LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 384: Gone

The soldiers, weary from their journey and still grappling with the unanswered questions about the mana cores, approached the tribe.

The sight that greeted them was unexpected and jarring: strangers were scattered throughout the settlement, moving about as if they belonged there. Some were tending to fires, others were unpacking strange belongings, and a few were standing guard at key positions.

These unfamiliar faces wore armor and clothing that were both foreign and intimidating, a mixture of materials the soldiers hadn’t seen before—gleaming metals interwoven with dark fabrics that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

Their weapons were equally strange, crafted with a level of craftsmanship that suggested both beauty and lethality.

The soldiers froze at the sight, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Who… who are they?” one soldier whispered, his voice barely audible.

“Stay alert,” the oldest among them muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his blade. “We don’t know if they’re friend or foe.”

As they cautiously moved forward, one of the strangers—a tall man with an imposing presence and eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul—stepped in their path. His expression was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the silent warning in his stance.

“State your business,” the man said in a voice that was calm but carried an undeniable edge of authority.

“We’re… from this tribe,” the lead soldier replied, choosing his words carefully. “We’ve been out hunting. Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

The man didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning the group as if evaluating whether they were a threat. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke. “This is no longer your concern. Leave if you value your lives.”

The soldiers bristled at the words, but before any of them could react, another stranger—a woman with striking silver hair and an aura of quiet power—approached. She placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, her gaze shifting to the soldiers.

“Calm yourself, Rann,” she said softly, though her voice carried a weight that demanded attention. Turning to the soldiers, she added, “We mean no harm. This settlement belongs to Lyerin, and we are here under his permission.”

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their tension only slightly eased by her words. “Where is Lyerin?” one of them asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

The silver-haired woman tilted her head slightly, as if considering whether to answer. “He was here earlier,” she said finally. “But he left. He is traveling with others.”

“Others?” another soldier asked, frowning. “What do you mean? Who are these others?”

“The women,” the woman replied simply, as if that explained everything.

The soldiers’ confusion deepened. “The women?”

The silver-haired woman’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile, though there was no warmth in it. “Lyerin’s companions. They arrived earlier, and after some time, they left together. If you are looking for him, you will not find him here.”

“Where did he go?” the lead soldier pressed, his frustration growing.

The woman’s smile faded, replaced by a look of mild impatience. “That is not for us to say. If Lyerin wishes for you to find him, he will reveal himself. Until then, you would do well to remember your place.”

The soldiers fell silent, unsure of how to respond. The strangers clearly held the upper hand here, and there was little they could do to challenge them. After a moment, the silver-haired woman turned and walked away, leaving the soldiers standing in the middle of their own settlement, feeling like outsiders.

“Who are these people?” one of the younger soldiers whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “What are they doing here? And why would Lyerin leave with those women without telling us?”

The lead soldier shook his head, his jaw clenched. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But something doesn’t feel right about any of this.”

As they stood there, trying to make sense of the situation, a few of the strangers glanced in their direction, their expressions unreadable but clearly watchful. It was a stark reminder that the soldiers were no longer in control here.

“Come on,” the lead soldier said finally, his voice low. “Let’s regroup and figure out our next move. Standing around here isn’t going to get us any answers.”

Reluctantly, the group followed him, their unease growing with every step. The tribe they had once called home now felt like a place of mystery and uncertainty, and the absence of Lyerin only deepened their sense of unease.

…

Lyerin stood at the edge of the plateau, the vast expanse of the strange world stretching endlessly before him. He smirked, his mind drifting back to the soldiers and their plight. “They must be panicking now,” he thought, the laughter bubbling inside him. He had carefully orchestrated everything, ensuring they would never find a way back to Earth. Why should they, after witnessing the extent of his power? He had no intention of allowing them to leave—not after all they had seen, not after all he had built.

But his inner musings were soon interrupted by the cheerful chatter behind him. Corora, Cornelia, Maria, Elena, Sophia, Lydia, Fiona, Emily, and Natalie surrounded him, their faces alight with curiosity and excitement as they looked at him expectantly.

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“So, what do you all want to see first?” Lyerin asked, turning to face them, his tone indulgent and playful.

Corora was the first to respond, her eyes sparkling. “I want to see the crystal forests you talked about! The ones with trees that shimmer like diamonds under the moonlight! You said the ground there glows, didn’t you? I’ve been dying to see it!”

Cornelia chimed in eagerly, “No, no, forget the forests! I want to see the floating mountains! You said they defy gravity, right? Imagine standing on a mountain in the sky, looking down at the clouds beneath you! Oh, and aren’t there glowing rivers that flow between them? I want to see those too!”

Maria smiled, her voice soft but filled with anticipation. “I’d like to see the Valley of Eternal Blossoms. You said the flowers there never wilt, no matter the season. I can only imagine the fragrances… And didn’t you mention the petals glow faintly at night? That must be beautiful.”

Elena, ever the adventurous one, crossed her arms with a grin. “All of that sounds nice, but I want to see the Sea of Endless Storms! You told me there are waves that reach the skies and lightning that dances on the water. I want to feel the power of the storm firsthand!”

Sophia shook her head at Elena’s boldness, her tone more measured. “As exciting as storms sound, I’d prefer to see the libraries of the ancients. Didn’t you say there were ruins filled with knowledge written on glowing tablets? I want to read those. Who knows what secrets they hold?”

Lydia leaned forward, her enthusiasm uncontainable. “And what about the Garden of Singing Birds? You mentioned there were creatures there whose songs sound like melodies from another world. I can’t even imagine what that must be like!”

Fiona raised her hand as if in class, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Don’t forget the cliffs of the Endless Horizon! You said you can see both the sunrise and sunset at the same time there, depending on where you stand. That has to be the most romantic sight ever!”

Emily, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “I want to see the River of Stars. You said the water reflects the night sky so perfectly that it feels like you’re walking on stardust when you’re near it. That sounds magical…”

Lastly, Natalie, always the curious one, added, “But what about the bioluminescent caverns? You said the walls glow in thousands of colors, and there’s water that sparkles like liquid gold. I want to explore those and see if they’re as breathtaking as you described!”

The girls all looked at Lyerin expectantly, their voices overlapping as they continued to dream aloud.

“Wait! What about the temple with the floating orbs of light?” Corora added.

“Oh, and the field of mirrors! The one where you said the sky looks like it’s touching the ground!” Cornelia exclaimed.

“And the giant waterfalls that flow upward!” Maria interjected.

“Don’t forget the forest where the trees hum with energy!” Elena reminded.

“The labyrinth made of crystal walls!” Sophia added eagerly.

“And the cliffs where you can hear the whispers of the wind!” Lydia exclaimed.

“What about the desert with the shifting dunes that glow at night?” Fiona asked.

“Or the island that disappears during the day and reappears at night?” Emily wondered aloud.

“And the mountain peak that’s said to touch the stars?” Natalie finished, her voice filled with wonder.

Lyerin shook his head, overwhelmed by the flood of suggestions. “You all want to see so much! Do you expect me to take you to every single place in one lifetime?”

The girls laughed, their excitement contagious. “Yes!” they chorused in unison, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Lyerin sighed dramatically but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips. “Fine, fine. We’ll see as much as we can. But you’ll have to be patient—there’s a lot to explore in this world, and I’m not a tour guide.”

The girls cheered, their enthusiasm unbridled. As they continued to chatter excitedly about all the places they wanted to see, Lyerin couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Despite everything, he had built something extraordinary here—something worth protecting. And for now, he was happy to share it with them.