Both of them waited patiently. Atlas looked completely calm; his eyes were locked forward as if he were trying to anticipate the outcomes, but on the other hand, Emil was completely different; his heartbeat had started to beat rapidly, and his muscles had started to tense.
Then finally, three people stepped out through the bushes, making their way towards Emil and Atlas. But there wasn’t any bloodlust coming through them; they seemed friendly enough to even make Atlas lower his axe.
There were three figures in total, two men and a woman, none of them standing taller than three feet. The men had long beards, crooked noses, and thick hair that fell past their shoulders.
The woman shared the same crooked nose, though her hair was even longer, cascading almost to her waist. Their short, stocky builds and features seemed to be just like Dwarves.
Emil knew that in Elysia Online multiple races exist, but he didn’t expect to see one of them in here. He raised a brow, silently placed his hand under his chin, and started stroking it. ’Hmm... dwarves? And in the middle of nowhere?! I mean, it’s nowhere, but why are they in this jungle?
’As per my knowledge, the race of dwarves isn’t on good terms with humans, so why are they roaming like this in this area?’
Multiple questions lingered inside his head, and not even a single answer came to his mind. But instead of overthinking, he boldly asked. "Are you people lost?" His voice remained neutral; it didn’t carry any hatred or submission.
The three of them started giving each other some looks; it seemed as if they were trying to converse through their eyes. Then, out of nowhere, their gaze turned towards Atlas, who was standing beside Emil.
Their wary gazes made Atlas instinctively step in front of Emil, shielding him as he raised his enormous axe into a battle-ready stance.
However, after observing them for a brief moment, he sensed no bloodlust or hostile intent coming from the three dwarves. Slowly, he eased his grip and lowered his guard, choosing not to indulge in unnecessary violence.
Emil looked at Atlas once, then at the three dwarves. They didn’t look normal, although they tried their best to maintain composure, but Emil still noticed the sweat-drenched bodies of theirs.
Emil tilted his head lightly, resting his chin over his fist as he asked. "Are you people in any sort of difficulty? Can I help you in any kind of way?"
The dwarf, who looked slightly older than the others, stepped forward, his patched white hair damp in his beard. "Human, we need your assistance."
"I want you to escort us to the City of Asteria. Yes, you’re a human, and under normal circumstances I wouldn’t even consider asking one for help. But times are different." His eyes shifted towards Atlas before returning to Emil.
"That beast of yours is strong, strong enough to deal with whatever is in this forest. As for payment, you need not worry. Dwarves do not beg, nor do we accept charity. Once we reach Asteria, you’ll receive a generous sum. I have no intention of owing a favour to a human."
Before any other exchange could happen, familiar blue light flickered across him, and the system panel appeared, reflecting another set of characters:
═══════════════════
◇ SYSTEM ◇
═══════════════════
[Quest Received]
└ Escort the Dwarven Caravan
───────────────────
[Quest Objectives]
• Escort the three dwarves through the forest
• Ensure their safe arrival at the City of Asteria
• Eliminate any threats encountered along the way (optional)
───────────────────
[Quest Details]
A group of dwarves has requested your assistance after finding themselves stranded within the dangerous forest. Their destination is the City of Asteria, but the road ahead is infested with monsters and hidden dangers. Protect them until they safely reach the city.
───────────────────
[Rewards]
└ 15,000 EXP
└ 50 Copper Leaves
└ +15 Reputation with the Dwarven Race
└ Random Dwarven Equipment (Rarity: Random)
└ Hidden Reward (Depends on Quest Completion)
═══════════════════
Emil’s face lit up brightly as a warm smile appeared on his face; he leaned next to Atlas and muttered. "We’re going with them; I might be able to make some money for myself and also make you strong." He said.
Atlas tilted his head politely, visibly looking confused, but still he let a small nod pass in agreement to Emil’s statement.
The dwarves didn’t want any help from him, but he was the only being who could help them in this situation. But after seeing a sudden charm on his face, a sense of worry flickered past them, making them rethink their decision.
But they didn’t worry much regarding that; they simply turned towards the north and started walking. Their small steps were so slow that if they continued at this pace, they’d reach Asteria after approx. two hours.
Emil let a sigh pass through his lips as he muttered inwardly. There isn’t much I can do about the situation. I can’t force them to move any faster, nor can I demand it. They’re simply too small to match my pace, and if I so much as complain... I’ll only end up leaving a bad impression on them.’
They all continued walking for a few minutes. Emil was walking a few feet behind the dwarves, but Atlas was leading the path from two metres ahead because Emil had told him to keep an eye on the surroundings and act accordingly if something concerning happened.
They had finally covered seven hundred metres, leaving only three hundred more before reaching their destination. Yet, the remaining distance was the least of their concerns.
They had entered a part of the forest where the trees towered far above anything they had seen before, each one rising nearly a hundred feet into the sky.
Their enormous trunks were so thick that several people could stand shoulder to shoulder around them without encircling a single tree.
An eerie silence had swallowed the entire area. The chirping of birds had vanished, the rustling of small creatures was nowhere to be heard, and not even the faintest echo drifted through the forest. Only an unsettling stillness remained, as though the woodland itself were holding its breath.
But then suddenly, Atlas’s march came to a halt. The axe that remained rested behind his back; he finally gripped its shaft and pulled it forward, returning to his battle-ready stance.
This gesture by Atlas made Emil a bit concerned, not because he was scared but because something was there that even made Atlas raise his guard.
Right after that, a great rumbling resonated through the ground. The shockwaves generated as if an earthquake had hit; the three dwarves had started to shake tremendously, the woman had already fallen on her knees, and the rest were barely able to hold their ground.
Even Emil was worried now; a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. "What is it, Atlas?" Emil asked, his voice filled with concern.