This world is divided into three continents: The Western Continent, commanded by the three great forces: Fiandel, Vivre and the Great Forest; The Eastern Continent, commanded by the Union of the Free Folk and the Naeva Fleet, alongside smaller nations; The Phantom Continent, home to forces that are strange to the collegiate. Regarding the latter, there are only legends and no knowledge about it. I will not report such legends, as I believe it is an inappropriate conduct for a respectable study […]

Selected Texts for the Academy – Volume II – Hengel Schopenher

*

After they finally recovered their composure, Thiago Arthur and Gaenar move from a state of uninterrupted vomiting to a state of weakness. Their bodies, although still moving along the path ahead, are slower and their minds have trouble focusing on the task at hand. In a way, it is as if they are still trapped in dreams induced by the narcotic effect of the arachnid poison.

Before they started to march, it was necessary to prolong the break so the others could explain to them the situation of the agreement made between Rinlia and Nafaester. In the “cloudy” state of mind they were in, this explanation required more time than the ideal, however, it helped them to have a calm walk, especially in relation to Gaenar, after all, they could release him after the explanation. The werewolf calmly accepted the warnings and explanations he was given.

They would not be in a group for long, as Nafaester’s plan required them to separate soon. After going down the ravine that Galaaz indicated earlier and finding the trail to the Lakes of Peace, the nymph stopped walking and turned her attention to the others:

-This is where we go our separate ways. Did everyone understand the limitations that conversations need to have from now on?

-Yes. – Except Rinlia, everyone answered in unison.

-Very well. If you take the necessary precautions, Nida won’t be able to see through the lie that you will need to tell her in the Glade. There is a chance that she wouldn’t see anything anyway, since she doesn’t choose what she can see, but I don’t like to leave these things to luck. Besides, if you follow the plan, I don’t have to worry about other pursuers on my way to Fiandel.

-Do not worry. – Rinlia steps forward. – You did your part. Let us fulfill ours.

The nymph shakes her head, slowly, consenting. Finally, she extends her hand. In this gesture, there is something beyond the agreement made between them. The half-smile on the nymph’s face indicates that the handshake is also a sign of complicity.

Rinlia sighs. During the gesture, she feels something very familiar: The annoyance of having to deal with royalty. And, although the nymph is dirty, with clothes in rags, wounded and tired, the confidence and everything that inhabits the gestures of leaders is impregnated in her.

-Thank you, Rinlia. – She says in a low voice. – Do your part and give me the opportunity to thank you properly.

The elf does not answer, merely waving and allowing the siblings to move away. Realizing that they are far apart, Yvanna approaches Rinlia and looks down. The elf realizes that the vampire is checking the condition of her dagger.

-Let’s go, Yvanna. – She turns her back on them, turning to the trail. – We have to take the jewels to the Oracle. I hope that will be enough.

*

-Are you the messenger from the Great Forest?

Ohana smiles at the question asked so calmly by the ogre sitting at one of the tavern tables. After all, his reaction was at least curious when he felt the icy touch of a dagger pressed against his neck.

Although she had no intention of killing him, the dryad had noticed him following her to the tavern and had seen him occupying a strategic place to watch her from a distance. She also noticed the moment he was distracted and did not notice her movement. After that, it was easy for her to sneak up behind him, hide in the shadow of a pillar and wait until no one was looking to position her weapon properly.

In the surroundings, the sounds of the “Shelter in the Tempest” are mostly generated by the sound of the lute of an excited bard and the laughter of drunks who started early to pleasure their vices.

The atmosphere was noise and very busy. Perfect for her to murder him silently and let his body be discovered a few minutes later, when she would be safe outside.

-What do you want with me? Be quick or say goodbye to your neck.

-Please, calm down. I have a message for you.

-I’m not taking jobs. And what kind of messenger is hired by someone who follows her instead of approaching her and offering the job, like everybody else does?

-The type that delivers messages that need to be kept secret. – He still smiles slightly. With a gesture, he points to the entrance. – Can you put down your dagger? It would be a problem if the owner noticed something. I had a lot of word to come here without being noticed.

The dryad, who had enough time to analyze the ogre, realized that the cloak he wore was covering a red and gold uniform. Either he was a guard from the castle, or someone posing as such. Both possibilities could bring something useful for the Forest. And, if he has a message, she would have to listen.

Ohana puts down the dagger and, still watching his movements, occupies the empty spot on the same table, opposite to the ogre, far enough to have time to react to an attack.

Nehar, who worked hard to get close to the messenger without being noticed, feels nervous and wants to get rid of the assignment that had been placed on his shoulders because of the promise made to Barsen. Still, he tries not to make a mistake when he is so close to be done with the task. That is why he smiles, although he is nervous; it is the reason he acts calmly, although he is in a hurry; it is why he brought a lot of gold, although he was not rich.

-I want you to deliver a message to a representative of the Maetar tribe, the ogres who do not have a nation. – He spreads a paper on the table. – The message is written here. Memorize it and return the note to me.

He offers the message to her. Instead of instantly accepting it, the dryad relaxes her posture on the seat, nodding to an attendant and grabbing a mug of beer from his plate. After handing over a coin as payment, the attendant leaves and she turns to the ogre.

-What is your name?

-It doesn’t matter. – Nehar feels irritated. Had it not been the safer option, he would have left after noticing her attitude. – For all intended purposes, you don’t know who gave you the message.

The dryad turns the mug of beer in her mouth and lets the smile slowly fade from her lips while she wipes the liquid residue from the corner of her mouth. When she talks again, her tone is more serious.

-I am not a professional messenger. I was sent as an emissary from the Great Forest. I still have a mission to fulfill and I don’t intend to waste my time with side activities.

-I’m willing to pay you generously. – He looks around before opening his jacket and pulling out a leather bag. The rope is loose, revealing the gold coins inside it.

Usually, gold would not be a good method to gain the attention of a dryad, but this is not a usual situation. After all, the first thought that crosses Ohana’s mind is the possibility to be able to use the better ship to travel, instead of having to use the one with the hunting party.

However, she knows that she cannot accept his gold. Not when she still had a job to do.

-I can’t go out of my way now, ogre. I have a mission. You should know how the Great Forest operates. I couldn’t accept your request, even if I wanted to.

Nehar smiles again. Her phrase indicated that she wanted to accept, but dryad’s rules were preventing her of doing so. If that were the case, they just needed to adapt his request.

-I didn’t come to you by chance. I know people who work in the port guard and in the castle. I know that you delivered a message to the queen on behalf of the Oracle and I know that you are leaving the continent towards “that place”.

-And why are you telling me that?

-There is a member from the Maetar tribe living in the same region you are planning to go. Find him and deliver the message to him. This is the job. You won’t need to deviate from your route. You just have to find the right ogre, in the right place. His name is on the paper.

The dryad takes the piece of paper on the table and leans back in the chair. The name written there surprises her to the point that she immediately leans forward again, facing the ogre:

-I will accept, as long as your message don’t cause immediate damages to the Great Forest. If it does, I will read the message and decline the job afterwards.

The ogre nods.

-I accept your terms. You will find out that, instead of being harmed, your Forest will probably benefit from the possible consequences of your mission.

*

Arthur sighs, dissatisfied, when he finds himself awake in the same room where he stayed the last time he was in the Glade, inside the Great Forest. For the past hours he dreamed of watching movies and eating popcorn in front of a projection in the wall of a room much larger than the one he had on Earth.

When he woke up and noticed he lost the treats that he had on the dream, he could have felt less dissatisfied if, at least, the feeling of power he had had during the battle was still present. However, that sensation seems more part of the dream than a reality, since the feeling that has dominated him since he was given the antidote was one of complete nausea.

-You look horrible.

Galaaz’s voice comes from the corner near the door, where a reddish fur wolf is lying on the floor, with his face turned to the bed, facing Arthur.

-I was poisoned. – The boy replies, rising from the bed slowly. – I would say that I look great for someone who almost died.

-I didn’t take you for the optimistic kind. – The wolf’s voice carries some irony.

-I’m not optimistic. Or… I wasn’t. This crazy world is messing with my head.

-If it turned you into an optimist, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

-It just means that I am becoming anesthetized to absurd events. – Arthur smiles when he realizes his own state of mind. The boy stretches, trying to ease the tension in his body. – Sometimes I feel that every day I live here is like an extra day in a life that should be over, so I am learning not to expect much from my appearance or well-being.

-But you still have hope, don’t you? Aren’t you going to Fiandel with that elf for that reason?

-Perhaps. Or… Maybe I’m just following the easiest path.

The lupine stretches its paws and gets up, lazily circling the room and looking out the window, staring at the sun that shines high among the trees in the Glade.

-Arthur, I have a request.

“That’s obvious.” The boy thinks. “If not, why would you be here? To see if I’m okay?”

-What do you want?

-I want to go with your party.

The phrase takes the boy by surprise.

-What?

-I want to go with you to Fiandel. I investigated a little and that kingdom allows forest beasts to enter the kingdom, as long as they are guests of humanoids. And I want to accompany you.

-But… Why?

-I can’t stay in the Great Forest for much longer. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to leave for the last years. This may be my best opportunity.

-What are you talking about?

The wolf looks amused by Arthur’s expression. He turns to the boy.

-I am the son of Lancelot, the leader of our pack. However, I am of the age to take charge and become a leader.

-And you don’t want to be leader?

-I have no problem with that. My problem is the tradition. If I agree to become a leader, tradition dictates that I have to battle with my father. And there are no ex-leaders in our tribe. There are living leaders and dead leaders.

The phrase impacts Arthur, who sits on a chair so he can reflect for a few seconds before looking back at the wolf.

-And you can leave the pack to avoid such battle?

-I will be considered “exiled”, but that doesn’t mean much to Lupines. It is tradition for the children of leaders who do not wish to become leaders to leave the tribe and join groups in the forest or else to assemble their own pack. I don’t have a partner, so the best option would be to take the opportunity to see the world beyond the forest.

-You want to explore the world.

-Yes. – Galaaz continues. – I want to see how are things beyond this Forest. I am tired of staying in the same territories, hunting and eating and sleeping, only to wake up to hunt, eat and sleep again in the next day. I want to see the bridges, the castles, the universities, the churches, the great tribes of humans, elves and many other races that inhabit the continent. And I feel like you can help me with that.

Arthur needs to suppress the laughter that comes to him. That lupine’s speech appears to be an accurate copy of something he said to his own parents just before he was transported to this world.

And it is precisely because he knows what happened to him when he “saw the world” that he decides to question the wolf’s decision.

-Are you sure you want to do this? I cannot speak for other races, but I am sure it is not worth leaving your family and everything you know just to meet some human kingdoms.

-My decision was made long before we met, Arthur.

The boy’s expression is one of concern. Somehow, he feels unable to stop the actions that the wolf wants to take.

-And how do you know that I’m the right person to help you?

-Because I know you’ve been hiding something. – He approaches Arthur, placing his snout next to Arthur’s feet and finally indicating his shadow. – I felt something here. I’m sure my dad noticed it too, but kept quiet about it. You shadow have a… peculiar smell.

Arthur’s expression is pure tension. He looks at the door, ready to try to escape the building.

-Don’t worry. – Galaaz decides to ease him. – I have no intention of betraying you. Not after everything that we have been through. I just said that so you understand. I know that you are special and, because of that, I feel that I can see more of this world if I accompany you.

Silence. Arthur expects some answer to this situation to appear on his mind, but he cannot think of anything. The weakness in his body seems to affect his reasoning and he feels that he was demanding too much of himself by inserting so many thoughts at once into his mind.

And, the first thing that brings him back to reality is his stomach, empty after hours without food and after the poison had to be expelled alongside all the food he had eaten in the past few days.

-Come on. – Galaaz turns to the door. – You can think about it later. First, let’s eat and rest for a while. After all, it is not every day that you will have the opportunity to celebrate a victory over the Arachnes of the Great Forest, don’t you agree?

*

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