Did they know how many people you've killed recently? How many lives were lost while they were here and blissfully unaware? Lukas wanted to ask Nievu that and yet somehow asking it seemed like a worthless question.
Each and everyone was free to make their own decision.
That was the concept of free will, and right now, Lukas knew that his feelings were not enough to sway others–nor should it be used as his meter to determine how he'd act or not.
"Can you explain what exactly happened in the past?" Stacy asked as she stepped closer to Lukas.
"And what do you mean he massacred the others?" Chaerin frowned and stood on the other. "Surely, you don't mean that he's capable of doing it all by himself–do you?"
Nievu's expression turned bittersweet and he flicked out a tongue. "What do you think of the people here? We are demihumans and are capable of turning into animals? That is not all that we can do–some of us have other capabilities and strengths."
"Well, one thing's for certain." Lukas shared a glance with Theodore and Alexei. "We're only going to help out if it's going to benefit us. I don't understand why we'd have to mitigate this situation–unless you're going to stop us."
"He won't." Theodore replied. "And as much as I'd love to leave things now as is–we're still going to have to cross the Veil Forest again if we wish to go home. It's better to solve this situation now."
"Besides that, why are you still asking that question?" Alexei rolled his eyes and scratched his head. "You're acting like we can waltz back into Cervus' camp and pretend that we just didn't escape from his warriors. We're already in this team for the long haul–don't you think?"
Lukas sighed.
Somehow, he wanted to question his decisions now. He had acted on impulse and his emotions earlier didn't he? Or rather, believed that he was doing the right thing and now he wanted to retract it.
"I'm sure that we can simply explain again if necessary." Chaerin tried to take his side.
"No. He's right." Lukas let out a reluctant grin. "As charismatic as I am if we were to meet up with Cervus again. Once bitten, twice shy right? So what can this guy do that makes the others fear him so much?"
"He appears to be a good leader and planted ideas into the heads of others." Nievu frowned. "He told the others that he can change the cycle of how things used to be and used his connection with the forest to do it."
"Okay, so he's an instigator." Lukas nodded, but frowned. "Connection with the forest? Don't all of you have some connection with it… that's why you can see and travel through it?"
"Not everyone." Nievu shook his head and smiled sadly. "They say that the heart of the forest chooses who can see more clearly than others, while others are forced to rely on them to navigate the forest. And those who are especially blessed can call forth the forest itself to intervene."
Lukas blinked at those words.
"So he has the ability to control the forest to some degree?" Alexei frowned. "Like, uh… something that involves using the trees to go stab multiple at the same time, that kind of deal?"
"Yes."
"This kind of reminds me of shamans in Umbra." Theodore muttered. "That may pose a certain issue if what we need to do is assassinate him and also deal with the warriors. How many of your people are actually there? Do we outnumber them, not counting the elderly?"
"I have some of my siblings, but they are not all fighters." Nievu hesitated. "We mostly ensure that this place is hidden from Cervus and others. I am the greatest warrior of Ursa."
"And what about Ursa herself?" Alexei said. "The folks there all say she's scary and killed many. Shouldn't she herself be a good challenger if we bring her on?"
"No." Nievu narrowed his eyes. "We cannot involve her."
"That's really unhelpful." Alexei scowled. "You're already giving us a suicide mission and we don't have any support."
"I mean, have you asked her if she wants to help?" Chaerin frowned. "It almost seems like you're speaking for her, but we haven't actually seen this Ursa person yet."
"That is–" Nievu began and turned to Theodore. "He has already seen her."
"I did." Theodore nodded. It was clear that Nievu held Ursa to some great esteem, and Ursa seemed to be the actual leader… but he didn't mind that Nievu was the one calling the shots.
She didn't seem that capable besides being a brute.
Stacy glanced at Lukas who seemed to still be lost in thoughts and though she wanted to ask him, she got distracted. A huge figure came out of the mist, their steps almost seeming to make the earth tremble slightly.
Her eyes widened slightly, and soon she cleared her throat.
"Wait, is that her?" Alexei's eyes bulged.
Ursa was a huge and hulking figure, even bigger than most Vampires that Alexei had seen in the past. She had an incredibly imposing figure and she didn't need to do much to catch the eye of the people in the village.
Instead of being feared, however–the reactions of the elderly people were quite the opposite.
"Oh! She has woken up at last!"
"My dear, have you eaten?"
"We haven't seen you in the last months, have you been well?"
Alexei was surprised, but especially more so was Theodore. Meanwhile, Chaerin looked almost as if she had expected it and Stacy was just a bit wary of the woman–she looked like she could take on all three of the guys that were with them.
Amidst all of this commotion, Lukas was still lost in thoughts.
Nievu's words somehow meant something more. It was easy enough to dismiss it as it was, but the words 'heart of the forest' made him think of something, or someone else.
Dryads.
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