“Do you mean to say that only Greenleaf would be allowed to use the beastways and trade with my clan?” A perplexed Sasha asked Orson, a notion shared by Niko as he gazed upon the Guildmaster.

Yet, just after a few moments of consideration, Niko could think of several reasons why Orson might wish to secure a private connection with the beast clans of the mountains. Such a connection would obviously give a particular sway to the authority Greenleaf might possess in the future, elevating it beyond being a regional presence to one that could potentially leverage its will across more of the kingdom. While Niko wasn’t positive about the entire geo-political layout of the continent of Teros, he was aware that the Niffel Mountain Range was a major barrier between the Arnost Kingdom and the Republic of Ursona, preventing both casual travel and making trade between the two nations especially challenging.

Current trade had to move northwards along the Niffel mountains, due in no small part to lacking any safer overland routes. Very few fortunate companies had ties with dwarven clans beneath the range, allowing trade routes to move through towards the fortress city of Ar’Klaadi north of Greenleaf. That said, the location still presented enough challenges that trade was difficult at the best of times.

Alternatively, the mountains north-east of Greenleaf presented a much more efficient route, should safe passage be secured. The more Niko thought about it, the more he realized that the potential for trade could be much higher than he’d initially suspected. With a safer, shorter route into the kingdom established, he imagined that Greenleaf could become a major hub for trade, especially given that a ready waterway could be constructed for at least some level of boat travel.

‘But, that would also put Greenleaf on the radar for any other political powers in the Kingdom,’ Niko mused, ‘The real question is if Orson is trying to amass power, or if he’s just trying to improve the city's future prospects.’

Before Niko could contemplate any further on the subject, the Guildmaster spoke up, “Obviously our two peoples have had a lack of contact for a long time,” Orson began, “So, in order to assuage potential concerns, we can start small. Greenleaf can be that point of contact for trade.”

“I… suppose that does sound reasonable…?” Sasha said, trying to appear less apprehensive and uncertain, but Niko felt like she was quite out of her depth on the matter. He couldn’t blame her, either, considering the topic was much more in line with what might be decided by a council, or other symbol of authority.

“I understand this is a large matter,” Orson spoke with an understanding tone, “It is only a topic I would like to have brought up for serious and honest discussion. Perhaps nothing will come of it, but I believe that there is one other possibility that could be of even more importance.”

Niko saw the relief on Sasha’s face, but he himself couldn’t help but side-eye Orson. ‘This is the part where you suggest something comparatively lighter but was ultimately your goal, right?’

“What is it that you’re speaking of?” Sasha asked, “Keeping in mind that high level decisions will certainly require negotiation with the Riizen Council, I will still do my best to advocate for reasonable requests.”

Orson nodded to that, “Of course. And I believe that this will certainly benefit all parties involved. I propose that a cultural exchange of sorts be done, wherein a small number of residents of Greenleaf and those of the Riizen Clan visit the other’s city to examine and interact with each other's peoples. It is my hope that the barriers between our two peoples can eventually be bridged, with, of course, understanding and patience from both parties in the event of any unforeseen events taking place.”

Sasha’s eyes narrowed fractionally as she looked to the floor in thought, while Niko couldn’t help but quietly click his tongue. ‘Even if they don’t agree to the trade routes and such immediately, if the exchange goes well, that can eventually lead to a change in the opinions of any beasts to overturn an initially negative decision.’

Niko then breathed out and shook his head lightly, ‘Aaaand I’m sure we’re going to end up in the middle of all of this plucking political nonsense. You owe us, Orson,’ Niko turned his gaze, now much sharper, upon the Guildmaster.

Orson’s eyes fractionally registered the gaze and gave Niko a mischievous wink. He huffed at that, turning his attention back to Sasha as she seemed to have gathered her thoughts.

“Tentatively, I can approve of a small exchange. For now, I can take in the Wyldwalkers as a provisional test, but anything more will certainly have to be approved by the Council.” Sasha agreed readily enough, but followed up with, “I think it would be fair to say that the details can be ironed out by those much more experienced in such work. Is there… anything else?”

Niko failed to stop the amused snort that came from him, and immediately trilled a nonsense little tune and turned his head innocently away as Sasha glared at him. Before she could ask him anything, Orson spoke up, “None, that is everything that I’d hoped to bring up and more. I thank you, Sasha, for your time. Now, as for the rest of you,” Orson turned his attention to Ronald and the others, “I would like to personally thank you for your efforts during all of this. There’s a lot of people out there who are talking about all of you, and I’ve yet to hear anything poorly said. Well done.”

Ronald straightened up, looking to Niko every bit the stoic leader without a trace of the exhaustion that he knew the man had, “Thank you, Guildmaster. We just did what we could, though.”

Niko shared a look with Mithel at the cheesy line delivered so seriously, ‘Wow, that is like the most stereotypical good-guy response I can think of. It doesn’t even feel weird because Ronald actually means it.’

“An admirable way of thinking,” Orson nodded to Ronald, “That said, as the Guildmaster, I should still find a way to reward all of you for your efforts. Unfortunately, I’m currently lacking in funds and materials,” He joked as he gestured to the tent around them, “So I’ll have to ask you all to settle for an official commendation as fit for your efforts.”

Niko blinked in confusion at that, a sentiment that Niko realized was shared by his companions.

“So… a pat on the back?” Dachna asked with confusion, only for Skye to sharply elbow him, “Ow! What? It’s an honest question.”

“I’m with Dachna on this one,” Niko blinked, “Is that a big deal?”

At that, Camille spoke up, looking thoroughly amused, “There are a lot of different types of commendations, some of them are a very big deal, yes.”

“The one suggested for you is up for peer review,” Crowe followed suit, “As such, you need not concern yourselves with it for the time being.”

Ronald, unbothered, simply nodded, “That’s fine. In the first place, I don’t think we could accept a monetary reward given the current situation here anyways.”

This time, Niko and Dachna both quietly looked to one another with pained expressions, but did their best to maintain a professional demeanor.

“Now, as mentioned, I’d like you all to take on the task of escorting Camille and Crowe to Riizen City–” Orson paused and looked to Sasha, “–Your leader does still adhere to the old naming conventions, right?”

Amused, Sasha nodded to the man before he continued on, “Right. An escort to Riizen City where, provisionally, you will halfway remain as their escort, but also as part of a cultural exchange. Realistically, you all can feel free to go forth and do as you will from there.”

“As in… anywhere?” Skye tilted her head, “Just like that?”

Orson nodded with a smile, “Just like that. I know better than to try to hold onto anyone on pilgrimage for too long.”

The Wyldwalkers all exchanged glances with one another, before Niko trilled out, “When do we leave?”

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Niko stretched, limbering up his body and bracing against the cool air as, what he imagined was afternoon, came on. A modified brace of leather and wood rested across his back and anchored across his chest, though Niko could undo the strap at any moment with his beak. In turn, the two and a half meter tall Phorus was ready to pull a modest wagon behind him, covered in an oiled tarp that would keep the rain off of whatever limited and critical supplies they had. All told, they were very low on edible supplies, as the Wyldwalkers had decided that they would take only whatever limited things they had in surplus or their own cobbled together goods for the journey to the mountains.

Skye, Sasha, and Thokk were the only ones currently with Niko just outside of Greenleaf currently, where the edge of the devastation between what had been a fiery explosion and still healthy forest lay like a demarcating line. It’d been blurred somewhat by secondary burns, but to Niko’s enhanced vision the radius of the initial blast was clear. Too clear, in all honesty, since as far as Niko was aware blasts weren’t supposed to leave such a clear cut-off. ‘More magic shenanigans, for sure. I have to wonder where Orson even found materials for a bomb like that, let alone two.’

“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Skye asked, currently walking back from a localized gathering trip for dry twigs, kindling, and intermediary supplies. No small amount of charcoaled wood found its way into the cart, as well, or at least what Niko thought was charcoaled. He was hardly an expert on such things.

“The bombs, the trip, and a few random other things,” Niko answered honestly, “Nothing important, though. You?”

Skye secured the wood into the wagon while Sasha and Thokk relaxed on the ground nearby, seemingly whispering and muttering to each other, but in relaxed tones that Niko felt no compulsion to eavesdrop on. “Just what we’re going to be doing after we get there. You had your vision, or whatever it is,” she shrugged, “But I don’t know how much we can really do about that if we do find anything. So I was thinking of what else we might be able to do while finally away from cities and such.”

Niko was surprised that Skye was so talkative, not that she was normally especially taciturn. “Hmm… Well, vision aside, I’d like to just get some real hunting in. Fighting is all well and fine, but I’m bored out of my mind with fighting goblins. I want a real hunt.” Niko paused, surprised momentarily at how excited he felt at the prospect. As he looked at Sasha and Thokk, though, his excitement cooled. The idea that he might be hunting other thinking creatures was complicated, because while he knew that life here wasn’t as cut and dried as his past life, he didn’t necessarily relish in that fact.

Something must have shown in his expression, because Skye smiled knowingly before saying, “That’s fair. And just so you know… Most beasts aren’t exactly what can be called sapient.” She thumbed over her shoulder at Sasha and Thokk, “It might seem like they’re all over the place, but ninety-five percent of beasts you’ll meet just aren’t… there yet. They tend to need a bond to get the rest of the way, but that’s what makes the Beast Clans special… And the Arnost Kingdom special, I guess.”

Niko blinked at that, “Are sapients that rare out of the Kingdom?”

“Yes and no,” Skye chewed on her thoughts momentarily, “It’s… complicated. You know how monsters can still be fully thinking creatures, some of them actually pretty intelligent, yeah?” Niko nodded the affirmative as Skye continued on, “They’re sapient, but they’re also malevolent. Most beasts are also like that to a degree, though nobody can really say why, or why ours are different. Monsters are that, but dialed up even further. You can still negotiate with a beast, even if you’re sure to get a worse deal, but monsters? Very few, if any, monsters will be open to anything but a terrible deal. There’s even stories of villages being forced to give up sacrifices to monsters to appease them, only for the monsters to turn around and butcher everyone anyways.” She shrugged then, “That’s why things like Dawr Goblins are killed on sight. No one can really communicate with them anyways, not like it matters, though. Monsters only goal is to kill, that’s the real differentiating factor between malevolent beasts and them.”

Niko nodded along, digesting what he was hearing with the context of having fought the goblins himself. He had to agree that they were psychotic, and even with his unique ability to understand them, he never got the idea to even attempt to negotiate with them. Their sheer willingness to throw bodies at a problem and bloody rage at anything not them was honestly frightening to behold. Niko wondered suddenly at who might even attempt to negotiate with them, when he realized that anyone doing so would have been incredibly desperate for one reason or another.

“They approach,” Sasha rose with a stretch, “That wasn’t as long as I’d expected.”

He followed Sasha’s gaze, and Niko had to admit that he, too, expected them to take much longer. At the head of the small procession was Ronald, who carried two large backpacks. One of them was his own, but the second Niko didn’t recognize. For a split second, Niko thought he might be carrying Stella’s, but he decided that was completely untrue when he saw the elven woman beside him. She carried a pair of packs as well, each stuffed to the brim, and to Niko’s surprise didn’t look to be any more put off by the weight than Ronald was.

In amusing contrast, Mithel and Dachna carried only one pack each, and both of them looked to be laboring beneath their respective weight. They didn’t seem to be upset, though, instead talking with the center of their group with broad smiles on their faces. With that, Niko laid eyes upon Camille and Crowe, both of whom were in various states of bandaged wounds and what seemed a milder fatigue than he’d seen on them before.

“Hail!” Ronald called out happily, “We’ve brought some gifts for the cultural exchange! My Dad–err, Guard Captain Magra sends his regards!”

Sasha chuffed at that, “My thanks, then. Are all of those… gifts?”

Niko translated, and Camille shook her head, “No, most are, but not all. A few of these are our personal items. It’s only a day away, but Crowe and I probably aren’t going to be making the trip back and forth unless we really need to.”

“Though we haven’t had visitors in a long time, I’d like to remind you that Riizen will still take care of their guests,” Sasha said while giving a toothy smirk at the many packs, “That said, I suppose I can’t fault your preparation.”

“Then we are nearly ready?” Thokk rumbled as he rose from the ground like a living hill, “As surprisingly pleasant as the lowlands are, I miss my cave.”

“Soon, big guy,” Skye chuckled as she reached over and plucked the pack from Mithel’s back, only to flare her body pattern seamlessly.

“Show off,” Mithel accused, before Skye stuck out her tongue at her and then took Dachna’s pack as well.

The dirty-blonde haired man didn’t bother to hide his relief in the slightest, “Oh, my shoulders. My sweet, sweet shoulders.”

“Yes, poor you,” Skye rolled her eyes with a good natured chuckle, before placing the bags in the cart, “What are in these, even? They feel like they’re filled with bricks.”

“They are, kinda,” Stella answered before dropping her two packs into the cart, “Metal, both common and not, types of treated woods from the Eldergreen, and a lot of manufactured goods that people had left over from their shops. Well, any that survived, anyways.” She added the last part with a note of sadness.

Ronald bumped her shoulder with his own in passing as he put his own packs down, “Maybe they’ll have some materials you can work with over there?”

Stella paused, and then went expressionless for a few seconds, enough so that Niko briefly wondered if she’d just shut down.

And then like a bellows, Stella drew in a deep breath and smiled radiantly, “Ohmygods! You’re right! Oh! Oh! I need to see what they have!”

Ronald was briefly taken aback, before Skye sighed aloud, “Yep. There's the Stella I know.”

Niko lilted at the antics, before turning forwards and tentatively pulling. He had to push fractionally with Wyldstrider active, but after the initial forward movement it was quite easy to keep the cart in motion. “Alright, someone lead the way. I have no idea where I’m going!” Niko called out happily, “This is our first actual trip together that doesn’t have anything to do with attacking something! I’m kind of excited!”