He reached for his gun behind him.
"Care to say that again?"
[What do you intend to do?]
The elf girl folded her arms. "Has the sun burnt off your ears, or the ones hanging there just for sure? Your clothes, they don't look familiar and they're an eye-sore."
"These clothes are the proud uniform of the Jarshi Military Forces. Have respect!" Benign slapped his dark blue uniform, and gripped the gun behind him.
[Are you genuinely offended about a uniform?]
Benign ignored the system again, watching her movement. He saw her expression change as she scrutinized him. Did she wonder if he was an elf?
By her features, he could be deemed tall for an elf, and he had 'colourful' hair. But his ears weren't pointy and that should be a giveaway.
She pointed away from the village after her judgement. "Just leave. We do not host the people of Olien or Karnak here. I do not want you infecting my people."
He felt offended even if he knew he was neither. This was a desert, and anyone would die here if they didn't get water and food.
Possibly the only reason he hadn't fainted was because his Regeneration skills were replacing his dead cells but it couldn't replace the food and rest he needed.
However, since she mentioned a plausible reason why he couldn't be allowed, he'd tried to negotiate. These realms were in a bad state, lending a helping hand to anyone could prove fatal.
He didn't need to attempt using force, especially as a staff that sounded like a homing device rested besides her.
Still. He held the gun in front of him. "I guess I have to get in by force."
[Again, Benign Cross, what are you doing?]
Benign watched her steel rod separate in two and grew arrow heads that would cut through a droplet. She stooped down in an attack stance, her entire demeanour changing in an instant. "Try."
[I believe I said this in my first introduction but elves have magic! She might not look like a warrior to you but she is one!]
Benign slowly and discreetly returned the gun to his waist. "No thank you. You can put those away now, like I did. I only tested you to be sure you are truly an elf warrior." That was half the truth.
To his surprise, she actually dropped her stance and reconnected her weapon to form the rod. "Testing me? Who're you to test me? Where are you from?"
[Important question, Cross. Important question.]
Benign hummed, a part of him enjoying hearing his system losing its bits. He wondered if he could get somewhere with the elf girl by claiming to be part of somewhere else.
The girl tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at him. "By any chance, could you have been responsible for the rift opening our surveillance mentioned?"
Benign was silent, before realising. He snapped his fingers. "Right. I was trying to stop some Olien lizard-men from causing more trouble."
The steel rod lowered to her side, and she dropped her defenses, looking impressed.
So Benign went on. "I am part of the… protectors of the three realms." He said random jargon that he had read in a book.
He added, with hand demonstrations. "I know about the glitches and I genuinely want to help solve it."
Her eyes softened as he said that and she looked down. "Protectors of realms. They finally reunited? I didn't think they'd ever grow a conscience."
Benign nodded. Did she buy that, or was there really a group like that? "I'm also recently hired so I don't know about the fall-out." He didn't want her to ask more about the organisation.
"My point is, I need some warriors to help me solve the cause of the glitches. It's been a long walk and I need rest."
The elf looked like she understood and he felt relieved. She turned to the shack and waved her hand. What Benign thought had been a shack faded into an entrance with flowery vines around it.
"I'd take you to my father, the chief. We don't have many warriors to spare but we'd do what we can to help you." She squinted her eyes. "If you're truly a protector of realms."
Benign nodded reassuringly. Acting like someone else wasn't new to him. He'd been part of a spy unit even if it was for a short while.
"I mean no harm, that's the bottom line of everything."
She nodded and walked in.
"What were you saying earlier, Lego?"
The system said nothing.
"Well, whether it's silence or withholding information from me, I'm the main player in this game you raised me from the dead for. Don't forget that."
[Benign.]
"Just don't forget that. We're working together. Don't bore me, or I'd just work on my own."
[Noted. Cross.]
He found her looking at him suspiciously as he just stood out there, staring at nothing. He cleared his throat and walked past the entrance and the inside vastly contrasted with the scorching desert. The place was cool and birds danced about.
They were trees too and he understood that they might've grown a forest in the desert using magic and that's why they had to keep it in an enclosed space.
The entrance closed and Benign's senses sharpened. He was either in enemy's territory or ally's territory, depending on her father's view of him.
What if he realized he sees through him and realises he wasn't a part of this world? He had no backup for that.
"So would I have to eliminate him since he'd become a threat to my life?" he asked Lego.
[Likely. You'd keep the place under you, as well. In return you'd get skills and the soldiers of this station, Kiron of Noria. You can also contact the two other stations around the desert.]
Benign sighed, rubbing his hands together. He didn't even have skills to keep up with biologically engineered lizards, talk less of magical elves. Hopefully it wouldn't get to that.
"Can I come in, father?" The elf girl stood in front of a cottage surrounded by bright red roses and hibiscus.
Benign looked around at the other cottages, but they were just wood and small leaves. This was the only one that looked better.
"Father?" she went inside, leaving Benign out. "No! NO!"
Benign rushed inside. His eyes took in the place in a second, before dropping on the figure convulsing on the ground.
He took a step back, when he saw a body morph into a figure with a thin body and longer ears before shifting to a dragon-like creature, then back to an old elf with straight ears. "He's... he's glitching?"
Benign pulled the girl from her father when he stretched his hand to her. What was he supposed to do with a corrupted person?
The elf girl fell to the ground. "I-It got to him... What will... happen to Kiron now? Do I have to kill…" her breathing became ragged.
He saw the elf girl's hair, the pink streaks scattered on the blonde, slowly dim down to a pastel shade, as she held her father crying. Benign pulled her further back, contemplating.
If the glitching already infected the place, shouldn't he be looking for a way out? "Lego. What can stop this?"
[Glitches don't affect Legal Systemists, but will affect her.]
"Wha-Why didn't you say so immediately!" He pulled the girl back from touching her father again. At least he should save one.
[Have contact with the elf chief to stop the glitches, else he'd be transported to another realm with his biology infected permanently.]
As Lego gave the information, Benign rushed to the chief and held his shoulders. "Breathe in, sir. Breathe in and try to relax. I got you, breathe in."
The older elf tried to do as instructed while clenching Benign's hand. His reddened body and neck slowly returned to their normal colour and size.
His fingers unfurled and became straight. He still breathed heavily with fear struck eyes that began dancing about in panic. He dropped those eyes on Benign.
"You... one of them."
Benign nodded, if he meant the protectors of the realm, then he would be one.
The old elf's eyes became sharp and hateful. "You... returned with these cursed glitches! Your body is stained with the wars of many realms!"
What? Benign let go of the elf and his daughter rushed to him, wrapping him in a hug and calming him down. "No, father. He saved you, this man is a protect—"
"Lies!" the old elf barked and his eyes began to glow. "He's like them!"
The soldier stared at the old elf in disbelief. What did the elf mean by 'stained by wars of many realms'?
He turned towards the door when he heard other elves banging on the door to know why their chief yelled. Was he in trouble? This was his first time in this place.
Wasn't it?