Speaking With The Red
After two weeks of training in the Great Plains, Edrick decided to go back through the mountains to pay a visit to Daklaiel and the Underwood Elves of that one village he had planted servants in. He wanted to check if things had progressed nicely since last time.
There shouldn’t be any difference in the passage of time between Eltysia and the outside, so it had been a little while since spies had been placed amidst the long-eared ranks…
First, however, the scion needed to traverse the mountains once again. On the way there, he did not forget that this was first and foremost a training trip. So he made several stops to test himself.
His self-imposed tests mostly involved rock climbing with no equipment whatsoever. In fact, since there was no one to see him in the mountains of this realm, he did it in his birthday suit. Therefore, he truly had nothing to rely upon but his very own body.
The rocks scraped directly against his bare skin, and if he fell, there was only himself to count on.
Of course, with his advanced sasquatch capabilities, climbing rocky walls–Be they straight or tilted–Was like second nature. He had a rather easy time identifying what a good place to grab onto was, and what would instantly come loose the instant he put a little bit of pressure on it.
Though since he was accompanied by his two bestial companions, he obviously couldn’t just traverse terrains to get around. So every climbing session was a climb up and a climb down. Of course, unless there was a nearby path his four-legged followers could take to join him.
“Mmh… They are quite hard to just run into, aren’t they?”
While he journeyed, the noble scion was also looking around for some of the local mountain sasquatches who were said to uniquely possess an affinity for the stone element. However, it seemed like they were using the high ground to their advantage, spotting him from far away and logically deciding not to engage with the lord-blooded individual.
They were indeed quite proficient at remaining hidden.
Edrick didn’t even sense a single one near him at all throughout his whole passage through the rocky mountains.
He arrived back in the Cradled Region, which was what he had decided to call the area where people appeared when stepping into the realm. It was surrounded by tall mountains, after all.
During this entire journey, he had spotted the Red Guardian in the distance several times–Just staring from afar... Edrick showed his goodwill by not killing a single beast unnecessarily, even those that were aggressive toward him.
He ‘dealt’ with them in another manner, demonstrating his closeness and affection for nature in a very bestial and primal manner that he was certain the Red Guardian could only approve of.
The orcish figure certainly did not choose to intervene at any point, so it definitely did not count as an offence against the realm.
In any case, Anoteros arrived near the Underwood of the village of interest, and used his connection through the crest on Daklaiel to call him out for a meeting. Edrick had been studying hard on the Underwood tongue thanks to the manuscripts the elf had given him last time.
It had served as a very good learning material, and also as a nice occasion for Anoteros to spend some time with Hui.
So, coupled with the Linguistics boon, Edrick was now speaking the local language rather well, enough to hold proper conversations at least.
Daklaiel immediately bowed before his master. The elf was clearly overjoyed to see Edrick again.
“Dortur, your plan has functioned greatly! Many of my fellows are now either favourable to creating a trade relationship with you, or are at least no longer completely opposed to it. The chief is amongst those who don't trust humans at all, but he will be forced to at least hear you out…”
“...Our culture wants important affairs to be held in public. If good arguments are presented, under the scrutiny of the entire village, he will have no choice but to agree to your offers, My Dortur!”
Edrick nodded as he sat on a fallen tree trunk. Daklaiel really put emphasis when he said ‘Dortur’, which meant ‘lord’ or ‘king’ in his language. As the master, he could feel that Daklaiel was not merely happy to see his master, but also hoping for something more…
‘He’s been wanting it ever since he saw me take care of the female disciple…’
“Very well. You did a good job, Daklaiel. I hope that you continue to prove yourself my best man in this realm… And if you do, I might just offer you a reward for your hard work. Go and inform your chief of my presence–Have him prepare to welcome me. I will converse with him before his entire village”
Edrick smiled as he rose from the tree trunk, stepping up the Daklaiel. The elf had remained with one knee and one fist against the ground from the very beginning, his head lowered as though deeming himself unworthy of freely gazing upon his master.
“A… A reward…?”
“Don’t be so nervous. You know what I mean… I know what you desire. Go now, Daklaiel”
“Of course! Your orders are my command, Dortur!”
The Underwood Elf raised his head. Coming face to face with Anoteros’s concealed crotch, he marked a momentary pause, and then rose before taking off running to complete his task.
Edrick gazed upon his ring... It was made from dark steel and was adorned with a small mechanism, within which a most wondrous substance was constantly being produced.
This ring had been fused with two others by now and was quite incredible. Not only did it allow him to know about his belongings thanks to the Loving Husband’s Ring, but it also allowed him to enjoy people and beings he would have otherwise not been attracted to at all, thanks to the Twink Master’s Ring.
Daklaiel would certainly prove to be a good candidate to use it on. As he was an elf with already soft features, a drop of this liquid would certainly polish the smaller details and make him into a fine target to bed.
In general, the Underwood Elves were a great species for this. All of its males had soft and somewhat feminine features by human standards.
Once Edrick was done spreading his influence all over the elven population of Eltysia… He would start having a whole lot of fun.
‘I wonder what sort of boons I could get from them? But first…’
“You aren’t very discreet, you know? If you want me to see, just step out instead of standing awkwardly like this”
“You… Too relaxed… Human”
“Should I be nervous? I am doing my best not to get on the realm’s bad side”
The Red Guardian exhaled loudly out of his nose.
Edrick just sat down and signed for the orcish defender to do the same.
“I suppose… That this makes sense”
“Anyway, do you have a name I can call you?”
“Me… Is nameless… But my kind is called… Blutgar”
“Kind? So there are multiple of you?”
“No. Alone. Unique. Ever since the dawn… I have been the sole… Of me”
The Blutgar looked at the noble scion.
“My God… The Realm… Does not mind… Your presence… But… Careful nonetheless…”
The Red Guardian looked around, scratching the side of his rugged face.
“Also… What… What do you do to the beasts? I don’t get it… What is the meaning?”
“I am a human noble. I am sure you can tell that I have lord blood… That’s how we do things, you know? That’s just how I assert dominance in a mostly peaceful manner… And also, how I bond with others. Want to try bonding with me? You just need to drink from this since you’re a male…”
The guardian narrowed his eyes.
“No. Me does not… Partake in such a manner”
“Trust me, they all say that at first, but once they get a taste… They beg for more”
“Sounds like… Deception to intrude… My body…”
Edrick raised both his hands.
“I am sure there are other ways we can get to grow more familiar with one another. You want to keep an eye on me, don’t you? What better than to be right next to me? I can show you my ways, and you can show me your ways…”
“Mmh…”
“Say, Mister Guardian… What do you think of female Underwood Elves?”
“Fine… But me… Too big… Need carefulness"
“Splendid, I just so happen to be an expert at fitting big things in small holes!”