After following Natsuki on his errands for most of the afternoon, I slowly start to get familiar with the value of things. A bronze coin is worth ten copper coins. With two or three of these, you can get a decent meal at most inns. For twenty bronze coins, you can obtain a silver coin, which allows for occasional purchases of slightly more expensive items, such as furniture or festive clothing. Gold coins, equivalent to fifty silver coins, are reserved for the middle and upper classes and are mainly used for real estate transactions.
Finally, although he’s never seen one, Natsuki told me that there are even more valuable coins, owned only by high nobles and the royal family. These are made of mystrite, a rare material, and the exclusive mining of it in Aragane is the source of the capital’s wealth. A single mystrite coin is worth a hundred gold coins, or the equivalent of one hundred thousand caramelized meat skewers.
Natsuki is now taking me to the fishmonger, the last stop on his list. Even before seeing him, I recognize the booming voice of the gruff fish seller I encountered after my visit to Geika Medras. Natsuki tells me to stay back with the bags, that he’ll handle everything.
– Watch and learn!
Not reassured by his mischievous smile, which doesn’t bode well, I watch him approach the portly man whose bald head benefits from the fresh air. He stops a few paces from the stall, as a precaution, and shouts loudly enough to cover the fishmonger’s voice.
– Hey! Marius! How about you stop yelling like anyone cares about your stale fish?
– WHAT?!
The fish seller’s eyes look like they’re about to explode — a look that, if directed at me, would have been enough to send me running out of town. But Natsuki doesn’t stop there.
– You know what everyone says about your fish. That they’re bland and spread diseases.
Passersby begin to stop and listen to the heated exchange between the two men.
– You little bastard! It’s you again, coming to disrupt my business?! I’m fed up with your lies! You won’t find better fish in the entire capital, he says, proudly opening his arms.
Natsuki pretends to laugh.
– Cut the act, even a glutton shark wouldn’t take the risk. Tell me, is it since you eat your own fish that you can breathe through the top of your head?
Offended, the man inhales loudly as the veins in his eyes bulge, ready to burst. Some passersby chuckle, while others, relying on experience, think it wise to take cover. The fishmonger’s face now turns lobster-red, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see smoke coming out of his ears.
– You asked for it, you rascal! Don’t come crying when I shove your nose into your face!
With this declaration of war, the fishmonger grabs one of his finest specimens — a striped tuna that must weigh at least six kilos — and prepares to hurl it with all his strength.
– Ishizora! Catch, Natsuki yells at me, ducking just in time to dodge the animal projectile slicing through the air with surprising aerodynamics.
I realize a bit too late that I’m right in the object trajectory. Saved by my defensive reflexes, I clumsily juggle the fish whose wet scales are as slippery as a bar of soap. I finally manage to grab it by the tail, and Natsuki joins me, a proud grin on his face.
– That, my friend, is what I call a Natsuki-style negotiation. Now, run!
Seeing the murderous look on the fishmonger’s face, I don’t wait to be told twice.
Once we’re far enough away, we stop to catch our breath. I feel a twinge of sympathy for the poor fish seller, who did nothing to deserve such treatment. I suppose this is the "jungle" Natsuki was referring to earlier.
– What you said about his fish, was it true?
– Not at all, he admits casually, without a hint of remorse. As he keeps saying, his fish are probably the best in the entire capital. But they’re far too expensive for the people in the lower districts. Don’t worry, with all the profit he’s making, one missing fish isn’t going to affect his business. When you don’t have money, you have to fight with this, he says while tapping his skull with his index finger.
∼ So Natsuki is from the lower social class?! I had assumed he came from a wealthy family, with his constant good humor that makes it seem like he’s never had a problem in his life.
– You seem really comfortable here. Have you lived in this city all your life?
– No. Actually, I’ve never even lived here. But I come once a month to take care of various tasks at the request of my... mother.
I notice the hesitation in his voice when he says that last word.
– You mean… you live outside the city walls?
– Exactly, he replies casually, as if living outside the walls were the most normal thing in the world.
∼ I’m in no position to say this, but any sensible human being would choose to live in the city if they had the chance. As far as I know, the only humans who live outside are bandits, and apparently, girls with red hair... Could he be from a family of bandits?
∼ No, that can’t be. Even though he doesn’t seem to live in the most honest way, he doesn’t fit the profile of a poacher or a human trafficker.
– Thanks for the help, Ishizora! Now, all I need to do is figure out how to carry all these bags home, and I’m set, he exclaims, pretending to think about it.
The seconds pass without any conclusion coming from his mouth.
∼ I have the feeling he’s already found the solution to his problem, but he’s just waiting for it to come from me.
– Would you like me to help you carry them to your place?
Barely had the words left my mouth when he clasped his hands in a prayer-like gesture and bowed his head in supplication.
– I would be infinitely grateful to you!
∼ What happened to his speech about kindness eventually being my downfall?
Instead of admitting to him that I have nothing better to do and that earning someone’s gratitude by helping them is always more pleasant to me than enduring the contemptuous looks of the townspeople, I decide to play tough.
– Don’t think I’m doing this to help you, but you haven’t answered all my questions yet.
– Yes, of course, your questions..., he repeats with that little smirk, full of the insolence he seems to be the master of, leaving me thinking he saw right through my act.
– In that case, let’s go now! I’d like to get there before nightfall, if possible.
Judging by the current position of the sun, his concern suggests a long journey ahead of us. After gently placing the fish into one of the four cloth bags, I take the two that seem the heaviest. I’d feel bad seeing him carry more than me with his arms as thin as twigs. The bags are filled with all sorts of things: a large loaf of bread, various aromatic herbs, some spices, wheat and flour in great quantity, some fabric, sharpening stones, a small shovel likely for gardening, and an axe for chopping wood. There are also two or three objects I don’t recognize and can’t figure out their use.
– Doesn’t your mother ask too much of you?
– Don’t get me started… It’s exploitation!
Seeing his disheartened expression, I can’t help but have pity for this odd character, for whom I already feel a great sense of sympathy.
After passing through the East Gate, we are now walking on a small, seemingly seldom-used path. The only thing that sets it apart from the plain it crosses, like a fleeting stream, is the slightly yellowed color and the flatness of the grass. In fact, the path is only visible when you're walking on it, and it’s impossible to predict its direction beyond about ten meters. Natsuki keeps his promise to answer all my questions, and do it with an unusual seriousness.
– To get back to Mystra, it's an ethereal substance that permeates things and souls, spreading from the deepest roots to the highest mountaintops, connecting nature with all its inhabitants. It’s comparable to infinite threads linking everything into a single entity, called the Vahna.
While speaking, he keeps one arm behind his back and a finger pointed at the sky, which he waves to the rhythm of his explanations.
– Those who manage to master Mystra are called ethernauts, and the first of them gave birth to the first Geika. Today, many people begin to follow the path of the Vahna, but ethernauts still make up only a small percentage of Historia's population.
– Is Mystra limited to the borders of Historia?
– It's said that, in the past, Mystra's only boundaries were the sea and the desert. However, through excessive exploitation of their lands, the people of Techna eventually depleted Mystra from their territory, thus separating themselves from the Great Whole. This earned them the title of "deserters", a term that well reflects the opinion of Historia’s people, all united by the Great Weave of the Vahna.
∼ All united in their isolation, I suppose. Enclosed behind their high walls, they don't seem connected to the deepest roots, let alone the highest mountains.
Aragane is already far behind us, and I savor the view where the capital appears so tiny, despite seeming infinite once you pass through its walls. I imagine the inhabitants jostling in the streets, the merchants shouting at the top of their lungs, a few people drinking with laughter and good cheer at Karim's tavern, and I feel an unexpected sense of nostalgia. Even though I only spent two days in the capital, that time was rich in encounters and discoveries. Moreover, an inexplicable intuition tells me I won’t be returning to Aragane anytime soon.
∼ There's no point in overthinking it for now. Tomorrow is tomorrow. Today is now.
– So? You haven't run out of questions already, have you?
– No. Actually, every time you answer, a new question pops up. Just a few days ago, I only knew about nature and its creatures. And now, it seems like a lifetime won't be enough to fill in my ignorance.
– Don't worry, just take it at your own pace. I wouldn’t want you to end up like one of those boring bookworms.
∼ Am I really allowed to take my time?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
– I’d even say I’m a little jealous of you, he blurts out suddenly.
– Why’s that?
– In my Geika, we say that a man only grows old when he stops learning. In other words, you’re on track to live a long life, he says while giving me a friendly punch on the shoulder. Plus, discovering new things every day is like living a life of celebration.
∼ Do I really want to live a long, festive life? I have a feeling the future holds something very different for me… Anyway, he did manage to lift my spirits.
– You’re quite funny you know?
– I know, I know. You can also say charming, gallant, smart, athletic, resourceful, generous...
I laugh heartily, swept away by his carefree attitude and infectious joy. He stops his list and puts on a mock-offended face.
– Hey, why are you laughing like that? I’m just repeating what people have told me, he states with a falsely offended look.
– Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Natsuki pretends to be upset but ends up laughing too.
– Anyway, I was wondering, has Mystra always existed?
– Great question! It’s believed that it hasn’t, but its appearance dates back to the age of legends, of which only a few scribbles and inscriptions carved in stone serve as a history book. You saw the statue of the winged wolf, right?
I nod.
– That’s Varandir, the original wolf. The story goes that he spread Mystra across the continent, establishing a new order through a harmonious fusion of souls. As the creator of the Great Whole, he is worshiped like a god and represents a symbol of unity for all living species. Humans interpreted this symbol in their own way and declared that this unity only applied to their own species. It was this vanity and narcissism that led to the construction of the walls and shaped the current society of Historia. At least, that’s the teaching passed down within my Geika.
– Is that the reason why you live outside the walls?
– Among other things, yes.
The plain we've been walking on for quite a while now rises into a hill about twenty meters high, stretching across its width. The slope is steep, and the linen handles are starting to cut into my hands.
– How did the Geikas come about?
– A Geika is a bit like a school. Each was created at different times and by different people, all of whom shared the common trait of pushing the boundaries of their art. Driven by the desire to preserve it, they decided to recruit young people from all walks of life to pass on their ancestral techniques.
When we reach the top of the hill, a vast plateau of tall grass unfolds before us, though a growing mist prevents us from seeing its full extent. The path is only discernible by a slight bend in the blades of grass, making it almost impossible to find after straying from it. I follow Natsuki closely to prevent that from happening.
– You could say that passing down their teachings is what has sustained this country for ages, and it's also what protects us from neighboring nations. For this reason, the founders of each Geika are often called "prophets".
– Geikas are even more impressive than I thought.
– The government thinks so too. They quickly realized the Geikas represented a formidable force and did everything they could to enlist them in the army in exchange for certain benefits. Today, most Geikas are under government supervision, forced to fight when ordered.
– So, some remained independent?
– Yes, they're called renegade Geikas, though I don't like that term very much. You see, according to urban customs, choosing independence is seen as a betrayal, and most city dwellers despise those who make that choice. The government adds to this by claiming that these Geikas have no intention of helping the country in times of need, when in reality, they simply have no obligation to do so.
The mist thickens into fog, eventually turning into a dense pea soup, leaving my sense of direction as sharp as a dull old knife. The path, already difficult to follow, becomes less and less distinct until our footprints are the only thing giving us any sense of direction.
∼ Is that really the case?
I turn around and realize there's no sign of our footsteps or bent grass to prove we've passed through. It almost feels like someone is carefully straightening each blade of grass behind us.
∼ Behind us? Where is that?
∼ Us? Where is Natsuki?
Suddenly, panic grips my throat, like a predator mercilessly pouncing on its prey. Without a guide, it's impossible to know which way to go, and without the sun, there's no way to tell East from West.
∼ What should I do? Go back? I don't even know where my own steps are anymore!
When Natsuki grabs my wrist and tells me to stop dawdling, I jump in relief. Fortunately, my guide doesn't seem fazed by the thick fog and, still as laid-back as ever, shows no hesitation about the direction we should take. Determined not to lose sight of his back again, I keep asking questions to better orient myself by his voice.
– What happened to those renegade Geikas?
– Expelled from the city, condemned to live autonomously, and stripped of many rights… But as long as they don’t cause trouble, they’re free to continue their activities. These Geikas chose to prioritize their freedom over money and social status. It’s not always easy, but you get used to it, and eventually, you realize that living in the wild isn’t so bad. The hardest part is enduring the scornful looks from some city folk. That’s why I hate going to the city, he sighs.
I thought all the hostile stares from passersby were directed at me, but it’s true that I sensed a new kind of animosity throughout the afternoon.
– And what’s your Geika like?
– You’ll see! We’re almost there.
I have no idea what landmark he’s using to make that claim, as the uniform whiteness surrounding us has distorted even my sense of distance.
∼ Now that I think about it, I’ve felt strange ever since we started walking through this fog, as if it’s not just clouding my vision but muddling my mind as well.
This feeling of dizziness prevents me from thinking clearly, and I have to focus all my attention just to keep Natsuki in sight.
– We’ve arrived!
He snaps his fingers, and the sharp sound reverberates through the thick whiteness, vibrating in my ears for what feels like an eternity. When the echo finally fades, I notice the fog beginning to clear. In barely ten seconds, there’s no trace left of the mysterious white veil.
– Perfect, we’re right on time, he says with relief, looking up at the sky.
His enthusiasm reassures me, although it seems completely absurd, since the place we’re standing in doesn’t have any more distinction than a drop of water in the ocean.
∼ Is he messing with me?
We find ourselves in the middle of an empty plain, with not a single rock or shrub in sight. In fact, this emptiness feels familiar, as such voids are always marked by a recognizable strangeness. Hypotizing two empty spaces can differ, this vast plain is eerily similar to the one where I landed two days ago. Natsuki motions for me to join him. My mind still clouded, my muscles act on their own, moving me quickly toward him to drop the bags that have been cutting into my hands.
The sun has shifted quite a bit since we left the city, and the fading light is becoming noticeable. Without even considering how much time has passed since we began our journey, I simply embrace the meager twilight that warms my skin. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs until they threaten to burst, and finally, my mind clears as if it were crystal-clear water. It was about time — the enchanting fog had started making me doubt my own existence.
– That was a magical fog used to conceal the entrance to our domain, he says, as if reading my thoughts. Just a security measure.
Satisfied with these sparse explanations, I decide that some things are better left unknown.
– So? Where’s the entrance?
– The entrance?! Who needs a door when you have the POWER of Natsuki!
For a moment, I see the cheerful joker who pulled me out of my urban solitude, but seriousness quickly returns to his face. He kneels down, placing one hand on the ground, and concentrates deeply for long seconds. As I hold my breath in this frozen moment, the only sound breaking the near-absolute silence is the wind whispering through the tall grass.
∼ What is he doing? Is he just tired? Although his bags were lighter than mine, they still had enough to exhaust anyone after such a long walk.
As if to answer my musings, the ground suddenly begins to tremble. The earthquake intensifies until I’m forced to get on all fours to avoid a painful fall. Beside me, Natsuki remains crouched, one hand on the ground, eyes closed.
∼ Holy mole-scorpion! How can someone as small as him cause such a quake?
Suddenly, I feel my body lighten, quickly realizing it’s because the ground beneath us is sinking.
∼ The ground is sinking!!
Only a small patch of earth around us seems to be affected by the vertical movement, which allows me to discover, with amazement, the composition of the soil we're passing through. For about ten seconds of rapid descent, we are surrounded by a dense tangle of roots, so compact that slipping even a finger between them would be impossible. As we descend, the roots gradually become more spaced apart until we finally emerge into an open space, where I can hardly believe my eyes.
∼ A forest! There’s a forest under the ground!
My knees tremble under the weight of my astonishment, while my jaw threatens to unhinge. Looking up toward the vegetation-covered ceiling, I realize that the "roots" were actually branches, so tightly woven that not a single ray of sunlight penetrates them. The trunks, hundreds of meters long and mostly devoid of branches, act like massive pillars supporting the thick ceiling. Though outside, the sun was nearing the horizon, here it feels like it’s still noon.
∼ This strange brightness, the sealed roof, the surprising vegetation, and to top it off, those tremors that almost knocked me over…
∼ There’s no doubt about it, I’m back in the strange forest where I first met Kana.
Now that I’m here as a guest, not an intruder, I take advantage of the long descent to observe the flora more closely. The light seems to come from small crystals embedded in the tree trunks, casting a bluish hue over all the vegetation. The plants are equally remarkable, adorned with intricate patterns as if someone had meticulously drawn on each leaf.
– You can step off, Natsuki suddenly tells me.
Too absorbed by my surroundings, I hadn’t even noticed that the shaking has stopped and we’ve reached the ground. Natsuki has already moved several meters away and gestures for me to follow him. I comply, still gaping, and Natsuki snaps his fingers again. Immediately, the platform of tall grass — which looks nothing like the surrounding vegetation — rises toward the sky at a speed three times faster than our descent, carried by one of the long wooden pillars scattered throughout the forest.
– Impressive, isn’t it?
– So that’s how she got me out of the forest…
– Huh? What did you say?
A grin of excitement spreads across my face, which, judging by Natsuki’s reaction, is almost frightening.
– This is completely crazy! Are you the one controlling these trees? How does it work? And that mist? And the light—
– Whoa, calm down, calm down.
Consumed by curiosity, I hadn’t realized I was gripping Natsuki by the shoulders. He pulls away from my grasp and lets out a sigh.
– You know, I’m not supposed to reveal this kind of information to an outsider.
I beg him in the most polite way that old Tak taught me — kneeling on one knee, head down, hands clasped in prayer.
– Please! I won’t tell anyone! I swear!
Obviously flattered by this display of politeness, which he probably isn’t used to, I see hesitation rise on his face.
– Aaaah, what the heck! Mother’s going to scold me again. Alright, the entrance isn’t far, I’ll explain on the way.
I spring up like a child promised a treat and rush to join him, my ears wide open.
– According to a legend passed down in our Geika, Varandir, the original wolf, was born here. That’s why we call this place "Varandir’s forest". Whether that’s true or not, the fact is that Mystra is abundant here. As a result, the forest functions as a single, complex living organism, with its own consciousness and defense mechanisms.
I look around with admiration.
∼ And to think I passed through here without knowing it was a legendary place. No wonder Kana greeted me with a knife to my throat — I mean, a twig.
– The mist you saw earlier is designed to confuse people and force lost travelers to turn back. It’s automatically secreted at the top of the carrier trees whenever someone approaches, with each step triggering another puff of smoke.
– But then, how did you manage to dissipate it?
– Once you’ve been accepted by the forest, it allows you to use its powers. I can’t give you more details, but it’s the same principle we used to descend here. I simply borrowed the strength of the forest to ask an elder to bring us down, he says like it’s as easy as lending someone money.
– An elder?!
– That’s how we call the bearer trees of the forest. They protect it by camouflaging it with their thick foliage. Thanks to this impenetrable cover, no one suspects the existence of this little paradise, except for us, of course, who have inherited it from our ancestors.
– That’s amazing!
I take a closer look at the vegetation and notice that the symbols engraved on it resemble the ones found in the city. Natsuki seems to have noticed what’s caught my attention.
– These symbols are more present in nature where Mystra is strong. They once flourished throughout Historia, but Mystra is weakening day by day, and only places like this have been preserved. Humans saw them as signs of Varandir’s presence, which is why similar symbols can be found in city architecture. That’s also why Varandir is often depicted with these seven symbols engraved in his feathers.
– How lucky you are to live in such an extraordinary place!
– You’re not wrong, but this forest has its drawbacks too. As you’ve seen, the journey to Aragane is quite exhausting. In autumn, the ground is covered in fallen leaves, and it’s easy to get lost. Last time, it took me three days to find my way back. In winter, game becomes scarce, and the lakes freeze, forcing us to stock up and ration our supplies. In spring, the game takes a while to return, but we can start fishing again. Just be careful not to fall into the water because it’s still freezing, he says, shivering as if recalling an unpleasant memory. But I suppose life in the wild holds no secrets for you.
I simply nod.
– And those glowing stones in the trees? What are they?
– Those are Mystrite stones. They convert solar energy absorbed at the top of the trees into light energy. Since it takes some time for this energy to travel through the trunks before being distributed into the stones, night falls later here than outside.
I pause to look at the blue stones that glow brilliantly.
∼ Didn’t he say Mystrite was an extremely rare material only found in the mines of Aragane? I have a feeling my surprises aren’t over yet.
– Ishizora!
As I tried to mentally replace each blue stone with a hundred thousand skewers of meat, the sound of my name pulls me back to reality. Swallowing back my saliva, I turn my gaze to Natsuki who’s a few steps ahead, waiting for me under a red wooden gate.
– Welcome to the Geika Shinzu!
Aside from his humble bow, which reminds me of how he introduced himself when we first met, his serious expression and the tone he used to speak those words make me feel they hold a deeper meaning than they appear to. In fact, I’m starting to think that behind his comedic demeanor and lively eyes lies a maturity far greater than he lets on.