"They live deep within the forest," Arthur muttered as he and Gala walked on the trail, looking for the druids. "I hope they aren't human-discriminating druids like the ones back in Alva."

"Are you afraid that you would be sold again as a slave?"

"I only have two arms, after all." Arthur shrugged his shoulders. "I can handle losing one, but losing both of them will be troublesome."

"Why did you lose it, to begin with? I saw that Larza had your arm. Did you misbehave?"

"Ah, she thought I was running away."

"You weren't?" Gala asked as she lowered her head beneath a branch. "With your personality, I expected you would run away as soon as you can."

"I would have run away if I had the power, but no. I was simply trying to meet a Seika." Arthur said as he pondered. "I forgot to ask King Solomon about that guy."

"I think you mean the Seika of Light. They mentioned him a lot in the palace. The most handsome man in Alka! Or so they said."

"He wasn't that handsome?" Arthur was confused.

"Disguise, Seika. He was going undercover to free the human slaves. He's still there, and the operation is still ongoing. His return should be in a month or so."

"I see,"

"Dia should meet him there," Gala said with a smile. "I hope she doesn't fall for him."

"Stop trying to make me jealous. It's not working." Arthur sighed.

"Oh, right! It just makes my end a little more bearable." Gala said with a teasing grin.

"..." Arthur was silent. "We all try to make the world align to what we think is right."

"At least deny it, asshole." Gala spat. Arthur simply grinned in response. 

The two kept walking through the forest until there was no more sun, only the shades of trees. There was no foothold for them other than ancient roots.

"Can you hear that?" Arthur said, and Gala tried to listen, but she shook her head. "Exactly." He grinned. It was too quiet.

Arthur stopped moving and closed his eyes. Gala stood beside him as Arthur's aura slowly emerged. It came naturally to him as he used his art.

His aura kept growing stronger until the forest began shaking in response. Arthur felt that if he wished for it, he could destroy everything around him. However, he knew it was an illusion.

The roots began to move in response, surrounding the two people. Arthur opened his eyes with a smile as he waited for the druids to emerge.

"Who are you?"

A voice broke the silence, and it came from above them. Gala and Arthur raised their heads to see a humanoid figure standing upside down. With pale green skin and leafy roots for hair, the two found the first druid.

"I'm the Seika of Living Beings."

"Seika of Living Beings?" The druid's eyes widened. "The one who saved Mother Rega?"

"You've heard of that incident but didn't know that I was the one building a city beside you?" Arthur was amused, but the druid's face was stone cold.

"We don't care about what you humans do, as long as it's far away from us." The druid said as the trees began moving. "But if it's the Seika of Living Beings..."

A mighty wind blew in their direction carrying a thousand leaves, forcing them to squint their eyes. When the leaves died down, a hundred druids surround them.

A female druid walked toward them that looked different from the others. Instead of green leaves, the druid had orange and withered leaves. She also had a lot of woody wrinkles on her skin.

"If you are truly the Seika of Living Beings," The druid looked at him with a frown. "Then I beg for your help," She suddenly kneeled in front of Arthur.

"Aa," Arthur blinked. "This wasn't what I expected."

***

The tree naturally they sat under created small stools for them. A young druid walked up to them with bowls of green syrup, which she gave to Arthur and Gala. 

"You can't be thinking of drinking it?" Gala blinked.

"It looks like green tea, so why wouldn't I?" Arthur was confused. "Plus, it smells sweet."

"What if it was poisoned?" Gala picked it up and smelled it.

"Well, you are the potions master, so you tell me." Arthur placed the green syrup down.

"You are trusting the same people who sold you as a slave?" Gala frowned as if she couldn't understand.

"They are druids indeed, but they are not the same ones who sold me," Arthur said with a smile. "It's better to stay objective."

As he said so, Arthur picked up the syrup and drank it. Gala looked at him with shock as he placed the bowl down.

"See, there is nothing..." Arthur suddenly clenched his chest and coughed.

"Seika?!" Gala jumped over toward him but stopped when she heard his snickers. She grumbled and sat back down. "Now, I wish it was poisoned."

"Relax, they need our help, as they said." Arthur smiled as he picked up the bowl again.

"And why do you think they are telling the truth?"

"Because this place is dying." Arthur looked toward the countless trees and the houses built on top of them. "It reeks of death."

They waited until the old druid returned with her followers. She nodded toward them as she strolled toward a stool and sat down as well.

"I'm sorry for the delay, but it's the first time that a human was allowed inside our sanctuary." The old druid said. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vena." She said in a mix of Yalveran and Alvan language.

"You can call me Seika," Arthur said, guessing the druid must have learned the language from travelers she came across. "I'm surprised you believed I was the Seika."

"We heard that you are coming to Freda, but we weren't sure. However, the aura that you've released aura proves your identity."

"Oh, I thought it was my missing arm." Arthur laughed. "Why did you invite us here?"

"As I said, we need the help of the Seika," Vena said as she raised her hand. The powerful druid, the same one on the tree earlier, came forward and helped Vena stand up. "It is better if we show you."

Arthur nodded and stood up. Vena, with the help of the other druids, started walking deeper into the forest. He could see the wall of trees that separated this village from the rest of the world. They walked deeper into the sanctuary until they reached a giant tree that resembled a small mountain.

"This is what is keeping us alive," Vena said quietly. "We call it The Protector, and it's also an ancient tree, just like Mother Rega."

"I understand why you asked for my help." Arthur raised his head and stared at the giant tree. "Your Protector is dying."

He could feel the druids around him flinch as if the words he said were prohibited. There was also anger, anxiety, and fear.

"Can you treat it?" Vena's hand tightened into a fist. "The only reason we can live is because of The Protector."

Arthur turned to look at her silently, feeling her expectations and despair. He frowned and realized this matter wasn't simply about the druid's home.

"The tree isn't simply a protector of the forest," Arthur stared at the old druid. "It supplies the druids with life force. Every single druid here is merely an extension of the tree."

"..." Vena's hand was trembling as she nodded.

"Your protector isn't the one dying. You are." Arthur walked toward the ancient tree and placed his hand on it. "No," He said as he closed his eyes. "This tree is already dead."

"What?" The powerful druid shouted, but Vena held him back.

"Are you certain, Seika?" Vena asked, and Arthur nodded. He could feel it, this tree was dead, and it was only a matter of time before what remained of its life force disappear.

"You wouldn't have allowed me inside if you didn't have an inkling of the truth." Arthur retracted his hand and looked at the druids.

"Save us, Seika." Vena was about to kneel again.

"Shut the fuck up and stand," Arthur spat. "You were just waiting for your deaths here, and you expect a passing stranger to save you? The kingdom sent you many messengers, but you turned them down for some sick superiority."

"How dare you?" The powerful druid shook with anger, but Vena tried to hold him back.

"We'll do anything in return for your help," Vena said.

"No," Arthur refused. "You can perish as long as I care. Those who don't struggle to survive don't deserve to be helped. Since you want to rot in here, just do it!"

"Enough!" The druid shouted, and he let go of Vena's hand before bolting toward Arthur. The roots sprang from the ground after him and turned the druid's arm into a giant fist. "If words don't work, then I'll force you!"

"That's right," Arthur grinned. "Struggle to survive. Do everything you can before you perish. It's a million times better than sitting here and waiting for your deaths." He clenched his hand into a fist. "Fight for survival, pathetic druids!"

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