Yana folds his hands together, showing everyone on the wagon a composed middle aged man with wheat colored hair. Internally he is having a hard time with the new breathing technique he had to create to control his size and form. He hoped that it would become second nature in time, but he didn't want to wait too long or he might miss his sister in Ester. This merchant wagon was abandoning Veridian Hold, even if they said it was just a normal goods run. The people on the carts had been very open about their concern of the dungeon and the sky. Yana had to restrain himself from snapping at them. His Mother wouldn't just kill people, they would have to trespass in her halls for her to do that. Otherwise, unlike these creatures, she didn't need "food" which was the common belief among them.
That the dungeon fed on the souls of people to grow in strength, and he did admit that deaths of people gave her more power. At this point it was a drop in a bucket compared to what she needed just to feed all of her children. Her actual dungeon required almost no mana to maintain due to her elegant constructions. They would even survive her dying since they were structurally sound, due to that book on architecture he sent her.
"Ho, Mister Yana," A broadly built man says to him as he passes. A pair of golden eyes captivating Yana for a moment, they could almost be mistaken for coins.
"Ho, Merchant George." Yana responds, nodding his head in return. This was a common ritual the merchants held for people they seemed to like.
"Your advice for our route and defense have done us well, and we will be approaching the Grand Road in a few days." George continues, gesturing with his hands, a common action by merchants, "I would welcome you to my carriage for a well deserved nights sleep tonight." Yana considers for a moment before making a single gesture with his fingers, paired together and in the shape of a V. A sign of respect and acceptance he had learned just this morning since he had a feeling it would be important. George slows down to resume walking by the guard captain, Vasalis. One of the children in the wagon with him, gives him a wide grin before also doing the sign.
Children were something he was still getting used to, because, in a sense, he was one of them. At least if you consider the term of years. Human and Beastkin children would take several years just to get to a basic level of understanding and skill with walking and running. Yet, his family would take only a few hours before they had that figured out. Even with his Mother's words that Beastkin were some kind of changed Humans. He still found them inferior, interesting, but inferior to his own race.
It helped that the children were usually easy to get information out of, also easy to understand. Unlike adults who would constantly walk around the answer to question because it was considered "impolite". Often he thought he could get along with either race if they just weren't so ridiculous with such things. To make matters worse, several of the females from both species had tried to flirt with him. Which he hadn't understood until he talked to a child about it. Then, he got some straight answers, and found himself intrigued but uninterested.
Pretending to eat and drink was bad enough, since his body was powered by mana. Having to pretend to do the social dances of courting sounded like a headache. Why not just speak of your intentions to procreate and be together? It's not like it was a long sentence. Yet, the one lady he had asked that question to had tried to slap him and ran away when he deflected the attack.
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He makes the gesture to the young boy again, and smiles a bit knowing its effect on the lad. A moment later, he shuffled across the wood floor to sit next to Yana's seat.
"See, sir!" He said, trying to make it a whisper, "I told ya that the merchants liked you!" From the look on Yana's seat mates, the attempt of whispering was a complete failure. Though they both just pretend not to hear and smile. It had amazed Yana at how people treated children, even though they were the future of the race. Especially considering how weak and frail they were. He had even watched a full man nearly beat one to death. The onlookers had said the child was caught stealing again. Which had puzzled him, why would a child need to steal? Shouldn't they be provided with what they needed to live?
"I had faith in your abilities there." He says, a smile teasing his face, "Though, should I have failed to impress them, you wouldn't have earned that coin, or this one." Yana dances a copper coin across his knuckles, one of the tricks he had been doing to increase his focus on the breathing pattern. It always impressed people though the coin was more likely their focus. Seeing the boy's brown eyes widen at a second coin, he sat up straighter. Yana flicks the coin high in the air so the boy could catch it. At times like this he felt like it was possible to train these barbarians, and maybe even make them useful with the right motivation.
"Many thanks good, Sir." The boy says tucking the coin away, "If the Master Merchant spoke true then we are only two weeks from Amalyn and making good time." Yana appreciated the quick mind this child had. It had known what information he would want without having to spell it out.
"Excellent, though I must beg your leave, as I believe that I have been invited to sit a spell with said Master Merchant." Yana replies, getting to his feet carefully in the rocking wagon. They really didn't seem to be made for people, and he doubted the roads were as perfectly smooth as his Mother's halls. Another reason to consider them primitive since even he could have leveled the ground as they traveled, but refrained due to the attention that would draw. It was enough that he had the elaborate staff he did now.
The item was tucked away in one of the coaches used for the goods, but had been made to contain the Orb he carried. It was a five foot long branch of green wood with silver edged carvings and capped with a bronze sphere the size of his hand. The bottom had an iron spike to allow for easy travel, but it was clearly something of excellent make which no peasant would possess. So, it had drawn enough attention. As Yana exits the rolling wagon by jumping off the back step, he wonders what they all think of him. What stories have they made up about a man like him carrying such a rich item around.
It had been a gift from his Mother, so of course he would show it with pride, and anyone wishing to take it would have to contend with him. He guessed few would be able to deal with a dragon even if he was considered a newly hatched one. Even these "powerful" adventurers were weak to him, and the merchant had praised the two people above level 10 that had come with them. Yana knew that many in the caravan felt safe because of such people. Yet, he could probably take all eight of the adventurers without using a third of his mana or even half of his strength. So, he didn't worry about his safety or the staff's.
Though the nods he gets as he makes his way to the carved, rolling carriage in the center of the caravan tells him. That they at least respect his ability to draw a map and navigate the forests. Which amuses him considering it was using information that Mother had given him along with the six Lesser Elemental Ants. That were patrolling a good ways out from the caravan to keep creatures and bandits from them. Apparently, it was good hunting of both groups if his bonded pets were to be understood correctly.
Just the other night they had killed ten men who tried to raid the camp and a few bears. Likely the reason they were making such good time was due to the lack of events along the way so far.
"Ah, Master Yana!" A slender hand gestures towards him from the over-sized, carved carriage. Yana, internally, sighs at the hand and voice. He knows both of them, and now he understands another reason he had been invited. It was that woman he had asked the questions about courting to.