Chapter 44: The Road To The Elf Lands 2

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Road To The Elf Lands 2

The village slowly disappeared behind them. Arin glanced over his shoulder one last time. The familiar buildings became smaller with every step. The people he’d met after transmigrating, the place where he’d nearly died, the dungeon that had changed his life...

All of it was being left behind.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Arin was actually going somewhere. Not because he had been thrown into a dungeon. Not because he was running for his life.

He had chosen to leave. Arin turned forward. The road stretched across the countryside.

"So we’re really walking all the way there?" Ayan, walking beside him, nodded. "Yes."

Arin looked at him. "You can’t fly us?" "I could." Ayan replied. Arin’s expression brightened. "Really?" Arin asked excited.

Ayan shook his head. "Not currently." Arin’s expression dropped. "Why?" He pouted. "My magic hasn’t recovered sufficiently."Ayan sighed and replied. "The battle with Zarl, breaking through the dungeon, carrying everyone back here and the other things we have dealt with have exhausted my reserves. Flying that distance would be unwise."

Saira walked on Arin’s other side. "So we’re walking." She asked. "Yes." Ayan replied.

Mira smiled faintly. "Could be fun." Arin looked at her. "You’re surprisingly positive about this." Mira shrugged. "We’ve been through worse." Arin couldn’t argue with that. Behind them came Adnan.

He carried his belongings over one shoulder, walking casually as though they weren’t about to cross an enormous stretch of unfamiliar territory. Beside him were Zarl and his servant, Garul. Both men wore magical collars around their necks. The collars had been placed there by Ayan. Arin had seen the magic when Ayan activated them.

It wasn’t complicated.

It was terrifying.

If either prisoner attempted to escape, the collar would detonate. Zarl seemed completely unbothered. Garul, however, had been noticeably quieter ever since. Arin glanced backward. "Does that thing really work?" Ayan didn’t even turn around as he replied. "Yes." Zarl smiled. "I would recommend testing it." He said. Garul immediately looked at him. "Please don’t encourage anyone." Zarl laughed. "I was merely stating a fact." Adnan shook his head. "I already regret agreeing to this journey."

Saira looked over her shoulder. "You agreed because you wanted to help."

"I know." Adnan sighed. "I didn’t realize helping would mean spending several days listening to him." Zarl’s smile widened. "You wound me, Hero." "You’ll survive." Adnan grumbled. "I usually do." Zarl replied. Arin couldn’t help but chuckle. The group continued along the road.

For a while, there was nothing but the sound of their footsteps. The afternoon sun slowly moved across the sky. Arin looked ahead. The road was long. Very long. He had spent so much time trapped in one place since arriving in this world that the simple act of walking toward somewhere new felt strange. Back on Earth, he’d known exactly what the world looked like.

Here...

He didn’t even know what was beyond the next city.

Or the next kingdom.

Or the next mountain.

There were entire races he’d never seen. Dungeons he had never entered. Monsters he’d never encountered. Heroes he’d never heard of. And somewhere ahead...

The elves.

Arin tightened his grip on his backpack. He was nervous. There was no point pretending otherwise. But beneath the nervousness was something else.

Excitement.

Since his transmigration, he’d finally gotten the chance to leave his starting point. And this time, he wasn’t running away from something. He was moving toward something.

"The Elf Lands."

Arin quietly muttered the words. Adnan heard him. "You’ve never been outside this region before, have you?" Arin shook his head. "No." Adnan smiled. "Then you’re going to see quite a lot." "What are the Elf Lands actually like?" Arin asked. Adnan thought for a moment. "Different." Arin waited. Adnan continued. "Elves are one of the major races involved in the war against the Demon King. Their military is strong, their magic is highly developed, and their territories are heavily protected."

Mira listened carefully. "Are they friendly toward humans?" She asked.

Adnan laughed. "That’s complicated." "How complicated?" Arin asked. "They’ll cooperate with humans when necessary." He paused.

"But they don’t particularly like us." Saira raised an eyebrow. "Why?" She asked."Elves tend to believe they’re superior to most other races."

Adnan shrugged. "They’re especially dismissive of humans. They consider us physically weak and short-lived." Arin frowned. "That’s not exactly a great first impression." Adnan smiled. "But don’t assume every elf thinks the same way." Arin nodded. "What about their Heroes?" Adnan’s expression became more serious.

"They have them."

"The same kind of Heroes as humans?" Arin asked.

"Similar."

Adnan looked toward the distant horizon.

"Heroes are born among many races. Humans simply have the largest number of them." Arin listened carefully. "So there could be an elven Hero strong enough to..."

He stopped.

He didn’t need to finish.

Adnan understood. "The person who contacted Zarl." "Yeah." Adnan nodded. "That’s what makes this journey dangerous." Ayan, who had been silent for several minutes, finally spoke. "Do not assume the Hero we are searching for is responsible for everything." Arin looked at him. "You think they’re just a messenger?"

"I believe we lack sufficient information." Ayan replied. Ayan’s voice remained calm.

"So the Hero may know very little."

Adnan nodded. "Which is why we need to be careful." Arin looked ahead again. "Then we’ll find out when we get there." Zarl suddenly spoke from behind them. "Assuming they allow you inside." Everyone turned. Zarl smiled. "The elves aren’t particularly fond of strangers." Saira narrowed her eyes. "Nobody asked you." "I thought I’d contribute." Zarl smirked. "You aren’t." Saira growled in reply. Zarl shrugged. Adnan sighed.

"He’s going to do this the entire journey, isn’t he?" Adnan said in a tired tone. "Probably." Arin replied with a smile. "Definitely." Zarl said with a chuckle. Garul quietly looked toward his master. "Please stop talking." Zarl stared at him. "You’re becoming rather bold." Garul immediately looked away. "I enjoy having my head attached to my body."

Arin laughed. Even Ayan’s expression shifted slightly. The journey continued.

By sunset, they reached a crossroads. Adnan pointed toward the larger road. "We take that one." Arin looked at the signpost. "Where does it lead?" "To a city called Velaris." Adnan replied. "How far?" Arin asked. "About a day and a half." Adnan continued. Arin nodded. "We’ll rest there."

Adnan looked toward the sky. "We need supplies before heading toward the Elf Lands. Once we cross into their territory, things become more difficult." Arin looked at the others. Everyone seemed to agree. They continued walking.

Night eventually fell.

The group made camp beside the road. There was no monster attack. Nothing happened. And strangely enough...

Arin enjoyed it.

They sat around the fire. Saira spoke with Mira. Adnan discussed routes with Ayan.

Garul remained as far away from Zarl as possible. Zarl complained about the quality of the food.

"This is terrible."

Saira glared at him. "Then don’t eat it."

"I’m a prisoner. I don’t exactly have a choice." Zarl replied as if pained. "You have a choice." Saira replied with a growl. Zarl raised an eyebrow. "Do I?" Saira smiled like a saint. "No."

Zarl stared at her. Arin burst out laughing.

The night passed peacefully. The next morning, they continued toward Velaris.

By the following afternoon, the city finally appeared on the horizon. Its enormous walls rose above the surrounding plains.

Arin stared. "So that’s Velaris?" Adnan nodded. "We’ll rest here before continuing."

Arin smiled.

Another city.

Another part of the world.

Another step toward the answers they were looking for. The group approached the massive city gates. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance, watching travelers come and go. Merchants pushed carts through the gates while adventurers entered with weapons strapped to their backs. Arin slowed down. There were hundreds of people moving through the streets beyond the gates. "So many people," Arin muttered. Mira smiled. "Welcome to a city." Arin looked at her. "I’ve never actually been to one since I arrived here." Saira glanced at him. "Then try not to get lost."

"I won’t." He replied.

Zarl chuckled from behind them. "That sounds exactly like something someone who will get lost would say." Arin turned around. "Why are you like this?" "I enjoy observing people." Zarl replied. "You enjoy annoying people." Arin said glaring at him.

"That too." Zarl replied. Garul sighed. "We’re almost there." Adnan said. Ayan walked ahead of the group and approached the gates.

One of the guards raised a hand. "Halt."

Ayan stopped. "Traveling party?" He asked.

The guard looked past him. His eyes landed on Zarl and Garul. "And them?" "Prisoners." Ayan said. The guard’s expression immediately became cautious. "Prisoners?"

Ayan nodded. "They will not cause trouble."

Zarl smiled. "I might."

Ayan slowly looked back at him. Zarl’s smile disappeared. "I mean, I won’t." The guard stared at him for several seconds before deciding not to ask questions. "You can enter." Ayan nodded. The group passed through the gates. Arin stepped into Velaris.

His eyes widened.

Buildings stretched along both sides of the streets. Shops filled the roads, merchants shouted about their goods, adventurers walked through the crowds, and the smell of cooked food drifted through the air.

Arin smiled.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he was truly beginning his adventure. He looked ahead. "Velaris." Ayan glanced at him. "Enjoy it." Arin nodded.

None of them knew what awaited them after they left. But for now, they had finally reached the first stop on their journey to the Elf Lands.