His first encounter after leaving the snowy wilderness had been with an elf. Their meeting had been fraught with complications, but on the whole, it hadn't been a bad start. He had learned much from his conversations with the Sylvan Queen. Though their fear had forced him to depart sooner than he would have liked, he was satisfied.
"I also received this," he murmured to himself.
A red gem pulsed in his palm. Deep within its facets, a flame flickered with an inner life. It was his key to the Sylvan Haven, Elfo Sagrado—the place their god resided.
What kind of place would it be?
How many elves would call it home?
Would the spirits of nature wander freely through its halls?
Images from a thousand fantasy tales filled his mind, and the mere thought of it sent a thrill through his heart. He wanted to run to Elfo Sagrado this very instant.
But he held the impulse in check. Here, in this new world, nothing and no one could stop him. He could afford to enjoy it at a leisurely pace.
"First, though, I need to meet people."
The Sylvan Queen had mentioned a place not far from her domain. If he left the forest and headed west, he would find a sizable territory.
His heart pounded with anticipation. His body, restless with newfound freedom, yearned for motion.
"I should go a little faster."
Torg tapped his foot. The ground cracked beneath the simple motion, and nearby trees shuddered, their roots tearing free. In the next instant, his body blurred into a dot on the horizon and vanished.
The guard at the outer gate let out a long, jaw-cracking yawn, his sleepy eyes gazing out over the empty wasteland. As far as he could see, there was nothing.
"Can't I get some sleep?" he grumbled to the stern-faced guard beside him.
"Not a chance. It's working hours," the younger man replied.
"Working hours, so what? No one's coming anyway." The older guard stretched. "Look, just keep your mouth shut and I'll be fine. I'm going to take a nap. You tell anyone, you're dead."
The youngest guard stammered a protest. Just as the lazy guard was about to duck into the shelter, a new voice cut through the air.
"You can sleep. If you want to get fired."
The guard froze, an awkward laugh forcing its way out as he slowly turned his head. "L-Leader! Fancy seeing you here."
"Stop bothering the new kid and do your job," the guard leader said, slapping the man on the back of the head.
The guard rubbed the sore spot, muttering, "It's the east gate. There's nothing out there but the snowy wilderness. Not a soul has come by all day. What's the point of even guarding it?"
"Just shut up and do your duty. The lord's not happy with your performance, and I'm half-tempted to assign you special training."
The guard's face fell.
The leader continued, his voice grim. "Trouble doesn't arrive on a schedule. We don't know when a dungeon might appear or a monster lair might spring up. So stay sharp."
"What are the odds of that happening out here…."
"It's your job to watch for those odds. Focus. Besides, there are already some ugly rumors making the rounds."
"You mean the one about demons and monsters showing up again? Is that true?"
Ages ago, the heroes had defeated the demon king, and since then, the creatures of darkness had been unable to meddle in the mortal realm. But after a thousand years of hiding, it seemed they were beginning to reveal themselves once more.
"They say a whole kingdom has fallen, but we're too far out to know for sure. Regardless, do your job. For all we know, the demon army could come marching over that horizon."
"What are the odds of that happening…" the guard grumbled again, but he straightened his posture. He didn't want another smack to the head.
He scanned the horizon. Nothing. Not a sound, not a flicker of movement. It was the very definition of peaceful. The world could be noisy and chaotic elsewhere, but this territory, on the edge of the wilderness, was endlessly serene. The guard began his watch again, another yawn escaping his lips.
Several long minutes passed.
The youngest guard frowned. "...Do you hear something strange?"
"Something strange? I don't hear anything."
"It's faint," the young man insisted. "But... I think it's getting closer."
At his words, the older guard strained his ears. And then he heard it, too. A deep, massive vibration, as if the world itself were trembling. And it was getting closer. The guard's face paled as he realized something huge was rushing toward them.
"Halt! Wait a minute!" he yelled into the emptiness.
The sound grew until everyone could hear it. The guard captain, who had been inside handling paperwork, burst out of the gatehouse.
"What's going on! What is that noise!"
"I-I don't know! Something's coming!"
The sound was a constant, growing roar. Whatever it was, it was dangerous.
The guard captain shouted, his voice tight with urgency, "Ring the alarm bell! Gather all the guards!"
"Where's the knight?" someone cried out.
"The knight isn't in the territory! H-He's escorting the lady to the castle…."
The guard captain swore. The guards scrambled into formation, a hastily assembled line of defense. They formed their ranks and waited, weapons trembling in their hands.
The sound was getting closer, spreading through the entire territory until citizens began to cower in their homes.
Then it was upon them.
The dust that had settled on the walls for years exploded outwards, blanketing the area in a choking cloud. The guards felt their feet lift slightly from the ground as a massive vibration slammed into their bodies.
Their faces went white with terror. Some staggered, their first instinct to flee.
The guard captain's voice thundered over the din. "We are the guards of the Varkan territory! We will sacrifice our lives to protect our homes and our families!"
They roared back, a desperate shout of determination. The guards steeled themselves for death.
The reverberations grew so close it felt as if the source was right on top of them.
And then, it stopped.
The deafening, rhythmic thunder was gone. Silence crashed down in its place.
The guards stood in perplexed confusion. The captain swallowed hard, his throat dry, and held up a hand, ordering them to hold.
Time stretched in the heavy silence.
Then, out of the settling dust, a figure appeared.
Hands tightened on spear shafts.
The figure approached, its shape becoming clearer. The guard captain’s eyes widened in bewilderment. Though still at a distance, the stranger was no bigger than any of them. It was a size that seemed impossible for the source of that immense, world-shaking roar.
The figure walked slowly, deliberately. The guards held their breath.
The captain forced his trembling body to remain calm as he stepped forward.
The crunch of footsteps on gravel became audible.
The stranger's features resolved from the dust. The captain's pupils dilated.
It was a barbarian with hair the color of ash.
His voice, when he spoke, was fluent in the common tongue.
"Pleased to meet you."