Another Stupid Isekai

In the morning everybody seemed to be happy after the performance from the previous night. Even despite the exhaustion from the travel.

We gathered our things after a quick breakfast because there was a chance of us arriving at the center of Uhms’ civilization. Let’s call it capital settlement since it wasn’t really a city by any standards.

We had to increase our pace a bit to achieve that, but it was worth trying since we could rest after that.

We did our best, but unfortunately, night fell, and we had to continue even after dark, using the moonlight and stars. We reached the right place, but everyone was too tired to do anything but just go sleep.

Because of the lack of light, we could only see the egg-shaped buildings outlined before us, and something that I at first thought was some kind of palace, but I later found out it was a cluster of the egg structures, connected with each other. Bigger than the normal buildings.

It was a place where Naalaa, the current elder lived.

Humma left us, to announce our arrival. He told everybody to go rest since we could share bread and milk the next day.

In the morning every researcher was sore and unable to move. They all were groaning. I felt like in the middle of a hospital after some terrific disaster with many wounded people. It was kinda funny, knowing that they all are overreacting.

[0)ᴠʟ Humma visited us soon after I managed to eat some breakfast with Tihana.

– Good morning guests. You have been invited to the House of Elders, to share bread and milk – he announced.

Since Hailwic was closer, she was the one translating. This news spread around the cam very quickly but brought us a dilemma. Since the researchers could barely walk, and also really wanted to meet the elder.

Marting offered a solution. Clearing one of the carts, and just taking the sore losers, I mean researchers, all the way to the palace.

We did that and made our way between the egg-shaped homes, fences filled with strange animals, both Uuuuns and Ahu, and also more cubic buildings, where they kept the livestock during rain and night.

Ahus were big lizard creatures similar to triceratops, although they lacked both horns and ‘crowns’ behind their heads. Instead, they had big tusks, like boars, and long heads filled with flat teeth, perfect to grind the stones and other stuff they ate.

They were kept further away from the center of the settlement, in places closer to groves, or river, where there was plenty of mushrooms growing.

I noticed that some of the Uhms were growing their own mushrooms, alongside the crops I already witnessed during our travel throughout their lands.

Closer to the palace were plenty of artificially created ponds. Small, and filled with clear water. You could see colorful fish swimming there. Some aliens were feeding them, others just sitting close, and meditating, with crossed legs and closed eyes.

– We believe in the ascension of mind – said Humma after he saw many of us looking at those immersed in meditation. – If your mind is prepared, it will live the body after your death, and join the cosmic force of nature. If not, you will be trapped forever in your rotting corpse.

This made Jakub Kowalski, an anthropologist, just blast the poor guide with questions about their belief system. Hailwic translated only a few, though.

– You need to ask those questions to Naalaa. I’m just a regular farmer, so I don’t know all the answers – said Humma.

That’s how their conversation ended, which was kinda funny. Others kept asking about other things which were more in the alley of our guide’s knowledge. For example, Mika Sawamura asked how can they have such clear water here without any filtration system. This led to a long explanation about Nu, the colorful fishes that would eat everything and make the water crystal clear.

They were very interesting because their color was a direct reflection of their mood. If they were angry, for example from hunger, they would turn red. If they were sleepy, they would turn blue. Happy was yellow, and if they were sick, they would ofter turn green.

Tihana immediately after hearing this asked me to go and observe them later.

As we were getting closer to the palace, I noticed a few houses, darker in coloration, on the other side of the river, flowing on our right a few dozen meters from the capital settlement.

– What are those houses? – I asked Humma, pointing in the direction of my discovery.

– Those belong to Ohmm clan. Ohmm means…

– Right hand of death – I finished for him.

– Yes. They are a clan of weapon makers. Since we are peaceful people, we keep our distance from them, but we also need weapons for the Despised, our scouts, and warriors.

– Despised?

– We are peaceful, so those who use violence are daled despised. They learn how to fight, and defend themselves.

– Ole was one of the Despised – said Hailwic. –  He and his men.

– Yes – agreed Humma. – Ole is one of the Despised. He took the role of The Speaker and talks with Ohmm clan on our behalf.

I took a moment to explain my conversation to others, and Jakub Kowalski, overjoyed by the new details, started taking notes in his little notebook while enjoying his ride on the cart, pulled by Martin.

The conversation ended since we were already approaching the House of Elders. It was built on a small hill, and there were stairs, built with the same substance they were building their homes. We climbed those and finally stood in front of a heavy set of doors, leading inside.

Humma approached it, and knocked fur times, then stepped aside. Both wings opened at the same time, pulled by two strong-looking Uhms, revealing a young woman of their race. Probably a teenager.

She had dark green, braided hair. It was thick and colorful threads peaking here and there. She was wearing a nice white robe showing her long legs.

– Welcome to the House of Elders – she said with a smile.

Hailwic translated that for everyone.