Chapter 05: The Mysterious Guardian Tree

“What is that huge tree!” Alfred exclaimed

“What do you mean? That is our tribe’s Guardian Tree do you not have a Guardian Tree in your tribe?” Aponi asked with confusion.

Alfred wanted to smack his head because of the slip-up, also for losing control of his emotion, but Alfred didn’t blame himself too much, he understood that anyone that was in his position who saw the unbelievable sight, would feel the same as him. Alfred decided to tell Aponi that he lost his memory, but before he could, he was preceded by Vir.

“Aponi, do not put pressure on him, he did not have his memory.”

Aponi got stunned, she immediately apologized to Alfred.

“I am sorry I did not know, I hope I did not say anything that offended you.”

When Alfred saw Aponi apologizing to him, he felt guilty, but he still chose to lie. Alfred was afraid of what Vir might do to him if he found out he was lying.

“No, it is kind of my fault, I forget to tell you that I lost my memory.”

Alfred wanted to change the topic as soon as possible. Therefore, he looked at the Guardian Tree again.

“By the way, can you tell me what is this Guardian Tree?”

Aponi smiled and stared at the guardian tree with a worshipped look.

“The Guardian Tree is the guardian of our tribe. The Guardian Tree is the reason why our tribe can stay safe in this place, even though the Great Forest is full of monsters and beasts.”

Alfred still confused

“But how can the Guardian Tree protect the tribe?”

Aponi replied while admiring the Guardian Tree.

“You see, the Guardian Tree has some kind of energy that keeps the monster and beast away from its vicinity. We do not know why or how the Guardian Tree has this ability. Even though it has been protecting our tribe for the past hundreds of years, we still do not have any idea how it worked.”

Alfred was starting to admire the guardian tree and became even more interested in it.

“Wow! The Guardian Tree is amazing. You said that the Guardian Tree has been protecting your tribe for past hundreds of years? Do you know how old is the Guardian Tree?”

Aponi shook her head.

“Unfortunately, no one knew how old the Guardian Tree is. When our ancestors came here, the Guardian Tree was already here standing tall.”

“I see, what I understand based on your explanation is, that no one knew if the Guardian Tree how old it was, no one knew its history, and no one knew how its ability worked, is that right?”

Aponi became a little sad.

“That is right.”

“Is no one tried to study the Guardian Tree or find out its history?” Alfred asked

This time Aponi looked at Vir as if she was asking him if it was alright to tell Alfred. When Vir didn’t say anything, she finally started explaining to Alfred.

“There was, a lot of our ancestors tried, but every time they did something bad would happen to the person who tried to study the guardian tree. After multiple incidents happen, our ancestors gradually stopped in fear that the Guardian Tree was responsible, and soon after, studying the guardian tree became a taboo in our tribe.

A lot of our ancestors thought that the Guardian Tree does not want to be studied, and whoever attempted to study the Guardian Tree will lose its protection, but of course, this is just our speculation.

After all, studying the Guardian tree is not all negative, there are also some benefits to the tribe as most of our knowledge about the guardian tree came from those ancestors who tried.”

Alfred thought deeply, his curiosity about the Guardian Tree increased a lot.

“I see, the Guardian Tree is really mysterious, but how can your ancestors tell that the Guardian Tree is the one responsible for the death of those people? Did they die with some kind of illness?”

“Well not exactly, some of them did die because of unknown illnesses, but a lot of them die from different causes. We do not know if the Guardian Tree is responsible for my ancestors’ death, like I said it is just speculation, but the fact that all of them died within five years after they start examining the Guardian Tree is one of the reasons for this belief.

So, a lot of my ancestors assume that the Guardian Tree punished them.” Aponi explained.

Alfred wanted to know more, but before he could ask another question, Vir interrupted him.

“That is enough, are we just going to stand here and talk? or are we going to look around the tribe?”

Aponi knew her brother too well. That’s why when she saw the look on his face, she knew that her brother was starting to get impatient. Therefore, she decided to stop the conversation, and tell Alfred that they should continue their talk next time.

When Alfred heard this, he finally remembered that Vir was with them, if he continued asking more questions Vir might become more suspicious of him. So, he agreed to Aponi’s decision right away. Vir’s expression loosened up when he heard that Aponi and Alfred decided to proceed with their original goal. Vir didn’t wait for a single second and walked first.

Alfred and Aponi smiled at each other when they saw Vir walk first, then followed him. While they are walking, a lot of tribesmen stared at Alfred, they stared at him with a variety of facial expressions, and by just seeing their faces Alfred can feel their emotion toward him.

Some of them are curious, others pity him for his condition, but a lot of them are warry at him, and even worse few of the tribesmen had a face of hatred or disgust.

Although Alfred was not confident about himself, he still has higher self-esteem than others. However, when he saw the stares, he felt insecure and as a result, the already struggling Alfred started to even more struggle. Alfred’s walk became even slower, he couldn’t focus properly because of the stares and finally, he stumbled and fell.

Because Aponi was occupied with telling a story, she didn’t realize that Alfred was no longer behind her. Aponi only noticed this when heard a sound, she turned her head and saw Alfred was already on the ground, so, she quickly ran towards Alfred.

“What happened are you alright? Do you need help?”

Alfred didn’t want to show his face right now to other people, yet he still forcefully smiled at Aponi to show that he was fine. Aponi wanted to help Alfred to stand up, but Alfred kept rejecting her. Because of the anxiety, embarrassment, insecurity, and other feelings, he didn’t want other people to show him pity. Alfred tried to stand up, but no matter how much hard he tried, he just kept falling.

While Vir was walking, he felt something was not right. He can’t feel the presence of Aponi and Alfred behind him, then he remembered that Alfred lost one of his feet. Therefore, he could not walk fast. When Vir finally turned around, he saw Aponi panicking while Alfred was on the ground.

Vir’s eyebrows furrowed, he wanted to know what happened, so he walked towards the two, but before he could. Vir noticed the surrounding people, his tribesmen looking at Alfred with a variety of emotions, some even have killing intent. After seeing this, he instantly understood what happened.

Vir walked towards Alfred and Aponi. When Vir reached Alfred’s side, Aponi finally noticed him. She wanted to say something, but before she could Vir lifted Alfred and carried him on his back. Alfred struggled when felt that someone lifting him.

He raised his head to look who was the person that carried him, to his surprise he saw Vir. Alfred struggled, even more, he tried to stop Vir from carrying him, but Vir didn’t let him.

“Stop moving like a worm, I know how you feel, you do not want other people’s help, you do not want them to see you weak, you do not want them to pity you, and you feel that your pride is getting trampled over and over again, but soon you will understand that pride is not really that important. Accepting other people’s help is not that shameful, what is shameful is, that you do not do anything to make your situation better.

When Alfred heard this, he stopped struggling and just keep his head low. Alfred’s eyes redden, he finally felt the loneliness of being reincarnated to another world where everything was unfamiliar and everyone, he knew was gone, his family, and his friend, all of them were gone.

Alfred wanted to show a strong front so the people of this world wouldn’t think he was weak, but deep down in his heart, he felt terrified. Terrified of being alone in another world.

Aponi smiled when she saw Vir carrying Alfred, then she followed him without saying anything. Aponi wanted to ask Alfred if he was okay, but when she heard what her brother said to Alfred, she finally realized how Alfred felt. Aponi didn’t continue her question, instead, she acted normal and tell another story about the tribe.