Return Through Magic

Chapter 8: The Four Races

After finishing their studies on magical elements, Yuki, Aira, and Seira continued their journey to the nearest village to find lodging.

"Are we going to keep walking like this?" Yuki asked, feeling utterly exhausted after nearly two hours of continuous walking. Moreover, the day was getting late.

"Haha, be patient. We're almost there. Maybe another two hours," Aira replied, laughing at Yuki's complaint.

Yuki pouted. In his original world, Yuki often walked, but never for hours on end like this.

"Hey, there's a horse-drawn cart. Maybe we can hitch a ride," Aira said, waving her hand as she spotted a brown horse pulling a cart heading towards them.

"Really? For real?" Yuki, who was already tired, instantly perked up.

Aira waved her hand again, and the cart stopped politely. After asking for permission to hitch a ride, Aira handed over three copper coins as payment for their ride to the nearest village. The cart driver happily accepted and helped Yuki, Aira, and Seira onto the cart.

Inside the horse cart, Aira and Yuki resumed their conversation.

"Yuki, do you know what races exist in this world?" Aira asked with a smile. Her long blonde hair, reaching down to her waist, fluttered in the wind.

"Races?" Yuki felt unfamiliar with the term Aira used.

"In this magical world, there are four main races: humans, elves, beasts, and fairies. Of course, there are also monsters, but monsters cannot be called a race as they are mindless creatures driven only by their wild instincts to hunt. So, do you want to know the strengths of each race?" Aira explained, holding up four fingers.

"Sure, I'd love to know," Yuki replied eagerly.

"Alright, let's start with humans. Humans have a high adaptability and can learn various kinds of magic. They might not be as strong as other races in terms of physical strength or pure magic, but they can become very powerful with training and knowledge. Humans also can form large and complex communities and create technology and tools that help them in daily life. Moreover, humans have a rich diversity of cultures and traditions, making them very flexible in various situations."

"So, humans are the most flexible?" Yuki guessed.

"Exactly. Humans often have a strong desire to learn and grow, which enables them to achieve extraordinary things," Aira continued.

"I’m proud to be a human," Yuki said, folding his arms across his chest and nodding proudly.

"But humans are also the most greedy, cunning, and ruthless. They destroy and take lives just to satisfy their greed. Even now, humans continue to satisfy their insatiable desires, trampling over other races in the process."

Yuki was shocked by Aira’s words. He could see a clear hatred in her eyes. Suspicion grew within Yuki as Aira seemed to condemn humans despite being one herself. Just as Yuki was about to ask why Aira harbored such hatred towards humans, Aira appeared to snap out of her outburst and quickly changed the subject.

"Ah, what am I saying? Forget about it, Yuki. I'll continue with the next explanation." Aira smiled as if the anger and hatred she had shown moments before had never happened. She now appeared as her usual friendly and cheerful self.

"Alright." Yuki nodded, deciding to drop his question and listen to Aira’s next explanation.

"Next are the elves. Elves have a very strong connection to nature and natural magic. They usually live longer than humans and have remarkable healing abilities. Their strengths are speed, precision, and sensitivity to magic. Elves often reside in forests or areas close to nature, maintaining the balance of their surroundings. They have sharp eyesight and excellent hearing, as well as the ability to communicate with natural creatures like animals and plants. Elves are also known for their beautiful art and music, and their skills in archery and light weapon combat. Despite their kind nature, their kindness often leads to the downfall of their kind."

Earlier, Yuki had seen anger in Aira's eyes when she spoke about humans. Now, as she talked about elves, Yuki saw deep sadness in her eyes as if she had personally experienced the hardships faced by the elves.

"Aira, may I ask you something?" Yuki inquired.

"Of course. What do you want to ask, Yuki?"

"Aira, why did you say that the elves’ kindness leads to their downfall?" Yuki couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer, especially seeing Aira’s eyes well up with tears.

"That's because humans enslave elves and use them as tools." Aira’s voice was so low that Yuki almost couldn’t hear her clearly due to the cart hitting a large rock and causing a jolt.

"Sorry, Aira. What did you say?" Yuki, who had been thrown off balance by the jolt, asked Aira to repeat herself.

However, Aira just shook her head and didn’t repeat her words.

Yuki imagined elves with pointed ears and natural grace. He decided to ask something else instead.

"Can I meet them? Elves sound beautiful. I’d be so happy to meet such beautiful beings." Yuki smiled.

Aira blushed at Yuki's comment, and he noticed her expression change again.

"Yes, you’re right. Elves are indeed very beautiful. Perhaps, if your fate is intertwined with theirs, you will meet one of them, Yuki. When you do, please treat them with respect and kindness. Consider them as valuable as humans, not as objects. Will you promise me that, Yuki?"

"Of course. I promise," Yuki agreed without thinking, captivated by Aira's enchanting smile as she asked him to promise not to harm the elves.

"Alright then, the next race is Beastkins. They possess incredible physical strength and sharp sensory abilities, depending on the animal traits they have. For example, a wolf Beastkins will have keen senses of smell and hearing, as well as great strength and speed. Beastkins often have appearances that reflect their animal traits, such as ears or tails. They also can partially or fully transform into their animal forms, giving them advantages in combat or hunting. Their personalities often mirror their animal traits, such as bravery or loyalty."

"Wow, that sounds cool. So they can use the abilities of their animal traits?" Yuki asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Yes, exactly. Beastkin are also often closer to nature and can live harmoniously with their surroundings," Aira added.

"Lastly, there are fairies. Fairies are small creatures with wings and possess strong magic, especially in natural elements like flowers, trees, and water. They might appear fragile, but their magic is very powerful, and they can be great allies in battles. Fairies can fly with their wings and often live in beautiful natural areas like flower gardens or magical forests. They have a close bond with nature and can often talk to plants and animals. Their magic is often used for healing or protecting nature from harm. Additionally, fairies can disappear or make themselves invisible, making them very hard to catch."

Yuki was silent for a moment, processing all the information Aira had just shared. Each race had its unique strengths and qualities that made them special.

"So, have you started to understand? But you should already know this, right? It’s common knowledge everyone should know," Aira asked.

"Haha, I do know. I just wanted to learn from you. I only know about these races without having met any of them. Hehe," Yuki scratched his head, feeling awkward. He felt like he was continuously caught up in Aira's explanations, which seemed to strip away his identity.

Yuki knew he had to be careful.