Return to Jorgaldur Volume I: the battle mage

Halfway

To Eldi's surprise, the next day Svarlfa sat down next to him, although this time she didn't try to seduce him, or overwhelm him with her body. Except once, when she whispered in his ear seductively.

"If someday you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Then, she giggled at the surprised expression of the alleged silver wolf, while the rest of the passengers, including other adventurers and Svarlfa's brother, didn't know what to think. Each day, the relationship between the two had been changing strangely, but they weren't clear about how or to where. At least, it seemed to be friendly, but they were dying to know what had happened.

The six days of journey passed without major shocks, if we consider the attack of some giant bats as normal. They don't pose a danger to travelers or caravans, as they aren't carnivorous, but the smell from the cargo of fruit they had bought along the route had attracted them. In the worst case, it would have been enough to get rid of that fruit, but the adventurers aren't only to protect the safety of the merchants, but also of the cargo.

Eldi had used a bow he had obtained from one of the bandits, as the others he had in the inventory would have stood out too much, and Jalo had praised him.

"You're quite skilled. If you invest in a better bow and practice a little, I could introduce you to the archers sub-guild. Jobs are usually safe and well paid," he had proposed.

"This is my limit," the silver-haired adventurer had recognized, shrugging.

It was more or less the truth, because his affinity with the bow couldn't rise more, as in the game. Lidia had confirmed that it was normal, not exclusive to the game, although there were cases in which it could be overcome with much effort, something that had reminded him of Gjaki. It is also true that, using all his power, and with a bow and arrows of better quality, like those in the inventory, he would improve a lot. Although quite far from Goldmi's level.

"Ah...," had been everything the elf had answered, fearing he had screwed it up.

Many adventurers don't like to talk about it, about their failure in investing time in perfecting the use of a weapon with which they won't be able to go further. Above all, because it is possible to avoid it, testing other weapons and listening to your own intuition to know which ones you have affinity with. It is true that Eldi's case was different, but he couldn't know that. And it is also true that some practice with the bow, despite having no affinity, it is useful in order to have a ranged weapon, in spite of not being able to become an expert.

Eldi's mission only reached halfway, where part of the caravan left. When they said farewell, they all did it with more trust and friendship than at the beginning of the trip, since sharing burdens and work usually unites a lot, as long as no personal problems arise.

Svarlfa hugged him without restraint, and kissed him on the cheek, then saying goodbye with her hand and a beautiful smile. And, as he watched her leave with the caravan, Eldi thought that, if he had no one, he would be worrying about his real appearance being attractive to that wolfish merchant.

He toured the small town that afternoon, but there was little there that he couldn't find in the capital, except from fresh food and some local specialties, which he bought as provisions. And also a concentration of elves and half-elves greater than in the city, since they were in the area near the border with the elven kingdom. He left before it became night, in the direction of the forest and without explaining, since it is normal for an adventurer to enter and leave at any time of the day. After all, there are missions that involve catching nocturnal animals, even in areas near the city.

He walked away in a direction that wasn't his destination, to end up giving a big detour. He wanted to prevent them from knowing where he had gone from there.

Maybe he was a little paranoid, but in the capital they were already on his trail, and an adventurer who hadn't appeared for so many years could raise suspicions. Of course, the Guild wasn't going to provide that information except in an extreme case, and the phobia against visitors wasn't, especially if the suspect had saved people and ended the threat of a bandit group.

But he couldn't be sure, and his daughter had warned him to be careful. While the Engenak kingdom couldn't go after him in a neighboring kingdom, hired assassins in either kingdom could do so.

A cold sweat ran down his back at the thought of her daughter. When she would learn that, despite her warnings, he had been discovered for showing his power, he was sure she would be mad. When they saw each other again, he was sure to be railed at by her, despite which he wanted to see her again, and also his son. And to meet his grandson. But for that, he needed to level up.

He also changed his disguise, this time to a half-elf. Those pointed ears were strange, though less than wolf's. He could only use it for a couple of weeks, but he hoped to avoid any suspicion if someone saw him. No one should be able to relate him with the visitor or with the silver-haired demihuman adventurer.

Although he didn't intend to enter other villages or cities, or have contact with anyone if it wasn't needed. At least, until he would reach the elven kingdom, where he was supposed to be relatively safe. Engenak doesn't have an information network there, as it isn't a neighboring kingdom to which it needs to keep watch.

Given the structure of the Elven society, where the royal family plays a testimonial role and there is no powerful central power, they don't pose a danger to any kingdom. In addition, it is an extremely difficult place to invade, something that would neither bring great benefits, so spies are scarce.

The biggest commercial interest is the forest products and the elven crafting, and trying to enslave them to control the production would be extremely difficult, probably impossible. It is a forested territory of a great extension, where these not only have the advantage of the terrain, but the help of some of its inhabitants. In addition, there would be a danger of reprisals, as it isn't difficult for them to move through the existing forests in other kingdoms.

The only important city is essentially a trading center with other territories, where few elves live permanently. They miss the forests, so they usually only stay for small seasons, rotating between them. Only elves with stable partners from other races live there permanently, as well as immigrants from other places, in love with the kingdom but unable to live in the forests.

And unlike what was said in the game, the elves aren't racist or supremacist. It would be quite contradictory, given its harmony with a nature in which everything can be found.