Elias, noticing Orion’s ominous smirk directed straight at him, visibly shivered and quickly stepped backward, raising his hands defensively.
Panic began to color his voice as he anxiously protested, "Wait, Orion—why are you looking at like that? You’re not seriously thinking...?"
Orion’s grin widened even more as he took a step toward Elias and confidently placed a hand over his trembling shoulder.
His voice was both soothing and persuasive, though his eyes glead mischievously. "Well, Elias, wouldn’t you want to help these poor, kidnapped children? Think about it, their helpless faces, their terrified eyes."
Elias hesitated visibly, eyes flickering uncertainly between Orion’s wicked smirk and the sorrowful expressions on the faces of the two mature Tigerkin won.
His initial resistance softened as guilt slowly crept into his heart. After a tense mont, he finally sighed, shoulders drooping slightly in resignation, yet his voice was firm and honorable as he spoke, "I suppose you’re right. What kind of man would I be if I refused to help save those poor kids?"
Orion’s mischievous expression imdiately softened into a genuine, approving smile, gently squeezing Elias’s shoulder encouragingly. "See? That’s the Elias I know, brave and honorable. Now, here’s what we’ll do..."
***
Elsewhere, on a rough dirt road winding through the vibrant, autumn-colored forest, a simple yet sturdy carriage rattled and jolted as it moved along uneven terrain.
At the back of the carriage sat a large iron cage, its bars rusted and cold, enclosing several frightened Tigerkin children whose ears flattened nervously against their heads, their small tails curled anxiously around themselves.
However, among the terrified Tigerkin children sat a single, solitary human child, Elias. Contrary to the trembling Tigerkin children around him, Elias wore a calm yet visibly irritated expression, occasionally rolling his eyes in exasperation as the carriage jostled him roughly.
Two Lionkin kidnappers sat casually at the front of the carriage, completely oblivious to Elias’s unusual calmness.
Their lion ears twitched occasionally atop their heads, lion tails lazily swinging behind them. Both possessed sharp canine teeth, and tufts of golden fur covered their muscular shoulders, making them appear imposing and fierce.
One of the Lionkin, scratching his mane-like hair idly, comnted with a cruel voice, "Didn’t expect to find a human brat among the usual catches. Quite the surprise, huh?"
His companion chuckled darkly, nodding in agreent. "First ti we’ve caught a human, indeed. Boss will be thrilled with this unexpected bonus."
The first Lionkin snickered, baring his sharp teeth in a savage grin. "Definitely. Makes you wonder though, how did a little human brat appear here? We have only seen a few adult humans here."
The other shrugged nonchalantly, turning back to face the road ahead as the carriage lurched forward once more. "Who cares? He’s ours now. Let’s hurry up and get back."
Inside the cage, Elias clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding together in frustration as he silently cursed inside his head. ’I’ll make you pay for this, Bastard Helstorm...’
***
Far behind, Orion’s group now traveled swiftly alongside the two ornate carriages of the Tigerkin won.
The mood was calr yet focused, everyone acutely aware of the unfolding plan. In the first carriage sat Orion, Arya, Emilia, Nyss, and one of the mature Tigerkin won, whose amber eyes carefully assessed each of the young adventurers around her.
Breaking the silence, Orion suddenly realized their earlier introductions had been overlooked amidst the chaos.
He quickly cleared his throat, politely addressing their Tigerkin companion, "Ah, forgive us, we completely neglected proper introductions earlier. I am Orion Helstorm, from a Noble House in Thunderpeak Kingdom."
Arya gently inclined her head, violet eyes warmly eting the Tigerkin woman’s gaze as she softly introduced herself, "Arya. Arya Stormrend, also from Thunderpeak Kingdom. It’s a pleasure."
Emilia gracefully smiled, her voice gentle and lodious. "I’m Emilia Ashborn, from the sa kingdom as my friends."
Nyss, calmly leaning against the carriage wall, spoke simply, her voice cool yet clear, "Nyss Blackwell."
The Tigerkin woman observed each in turn, her initial wariness slowly giving way to genuine curiosity and warmth as she responded. "Well t. I am Seris, a noblewoman from the Felian Kingdom, ho to our Tigerkin people in this world."
Arya tilted her head curiously, intrigued. "The Felian Kingdom... fascinating. So, this world’s population consists primarily of Beastkin races?"
Seris gently leaned back in her cushioned seat within the carriage, her amber eyes thoughtful as she considered Arya’s question.
The rhythmic clopping of the horses’ hooves provided a calm yet persistent background noise, contrasting with the tension in her voice as she replied.
"This world only has two Beastkin races, the Tigerkin, my people, and the Lionkin. Our kingdoms have been embroiled in war against one another for centuries. It’s an ancient conflict whose origins have long since been blurred by ti, but recently..." Seris hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the carriage window, distant and filled with hidden worry. "Recently, the intensity of the conflict has escalated dramatically, and we aren’t sure why."
Orion’s curiosity stirred upon hearing her hesitant tone, prompting him to lean forward slightly, his voice filled with quiet intrigue. "War? Has sothing specific triggered it, or is it simply a struggle for supremacy?"
Seris remained quiet for a brief mont, clearly conflicted about divulging too much detail. Her tail flicked nervously behind her as she softly said, "I’m afraid I don’t know exactly. Rumors circulate all the ti, but none concrete enough to trust."
Recognizing her hesitation and respecting the little trust forming between them, Orion simply nodded his head in understanding. "I see. Then let’s set that aside for now."
With a calm smile, Orion tactfully shifted the conversation, his voice softening. "Tell , why exactly did the Lionkin kidnap those children? Is it simply a tactic to demoralize your kingdom?"
Seris released a heavy sigh, sadness coloring her elegant features. "Precisely. Kidnapping children has beco an unfortunately common tactic in recent tis. The Lionkin hope to demoralize our army and the people supporting us. They demand ransom paynts, supplies, and military concessions in exchange for their safe return."
Orion raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the strategic depth of such ruthless actions. Leaning back in his seat, he continued to probe gently, "What exactly is the total population of both your races?"
Seris pondered briefly, tapping one slender finger thoughtfully against her chin, before answering, "If mory serves correctly, our combined population would number a few billion. However, the absolute majority aren’t warriors or Awakeners. Most are ordinary civilians, living simple mortal lives far from the battlefield."
Orion’s expression turned subtly surprised, his internal thoughts spinning rapidly. ’Billions? So, this world must be approximately the size and population of Earth. Does that imply that all 3,000 common worlds are similar to Earth?’
Lumi’s voice resonated softly within Orion’s Sea of Consciousness, her tone informative and precise, clearly anticipating his internal query.
[Exactly, Master. Worlds akin to Earth belong precisely to these 3,000 Common Realms. So of them possess minimal mana and usually no special powers, primarily focusing instead on technological advancent. While others like this specific world have evolved in the opposite direction, prioritizing mana cultivation over technology.]
Orion ntally nodded at Lumi’s explanation, his curiosity montarily sated. Externally, he smoothly steered the conversation forward once again. "I see. Can you tell more about your Felian Kingdom? It would be helpful for us to better understand your ho."
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