Erik couldn't help but feel vulnerable after handing over his Flyssa and backpack. As an added precaution, he was led away from the cave entrance with his hands tightly bound. While suspicious and guarded, the group had not been overly rough, but they had also left no doubt about their ability to defend themselves.
The walk to the village had been an hour of hushed whispers and the crunch of leaves underfoot. Erik, closely flanked by two men with spears and surrounded by others, walked silently. His mind had raced with thoughts, looking for potential escape routes and considering his options, but curiosity surged within him as he thought about the words the woman said.
Was she hiding something? That was clear, but what could that be? Was it something related to their abnormally high strength? Occasionally, he glanced at the woman leading them, but she never met his gaze.
The forest they passed through was strangely quiet, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant hooting of an owl. The trees appeared to tower over them, casting long, dancing shadows that only added to the tension. Erik noticed the villagers walking through the forest, their eyes trained on any movement and eager for something to appear, their bodies coiled and ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
<Weird…>
Erik noticed a strange lack of animals as they traveled through the forest. There were hints of them here and there, like a brief flutter of wings or a distant rustle in the undergrowth, but they were few and far between. The thaids, in particular, were scarce, which was unusual given their familiar presence in forests.
However, the creatures he did see were either too elusive or too fast to catch, even for the villagers. A pair of vibrant wings vanished into the autumn treeline, and a small, agile creature darted through the red foliage. Most of them were flying, their bright colors standing out against the new forest's colors.
Erik was perplexed by the strange lack of fauna. In his experience, forests were teeming with life. However, it appeared that the natural order had been disturbed here.
The scarcity of animals and thaids suggested a stressed ecosystem, starkly contrasting the situation in those parts of the forest he had previously visited. He pondered the implications of this, and his stomach churned as the village came into view.
The forest began to thin, replaced by something he didn't reasonably expect to see. A village appeared, hidden deep within the heart of the forest. The villagers felt relieved as they entered their safe haven, but Erik's anxiety grew. He was now in their territory, and it would be difficult to recover his seeds, weapon, and other belongings. Yet, he was there by choice, as he was sure that reasoning with these people was possible. His gaze scanned the strange scene.
As they walked, Erik's eyes were drawn to a quaint, rustic hamlet suspended among the treetops that unfolded before his eyes like a painting. Houses made entirely of wood dotted the canopy, blending in with the natural aesthetics of the forest.
The weathered but sturdy wood bore the marks of meticulous craftsmanship.
These wooden houses varied in size and structure, each one distinct yet uniformly similar, reflecting the personalities and needs of their inhabitants.
Others were rectangular with flat roofs and were round and pod-like, resembling bird's nests. They all had one thing in common: they were all elevated, perched high on sturdy tree trunks.
A complex network of bridges wound its way through the treetop village, connecting the houses in a seamless tapestry of wood and rope. The narrow passageways suspended between the houses swayed in the autumn breeze, adding a dynamic element to the static structures.
The ground beneath the houses was nearly untouched, save for the natural path carved out by the villagers' steps while walking through the village. The forest floor continued its natural sprawl as if respecting the villagers' decision to live among the trees. These people's adaptation to their surroundings, respect for nature, and ingenious means of survival were all reflected in the tree-bound architecture.
However, there was but a structure only on the ground. A large, ground-based structure at the village's heart stood out prominently among the aerial architecture. It was imposing, made entirely of seasoned wood, with darkened planks indicating its age and significance in the village. The structure stood in stark contrast to the elevated dwellings, physically and symbolically grounding the community.
The structure sprawled horizontally, echoing the natural forms of the surrounding landscape with its low-slung roof. Its simple, rectangular shape gave it a sense of humble authority. The heavy wooden door, ornately carved with symbols Erik didn't recognize, announced the presence of a wealth of tradition and history within.
The ground around the building was meticulously kept, a testament to the community's regard for the location. The beaten-earth paths that led to the structure were lined with wildflowers and small shrubs, their vibrant colors a welcome contrast to the rich, dark wood.
The group maneuvered Erik towards this structure, their spears still trained on him. The mood was tense, but there was an undeniable sense of anticipation among the villagers. The unusual presence of a stranger in their midst had shaken the otherwise tranquil village.
Erik was led toward the large structure, his hands bound and his belongings taken. Some villagers watched the group from their perches in the trees, their curious and wary eyes following their every move. Erik could only imagine what awaited him inside the large wooden structure as he approached it.
With a stern gaze, the woman leading the group addressed Erik. "Hey, you!" She said, "Keep your mouth shut once we're inside," she commanded in a firm tone. "Our people will decide what's to be done with you; one wrong word, and we execute you on the spot."
Her demeanor left no room for argument. Her steely gaze pierced Erik's, conveying the gravity of the situation. The villagers around them fell silent, the earlier excitement gradually giving way to palpable tension.
The building's heavy wooden doors groaned as they were pushed open, revealing the lit interior. Erik's nostrils were filled with the pungent smell of smoke and aged wood as he was led inside. The sharp click of the door closing behind him echoed throughout the room, signaling the start of a critical chapter in his unexpected journey.
Erik's gaze darted across the room as they entered the expansive structure. The hall was large and grand, with long wooden benches arranged in neat rows. A large red circle was painted in the center, standing out against the muted hues of the woodwork. The sight was striking, commanding attention and curiosity, but Erik's attention was drawn elsewhere.
A figure rose from a chair to the side, his silhouette stark against the interior. His movements were deliberate and slow, and his presence filled the room. The murmuring that had filled the hall moments before faded, replaced by a tense silence as the man approached them.
Erik could see him now—an older man, his face weathered by the years but bearing an unmistakable air of authority. His eyes were sharp, and he studied Erik with almost palpable intensity.
Erik felt as if the man's gaze pierced through him, as if his very soul had been exposed to this old man's scrutiny. Erik wasted no time analyzing the man in front of him, as it was clear that if all these people, all at the NI level, were so respectful of the man in front of them, it was clear that he was no ordinary person.
[WARNING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL SPOTTED. THE BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SUGGESTS THE HOST NOT TO USE ANY SYSTEM-RELATED POWER AS THE CHANCE THIS MAN CAN SENSE THE SUBTLE MANA FLUCTUATIONS THEY GENERATE IS VERY HIGH.]
Erik felt an immediate sense of dread as the urgent warning from the biological supercomputer echoed in his mind. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest, the audible beat resonating throughout his body. His gaze was still fixed on the elderly man, but there was a tinge of anxiety in the young man's eyes. The warning was clear: this man was not only dangerous but potentially catastrophic.
Erik's spine tingled when he heard the words "extremely dangerous" and was advised not to use any system-related power. He recognized the gravity of the situation. If Erik dared to use the system's powers, this man could probably detect even the tiniest mana ripple. The implication was clear: he would be discovered, his secret exposed, and his life probably lost. This man was as formidable as, if not more so than, General Becker.
Erik shook his head, his heart pounding even faster as he took out of his mind the faintest idea of analyzing the man. He knew General Becker's might and understood the level of power the title of General carried with it, but seeing someone possibly more potent in this remote village was nearly incomprehensible.
Erik's instincts screamed caution, reminding him of the difficult situation he had suddenly found himself in. Letting these people capture him maybe wasn't his brightest idea. His normally steady hands were tense, the supercomputer's warning reverberating in his mind. Erik realized then that he was in the presence of a sleeping giant, and he couldn't afford to wake it.
As everyone waited for the man to speak, the hall became quieter. Despite his anxiety, Erik stood tall, meeting the man's gaze without flinching because he couldn't let him see how scared he was. He was in uncharted territory, unsure of what lay ahead, but he knew he had to remain calm. It was clear that his fate was in the hands of these people, at least for the time being.
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