Master Of None

The field of flames and grasses stretched out and fewer trees could be seen the further that they moved, Walker caught sight of something unnatural. It was not the normal buildings or huts that he had seen in the world before coming to the elemental planes.

What he saw were bright red and orange lined homes. Built with a sharper edged construction, the homes that he could make out were clean cut and made from fire mana related materials. They made a clear difference from what it looked like to the surrounding bursts of fire or the grasses.

What Walker noticed though, were that the more yellow grasses seemed to be planted to grow around these homes. They were set up so that they could be harvested easily while also keeping the fields of more orange and red grasses separated to keep growing naturally.

Even the figures that Walker began to see were moving around cutting the tallest of the yellow grasses. He could also see that they were piling them to be stored and bundled so that this must be some form of food source that was easily used through their needed times. It was hard to understand if seasons actually happened with the elemental planes.

While they might not happen to the same degree, the flow of fire mana was definitely not constant. There were changes and the purer and denser fire manas would move through an area. Everyone on the expedition had seen and noticed this.

The sudden growling that halted everyone came from the grasses ahead. It was stopping them from moving forward.

’Twin flame hound

These are the hounds often bred as the protectors of the coal people defenders. They have the unique ability twin mind, which allows them to bond with a coal person’s mind and share what they see, hear, and feel. This is the ideal defender for them and for their race to protect their fields, homes, and families.

While it comes at the cost of being unable to grow unless the twin flame hound also grows equally, it allows for a better defense.

Their unique abilities to hide in the fire mana allow them to be perfect body guards while stalking predators attempting to harm the farm fields. They are also highly resistant to other forms of fire mana while being able to move very silently and with speed. Their fangs also carry denser fire mana causing an interruption to any fire mana that it comes in to contact with.

They may also…’

”We are here to visit the city past here. I know that you are protecting your fields and families, so we will gladly trade with you the same as any other merchant as we pass by. Please allow us to travel with our guides, these flame swallowing turtles.” Walker spoke and pointed out.

He hadn’t said anything to the others about these orange hounds and the appraisal that he had gotten. but since he did not react with defensive intent they also relaxed to show that they were not here to fight or attack. That did not mean they all just kept themselves ready, they could react in a moment if need be.

As the coal people ahead looked up, the twin flame hounds began to move away and move alongside the flame swallowing turtles. It was clear they were welcoming them to walk ahead without any aggression. It was also clear that the coal people were moving away their harvest to make room for Walker’s group to halt for a moment as well.

While it was only a few minute before the entire expedition party stood in formation nearby the first home they had come across, walker was able to better make out that it was made from what would be easily called wood, however, It still held only fire elemental manas which meant it had all been grown and crafted here.

He wondered if there was a unique class for crafting all the fire purity materials that grew and were formed within the fire elemental planes. Each one that he learned about would be another one that he could add to his knowledge base. Beyond that he would also be able to figure out what other potential classes there might be within and outside the world.

”You are not of this plane, or from caravan we know of.” The voice was gravely. It was similar to the sparking coals in a dying fire, or maybe one that was just being lit.

’No, we are from very far away and traveling here to meet the leaders of your race. We wish to share knowledge and build connections. We hope that as the ages pass, when our home and your home are closer and we all travel more often, we can be peaceful and united. That brought us this way and the true fire sage was kind enough to ask others to guide us. I am sorry if we are interrupting important work for you today.”

The bright attitude that Walker showed did not stop anything, but instead caused the other coal people who were near the home to move forward. They could feel his pure intentions and chose to trust their instincts.

”We have some food to trade, what would you have?”

”We managed to harvest some flame crawling coal a ways back and we could share some with you? We heard that it is valuable to your race and your health. If a small piece is enough to forge a connection and get some seeds so we can learn about what you grow, that would be more than enough.”

Since it was knowledge that Walker was after, he stayed true to it, he also gestured to Remey. ”I study herbs and alchemy. If I can see seeds and hear from you about their properties I would be very thankful.” Walker was very glad Remey was copying him and acting very polite.

These might be farmers, some people that might be thought of as less in kingdoms or generally by others with more flashy classes, but they had extreme value. Their support could be the key needed to understand the every day lives of the coal people race.

It was shocking how closely they resembled humans just with their black and orange embering coal forms. However, it was not unsurprising to think that they might have just developed differently due to the environment here being purely of fire mana. It was also true that they did possess life mana and other more intricate manas as well since the elemental planes were not purely one mana when non elemental manas came to terms.

”We would be able to take some as long as it is not corrupted. And my children can show you the seeds. They have been in charge of cleaning them and preparing them for the shipments to the city. You won’t find much trouble on your walk there. The city is well protected and so is our lands.”

There was pride. A pride that any person would have for their homes and those who worked hard to protect it. These farmers were on the outskirts of their lands and still felt safe. It was all too telling for Walker.

”I am glad to hear that you and your lands are safe, we can relax a little more. I was very surprised to meet the twin flame hounds, I would never have imagined such a unique bind between a monster and your people like them. Back home we have tamers who spend their lives with partners too, but you go beyond that.”

The more that Walker spoke, the more he realized how lucky he was. These farmers were kind and had easily accepted travelers. They were good judges of characters for how they acted and offered to sit and speak. The wife of the coal person they first met had even gone so far to call over a few others to trade as well.

Receiving some small pieces if the flame crawling coal was enough for them to share a lot. They were certainly in need of it for their health, and being able to trade was not something that was unfamiliar to them. It was even somewhat common the more that the party examined it.

If the merchants came and traded with them when they left and when they came, the outer farmers must have always had keen eyes to make sure that they bought what they could when they could.

For these people in this land, it was part of their culture they could not avoid. To Walker, it was an important aspect of survival that he was thankful for. One that was giving him an opportunity to learn about the city he was venturing to well before he could even see it. The territory was clearly larger than what he had realized.

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Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!