9 Geodenisis Arboreth (2/2)

Valerian walked up and threw his arm over my shoulder.

”Haha, now we are brothers.”

I couldn't help but think he is gonna be a lot to handle. That's alright though, I feel like I can trust him. After all, he did save my life.

I looked at Corytheius, he seemed to have a mix of relief and worry on his face. There was one question pressing on my mind that I simply couldn't help but ask.

”Grand Elder, if I may, can I ask you something?”

”You may,” he responded.

”How did you heal me? I have never heard of such incredible healing abilities in all of Agartha.”

”This...,” he was clearly struggling with the answer.

”Since you, are an ally, of the G'eth, you could, have some, right to know, the answer. However, it is, an important, secret of, my people. I cannot, tell you, for free.”

He paused, then said, ”If you, agree to, hand over, the corpse, of the, Grootslang, I can, tell you. Do not, worry, we will, still prepare, some gifts, for you.”

This is not an easy decision. I know just how much the Grootslang is worth because of my past life. In the last timeline, a human mercenary group rose to incredible heights after killing the Grootslang. Not only were they able to make over 50 sets of high-quality armor, they sold the remaining parts for the absurdly high price of 100,000 gold. Considering the fact that an average farming family could live on five gold a year, this is an enormous sum.

However, sometimes knowledge is invaluable, as I well know after fighting the Grootslang. Either way I could not have gotten the profit from the Grootslang on my own anyways. I could have easily been killed by others for it.

”Grand Elder, I am willing to turn over the corpse to your village.”

”Fantastic!” He heartily bellowed.

”To understand, the source, of what, healed you, you must first, know how, we G'eth, came to be.”

Corytheius sat back down in his chair, the roots at his feet extended till they reached the spring in the center of the courtyard.

”Valerian, you know, the story, tell Troy.”

Valerian nodded his head and began, ”When this world formed it was nothing but a large desolate mass with no life. One day an object descended from above. Within that object a single seed. The seed took root at the center of the world and grew into the Geodenisis Arboreth. It's also known as, the world tree. It gave life to the planet and is the mother of all G'eth. Every G'eth is born from it.”

Corytheius cut in, ”I picked, Valerian's bud, myself, and nurtured him, in this courtyard, before he, became the warrior, he is today.”

He paused looking softly at Valerian.

”When I saw, what you had, done for, my village, I used some, of the sap, of the, Geodenisis Arboreth, we have stored, in our treasury. The vitality, it contains, cannot be measured, and it is, capable of, restoring all life, that has, even one, breath left. This secret, cannot be, know to the, outside world. They would, surely destroy, Geodenisis Arboreth, in their greed. This would, destroy not only, the G'eth, but all, of Agartha.”

Nodding, I understood the gravity of the secret that he revealed to me.

”I sense, greatness in you, please do not, disappoint me.” He slowly said as he closed his eyes.

”I will not reveal your secret even in the face of death.”

Valerian headed to the exit.

”Let's go, he needs to rest. It's been a long time since he spoke this much.”

I ran to catch up with Valerian who was almost through the arched exit. Before leaving, I looked back at Grand Elder Corytheius. I meant everything I said. I thought it was over for me, again.

Corytheius brought me back at a great cost and was even willing to share many secrets. There's no way he didn't know I wouldn't be able to sell the Grootslang on my own. I wasn't the type to return kindness with enmity. Right now I'm too weak, but one day I will repay this debt to him.

Finally I caught up to Valerian, ”How about showing me around the village?”

”Not a problem brother!” Valerian grinned.