Eastward (2)
Despite all sorts of little incidents along the way, Asterios and I never stopped moving. We descended rugged mountains, pushed through dense jungles, and even had a chuckle when Asterios got stuck in a swamp, but we kept pressing onward.
For someone who'd been trapped in that dark labyrinth, everything must have seemed wondrous—Asterios's smile never faded from his lips.
"I had no idea the world was this vast."
"Feels like you made the right call getting out of that maze, huh?"
"Yeah... Thank you so much, Tia."
Asterios flashed a pure, innocent smile that belied his massive frame. His eyes sparkled like they held the stars themselves.
My kids were this sweet once upon a time... Kinda nostalgic. Hmm. Anyway, enough reminiscing. Time to keep going.
"I never knew the sky could feel this close."
"Yeah. With clouds under our feet and all. Not quite as high as Sagarmatha, though."
We were atop the tallest peak in a massive mountain range a bit further east from the heart of this continent—or world, I guess, now that another one's popped up.
We'd crossed plenty of mountains getting here, but this one was pretty impressive in its own right. Still not as tall as Sagarmatha!
"The stars feel like they're right above my head. So vivid."
"Mm. The starlight's dazzling."
On this new moon night, with no moon in sight, the sky shone with countless stars. That sea of stars outshone even the night skies I remembered from back home.
The constellations were different from that world's, but this one's starlight was beautiful in its own way.
Hmm... So, is this world and that one completely separate? Or different planets? Or maybe just an altered Earth due to some other force? Doesn't really matter, but it crosses my mind sometimes.
"Why do you think those stars shine?"
"The stars?"
"Yeah. Makes me wonder what's beyond that light."
Mm. Too lazy to pull out astronomy facts, but a quick explanation couldn't hurt.
"Each of those starlights is the light from another world."
"Light from other worlds?"
"Yep. Worlds like this one, planets like ours. Some shine with their own light, others reflect it from other suns."
"Light from other worlds..."
I wonder if Earth's light is in that dazzling array. Who knows. Would be nice if it was. If it is... hmm. Might wanna visit someday.
I've been soothing my homesickness by peeking at that world's internet, but it's no substitute for going there myself. Plus, time seems to flow differently between here and there.
Mm.
"Other worlds... actually exist?"
"Yeah. They do."
I'd been a human from one of those other worlds, after all. Can't deny it.
Mm. If Earth is out there somewhere in that cosmos... could I reach it? My body doesn't even need air, but space... hmm. Yeah, I think I could handle it. Never tried, though.
"Other worlds... Just exploring this one makes my heart race—how amazing must the others be?"
"They'd look totally different from this world."
I smiled softly at Asterios's sparkling eyes. Shame I can't show him. He'd be over the moon if he saw one.
Mm. Maybe I should whip up a way to peek or travel to other dimensions. Or someone else might figure it out. Gotta manage them carefully if they do, though.
Chatting like that with Asterios, we kept heading east. Wonder if we'll find a decent tiger around here?
There was an old saying: Back in the day, kids feared epidemics like smallpox and war the most... Hmm. Is that an old saying here? Anyway, there was this word "hwan," referring to tigers.
Countless tigers plagued the Korean Peninsula back then, causing all sorts of trouble. That's why the term existed—tigers were everywhere.
This world had similar terrain to China or Korea at its eastern edge. The city-states in the east where I met Yanluo. Figured there might be some good tigers there, which is how we ended up here.
Oh, and no islands like the Japanese archipelago. No idea why. Maybe one'll pop up someday? Or something else'll drift over?
Anyway, as we headed to the world's eastern edge...
KABOOOM!!!
A massive roar echoed, and in the distance, huge trees toppled over.
Hmm. What's going on? Some rampaging monster?
I glanced back at Asterios, who nodded slightly. Curiosity piqued—let's fly over.
With a casual wave, Asterios and I lifted into the air.
We arrived to find...
"Hraaah!"
"Graaang!"
Two beastkin locked in combat, swinging fists and feet at each other.
Hmm. One's got round ears on its head and a sturdy build—like a bear beastkin. The other's more tiger than human... a bipedal tiger vibe. Suspicious tiger beastkin.
"Just fall already!!"
"Kyaaak!"
The bear beastkin unleashed heavy blows that wrecked the surroundings, while the tiger beastkin darted nimbly in all directions, slashing with sharp claws.
They seemed evenly matched—the fight showed no signs of ending, leaving the area in ruins.
"That's..."
"Mm. They're really going at it... Guess we should stop 'em."
"Yeah."
I landed lightly between them, catching their strikes effortlessly. Left hand wrapped around the bear's fist, right interlocked with the tiger's claws—fight over.
"Let's call it for now."
With a flick of my wrists, I slammed them both into the ground.
Mm. Attacks like that are a breeze.
"Guhk!"
"Grrr..."
Mm. Good. Subdued easily.
"No clue what's going on, but quit fighting and talk it out."
"Hiek!"
"Kuh...!"
The two strong beastkin just gulped at my sudden appearance.
"A bear and a tiger. Why not go eat some mugwort and garlic in a cave instead of scrapping out here?"
"Huh? Mugwort? Garlic?"
Asterios landed behind me with a blank look, but I brushed it off.
"Grrrrr. Sneaky ambush!"
"Ambush?! You think I'm the sneaky one?! Wasn't it your clan who set it up?!"
"No way!"
Ignoring us, the bear and tiger started bickering among themselves.
Mm. Hmm. Mm. Alright.
"Dunno the details, but quit it and sit."
I pointed my index finger at the ground, and an invisible force pinned them down.
"Grk..."
"M-monster...!"
"Who's the monster? Tsk."
Suspicious-looking tiger beastkin talking big.
"Just travelers passing by. Heard a racket and came to check—found this mess."
I spoke calmly, looking at them on the ground.
"Let's hear what's going on."
Sensing no hostility from me, the fear in their eyes eased a bit.
Alright, then—what's the story behind this bloody brawl?
The bear and tiger's tale was straightforward. Bear clan from the northwestern snowfields, tiger clan that's lived here forever. Natural friction when they met, escalating into big and small fights, deepening the rift.
Thinking it'd lead to all-out war and one clan's extinction, the chiefs shook hands.
Good so far. But then...
"Our bear clan has more numbers, so we should unite under us!"
"No! Our tiger clan was here first, and our individuals are stronger! We take the lead!!"
They started arguing over which clan would be central.
At least no full war—small mercy. But conflict's conflict.
They settled on champions from each side duking it out; winner's clan leads the merger.
"So you two, as champions, were fighting?"
"Yes."
The bear-eared female beastkin answered politely; the tiger beastkin nodded silently.
"But you two were dead even."
Their fierce clash was so balanced, it could've gone on for decades without a winner.
"Yes. We've fought often during the clans' tension, so we know each other's skills and even quirks."
The tiger beastkin female just nodded.
Mm. If they know each other that well... no wonder it's a stalemate.
"So... you'll fight forever?"
"We've been at it for months already. But no one's stronger than us two. And only each other can match the other."
"Getting... kinda tiring..."
Hmm. Hmmm. Stalemate, huh.
Wonder if an outsider should meddle... but...
"In a situation like this, how about settling it a different way?"
Maybe butt in a little?
