The giant Manta Ray steadily flew across the sky as it continued its flight path toward the West.
During the journey, Lux asked Cai questions about the Rowan Tribe, to which the Boar more than happily answered .
Clearly, Cai loved its tribe so much that whenever it talked about it, one could feel the pride in its voice.
"We don't like conflicts, but we are not afraid of it," Cai said with a serious expression on its face. "We are the only tribe within the Six Kingdoms that travels from place to place. Where we went depended on the season and the mood of my grandfather.
"Because of this, most of the men and women in our tribe are battle-hardened warriors. We also carry a portable gateway that leads us to Elysium, so it doesn't matter where we go. This is one of the reasons why we do not feel the need to travel to the other kingdoms in order to borrow their gates, and can remain with the tribe for most of our lives.
"Granted, there are those who leave for various reasons, but we don't hold them back. The only oath they had to take was that when they leave the tribe, they would make a solemn oath not to do anything to harm its interest, wherever they may go. After that, they can leave with our Tribe's blessing."
Lux and Keane simply listened as the Boar spoke about the pros and cons of traveling from place to place. Naturally the pros are you would be able to see many different sceneries, meet new people, and explore new places.
There were of course cons as well.
The most common was parting with the friends and family members who decided to stay in the places they visited, as well as saying goodbyes to the new friends that had been made along your journey.
They also didn't have what they could call a "permanent home"—a place where they could settle down and grow as a community, making their own mark on the world.
"Perhaps because of this, our faction in Elysium decided to have a place we could call our home," Cai stated. "Right now, our faction has built a small town in a place where different paths converged. In short, the place we chose is like a hub for those who also like to travel. Visitors can use it as a place to trade, rest, and to a certain extent, stay for extended periods of time.
"What we don't have here in Solais, we have in Elysium. So we are thankful for the opportunity to have a place we can call home, in a world that is similar, yet different, from this world we live in."
Keane, who had been silent for a long time suddenly spoke up.
"What is this Elysium you speak of?" Keane asked. "What new world are you talking about?"
Lux and Cai stared at the skinny swordsman with confusion.
"... You don't know what Elysium is?" Lux asked in disbelief.
"Is that some kind of big city?" Keane asked back. "I've lived on the mountains all my life. I don't know about this place you call Elysium."
Lux and Cai exchanged glances because they could tell that Keane wasn't lying. The mysterious swordsman had really not gone to Elysium, so the two of them were at a loss about how to explain it to him.
"Um, just what kind of rock have you been hiding under all this time?" Cai inquired. "You said you have a Master, right? Why didn't he tell you about Elysium?"
Keane frowned as he remembered his no-good-master who only drank rice wine and ate barbecue all day and night. However, even if his Master was like that, he was still the person that saved their village when it was attacked by bandits when Keane was only eight years old.
Unfortunately, Keane's parents died protecting him, and he became an orphan. Because of this, his Master decided to raise him as his Disciple, and the two of them had lived in the mountains while Keane studied the Grand Void Sword Style.
'Maybe this is why my Master said that I should travel the world and find my own version of peace,' Keane thought. 'Does he perhaps think that I am now qualified to enter this world called Elysium?'
Lux on the other hand looked at Keane with admiration. Based on strength alone, he could tell that Keane had already reached the rank of a Grade-A Apostle, without even going to Elysium.
This meant that, whoever his Master was, had taken great care of him and didn't allow him to get left behind by his peers in terms of strength.
"Basically Elysium is very much like Solais, but there are differences as well," Lux said as he tried to explain things about Elysium to the skinny swordsman.
Cai would also comment from time to time in order to fill the gaps that Lux left about Elysium, allowing Keane to have a better understanding of the world that he was about to go to alongside Lux and Keane.
"For now, I think it will be best if you join the Faction of the Rowan Tribe," Lux advised. "They are a neutral faction, and you will be able to let you gain a better understanding of how the world of Elysium works. Also, experience is the best teacher. As long as you are able to visit it a couple of times, you will eventually adapt to your new environment."
Keane nodded his head in understanding. He felt very curious about this new world that Lux and Cai were talking about. Something inside him was telling him that the version of peace he was looking for might be found in Elysium.
"We're here," Cai informed as it looked in the distance with a smile. "We have arrived in the current settlement of the Rowan Tribe."
Lux and Keane followed Cai's gaze and saw many fluttering banners that bore the insignia of the Rowan Tribe.
The Half-Elf was surprised to see that the emblem of the Rowan Tribe was a black boar with red eyes that would make anyone who had seen it feel intimidated.
The Giant Manta Ray let out a soft humming sound as it slowly descended from the sky.
Perhaps, noticing its arrival, a loud horn sounded from within the settlement, and several flying Manta Rays rose up in the air to meet them.
"Welcome back, High Priestess–ack!"
One of the teenagers who came to greet Cai, suddenly found himself falling off his mount when the Giant Manta Ray, which Cai was riding, shot out a blob of water that sent him flying.
Fortunately, the teenager's mount was quick and hurriedly caught its rider with ease, preventing him from falling to the ground. Clearly, this wasn't the first time that this happened, and all of the flying riders of the Rowan Tribe and their mounts had long known how to handle such incidents.
The other teenagers who saw this immediately understood what they needed to do and simply pressed their hands together and bowed their heads in respect.
""We greet the Great Boar of the Rowan Tribe. May your reign be long and prosperous!""
Cai briefly nodded its head in order to acknowledge their greeting.
"Um, did anything of interest happen while I was away?" Cai asked.
"The emissaries from the Elven Kingdom of Elswyth came. They had a discussion with the Great Chief, but no one knew the details of their conversation."
A handsome teenager who was riding a golden Manta Ray spoke, and the others parted to make way for his arrival. His body was covered with tattoos, and his strong and overbearing presence made anyone who saw him feel as if they were facing a strong adversary.
"I greet the Great Boar of the Rowan Tribe. May your reign be long and prosperous!"
The teenager bowed respectfully towards Cai, and the latter briefly nodded its head to acknowledge his greeting.
Lux recognized who the teenager was and finally connected the dots.
During the tournament, when Cai was about to face one of the Five Overlords, his opponent conceded before the fighting even began.
"I see. So you are from the Rowan Tribe," Lux commented.
"Yes," the handsome teenager glanced at Lux and gave him a nod of recognition. "I didn't get the opportunity to fight you during the tournament. Perhaps you can give me the opportunity to spar with you after our expedition through the Sacred Dungeon is over?"
"Sure."
"Thank you."
After this brief greeting, the flying Manta Rays escorted Cai and its mount as it descended towards the Rowan Tribe, where the people had already gathered to celebrate its return.
It was only at this moment that Lux and Keane realized that the Boar that many had ridiculed, teased, and laughed at during the Lionheart Tournament, was actually an important personage in the only Nomadic Tribe within the Six Kingdoms that even made the rulers dare not to offend.
