
Aira growled. She wasn't yet sure what was the proper way to greet these people who, in some way, looked like her, but in some other minute details, like the variety of hair colors, resembled Lila and her kin.
"Here goes nothing!" she transmitted to Lila. "Please don't be scared but what happens next!"
She took a deep breath and decided to attempt vocal communication first. In the end, the fact that Aira's skill allowed her to read this person's stats hinted that they were indeed undead. Even if they were marked as 'Enlightened.'
"Greetings!" she growled, her voice rough and guttural. "We come in peace following the path of our quest. Would we find sanctuary here?"
Aira glanced at Lila, who gave her an encouraging nod. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, the bond that had been established between them was providing a lot of support in this strange moment.
The leader of the enlightened tilted their head, eyes narrowing in confusion. This person looked female, but not knowing the traditions of these people, Aira preferred to be cautious in passing her judgment.
A moment later, she tried again, varying her tone and pitch, telling more about their journey. But the leader's expression remained unchanged. Their eyes, filled with the same bright energy as Aira's, did not show any understanding. There may have been a spark of curiosity there. But not more than that.
Surprisingly, since the ritual ended, no other enlightened shifted their positions or left. They looked at each other intently, but the eery silence continued. Some of their actions reminded Aira of people involved in a conversation. It was as if there was some other layer of communication between them. Something inaccessible to Aira.
Lila glanced at her companion, her eyes wide with apprehension. "It is not working, isn't it?"
Aira shook her head, frustration building up inside her. She sent the modulated signal to Lila's portable radio. It wasn't as secure as using the headphones. But those were lost during that incident on the river. And it wasn't that kind of tech that was easy to replace in this strange world.
"No, they don't understand me, and I don't even understand if they talk to each other," Aira said. "It seems that they have some way of communication. But you see it as good as I do, they remain silent. Definitely some magic is involved here."
She attempted to communicate with gestures, pointing to herself and then to the leader. But even if the response was a bit more active, no one volunteered to join the conversation.
"Maybe you can try talking to them?" Aira asked.
"Well, by the Elder's breath, this probably won't stick, but I'll give it a go." Lila answered. "I've never heard about successful communication with the undead."
"Hey there! We're just passing through—peaceful as spring leaves," she addressed the leader.
The vibrant gazes shifted from Aira to Lila. But nothing more happened. The reaction from the people that gathered in the clearing remained the same.
"Yeah, no dice," said Lila, stating the obvious.
Desperation setting in, Aira pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, quickly scribbling a message. She held it up for the leader to see, but the enlightened only glanced at the paper, not trying to take it in their hands.
"Any plans to flick the light on those fancy skills of yours?" asked Lila. "You sensed them—there's gotta be some trick to breaking through."
"Damn!" said Aira. "I was so focused on the fact that they should be like me in many ways, and I got so used to the fact that you and I can talk to each other almost normally. Of course, there is!"
Aira's mind raced. Two is a Crowd was precisely what she could have tried right from the start. But was it even safe to invite strange people with unknown agendas to the party? To let them know Aira's stats?
But what if…? There seemed to be no other way. And that could give them at least some answers.
Aira was discouraged when the skill didn't work for Lila. So she put the information about it in the farthest corner of her memory. But now, if she could invite the leader to join her party, she might be able to establish a direct form of communication. Her Necrocommunion skill hinted that the undead… or enlightened, had levels in this world. All that pointed to the fact that they had to have a connection with the System. And then they should be able to answer her prompt to join the party.
Taking a deep breath, Aira focused on the leader undead, or should she call them enlightened from now on? And then, she activated her Two is a Crowd skill.
--- Party Interface ---
Maximum party invitations: 1
Current party size: 1 (including the host)
Invite a new party member [Y/N]?
"Yes, invite Ainorrh to the party," thought Aira.
...Ainorrh is invited to join the party.
Awaiting confirmation…
Aira could see the leader's eyes widening slightly at the moment when the connection was offered. Aira waited, her heart pounding in her chest.
[...]
[...]
[...]
Confirmation received.
Ainorrh has joined the party.
Aira felt a surge of energy as the connection was established. She quickly accessed the stats, eager to learn more about their new acquaintance.
--- Character Status and Skill Overview ---
Name: Ainorrh
Race: Enlightened
Class: Enlightened Shaman
Level: 43
--- Attributes ---
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Intelligence: ???
Endurance: ???
Mana: ???
--- Skills ---
1. Whisper of the Winds (Level 5)
Description: Allows the user to detect and analyze energy signatures within a certain range. Can sense the presence of powerful beings and energy sources.
Range: [500 m x Level] = 21.5 km
2. Aerial Enforcement (Level 5)
Description: The user has a deeper connection with the Air element, allowing them to use its power in a more profound and precise way.
[...]
7. Windweaver (Level 3)
Description: [...]
8. Howling Dread (Level 1)
Description: Projects an aura that instills fear in nearby enemies.
Effects: Reduces enemy combat effectiveness by 5%
"Ainorrh," Aira murmured through the party chat, testing the name. It sounded melodic, rolling off her tongue with an unfamiliar yet pleasing cadence.
"I hope I pronounce it right," she said with a smile.
The person in front of her, Ainorrh, seemed to react to the name, turning their gaze back to Aira. Aira felt a flicker of hope. She concentrated, sending a mental message through the newly established party connection.
"Can you understand me, Ainorrh?" Aira projected, hoping the communication would work.
There was a brief pause before Aira felt a response, a mental echo that was clear and precise.
"Yes, I understand you."
"Your name, it's beautiful. What does it mean?" Aira asked, genuinely curious. "But, I'm sorry, where are my manners… How should I address you?"
Ainorrh's eyes softened, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of their lips. "A loose meaning of the name is 'Guardian of the Wind'," Ainorrh said. "Or you may transfer it as a 'Shaman'. That would be my more official title, used by the other people here. Our names often reflect our roles and the elements we are attuned to. But for some of us, they also bear a connection to our previous lives."
Ainorrh gestured for Aira to approach.
"As for the titles and pronouns, it is she and her for me. But it doesn't really matter for us," Ainorrh said. "In more formal setting you should address me as High Shaman. But here, you can just call me by my name."
Airnorrh's gaze became introspective for a moment. Aira and Lila recognized it as a sign that the shaman was communicating with the System.
"You are Aira, as I can see," Ainorrh said after a brief pause. "It's quite peculiar how your information is presented to me. And that ability to share information and communication channels... That's something new! How very peculiar!"
Aira nodded, deep in thought.
"It's not too unusual for people to have party interfaces where I come from," she said, "But I can't be sure what it represents to you."
"Where you come from, you mean some other reality?" asked Ainorrh with a knowing smile. "Or what was it?"
Aira tried to hide her surprise, but her eyes still widened a bit at that comment of the enlightened shaman.
"Yes, you are right, I come from another world," she said. "How did you find out?"
"We'll have plenty of time to discuss that," said Ainorrh. "We've been waiting for you. But tell me, in this other world of yours, what's your title, does your name bear any meaning?"
"I had never held any titles. Only my class," said Aira. "As for the name, there are cultures that give additional meaning to the names. But not mine, it's just something my parents liked. But let me introduce you to my partner. Lila Willowshade, she's a human."
"I have guessed as much," said Ainorrh. "A human… that complicates everything. But I'm sure we'll figure that out."
"I hope so," said Aira to Ainorrh. "We understand that there are some... tensions between your communities. But we hoped that it wouldn't prevent us from finding common ground."
And then, Aira turned to Lila and explained the initial interaction.
"Thank you for accepting the invitation to the party," Aira said, returning her gaze to Ainorrh. "I must apologize for the intrusion. By joining, you automatically revealed all your stats to me. In return, you can see mine."
Ainorrh hesitated, processing the new information. "I see," she said, her mental voice calm but with an undercurrent of curiosity. "This is... unexpected. But it's not like we have anything to hide here. We are a peaceful community."
"I understand it might be confusing," Aira said. "In my world, it's often considered impolite to scan someone's stats without their knowledge. Even though my other skill allows me to do so, I prefer transparency."
Aira paused, trying to put her finger on something that surprised her in Ainorrh's words.
"By the way, you mentioned that pronouns don't mean much for you," she continued when it came to her. "If you don't mind me asking, is it a personal choice or a societal standard? I don't want to be rude to anyone here."
"I'm sure we will get to know each other well soon," Ainorrh said, not losing her smile. "You will learn that gender is a construct that doesn't have much meaning for the enlightened people for several reasons. But let me in turn ask you a question. Your world, you say? That's fascinating. I sensed your arrival—it caused a spike of elemental energy in this part of the world, like nothing I had ever felt before."
"You sensed it? That's incredible! And at this distance!" said Aira. "The first few weeks in this world were... a bit unsettling. But, as you can see, I'd got through it and even reached your city. I've been trying to understand the nature of this world since and how it reflects on my own pwoers and abilities. And now you talk about elemental energy and one of your skills' descriptions mentions it as well. Perhaps you could help me figure some things out?"
Ainorrh's gaze became introspective once again. Then, it was as if a shade fell on her face. She fixed her expression momentarily and looked around to see if anyone had noticed that moment of loss of control.
Something had surprised Ainorrh, maybe even scared her. Was it something in Aira's stats? Or the descriptions of her skills? Did she have a more detailed view or a different version of the System interface?
Aira infringed on Ainorrh's privacy, that was true. But there seemed to be no other way for them to establish a connection. Was it even reasonable to open up to Ainorrh and share her personal secrets so flippantly?
"Your level..." Ainorrh said when even Lila noticed the frozen postures of Aira and the enlightened shaman." It's impressive. Quite high."
"I had spent many years working tirelessly to gain that level," Aira said, shrugging modestly, even if she was pleased by the recognition. "Maybe we could exchange tales of our past achievements to understand each other better?"
"Many years, you say?" Ainorrh commented. "I am 580 years old. And I have yet to walk the half of your path in levels. And so much more in experience."
She looked around as if surprised that everyone was still standing exactly where they were left when two travelers came to the clearing.
"But I agree, we definitely can learn a lot from each other," Ainorrh said. "Probably not right now, though. I need to let all these people go. They have other duties and things to do."
Lila, who had been patiently observing the silent exchange, finally spoke up.
"What are you doing, whispering through the trees?" she asked. "Are we in the clear, or should we watch the shadows? And... do they really have magic?"
"They short answer is: yes," transmitted Aira to Lila's radio. "But there's a lot to unpack. I'll tell you everything when we have a private moment. It seems to be safe and they will probably help us. But they seem to want something from me in return. And, yes, they have plenty of magic. This place is fileld with it and they know how to use the arcane powers."
Aira looked around, sensing the ambient power and selectively checking the statuses of some other people present in the clearing.
"This magic... it seems to be a bit different from what I had in my old world," Aira said. "I guess that could probably explain at least some changes in me."
Then she turned to Ainorrh once again. "I'm sorry, I have to translate both ways," she said. "As you don't seem to understand Lila's speech and she can't be a part of this communication through magical channels."
"As I said, it's a truly peculiar occurrence to have both of you here," said Ainorrh. "And it's no surprise that a human barbarian can't understand us. In the end, we lived next to them for centuries. We know how they operate."
"I understand that the other people need to go," said Aira. "However, would you be able to spend some more time with us? I don't want to presume and take too much of your time.... But we have so many questions! For example, was it some kind of a ritual you performed here. It reminded me of something… "
"Of course, of course," said Ainorrh.
She gestured to the others and probably gave them a mental command. People began to shift from their places where they stood like live statues just moments ago, dispersing and moving away from the clearing.
"Don't worry about my time," Ainorrh said. "Now that this is done, I have plenty of it! Let's move to a more comfortable place, shall we? There is a nice orchard nearby; we can sit there and nobody will disturb us."
***
Ainorrh was underselling the beauty of the orchard. It was absolutely magnificent. And, as Lila mentioned earlier, utterly out of time for this season. The fruits and flowers were vibrant spots against the green background, and their fragrance filled the whole area. The forest of the enlightened seemed to follow its own cycles, with the trees here in full bloom, the petals drifting gently to the ground like colorful snowflakes.
A delicate, sweet scent enveloped the trio, creating a tranquil but, at the same time, a bit dizzying atmosphere. As they sat, Ainorrh handed them cups filled with a fragrant herbal tea, its warmth a comforting contrast to the cool shade. For Lila, Ainorrh's helpers brought some fruits.
"So, if you don't mind me asking," said Aira when they were seated and enjoyed the tea for a while. "Can you tell me more about this happening we saw? This... ritual? And why were all these people gathered there?"
Ainorrh's demeanor shifted to one of authority. "This ritual is a way for us to strengthen our bonds," she said. "Its purpose is to draw power from the elements, the environment around us, and from each other. It's how we maintain our community and protect ourselves from threats. But also, it was a celebration of my achievement."
"In that case, I'd like to congratulate you," said Aira. "What kind of achievement?"
"I gathered enough skill points to ascend to the next level in my progression," said Ainorrh, pride obvious in her voice. "I was able to add a new skill to my set. And for that, we have to conduct a ritual."
Ainorrh looked at Aira with apprehension as if contemplating something. She hesitated but then continued.
"I see that you have three skills," Ainorrh said. "I suppose you brought them from your old world. As it would be impossible to have a ritual without first meeting any of our kind. Moreover, it is impossible to do that away from the Source!"
"Well, I never knew it wasn't possible," said Aira with a smile. "I assign skill points myself."
Ainorrh's lips parted in astonishment. Still, no sound came from her mouth, as it was habitual for enlightened.
"But…" she stumbled over the words. "That's truly not possible!"
While Ainorrh was finding words and grasping the reality of Aira's abilities, the undead explained what was happening to Lila.
"Bones and bark, Aira," said Lila. "This flips everything I’ve ever been taught. If you're right—and, well, I can see a lot for myself—they're peaceful folks, not the monsters from our darkest stories."
She paused, looking around once again, taking in all the marvelous trees and fruits in the orchard.
"By the roots, their bond with nature is wilder than a briar patch…" Lila continued. "We've been told the undead only destroy and feast on our entrails. This? This feels like being stuck in sap—I don't know how to untangle it all."
Seeing that Ainorrh had regained control of her emotions, Aira addressed her once again. "It's a pity that my companion can't join the party and this conversation," she voiced through that chat. "For some reason, she doesn't have access to the System. I'm translating what I can to her. But it's a stunted way to have a three-way discussion."
"The System…" said Ainorrh, "How interesting. We call it the Nexus. But I guess names don't really matter. It's the abilities that are important. And I'm not surprised that your barb… human friend isn't initiated to the Nexus. Her kind isn't allowed to do that."
"Isn't allowed?" asked Aira. "But by whom? And why?"