Master Of None

’Sky orc

This is a race that most people do not have a lot of respect for due to their long history of growth required to get to where they are now. Simply because the orc race was a monster that was known for being brutal and committing various crimes against the women of other races. Once they gained proper intelligence, they began to stop these habits.

It took them a considerable amount of time to reach this level of intelligence to be recognized as a race. Now very few orcs with intelligence remain. The sky orc being the only species that managed to do so. They lived within the wind elemental plane allowing them to follow the natural wind currents and use that as a basis for calm.

Allowing them to have a method for calm was why they were able to shed the innate anger and madness that normally overtakes their species. They shed that violent urge and became magic wielding fighters. But they are weak when facing other more powerful wind affinity monsters. Their wind affinity can still develop significantly.

They are completely unlike the orcs within the world because they were forced to grow intelligence to survive…’

The history of the orcs within the elemental planes could seem to go on forever. Yet, Walker was more impressed that this was another monster race. A race that had broken free from being a monster whether it had taken a long time or not. It was somewhat fair that they were judged on their past actions though.

The orcs in the world were powerful monsters. But also ugly. They had no control of themselves when it came to their territories, their food, or travelers passing by. It was a guarantee that they would become violent with each other. But the fact that they kidnapped women was not very common. The elemental planes seemed to have seen that though.

It was something other monsters did when they had a lack of them in their species and could breed with them, but that was very rare. It was understandable that these orcs may have only gained the smallest of small amounts of intelligence at first and committed these crimes.

From there, they grew over time to learn the errors of their way and would be judged on those crimes since they looked similar as a race now.

The orcs in the world would be similar to goblins in a way in appearance too. Some would be green skinned or red skinned. They would also wear sparse clothing. Not that the goblins had kept that as they were welcomed as a race. They quickly adapted full clothing from various races as their own. It might be the case for the orcs too if they were able to learn and grow as these orcs did.

”It’s an intelligent race called the sky orc. They evolved differently here and have intelligence and smaller bodies.”

”I thought this would be how it goes.” Gil shook his head. There was something about the situation that had just made him expect this. It wasn’t a bad thing, he had been preparing.

Another wind arrow was notched in his now. As he let it fly, the wind man was attracted to it until it briar again. This time though, Gil let less wind mana in to the arrow before he fired it. As a result, the arrow made it further.

That intense wind mana attracted the attention of the cloud koi, they were after stronger wind mana, that was it. They could sense what they believed to be a wind spirit. Large amount of wind man all condensed together. Wouldn’t that be their perfect food?

Gil sent three more arrows toward them, each going further in the opposite direction that the party was moving. As such, the cloud koi abandoned the weaker wind mana of the sky orc.

It allowed the group to see the thinner white body covered in an odd cloudlike leather armor. Something made with it the wind elemental plane which the party had not seen yet. It was an interesting type of material that they could search for later.

The sky orc looked at them, surprise in its grey eyes. Its features were much more human like than any other orc. They lost the vicious permanent angry wrinkles and only had slightly overgrown teeth for breaking in to tougher meats.

Paying more attention, they realized it was not just one sky orc. It was actually an adult sky orc protecting a smaller sky orc child. They were all very glad to have intervened now.

The adult sky orc clearly wasn’t sure what to do or say. This wasn’t a normal situation after all. ”I’m not sure we can help you get back to your home, but my friend will keep those cloud koi at bay. They are chasing the wind arrows without realizing they aren’t food.”

The sky orc looked at Walker carefully it wasn’t normal for this sort of thing to happen. He had been prepared to be eaten while protecting the child with him. Not at all expecting a savior of any kind. It was natural to be hunted by the powerful here.

”We were traveling villages. They showed up. Thank you.” This made even more sense. The wind elemental plane was always moving. Therefore, the villages or homes of the races here must also move. Meaning that traveling between them was a challenge.

”We are glad to help. We are on a hunt. You didn’t pass any odd beings. Undead?” Walker saw that the two relaxed slightly. But he could also see that they were turning their bodies slightly.

As he watched, the wind mana currents slightly shifted and the two sky orcs did too. They must have an innate sense for where their village was based on wind mana currents. Something that any being within this plane would have to develop to survive.

”We saw the winds shift oddly. The powerful angelic wind spirits went to defend the plane and force an enemy out. They moved toward the water plane.”

That was more than what the party expected. It appeared that the two were getting restless though. The longer that they stayed here waiting the higher the risk that there would be another monster attempting to eat them.

”We won’t stop you any longer. We wish you a safe journey home.” Since Su could tell they were unsettled, she pushed everyone ahead a little with a few quick looks.

Walker caught on immediately and also gave them a farewell. But he also used a quick healing spell on them which made them feel lighter than before. The pair might not have been truly Injured, but they still felt very appreciative of the gesture. It showed that the unknown beings they had met were truly kind.

As the sky orcs left. The party had the chance to think about the other potential races here. Many other monsters might have proper races and have grown within the elemental planes.

However, their focus was the challenge that would be the water elemental planes.

They had been lucky enough to be able to breathe everywhere that they went. But needing to use mana so that they could breathe through the entirety of the water elemental plane could be rough. Not to mention if they had to do so while also being involved in a battle.

The only saving grace so far was that they had not needed to cross through the direct centers of any elemental plane yet. It was thanks to the odd ways that the planes were always shifting. If they were not, they would have had to travel much further than they already had.

”Since we are hitting the boundary between wind and water, does that mean mist or fog?” This could mean monsters that used illusions as well. There was also the risk that they could be somewhat close to the light elemental plane.

Walker could sense that Onyx was acting more energetic. Not because he was sensing the closeness, but because his body was naturally absorbing more small bits of purer light mana. Hence why the theory that it was closer came to be.

”I expect we will have some loaners that use illusions. I wonder if there’s a race that lives there too. It’s such a unique environment.” Walker’s theories became mumbled words that the rest of them listened to. Naturally, Midnight grew more energetic hearing them. She was very excited to see more.

It was hard for all of them to remain focused on their tasks. But the elemental planes were literally worlds of wonder within their own right. Too many potential aspects of unexplored and unknown beings could be discovered. No normal person would be able to remain focused whatsoever.

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