After the duel, they were given free rein of the city, but as news traveled through the town, they found themselves being stopped one too many times by what Altheack referred to as "fans." Eventually, they decided to travel in disguises. Valicar had become quite famous around the world in one way or another—whether it was her victories at the magical games or her quest to unite the alliances against the empire and church. One thing was certain: her striking red and blue hair and eyes made her easily recognizable. Their journey took them to the magical letter array with the plan to update Easton on their whereabouts. Valicar chose to wear a hood to obscure her face.

"I don't remember this many people annoying us in Helm Town," Sophia complained, clearly irritated by the constant interruptions as they walked down the street.

"Well, we were less of a curiosity there. I mean, everything was magical, so of course, we didn't stick out when fucking griffins flew around like pigeons," Mike reasoned as he picked at a sore tooth.

"It's true. Almost everyone had colored hair in Helm Hold and Helm Town. But I still haven't seen anyone with a mixture of both like us," Sophia contemplated, her jaw sore and aching from their recent fight. The King had hit them in the mouth at one point, and she could swear a few teeth were loose, but before she could heal it, Mike's hand came away holding the culprit.

"Ah, fuck, much better," Mike said, moving their jaw to alleviate the pain.

"Wow, you sure have gotten quick with the healing," Mike remarked as he felt their tooth grow back. But something was different. The tooth was sharp, like a shark's tooth. "What the hell did you do to our tooth?" Mike questioned Sophia.

"I just did a minor healing sign... I have no idea why it's sharp," she said, feeling the new razor-sharp addition with their tongue, inadvertently drawing blood.

"Shit, be careful," Mike chastised as the sharp tooth stung.

"That's weird. I'll fix it later," Sophia added as they made their way into the message array. Sending off a prewritten letter, they headed back to a local tavern.

"We should rest for a day, then head to the Elven Kingdoms," Altheack suggested to Valicar as they walked through the city, the day turning to twilight.

After a night of drinks and a drunken night's rest, the group continues their journey. The landscape transitions from open skies to the rugged and untamed orc lands. The air carried a sense of tension, and the dense forest below concealed the conflicts and rivalries that have plagued the orc tribes for generations. Flying over the orc territories, they glimpsed skirmishes and battles between various warbands, evidence of the ongoing internal struggles within the orc lands.

The rumors of Joearai, the self-proclaimed "Elf Slayer," have spread far and wide. A mixture of fear and awe accompanies his name, as tales of his strength and cunning have captured the imagination of both orcs a their rivals alike. The very idea of a unified orc force is a concept that was once thought impossible due to their inherent fractious nature. Yet, under Joearai's leadership, the tribes have set aside their differences and rallied under a single banner.

"Elf Slayer, huh? Sounds like a charming guy," Mike quiped, his voice laced with sarcasm as they navigate the treacherous airspace above the orc territories.

Sophia gazes down at the tumultuous scene below, her expression thoughtful. "It's amazing how one individual can change the course of history. If Joearai uniting the orc tribes is as unbelievable as everyone at the tavern said it was, he could pose a serious threat or a powerful ally."

Altheack's face tightens as she listens, her thoughts consumed by the city that is now under siege. "Eldoria... the city where I was born." She hesitated for a moment before elaborating. "My mother was an elven noble, and she had a complicated relationship with my father, the human king. Their entanglement brought me into this world, but I never got to truly know the city. I was taken away to the human kingdom shortly after birth."

Mike glances at Altheack, his expression softening as he picks up on the emotions swirling within her. "So, this siege is hitting closer to home than you expected."

"Indeed," Altheack replies, her voice carrying a mix of emotions. "My mother's people are there, and yet I've lived most of my life as an outsider. It's a strange feeling."

Sophia places a reassuring hand on Altheack's shoulder as they rode on her back. "We're here with you. We'll figure out a way to help Eldoria and put an end to Joearai's threat. Hell, maybe we can even convince him to join us against the Church."

As they soared through the air, Mike once again plucked a tooth from their mouth, and once again, as it regenerated, the replacement tooth came in sharp. "What's going on with these shark teeth, Soph? While the look might be cool, I'd rather not accidentally bite my tongue off," Mike quipped, rubbing their tender jaw. "It feels like new teeth are sprouting, but it's strange since we lost our last baby tooth years ago. Unless this is some kind of magical wisdom teeth bullshit," Mike mused to his sister.

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"I think you might be onto something. Remember how our hair and eyes transformed as I used more mana when we were kids? It seems like something similar is happening now, maybe leading to... well, draconic teeth," Sophia said, her voice tinged with wonder at the potential implications. Their body was changing to match that of their souls, and having two souls in their body was not only wreaking havoc on their mental state but apparently also on their physical state.

"Just what we needed, another way to draw attention," Mike grumbled, his tongue once again getting nicked by the sharp tooth. "Fuck" A sudden yelp of pain escaped him, prompting Altheack to cast a quizzical glance their way. Her large owlbear head turned, fixing its gaze on them as they flew through the air.

After spending a considerable amount of time, they departed the orc territories and entered the expansive elven lands. Towering trees, hundreds of feet tall, surrounded them. However, their momentary tranquility was shattered as they encountered their first signs of trouble a few hours later. The scene before them was one of chaos: an elven village under attack by an orc warband.

The village had been ingeniously constructed amidst the treetops, and its defenders fought valiantly, showering the approaching orcs with arrows. Equipped with climbing gear, the orcs scaled the trees, exposing themselves to the precision of the elf archers. But as the orcs drew near, their sheer size and strength provided them an advantage the elves struggled to counter. The elf defenders were outmatched, and the battle appeared grim.

"We can't stand idly by," Altheack declared, her determination evident as she banked into a deep dive toward a family trapped in their home by an orc warrior. The sobbing children had just witnessed their father being gutted, only to witness the orc turn to paste under the weight of Altheack's massive paws.

Leaping off Altheack's back, Valicar executed a powerful jump, landing gracefully before unleashing a barrage of ice spikes at the orcs still ascending the trees. The frozen projectiles struck their targets, sowing chaos among the orc ranks.

"Moank" Altheack roared, Transforming into a creature reminiscent of a monkey with four arms, three tails and imposing horns, Altheack maneuvered through the trees with remarkable agility. Seizing the climbing orcs, she ripped them free, sending them screaming to the forest floor far below. Her actions delivered a clear message: the invaders would not find triumph in this place.

In perfect harmony, they repelled the orc assailants, capitalizing on their distinct abilities to shift the balance of the battle. The previously dire situation now swung in favor of the elves, with their adversaries either dying or fleeing.

The surviving orcs fled in the direction of Eldoria, this was likely just one of many disturbances in the nearby countryside. Whether driven by sport or orders to gather supplies for their siege, the result was the same: unarmed civilians were being slaughtered. While elves were no strangers to border raids or even war, they didn't inhabit the same brutal society as the orcs. The havoc being wrought would have long-lasting effects, even if the orcs were driven away tomorrow, Sophia and Mike pondered as the elves, speaking a language they didn't understand, conversed with Altheack. The gratitude conveyed was evident through food, flowers, and hugs—the twins comprehended the elves' emotions without comprehending their words.

"You know, now would be a perfect time to practice some necromancy. I mean, there are a lot of bodies around to practice on," Mike suggested. And To Sophia's horror, she didn't immediately dismiss the idea.

"I will need to practice eventually, but... not like this, Mike," Sophia said, her repulsion evident at the thought of bringing back the children's father or any of the fallen in this gruesome manner.

Altheack shared the grim news with them. It was worse than they had imagined – much of the countryside was now engulfed in flames, orc warbands were terrorizing the elven kingdoms, and Eldoria was just the beginning of what could be a devastating series of attacks if the orc chieftain wasn't stopped. However, the other elven cities were too preoccupied with their own defense to offer aid. Even if they did manage to muster support, the united orc clans represented a formidable force that the eastern continent hadn't faced in centuries. The strength of the elves alone might not be sufficient. Yet, a solitary mage possessed the potential to shift the balance in this mundane conflict.

However, another unsettling revelation emerged – an S-ranked adventure party had been recruited by the orc chieftain to confront the most powerful defenders of the kingdoms. While the ranking system was unfamiliar to Valicar, she understood that the adventurers' guild held a significant presence on the eastern continent. These parties comprised skilled magical users who harnessed their abilities with great expertise. Whether they were spellblades, paladins, or even warlocks with demonic pacts, these adventurers harnessed every facet of power that the world had to offer.

"Well, looks like this place won't be putting me to sleep like those boring classes," Mike quipped, a dash of excitement in his voice as he embraced the idea of taking on genuine challenges. Sophia, couldn't help but roll her eyes at his remark.

"We have to go to Eldoria, whether they see me as one of them or not, they are still my people," Altheack declared, her determination shining through her eyes.

"We've got your back, Alth, One way or the other we will end this slaughter," Sophia reassured her, her resolve matching Altheack's.

"I'm grateful to have both of you—your support means the world to me. We'll certainly need every bit of help we can get," Altheack chuckled, her gaze resting on the twins with heartfelt appreciation. "Thank you, Mike. Thank you, Sophia. I truly couldn't navigate this without you," she continued, a single tear tracing its way down her cheek.

Sophia, struck by the significance of hearing her name from Altheack's lips for the first time, found herself momentarily speechless. Meanwhile, Mike, never one to pass up an opportunity to add his wit,

"You remember our names from that night, huh," Mike interjected, a chuckle accompanying the memory of their inebriated escapade. The familiarity of their shared experiences had led to a few unintentional disclosures during their nights out with Altheack—occasionally she played along, while other times she feigned obliviousness. Now, whether one or two souls resided within her, she valued both of them as Valicar.