They flew back to Astera right after they distributed Rapha?lle’s carves, since her Wingdrake would not be able to carry it all at once. The journey was spent in silence at first, everybody coming to terms with the magnitude of Rapha?lle’s exploits. Then the ice broke, and they chatted about their hopes of the situation returning to normal now that Nergigante had been taken care of. The Elders that escaped the Recess to evade the predator should come back to it soon.

  They rested in the wilderness for the night, allowing their fliers and themselves to rest, on a cliff that dropped into the sea. It was a beautiful place, the reflection of the moonlight rising out to the horizon giving an eerie aspect to the scene. They enjoyed the view together for a bit, before going to sleep, taking turns to watch for monsters.

  Finally, after a couple more days of journey, they arrived at Astera. It had not changed since their departure, and its homey feeling was still present for Valen, who truly believed it to be his new home.

  They landed at the Tradeyard, a few people noticing their arrival. Valen spotted one of them that started running, he supposed to inform the Commander of their return. He made sure the bag containing Rapha?lle’s materials was still on his shoulder and they headed towards the council table, and upon reaching it they all piled the materials near her. Her leg was still injured, but it had started healing, aided by the careful application of Potions.

  When the Commander arrived and saw them, he nodded and seemed to inspect them, spotting the bags of materials and raising an eyebrow. But he did not question them, as it was best that they made their reports once the whole council was there. This did not take much time as all members started coming not long after the Commander arrived.

  Once everybody was here, Arcos started the meeting. “Now that we are gathered, I will leave our Fifth hunters to their explanations.”

  Valen nodded. “We have indeed found a new locale. Unlike anything else before, either in the Old or New World. It was full of crystals like those the Admiral brought back, some at gigantic proportions.”

  “That’s not all though!” Sophie said. “There was a mountainous area that seemed to be made out of basalt and a volcanic area close to the Everstream. However, one thing was clear… The place was where a lot of Elders lived.”

  That revelation caused everybody at the table to gasp, Elders were feared and respected for a reason, and usually lived far from each other. That so many lived in one place…

  “Thus, I named the place Elder’s Recess,” the Admiral continued. “It seemed fitting.”

  “I have also confirmed that the place had an unnatural density of Bioenergy,” Ikari said. “It is truly everywhere, and even regular Wyverns were full of it.”

  “I’ll make sure it is in our record then! Ohohohoh!” The Chief Ecologist said. “This is truly exciting, we rarely ever had the chance to truly study Elders in their own environments!”

  Valen and Aiden exchanged a glance before the scarred hunter spoke up. “I believe there should be restrictions on who is allowed to go to the Recess though… Even trying to escape from an Elder is not something any Hunter is able to do,” Valen pointed out.

  “And I agree,” the Commander said. “A Hunter will need to at least have Apex equipment before being allowed to go to the Recess. Researchers need to be accompanied by one such hunter at all times, and keep their mantle on.”

  Everybody at this table agreed on that point. Then Rapha?lle stepped forward. “Once we were led into the place by the Admiral, we split up to explore the area and look up signs of Nergigante, as we clearly noticed from the get-go that he was destabilising the balance between the Elders.”

  Valen took over. “I headed for the mountains and Aiden for the volcanic area. I saw signs of Nergigante managing to ambush a Valstrax, most likely the one we see flying around sometimes. The Valstrax survived, even though it was injured.”

  “I suspect that Nergigante is unique among Elders… that they prey on other Elders themselves,” Ikari said, to the gasps of everybody present. “The fact that it targeted the Valstrax seemed more like an opportunistic strike than anything else, but it is the reaction of some of the other Elders that is more telling. Since they fled from the Recess, it seems to imply that they were afraid of Nergigante.”

  “We did receive reports of Elders showing up in a couple of regions nearby” the Admiral spoke up. “I was waiting for you to decide how to deal with them.”

  Aiden then chimed in. “For my side, I mostly saw a new species and a couple we are familiar with: Uragaan and Laviasoth. I’m certain Lea will show you the sketches of the new species later.”

  The aforementioned Lea nodded, then Rapha?lle spoke up. “I headed deeper into the crystal forest with Sophie and Flighty. We found a lot of tracks from Nergigante and a carcass of a Chameleos, which supports Ikari’s suspicion. It was also relatively fresh. After that we surveyed with more caution, now that we had confirmation Nergigante was around. And then we found a Grimalkyne Village, and a plea for help.”

  Rapha?lle went on to narrate once again the demand to repel the Elder, the ensuing fight where the tribe helped, and Nergigante’s complete refusal to retreat, which resulted in a battle to the death instead. She then retold the frenzy it worked itself into at that point and how she was hard-pressed to avoid its attacks, then finally the climatic end to it.

  “I carved what I could, and Sophie helped make a makeshift sled that she could drag while supporting me. I think the tribe thanked us but I wasn’t able to stay much longer.”

  Flighty interrupted. “They did thank you, and said they would repay you in the future.”

  At that moment, Sophie put the several bags containing the Nergigante materials on the table, which contained pieces of the wing membrane, spikes, the tip of the tail, a horn, and several parts of its hide.

  The Second Fleet Master inspected them and nodded. “I could make you some new gear with this! Not quite a full set but a weapon for sure!”

  Rapha?lle smiled, then the Commander interrupted. “Fantastic work, Hunter Sophie! I suggest you go rest after this ordeal, we will convene the council in two days, once we have gotten a better idea of the situation with the Elders.”

  Rapha?lle nodded, but she waited until the end of the council before she went to her room to rest, as they discussed the specifics of the Elder Recess, the immense quantities of Bioenergy present there and what it meant for their mission. They knew that they still had not solved the mystery of the crossing, Nergigante not being the reason for it and only being an opportunistic predator taking advantage of it. Eventually they decided they would study it after the current issue with the Elders was solved.

  Valen went to his room with a yawn. The council had lasted hours and it only just finished. Thankfully they would allow him to recover before needing to go for his new task. So he went to sleep so that he was fully ready for this task.

  Two days later, there were reports that most Elders had flown back to the Recess except for two. There was also another report from the Third Fleet, which had flown their airship back into the Corals, where they confirmed the sightings of an unknown Elder that was more active recently.

  Hence the second council was started.

  “We know that most of the Elders that preferred to flee against Nergigante are no longer to be found, they are presumed to have returned to the Recess. However, we still have two that are still around.” He threw a few piles of papers on the table. “One was confirmed to be in the Ancient Forest, the other in the Wildspire Waste. We have an idea of what each is… and that leaves me with a conundrum.”

  “We suspect the one in the Ancient Forest is a Kushalah Daora, while the one in the Wildspire is a Teostra.” The Chief Ecologist took over. “However, there are also reports of an Elder that is now roaming the Rotten Vale, somehow increasing the density of the Effluvium there. It is one that the Third Fleet is somewhat familiar with, however, and they have previously found traces of its presence but never a full sighting. The Tracker never dared investigate them as it was out of her league.”

  Arcos thanked him and resumed. “So I have a plan. The issue is that we have four Hunters capable of hunting Elders, but only three of you have Elder gear. So I have made a decision.”

  “Valen, you showed us time and time again you are a formidable Hunter, and that few things can stand before you, so you have no issue hunting solo. The same goes for you, Rapha?lle, and now you're going to be busy helping make your new gear with the Second Fleet Master. You won’t go before it is done.

  “However Blue Flare, you told me that you are not at the level you once were, and are worried about your diminishing skills. And you, Aiden, you do have the skills, but while your current armor is respectable, it is not Elder gear. Which is why I have decided to partner you together.”

  The two of them nodded. Aiden broke out in an exuberant grin. “I will not disappoint you Commander!”

  “The issue is thus: We all know that Jake earned his title by slaying a Lunastra, and we know his history with Teostra. However, Aiden also has experience fighting against a Kushalah Daora, which is why I decided you will both go against this foe. It might seem a waste of Jake's expertise, but I believe Aiden is the priority. He would have an easier time against a familiar foe, and this will allow him to craft an armor out of it. That would leave Valen to go against the Teostra, and Rapha?lle to investigate the sightings of this new Elder.”

  Valen nodded. “I should have no issues against a Teostra, though I will prioritize repelling over slaying. I do not need new gear, and it would just be a waste if I did so.”

  “It is a good point, you are probably the one that would never need to upgrade your gear. Maybe a new weapon, but not new armor,” Arcos said.

  Jake stood up, using his Longsword to do so. “Even though my old nemesis is there, I recognize the value of helping the new generation. I will help Hunter Aiden with the Dragon of Steel,” he said with a gruff voice.

  "Don't worry, I trust you not to 'steel' all the glory!" Aiden jokingly cut in, which made everybody chuckle and the Commander show a smile.

  “And we will help the Third Fleet and the Tracker with their task once I am able,” Rapha?lle said, smiling at Sophie.

  The Commander was about to conclude the meeting before the Admiral cut in, drawing their attention. “As for myself… I need to leave, the Seeker has sent a summons for me requesting my presence urgently. He has found something and I need to assess what it is. I will return once I know more.”

  “I have held down the fort without you, and will continue to do so,” Arcos said. “Good luck to all of your endeavors, and may the Sapphire Star light your way!”

  Everybody cheered at that and they left the council table, Rapha?lle to return to the smithing of her armor, and the other three Hunters to depart for their respective tasks. Valen stocked up much more than he usually did, taking the highest quality supplies he possessed, as he knew Elders did not joke around, and now wasn’t the time to be under-geared. He would need to pull out all the stops, so he picked up the phials that were made out of Nikki’s distilled blood. He picked up the few Max Potions that he ever crafted, with unparalleled healing potency limited by the fact that a Hunter could only use a few before risking an incurable malady.

  Ikari joined him in his preparations, though he would stay out of the fight and only observe from a distance under his Ghillie suit. After their preparations were complete, they spoke with those that had made the reports of seeing the Teostra, and so had a starting point from where they could start their investigation.

  The sun was setting by the time their preparations were over, and since they did not wish to travel in the dark, they decided they would depart the following day, so they both went to sleep.

  They were in the air, their Wingdrakes carrying them as soon as the first rays of dawn were visible. The Wildspire being the neighboring region, they did not have to travel as far as for the Recess or Highlands. But the reports were made from an area far from Astera as well.

  It was well in the afternoon when they reached where the sightings had been made. So they dropped out of their ride and started examining the surroundings, and it did not take long for him to spot what they had seen. There were numerous footprints in the area that had literally scorched the rock, so it left no doubts about what monster was at the origin. The red, almost pinkish fur that he could see confirmed it too.

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  Ikari confirmed it. “It looks like he had patrolled this area for a while, but it seems he moved on since these are at least a week old.”

  “Given the date of the report, they were fresh when the hunter saw them. Maybe he noticed the Hunter’s presence, and that made him wary and move on?” Valen suggested.

  “Possible. You undoubtedly know more about how an Elder would think than me.”

  “Nikki is really unusual I would say, but yeah.” He turned to Adem. “You think you could sniff it out, Adem?”

  But it wasn’t Adem who answered him. “Use your Scoutflies instead.” Ikari cut off Adem’s answer. “They were trained for that after all, and they seem especially proficient at tracking Elders.Might be because of Bioenergy actually.”

  “… I never really had a use for them so I always forget about them.” Valen defended himself. “But yeah, that’s a good idea.”

  So he bent over and picked a few strands of fur, then brought them to the Scoutflies cage that rested on his hip. They gathered around it, then changed their red glow to blue, and started flying in one direction, over which Valen noticed was only one set of footprints. He nodded to Ikari, who started to follow him a ways away, as they now knew they shouldn’t stay too close together.

  Ikari still wasn’t comfortable with the presence of monsters, but it seemed that the two meetings with Nikki really helped him, as he was way less skittish than he was when they did that Anjanath hunt. Valen was proud of him, and he truly appreciated the efforts that he made for him, taking care of all the paperwork and research he would ordinarily need to do himself back in the Old World.

  They followed the trail the glowing Scoutflies laid out for them. It had numerous twists and turns, the Teostra undoubtedly covering every inch of his claimed territory. For some reason, it seemed that he had traveled it more by foot than using his wings. Valen suspected that it was because flying was too tiring for the Elder. That, or he wanted to make himself known.

  Still, they followed the trail for a full day and camped in a place they were certain was secure. The group then went to sleep, Valen and Adem trading watches in the night.

  Nikki started flying above them after a couple of days, but she seemed to have decided not to land to accompany them, and simply flew around, like a guardian watching from the skies. He smiled at her, but focused on his task to find the Teostra’s trail.

  It was only after a few more days that they finally found truly fresh tracks of the Elder. They were certain it was only days old, so Ikari only kept to places that had cover nearby from that point onwards. Valen followed the trail of the Teostra, the Elder still keeping to the ground most of the time for some reason, but the fact that no signs of blood were present meant that it probably wasn’t because he was injured. He did not complain, however, as it made his job easier.

  They followed the trail for most of the day, when suddenly the Scoutflies started to glow more intensely, not red, but a brighter blue. Valen knew that they did so when their target was in the area but not hostile. He nodded to Adem, who had immediately started to walk on all fours, and from the corner of his eye, he could glimpse that Ikari had checked on his mantle to make sure it was secured.

  The Scoutflies then flew in a direction, guiding him toward the current location of the Elder. He looked around, they were in the middle of the Wastes, though he wouldn’t be able to say exactly where. There were some large cliffs around, with numerous caves that he believed would be a good place for a monster to nest in. Some footprints were visible in the sand, their shape molded with scorched glass. There were numerous as well, clearly showing that the Elder frequented this place.

  Looking above, he confirmed that Nikki was still flying, as she had been since some time that morning. However, he noticed that she was more… guarded. She did not fly in as wide a loop as she normally did. Most likely she knew what their goal was and was putting on some kind of display to other Elders. With some luck, he believed it would help them figure out a peaceful solution to the issue.

  The Scoutflies led them into the cliffs, following a path that seemed to have been worn by numerous monsters, until they stopped at the mouth of a cave, and did not fly further inside. They even flew back to the cage once Valen reached the spot they were hovering at. He understood immediately why, as there was something in the air now, akin to a pressure and a feeling to not go any further.

  Deciding it would be wise to not pursue, he backed away and forced himself to release the grip he had on his weapon, having instinctively reached for it. Glancing at his side, he saw that Adem’s fur was puffed up, but he seemed to be regaining control over his instincts. Valen backed up a bit further until he was standing a fair bit away from the entrance of the cave. Going inside would be a foolish decision to make, and he wasn’t sure how the Elder would respond to him calling for it. Instead, he simply decided that he would wait until the Teostra came out.

  Crouching down, he released his weapon from the magnet securing it to his back then stabbed it in the ground after switching it to Sword mode. Close enough for him to be able to grab it should he need it, but not so that it conveyed an intent of hostility. He learned how much was needed from the time he spent with Nikki, though he set the weapon a bit further away than usual, since he knew the trust Nikki granted him was something that the Teostra would lack.

  Pulling out his notebook, he started writing in it, recording how he found the trail and what he observed on the journey. He traced the path that he made on the map, surprisingly direct thanks to the Scoutflies that led him. Then again, that was why they were used after all, as they drastically helped Hunters to find their targets.

  So he continued writing, periodically checking the mouth of the cave for any signs of the Elder. He barely managed to spot Ikari, the researcher having found a safe place where he could observe. He was currently taking notes in his own notebook.

  Time seemed to pass both fast and slow, fast because of the fact Valen managed to distract himself and slow because of the tension that seemed to hang in the air, simply by being in the same area as an Elder unfamiliar with Valen.

  Valen was snapped out of his reverie when Adem pushed him with one of his paws, pointing towards the cave. He immediately closed his notebook and stashed it back on his hip, then stood up. He still did not pick up his weapon, but kept close to it. He took a stance that would project his confidence and show that he was not intimidated by the possible foe that would come to him.

  He studied the darkness, but did not see anything, when suddenly a red glow appeared further in, from behind a corner. It intensified slowly, shifting as the origin moved constantly, and Valen could feel its presence intensifying. It was an aura that commanded respect, that spoke to the primal part of himself, that would almost command any lesser being to flee or bow. Valen did neither… and even felt almost the same aura that seemed to originate from his armor, but more focused. His armor's aura wanted to simply be given the respect it demanded.

  Then suddenly the Elder appeared. A fiery mane, regal horna that seemed to keep it controlled, great wings that seemed to glitter occasionally, though one seemed to be healing after a recent injury, scaled paws tipped with dangerous claws, huge fangs that left no doubts as to their ability to tear. And deep blue eyes that seemed to study him intensely as he approached.

  The Teostra approached slowly, not changing his pace but projecting a feeling of indifference, though Valen glimpsed a tiny glimmer of interest in him. The fact he wasn’t immediately hostile was a good start, and he would make sure the Elder did not get any reason to become so.

  Finally, the Teostra stopped just outside his cave and simply stared at Valen, to which the hunter returned the gaze. Just peering into those orbs, he could feel the wisdom of the Elder, he could feel that he had lived decades, if not more.He knew what the Hunter was capable of, but seemed to understand he did not have hostile intentions, so the Elder did not as well. He did seem to be disapproving of the intrusion into his territory, however.

  This was the feelings that Valen got, both thanks to his experience with Nikki, and because they almost emanated from the Elder. So he did the only thing that he believed would clarify things to the being in front of him. He slowly dug into his pouch and removed something that Rapha?lle agreed to give before they left, once he explained to her what he wanted to attempt: a single spike from Nergigante.

  He presented it to the Teostra, and immediately could feel its whole demeanor shift. He seemed to understand what it meant, that hunters managed to triumph over the Elder that preyed upon other Elders. A short growl and a subtle downward movement with his head indicated that he wanted to study it closer. So Valen threw the spike gently forwards, closer to the Elder, which immediately bent down and sniffed the spike, then placed a paw on it. He seemed to focus for a moment before looking at Valen.

  The Elder’s stance seemed to shift, and while he still seemed disapproving of their presence, he now felt thankful for ridding the Recess of the threat that had invaded it. Valen simply relaxed a bit in return, and they stared at each other for a bit before the Teostra suddenly seemed to change his focus and looked skywards. It looked straight at Nikki flying above and immediately roared, a sound that Valen truly felt in his bones. It conveyed dissatisfaction, a bit of anger, and a desire for explanation. He barely managed to suppress the reflex to pick up his weapon and stood his ground.

  However, the result was immediate. Nikki immediately changed her flight pattern and started heading towards their location. The Teostra was now on guard, and seemed to be ready to fight with the Valstrax if she proved hostile towards him. However, once she was visible by herself and not as a crimson ball, she immediately slowed down and controlled her descent to land behind Valen, immediately shifting her wings so they did not aim toward the Teostra from either end.

  The fiery Elder growled this time, but conveying the same feelings. Nikki, however, seemed to project feelings of reassurance, but also a hint of fierceness and… Valen almost thought he did not get it right, but he was certain he did: protection. And she was looking at Valen when she did so.

  He almost gasped, he was certain she was telling the Teostra that she would side with him if he proved hostile. The Teostra seemed to be in disbelief as well, but immediately looked at Valen in a new way: judging him.

  Valen really did not want to risk doing anything that could anger the Elder, but he had a spark of inspiration. And so he pointed at one of the pawprints that had been charred due to his aura, as well as some of the glass that was around, and did a wide gesture to designate the whole surrounding. He also did his best to convey the feeling of protection, of respect.

  The Teostra seemed to be confused for a bit, but Nikki managed to understand what Valen meant, and she was able to clarify to the Elder what Valen meant exactly: to protect the ecosystem, to not simply exploit it or destroy it. He seemed to understand, though immediately challenged Valen, to dare him that he would not be able to stop him anyway. His aura intensified, fire curling around him and glittering fur starting to shed from his mane.

  Immediately Valen reached for his weapon and gripped the handle, though he did not pick it up, merely answering the challenge with pure determination. He barely flinched when he got hit, and stared down the Teostra. The pressure that was inflicted by the Teostra was staggering, but Valen held firm. He ignored everything else in the world and only focused on the Elder attempting to cow him. And thus, he held on.

  Seconds trickled by, but they felt like hours as the moment stretched into eternity, the result of the sheer focus Valen was pouring into his effort not to back down. He wasn’t sure where he was finding the strength to sustain it, but did not question it.

  Then suddenly, the Teostra stopped, his stance shifting in an instant and the low growl that he was emitting, finally realizing the Elder was emitting it in its absence. The feeling he was getting now was of respect and approval, of Valen being able to endure his aura, which he noticed immediately dimmed, no more fire curling around the Elder.

  Valen took a deep breath and saw Nikki’s head in his peripheral vision. She had a smug look on her face, and projected the feeling of pride, as if she knew that he would be able to pass the Teostra’s test. Then she looked back at the Teostra and rumbled, giving the feeling of agreement to the Teostra, who responded in kind. He then looked at Valen for a long while, then quickly looked at Adem, who was hiding behind Valen’s leg, and simply seemed ambivalent towards them.

  Then, the Teostra turned around and walked back into his cave, though not before growling one last time at the group, the dismissal clear before he ventured further inside.

  Valen watched the Elder until he turned the corner, then exhaled in relief. He had no idea that his crazy idea would work, and that he had obtained a promise of a sort from the Teostra that he would preserve as much of the environment as he was able. It definitely meant that his goal of making sure the Teostra did not upset the balance of the Waste was accomplished. He looked at Nikki and smiled, finally pulling his weapon out of the ground and sheathing it back on his back.

  ‘Thanks,’ he signed to Nikki.

  ‘You good, all you. You showed I made right choice.’

  ‘What choice?’ Valen frowned at that answer from Nikki.

  ‘Saving you.’

  Valen was taken aback, he did not expect this answer from Nikki. She rumbled and rubbed his side with her head, then pulled back and continued.

  ‘He respect you. You proved you strong. You no retreat. You win challenge.’

  Valen paused to think on what she just said. If he understood right, it revealed that Elders could challenge each other to force a concession from the other, and it was more of a battle of will and show of force than a fight. The fact the Teostra agreed to do it this way instead of just trying to attack him proved that he saw Valen as being as strong as an Elder.he did not really know what to think about it.

  ‘I understand.’ He glanced at the cave where the Teostra retreated to. ‘We go, task is done.’ Nikki nodded. She then glanced at him and rumbled in approval before she fired up her wings and took off.

  Once Nikki was at her usual high altitude, Adem finally knocked on Valen’s leg to attract his attention. “Meowster… I do not know how you withstood that Teostra aura, but I’m claw-mazed!” Valen smiled and answered.

  “I’m not sure how either, but I’m happy that I managed to do it.” Then they started to walk away towards where he knew Ikari was waiting, picking up the Nergigante spike on the way.

  Then they finally reached Ikari, who was curled in a ball, shaking. Valen’s eyes widened and he rushed to him. “Ikari! I’m here!”

  The Handler looked up and exhaled in relief. He then spoke with a shaking voice. “I… I now understand wh-why Elders are t-truly forces of nature. When t-that Teostra let his wh-whole aura out… I could not stand it. I thought it-t was an exaggeration after meeting Nikki, but sh-she reigns it in, constantly, because of you Valen.” He let out a long exhale, then smiled, his shaking subsiding a bit. “You are something else Valen, I’m not sure even Jake would be able to take it like you did.”

  Valen nodded. “I’m sorry though, I did not expect that it would happen. To be fair, I think the Valstrax I slayed was too mad to use his aura effectively.”

  “Do not worry about it, I’m mostly better already. I think your presence is actually what is calming me down. You may actually have your own aura, and it might be why you were able to challenge the Teostra so assuredly,” the researcher hypothesized.

  Valen frowned,then tilted his head.

  “You might be right. We’ll continue this on the road, we have to be gone before the Teostra decides to come back out of his cave.”

  “Then let's not tarry,” Ikari answered, shouldering his backpack.