This, this was truly captivating.
On the other side, the weeping Big Impa finally stopped and directed his gaze toward the doorway, seeing Little Impa.
"My carving is ruined..."
Little Yimba pondered for a moment: "I didn’t mean to, I didn’t expect you to start carving again."
Although Big Yimba felt a bit aggrieved, after all, the visitor was Little Yimba. It sighed deeply: "Forget it, I’ll carve another one later... Did the teacher say that humans have already arrived?"
Only after Little Yimba came in, Big Yimba noticed that Angel was standing behind Little Yimba.
Big Yimba was stunned for a moment, then quickly hid the already broken butterfly sculpture. The aggrieved expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a serious look.
"You are... Mr. Pat." Big Yimba looked at Angel.
Angel didn’t tear down the serious facade that Big Yimba had deliberately created, and smiled, nodding: "Yes."
Big Yimba carefully examined Angel, seemingly very curious about Angel’s identity as a "human." After a long while, Angel faintly heard it mumbling: "Indeed a bit different from us Elemental Life. The teacher said humans have many complex organs, I really want to see what they look like."
Angel: "..."
Seeing Big Yimba secretly muttering and not getting to the point, Dangross simply asked directly: "Little Yimba said that Teacher Magu sent a message to you, what did the teacher say?"
Big Yimba frowned: "It’s not Little Yimba, it’s Yimba."
Little Yimba hummed proudly a few times.
Big Yimba continued: "Teacher Magu said to prepare a token for Mr. Pat."
Angel: "Prepare a token for me?"
Big Yimba nodded: "The teacher said Mr. Pat is going on a trip and might visit the Wild Stone Wasteland. I’m to prepare a token for Mr. Pat to prevent him from being attacked in the Wild Stone Wasteland."
After saying this, Big Yimba scratched its head a bit sheepishly: "Actually, our Wild Stone Wasteland tribe is quite hospitable, just a bit stubborn by nature, often acting without thinking. There’s a good chance that once you enter, you’ll be mistaken for an enemy, and then changing their perception would be very hard."
Little Yimba added from the side: "Just like Dangross, impulsive and without thinking, and very foolish."
Angel understood that Little Yimba was mocking Dangross for previously not recognizing Angel’s identity and summoning Grada and Phoenix to battle him, which almost led to Grada’s death.
Understand he did, but you’re talking about your own kind from the Wild Stone Wasteland! To mock Dangross, you’re dragging your kin into it, what a ruthless person.
Dangross huffed, wanting to argue with Little Yimba, but its voice was completely drowned out by Big Yimba’s loud voice.
"My brother is right, so to avoid misunderstandings, you can take my token with you, and the tribe won’t mistake your identity," Big Yimba said.
Angel: "I do indeed need to go to the Wild Stone Wasteland, so thank you very much, Mr. Big Yimba. With the token, I believe there won’t be any misunderstandings."
Big Yimba: "Then I’ll carve the token for you now."
Carve a token? Angel was momentarily stunned. He thought the token was already made; turns out it’s carved on the spot?
Big Yimba fetched a black stone from behind, placed it in front, and focused intently on the stone. The stone immediately began to change at a visible pace...
While Big Yimba was carving the token, Little Yimba looked at Angel and said: "Human, I do not know why you are going to the Wild Stone Wasteland, but if I find out you are going with malice, I will not spare you."
Little Yimba’s gaze was sharp, directly meeting Angel’s eyes.
Angel could feel that Little Yimba seemed to have a natural aversion to humans. Although it didn’t amount to hostility, the resistance was obvious.
This could be seen from some details, such as Little Yimba never addressing by surname, but using "human" as a generic term instead. It was evident that Little Yimba indeed wasn’t fond of humans.
Angel wasn’t surprised by this, even with the "savior" label wrapped around him, after all, he isn’t the savior, and humans aren’t really that perfect. Don’t be misled by the lack of visible hostility towards humans from Magic Fire Midir or Magu, but how they truly think is uncertain. If the roles were reversed and Angel were in Magu’s position, he probably wouldn’t be fond of humans either, given that humans aim to capture Elemental Creatures, harmonious coexistence between the two races was never an easy task.
Little Yimba’s direct expression of resistance instead made Angel more at ease.
"I have no malicious intent in this journey, rest assured," Angel said solemnly.
Little Yimba gave Angel a deep look, saying nothing more.
Big Yimba’s carving was very rapid; it didn’t need to actually wield a knife. As long as the thought was there, the carving would naturally take shape.
In just five minutes, the previously unremarkable black stone became a palm-sized statue.
The figure carved was none other than Angel himself.
Not only were the facial details vividly exact, but even the inner essence was captured and carved into the statue by Big Yimba.
Little Yimba, sensing the calm and gentle essence emanating from the statue, softened its previously scrutinizing gaze some when looking at Angel.
Little Yimba knew that its brother’s carving not only captured the likeness but could also reach into one’s heart to capture the true nature of the subject. Since the aura presented in the statue was gentle, it believed that this human’s nature should not be too bad.
Angel didn’t know the deeper meaning behind the statue and personally found it quite likable.
After accepting the statue token from Big Yimba’s hand, Angel fiddled with it for a while before putting it away earnestly.
After accepting the token, Angel did not leave immediately but took out a Ghostfire Gemstone from his bracelet.
This gemstone was something he picked up in the Region of Fire, not very valuable.
Angel gently summoned the Alchemy Fire and swiftly shaped the Ghostfire Gemstone.
After all, Big Yimba had given him a token, and as a wizard who had "equivalent exchange" deeply ingrained into his psyche, he naturally couldn’t accept it for nothing.
Angel intended to carve a Ghostfire Butterfly as a return gift.
Since there was no need for special enchantments, only melt and condensation were required; in just over ten minutes, a gracefully fluttering Ghostfire Butterfly took form in the Hand of Magic.
Unlike the butterfly Big Yimba had previously carved, Angel’s choice of material was a very apt Ghostfire Gemstone, so the butterfly carved was almost indistinguishable from the real thing, from color to the innately contained fire.
Angel handed the Ghostfire Butterfly to Big Yimba: "Thank you for your token, this is my return gift."
Big Yimba gazed at this seemingly real and imaginary Ghostfire Butterfly, eyes filled with deep fascination.
It was somewhat embarrassed to accept it, as the matter of the token was instructed by Teacher Magu, but this Ghostfire Butterfly was so beautiful that if Younu saw it, it would surely be delighted.
Big Yimba hesitated for a good while: "Thank you, Mr. Pat, I really like this gift. I think it’s more precious than my token... Please don’t leave yet, I have something else to give to you, which might also be helpful for your journey."
After accepting the return gift, Big Yimba hesitated for a moment, then turned back and looked pleadingly at Little Yimba.
Little Yimba remained silent for a while, finally surrendering under Big Yimba’s gaze, heaved a deep sigh, and pointed at Angel out of thin air.