Our third day of travel was more of the same. The monsters reduced in levels as we got closer to the village. Near the end, the average rank had dropped to three and no monsters had tried their luck against our group. Vel and Elyssa took the watch while I got my third night of uninterrupted sleep.
The rest did me a world of good. The transformation into an Arachne had taken a toll on my mind but I had buried it under all the other problems I had faced at the right. Darrel had been right, I felt better each time I woke up.
After another half-day of travel, we finally reached the outer barrier of Asril. At this point, the monsters cowered as soon as they saw us.
"There's a massive magical barrier just ahead of us," Elyssa said. It confirmed she had a way to sense mana.
"It's the village's outer barrier," I said as I slowly touched it. "It keeps all monsters above rank one away. It creates a buffer between the outside and the village. The area inside is also used as a training ground for children."
The barrier rippled slightly upon contact but nothing else happened. I was glad to learn that it didn't consider me a monster.
"The entrance is a bit further east," Vel said, "we should circle the barrier until we reach the path. It will take an hour at most. We don't want to stumble on a group of trainees by accident, the scouts don't play around when it happens."
"Do you think there will be any issues with …" Darrel tilted his head in my direction.
"There shouldn't," Vel said, "the barrier let her in and she still looks like a dark elf from the waist up. She is with us as well which should be enough to get the guards to fetch someone important."
"Let's go then!" Gwynn said. "I was promised some good food and I'm starving!"
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Once on the path, which was cleared of most ground vegetation, our group could move much faster. The two warriors in our group were no longer wading through vines and ferns with their heavy equipment slowing them down. When we reached the small clearing in front of the village gates, the guards near the door were waiting for us. A scout had probably spotted us from afar and warned them.
"Greetings adventurers," the leader said, "what brings you to Asril?"
"I am Darrel of the Windmire Wanderers, silver rank team. Your village requested the elimination of a Taratect Queen in the nearby temple ruins," Darrel answered, "our team took the job and were assisted by the two dark elves beside me. As they were on the way to this village when we met, we offered to accompany them."
"Velatha Van-Niu," Vel introduced herself with a formal salute, "Healer apprenticed to Druid Aelrie Van-Vanis. We have important information about Niu and Nis."
"Liscura Van-Niu," I followed, "Healer apprenticed to Head Druid Breknir Van-Niu. Same mission. I was subjected to an old ritual in the temple which altered my body."
"Why did Niu send two healers to do the job of a scout team?" He asked. I could hear some amount of disbelief in his voice. He was right, no sane person would have sent two apprentice healers on such a mission.
"The villages were attacked by a large group of tier six humans," I said, "as far as we know, we are the only two survivors." His eyes widened at the declaration. "I can give you a detailed report here if you want but I really don't want to have to repeat myself. We have been traveling for more than a week through the jungle and …" I stopped myself. I hadn't really intended to go on a spontaneous rant.
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"Sorry, I'm just …" I hugged myself with all of my arms, "tired, on edge. More than I thought."
"Don't worry about it," the guard said with a smile, "anyone would be on edge after that." He motioned for us to get into the village. "Come in. Let's get you settled and I will have someone get the council together, they'll probably want to know everything."
I stepped forward with Vel. Darrel and his group were more hesitant but followed after us nonetheless. I crossed the threshold of the inner barrier at the same time as the village gates. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders when I wasn't stopped there either.
The guard, who introduced himself as Agis, led us through the streets in the direction of the central plaza. Asril was laid out similarly to Niu if on a smaller scale to accommodate its reduced population. It looked to be around one hundred and twenty, half of Niu. The streets were still full of life, I felt a pang of loss at the sight, but most people were happy to see new faces which lifted my spirits.
The Windmire Wanderers, as a group of non-dark elves, were the attraction of the day. We still walked in a loose formation, more out of convenience than anything else, and nobody really questioned my presence among them. It was a commonly accepted fact that adventurers were a rather strange bunch. I got a few questions from children that seemed fascinated by the friendly giant spider in their midst and I simply answered that it was the result of a ritual gone wrong.
Once we reached the center, we took a seat around one of the tables. I summoned a small pile of cushions under me to get comfortable. I also had to keep my legs fairly close to myself to avoid bothering anyone else. The table was large enough for a dozen people but the space around it was not meant to accommodate my bulky abdomen.
The kitchen team looked to be already at work and the smells that wafted in our direction made my mouth water. Vel's cooking was great but the variety she could prepare on the road wasn't staggering.
"Smellin' mighty fine," Gwynn said.
"Agreed," Katherine said, "those cooks look rather skilled."
The apprentice cook brought us a large jug of grape juice with some mugs. There was also a plate with some simple appetizers.
"Here you go," he said with a smile.
"Thank you," Vel and I said with a small bow.
"You're from another village?" He asked.
"We are from Niu," Vel said, "on the way to join the guild."
"Nice," he smiled, "I want to visit the surface when I finish my apprenticeship but I'm not sold on the adventuring life. I like to be in the kitchen too much."
"The guild settlement in the pillar has several inns with restaurants," Hamak said, "one of them is even run by a dark elf, Ciliren. She opened it when she retired. Makes the best stir fry in the pillar."
"Do you think she would take me?"
"Maybe," the orc shrugged, "you need to ask her yourself. Plenty of opportunities on the surface too. If you have enough levels, the world is yours, kid."
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Over the course of half an hour, a slow trickle of people made their way to the central plaza and got ready for the meal. Most noticed our group but didn't seem to particularly mind or care. A few enthusiastic children asked for stories and Hamak happily delivered until they were corralled by their parents.
"The council will see you two after the meal," Agis told Vel and I. "As for your group, Darrel, the head scout is willing to provide an additional reward if you give a report about the state of the temple. The main reward was paid to the guild in advance."
"Thank you," I said.
"I do not mind giving a report," Darrel said. "Where will I be able to find them?"
"I will notify her and she will meet you here," Agis clarified.
The human knight nodded. Once all was said and done, food was brought to our table and we dug in. The dishes were subtly different from the ones prepared in Niu, the basic recipe was the same but it was obvious that each generation of cook had added their own flair. Not that I minded, it made me feel at home nonetheless.
Right beside me, Vel took my hand. She had a melancholic smile on her face. We both knew our home was gone. Even if we found everyone and freed them, it would never be the same ever again. It was a strange feeling, it was both a closure and a new beginning. I had a feeling that if we asked to stay in Asril, there would be no objections. We could simply settle down but … it felt wrong.
I had a taste of the adventuring life and a goal, however far it may be, I didn't know if I could stop now and forgive myself. Vel looked to be of the same mind. The quiet life of a village healer wasn't for us anymore.