Humans accuse us of sending golems to kill their offspring. They accuse us of invasions and fires. They accuse us of using our influence to invade roads and stole their carriages. But none of these statements are true. All we do is prevent their advances into our territories. How many small cycles men have spent building cities along our borders? We have destroyed cities of trespassers because they are breaking the old laws. Violent incursions are made into our Forest, destroying our trees and killing our animals. We kill these men because nature is our gold. A man who steals a handful of trifles has his hand ripped off because of a small amount of gold. By that logic, would a tree older than a city be worth less than a head?

Ann d’Moss – Counselor of the High Member of the Great Forest – Leader of the Dryads

*

The beginning of the next day was filled with the task of collecting resources: Water from the lake was kept in improvised canteens; bandages were made with pieces of cloth; fruits, collected by Yvanna and Thiago, were kept in small bags that they kept around their waists. The camp was dismantled by Rinlia, who also wiped out any trace of their presence before they left.

-This is in case any of the forest races pass through this region. We don’t want to get anyone’s attention. – She announced.

Arthur walked behind the elf, ahead of Thiago. The soldier had the job of guarding the rear while the vampire advanced in front of everyone. Arthur felt more comfortable with the thought that the elf would be there to protect him from an eventual attack.

The silence in the group was disconcerting. The large trees they passed through were spaced far enough to allow a comfortable walk, but the tops of the trees were too large and threw the four invaders into the shadows, allowing an ominous sensation to creep in between them.

Each dry branch broken underfoot, each wind whistling through the trees, each noise made by small animals is enough to startle everyone. Even the elf, traditionally more composed, feels uncomfortable by the constant fear of an attack.

It is also during one of these moments that she realizes the way Arthur approaches her, seeking refuge in her presence.

-What are you doing? – She asks.

-What are you talking about?

The elf sighs. For her, the boy who saved her live and should be the biggest threat to all living beings, looks like nothing more than a frightened child. Everything about him shows a lack of experience. At this point, she wouldn’t even know if he was aware of his own instinctive movements.

And, as beautiful as innocence may be, someone in his position is not allowed to have such luxury. Although her real desire was to protect that innocence, she needed to repress it right now.

-Arthur, there’s something you need to know: From now on, I can’t help you the way I would like to do, or the way you probably need. The plan, or rather all the plans I have formulated since we met, have failed; which I have to admit is quite frustrating.

-What? Frustrating?

-Yes, exactly. Do you have any idea how many plans I have had to formulate in my life? Yvanna, how many plans do you think I have made since we met?

-I don’t know… Dozens? Maybe hundreds?

-Yes, it must be in the hundreds. That is, since we two know each other. And in all these years, only a handful of them have failed. I would not be a commander in Fiandel if my plans failed all the time. However, since you arrived… By the entities, not even planning a route seems to work. And that was when all the tools and resources were at my disposal. And now? In the middle of the Great Forest with only a sword, an armor, two soldiers and a civilian? Honestly, I would have to be very reckless to promise you protection.

-Are you telling me that I can’t count on you?

-I am telling you that I will be around and I will fight by your side, but that’s all I can do. In a way, it is closer to what you asked me. Now, you are not my protégé. You’re my traveling companion. It means that I will fight by your side, but I will not fight for you.

*

“She thought I was hiding behind her.” Arthur mumbles in thought. “I wasn’t hiding behind her.”

The boy walks further back, next to Thiago, seeking distance from the elf. The green-eyed soldier realizes that the elf had disturbed the human.

-You’re walking without difficulties. – He says, without losing his awareness, looking for any abnormalities nearby.

-What?

-Your legs. It looks like they’re ok.

-More or less. – Arthur points to the bandaged leg. – This one still hurts a lot, but at least it moves. It is better than before.

-And is all work of your magic?

-It must be. I can’t imagine what else could have helped.

They go back to being silent. The lack of sound bothers the brown-haired soldier. Accustomed to green spaces, this walk was supposed to be something reassuring, however, the knowledge that they are inside the Great Forest had the opposite effect on his mood. In fact, the discomfort was big enough that he feels as if every minute in the forest deteriorates his fond memories about trees, animals and even water – the monster’s attack almost paralyzed him throughout the sequence of events that sank the ship.

-Was that tree cut?

Arthur’s phrase is an immediate alert for everyone.

-What tree?

Instead of using words, the boy points at a place to their right. A tree, far from where they were, had splintered spots at the bottom, as if some creature had attacked it for some reason.

The tree itself had not fallen, but it was as if someone had deliberately uprooted part of it.

Rinlia follows that direction immediately, frowning as she gets closer. They were all so busy looking for movement that they had neglected the immovable objects.

The elf sighs, looking up. At the top of the nearest tree, she could see the shadow of Yvanna, who had returned after doing some reconnaissance on the path ahead. She makes a sign and the hooded vampire falls directly between the three, scaring Thiago and Arthur.

-What the hell? – Arthur jumps back.

-Did anyone see any movement nearby? – Rinlia asks, ignoring his reaction.

-No. – Thiago answers. Arthur just nods in agreement.

-Right. Did you see the tree he pointed to? – The elf addresses the redhead.

-Yes. Someone tore off a portion of the bottom of the tree. Do you think we are in their territory?

-It is possible.

-Whose territory are we in? – Arthur interrupts their thoughts.

The elf nods to the vampire and walks away, towards the tree. Yvanna approaches Arthur, removing the hood and sitting on a rock.

-We can be in the territory of the fauns. Or lupines. The two races, sometimes, destroy some trees to make a campfire, tools or instruments. The other races are more radical in their way of preserving nature.

-And these… Fauns and lupines… Are they dangerous?

-The fauns are usually harmless. They usually hang around all day and run from almost any battle, but the lupines are… Unpredictable. If we’re in their territory, we have to be careful, especially nowadays.

-Why? What are you talking about?

The vampire looks at Rinlia, who analyzes the terrain around the tree indicated by Arthur. She sighs, taking her canteen and passing it to Thiago, before facing the boy, who remains waiting for an answer.

-This forest is controlled by the union of eight races. – She starts, with an expression of someone who starts a difficult task. – They are the races that have a lifestyle and organization based on the preservation of nature, either because they venerate it, or because their powers are favored by such environments. Some of them are part of the alliance because they hate civilized races or because they don’t want to obey to someone other than the leader of this territory.

-I don’t understand how this is an answer to my question.

-If you don’t interrupt me, maybe that will change, right? Where was I? Oh, right. Eight races, united. This creates some problems with the organization of command positions, after all, there is still someone who orders and those who obey. This makes room for constant fights over prestigious positions or fights for better conditions. It means that, when there is a vacancy, there are many battles and a lot of casualties.

-And is there a vacant position right now?

-Two. – Rinlia returns and sits next to Yvanna, taking the canteen from Thiago’s hands and drinking what remains of water before returning it. – There are rumors that the council has been in trouble for some time, making so a power vacuum has emerged and, now, it needs to be filled. The details are unknown, but the big picture was discovered by reliable sources. This means that significant changes may be taking place. And when that happens, any nation’s territory can become… Problematic.

Arthur wanted to ask more questions, but he didn’t have the time. He was startled by the sounds of leaves crushed under someone’s weight. He and Thiago immediately turned to the tree that Rinlia had just looked at. Next to it there was a wolf over three feet tall with dark-gray fur.

The creature walked a few meters ahead, stopping just behind a pair of trees near where Yvanna had jumped minutes ago.

-Who would say that Fiandel soldiers like to spread rumors.

The voice came out through the wolf’s fangs. A deep voice, similar in tone to that of a human adult. Its snout, although similar to that of an ordinary wolf, contorted and, along with the features of its eyes, expressed something similar to a smile.

Like Arthur, Thiago seemed quite surprised by the wolf. Despite having heard about such creatures, he never thought he would see a lupine, much less that he would witness a conversation with one.

-We heard many things. – Rinlia was the first to recover, getting up. – For example, we can hear the noise of the rest of your pack, trying to surround us.

-And what makes you think that they are “my” pack? – His voice has as many nuances as a human voice. His walk is as that of a nobleman.

-If they were, would you be able to lie to me? To give up the dignity of your position? – The elf tone is defiant. – Would you be able to tell me that they are not your pack and pretend that your position is the same as that of a common wolf? – She looks around, to places where Arthur still can’t see any enemies. – Would you allow any of them to think that you could really be just another wolf in the pack?

Instead of answering, the creature lets out a brief growl, completely changing its expression. The back of his body rises, threatening, and, when he speaks, his tone is muffled, as if trying to control his anger.

-You shouldn’t provoke me. We’ve surrounded you for some time now. If we wanted to, you would be dead by now.

-But we’re not. – The elf closes her hand in a fist, trying to contain the tremor that affects her. – You surrounded us and did not attack immediately. Why are we alive, wolf? What do you want from us?

The creature’s expression softens. He seems to understand something.

-So that’s why the four of you are together? After your vampire set a trap in the trees, when you realized that something was wrong? This same trap that is in the trees above me? Elf, you underestimate me. Do you really think that I would be hit by something that have to come all the way down here?

At the end of his sentence, the wolf raises his snot, howling. The sound spreads like a bad omen between them and, slowly, the figures behind the trees appear around them. In a circle shape, more than fifty wolves appear, surrounding them all at once.

Rinlia, however, shows no fear. Unlike Thiago, who draws his sword immediately, she closes her other fist, controlling her emotions and fixing her gaze once again on the wolf in front of her.

-Are you sure that we are the ones underestimating you? – She talks with the best sarcasm tone that she can fake. – I would say it is the exactly opposite.

She opens the palms of both hands and extends in front of her body before the wolf can react in any way. Immediately, a magic circle appears under his body.

The wolf, startled, wants to step back, but is interrupted by the elf’s voice.

-Don’t even think about getting out of there, or the trap will explode. – Upon realizing he stopped, she continues. – I didn’t look at the tree for nothing. I wanted to take the time to gather magic and see where you would come from. I would never underestimate a lupine.

“I mean, I kinda did.” She thinks, hoping that the wolf would not doubt her words. Magic traps needed more time to set up. Even an expert magician would take longer to set up something capable of injuring a lupine. What she had time to do before he revealed himself was a mere illusion – and a weak one, capable of just simulating the image of a magic circle on the ground. If she had to keep it for too long, the magic would break and the opportunity to negotiate would end.

That’s why she tries to speed up the dialogue.

-Why didn’t you attack us? What do you want from us?

The lupine is enraged for being trapped. His real desire is to place a bet and jump in the hopes of getting out of there before the “trap” is activated.

However, he does calm down himself. Losing control of his emotions would be a bad thing to show the other Lupines. He needed to be in control at all times. To stay ahead of the pack like an unshakable mountain, otherwise, another wolf would come to take his place.

-You talk as if something should surprise me. – He pretends to know about the trap beforehand. Experience tells him that she won’t activate the trap and he doesn’t need to negotiate for his life. Not with the reason he had to come see her. – Disable this trap so we can get going. Your arrival is awaited.

-What? – The elf frowns, confused. Yvanna, Thiago and Arthur look at each other, also confused.

-You ask me the reason why we didn’t attack your little entourage. – The wolf makes a circle with his body, smelling the limits of the trap calmly, as if analyzing it. – The reason is that we have orders to escort you. If we hurry, we can arrive before the sun rises in the sky again.

Rinlia, little by little, understands the lupine’s words and her expression changes several times: First to doubt, then to understanding and, finally, to apprehension.

-Are you telling me that she already knows we’re here?

-She sent us as messengers. – He lies in the middle of the trap, waiting for the decision of those in front of him, emulating confidence. The other wolves imitate the alpha’s gesture.

The elf closes her eyes, stressed. The number of unpleasant events happening in sequence is too big even for a veteran commander. Not even in her worst years has such an unpleasant sequence of events been imposed on her.

-You will guide us peacefully. – She has no choice but to negotiate. – We will go with you voluntarily, so there is no need to treat us like prisoners.

-That was never my intention. Why do you think I approached you personally? Why do you think I came alone before you doubted my superiority in strength?

She waves, breaking the circle under the wolf’s paws.

-Let’s go. – She grumbles, turning to Yvanna. – Undo the trap you made before coming down. I don’t want to be accused of killing something by accident after we leave.

-Commander… - Thiago interferes after seeing the wolves rising and Yvanna climbing the nearest tree. – Are we really going with them?

-Yes. – She smiles when she sees the soldier’s worried face. – Don’t worry, the situation is better than you think. Instead of just bad news, we have some good news as well.

-And what are the news? – Arthur asks.

-The good news is that we will continue our journey and we will probably not be attacked until we reach the center of the Great Forest.

-And the bad news?

-I’ll have to speak to another member of the royalty. Twice in just a few days… I really don’t like doing this.

-Royalty? – Thiago’s voice chokes and he needs a second to be able to speak again. - Here? That means…

-It means that I am going to meet the famous Oracle of the Great Forest.

*

*