"None," I responded firmly, shaking my head with resolution. "Chief, I want to meet with the caretakers. If they're the ones who presented me with these choices, then I want to bargain with them directly."
The Village Chief's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his eyes widening at my unexpected response. "You wish to bargain with the caretakers?" he repeated, clearly taken aback by my unexpected proposal.
"Yes," I affirmed, nodding in agreement with the Village Chief's statement. While the choices he presented were neither ideal nor terrible, I couldn't help but be drawn to the possibility of exploring an option of my own. It was worth a shot, and deep down, I had a strong belief that it would work.
However, my main concern lay with the receptiveness of the Caretakers themselves. Would they be open and willing to listen to what I had to say? That was the one lingering question that troubled me.
"Are you absolutely certain that this is the path you wish to take?" the Village Chief questioned once more. His tone carried a sense of calmness, but his eyes scanned my face, searching for any signs of doubt or hesitation that he could use to challenge my decision. Little did he know, I was firm in my resolve and had no intentions of wavering. Thus, I simply nodded in response, maintaining the same determined expression on my face.
He let out a weary sigh, shaking his head in resignation. "Very well," he said, "I had already informed Thak earlier that if he doesn't find me within a few minutes, he can proceed without me and handle today's matters. He will also inform those who seek an audience with me that I will be occupied throughout the day. So, if we intend to conclude this before nightfall, let's not waste any more time and get moving."
I nodded in agreement and followed closely as he took the lead, forging ahead. As we progressed, we came upon a well-cleared road, flanked by various crops and fenced fields on either side. The atmosphere was serene, allowing me to observe the dedicated workers who greeted the Village Chief while diligently carrying out their tasks. The journey continued in silence, during which I could only shrug off the duration of the twenty-six-minute walk, given my newfound status as a warrior.
Eventually, we arrived at a location deep within the thick vegetation of the farm. To my surprise, what lay before me was not what I had anticipated. Instead of a grand structure, there stood a quaint wooden cabin perched atop the branches of a mighty, yet broken, tree. Despite its odd shape, the craftsmanship was remarkable.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" The Village Chief remarked, his gaze shifting between me and the impressive structure. He then refocused his attention on the treehouse itself. "While we had entertained the idea of this box-like architecture before, building it atop a tree was a concept that hadn't crossed our minds. Fortunately, we owe this inspiration to the four-long-ears. Although some may find it peculiar to live in such a unique dwelling," he chuckled lightly, gesturing for me to follow closely.
Near the tree's sturdy trunk, a flat and smooth wooden platform awaited us. It appeared spacious enough to accommodate four or five individuals comfortably.
The Village Chief entered the platform and motioned for me to follow suit. As I stepped inside, he reached out and grasped one of the four ropes that extended from the top of the platform, stretching high up into the sky and connecting with another platform ingeniously crafted among the sprawling tree branches.
Without delay, a slender small tree nymph adorned in a vibrant leaf dress emerged from the bark above, sliding down the trunk with her limbs wrapped around it. "You've returned, Chief?" she inquired, her curious gaze shifting between the Village Chief and me. "And who is this, Chief?" she inquired further. The Village Chief promptly replied, "He is the famous six-star potential Warrior you've been hearing about."
The tree nymph, resembling a mischievous little girl, couldn't contain her excitement as she exclaimed, "Oh!" Her eyes widened with curiosity as she continued, "So you're the notorious Orion who's been causing all this commotion, huh!" She carefully examined me from head to toe before giving an approving nod, "Not bad, not bad at all. With a little more effort, I can already see that you'll make a significant contribution to our village."
Before the tree nymph could utter another word, the Village Chief swiftly placed his hand on her head, gently tapping it, and spoke with a firm tone. "Let's not waste any more time, Molya. We're not here for play, but for an urgent matter with the Caretakers," he said, a sense of haste in his voice. "I hope they're all still present."
"Yes," the tree nymph named Molya replied, her voice filled with a hint of mischief. "They gathered to discuss and strategize, ensuring they have contingencies in place if things don't go according to plan in the future." She cast a fleeting glance in my direction, her eyes subtly hinting towards me, but I managed to catch the subtle gesture.
"Alright then, they don't need to be worried any longer. It seems that Orion here has something important to discuss with them," the village Chief replied. Molya's eyes widened as she stared at me once more, a wide smile spreading across her face. Without hesitation, she vanished into the tree and reappeared on one of the branches.
I noticed a previously unnoticed rope hanging nearby, and Molya effortlessly pulled it down towards the ground. Soon, we began to ascend into the sky, gradually rising until we reached the suspended platform in the tree.
Molya reappeared near me from one of the tree branches, offering her words of encouragement with a quick "Good luck" before vanishing once more into the tree, her presence fading from my sight. "That's Molya for you," the village Chief explained. "She likes to hang around here and help with raising the platform. But don't worry, this tree doesn't belong to her, like other tree nymphs, she just enjoys playing around."
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