The other races have peculiar architecture and settlement layouts that can baffle a person until they consider the alternative realities the architects were considering when setting out on their works. Take for example Xiivet, the dark and frozen planet. As the surface temperature there was too low for most organisms to survive, the majority of its inhabitants lived near firecores, which heated the ground and allowed life to flourish. Ironically, this was also where the most life was lost as the various races fought intensely over these geographical features.

Suko Ryo - Interspeciel Expert - Humanity and the Other Races

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Hands propped against his knees, Silas peered down at the settlement from the cliffside. The village had wide streets and buildings with domed roofs and curved walls. Although there was a prominent lack of System buildings, there was still enough space to comfortably fit a few thousand. The prevalent use of the same cream-coloured stone everywhere would have made him think of it as basic and primitive if not for the elegant structures.

In the centre towered a fort of similar design with giant murals made of blue and purple stone on its aged walls, and most eye-catching, four brilliant purple spires from its uppermost dome. It had soldiers patrolling and guarding it, most donning the distinct System armour under metal mail, although even from this distance, Silas could tell that they weren’t human.

While they were bipedal and roughly as tall as humans, they had stockier torsos and stubby limbs. Their skin colours ranged from pastel pink to light blue, and they appeared to have horns sticking out from their heads. He couldn’t discern their facial features from this distance, but he imagined they would share a likeness with human faces. They wielded forked halberds and stood at attention at the doorways and near the giant, menacing crossbows that dotted around the fort.

He wheeled about and regarded Olivia, Meera, and Bandit. “You’re sure they’re here?” he asked the owl anxiously.

Bandit nodded, pointing his feathered wing to the outskirts. Silas took another look, noting the village had some, although not many, civilians treading the streets. It was a long moment before he finally spotted a scraggly human slipping out from one of the domed houses and into the streets. He stiffened at the sight, before relaxing somewhat as he realised it wasn’t Ethan.

He gnawed his lip, his nerves strained enough to snap like string bearing a load five times its breaking point. Yet, somehow they kept whole, and he turned unsteadily. “So, what should we do?”

Bandit simply stared back with its electric eyes while the women looked to him with varying levels of sympathy. Olivia gulped, “Can’t we just walk in?” Meera nodded with her, watching Silas’s response with eagle eyes.

His breath evened somewhat as his eyes glazed out in thought. After another long moment, he closed his eyes and grimaced before nodding to himself. “Yeah, I guess we can. It doesn’t look like they’re violent against humans, anyway.”

With stiff steps, he led the way down from the cliffside, his mind taking tandems about his brother. How should he act if he found him? Would Ethan forgive him if he apologised, or would he just venomously stare at him? What if it turned out Ethan wasn’t even here anymore?

Likely out of respect for his state, the other two didn’t speak as they followed, nor did Bandit hoot and fly around playfully, instead hovering beside sombrely. Although they kept to a slow pace, there were no obstacles in their way, so they made it to the human area after a few minutes of walking.

Two things hit him as they entered the village boundaries, firstly the revolting stench from the streets, forcing him to cover his nose and wrinkle his face in disgust. The second was an unbearable heat seeping up from seemingly the ground itself, worsening the reek and slicking his skin. He kept pulling at his collar and allowing air to waft in and out, keeping himself from being boiled alive inside his armour.

The streets weren’t a pretty sight either as war had ravaged them. Dried gore lay splattered against grimy walls, and he spotted the odd hairy limb hidden between wilted plants. Many of the homes were notched and grooved, and he noted scattered scorch marks as well, reminding him of the ratkin sorcerers. Although it was to be expected that the ratkin attacked here as well since they seemingly launched assaults everywhere, the proof of their presence still shot a current through his spine.

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Taking into consideration what he saw and smelled and feared, Silas’s steps faltered in the middle of the street. What if Ethan had died already in the fierce violence that had clearly descended down on this place? What if his entire trip here had been in futility? What if—

Silas was shocked out of his thoughts as a hand rested on his shoulder. He tensed and glanced back, loosening only when he saw it was Olivia.

Her face was lined with worry, her skin as sweaty as his with a hand over her nose. “Are you okay? You’ve gone so pale, and you’re shaking.”

Wiping the sheen from his brow, he laughed unconvincingly. “Oh, yeah. I’m just hot under my armour,” he forced out. Although it was clear he was fooling no one, he turned around and restarted on his path, cringing at how frail he must appear to the others right now. Fortunately, he found something to distract himself with as he spotted a little face watching their interaction out of an open window.

“Hey,” he called out, heading towards the house even as the face dipped out of view. He knocked on the door, but no answer came. So, he went over to the window and peeked through, searching for the child when suddenly a wrinkled and sallow face popped out in front of him. Yelping, he jumped back, then breathed out in relief when he realised it was just an elderly woman. “Hey there, I’m looking for my brother, Ethan. Do you happen to know him?” He offered what he hoped was a disarming smile.

The elderly woman worked her jaw before answering. “I dunno no Ethan.”

Gripping the windowsill with his free hand, Silas leaned in, finally noticing the child cowering behind a chair. “Are you sure? He’s a bit shorter than me, chestnut hair, brown eyes, similar face.” He paused. “I heard he’s not in a good state right now, so perhaps a bit roughed up as well.”

She looked at him in distaste, but before either could say another word, a yell came from behind Silas. “Oi, you thug, what are you doing to Margaret?”

Bemused, he glanced over his shoulder and saw a tanned blonde with a pixie cut pointing a sword at him. Although wide-shouldered and athletic with a considerable aura, it was clear from her awkward stance that she was injured. Beside her stood a slim ginger teen, who likewise pitched a sword at him despite trembling softly with fear.

From Silas’s side, Olivia levelled her spear and Meera nocked an arrow. On the other hand, Bandit perched on top of a building’s domed roof, watching the scene with clear amusement.

Lost for words, Silas blinked at the duo for a moment, then softly shook his head. “You should put those down,” he eventually said with quiet reproach, “I was just asking her if she knew my brother.”

The blonde narrowed her eyes but kept her sword pointed. “What’s his name?”

“Ethan. Looks like me, a bit shorter, and likely in a bad state right now.”

Recognition flashed through her eyes, and she lowered her sword, clearing some of the tension. However, her mouth remained pursed.

As the seconds passed, Silas went crazy from the suspense and spoke again. “Where is Ethan? Is he alright?”

Although the blonde kept her face passive, the redhead beside her cringed. “He’s alive, if that’s what you’re asking, but you best come see for yourself.” She turned and beckoned him to follow. “Name’s Brigette, and this is Rory behind me. You?”

“Silas,” he said, pacing after her. His breath quickened and tensed, and he felt in no mood for small talk. She must have picked up on this as the rest of their brief journey was in silence until they came up to another nondescript cream-coloured house. “This is the one.”

He stepped forward but immediately shrunk back as the door opened, and a figure came out. Gaping, he froze over in shock while the figure noted the commotion and turned to them. Her auburn hair was longer and messier than he remembered, and it appeared she had lost considerable weight, her cheeks no longer plump and instead high-boned, but he had no trouble recognising her.

Mia rubbed her eyes in disbelief, then did a double-take. A deep flush emerged from her cheeks as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug. Her body heat brought him back to life, and he reciprocated the gesture, resting his head against hers. A few heartbeats passed before he pushed her back and held her at an arm’s length by her shoulders. “Do you know where my brother is?”

The Elementalist nodded and took him inside the building she had just exited, while the others waited by the doorway. Although the room was dim and stuffy, he easily discerned the space with his perception. In the far corner lay a figure over stained blankets, snoring. Hesitating, Silas stood motionless until Mia nudged him forward.

Kneeling beside, Silas picked up his brother’s hand and clasped it, closing his eyes and mouthing a quick pray to any god who willed to listen. Even as his heartbeat drummed a violent beat in his ears, he clearly heard the rustling and the faint groan. Finally opening his eyes, he gazed down at his brother and gave the widest, most strained smile he could. “Hey Ethan.”

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The end of a hunt can hit differently depending on so many factors. Sometimes I’m jubilant and in ecstasy with the corpse by my feet, but other times I simply breathe out in relief and vow to never hunt again. Ultimately, you won’t know which of the multitude of emotions you’ll feel days and months into the future, but it’ll almost always be worth it.

Lavanya Sanghvi - the Monster Bane - Adventurer’s Guide to Surviving the Idroan Wilderness