9 Chapter 9: Legends and Chaos

At Garen's prompting and at the behest of his thinly veiled threat, Luca turned around and walked back towards the arrival platform, slouching up the sloped path back to where he had come from. Cowed as he was and humbled, Luca walked without the gait of brazen confidence he had adopted before, granted to him as a result of the newfound strength that coursed through his body. Well, not enough power, I'll need more to make sure the past doesn't repeat itself. Even the demi-humans that had previously shown him difference cast him leering looks instead. The few humans that saw him no longer looked towards him in reverence but instead scrambled out of his way as if afraid they would draw the ire of the elves. Guess they realized I'm not the savior they're looking for.

Looking towards the platform, rather than out towards the city where he had encountered Garen, Luca noticed a few things he had glossed over when he first arrived. Distracted as he had been by the magic of Hometown and his initial impression of the ground floor of the inner underworld of the World Dungeon.

The first thing that he noticed was that in his short absence, fewer humans could be seen crowding the reception platform. What had happened to them, Luca could only guess. That's not entirely true, though. If my own experience here is any indicator, nothing good happened to them.

The second thing Luca noticed was the location of the arrival platform itself. The platform was situated towards the southern outskirts of the centralized plaza, which had side streets that lead away into the city, and towards the outskirts of the city. From Luca's current vantage point at the midway point of the slope, Luca could see more of the street he had been turned away from as elves walked about with ease, but of Garen, there was no sight. That's a problem I'll save for another day.

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The plaza was separated from the platform and the side streets that fed into it by the glossed and heavily red cobblestone tile that decorated the plaza grounds. Within the inner square of the plaza, Luca could see a ring of seven large gates in the form of a heptagram. Each gate was a stone half-circle that extended high into the sky. Each of the stone archways could easily accommodate large groups of people and property passing through. Judging by all the elves and humans moving through the gates with carts, that's exactly what the gates are used for.

A thin blue film covered each of the gateways. As Luca looked, gazing directly at the gate nearest to him, he could vaguely see through the film a glimpse into another world beyond the one he was in. What else is this place capable of?

He couldn't help but be amazed as he watched a sauntering barbaric looking man that towered over the rest of the adventurers he saw. The barbarian carried an oversized sword that looked to easily weigh a hundred pounds and casually, without any effort, walked straight through the gate alongside his two robed and less impressive companions. Casting grim glances at each other, they pressed into the portal and disappeared with a soft popping noise. The transportation was not completely instantaneous, though it was quick. Luca saw the trio appear vaguely through the film and begin their adventure. With that, he decided it was time for him as well to get on with things and stop sightseeing.

As he reached the top of the arrival platform, Luca saw that the remaining humans who had not been herded were huddled together in the shadows, shaking with fear. Is that because of me? Luca looked around and saw that up ahead, a small group of heavily armored demi-humans was walking straight towards him. Nevermind, I'm guessing its because of them

Everyone person in the group had their eyes set on Luca. Narrowed and furloughed brows that were hyper-focused directly on him. Completely ignoring the rest of the humans who were there. That's probably not good. The group was comprised of two female elves with long flowing red hair who wore light leather armor colored in a military fashion, with undershirts of blue like the color of the forest in the heart of the first spring rain.

Alongside the pair of elves marched a paunchy looking dwarf with a burly beard that seemed to cover a childlike face. While his physique was not as impressive as the two females, his armor more than made up for it. He wore spiked ebony plate mail that covered his entire body except for his head and carried with him a glowing two-handed Warhammer. Each step the dwarf took seemed to send out short bursts of seismic shakes that traveled a few feet.

Next to the dwarf was a bookish looking man who wore a tweed suit in stark contrast to his companions. The book he carried in his hands revealing his profession. An obvious accountant. What is a guy like that even doing here?

The last companion surprised Luca the most. Keeping up a clear rearguard that was suggestive that he was the most powerful among the group. Luca saw an older looking man with an ivy-league type hairstyle that was more salt than pepper. The man's body seemed to emanate with power as red lines of crimson energy flashed from within his veins. But most notable where the twin horns curving downwards from around the man's temples. He's a demon then? Or something like that. That makes him the first I've seen.

Before the group reached the platform, Luca heard the sounds of quick footsteps and panicked people running away in fear. Their desperate cries of misery only interrupted by their equally despairing pleas for mercy. But surprising Luca the most was that these people all ran towards the incoming group as if fleeing from something else. With a quick glance behind him, Luca saw the cause of the disturbance, expecting to see some manner of enemy or monster.

It was Garen, and seeing Luca's gaze fall upon him, he smiled and spot up. Luca was surprised that something about Garen's voice raised his sense of tension and flooded his body with awareness as if his body knew on some instinctive level that the elf was an enemy. "Hold still, Luca. I'm not here for you, at least not in a sense you might be thinking. Those five are the actual welcoming committee. The one with the books will look after the new arrivals and make sure they are comfortable enough. I wouldn't ask questions about it until your ready. still made him jump in exaggerated reflex. "That would be the welcoming committee. The one with the books will look after these people," As he explained, the elf's voice twisted with derision as he pronounced the word "people." What's this guy's deal anyway?"

"So what? Do they work for you? Why are you following me, anyway? I did as you asked?" Commented Luca in confusion, unsure of what was happening, uncertain of why Garen had followed him.

"No, they don't. They answer to a different master. We all have our bosses. I'm not theirs." Replied Garen his voice heavy with anger and hostility, speaking low to not be overheard. "I've got a special place in my heart full of hate towards them. Those two you see over there aren't really elves. No matter how much they want to be. They were originally human and chose to masquerade as members of my people, and the World Dungeon accepted it. Same with the dwarf and the demon-kin. Pretenders all of them, and one day I'll make sure they suffer for it."

"So, like me? I was human, I think I still am, just you know, with an upgrade" Asked Luca thinking of the wings he had grown that covered his back. Wings that even now fluttered in response to the breeze against his skin. I wonder if I'll be able to fly with these?

The elf leader shook his head in disagreement, responding with a real laugh, "Not even close, kid. You're the real deal. Whatever you are, whatever you've become, its anything but human. It's not a costume, not some cosmetic selection to wear. Call it intuition, but it's in my interest to help you out."

Garen gave Luca a quick glance over as if mulling over whether to interfere or not. "Listen to me like your life depends on it. Whatever happened to you before. Don't talk about it. No one here is your friend, and everyone is going to want that power you have once it blooms.. If anyone asks where you got those wings, just tell them it was part of a costume you were wearing when you came into the World Dungeon. No more and no less. Leave it like that, and don't pad in any details. Anyways, I'm out kid, I said my peace, good luck to you."

"Why should I trust you?" Asked Luca, thinking of the way the elf had attacked him when they first met and then threatened him after. "Were not exactly friends. I don't know you."

Garen sighed, irritated, "You don't know them either kid, but use your brain and use your eyes. Don't trust a single human here in Hometown that looks like their not having a rough time. Think of this, what's in it for me? What's in it for them? I'm maxed level. I can't gain anything from you."

With that warning, Garen walked away, leaving Luca even more confused than he had been before. It was an odd sensation receiving friendly advice from the elf, considering the undercurrents of hostility he had felt radiating off of him earlier. Man, why do things need to be complicated? What would you do, dad? I've got enemies all around me and not a single friend to be had.

With that thought lingering in his mind, the group approached. Their hands raised up by their sides in a sign of peace. Intentionally showing, they had no weapons drawn and had towards him no hostility. I guess I'll need to play this one by ear.

From the back of the group, the demonic-looking man spoke up, yelling as he called out to Luca. Cupping his hands together to make sure his voice carried. "We're here to talk, so nothing crazy ok?"

"Hey stranger, I see you're new here. I'm Dominic, I'm what you might call a devil-man," Dominic explained as he reached out with his taloned hands to shake Luca's hand as he closed the space between them. Luca tried to ignore the feeling of revulsion he felt holding the cold and lifeless hand in his own. It must be a racial thing. Since this guy isn't human anymore either. "I'm the leader of the Guild Chaos and welcome to Home Town. I hope we can work together in conquering this dungeon."

Following Dominic, the two elves introduced themselves next. Each waving and smiling at Luca, seeming to want to make sure he felt relaxed in their presence. "I'm Layla, and this is my sister Keira. We're known as the Gemini Twins. We run the Legends Guild with our cousin, the fat dwarf over there. His name is Kevin. Kevin, don't be rude. Say hello."

The grumpy and surly-looking dwarf gave Luca a head nod and mumbled a quick "Hi. Welcome." Luca internally smiled, relaxing and congratulated himself inwardly for guessing correctly the dwarf was young. Maybe even his own age, something about that made him feel a lot better and more comfortable in general with the group.

The elf Keira spoke up. "Were doing the daily round-up of new arrivals, and you've managed to make a bit of a stir around here. We'd like to talk to you personally about joining one of our guilds. We share a common area and are basically one guild family with two branches. We'd like you to head back with us to talk where it's safer down in the Human Quarter. We couldn't help but see Garen had been bothering you. We can help with him too. He's one of our big problems too and part of the reason we travel in groups. He can't take on all of us, and with our protection, he'll leave you alone too."

The thought of avoiding the aggressive elf or at least having protection from him was enticing, but Luca was hesitant. He had listened to enough stranger danger talks that his parents had given him when they were still alive to know better than accept gifts from a stranger. Still, by the way, they held themselves and the interest they showed in him, Luca guessed he didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

Luca's gut was screaming at him that this meeting to talk wasn't optional. He decided to not fight it and just go along with the four of them. A hungry rumble sounded from his stomach, and the two elves looked at each other in embarrassment while the remaining members of the group laughed. It was Kevin who spoke up, "When we get back, we have food, you know? Going hungry around here sucks, you know?"

Honestly, a meal is enticement enough. "Sure. Let's go." Luca responded in resignation, slumping his shoulders as his wings snapped, folding up against the flat of his back and causing the elfs twins to jump. "Oh, that's how I do that. Sorry, new to this."