“Sharu Techniques are incredibly bizarre, diverse, and shrouded in profound mystery,” the old Sharu began to explain.
His wrinkled face bore an exceptionally grave and focused expression as he fixed his gaze on the young initiate.
“In our world, there are countless types of Sharu, and each walks an entirely different path. There are Poison Sharu, who specialize masterfully in crafting lethal venoms and paralyzing miasmas. There are Divining Sharu, who can read a person's fate or forewarn of catastrophe by gazing into the stars and casting bones. There are Healing Sharu, who can close the deepest lacerations and cure virulent plagues. And there are the mighty Blessing Sharu, who use their chants and runes to multiply the raw strength and reaction speed of our warriors during battle.”
“In that case, Sharu, what exact type are you?” Elizabeth asked with genuine curiosity. She adjusted her tight top, which prominently outlined her full bust as she leaned slightly toward the elder.
“In truth, these classifications are neither rigid nor permanently fixed. What type of Sharu you become depends entirely on the specific techniques and unique runes you personally specialize in and manage to master to perfection.” The elder shook his head slowly, taking care to lay the matter out as clearly as possible so as not to mislead Elizabeth.
“As for myself, throughout my long life, I have been most adept at deep bodily healing techniques, while additionally possessing a capable grasp of fundamental combat blessings.”
“I see… In that case, I need to be doubly cautious around foreign shamans to ensure I don't accidentally provoke someone who wields covert magic or deadly poisons,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully, nodding slowly.
A clear picture of the situation instantly formed in her mind: in video game terminology, the elder sitting before her was a typical, classic backline support, not a frontline combatant.
“My dear child, you are truly incredibly perceptive and intelligent,” the elder looked at her with profound, almost fatherly admiration. Yet, a shadow of painful regret immediately flickered in his gaze - a regret that such a talented individual had arrived in their camp so late, just as his own strength had reached its end.
Gathering the last remnants of his breath, he continued passing on crucial knowledge:
“All the rare materials and the precise methods for crafting sacred Bone Tablets are detailed on these animal hides within the chest. But remember this: the origins of these materials, the locations where they are found, and the ritualistic methods of their harvest must forever remain the clan's most closely guarded secrets, for they constitute the inviolable foundation of our tribe's power.”
Lacking the precious time required for years of steady, step-by-step instruction, the old priest could only hastily impart the most critical, foundational points. Deep down, he harbored a frantic fear that if the new shaman were ill-informed or made even a single careless mistake when dealing with outsiders, it would invite ultimate ruin and wipe the Blood Fire Tribe from the face of the earth.
“I will remember every word you say and guard these secrets at all costs,” Elizabeth replied, her voice ringing with complete sincerity and gravity.
“Since we have covered the most vital matters regarding the nature of a Sharu, allow me to fully outline the current state of our Tribe.” The elder picked up the thread without hesitation, his tone turning somber:
“Our entire Blood Fire Tribe currently numbers barely over eighty survivors, the majority of whom are exhausted women and elders. Once you officially assume this mantle, your paramount objective will be to ensure our people safely multiply and bear far more healthy children. Without new hands to work and fight, we will soon die out completely.”
As he spoke, his bloodshot eyes grew glassy with tears. At the mere thought of the dozens of young warriors slaughtered in the recent massacre, his voice cracked and turned raspy:
“Our sanctified Ancestral Lands were brazenly plundered and seized by the beasts of the Green Snake Tribe… They are incredibly powerful, numerous, and ruthless. Should their scouts somehow discover our presence here in the near future, do not attempt to stand and fight! You must immediately order the entire Tribe to abandon the camp and migrate even deeper into the mountains!”
“I have no intention of acting recklessly or senselessly throwing people to the slaughter. But I promise you, the moment the right opportunity arises and we gather sufficient strength, I will absolutely avenge the clan and reclaim our Ancestral Lands,” Elizabeth nodded firmly, swearing a solemn, unyielding oath to the benevolent elder who was bestowing everything he possessed upon her.
“That is good, that is truly good… You are a wise, cautious child with a sharp mind, not someone blindly impulsive, hot-headed, and dense like Neria or that giant blockhead, Riven.”
For the first time in many days, the Sharu smiled with genuine, warm relief, revealing his toothless gums with only four surviving, yellowed teeth remaining.
Cough, cough, cough…
At that exact moment, loud, forced coughing fits erupted from just outside the thin tent flap. The guards standing watch outside could perfectly hear every single word spoken inside the quiet camp.
“Hey, Neria! Did you hear that? Our great Sharu just called you dense and too impulsive!” Riven's amused voice rang out from outside, unable to pass up an opportunity to needle his sister.
“Shut your big, stupid mouth, Riven, before I shove this stone spearhead straight down your throat!” Neria snarled furiously, her voice loud enough to make the leather walls of the tent tremble slightly from her rage.
“…”
“Simply ignore them completely; they always act like children,” the Sharu shook his white head helplessly, rolling his eyes upward before concluding his instructions:
“Neria is the official Chief of our tribe, so if any troubles arise, you may speak directly to her without hesitation.”
He paused briefly, catching a shallow breath, and added:
“As for Riven, he holds direct command over our entire Hunting Party. He is the one you must immediately seek out whenever you require fresh beast bones, rare sinews, or other raw materials necessary to craft new Bone Tablets. All the hunters in the Hunting Party are battle-hardened Totem Warriors, serving as the inviolable pillars of the Blood Fire Tribe. Should you ever face a difficult decision and find yourself uncertain, you can always gather them by the fire and seek their counsel.”
Finally, the elder swept an attentive gaze over her slender, feminine silhouette and added with absolute gravity, leaving no room for objection:
“Furthermore, you yourself are no longer young; you are getting on in years. You must find yourself a suitable wife or a strong husband within our tribe as quickly as possible and bear a healthy child soon, so that our Sharu Inheritance is not broken and we have a new Successor of pure blood for the future.”
Hearing these blunt remarks about her age, Elizabeth felt her left eyebrow involuntarily twitch upward in sheer disbelief. Being in the prime of her youth at a mere twenty years old, hearing a strange old man tell her she was 'getting on in years' and on the verge of becoming an old maid bordered on total absurdity.
She ignored the archaic nagging and was just opening her mouth to steer the conversation back toward magic and camp defenses, but with every passing second, the old Sharu strayed further from the main topic. He continued his matchmaking with devout seriousness:
“From the perspective of our clan, I believe Valeria would be the absolutely perfect choice for your permanent partner. She is undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in our entire current tribe, and in terms of combat prowess and hunting instinct, she is unquestionably the strongest warrior of the entire young generation. Once you officially assume your title, you can easily make her your personal Priestess. She will move into the main pavilion with you, tending to your daily life, your meals, and satisfying all your needs.”
Hearing such a direct proposal, Elizabeth felt an increasingly strong suspicion that she was missing some fundamental, crucial piece of the puzzle regarding this complex social structure. Ignoring the mounting bizarreness of the highly intimate situation, she wrinkled her nose and asked point-blank:
“Hold on a second, Sharu… In this world, can I, as a woman, truly marry another woman and start a normal family with her?”
Hearing this seemingly naive question, the elder froze for a moment. He looked down at her with an incredibly strange expression brimming with profound incomprehension, as if she had just asked him if the sun rose after the night. He explained in a raspy tone:
“What kind of strange doubts are these, my child? It is plain as day to everyone under this sky: if you yourself are a Solaria, you can take another Solaria as your rightful wife without the slightest obstacle, or you may marry a Luna, depending entirely on where your hearts lead you…”
Seeing his absolute seriousness, Elizabeth furrowed her brow deeply. Warning bells instantly began blaring in her head, making her realize that all her earthly definitions of gender were entirely useless in this wild dimension.
She swallowed nervously and asked in an uncertain, cautious voice:
“Sharu… could you explain to me exactly what Solaria and Luna are?”
Hearing the question, the elder widened his tired, black eyes, unable to conceal his boundless astonishment that a grown adult could be ignorant of such basic laws of nature. After a moment, however, he sighed heavily and began to patiently, pragmatically explain the entire anatomy and order of this world:
“I see that the elementary teachings of flesh and blood were truly neglected in your former clan… Listen closely, then. In our tribes, women are divided into two distinct states of being. A Solaria is a powerful woman blessed with exceptional vitality, possessing a fully formed, dual body - she naturally bears feminine beauty, full breasts, and a woman's womb, but by the will of the Ancestors, she also possesses a fully developed male member. This allows her not only to bear children herself but, above all, to sire strong offspring with other women and pass on her potent blood. A Luna, on the other hand, is a delicate woman possessing exclusively a traditional woman's womb; she can only conceive and give birth to children through a union with a Solaria or a man.”