I asked the riders group to accompany Tyulha to his people and his people back to Harren. Considering that we would have hundreds of new members by the end of the day, we ought to prepare enough food to feed everyone, and “enough food” this time meant considerably more than what Harren feasted on each day. So, I decided to increase the numbers of hunting and gathering groups and elongate the hunting period. As a secondary measure, I had to decrease the ratios each member would receive minimally – this was undesirable, of course, but feeding the entire population of starving dark elves might prove more difficult than I had assumed. If that happens, it would be a bigger problem. The safest route to take would be making small sacrifices for now, at least until there is a sustainable method to procure food.

The influx of hundreds of dark elves will hopefully provide its own unique benefits. Tyulha mentioned that dark elves specialized in knowledge and close combat. By knowledge, I wonder what he meant. From the looks of it, the dark elves did not seem to have a lot of warriors or fighters. I initially assumed it was because of the struggles they were going through. Maybe it was because they specialize in scholarship rather than warfare, however. This specific population, at least. Of course, this all is merely an assumption. Without having further conversation with them, there is no way for me to know for sure. So, I might be wrong. Either way, I am sure they can provide us with the knowledge of this world.

I really wished them to have some mages, however. Though minor, I still have a disappointment that they do not. Ever since Gobo said there was something odd about my magic, I have been thinking maybe if we get a mage born in this world, they would be able to tell something about it. Surely, mages are rare. Regardless, I am unable to reach to a conclusion alone in this issue as well. To be exact, Tyulha’s words were: “we also do not use magic for distant combat”. Maybe they use magic that is more catered towards close combat, or just quotidian jobs. Again, I will have to wait for the dark elves to come to the village.

Surely, sending the riders group with them was a good idea. It does not only provide them with navigation and protection, but also would help them carry their belongings more easily. I am pretty sure most of them do not have the energy to carry even their own bodies to Harren. Wargs would alleviate at least some of their concerns.

“Chief, if you excuse m-”

“Ghyurl?!”

This must be the first orc evolution! Ghyurl has become much bigger and more toned. His jaw widened enough to accommodate his new two thicker and longer fangs. He looks strong enough to carry two oxen on each shoulder. His skin tone, just like the goblins, experienced the greatest change. He is now dark red. Crimson even.

“Yes Chief. I was with the second hunting group and a bear attacked us. We lost two men. I stepped up to hold the bear to let the others run but was lucky enough to be able to kill it. Soon after I killed it, I felt an excruciating headache – like of which I have never experienced before. I thought I was going to die of magic leakage, and I fainted. I survived, but when I woke up – I changed. Is this something similar to what goblins go through when they evolve?”

“How are you feeling now Ghyurl?”

“Now, I feel great. The pain is all gone, and I feel refreshed. What’s more, the injuries I sustained holding the bear were gone after my body changed.”

“This is very interesting. The goblins who evolved also reported a headache similar to yours, but they did not faint. The really intriguing thing here, however, is the reason why you evolved. So far, you are the only orc who has evolved. You know, initially I thought evolution was something endemic to those who enter this world through the gates. But then, when the orcs who came did not evolve but the goblins kept evolving, I started thinking it was something only goblins could do. Orcs from Lthrok’s and your tribes told me that they have never seen an orc evolve before themselves, although they heard of orcs with skins that had different color. So, I assumed it was due to different sub-races, but not evolution. You, Ghyurl, are the living proof of an orc evolution. And, at this point I am pretty sure that the reason you evolved is because you killed that bear.”

“Because I killed that bear?”

“Yes. It is possible that killing can make you evolve. All the goblins who evolved are those who participated in hunts or logging, so far. Gobi also evolved after killing a deer, though he did not report having a headache at all – maybe he omitted that information since it was not as excruciating for him. I think it is safe for us to presume that there is some sort of life energy in living beings, including trees, that pass onto you when you kill them. Moreover, I also think the stronger the being, the stronger their life energy is. This can explain why the goblins in the logging teams evolve less frequently than those in the hunting teams.”

“But, Chief, us orcs have been hunting for ourselves for decades, and before us our ancestors did it for hundreds of years. I have never seen someone evolve, even when a group of orcs killed a bear.”

“Hm… I see your point. I cannot really put my finger on it, but I think it has something to do with me. Not to be egoistical, but many of the goblins I brought to this world via the gates have evolved. It is clear to me too that the orcs evolve less frequently than goblins, and that possibly is because the orc evolution is more demanding. The only change that you went through recently is joining me while the goblins who came to this world have been part of my group since the day they set foot on this land.”

Gobo said there was something odd about my magic – since I can call monsters from beyond the gates, is it also possible that I am the key to the evolution of those who are born in this world?