Aira growled. She wasn't yet sure what was the proper way to greet these people who, in some way, looked like her, but in some other miails, like the variety of hair colors, resembled Li and her kin.

  "Here goes nothing!" she transmitted to Li. "Please don't be scared but what happe!"

  She took a deep breath and decided to attempt vocal unication first. In the end, the fact that Aira's skill allowed her to read this person's stats hihat they were indeed undead. Even if they were marked as 'Enlightened.'

  "Greetings!" she growled, her voice rough and guttural. "We e in peace following the path of our quest. Would we find sanctuary here?"

  Aira g Li, who gave her an encing nod. Despite the uainty of the situation, the bond that had beeablished between them roviding a lot of support in this strange moment.

  The leader of the enlighteilted their head, eyes narrowing in fusion. This person looked female, but not knowing the traditions of these people, Aira preferred to be cautious in passing her judgment.

  A moment ter, she tried again, varyione and pitch, telling more about their journey. But the leader's expression remained unged. Their eyes, filled with the same bright energy as Aira's, did not show any uanding. There may have been a spark of curiosity there. But not more than that.

  Surprisingly, sihe ritual ended, no other enlightened shifted their positions or left. They looked at each other ily, but the eery silence tinued. Some of their as reminded Aira of people involved in a versation. It was as if there was some other yer of unicatioween them. Something inaccessible to Aira.

  Li g her panion, her eyes wide with apprehension. "It is not w, isn't it?"

  Aira shook her head, frustration building up inside her. She sent the moduted signal to Li's portable radio. It wasn't as secure as using the headphones. But those were lost during that i on the river. And it wasn't that kind of tech that was easy to rep this strange world.

  "No, they don't uand me, and I don't even uand if they talk to each other," Aira said. "It seems that they have some way of unication. But you see it as good as I do, they remain silent. Definitely some magic is involved here."

  She attempted to unicate with gestures, pointing to herself and then to the leader. But even if the response was a bit more active, no one volunteered to join the versation.

  "Maybe you try talking to them?" Aira asked.

  "Well, by the Elder's breath, this probably won't stick, but I'll give it a go." Li answered. "I've never heard about successful unication with the undead."

  "Hey there! We're just passing through—peaceful as spring leaves," she addressed the leader.

  The vibrant gazes shifted from Aira to Li. But nothing more happehe rea from the people that gathered in the clearing remaihe same.

  "Yeah, no dice," said Li, stating the obvious.

  Desperatioing in, Aira pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, quickly scribbling a message. She held it up for the leader to see, but the enlightened only g the paper, n to take it in their hands.

  "Any pns to flick the light on those fancy skills of yours?" asked Li. "You sehem—there's gotta be some trick to breaking through."

  "Damn!" said Aira. "I was so focused on the fact that they should be like me in many ways, and I got so used to the fact that you and I talk to each other almost normally. Of course, there is!"

  Aira's mind raced. Two is a Crorecisely what she could have tried right from the start. But was it even safe to irange people with unknown agendas to the party? To let them know Aira's stats?

  But what if…? There seemed to be no other way. And that could give them at least some answers.

  Aira was disced when the skill didn't work for Li. So she put the information about it in the farthest er of her memory. But now, if she could ihe leader to join her party, she might be able to establish a dire of unication. Her Neunion skill hihat the undead… or enlightened, had levels in this world. All that poio the fact that they had to have a e with the System. And then they should be able to answer her prompt to join the party.

  Taking a deep breath, Aira focused on the leader undead, or should she call them enlightened from now on? And then, she activated her Two is a Crowd skill.

  --- Party Interface ---Maximum party invitations: 1Current party size: 1 (including the host)Invite a new party member [Y/N]?

  "Yes, invite Ainorrh to the party," thought Aira.

  ...Ainorrh is io join the party.Awaiting firmation…

  Aira could see the leader's eyes widening slightly at the moment when the e was offered. Aira waited, her heart pounding in her chest.

  [...][...][...]

  firmation received.Ainorrh has joihe party.

  Aira felt a surge of energy as the e was established. She quickly accessed the stats, eager to learn more about their new acquaintance.

  --- Character Status and Skill Overview ---Name: AinorrhRace: EnlightenedCss: Enlightened ShamanLevel: 43

  --- Attributes ---Strength: ???Agility: ???Intelligence: ???Endurance: ???Mana: ???

  --- Skills ---1. Whisper of the Winds (Level 5)Description: Allows the user to deted analyze energy signatures within a certain range. sehe presence of powerful beings and energy sources.Range: [500 m x Level] = 21.5 km

  2. Aerial Enfort (Level 5)Description: The user has a deeper e with the Air element, allowing them to use its power in a more profound and precise way.

  [...]

  7. Windweaver (Level 3)Description: [...]

  8. Howling Dread (Level 1)Description: Projects an aura that instills fear in nearby enemies.Effects: Reduces enemy bat effectiveness by 5%

  "Ainorrh," Aira murmured through the party chat, testing the sounded melodic, rolling off her toh an unfamiliar yet pleasing ce.

  "I hope I pronou right," she said with a smile.

  The person in front of her, Ainorrh, seemed to react to the urning their gaze back to Aira. Aira felt a flicker of hope. She trated, sending a mental message through the newly established party e.

  " you uand me, Ainorrh?" Aira projected, hoping the unication would work.

  There was a brief pause before Aira felt a response, a mental echo that was clear and precise.

  "Yes, I uand you."

  "Your 's beautiful. What does it mean?" Aira asked, genuinely curious. "But, I'm sorry, where are my manners… How should I address you?"

  Ainorrh's eyes softened, a hint of a smile pying at the ers of their lips. "A loose meaning of the name is 'Guardian of the Wind'," Ainorrh said. "Or you may tra as a 'Shaman'. That would be my more official title, used by the other people here. Our names often reflect our roles and the elements we are attuo. But for some of us, they also bear a e to our previous lives."

  Ainestured for Aira to approach.

  "As for the titles and pronouns, it is she and her for me. But it doesn't really matter for us," Ainorrh said. "In more formal setting you should address me as High Shaman. But here, you just call me by my name."

  Airnorrh's gaze became introspective for a moment. Aira and Li reized it as a sign that the shaman was unig with the System.

  "You are Aira, as I see," Ainorrh said after a brief pause. "It's quite peculiar how your information is preseo me. And that ability to share information and unication els... That's something new! How very peculiar!"

  Aira nodded, deep in thought.

  "It's not too unusual for people to have party interfaces where I e from," she said, "But I 't be sure what it represents to you."

  "Where you e from, you mean some other reality?" asked Ainorrh with a knowing smile. "Or what was it?"

  Aira tried to hide her surprise, but her eyes still widened a bit at that ent of the enlightened shaman.

  "Yes, you are right, I e from another world," she said. "How did you find out?"

  "We'll have plenty of time to discuss that," said Ainorrh. "We've been waiting for you. But tell me, in this other world of yours, what's your title, does your name bear any meaning?"

  "I had never held any titles. Only my css," said Aira. "As for the here are cultures that give additional meaning to the names. But not mi's just something my parents liked. But let me introduce you to my partner. Li Willowshade, she's a human."

  "I have guessed as much," said Ainorrh. "A human… that plicates everything. But I'm sure we'll figure that out."

  "I hope so," said Aira to Ainorrh. "We uand that there are some... tensioween your unities. But we hoped that it wouldn't prevent us from finding on ground."

  And then, Aira turo Li and expihe initial iion.

  "Thank you for accepting the invitation to the party," Aira said, returning her gaze to Ainorrh. "I must apologize for the intrusion. By joining, you automatically revealed all your stats to me. Iurn, you see mine."

  Ainorrh hesitated, processing the new information. "I see," she said, her mental voice calm but with an undercurrent of curiosity. "This is... ued. But it's not like we have anything to hide here. We are a peaceful unity."

  "I uand it might be fusing," Aira said. "In my world, it's often sidered impolite to s someone's stats without their knowledge. Even though my other skill allows me to do so, I prefer transparency."

  Aira paused, trying to put her finger on something that surprised her in Ainorrh's words.

  "By the way, you mentiohat pronouns don't mean much for you," she tinued when it came to her. "If you don't mind me asking, is it a personal choice or a societal standard? I don't want to be rude to anyone here."

  "I'm sure we will get to know each other well soon," Ainorrh said, not losing her smile. "You will learn that gender is a struct that doesn't have much meaning for the enlightened people for several reasons. But let me in turn ask you a question. Your world, you say? That's fasating. I sensed your arrival—it caused a spike of elemental energy in this part of the world, like nothing I had ever felt before."

  "You se? That's incredible! And at this distance!" said Aira. "The first few weeks in this world were... a bit uling. But, as you see, I'd got through it and even reached your city. I've been trying to uand the nature of this world sind how it refley own pwoers and abilities. And now you talk about elemental energy and one of your skills' descriptioions it as well. Perhaps you could help me figure some things out?"

  Ainorrh's gaze became introspective once again. Then, it was as if a shade fell on her face. She fixed her expression momentarily and looked around to see if anyone had noticed that moment of loss of trol.

  Something had surprised Ainorrh, maybe even scared her. Was it something in Aira's stats? Or the descriptions of her skills? Did she have a more detailed view or a different version of the System interface?

  Aira infringed on Ainorrh's privacy, that was true. But there seemed to be no other way for them to establish a e. Was it even reasoo open up to Ainorrh and share her personal secrets so flippantly?

  "Your level..." Ainorrh said when even Li noticed the frozen postures of Aira and the enlightened shaman." It's impressive. Quite high."

  "I had spent many years w tirelessly to gain that level," Aira said, shrugging modestly, even if she leased by the reition. "Maybe we could exge tales of our past achievements to uand each other better?"

  "Many years, you say?" Ainorrh ented. "I am 580 years old. And I have yet to walk the half of your path in levels. And so much more in experience."

  She looked around as if surprised that everyone was still standily where they were left when two travelers came to the clearing.

  "But I agree, we definitely learn a lot from each other," Ainorrh said. "Probably nht now, though. I o let all these people go. They have other duties and things to do."

  Li, who had been patiently the silent exge, finally spoke up.

  "What are you doing, whispering through the trees?" she asked. "Are we in the clear, or should we watch the shadows? And... do they really have magic?"

  "They short answer is: yes," transmitted Aira to Li's radio. "But there's a lot to unpack. I'll tell you everything when we have a private moment. It seems to be safe and they will probably help us. But they seem to want something from me iurn. And, yes, they have plenty of magic. This pce is fileld with it and they know how to use the are powers."

  Aira looked around, sensing the ambient power aively cheg the statuses of some other people present in the clearing.

  "This magic... it seems to be a bit different from what I had in my old world," Aira said. "I guess that could probably expin at least some ges in me."

  Theuro Ainorrh once again. "I'm sorry, I have to trah ways," she said. "As you don't seem to uand Li's speed she 't be a part of this unication through magical els."

  "As I said, it's a truly peculiar occurreo have both of you here," said Ainorrh. "And it's no surprise that a human barbarian 't uand us. In the end, we lived o them for turies. We know how they operate."

  "I uand that the other people o go," said Aira. "However, would you be able to spend some more time with us? I don't want to presume and take too much of your time.... But we have so many questions! For example, was it some kind of a ritual you performed here. It reminded me of something… "

  "Of course, of course," said Ainorrh.

  She gestured to the others and probably gave them a mental and. People began to shift from their pces where they stood like live statues just moments ago, dispersing and moving away from the clearing.

  "Don't worry about my time," Ainorrh said. "Now that this is done, I have plenty of it! Let's move to a more fortable pce, shall we? There is a nice orchard nearby; we sit there and nobody will disturb us."

  ***

  Ainorrh was underselling the beauty of the orchard. It was absolutely magnifit. And, as Li mentioned earlier, utterly out of time for this season. The fruits and flowers were vibrant spots against the green background, and their fragrance filled the whole area. The forest of the enlightened seemed to follow its own cycles, with the trees here in full bloom, the petals driftily to the ground like colorful snowfkes.

  A delicate, sweet st enveloped the trio, creating a tranquil but, at the same time, a bit dizzying atmosphere. As they sat, Ainorrh hahem cups filled with a fragrant herbal tea, its warmth a f trast to the cool shade. For Li, Ainorrh's helpers brought some fruits.

  "So, if you don't mind me asking," said Aira when they were seated and ehe tea for a while. " you tell me more about this happening we saw? This... ritual? And why were all these people gathered there?"

  Ainorrh's demeanor shifted to one of authority. "This ritual is a way for us tthen our bonds," she said. "Its purpose is to draw power from the elements, the enviro around us, and from each other. It's how we maintain our unity and protect ourselves from threats. But also, it was a celebration of my achievement."

  "In that case, I'd like to gratute you," said Aira. "What kind of achievement?"

  "I gathered enough skill points to asd to the level in my progression," said Ainorrh, pride obvious in her voice. "I was able to add a new skill to my set. And for that, we have to duct a ritual."

  Ainorrh looked at Aira with apprehension as if pting something. She hesitated but then tinued.

  "I see that you have three skills," Ainorrh said. "I suppose yht them from your old world. As it would be impossible to have a ritual without first meeting any of our kind. Moreover, it is impossible to do that away from the Source!"

  "Well, I never k wasn't possible," said Aira with a smile. "I assign skill points myself."

  Ainorrh's lips parted in astonishment. Still, no sound came from her mouth, as it was habitual for enlightened.

  "But…" she stumbled over the words. "That's truly not possible!"

  While Ainorrh was finding words and grasping the reality of Aira's abilities, the undead expined what was happening to Li.

  "Bones and bark, Aira," said Li. "This flips everything I’ve ever been taught. If you're right—and, well, I see a lot for myself—they're peaceful folks, not the monsters from our darkest stories."

  She paused, looking around once again, taking in all the marvelous trees and fruits in the orchard.

  "By the roots, their bond with nature is wilder than a briar patch…" Li tinued. "We've been told the undead only destroy a on our entrails. This? This feels like being stu sap—I don't know how to unta all."

  Seeing that Ainorrh had regained trol of her emotions, Aira addressed her once again. "It's a pity that my panion 't join the party and this versation," she voiced through that chat. "For some reason, she doesn't have access to the System. I'm transting what I to her. But it's a stunted way to have a three-way discussion."

  "The System…" said Ainorrh, "How iing. We call it the Nexus. But I guess names don't really matter. It's the abilities that are important. And I'm not surprised that your barb… human friend isn't initiated to the Nexus. Her kind isn't allowed to do that."

  "Isn't allowed?" asked Aira. "But by whom? And why?"