Lian sensed the tension, but decided to ignore it. Forcing Seris to apologize was almost impossible.
Forcing Ravian and his sisters to accept her was also pointless. Time might solve the problem, or at least make her presence more tolerable for them.
Besides, it wasn’t like the hostility had anything to do with him or could have any effect, and as far as he knew, Seris was not the type of person who cared the slightest about such matters.
"Why is this creature here?" Ravian asked with a defensive tone.
Seris gave him a brief look, but before she could say anything, Averian answered.
"She is Mr. Lian’s friend." His way of addressing had changed. He no longer only said Lian’s name.
After saving his children, healing his hands, and restoring the water, the tribe leader’s respect had deepened, and he continued.
"She will stay here for a while."
Ravian first looked at his father, then at Lian. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to object.
"Well... then nothing." But in the end, he only said that.
Lian gave a very faint smile. This boy’s trust in him was ultimately greater than his anger toward Seris.
Averian and the elders went to the council house to assess the water situation, Kharvek’s death, and the future relationship with the Varkesh.
Lian also led Seris away from the crowded square. They sat on a high platform in a quieter part of the tribe, where a large part of the Forest of Giants could be seen.
The roots stretched like natural walls in all directions. Green mist moved among the giant trunks, and creatures could be seen crawling on the branches in the distance.
The sound of an unknown roar came from deep within the forest.
"This forest is too gigantic." Seris watched the view for a while and then said.
"I agree." Lian answered, pointing at a root so large that whole houses of the tribe were built inside it.
"According to what I’ve understood, the Forest of Giants is more of a wild area."
The girl gave her gaze to him, and he continued.
"It has many monsters and resources, but I haven’t found any special opportunity worth staying long for."
"The other two forests?"
"Emberroot and Glassthorn."
"Emberroot is full of fire and heat-related resources. Some reports even say the forest itself awakens periodically, plus they have a kingdom"
Based on the reports he had read, among all three forests, Emberroot could have the most value and opportunities for the awakened ones.
The civilization that existed there was simply the largest known civilization in this world, and unlike the other two forests that had a tribal system, they had a kingdom system.
Of course, not in the sense that there was no trace of a tribal system among them... more precisely, it was like this: several tribes had come together to form a kingdom.
Of course, the fact that the civilization was more advanced could also mean greater danger.
And unfortunately, going there is not easy because at least from where they are, there is no direct way.
"Glassthorn?"
"Colder and more dangerous." Lian explained.
"Crystal trees, constant mist, invisible thorns, and monsters that use reflections." He paused.
"But there’s probably a crystalline city there. Also, its path to the Forgotten Tree seems closer."
"Better opportunities." Seris added.
"Probably."
"The lizards said there is no exit path from this forest." That girl also mentioned another point she had heard.
She had naturally forced the Varkesh to provide any information they had. She was also looking for a way out of this forest.
This forest was too dangerous even for her, but she had not been able to find a way. All paths ended in death.
Even though she loved battle, she was not crazy enough to dig her own grave with her own hands.
"That’s almost correct." Lian answered.
"But there is one way."
"Where?"
"It’s called the Giants’ Graveyard, there’s a valley there that connects to Glassthorn Forest."
Then he explained the path’s dangers, the skeletons of giant creatures that filled the valley.
High-level monsters that had made nests inside the bones.
A crystalline mist that came from the Glassthorn side and distorted directions.
Reports that said no normal group had ever been able to cross the entire path. In the past, based on what he had read, the three tribes would occasionally send groups to try to cross.
But the result was always the same, either they returned alive and wounded, or everyone was killed and never returned.
"Going alone wasn’t logical." Lian said. He had planned to go alone but knew it would be dangerous, even though he had no choice.
He gave his gaze to Seris. Now with this girl’s presence, his worries would decrease.
"But now that you’re here, it shouldn’t be a problem."
"We can leave whenever you want." She also nodded.
"Three days."
"Why three days?"
"I have some things to do."
Seris waited for an explanation.
"To gather food and resources for the path, prepare One, and also take a closer look at the maps to see if I missed anything." He paused briefly.
"Besides, I promised to help Ravian become stronger."
"Three days isn’t much. How are you going to make him stronger in three days?"
"For a start, it’s enough. The boy is talented, I’m sure three days will be enough." Lian nodded and added.
In three days, he couldn’t turn that boy into a prodigy, but enough to teach him the basics and give him exercises that could put him far ahead.
Then the conversation turned to the other Awakened ones. Seris said that since her arrival, she had not directly seen anyone else.
Although she had ordered the Varkesh to find any signs they could, and they had found a few.
A blade mark on a monster’s shell that was not natural. Burned soil that did not resemble a forest fire.
The remains of a small camp.
And at a distance from the Varkesh territory, the body of a young Awakened who had probably been killed less than a day after entering... more precisely, the remains of a body.
"Did anything of his belongings remain?" Lian asked. He was not very surprised by the death of an Awakened one.
This forest was too dangerous for the Awakened ones who had entered. The risk of death was almost certain.
In fact, if any Awakened other than him and Seris could survive, he would be surprised.
"No."
Lian looked at the forest.
"So everyone is scattered across all three forests."
"The strong go after opportunities." Seris said.
"And the weak go after safety."
Survivors in the Forest of Giants would probably head toward waterways or areas with weaker monsters, of course, if they could survive long enough to reach them.
In Emberroot, caves, Salamander territory, and hot rivers could be gathering places.
In Glassthorn, only areas protected from the mist or the crystalline city had a good chance.
But the danger was not only monsters. Other Awakened ones might also fight each other for resources, Skills, and opportunities.
In a world with no clear laws, power could very quickly replace morality.
"If they find a good opportunity, they’ll compete, or kill each other." Seris said.