Exploring through High Sword was straightforward, although he soon found out there wasn’t much to see. Their mounts were of two types, some elthean like a bear and others were birds with yellow and orange feathers, both similar in size to a pony, although none answered when he tried to communicate with them.

The Little Warriors, composed of a dozen alasdair, were occupied mainly by repairing damaged walls in the outer courtyard. In contrast, others watched over the wall, a place they didn’t let him climb, all for his protection.

But what could he do? He didn’t know where he was, except near the sea, much less the way to the Great Galya Tree. Would it be as impressive as its name indicated, or would it be worse than High Sword?

Despite that, they left him time to move at his own pace. There was always someone close by, especially Aer or Rune, who seemed to watch him more not so far away from him. Not that it would fall through one of the holes, wouldn’t it? They were prepared, not only by their weapons or by the doors they kept, but by the wooden barricades near the camp. Would it really be helpful if the elthean who attacked the castle came back?

“Mmm… Finnian, right?” He heard Aer behind him. “You’re okay, right?”

“All this is still rare, but I think I will survive,” Finnian nodded and then felt his belly roar.

“And hungry, too,” Aer said, widening his smile even further.

“Always thinking with the stomach”, Rune snorted, rolling his gaze.

“For once, it wasn’t me!” Aer complained.

The presence of that couple was supportive. At least they spoke to him more naturally than the others, or rather Aer. Rune was defensive and still didn’t understand why. However, the issue of being a Signer, his “saviour,” seemed to reassure those present. He didn’t even know who should fight alongside his partner, although it wasn’t the only doubt he had in his head.

“I have a question”.

“Only one?” Rune said. The bird-girl intimidated so much that he feared he would peck him from talking too much.

“To begin with,” Finnian replied, wrinkling his nose. Was she always going to act like this when he opened his mouth? “Are all the elthean like you?

“Nope! Each is different. Many do not know how to speak, as you have just seen,” Aer explained, pointing his head to the mounts. “There are some that may look like you, although higher.”

“And stronger,” Rune added.

Even when she hinted they were more valuable than him, Finnian would instead bite his tongue than anger those protecting him. His mother used to be relatively more relaxed than her father, especially when it came to any sport: He couldn’t like it less, but his father’s eagerness was to learn. What if he couldn’t make magic like they were expecting to?

At least Aer was more than willing to answer him, even though he didn’t know all the answers.

“What are you thinking about? Don’t be shy.” Aer said, giving him a slight tug in his arm as they returned to the makeshift camp.

“And because you love to talk. Also, waiting your turn to ask more about the human world,” Rune made fun of him, getting Aer to get his tongue out.

“How… How do they do that?” Finnian asked, pointing to the greyish-blue tents. Seeing one of the biggest (in contrast to other little Warriors) crouching out of one of those was comparable to a car full of clowns.

“Magic, what do you think?” Rune said.

“They’re extendable tents. Come in so you’ll see it better!” encouraged Aer, pulling him.

From the outside, it looked like that, small tents domes where only a few could rest. Once inside, he found that he had plenty of room not to shrink, although he could not jump. They had a core area with a vast elongated table where some elthean ate, or so they did until they saw him enter. There were sleeping bags and more things than his sight did not get to see on the sides.

“It looks like a house that could be kept in your pocket,” Finnian said.

“It fools the eyes, right?” Aer said.

“And they have camouflage capability,” Rune added.

“So we can sleep well; it’s a relief!” Aer said, just when both elthean hit their fists.

“You two… Are you related?”

“Friends. We have been raised together at the Galya tree,” Rune said.

“This is where we go. How is it? “Finnian said. “Better than this castle?”

“Impressive!”

Aer’s enthusiasm was so great when he talked about his home that he even got a smile on him. He didn’t tell him many details as he preferred it to be a surprise but assured him he wouldn’t be disappointed. As a hint, he said he could meet other elthean who lived there and who were quite different from those he had seen for the moment.

“Shouldn’t we go somewhere else? Remove the danger from the Galya.”

“We need the help of Ailfryd, the Guardian. If Theri is right, he will know what to do,” Rune assured her.

“Or clarify who is my partner, isn’t it?” Finnian murmured. Neither of them added anything, which was a surprise because of how chatterbox they were. “It will mean something we appeared more or less at once and so close. Am I wrong?”

“We don’t think you are misled,” Aer said.

“To all this. Not even any of the Little Warriors are here. I guess it will be for some reason.”

“No idea,” Rune admitted, shrugging his shoulders. “As for the other….”

Leaving the tent, he looked to the right, where a small figure remained pretty attentive to what was going on around them. He would recognize Kay’s red coat without problems, although he was not alone on this occasion, for someone of the same size spoke to him but in grey-purple clothes.

“If no one has bothered you all this time, it’s thanks to them,” Aer said.

“Why are they not approaching? I will not scare them, will I? “Finnian said.

“With those legs so long and such tiny hands and eyes? “Rune said, looking at him from top to bottom.

“You love teasing me, don’t Rune? “Finnian said.

“Don’t worry, Finn. You’re not the only one who suffers from her boredom,” Aer said, resigned.

Not knowing how to stay busy made him more nervous than usual, and if you added that tiny eyes watched his movements, the urge to fly out was powerful! They approached Kay, who soon gave up as Aer snapped him over his shoulders.

“Theri asked us to keep them at bay. You are the first sign we see, and most are very excited,” Kay explained. “If High Sword were like before, there would be no problem, but now we can’t relax.”

“Is it for the Lord of Calamity? “Finnian said.

“That’s what we thought, but… we are not sure if it was him,” said Kay, doubtful of continuing that uncasual talk. “All we know is that this Lord of Calamity seeks followers, but leaving this almost in ruins is not his way of acting.”

That’s why they were so uneasy. Whether Calamity or not, who would have defeated their companions and leave the castle in that condition should be a fearsome enemy. What could he do against someone like that when there were no survivors?

Unlike the other elthean, the one accompanying Kay carried her face hidden almost wholly, letting him see a couple of grey eyes with a ferric determination for someone of his size. With a belt of multiple pockets, there would be all kinds of utensils lethal in his hands. Assumed that if he had weapons (though not all the elthean would need them), they would be hidden, like a good ninja.

“This is Fee, my sister,” Kay said. She nodded without adding any words, looking around her carefully.

“Is anything wrong? “Finnian said, frowning his eyebrows.

“Theri wants you to rest for tomorrow. A good walk to the Galya tree awaits us,” Fee said.

“So you come too?” Aer exclaimed with such enthusiasm that he did not hesitate a second to huge them.

“Good friends?” Finnian looked at Rune as he asked her this.

“Of course. Kay and Fee belong to Theri’s group. They passed through the Galya several times and promised to meet us again, though not in these circumstances,” Rune said.

“You’re sure to have plenty of adventures to tell, right?”

“Not as many as you think, human,” Rune said with such conviction that no one would doubt her.

Out of the desire to listen to them and ask more, He knew He should take it all calmly. After all, He had barely been there for a few hours and wouldn’t know when he would return to his world. Why go in such a hurry?

Later, with the sky covered by stars, the Little Warriors have a copious dinner where the meat, bread and fruit are so similar to the one of his world; Finnian was taken by surprise, making them smile and laugh. After that, he soon admitted how humans treat their animals, mostly seeing them as food.

“Everyone has their preferences. The kittens of this morning? They seek prey to feed themselves,” Aer said.

“And don’t try to give them fruit; they only care about one thing,” Rune said.

“But we don’t all have those habits,” Aer reminded her.

He preferred not to find out, although something told him that he would not have that choice. The rest of the dinner was relatively quiet, and even the tension of the day seemed to be reduced the more they enjoyed the food and the company. Then, Theri, so big and with his hammer at his feet, asked for silence so that he could speak while everyone created a circle in the outer courtyard.

“At dawn, we will depart for the Galya tree. Many know the way, but I have no doubt that we will overcome all the obstacles that arise to us,” Theri said solemnly. “We have the Signer with us, things will change soon, and we will help what we can.”

That’s when he looked at him without adding anything. Aer gave him a push to move forward, which didn’t seem like such a good idea now that everyone was watching them.

“Signer, or should I call you Finnian?

“Whatever is easy for you,” he said, smiling shyly.

“Finnian then,” Theri said. “You’re not alone in this; you’ll never be. I understand you don’t know much about our world, but don’t fear it. There will always be someone willing to help you. Take advantage of what you have in your favour and fight your way because our whole future depends on you.”

As clear as water, isn’t it? Although he would not deny that it was a way to instil courage in him, he doubted that he would end up fighting just like them, wielding a sword and defeating the bad guys.

“That’s why we want to give you this,” Theri said, hitting the ground as a signal.

Kay approached with something between his arms: A red leather backpack, identical to the one used by the alasdair. The best thing was that there were many more things inside than it actually seemed. Food, potions, a tent and more he couldn’t see at that moment. They had been great with him from the moment he was rescued.

It wasn’t a disinterested help, but as soon as Theri put a hand on his arm and shook her with a smile, he understood something. They trusted him because others had lived the same thing, and he would not throw away those feelings and beliefs. Signers were more than legends; they were the hope personified.

“And now... Let’s rest! That tomorrow will be a very long day,” Theri exclaimed, laughing eagerly on this occasion.

The tent he shared with Aer, Rune, and so many other elthean was broad. Each had their own sleeping bag and although the outside floor was hard, lying there was as lovely as it was with their own bed. He didn’t need a proper pillow, and although it was initially difficult for him to sleep, He didn’t take long to fall asleep. Too much had happened in a brief time, and that was the first moment he could rest for real.

Hours later, or that’s what he supposed, for a short moment, he thought he had returned home. However, he did not hear his parents’ usual talking and everyday noises from a big city. Instead, someone insisted that he had to wake up. Both Aer and Rune were at his side, alternating the look between him and the exit.

“We have to leave, Finnian,” Aer said, calm but also vigilant.

“Now. Come up,” Rune urged him. “We cannot waste any more time.”

“What’s going on?” Finnian said, even with some drowsiness.

“They’re attacking us! Are you still like that?” Kay exclaimed, entering the store. “It’s the one who ended up with our colleagues; he’s back.

“How sure are you?” Finnian said.

That wasn’t cool and collected Kay he already knew, instead of a warrior facing a terrible threat. He did not lie; nobody would with something like that. Nodding without adding anything else, he grabbed the backpack and threw it to the shoulder, following the quartet’s passage as they escorted him to the outside. If he previously thought that Upper Sword was in a shocking state, the change now had no point of comparison.

More shattered walls, Little Warriors wounded and thrown on the floor, and even the few buildings in the outer courtyard were on fire. Soon, his vision repaired on Theri, who fought against the unknown enemy whom everyone feared.

Even how the tremendous and intense the viking was, the difference between this fight and the leopards was noticeable: He was losing. Unfortunately, the darkness of the night made hardly recognise the appearance of that elthean that lacked mercy, although the sound of the blows he threw, hitting the armour of the warrior. And if he came out almost unharmed against them, the wounds he was receiving were worst because he could not land a hit with his hammer. Then, he was thrown at the same store from which they had left.

“We have to leave, now!” Rune exclaimed.

“And leave them like that? After all they done for us?” Finnian said.

He raised so much his voice that it drew the attention of those present, even his enemy. So fast that his eyes had trouble catching him, he soon saw a creature not much higher than him, held on both legs. He irradiates a purple aura that prevents him from seeing clearly what it was, but his red eyes and the blades of his arms were enough for him to want to face the leopards again.

That elthean stopped in front of him, almost as if he was watching, and then raised one of his arms, ready to attack them until something changed. A white light spread through the castle, illuminating all around it, coming from his pendant.

Rune had stood before him, same Aer, in an attempt to defend him. Then she shined, changing form. After the light was almost extinguished, she appeared as a majestic eagle of brown and black feathers, with some imposing horns on her head. From its peak were born circles of reddish energy that caught that demonic elthean.

“Rune has evolved! “Aer exclaimed.

“You have to leave. Now! “Theri yelled out in the distance, being helped by Fee to get up.

“Jump to my back, hurry!” Rune said, although he now had a much more deep voice than his dwarf version.

“We can’t leave them here like that! “Finnian shouted, pointing around him.

“There’s no other choice,” Kay said when his enemy was released without just striving.

“That elthean is looking for you, Finnian. Do you understand it?” Aer said. “We have to get you out of here.”

How could you be so sure? He didn’t want to leave them behind, but what other alternatives they had if the Little Warriors had lost? He wasn’t sure Rune could make a difference either, even when she appeared more potent than before. While he was climbing into her back, Aer made an air punch against that thing.

“Hey! Try to catch us if you can.”

After a strong wingbeat and gaining altitude, that the elthean observed them, ignoring everything else around. Then, he lifted one of his arms and threw an energy blade directed toward them, rubbing Rune on one of her legs in the process.

“Hold on!” exclaimed her, flying away from the castle and fleeing from that enemy they would surely meet again.