RACE: HUMAN
CLASS: Swordman
HP: 480/480
MP: 320/320
STR: 127
DEX: 112
INT: 98
Pure Essence: 1000
Divine Blessing:
Essence (1/1):
- [Light Essence.] (RENDESCE)
Skill =
Nora could cry..
No, he was already crying. He wiped his tears, blowing his nose with his sleeve.
Essence! He got an essence!. Light essence no less.
Nora grinned. he lay across his bed, sending straw plummeting to the floor. His home feels strange; just two days ago, he had tried to sneak out of here. But now returning and having his body relaxed from these two days.. He began to believe nothing was going to happen. That thing will stay the same forever.
If only those were true.. Meeting Ruvick, learning about Nil's death, seeing the monster uprising, and the fact that half of the forest burned have convinced him that he and his group did the right thing. Well, maybe they were too eager. He still remembers Ruvick's obvious dislike of their plan to use a wealth they did not have yet to pay for adventurers.
Ruvick.. He wonders if he is fine. The treant is a complete mystery to Nora. Born off the Great Nil. The huge trees that produce the all-curing fruit. Nil had been a secret that the Wood Elves and the Humans kept. They kept any information about Nil from going out of this forest. Every child has been taught since they were little. You do not talk to the visitor about the great tree.
After they were separated. Nora, the Sentinel, and Liy have encountered nine monsters. Liy had killed most of them. Nora and the Sentinel act as Liy's support. But, just when they almost made it to the village, they were ambushed by two Liyu.
Liy kept both of them at bay with his spear. He was quickly overpowered by the two Liyu, forcing Nora and The Sentinel to jump in. The fight was brutal, Liy lost his hand. But they still manage to win. Nora delivers a killing blow to one of the Liyu. He received the Life essence and jumped from level five to level eighteen.
He had delivered Ruvick's message to the village elder and spread it around the villagers. It was a somber moment. None of them call him crazy. They already suspect this is to be the case. The Guardian was thought to be born from trees. And they had made their displeasure clear whenever a villager tried to cut a tree. And the mysterious case of the tree’s root-entangling beast.
They had decided to take the night to rest. He will complete Ruvick’s request. This’ll bring people who plan to leave into staying. At least some of them. It’s a worthy cause for him to continue.
Nora stood, wood creaking under his feet. He winced, his heart lurched. That is dangerous. If the wood breaks, he will fall to his death. His family treehouse is quite tall compared to the others.
He made his way toward the flimsy bridge that connected to another house. The railing is sturdy, he leans on it. Taking in the sight of countless treehouses with light inside them. Tonight wind is strong, the sound of rustling leaves wails through the night, almost pushing his hair to stab his eyes.
Liy is there, taking in the sight. Nora has tied his shirt around Liy’s head. Without his head for the world to see. Liy just looks like another Sentinel. His arm has been healed, grown back by the village healer, who is already used to healing injured Sentinels.
“Liy!, where is the Sentinel?”
Liy turned, looking at him. He briefly stared back at the hundred tree houses around them.
Nora supposes this will be quite a sight for someone who hasn’t seen this. He particularly liked how the torch lit up the surroundings like a yellow glowing bubble, making sure no one climbed in the dark.
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Liy made a gesture, he opened his palm up. And with his left hand, he air writes something.
“You want to write?”
Liy nodded.
Nora wonders what is happening. Liy and the Sentinel had communicated with him. Only through hand sign, though. A simple one. Nora went into his house, motioning Liy to follow, and he drew a quill and paper from his desk.
Liy took up the quill and wrote.
‘I’m Ruvick. Currently inside Liy’s mind’
Nora blinked at the word. He didn’t know Ruvick could do that. “You are?”
‘Yes’
“What is our code then?”
It took Liy–Ruvick a moment to answer. His gaze darted between Nora and the paper.
‘We have no such thing’
Nora nods, satisfied with the answer. He smiled at Ruvick's obvious confusion. “You’re alive! The raid going well?”
‘I found ten dead human bodies’
“Oh,” Cold sweat went down Nora's hair. He has a lot of friends participating in that raid. Nora drummed his fingers on the table. Will Ruvick be able to identify the body? No, the best he could do would just be hair color.
‘I also found three living humans. I took your advice and hid my birth from them.
A strange swirl of pride glows inside him. He did not think Ruvick would listen to him. The treant seems so bent on saving any Humans he finds. Nora had worried Ruvick would fall to Human betrayal.
“That is wise, Ruvick. Can you tell me anything about them? I might be able to help.”
‘They’re named. Mort, Guvikor, and Sarel.’
“I did not recognize them. They must be from a different village. Although I recognise the name Guvikor. He is a retiring soldier. If I’m not mistaken, he appears out of nowhere, stumbles upon the Moose Village. And now he has a wife and kids. Guvikor is quite famous because he has contributed greatly to monster hunting.”
‘I see. I don’t think this information will be useful for anything.’
Nora's eyebrow rose on that. What Ruvick said is true. But still, the Treant sure did not know how to sugarcoat his words.
‘There’s something that slips my mind. I should have told you earlier. The one responsible for the burning of half the forest is the Dark Elves. The grand root suspected they would make a return and finish the forest for good. The Wood Elves went to battle with them and lost.’
His eyes scan over what Ruvick has just written. He read it over and over. Nora could hear his heartbeat thrumming against his ear. A battle? Between the elves? Why?. “Ruvick.. You should’ve really told me about this earlier,” Nora scratched his chin. This changes everything..
It is right?
Dark Elves. The ruler of the Myospan continent. They won the Ice continent against the Yeti, a creature that has lived there for decades. Now the Dark Elves are in open war with five kingdoms. Somehow gaining the upper hand.
Those Dark Elves?
Nora needs to warn the entire village.
Also, his parent.
He needs to stop the adventurer plan. Too risky. They would just be sending them to die against the Elves.
Everyone should leave this forest..
“Ruvick. What would you do if I change my mind?”
‘Then, I shall have Liy to help you with the evacuation’
“What? You don’t want us to fight?”
‘I do’
“Then why?”
‘Because it's not up to me, Nora. And the trees.. They want you to live. Just like this one’
Liy-Ruvick put down the quill, he stepped to Nora’s bed and pressed his hand to the tree trunk. A silent conversation seemingly took place as he did that.
Oh right, the trees are alive..
Ruvick motioned toward the quill.
Nora grabbed it and handed it to him.
Liy’s hand moved, etching something on the trunk.
‘Have you spoken to him, Nora?’
“No,” Nora gritted his teeth. “No, I haven’t. I'm sorry,” It slipped his mind. The trunk has been there his whole life. His back to it as he slept each night.
‘Then please do not forget’
Nora blinked a tear. He gives Ruvick a weak nod. “And to think I was angry at you for forgetting something important.”
‘You were angry?’
“Yes, I was. But when I think about it, it's not too late to warn them anyway, and I did not exactly lose any time; we will still be resting here for the night regardless of the news. So do not apologise, Ruvick.”
‘Resting. Yes, I will be doing that too. Since I left that gray, lifeless forest, this will be the first time I have rested.’
“Do you sleep, Ruvick?”
‘I don’t know. But, I was unconscious.’
“Do you dream?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Very well then, the next time we meet in person. Please tell me about your first dream.”
Nora took a deep breath. His body was hot, searing resolve thrummed inside of him. The cold night seems to have dissipated.
The wind died down. His hair settled across his eyes.
“I will bring back an army. I will go to the adventurer guild in the Malam Kingdom.. Somehow convincing them to take on the monster along with the Dark Elves.. So you need to get that Kobold’s Golds.. And somehow I convinced the king to send his army here.” He let out a chuckle. The impossibility bore down on him with every word left his mouth. “Sounds silly, doesn't it? I was just about to give up earlier. Suddenly, the thought of my family being safe is all I care about. The forest seems so small in comparison. But, Ruvick, if you still would have me to help.. I will. I swear”
“Thank you, Nora.’ Ruvick wrote. Yet, Nora wishes for more. For much more.
A moment passed. He still held the quill, probably thinking of what to write.
Nora was afraid, not of Ruvik’s anger. But of his disappointment.
‘I think now I understand the Grand Root's wishes a bit. You’re a friend, Nora. First one of mine. If you decide to return. Do it not because of me saving you. But do it because you love this forest. If you did not return, I wish for your happiness along with the rest of the villagers.’
“A grand army.. I promise you that. I will deliver. Just wait, Ruvick. Don’t give up fighting, and I will come for you.”
‘You wouldn’t be able to promise that Nora’
“I will do it. No matter what it takes. So live.. Don’t die”
‘Dream well Nora.’