At first sight, his eyes did not send new information to him. He was not able to detect footprints on the ground nor to follow a trail. However, there were details that they remained there, present only for those who focused. The silence around him was different, lacking the noises that enveloped the forest. The air had also changed, transporting an aroma of an unknown land that neither he nor Leith could describe.

Nevertheless, they had already been in danger and kept conquering them. No matter what they would have to deal with, that moment wasn’t different from the others, would it not? But now they could make do more, compared to their beginnings. The dragon removed the ground that was going on with her claws, plunging them into it after a silent look at Finnian.

He had to start in some way, didn’t he?

He put his fingers on the earth, feeling more than his cold touch. There was a vibration, one that did not make him tremble but conveyed to them that presence was close, more than Finnian would have expected. That way, they finally found the elthean bear next to someone else. And it was huge.

They were actually three large ones. Taller than any adult human and with the upper half of the body so muscular that they did not seem real. Arms, chest, neck... not that they had a whole life in the gym! And even though their heads were of a similar size, their small and disproportionate legs possessed a supernatural force to hold a vast body. Their nose also stood out, looking like a pepper by size, although the skin of this elthean was of an earthy tone with white tattoos. They were naked except for pants that could pass through loincloths. They didn’t even repair in their presence, as they were focused in an elthean motionless by fear.

Before they could get organized, Katsumi jumped to help her friend, getting them to follow her. Leith stood in front of them, leaving time for Finnian to see if Meir was okay or not. They were outnumbered, but they could face those trolls (or a similar species with more muscles) without even fighting.

“Look what we have here!” said the first of them, the toupee so disastrous that even Elvis would not have been seen with him. He knew who the rock king was for his grandparents and was sure of it.

“That… is he a human?” said the second, the spiky one that seemed to come out of a heavy metal band.

“Well, of course, don’t you notice it? Those two stinks Signer’s magic,” said the third with a big curly hair while observing him. “This doesn’t concern you, Signer. Take your dragon, and it disappears.”

“Do you really think we’re going to leave just like that, shoddy trio?” Finnian exclaimed.

Nor did he want to annoy them, mainly because of the exaggerated difference in size. Perhaps they would be used for demolition work! And even though Leith could face them, Finnian had faith that there was always another way out. The three trolls looked at themselves, confused by a response they did not expect.

“We will make you a mush if you don’t leave right now,” said the third, releasing a brief grunt.

“Okay, I’m going to name you because there’s no way talking to you,” Finnian sighed. “The one of the long hair will be Olivia, the one of the toupee will be Elvis, and you, the hedgehog, will be a Spike.”

“And what makes you think we don’t have them?” said Olivia, hitting the ground with her big fist, getting him to tremble everything. Katsumi and Meir took refuge behind their legs without taking their eyes off. An excellent way to use it as a human shield, right?

“Because you have not been introduced. I am Finnian, the Signer. But you know that already.”

If he was taught anything in the last few days, the term “Signer” was known most. However, the three trolls barely flinched, so that was not enough for them to flee or change that attitude.

“These are our friends. Everyone can go on their way without any problem” Leith intervened more severe than ever.

“What if we don’t?” Elvis said.

“A winged lizard and a weakling human dare to fight us?” Olivia added.

“We have lots of allies waiting for my signal to attack you. Do you really want to risk your lives?” Finnian said.

Would they notice his bluff? The trolls gathered, head to head, whispering between them.

“Finnian,” Leith said. “They have passed the entrance of the Galya.”

“So… does it mean they’re not bad?” Finnian said.

“Maybe, or Ailfryd’s protections have not lasted as long as he wanted to,” said Leith, nervous about a situation where they didn’t have all the information.

Were they going to wait to find out which of those theories is true?

“But before…” Finnian said, raising his voice and moving both arms, getting them to look at him. “Can you answer a question?”

“What else do you want, Signer? Or have you tired of threatening us?” Olivia said harshly, even when they were the ones who started.

“Why are you here? What do you want to do?”

The trio watched him without saying a word until Leith moved her head for a very short instant, as confused as to their new visitors. Even the trolls did not replicate, which was a relief given how cocky they were from the beginning. Katsumi and Meir squeezed his leg and, although his heart struck vigorously, it wasn’t out of fear because he knew they were on the right path. Olivia then took a step forward that could be compared to the movement of a crane.

“We come from the outpost. A few little ones are on their way and wanted us to warn of their arrival,” Olivia said.

“Little Ones?” Leith repeated, as strange as others.

“We were attacked by a very strong elthean, and if it wasn’t for them, we would not have survived,” said Elvis, receiving a hit from his friend.

“You’ve talked too much!” Spike said.

“If that dwarf had told us where the Guardian is, none of this would have happened!” Elvis exclaimed.

“They appeared from nowhere and scared me,” Meir admitted.

The little bear watched them guardedly, although their story was not far from reality. He was too focused on the game to think that something terrible might happen to him there. After all, evil could not enter; it didn’t matter how much it tried. The magic of the dorean prevented something like this, although they needed a leader to maintain the excellent climate in their civilization. Those elthean used one of the secondary entrances, so they did not doubt that someone else would be there to receive them soon.

However, those trolls that at the time seemed grotesque, their faces showed discomfort from the situation. Appearances deceived, but there were always ways to compensate for what happened. Moving a few steps forward and carefully, Finnian didn’t want them to consider him a threat, but he didn’t want to continue judging them by a wrong first impression.

“I can help you. I know where the Guardian is,” Finnian said, saying a smile and holding them a hand.

“Where is the catch?” Olivia said.

“There is not. Evil cannot enter the Galya. Neither you nor we are part of the bad guys,” said Finnian.

“Let us help you,” Leith said.

“But I’d like to know something else before… Little Ones?” Finnian said, raising both eyebrows. “Wouldn’t they be alasdair?”

Still wary of his behaviour, the three trolls did not take long to answer them. Far from being compared to the horrible creatures that ate any living being found, those could walk into sunlight without becoming a stone. They told him that they were in the Forest of Ellery just a week earlier, trapped by the rule of a witch, until their magic disappeared. Leaving there, determined to get away as far as possible, a new elthean of terrible power attacked them, although they were rescued by the tiny warriors.

“Little Warriors?” the trolls repeated at the same time.

“Theri and his warriors. Are they close from what you say?” Finnian asked.

Not enough. They went ahead to seek help because the earth was their element and could move much faster if they were not accompanied. After all, time was necessary to face a powerful presence surrounding the Galya.

“We have to help them.”

“And we must move as soon as possible.”

The voices of Rune and Aer emerged behind them, even though the rest of the little ones were not accompanying them. Both knew how vital it was to help the alasdair, mainly because of their efforts to protect them, putting their lives in danger. If they had survived, they could not leave them behind.

“We’ll get ahead,” Finnian said with determination. “Ead, join this trio to see Ailfryd. Tell him what happened. We will go in search of Theri and his group.”

“Are you sure?” Ead asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice. “We don’t know who can be outside.”

It might be the Eroder, or Ariel might want to finish what he did not do at the time. There was also the possibility that it would be any elthean unleashed by chaos. They ignored the answer, but it was that if there was a time when they were to act.

“And what about us?” Katsumi exclaimed.

“You have an equally important task,” Leith said. “Join them until they see Ailfryd.”

“Maybe they’re a little scary, but they’re good,” Finnian said. “Got it?”

He brought his hand to high-five both of them, a symbolic gesture to many, but that could influx confidence. To his surprise, the three trolls did something similar. They raised their closed fists toward him, waiting for him to react. Their limbs were three times larger than his, although that did not frighten him. With a slight smile on his lips, he imitated them, being followed by his companions.

“Bring them safely. They helped us when no one else would have,” Olivia said.

“Leave it to us,” Finnian nodded.