Saeldir looked at Erend and Eccar, hesitating as he weighed the situation. He didn't particularly see the necessity of aiding these strangers from another world. Yet, when the Great Calamity had swept upon them, Erend and Eccar had intervened without question despite having no obligation to risk their lives.
That selflessness hadn't been forgotten. If Erend or Eccar chose to help, Saeldir knew he would follow.
"What do you think?" Saeldir asked them, his gaze shifting between the two Dragonborn.
Erend crossed his arms, his brow furrowing as he considered the prospect.
"We'll need to do a recon first," he said with decisive tone. "We must understand the real problem and the situation before doing anything else."
Elena leaned forward, eyes wide with hope. "Does that mean you'll help us?" Her voice was tentative, as if afraid to let herself believe it.
"Yes," Erend replied, a firm nod punctuating his words. "But I still have matters to attend to here first. I won't be able to depart right away."
Relief washed over Elena, Darek, and Tovan; even if they'd have to wait, Erend's agreement brought a glimmer of hope where there had been only despair. They exchanged glances, exhaling as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Eccar gave Erend a sympathetic look. "You should go home first and see your family," he suggested. "I'll handle things here for now."
Eccar understood that Erend had yet to reunite with his family after the grueling battle, and he was determined to shoulder the responsibility in his stead.
Saeldir nodded, his decision made. "And I'll assist as well."
Erend glanced at them both then nodded.
"All right," he said, standing up and preparing to leave. "I'll head home, but I'll return as soon as I can."
With that, he turned and left the room, his mind already shifting to thoughts of home and his family. Behind him, the others began discussing their next steps.
When Erend exited the chamber, Saeldir, Eccar, and the three newcomers shifted their attention back to the task at hand, their expressions serious as they began strategizing. The room felt charged with anticipation as they discussed their options for the incoming reconnaissance.
"We need to approach covertly," Eccar stated, folding his arms as he considered the potential dangers. "If these invaders have technology that can neutralize Magic, we can't risk them detecting us too early."
Elena nodded, her eyes flickering with a mix of caution and urgency.
"Our arrival will not be subtle," she admitted. "If we're not careful, they'll detect any outsiders immediately. We need a way to blend in."
Saeldir's sharp gaze narrowed. "Fortunately, you're not without resources," he replied, gesturing for them to show whatever they had brought. Because he knew that they wouldn't just come here without preparations or spare equipment.
Elena nodded then reaching into her pack and producing a small metallic sphere, barely the size of her palm. The object gleamed with a faint pulsating light and bore the same molten rock design as their armor.
She holding it out toward Saeldir and explained, "This is a portable armor core. When you will it while holding it, it expands and encases the body, adapting to blend in with the size and shape of your body instantly."
Saeldir took the device, his eyes narrowing as he turned it over in his hands. Intrigued, he channeled a subtle stream of Magic into it, studying its responses to his spell. After a few moments, his eyes brightened.
"Impressive," he murmured, "and while I can't replicate this exactly, I can create something similar." He cast a quick glance at Eccar. "I'll need time to work on this, but it should allow us to mask our presence effectively."
Elena, Darek, and Tovan exchanged glances, relief and hope evident in their faces. It was clear they hadn't anticipated the full extent of the Elves' abilities, nor the ease with which Saeldir adapted to their advanced technology.
It dawned on them that they were not only receiving the Dragonborn's hep but also with allies who could bridge Magic in ways they hadn't considered.
With a determined nod, Saeldir set the armor core aside.
"I'll begin replicating this at once. In the meantime," he said, turning to Eccar, "continue with the details of the invasion. Every piece of information could be crucial."
Eccar took over seamlessly, gesturing for the three to describe the nature of the invaders, their tactics, and any weaknesses they might have discovered. With the Elves' adeptness in Magic and Erend's impending involvement, they all felt the first flicker of hope that their mission might be within reach.
Then the three of them began recounting the details of the invaders.
"Their weapons…" Elena started with tight voice, "they don't resemble anything we've seen in our world. They emit bursts of energy that can obliterate anything in their path. And their armor is…" She trailed off, searching for the right words. "It's like a second skin — hard as metal but pulsing with some sort of energy. Even our strongest spells barely leave a scratch."
Darek took over, his voice tinged with frustration. "Their vehicles are the same. Almost impenetrable. They're like moving fortresses that adapt and repair as they take damage. We've managed to damage a few, but it's… it's nearly impossible to get close enough to do any real harm."
Eccar listened intently, his gaze unwavering as he absorbed each word. "And there's no weak point?" he asked.
Tovan shook his head, looking grim. "Not exactly," he replied, glancing at his companions. "But we did notice one thing: their armor pulses with energy. It's a pattern, a flow that powers them. When we managed to disrupt one of those energy sources, the armor weakened. It left them vulnerable briefly.
It seems like destroying their energy source is the only way to break through."
A gleam of understanding crossed Eccar's face. He gave a thoughtful nod, processing the information.
"So, these invaders rely on an energy core," he mused, already formulating ideas. "That's their weak spot."
Saeldir looked up from his work on the replicated armor with interest, his gaze shifting between Eccar and the three visitors.
"Fascinating," he murmured. "A flaw that's both integral and exposed, if one knows where to strike."
Despite the grim descriptions, Eccar seemed unfazed. A slight smirk played on his lips.
"This all comes from a completely different world," he said, his tone confident. "But that won't be a problem for us. Erend and I have dealt with threats just as unusual."
The three strangers looked at him, a flicker of hope returning to their eyes. Their world might be on the brink of collapse but in Eccar and Saeldir they saw warriors unfazed by the odds, ready to take on these alien invaders and maybe really save them.