The local Elder, called Old One by the locals, quickly escorted us to his home, and what a home it was.

The people of this forest had taken some parts of the culture I was used to, like the living trees and vines in our homes, and amped them up to eleven. Rather than simply having them as support structures and extra parts they lived in the trees themselves, houses grown from the plants around them. Bridges of vine connected platforms of living wood between the giants they were suspended in.

While I liked my home this place much more resembled the ideas that most of the people of Earth would have associated with my kind. It was clear that there was some sort of connection here, something more at play, however I didn't yet know what.

The village was obvious once you got near, and I was sure that from the air it would be even ore so. Each of the trees here was far larger than the surrounding ones, with the centerpiece being more akin to a miniature skyscraper than something formed from normal wood.

“That's some kind of tree,” Chien commented idly.

“I planted it when I first became a man, as is our tradition. The others of the village were the same, but not mine, rather my kin's,” the old elf informed us.

“Interesting tradition, is that why all the trees here are so large?” I asked.

“Some of it. When we are able we have those whose power blooms within them strengthen the trees or shape them, growing them larger and larger as we age. Similarly, when we die the trees are no longer strengthened, and will instead eventually join us in death,” he explained as we made our way to a ladder that came down to the ground.

The Elder went up first, along with his people, followed by Chien. I briefly looked at Isha and gave a mischievous smile, only for her to point me at the ladder with an amused expression. We both knew the view the other would have on the way up, as brief skin clothing sort of beat that into your system.

When she finally made it to the top Isha spoke. “So the others are from your family?”

“Yes,” the Elder explained. “That was my sister's tree,” he said indicating one close to the large central behemoth. “My cousin, my grand-niece,” he listed as we moved about. “Most are gone now, but are honored by those who've taken up residence in their trees.”

When we reached his home it was fairly nice by all metrics. With the height there was little dirt inside, and of course the floors and walls were shaped magically, so they formed more organic looking openings. There were even some fungi that let off a soft light glowing on what were clearly brought in logs, rather than the tree itself.

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“So what happened to the Ancients?” we were asked as we came in, a few of the locals bringing food for us.

“There was a great battle at the city. They fought, others fought as well, and when it was all done Cino killed Atal, only to be felled by one of our leaders comrades,” it was the truth, even if I wasn't taking credit, though nonspecific enough that I didn't anticipate any issues.

“Is the one who put down Cino taking over as the new leader?” he asked in response.

“No, we are now without an Ancient. Do you think it likely any of your people will...” I didn't even finish before he began shaking his head.

“We prefer to stay in our forest, and I doubt any of the oldest will change what they want.”

I shrugged, perhaps some of the others wanted an Ancient around, but I didn't much care for them. If there were things we needed them for it might be better to just improve tactics and weapons. My opinion was that they would be better in the long run than one potent leader who could otherwise do whatever they wanted.

“We understand, if it is not too much to ask, could you point us in the fastest way to the Ancient?” I asked.

“I will provide you with a guide and some food for part of the way, since clearly you're unused to this place,” he said with a small laugh. Fair enough too, we really didn't know our way around. “And also some advice, travel in the afternoon and seek shelter high. There are few beasts in the forest, but those that are here are difficult to battle. Between that and the rains you do not want to be on the ground at night.”

His piece spoken he invited us to eat, and we got to try the local foods. They were wildly different than what I was used to, with almost no roots or berries and few meats at all. Much of what was brought looked something like a breadfruit, large and round, seared on the outside. With it came a number of other more familiar fruits, and a lot of salad. If they didn't go to the ground much that made sense, leaves were easier than digging in the dirt, and perhaps they were even grown up here. We were also given a number of eggs, cooked in the shell, a good substitute for the otherwise missing protein.

Overall the Elder here was quite pleasant, it seemed he understood our mission, and approved of it. I didn't even need to question why that was, since I was basically telling him that his border, something which for the last year or so would have been a major thorn in his side, was now secure as it could be.

The other villagers were much more standoffish. They didn't take any action against us, but it was clear too that they really wanted nothing to do with our group at all. Briefly I wondered why that was, but it seemed impolitic to ask, so I let it go. At any rate we'd be out of their hair soon enough, so there was no need to stress about it.

About noon small sacks of a tough, sewn together leaf, were delivered, and we met our guide. He was shorter than me, with brown hair and sharp eyes.

“I am Rolan, son of Rylan, and the Old One has asked that I guide you part of the way to the Great Tree,” he announced.

“Well met, I am Justin, these are Isha and Chien,” I said as our spokesman.

“It is considered polite to name your fathers as well,” he informed us.

With a nod Isha and I did just that, our third member though ran into another snag.

“Never met him,” Chien said with a shrug.

“But certainly you know his name?” Rolan asked.

“Nope,” he answered with a smile.

The guide seemed a bit taken aback by that, almost unsure of what to say. “Then... did another man of your family raise you? That would be the next best answer.”

“No.”

It was clear that we'd thrown Rolan through a loop here, and with how serious he seemed to be in his introduction I was sure that Chien was having a blast with it.

“Then another? Certainly there has been someone.”

“Closest to that is Justin, started teaching me when I was still this high.” Chien made a hand motion of about how tall he was when we first met, strangely accurate at that too.

“Then you are Chien, of the tree of Justin,” Rolan said before approaching me and clapping a hand on my shoulder. “To take in a child that is no relation to you is a noble thing.”

“I don't think I deserve any merit in that,” I replied, having been mostly taking in the kid for my own reasons.

“Humility too. I think I will like traveling with you Justin.”

I on the other hand thought it might be a bit of a chore, something the snickering behind me almost certainly confirmed.