The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Zalan felt like his limbs were complaining as he stepped through the increasingly marshy terrain. They were slipping between deep and shallow points of a bog, moving to what looked to be a decent-sized city on the horizon. Rubbing his eyes, Zalan felt like he didn't get a hint of sleep overnight. What little rest he got was expended on fighting uncanny wolves made out of pure darkness. He'd experienced better sleep when wrought with nightmares than he did the previous night.

"What did you say this next city was called?" Zalan asked, pulling his leg firmly out of the swamp-like earth.

"I do not know. I have never visited it before," Slauson said, creating ice platforms for the Fleshless to walk on. With the exception of King Docrun, the Fleshless shambled along too passively and would likely sink into the bog without Slauson's watchful assistance.

"I never thought I would be so grateful to pull myself through such unforgiving terrain," Rep said. "Normally I would try and go around these lands, but in such times I would much prefer to be able to stay in the protection of guardsmen. It does not matter the cost to my boots."

A few smaller creatures sloshed through the bog, slithering with the intent to flank the trio and their Fleshless. They looked like a large tadpole the size of a swordfish with the jaws of an alligator. Anytime one got close enough, either Rep or Zalan would blast them with Elemental Power, disintegrating them immediately. It was almost refreshing for Zalan to finally find monsters that he could do away with in a second. All the Levels he gained over time were finally showing themselves against the creatures of the bog.

As they strained their way to the town's border, they saw a number of guards gathering atop the walls, arming themselves for the approach. Zalan scanned them to see if they would be trigger happy and attack at a moment's notice. They didn't seem too panicked, and he continued to press forward at the same speed, trying to look calm and casual.

When they came into calling distance, about a hundred feet away from the base of the walls, one of the guards held a spear ahead of him firmly.

"Stop! Stay where you are!" he demanded.

The trio and the Fleshless stopped in place. Frowning with concern, Zalan looked at his feet. They were slowly sinking into the ground.

"Why are so many of you traveling together? Are the eight of you refugees?" the guard asked.

It occurred to Zalan that he believed the Fleshless were humans.

"We need a place to rest! We will be on our way tomorrow morning," Rep promised.

"How did you survive the dangers out there with such little numbers? And such few injuries?" the guard asked.

"There were over fifty of us, yesterday," Slauson answered seriously.

The guards looked to one another, a grave sorrow passed between them.

"A Beast of Slumber?" another guard guessed.

"Nightwolves," Slauson answered. "Four of them in a pack."

"And you defeated them all? None will be following you in the night?" the first guard asked, a hint of panic in his throat.

"They are all dead, I assure you. And we will be gone tomorrow," Slauson promised them.

The bog was up to Zalan's calves and he was getting antsy about not moving. Instinct told him that he should be pulling himself out, but he didn't want to provoke the guards. They seemed on edge, like the guards he had seen around Moonwell. He wondered what it was like to be a guard, staying in place and hoping each day that a Beast of Slumber would not pass them by. How often would they be on the walls? Did they get decent sleep or were they constantly vigilant? What was the plan if something catastrophic came to the town?

"How can we be certain that you will not cause us trouble when within the walls?" the guard asked.

"We can pay for entry," Rep said, rummaging in his pocket and revealing a gold coin.

"Gold will not join us in our graves," the guard said.

"We can give you our word?" Zalan asked, trying to sound confident in his offer.

"A stranger's word is as trustworthy as a feral animal's patience." The guard shook his head.

"What if some of us joined you in guarding the perimeter? Five of us can join as temporary guards overnight," Slauson said. Then in a much lower voice, Slauson commanded his Fleshless. "Salute them."

All five Fleshless stood straight, looking ready for any challenge. Four of them held their right hands to their forehead. The fifth had no right arm and saluted with its left. They were up to their knees in swampland. The guards looked eager.

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"That would suffice. We expect to see you in the evening, or we will have you removed from the city," the guard nodded, waving for another to open the gate from below.

"And what is the name of this city?" Rep asked as they struggled to pull their legs from the bog.

"This is the city of Winkerton," the guard presented.

Taking in the scene, Zalan was amazed by how firm the ground was as soon as they passed through the gates. There was still a malleability, like mud, but there was no chance of slipping or sinking just for standing in place. Both the feel and smells of the bog remained behind them. The town was made of unorthodox looking buildings, their shapes anything but a rectangle with a roof. There were several oblong buildings that spiraled upward into a fine point of a roof. Others looked to be housed within a living tree or several bushes shaped like a crude shelter. Zalan was astounded, staring with his jaw agape as he scanned the area.

"The bog gave them all these different trees?" Zalan asked.

Both Rep and Slauson gave him a look, eyebrows raised in amusement and confusion respectively.

"You think these are made out of natural trees?" Slauson asked, sounding somewhat baffled.

"How else are they supposed to make buildings?" Zalan asked, curious by their stares.

Slauson blinked, further bewildered by his words.

"What? Do you not know how buildings are made?" Slauson asked.

Zalan decided not to answer this time, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed by the question. The way Slauson phrased it made him second guess himself.

"Zalan, how are buildings made where you come from?" Rep asked.

"I mean… In times before current technology, you would cut down several trees, then you'd refine the wood and put it together. You make a scaffolding as a base, then build the rest around it. A wood building like these," Zalan said slowly.

"Where does he come from?" Slauson asked, sounding sorry for Zalan.

"Clearly somewhere that does not have people with Elemental Plant Power," Rep answered, giving Zalan a pointed look.

The answer struck him like a rock to his forehead. Every building in the realm was built by people with Elemental Plant Power. They built the simple ones as well as the larger ones. In the same way that Rosemary could put together pieces of Captain Buttonwillow's ship, any Elemental Plant user could make any structure. And the more adept ones could make the less conventional ones like the ones he was seeing apart from the bog.

Taking a second to admire the oddly shaped buildings, Zalan wondered whether one or many Elemental Plant users were necessary to construct them. Could one man do it on his own if he was a high enough Level? After witnessing Ma demolish an unbeatable creature, he decided that it was very possible that one man could do anything if they had enough Strength and Wisdom.

"Where do you come from that has no Elemental Plant users? Even in Moonwell, we did not have any living among us, but we hired them from nearby towns," Slauson asked as they furthered their way into the city.

"I'm from Merced," Zalan said, taking note of the tall trees hanging over them and wondering if any plant life in the city was natural at all.

"Ah, I see, Merced…" Slauson said, looking contemplative. "I have never heard of this place. Is it even on the mainland? Or somewhere beyond, where you have to go by sea?"

"Uhhh… A lot further than that. It's actually…"

Zalan stopped awkwardly when someone stopped moving ahead of them, looking like he was ready for a fight. He was puffing his chest and had his arms placed firmly ahead of him, forming fists. Rep blinked in shock and Slauson peered like he recognized the individual. Zalan also felt there was a familiar air to his presence.

"Zalan," the young man said, looking serious.

"Hey… you," Zalan said, trailing slowly.

"Have you come for our rematch?" he asked.

Zalan's eyes widened and he twisted his head one way.

"We fought in the Elemental Rage Tournament!" Zalan said. "You're… Leon?"

"Rexler," Rep murmured only loud enough for Zalan to hear.

"Just kidding, obviously you're Rexler," Zalan immediately corrected.

Rexler looked pleased at being recognized, cracking his knuckles enthusiastically.

"Where did you want to have our battle? There is a courtyard that allows the use of Elemental Power within the city. It is not far," Rexler said.

"What? Now?" Zalan asked. "There's kind of a lot going on in the realm right now. We were just planning to rest and be on our way."

"Do you remember our last bout, Zalan? They way you blasted my back with Elemental Lightning until I was like a roasted cob from the neck down?" Rexler demanded.

The memory came to Zalan in a rush. He also remembered being struck in the face by Rexler as soon as the match began. Brushing a hand through his hair, Zalan shrugged uncomfortably.

"Yeah. I'm sorry about that," Zalan said.

"You already tried to apologize. And I told you my forgiveness was conditional. You must grant me a rematch. A fair fight, and your apology will be accepted," Rexler said firmly.

"Oh…" Zalan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Are you sure? Did I even agree to that?"

"You did," Rep corroborated. "This was after your bout with Dimak. Rexler told you to meet him in Winkerton."

"Great. And it has to be now?" Zalan confirmed.

"There is no guarantee that we will live to tomorrow," Rexler said firmly.

Zalan sighed and looked between Rep and Slauson, hoping one of them would object and tell Rexler to come back later. Neither of them looked upset by the challenge. In a last act of desperation, Zalan looked to King Docrun, hoping the Fleshless would do something to just make this go away. King Docrun adjusted his crown, not even looking at Zalan.

Though, it was true he still regretted his actions from the Elemental Rage Tournament. While he had taken efforts to control his emotions and rage since then, he did want to sincerely apologize to Rexler. It was important to at least try.

"All right, fine," Zalan accepted reluctantly.

"Very well. Follow me, and we will see who took the time to improve themselves," Rexler said.