"We are sorry." In the end, all three of them could only apologize.
They knew that their father was only worried about them.
They knew that whatever their father said was for their own good and safety.
Maybe they had not realized this before, but after experiencing all those hardships and near-death experiences, their minds had become more mature than before.
"Continue." The tribe leader sighed.
Then Ravian continued telling the events that had happened, from when they found Lian, or more precisely, when he came to them.
Then he talked about their escape from the nest, the experience of free falling and passing through the massive branches.
Hiding from the larger creatures, and when they reached the Crimson Needle Ants, Averian’s expression changed.
"A whole colony?"
"At first we thought they were after us." Ravian nodded.
"But they were moving their nest. We didn’t exactly understand what was going on, but it seemed like it was related to their Queen."
Averian sharpened his gaze.
Ravian told the story of the carnivorous mushrooms, crossing the gap, Lian’s battle with the wave of ants, and finally, the parasite emerging from the immature Queen.
"It controlled the entire colony." Sera said quietly.
"Even Lian himself wanted us to retreat at first. The situation was very bad. But they didn’t let us escape."
"He almost died because of us." Nemi added with a low voice.
Averian kept his gaze on her, and Nemi did not continue.
Ravian explained about the Brood Carapace.
The armor made from thousands of ants, about the threads that could control the body.
About the moment Lian went inside the armor, about the time when the Parasite Thread almost reached his heart.
Averian looked at Lian several times during the story, each time slightly differently.
At first with doubt, then with caution, and finally, with disbelief.
"He crushed its core with his bare hands." Ravian said.
A heavy silence formed in the house for a few moments.
The tribe leader had locked his fingers together on the table.
His gaze fixed on Lian.
As if he was trying to understand whether the creature sitting in front of him was really the one who had defeated thousands of ants and a Calamity Seed.
The story was too big, but the testimony of all three of his children was consistent.
None of them had contradictions in the details.
And more importantly, Nemi was sitting next to Lian without the slightest fear.
Averian knew his younger child better than anyone.
She would not get close to strangers, especially after such a terrifying experience, but he could see the hidden warmth and attachment of his youngest daughter toward this strange creature.
And this itself was a great proof that everything he had heard was true.
Averian slowly stood up, stopped in front of Lian, and placed his hand on his chest.
A brief movement, but clearly important.
"You returned something to me that I thought I had lost forever." His voice was calm.
"Whatever is within my power and the Lacerians’ power, we will do to repay you."
"I only want information." Lian answered without exaggeration or false humility.
He did not try to act modest.
After all that effort, he really did not have the patience to act modest.
"About what?"
"The other two forests, Emberroot Forest and Glassthorn Forest." He paused briefly.
"And also anything you have about the Forgotten Tree." He kept his gaze fixed on the tribe leader.
"And if anyone has reported about other creatures like me, I want to know."
"The tribe’s archive is not complete." Averian thought for a few moments and then nodded.
"But I will gather every book, scroll, and old report we have for you." A tired smile formed on his face.
"But not tonight." He looked at his children.
"Now that you have returned, the tribe will celebrate tonight."
"Besides, your mother was waiting for you every day." His gaze stayed on Ravian for a moment.
"She cried almost every night. Before anything else, go see her."
Nemi immediately stood up, Sera also could not hide her emotions, and Ravian lowered his head for a moment.
The weight of the decision he had made had just taken on another form.
He had not only risked himself.
He had kept his entire family between hope and grief for long days.
The three siblings left the house.
Averian stood in his place for a moment and then looked at Lian again.
"Be our guest tonight."
The celebration began after the forest’s green light set.
The tribe’s central square was located among several massive roots.
The fires were lit inside stone bowls so the flames could not reach the moss or roots.
The orange light of the fire combined with the green and blue mana lamps, making the square’s space colorful.
The food was arranged on high platforms.
Pieces of large insect meat were being roasted on bone skewers.
Sweet forest fruits were placed in woven baskets, and cooked roots were served with spicy seasonings.
The mushrooms were grilled with monster fat and fragrant herbs, and a fermented drink made from plant sap was being passed around among the crowd in clay containers.
The sound of drums made from monster skin echoed in the square.
The warriors struck their spears on the ground with a regular rhythm.
A group of Lacerians were dancing with coordinated movements of their legs and tails.
An old man was standing on a short platform and telling a story about one of the tribe’s ancestors.
Ravian, Sera, and Nemi were standing in the center of the square.
An elderly woman tied blue bands around the base of their antennae.
The "returned from death" bands.
Every time a band was tied, the warriors struck their spears firmly on the ground once.
The tribe’s people hugged those three.
Their mother did not let go of Nemi for a long time.
The Lacerian woman touched her three children’s faces several times, as if she still feared their image would disappear.
Lian saw this scene from a short distance.
Seeing the traditions and cultures of different civilizations had its own appeal, especially for him who had a great interest in such topics.
It was interesting to see that besides humans, there were other creatures who could show and understand love, worry, and affection as well as them.
Then he turned his gaze back to the crowd.
The people were still keeping their distance from him.
The looks were not hidden.
Some with fear, some with curiosity, and some with distrust.
Children were peeking from behind the adults.
Every time Lian turned his head toward them, they would quickly hide.
After a while, a few young warriors dared to come closer, and one of them asked.
"Did you really fight those giant ants alone?"
"Yes." Lian chewed a piece of grilled meat.
"Without a spear?" another warrior asked hesitantly.
"Without weapons."
They looked at his healthy fists, as if they expected a sign of that battle to still remain on his hands.
How could a person have such powerful fists?
An old woman with bent antennae came closer.
She looked at the skin on Lian’s forearm for a few moments and then asked.
"Why don’t you have scales?"
"Our species doesn’t have scales." Lian answered.
The old woman, without permission, ran her finger over his forearm.
"Much softer."
Lian said nothing.
"Why don’t you have a tail?" another person asked from behind.
"Are all Otherworldlies this strange?" a child standing near their mother asked loudly.
A few people fell silent, and Lian gave his gaze to the child.
"For us, you are strange. But yes, we don’t have tails, wings, or scales."
There was silence for a moment, then a few people laughed.
Even the child’s mother could not hide her smile.
The tension in the surrounding space eased slightly.
The children came a little closer, the warriors asked more questions, and the looks slowly changed from pure fear to curiosity.
Sera came over with two drink containers and sat next to Lian.
She gave one to him.
"I hope it’s not annoying." She gestured with her gaze around.
"Most of them have never seen anyone from outside the three tribes."
Lian took a sip, and its taste was sweet and slightly spicy.
"It’s fine."
He looked at one of the children who was still examining him without a tail.
Even though it might have seemed annoying, Lian did not care.
In fact, he found talking to the people of this tribe entertaining and interesting.
To some extent, he felt famous and popular, and this feeling, unlike in his own world, gave him a sense of being more special.
"When I was a child, if I saw someone with a tail and antennae who could talk, I would probably stare too."
For the first time, Sera laughed without pressure or worry.
Her laugh was short.
However, while speaking, Lian noticed that the celebration was not completely normal.
A few warriors were leaving the square earlier than the others.
The guards on the wall were more than what seemed necessary for a celebration night.
On some platforms, there were large barrels that were empty.
The families were sharing the drink carefully.
A few people in the corners were talking with low voices and serious faces.
Even the sound of the drums could not completely cover the tribe’s hidden anxiety.
During the days when Ravian and his sisters were absent, something else had happened.
He noticed this, but he did not pay much attention to it.
After all, it was none of his concern.
Averian came over after a while and said to Sera.
"If you don’t mind, I want to talk to your friend alone for a bit."