While traveling across the continent, one was bound to encounter random events, such as monster fights, quests or random human conflicts.
Max and the squad have left their previous town where they spent the night and had been navigating a forest when they encountered armed men trying to break a door of a wooden house in the middle of nowhere. A feminine scream was heard from inside. The windows were shut with some kind of wooden shutters that the men didn't even try breaking.
"Come out! We promise not to hurt the kids, hahaha," A long haired bandit said. Three other men stood by, waiting for the door to break.
Max and Manuel looked at each other and nodded. The duo started approaching the bandits stealthily from the bushes.
In a few seconds the two bandits closest to them were within range. Manuel struck a bald man's temple with his shield while Max slit another man's throat. The two other bandits turned around in surprise. Max pushed the long haired bandit away with his aura, into the door, breaking it. He followed inside. The bandit was laid on the ground trying to get up. Max didn't let him. The player positioned himself above the bandit, sword against sword. The bandit deflect Max's blade but the player struck with his left fist, fully infused with aura.
The bandit's sword struck Max's helmet, but it did nothing. The criminal tried to break free but Max punched him again, and again. Until his skull caved in.
The player got up and went outside to check on Manuel, but the last bandit was dead on the ground.
Turning, the player saw the person who they saved. Or people. It was a female, with two kids. But it wasn't a normal looking human. She had a blue streak across both of her cheeks, light blue eyes and what looked like a blue antenna of sorts on her forehead. Her skin was pale and her kids shared the same features.
The family retreated into a corner, visibly shaken at the sight of a fully armored, bloodied killer in front of them.
"You guys okay?" asked Max.
The family nodded, shocked.
"Okay, sorry for breaking your door.
Just then, Eliyah flew into the house, through the door. He hit the wall and laid on the ground, unmoving.
"No!" said the woman. She got up, ran past Max and out the door, but she collided with a tall figure's chest. "No! They saved us!" she said, shaken and barely standing on her feet.
The figure looked at Max who was ready for a hard fight. Sword pointed and raging with aura.
"They saved us. Stop," said the woman.
The man stared at Max. He had white hair and the same features as the woman. He had blue leather armor and a fierce gaze.
"You saved them? Forgive me for attacking your men."
"Did you fucking kill them?"
"I don't think so, I was only looking to get inside."
Max ran to Eliyah, who didn't move.
"Eliyah, wake the fuck up!" Max slapped him in worry.
"Ugh, I'm fine, I think?"
Max sighed and ran outside.
Thomas and Manuel were getting up from the ground, visibly beaten and bloodied.
Max exhaled loudly. "Thank god. You should've said something was happening."
"It was all too fast, he caught us off guard," Thomas said, rubbing blood from his face.
"Fuck," Max said as he went inside the house again.
"I saved your fucking family. If you had killed them, you would've joined them."
"I'm not so sure about that," said the male as he approached Max.
"STOP! Please, take this," said the female as she took off her glowing earring. It was silvery with a small blue crystal embedded in it.
"It's valuable, to thank you for your trouble, and as an apology."
Max took the earring." I don't think it's worth the trouble but okay.
As the player grabbed Eliyah and helped him leave the house, the male spoke up.
"Our people... We've been scattered across the continent. The humans oppressed us and we escaped their rule, but if you encounter my people, just say, 'Power in honor.'"
"Why?"
"They'll become friendly towards you. Or at least, they won't kilm you. I can see you're an adventurer. If you encounter them, say those words to avoid trouble. They might even become familiar with you."
Max nodded and left the house.
"Sorry for dragging you into this guys," he said as he went outside.
Manuel lifted his hand in dismissal as he bent over, hurt. "That was an Awakened," he said.
"Yeah. I've never seen that race of people before either," Thomas said after he coughed and winced.
"Some things you just can't anticipate or prepare for. It's not your fault Max. This was the best possible outcome," Eliyah said.
Max nodded. "I got an earring, who wants it?"
No one spoke up. "Keep it for yourself," said Manuel after a few seconds.
Max equipped it and inspected it.
[Ancient Ronian Earring]
[This earring is worn by the Ronian people who inhabited this continent for many millenias. The gem embedded in it affects you. It strengthens resolve and your aura.]
[Aura +15]
"Decent item, barely worth the trouble," said Max as he touched it with his hand.
"Many things aren't worth it, since we only have one life," Eliyah said with a chuckle.
Max nodded with a slight smile. "We're all a bunch of idiots.
The squad moved on from the house which was in the middle of nowhere. These people they encountered were ones none of them saw before. And there were many different races and traits of this world's inhabitants.