As Logan looked at the Hybrid standing before him, he couldn't help but pause. The man had the distinct, sharp features of an elf; his ears pointed and elegant, and his face strikingly handsome. But there was something else that immediately stood out: his nose, broad and flat, like an Beastman, and his neck was adorned with a patch of rough, yellow mane, certainly not an elf trait.
"Wait a minute... is he some kind of hybrid?" Logan thought to himself. It seemed impossible, but then again, in this world, anything was possible.
"Hello," the Hybrid said with a slight bow, his voice smooth and surprisingly refined. "I am Hoyle Fred, and this is my daughter, Rey."
Logan smiled and extended his hand. "I am Logan, chief of the Silver Mane Tribe."
At this, Hoyle's eyes widened slightly. The young Beastmen in front of him, standing confidently despite his youth, was the chief? He hadn't expected someone so... *young* to be in charge of a tribe this large.
The realization only lasted a moment before Hoyle composed himself, bowing with respect. "Hello, Chief Logan. It is an honor to meet you."
"Thank you," Logan replied, his smile warm but keen. "It's good to meet you as well, Mr. Hoyle."
Logan then turned to Rey, who was towering just behind her father. The sight of her, a female elephant-man almost ten meters tall, was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Her immense size filled the space around them, making everyone else seem small in comparison.
"Rey, come meet the chief," Hoyle called, motioning toward her.
Rey, who had been curiously eyeing Logan, leaned down to look at him. Her enormous eyes, the size of dinner plates, focused on him with innocent curiosity. She greeted him with a voice that surprised him, despite her size, her tone was high-pitched, almost childlike.
"Hello, Chief!" she said enthusiastically, her voice soft as a child's but her words deep and powerful.
Logan chuckled softly. "Well, hello there! You're... very tall, aren't you?"
Rey beamed, clearly pleased. "I can grow even taller!" she declared, her excitement almost shaking the ground beneath her massive feet.
Logan laughed, impressed by her enthusiasm. The sight of a ten-meter-tall elephant hybrid was truly something to behold, and hearing her speak with such joy made him smile.
Hoyle, the Hybrid, let out a small sigh of relief when he saw Logan' friendly reaction. It was clear that the young chief wasn't the stiff, unapproachable type. He was grateful for that, having a ruler who was easy to talk to made everything smoother.
After the introductions, Logan led Hoyle and Rey toward the Parliament Hall. Along the way, the sheer size of Rey drew attention from the tribe's members. Everywhere they went, beastmen of all ages stared, mouths agape, watching the towering elephant-woman with awe. Children, in particular, were fascinated by her size and followed her like a group of excited fans. By the time they reached the Parliament Hall, they were trailed by at least two or three thousand children, all staring up at Rey with wide-eyed wonder.
As they approached the hall, Logan stopped, eyes widening in disbelief. The entrance to the hall was only six meters high; just half the height of Rey. The massive elephant-woman would never fit inside.
Begon, who had been following behind, chuckled at the sight. "Well, it seems we'll need a new entrance for her," he said with a grin. "Or maybe we just knock down the walls."
Logan nodded in agreement. "Of course. The Mercenary Code has protected the rights of mercenaries and their employers for hundreds of years. We will always honor it. But outside of that, the tribe's decisions are final."
Hoyle grunted softly, as if confirming something in his mind. "That's fair," he said. "I'll abide by your rules."
The conversation shifted briefly as Logan glanced over at his second uncle, Begon, who was listening intently from across the room. Begon had known Hoyle for some time now and had heard much of his past.
Logan, however, had only learned bits and pieces. He knew Hoyle's hybrid nature; born of a wood elf father and a leopard Beastmen mother, Hoyle had never truly found a place where he belonged. His presence was unique, both in terms of his heritage and his skills. The Hybrid was a rare combination of both elven grace and Beastal strength, but it was the hardships he'd faced growing up that had shaped him into the man he was today.
Hoyle had never been fully accepted by either of his parent's people. The elves, in particular, had shunned him, seeing him as a disgrace to their pure lineage. That rejection had driven him to leave the Elf Kingdom as soon as he came of age, seeking a new life away from their judgmental eyes.
But he found his own kind in the beastmen; people who, despite their rough edges, had accepted him without prejudice. In fact, he considered himself an Beastmen first and foremost, despite his mixed blood.
However, his daughter Rey was his greatest concern. Thirteen years ago, when Rey was born, Hoyle had been on a mercenary mission and had stumbled upon a dying elephant woman, pregnant and abandoned by a group of slave hunters. He had tried his best to save her, but despite his efforts, the elephant woman died just two months after giving birth. Rey, however, had survived and Hoyle, ever the protector, had sworn to raise her away from prying eyes.
For the past thirteen years, he'd kept Rey hidden away in a secluded canyon, fearing for her safety. The elephant people were too rare and too easily targeted by slavers and enemies. But Rey was growing up, and soon she would need more than just her father's protection. She needed a place where she could belong.
When Hoyle saw the Silver Mane Tribe's recruitment notice, he knew it was time to take the gamble. He had deliberated for a long time, worried about exposing Rey to the world. But something about Logan and the tribe's goals made him feel that they were the right people to trust.
Logan, for his part, was unaware of Hoyle's deeper motivations. To him, the arrival of Hoyle and Rey was an opportunity to strengthen the tribe. He didn't yet know that the Hybrid's purpose was to find a home for his daughter, but he could sense the depth of Hoyle's loyalty, and he trusted the man's judgment.
During their conversation, Logan shared his vision for the tribal academy, explaining how the tribe needed mages, warriors, and skilled teachers to shape the next generation. He looked at Hoyle, hoping that the wood magician might be interested in becoming a teacher in the new academy.
"I was thinking," Logan began, his voice hopeful, "that you could serve as a mage instructor and create a specialized course for wood magic. With your knowledge and experience, you would be the perfect fit."
Hoyle didn't hesitate for a moment. He could see the potential in this idea, and it aligned with his own values. The opportunity to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation felt right.
"Of course," Hoyle said. "I've taught before, and I'm always willing to pass on what I know. Wood magic is a powerful force, teaching the next generation would be an honor."
Logan smiled, pleased. But even more so, he was impressed by Hoyle's willingness to join them without any signs of hesitation. There was something about this man, despite his unusual background, that seemed to resonate with the Silver Mane Tribe's mission.
After a few more words about the academy's structure and the tribe's plans for growth, Logan stood up and extended his hand toward Hoyle.
"Happy cooperation," he said, a wide smile on his face.
Hoyle looked at him, his sharp gaze softening. "Indeed," he agreed, standing as well. "I think this will be the start of something good for both of us."
The two men shook hands firmly, a bond forming between them as they stood together in the dimly lit hall. Though their backgrounds couldn't have been more different; one a young Beastmen chieftain with big dreams, the other a grizzled, battle-worn mercenary, their goals aligned in a way that felt destined. Together, they would build something strong, something lasting, something that would ensure the survival and prosperity of the Silver Mane Tribe for generations to come.