Chapter 349: Pathetic Druids (1/2)
”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.”