The Intelligent Races of Rixa.

There are many such races living on the surface of Rixa. This is common knowledge even among the less educated populace.

I do not intend to include all the minor races such as pixies, dryads, various nature spirits, etcetera. Those will be mentioned in a different study, as their numbers are so vast it would be impossible to mention all of their species.

However, I will write about the major races. Let’s start with the more sophisticated ones.

Humans, High elves, Forest elves, White elves, Dwarfs, Snake folk and naturally the Guardians.

While the less sophisticated races, which undoubtedly hold some sort of intellect raising them out of the common rabble, are the followings.

Dark elves, Orcs, Goblins, Leeches, Trolls, Ogres, Darklings and the Devils.

While there is a distinct line between the two groups, that does not mean that the members of the two groups always see eye to eye. There have been various conflicts and wars recorded in history to establish this claim.

However, it shall be stated that in times of great disturbance, these groups tend to put aside their differences and rally under the same banner.

Extract from the book titled “The Intelligent Races of Rixa” written by human scholar Viscanu Winfred.

~oOo~

After a long and anxious night with little to no ideal sleep. I was standing outside of the newly captured outpost and currently looking into the eyes of an unusually large black goat that had a saddle on its back and a few more backpacks hanging from its side here and there.

This particular specimen was the calmest of the three goats at hand.

After my unfortunate revelation yesterday, I was immediately put through a crash course in the literal sense. Since I had fallen off the goats’ backs more times than I could count.

It was indeed fortunate that I had that healing magic, otherwise I would be covered in bruises and probably have a minor concussion right now.

In the end, it turned out that this black goat was the one that was most compatible with my inaptitude.

Of course, after the second time I landed face first in the dirt, I complained to Emrum if we couldn’t just ride the same mount. Only to get dispirited by his explanation.

Goats are not horses. The fact that these can be used as mounts at all is already an extreme achievement. Carrying two adult riders was even beyond the capabilities of these uniquely strong ones. Apparently, goats have weak backs compared to horses. How would I know that?

Therefore, I was forced to climb back into the saddle with a disgruntled expression.

I sighed. Glaring at the goat won’t resolve anything, and I didn’t want to think about the torture I went through yesterday. It has completely ruined my supposedly calm afternoon.

I carefully reached into my coat, searching through my inner pockets until I managed to find the item I was looking for. With a slow, hesitant movement, I pulled out a small sized carrot.

The moment the goat saw it, its lazy and otherwise uninterested gaze focused on the carrot. It’s eyes following it as if hypnotized by the sight…

I whetted my throat and spoke to the beast.

“Look… I know that we don’t exactly see eye to eye…” — “Me-e-e-e-eee!” — “Shh! Don’t interrupt me, I know, okay? Let’s make a deal. I will give you this carrot and you won’t leave me in the dirt, because there is more from where this came from! Alright? I will give those to you when we arrive, I promise!”

The goat seemed to consider my offer for a while. When I didn’t hear more protest, I finally offered the carrot, and it quickly bit down on it and swallowed the vegetable in a few bites.

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I couldn’t help but smile and pat its side gently while it was too focused on eating. You can be surprisingly amiable at times like this.

“Alright… I hope you liked it because that carrot caused me quite a headache yesterday.” — I stated in a whisper.

Since there were no carrots among our rations, I had to use my creation magic to manifest one. The remainder of my mana, after using quite a few healing spells on myself, was only enough to create a small one, though. I hope there will be carrots in the other outpost because I don’t really want to waste more mana on such a miserable exchange.

Using a third of my mana for a small carrot after drawing runes in a circle for an hour sounded too shameful for me to even tell to Emrum.

Well, at least I know that the runes actually work. It is high time to create that toothbrush rinsing my mouth with water only goes so far after all. I also need some toothpaste, probably.

I have drawn the runes on the back of the letter which were brought to us by a runner, along with our mounts, since I had no other paper at hand, and Emrum gave it to me either way.

The thing was folded in my pocket with a circle of runes drawn on its back that filled with enough magic can create carrots. If I wanted to manifest something else, I will have to draw a new array of runes for the magic to follow my intention. It takes quite a time since the runes are finicky and you have to precisely write down what you want them to do.

The runes were characters of a language after all. If I wanted to translate down what I was writing into the array, it would sound something like this. Transmute air into carrot, permanent transmutation, complete transmutation.

Before I drew the runes on the letter, I read it as well, not that there was much to read to begin with. The whole thing was made from a few lines of hastily written words that practically ordered us to get back to the kingdom immediately. There were a few large stamps on the lower side, turning it into an official order.

Emrum told me when I asked that the emblem with the pair of interlocked crowns was the emblem of the dwarven twin kingdoms when referred together. Consisting of the Kingdom of the North and the Kingdom of the South. While the emblem with the simple black circle left empty on the inside is the emblem of the Dimhollow clan.

Now that he mentioned it, I have noticed this marking on his armor and shield. It was so simplistic that I didn’t think that they were actual clan markings.

Emrum told me that I will get my equipment after the misunderstandings were handled back in the clan. I didn’t have a problem with my current clothes, but the idea of getting an actual armor with unique clan markings have excited me.

Aside from that, simply having more spare clothes was already good to hear. That way, I won’t have to loan one or stay half naked while the rest dried. That was seriously starting to grate on my nerves. Especially after that infamous incident.

I shook my head, then hauled myself into the saddle, seeing how Emrum and the runner did the same in front of me. Emrum threw a worried glance over his shoulder in my direction.

I offered him a hesitant nod, unwilling to let go of the reins even for a second. I have learned my lesson yesterday, falling off the saddle in the most imaginative ways.

I really felt my age back then, while the mocking saying echoed in my mind. An old dog doesn’t learn new tricks.

I shook my head, clearing my mind from the memories of my most recent humiliation. My cheeks burned as I remember the roaring laughter of my audience.

My eyes ticked from the memory alone.

Well, yes… It seems that the elves are known of their horse and elk riding skills. The sight of an elf that can’t ride is like a dwarf that never held a pickaxe.

In short, my repeating failure garnered quite a bit of attention and provided a unique entertainment for most of the outpost. At least between the fits of laughter, the bastards shouted some useful tips as well.

With those memories on my mind, I confidently nudged the sides of the goat, urging it to move forward, following Emrum and the runner, who was called Gror. He had the typical look of a dwarf with a brown beard, hair, and eyes. I attempted to talk to him, but he was unwilling to speak beyond basic pleasantries. Mostly ignoring my questions or giving half hearted grunts as an answer.

I got the message and left him to his own devices. Most dwarfs needed time to get used to new people, especially to elves. Luckily, after they warmed up to you, they were genuinely kind. Even Regmir had his enjoyable moments, no matter how annoying and self-absorbed he was in ninety percent of the time.

We were about to depart. I glanced back at the silent chamber, my silver eyes hovering over the intimidating golem that still stood silently by the side of the entrance.

Without my presence here, it won’t come to life again. However, that was not something the goblins knew. It was a painful reminder to their recent loss.

With that thought, my eyes turned towards the two mass graves. The silent reminders of the true nature of this world, and even my previous one.

I whispered a silent prayer to Lord Axis before I looked forward and rushed after the others.

We departed. It was as simple as that, no long goodbyes or happily waving friends slowly disappearing in the distance. Dwarven warriors did not say goodbye to each other.

Emrum explained to me yesterday that the finality of saying goodbye was considered a bad omen among the soldiers. Only those who know that they will never meet again told each-other goodbye.

Just as he said, nobody came to escort us out, and nobody said goodbye to us. No matter how strange the local custom felt to me at first. Now it filled me with a fluttering sense of warmth.

We were expected back.