Chapter 195: Galoria

By the fourth night, the forest had changed so dramatically that Ka'z stopped trying to compare it to the southern region of Evergreen Forest. The trees had gradually become thinner as the group approached Galoria, but the terrain itself had become stranger.

The ground rose and fell constantly, with some areas stretching into broad valleys while others climbed into steep slopes covered in thick vegetation. North had to carefully navigate several sections where the ground suddenly dropped several feet before rising again, while the Gnolls simply adjusted their stride and continued running.

Then, as the last traces of daylight disappeared from the sky, the forest finally opened.

Ka'z's eyes widened. "Whoa..."

The word escaped him before he could stop himself.

Galoria stretched before him and it was nothing like Vaal'kor. The vast land in which Galoria was built was truly vast, encompassing even more space than the Vaal'kor village.

Ka'z had expected a large population after hearing Olaf's explanation, but knowing there were roughly seven hundred Gnolls and actually seeing them were two completely different things. The sight was overwhelming.

The settlement itself followed the landscape rather than fighting against it. Huts had been built across the uneven ground, some sitting on elevated patches while others occupied the lower sections between them. Narrow paths wound through the settlement, connecting the different elevations. There was no massive wall surrounding the settlement, just the natural terrain and a crude wooden fence that stretched across several sections.

But what truly caught Ka'z's attention was the landscape behind the settlement.

A massive hill dominated the horizon.

It rose far above the surrounding terrain, its slopes covered with vegetation and scattered rock formations. Compared to the smaller elevations around Galoria, it looked almost like a natural fortress watching over the entire settlement.

This was probably where their Guardian beast resides.

Ka'z stared at it for several seconds. 'So this is their home.'

For the first time since leaving Vaal'kor, he understood why the Gnolls were so reluctant to abandon this place.

This wasn't simply a settlement. This place was truly beautiful.

Ka'z's attention was pulled away from the landscape when a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.

The Gnolls had noticed them.

Hundreds of ears rose almost simultaneously as the people gathered closer, their eyes fixed on Ka'z sitting atop North as his group approaching.

"That's him?"

"The one who destroyed Ashmork?"

"He's riding a boar."

"Tega and Layla succeeded in bringing him here?"

Ka'z scratched his cheek awkwardly. He had grown accustomed to being stared at by crowds who hate him in Vaal'kor, but this was different. There were simply too many people and they bore no resentment for, instead they were intrigued and excited to see him.

Layla slowed down beside him, her tail moving slightly with amusement. "Welcome to Galoria."

Ka'z glanced at her. "You weren't exaggerating about your population."

Layla laughed. "I told you."

The crowd gathered in front of the village suddenly parted and two Gnolls walked forward.

The first was an enormous male with dark brown fur and a heavily muscled body. He wore a mixture of leather armor and metal plates across his chest and shoulders, while several scars ran across his arms and face. His eyes were sharp, and even from a distance Ka'z could sense the difference between him and the ordinary Gnolls surrounding them.

Ka'z's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Silver core, but much deeper than mine. Interesting."

The second Gnoll was considerably older. His fur had turned gray across most of his body, and his frame was thinner than the younger warriors around him, but there was something about his eyes that immediately told Ka'z he was not dealing with an ordinary elder.

The old Gnoll leaned slightly on a wooden staff as he walked.

"That is Bao, our Chief Warrior." Layla said quietly before pointing toward the older Gnoll. "And that is Wolvrac, our Chieftain."

Ka'z's attention shifted between the two.

Bao stopped several meters before Ka'z and studied him carefully. His eyes moved from Ka'z's face to North, then toward the weapons hanging from Ka'z's belt before returning to his eyes.

"You are Ka'z." Bao said.

Ka'z nodded. "And you are Bao."

Bao's lips curled slightly. "So you already know who I am."

"Your people talk about you." Ka'z shurgged and Bao laughed.

Before either of them could continue, Wolvrac stepped forward. Despite his age, his voice was surprisingly strong.

"Welcome to Galoria, Warrior of Vaal'kor."

Ka'z dismounted North and stood before the old Chieftain. "Thank you for having me."

Wolvrac looked at him for several seconds before smiling. "You are much bigger than the kobolds I encountered during my prime."

Ka'z raised an eyebrow but he wasn't surprised. Apart from Bigi and Bruk, he was the only one to reach 5ft as a kobold.

Layla immediately covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. Ka'z has never seen her this playful before. The atmosphere here was so jovial, Ka'z's feeling of uneser vanished.

Bao shook his head. "Father."

"What?" Wolvrac asked innocently. "He meets my expectations."

Bao could only release a defeated sigh while everyone laughed. The tension immediately eased.

Wolvrac extended his hand, and Ka'z accepted it. "Come. You have traveled for four days. Tonight, Galoria celebrates your arrival."

Ka'z's eyes widened slightly. He had not expected a warring clan to have enough food to host banquets.

'The Gnolls seems wealthy.'

Within less than an hour, the central section of Galoria had transformed into a massive banquet. Fires were lit throughout the settlement, and tables were assembled from wooden planks placed across the uneven terrain. Large quantities of meat were brought out, along with vegetables, fruits, grains, and several unfamiliar foods Ka'z had never seen before.

The Gnolls clearly knew how to feast.

Music soon filled the settlement as several Gnolls began playing simple instruments while others danced around the fires. Children ran between the adults, chasing one another while the older warriors drank and laughed.

Ka'z sat near the center of the gathering, with Wolvrac on one side and Bao on the other. Layla, Tega, Olaf, and Luke were seated nearby, while several other prominent warriors and elders occupied the surrounding tables.

Ka'z looked around as he ate. There were simply too many people. He could see a new face everywhere he looked. It was almost uncomfortable after spending so long in Vaal'kor, where he could recognize nearly everyone by name.

A young Gnoll woman eventually approached his table carrying a cup of wine. She had dark gray fur and bright green eyes, and she offered him a playful smile as she leaned slightly closer.

"You must be tired after traveling for four days. Perhaps I can keep you company."

Ka'z glanced at her briefly, his sharp gaze catching her curves and busty breasts.

"No, thank you." Ka'z swallowed hard.

The woman blinked but she smiled again. "You didn't even think about it."

"I have a woman already." Ka'z responded indifferently.

She stared at him for a moment before laughing awkwardly and walking away.

A second woman took her place not long after. "You are quite handsome for a kobold."

Ka'z continued eating. "Thank you."

"That's all?" She blinked

Ka'z simply nodded. She stared at him in disbelief before eventually walking away as well.

Layla had been watching the entire exchange from across the table, and gave him a thumbs up.

"What?" Ka'z asked indifferently.

"Nothing." Layla shook her head. "It's just good to know some loyal men still exist in this world."

Layla glared at Bao who rolled his eyes.

"You are my sister. You are not the one getting cheated on. Stop making a fuss about it already." Bao responded shamelessly

Ka'z nearly choked at that statement while Wolvrac laughed from the other side.

As the banquet continued, Ka'z slowly relaxed. He drank very little, mostly choosing water while he listened to the Gnolls talk. Their stories were different from those of Vaal'kor. The more he listened, the more he understood the Gnolls.