry, I know you probably can't understand me, but-"

"I can understand you." The elven woman was perhaps the homeliest elf he'd seen, which felt cruel given that she wasn't ugly, but her hair had no luster and there was something lifeless about her skin.

"Are you alright?"

"I am now, thanks to you." She smiled at him, clearly relieved. "My name is Ceryyn."

She had a nice enough smile, but with other elves it would have been stunning. Kai investigated her soul and finally got his answer.

<

Name: Ceryyn

Total Power: 37

Soul Cultivation: Spirit Condensation (4)

Physique Level: F-0 (30)

Soul Level: 1 (3)

>

Ceryyn was the weakest elf he'd met so far, especially when it came to her soul cultivation. Maybe this was what elves were like when they didn't have an unnatural aura of beauty around them. Of course, if she lived among elves she had to be painfully aware of that, so Kai did his best to ignore the sense of her dullness and just help her.

"Can I help you go anywhere?" he asked. "Are you headed to the elven village or back to Roseport?"

"I'm actually traveling from Crescilor City." Ceryyn was staring at him very strangely, possibly suspicious of his intentions but also a bit baffled. "I have no way of paying you for your assistance."

"Don't worry about that. I help out the local village and in turn they help a confused human like me survive. So which way are you headed?"

"I would be grateful if you could escort me to the village, then." Another of those broad smiles, which he was beginning to find charming despite her plainness. Maybe elven souls that weren't developed could force a negative impression? He really wished that he could just push aside all outside influences and see people for who they were.

For a time they traveled in silence, just navigating the jungle. Ceryyn wasn't unnaturally graceful like the other elves, but F-0 Physique still meant something and so she didn't have trouble. He offered her a hand over some fallen logs and she took it with another smile.

"So why are you traveling through such a dangerous jungle?" he asked.

"I am doing business for some of my relatives," she answered. Her voice was rough and a bit unpleasant, but she spoke more clearly than almost anyone he'd met on Rosemount. Perhaps she was from one of the Deadwaste slums in the bigger city. "It is an elven matter."

"Does that mean I shouldn't ask about it? I'm afraid I haven't met many elves and I don't have a good understanding of your culture."

Ceryyn laughed freely. "We don't make it easy for outsiders. Elven family business isn't secretive, just complex, so most aren't interested." She regarded him thoughtfully and he realized she was sharper than she looked. "I'm impressed that a human could confront a Banchlain. Usually their aura of fear is overwhelming."

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"It took me a long time to adapt," Kai said with a shrug. "I don't suppose you could help me understand elven cultivation? I'd consider that more than sufficient payment."

"Oh, I'm afraid I don't know enough about that to help. But I'd love to learn more about you... are you from Deadwaste? I've only met humans from Cloudspire, so I'd like to ask you a few questions..."

She proved to be inquisitive and more knowledgeable about other locations than he'd expected, though she didn't seem to know much about Deadwaste. He found himself wondering if she had some sort of condition that limited her soul cultivation. Maybe she was a merchant or some other role instead. On Rosemount, 37 Power was just average, so maybe this was what a non-combatant looked like.

Before he could learn too much about her, they got back to the village. Ceryyn spoke to the elves in their own language and it looked like she was begging them for assistance. They gave her food and a place to stay, though not as nice as what he'd received. None of the elves seemed to mistreat or dislike her, and they helped her without apparent compensation, but there was a sort of indifference to her presence, as if she was beneath them.

Did their society have some sort of hierarchy based on strength of soul? Since it seemed to affect beauty and everything else, perhaps that made some sense. Kai reminded himself that he didn't know what was going on and shouldn't get involved. Still, he was eager to talk to Ceryyn since they could actually communicate clearly.

He found her at the edge of the village and sat down beside her. "You were being humble earlier, but even what's common knowledge to you could help a poor barbarian from Deadwaste."

"Oh, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself," she said. "You seem nice."

"I don't know if this is offensive, so I'll just ask. Does elven society have some sort of hierarchy based on souls?"

"Not many are perceptive enough to see through the glamour." Ceryyn took a long drink from a cup of water, dull green eyes examining him over the side. He realized that she was analyzing him and he tried to look trustworthy. "First, do you understand what humans call Soul Levels? What they actually are, I mean."

"I know the basics, but maybe I don't actually understand."

"Soul represents the essence of ourselves that can't be isolated as any other form of power. It isn't just experience of the world, it's the deep instincts earned by a veteran. Various powers might be able to defend you against specific threats, but Soul is the fortitude that underlies those. When you combine Soul with chakra, which is so intertwined with personality and emotion, you elevate an entire person."

Kai nodded along with her explanation and decided to speak up to show that he wasn't completely ignorant. "So advancing Soul so much is what makes the elves seem otherworldly. Is it actually affecting others, or is it just a combination of all the subtle factors you were talking about?"

"Normally, the effect is just the combination of everything that makes up normal charisma or force of personality. However..." Ceryyn gestured into the village toward some of the better trained warriors. "Developed that far, it is a true force. That's why I'm impressed that you noticed. Usually humans are swept up in it."

"Probably just lucky. But we never got back to my question: does your society have a hierarchy based on that?"

"Don't worry, I was just explaining so you wouldn't misunderstand! Some say that elves are vain and grant rank based on beauty, but that's mistaken. Those who have advanced furthest in our glamours are best at everything. It isn't quite that the strongest and most beautiful rule, but all those who attain leadership will have developed their fundamental essence."

He thought that over and wasn't sure he liked it. In Krysal the upper classes believed they were superior and tried to enforce that with money and slavery. If so much of the elves was wrapped up in their power, their upper classes might truly be superior. They should all be morally equal, but if your leaders seemed like transcendent beings, it might be hard to develop beliefs about equality. This village of elves could easily be more welcoming and fairer than others.

"Why are you seeking power so desperately?" Ceryyn asked him. "I hope I haven't caused offense either, but you do seem... hungry. There are people seeking power everywhere, but it seems to mean something more to you."

"It's the Frontier I was talking about earlier," he told her. "The monster incursions could wipe out everyone on the continent, and we don't even know why they happen." In a surprisingly short time he'd found himself comfortable with Ceryyn, so he went on. "There's some sort of hole at the center and no one knows what it is. I don't just want to fight the next incursion, I want the strength to go down there and find out the reasons."

"Is it like the Inverted Oasis?" she asked.

Kai blinked at her. "Remember that I have no idea what that is."

"Oh, it's a sort of hole in the Elven Wilds. I've never been there myself, but I understand that monsters come rushing out of it every few years. It was a real problem before we set up a special guard to take care of them."

Kai's heart leapt and he tried not to hope. "Is the area around this Inverted Oasis dead? Like the energy has been drained from it?"

"I think so, yes. Hence the name." Ceryyn laughed when he couldn't hide his eagerness. "Please contain yourself! I don't know very much. It sounds like the same phenomenon, though, so maybe you could learn something to help your home."

At that moment he wanted nothing more than to get directions from her and go tearing off north. But even if the Inverted Oasis wasn't an entire continent away, locked somewhere in the Elven Wilds, that would be wrong. Zae Zin Nim's problems were much more urgent than his and he still had years before the next incursion. Still, as soon as he met the others, he'd be arguing that they should head to the Elven Wilds next.

Unlike the other elves, even the kind ones, Ceryyn didn't seem to look down on him for being human. Maybe her own condition left her more humble... though he realized that he was making too many assumptions. He really should get to know her better. Beauty or power didn't matter - she might be able to help if she was from Crescilor City.

"Is it okay if I ask a personal question?" Kai waited for her to give a slight nod, then continued awkwardly. "Was your soul damaged in some way? It seems like it's working against you, like the opposite of the others... uh, I hope that's not offensive, but..."

"I'm not offended." Ceryyn examined him again, her gaze piercing. "It isn't an injury, merely my... condition. All elves can develop their glamours, but we have different potentials. And, by sad chance, I cannot truly develop mine. Therefore I must be useful to my family in other ways."

Kai had never felt such an instant connection with someone. He'd met others with miserable lives, but no one else who had been struck down by fate so directly. When he smiled Ceryyn smiled back, but she looked almost apologetic.

"Does that mean you've studied your chakra arts?" he asked. "I know I can't do what elves do, but I'm still getting used to chakra, so anything would help..."

"Maybe they'll do you more good than they did me." She smiled at him again and her posture shifted. "I suppose you want to get started right away?"