Just as Luca was contemplating whether to join in the 'roast the undead' session, a new voice cut through the chaotic chatter.
It was a woman's voice, steady and firm, with a hint of pride and authority. "Enough!" She declared. "Cease this pointless commotion!"
The chattering subsided, and an elderly woman stepped forward.
She was not as old as the others, her blonde hair still vibrant, her features still retaining a hint of youthful beauty despite the wrinkles etched by time and Luca's eyes widened in recognition.
This was an elf, one of the races he had always been curious about. Though she was older than the youthful, forest-dwelling elves he had pictured, her elegance and grace were undeniable.
The other women fell silent, seemingly realizing that they were acting like a gaggle of gossiping hens rather than the grand elders of their respective clans who had gathered for a solemn and important ritual.
The elf, noticing that all eyes were on her, sighed.
"While I do not possess the full understanding of what transpired here." She said, her voice calm and measured. "Two things are clear to me." She looked towards Luca, her gaze steady. "Firstly, this...individual...is not undead. He is merely a human, albeit one with...extensive burn injuries."
The other women gasped, their eyes widening as they finally took a good look at Luca. They saw past the charred flesh and regenerating skin, recognizing the undeniably human form beneath.
"A human? But he looks like he wrestled a fire dragon and got caught in it's fire breath!"
"And he's so...crispy, like he was dried in the sun! Is he even alive?"
"He smells faintly of...burnt waste?"
"Quiet! He might hear you!"
"Hear us? He probably can't even hear with those burnt ears!"
The elf continued, ignoring the whispers.
"Secondly, the ritual was successful. We did indeed contact the Goddess of Equivalent Exchange. And the truth is...this human...is the savior she has sent us."
A stunned silence fell over the group.
Then, all hell broke loose.
"A human? Our savior is a human?!"
"This has to be a cruel joke! The goddess wouldn't send a human to save us from...other humans!"
"And look at him! He's half-dead! He probably needs saving himself!"
"He's so scrawny! He looks like a strong breeze would blow him away!"
"He's probably going to ask us for help!"
"We're doomed! The goddess has abandoned us! We're all going to user as feed for the humans!"
"This is the end! We have no chance! The humans will enslave us all! I'll be forced to sell my body by them!"
"Shut up, you old bitch! No one would even want to touch that wrinkly body of yours that looks like a prune!"
"Oh, Goddess, what sins have we committed to deserve this fate?! Did we not sacrifice enough plump forest squirrels?"
"Perhaps we should have offered her those rare glowing mushrooms? She always seemed to have a fondness for those."
The women wailed and lamented, their voices echoing through the ancient temple, their despair obvious.
Luca, caught in the eye of the storm, simply stood there, watching the spectacle unfold with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
He had expected a grand welcome, perhaps a hero's feast, not a collective meltdown of this magnitude.
The elf, her patience finally reaching its breaking point, raised her hand once again, silencing the cacophony of anxieties with a sharp, commanding gesture.
"Enough!" She declared, her voice resonating with a regal authority that brooked no argument. "Will you all behave yourselves? You are the Grand Elders of our clans, the keepers of our traditions, the pillars of our society! Not a flock of squawking, feather-brained chickens! Have you forgotten your dignity? Your status?"
The grumbling and lamentations gradually subsided, replaced by an uneasy shuffling of feet and the rustling of ancient, ceremonial garments.
The elf, her gaze sweeping across the assembled elders, then addressed them in a calmer, more reassuring tone, though a hint of exasperation still lingered in her voice.
"This...situation...is not what you perceive it to be." She said, her voice carrying a weight of wisdom and experience. "The goddess has not abandoned us. I can still feel her presence, her protective aura, surrounding us, embracing us."
Prompted by her words, the other elders closed their eyes for a moment, focusing inwards, seeking the familiar comfort of their deity's presence.
A wave of serenity washed over them, a gentle warmth that resonated deep within their spirits, a tangible reminder of the goddess's unwavering love. A collective sigh of relief, tinged with a touch of shame for their earlier doubts, escaped their lips.
A creature that resembled an elderly salamander, wreathed in flickering flames that danced around her like a living shawl, then spoke, her voice raspy but thoughtful.
"But...Why a human?" She asked, her fiery aura dimming slightly, her tone laced with confusion. "Why not one of her angels, radiant beings of celestial power? Why this...human? He looks...fragile. Broken."
The elf pondered for a moment, a wry smile playing on her lips.
"I do not know." She admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "The goddess is omnipotent and omniscient. Her ways are beyond our mortal comprehension. Trying to understand her choices is like trying to count the stars a futile endeavor, a task that would drive even the wisest among us to madness."
The other elders nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting a shared understanding of the divine mystery.
She then turned her gaze towards Luca, her expression softening, a look of almost familial affection in her eyes, as if she were looking at a beloved, if somewhat battered, relative.
"But what I do know..." She continued, her voice filled with conviction. "...is that the goddess loves us. She has never abandoned us, and she never will. If she has chosen this human to be our savior, then we must honor her wishes."
"...We must...take care of him. We must offer him our support, our protection, our gratitude."
The other elders looked at her, their expressions shifting from panic and despair to a dazed understanding, as if a veil had been lifted from their eyes.
They seemed to be processing her words, the weight of their situation slowly sinking in, the initial shock giving way to a grudging acceptance.
The elf, noticing their hesitation, smiled warmly, a genuine, reassuring smile that radiated warmth and confidence.
"Now then..." She said, clapping her hands together briskly, a gesture that dispelled the lingering tension. "Why are you all still standing here gawking like a bunch of petrified owlets? Our savior has arrived! He is injured, weary, and in need of our care."
"Are we going to leave him standing there like a scarecrow in a thunderstorm while we debate the mysteries of the universe and question the wisdom of our goddess?"
"...Let us attend to his needs! Let us show him the hospitality that is due to a guest, especially one sent by our goddess, the savior of our people!"
The effect of her words was immediate.
The very same eyes that were looking at him with suspicion were now looking at him with a mixture of awe, pity, and a strange, almost maternal instinct to nurture.
The grumbling and complaining stopped, replaced by a flurry of activity as the elders, their earlier panic forgotten, began to approach Luca, their faces etched with a mixture of reverence and...Well, perhaps a touch of overwhelming, old-fashioned, slightly smothering concern.
Luca, who had been watching the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement, bewilderment, and a growing sense of impending doom, suddenly felt like he had wandered into some kind of interspecies old-age home.
The elders, each with their unique and somewhat unsettling features the tail, the wings, the sharp teeth, the gelatinous form—were converging on him with an almost overwhelming enthusiasm, their expressions a mix of awe, pity, and a distinct glint of...What was that? Was it...pinching?
He braced himself. This was going to be interesting. And possibly, slightly painful.
"Oh, you poor dear!" A woman with feathery wings clucked, her voice filled with concern. "Look at those burns! You must be in excruciating pain!" She reached out a trembling hand, and before Luca could react, she was dabbing a strange, pungent-smelling ointment onto his charred skin. "This will sting a bit." She warned. "But it's a traditional elven remedy. Made from moonflower petals and phoenix tears. Guaranteed to heal even the most grievous wounds."
"You're much too thin!" A green-skinned goblin exclaimed, shoving a plate piled high with steaming food into Luca's hands. "You look like you haven't eaten in weeks! Here, have some grub! It's a goblin stew. Made with the finest cave mushrooms and...Well, some other things. Don't ask. Just eat! You need to build up your strength!"
A burly female ogre, her face etched with worry, offered Luca a large, earthenware jug.
"Here, drink this." She rumbled. "Fresh spring water. From the sacred Whispering Falls. It'll purify your body and soul." She then added, in a surprisingly gentle tone. "And it's quite tasty, too. Especially with a splash of honey."
A vampire, her pale skin contrasting sharply with the others' weathered complexions, leaned in close to Luca, her eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity.
"My dear boy." She purred, her voice laced with a strange mixture of concern and...something else. "You are quite...striking, you know. Even with those...unfortunate...burns. There's a certain...rugged charm...about you. Once you're healed, I'm sure you'll be quite the...catch."
"He needs rest!" A woman with a long, bushy tail declared, pushing aside the others. "Get him some blankets! And a pillow! And a warm cup of herbal tea! He's been through a terrible ordeal!"
"And what about his clothes?" A slime girl or granny quivered, her gelatinous form wobbling with anxiety. "They're all...singed! We need to find him something clean and comfortable to wear!"
"And a hot bath!" A small, winged creature chirped. "He needs a good soak to soothe his aching muscles!"
Luca, surrounded by this whirlwind of well-meaning but overwhelming attention, felt a strange sensation.
He felt...babied. Coddled. Like a newborn fawn being fussed over by a herd of overly enthusiastic, multi-species mothers.
He tried to speak, to thank them, to reassure them that he was fine, but his words were lost in the cacophony of their concern.
He was trapped in a vortex of herbal remedies, steaming food, spring water, and unsolicited compliments about his...charm.
He looked around, his eyes wide with a mixture of amusement and a growing sense of panic.
"Um... ladies?" Finally he managed to squeak out, his voice barely audible above the din. "I...I appreciate the concern, but really, I'm—"
He was cut off by the elf, who placed a gentle hand on his arm.
"Hush, dear." She said soothingly. "Just relax. We'll take care of you."
And hust as Luca, resigned to his fate, was about to succumb to the overwhelming, if well-intentioned, care of the demi-human elders—a strange mix of wonder and a burgeoning sense of warmth swirling within him—the world outside the temple erupted.
Rumble~
A series of devastating explosions ripped through the air, shaking the ancient stone structure to its core.
Boom~ Boom~ Boom~
Sections of the walls and roof, already weakened by time and the elements, crumbled and gave way, showering the interior with dust and debris.
Crash~ Demolish~ Explode~
The once-tranquil atmosphere was shattered, replaced by a cacophony of panicked shouts, the clatter of falling stones, and the lingering rumble of distant explosions.
The elders, their earlier fussing instantly forgotten, snapped into action.
With a speed and ferocity that belied their age and appearance, they formed a protective circle around Luca, their bodies shielding him from the falling debris and the unknown threat lurking outside.
Their expressions hardened, their eyes blazing with a mixture of fear and defiance, their maternal instincts replaced by a fierce determination to protect their savior, no matter the cost...