“Welcome to our village, human,” said the moose, “I am Koghr, that’s Bilvrast with the stripes, Fizol is the one with the long mouth, and the fat one is Geam. We are the moasrahn elders of Balrth Forest.”

Rugo just shook his head because of the elder’s introduction.

“What a way to introduce yourselves! My name’s Cain!” said Cain enthusiastically.

“Now, just be quick,” said Fizol, the alligator moasrahn, “we want to thank you for saving Hoarts.”

“Please, Fizol, don't be so hasty. He is the first human ever to visit our village after all,” said Bilvrast, the tiger moasrahn, “that being said, we owe you one, Cain, for saving Hoarts.”

“Yeah, yeah, please tell me what kind of rewards do you want?” asked Koghr.

All elder’s eyes were on him.

“Uuuhh…” Cain was baffled.

“Elders, please,” said Rugo.

Koghr laughed heavily. “Well, it’s been hundreds of years since our contacts with humans, I kinda miss the sight of our neighbor,” he said.

“Hmm… indeed, it has been that long, huh?” responded Bilvrast.

A moasrahn giraffe came to them with food, the ceiling was tall enough for his head

“So, tell me, Cain, are you from Trako? How is the outside world right now?” asked Bilvrast.

The giraffe served a lot of plates in front of them, meat, veggies, and fruits, he also poured a red liquid to clay mugs for everyone.

“No, I’m a wandering Hunter, I was on my way to Trako when I saw Hoarts,” said Cain. “Hmm, about outside world? Ah… we thought you were extinct. Well, still, except me probably.”

Bilvrast laughed so hard, he looked so amused

“We are extinct...” said Fizol, he had a blank stare at Cain.

“If only that thinking would make every races in Nazula forget our stupidity in the past, I certainly don't mind if they think we are extinct,” said Koghr.

“Sorry? Your stupidity in the past?” asked Cain.

“Uh-huh, the war that drove us to live in seclusion, stupid war, really really stupid war. We became a laughing stock as our population dropped, even the youngsters were forced to take up arms,” responded Koghr.

Geam, the bear moasrahn, pushed the plate of fruits towards Cain, Cain nodded at Geam while taking some berries for himself and Beil.

“Well, that’s enough for our history. Now, what do you want for the reward, Cain?” Fizol seemed uncomfortable when Koghr talked about their history to Cain.

“He’s been eyeing the weapons on the rack,” said Geam, finally spoke, now Cain was sure Geam was a female.

“Ooh? Those high grade weapons? Fine by me if you want one of those,” Koghr looked at Cain.

“Hmm… if you insist,” said Cain while smiling. “(This is a good chance to know about moasrahn weapons, besides, he said those weapons are high grade! Hopefully it could withstand Gomara’s technique!)” thought he.

“Which one do you like?” asked Bilvrast.

“Can I look at them from up close?”

“Sure, feel free, for the savior of our Kralv, you are our honorable guest,” responded Koghr.

“Thanks!” Cain stood up and walked closer to one of the weapon racks. Beil walked to Fizol and sat beside him. Fizol took a glance at Beil, then he sighed.

“Hmm… by any chance, do you know about Kralv, Cain? You seem don't care about that.” asked Bilvrast.

“Ah, yeah, I know from Rugo,” said Cain as he inspected the weapons.

The elders shifted their gazes towards Rugo, they looked surprised.

“Hoarts gave me an ok,” said Rugo.

“I see, if the Heart of the Forest is ok with him, I have no objection,” said Koghr.

“No objection,” said Bilvrast.

“Neither from me,” said Fizol, he was petting Beil.

Geam just nodded.

“(It seems Kralv word is a secret word from what I understand, I’ll just ask Rugo later for more details,)” thought Cain.

“I think I’ll take this,” said Cain as he took a sheathless one-edged sword from the rack. The sword was half a meter long, the blade surface wasn't flat but wavy with embossed three lines from the hilt to the tip. Scratches on the blade made it looked like it had been through countless battles.

“Varestaz, huh? Good choice,” said Bilvrast.

“This sword’s name is Varestaz?” asked Cain. When he held Varestaz upwards, it felt heavy as if it was ready to split the earth apart from above, but when he held it downwards, it was as light as a feather, ready to tear the sky from below. Then he felt the weight was normal for a steel sword when he held it horizontally. “(Neat!)” thought Cain.

“Yeah, it means Horizon Splitter. Too bad for Argen, he’s also been eyeing that weapon,” said Koghr.

“Oh? Then I’ll pick another weapon if someone is after this sword,” said Cain.

“That’s okay, The one who wanted that probably will let you have it in exchange of

Hoarts’s life,” said Bilvrast.

“Okay… cool,” responded Cain.

Then, a moasrahn entered the house. He resembled Rugo, but he was a bit smaller.

“Greetings, elders, brother,” the moasrahn bowed.

“Ah, Argen,” said Rogeau.

“We’ve just talked about you,” said Geam with voice only herself could hear.

“I was told by the sentries you brought a human to our village, brother,” said the moasrahn called Argen to Rugo.

“Yes, there he is,” responded Rugo. He pointed at Cain that walking to them with Varestaz on his hand.

“That’s! Why is that human holding the Varestaz!?” Argen seemed displeased with a growling expression on his face. He even readied his left hand on the sword on his hip and pulled out sharp claws from his right hand fingers.

“Calm down, Argen,” said Koghr, “that’s a reward for saving Hoarts’s life.”

“A reward!? But! That’s our father’s sword! Brother! How can you agree to this!?” said Argen.

“Chill, brother, for our Kralv’s life? I would give father’s sword anytime,” Rugo replied.

“Keh!!” Argen held out his anger, then he exhaled a breath, he seemed calmer after the second breath, then he retracted his claws and posture.

“I heard what happened to Hoarts, I’m glad you’re okay, Hoarts,” said Argen to Hoarts, then he looked at Cain, “and you, forgive me for my rudeness, I am Argen, Rugo’s little brother.”

“I’m Cain, if this sword belongs to your family, then I’ll choose another weapon,” said Cain, he held out Varestaz to Argen.

“Keep it, human,” said Fizol, “you have acquired that sword with your own deed, giving that back because of sentimentality or pity is taboo for moasrahn.”

“Ah, but-”

“It’s also an insult, Cain,” Geam added.

“Uhh… okay…” Cain retracted his hand and shrugged at Argen.

“Is there anything else you want, Cain?” asked Koghr.

“I don’t think I should asking for more, meeting a declared extinct race is already a whole new kind of a reward for me,” responded Cain.

“Extinct?” mumbled Argen.

Koghr nodded with a little smile. “Now, it’s time to evaluate the incident, please sit again, Cain. You too, Argen.”

Cain nodded and sat, he put down the Horizon Splitter next to him. Argen sat beside Rugo.

The faces of the elders became serious. Fizol was no longer petting Beil.

“We know nothing about how Hoarts left the forest and came close to human town, still, this is a blunder,” Koghr looked at Rugo with a sharp gaze.

“Forgive me, Elder Koghr, I was busy with suddenly-aggressive beasts in the northern Balrth,” Rugo lowered his head.

Cain could feel a pressure from Koghr’s eyes.

“Of all people, you, Kralv’s guardian failed to keep an eye on him,” said Bilvrast, he too gazed with a heavy pressure at Rugo.

Rugo couldn’t reply Bilvrast’s words because he realized it was really his fault.

“Hmmh… if we were in the past, you’d be dead already, Rugo. Be thankful you’re born after the great war,” said Fizol.

“Because the post-war rules, you’ll not be executed for your error. Even after hundreds of years, we are still few in numbers, killing you would be a waste,” said Koghr.

“So, we elders have decided that you shall find another forest to live in, Rugo,” Bilvrast closed his eyes.

The room fell silent for a moment.

“Wha-! Find another forest!? No! I shouldn't leave Balrth! I’m the guardian of Balrth’s Kralv!” Rugo broke the silence.

“And yet you just failed at your so called guardian duty,” sneered Fizol.

“Although we will lost a precious manpower, but you know we have strict rules about blunder, that blunder could cost us the forest,” said Koghr

“(Banishment, huh? I know that very well,)” thought Cain.

“Hrrr!? Then, who’s gonna protect Hoarts!?” responded Rugo.

“We also have agreed to this matter,” said Koghr, he looked at Argen, “your brother, he will be the new guardian of Balrth’s Kralv.”

Rugo looked at the baffled Argen, then he sighed a long breath. “Well, if it’s my brother, I have nothing to worry then,” said Rugo.

“Wait! Wait! My brother is no longer a part of Balrth Moasrahn!?” gasped Argen.

"That’s how it is, Argen. Or would you rather follow the law of old? Execute him?” responded Fizol.

“No! That’s-!”

“That’s okay, Argen,” said Rugo, “besides, you always want to be the guardian, right?” said Rugo.

“...Y-yeah… but-”

“You have what it takes to become the guardian, you are among the strongest of Balrth Moasrahn, be proud of it,” said Rugo.

“Indeed, your brother is qualified to be the guardian from our perspective,” said Koghr to Rugo.

Rugo nodded in response.

“You are allowed to stay until tomorrow, Rugo,” said Koghr, “and so are you, Cain. Forgive us you can’t stay longer than tomorrow. Except the survivors of the war and few more, most of moasrahns here haven't seen anything outside of the forest, surely you understand your appearance alone is rising up the curiosity of our youngsters,” he looked at Cain.

“... No, I don't understand, is that bad being curious about something for your people?” asked Cain.

“It’s a good thing, but they are young and we are still not ready to show ourselves again to the world, I don’t want our youngsters to have stupid idea of going outside without permission, and when they see human, I believe their instinct to dominate is going to rise up,” Koghr replied.

“But I thought moasrahn doesn't care about other races?”

“That’s when we’re prosperous, our food was served with golden plates, our kingdoms were rich with treasury and so on, we gave human little thoughts. But it’s totally different now. If the humans unite and decide to eradicate us, we’ll be done in the first day. Fortunately, we never have bad blood with humans in the past, maybe your kind still remembers the day when we never touch your race even though we could,” said Koghr.

“More likely because they think we are extinct, like Cain said,” Bilvrast laughed.

“Hmm… Why moasrahn in the past did not care about other races even though they were hungry for power by nature?” another question by Cain’s curiosity.

“I do not know the details, but from my knowledge,” Bilvrast rubbed his chin, “there was a pact between moasrahn and other races in the ancient age. I don't really know about it, but the result of that pact forbids us to invade other races, moreover it encourages us to get along with other races, but we just keep busy with ourselves. Then with the post-war new rules, forget about invading, we shouldn't even get close to humans.”

“What about the youngsters, their instinct to dominate is going to rise up when they see human? Didn't you just say the pact forbids moasrahn to invade other races?”

“You can’t expect every moasrahn will always think about the pact can you? Sometimes, curiosity beat ‘em all, isn't human also like that?” Koghr smiled a bit.

“Then, why you decided to live in seclusion? Wouldn't it be better to live along with humans, we might help you to rebuild.”

“Yes, we did not care about other races,” said Koghr, “but that doesn't mean we weren't watching you. Your kind of all other races is a cruel one, you enslaved your own people in the past, probably still by now. What do you think if a weak race comes to your prosperous Kingdoms and asks to help them to rebuild? Your people would enslave my people obviously, and I knew humans also have battle slaves kind of a thing. I bet we will be a glorious entertainment to watch,” Koghr laughed a bit.

“Or use us as their soldiers for their wars, humans also love to wage war, right?” said Fizol.

“In the past yeah probably, but now, only few Kingdoms left have slave system, it’s kinda peaceful time now,” Cain rubbed his chin. “Then, how about your kind in other continent?”

“Same as here, though I heard after the great war, human in the west continent eradicated our kind to take our land, don't know if it’s true as we rarely receive news from across the ocean,” said Koghr.

“I see…” Cain nodded at Koghr.

“I think that’s enough for us to share our history to an outsider,” said Fizol.

“Alright,” Koghr shrugged.

“Give him an empty house to stay the night, Rugo, he is your responsibility, as you are the one who brought him here,” said Bilvrast.

“Yes, Elder Bilvrast.”

“You can go, except Argen, we need to discuss about his upcoming responsibility,” said Koghr.

Argen nodded in response.

“Oh yeah, Cain, you can go walking around the village, don't mind what Koghr said about our youngsters, I don’t want the first human who comes into our village thinks moasrahns aren't hospitable,” said Bilvrast with a little smile.

Koghr just chuckled.

With that, Rugo and Cain left the house. Rugo assigned Cain at a small house in the corner of the village and told him to enjoy the village while he could.