A clear night sky swept through Tyrus’s gaze as a chilly night breeze tickled the edge of his ears. Thin wisps of clouds drifted far across the blanket of darkness. The gibbous moon illuminated a golden glow, shining amongst a plethora of stars that sprinkled the sky. The ringing in Tyrus’s ears disappeared the further he ran from the commotion, and his tail swished left and right, the quicker he was to his destination.

At this time of night, the streets of Valis were devoid of activity and washed a dim blue from the moon above. Only a stray here and a drunkard there shambled in the empty alleys, leaning against walls for support, cheeks as red as tomatoes. Tyrus avoided them by scaling the walls and hopping from roof to roof. It was better to keep his distance from strangers traveling the streets. The fewer people that knew of him, the safer he was.

Using the shortcut he knew of, arriving at the eastern gate didn’t take long at all. In a matter of seconds, he hopped off from a rooftop, stepping on top of a dirty sack filled with trash and hidden out of view. He cursed his poor luck and kicked the foul-smelling object out of sight, hopefully out of mind as well. What kind of person threw out trash without properly disposing of it?

Disregarding the trash, Tyrus peered at the eastern gate. Two guards stood at each end, heads low as they spoke in a relaxed posture. Tyrus recognized one of them as the man that allowed him through when he did that errand for Selena. It hadn’t been that long since they interacted, but he doubted that man would recognize. But just in case, Tyrus wrapped his enchanted coat around his head like a hat and tucked his tail away inside the confines of his tunic.

Tyrus treaded silently toward the guards, fiddling with his Explorer tag. Once he was close enough, the guard he recognized widened his eyes and stepped forward.

“You again?” he said, looking Tyrus up and down. “Don’t tell me Branch Leader Selena sent you off on another mission?”

The other guard sauntered forward. “Who’s the kid, Naul? Should we be letting him through at this time of night?”

Naul noticed the tag dangling around Tyrus neck and whistled. “Well, I’ll be damned! You’re an explorer now. I didn’t know they allowed someone as young as you to apply.”

"Isn't that irresponsible?" the other guard chimed in. "I heard the contracts at the Explorer Guild can be extremely dangerous. What kind of maniac allows kids to take on these jobs?"

With a chuckle, Naul replied, "Not our problem, that's what." He motioned to the gate, stepping aside graciously. "You're free to leave. And in case you're wondering, Selena vouched for your legitimacy. Just keep in mind the red bison. They tend to get agitated when their slumber is disrupted."

The second guard nodded in agreement. "Those creatures would easily rip apart a child like you and devour you whole. Their hides are as resilient as rocks, and their horns can effortlessly pierce through wood. Even Augmentation Sorcerers struggle to handle those bastards."

"Thank you for the warning," Tyrus expressed, eager to make the most of his time. He bid farewell to the two guards with a nod and hastily made his way out as the gate creaked open. As he reached the middle of the bridge, the gates abruptly slammed shut, causing Tyrus to flinch at the loud noise. However, he refrained from looking back, relieved that the guards hadn't questioned the bumps on his head or the bulge on his back.

A familiar fresh wave of salty wind welcomed Tyrus the further he traveled, and his body visibly relaxed. He smiled at the beautiful sight of the Emerald Hills; the moonlight highlighting the emerald blades flitting along the meadow. With its rolling hills and scattered trees, this peaceful landscape brought warmth to his heart.

Since beginning his journey, Tyrus had become a restless soul. Relaxation seemed slippery for him, whether it was amidst crowds, fighting for survival, or even engaging in a simple conversation. Deep down, he didn't want to admit it, but he found being alone the best, and this troubled him. However, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed the company of Blue Dawn, with whom he would soon embark on countless contracts. Being around them was enjoyable, and their conversations were interesting, to say the least.

What concerned him the most was the uncertainty of what would happen once he stepped out of his comfort zone. He would soon find himself surrounded by more people as he visited the Explorer Guild in search of contracts. There was also the academy to worry about, assuming he was accepted. The thought of being surrounded by countless Igneal's in that place made him unsure if he could handle it. Despite not being much of a talker, Tyrus was at least capable of engaging in a conversation, but that may be impossible with nobles.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Before he knew it, Tyrus had already snuck past the slumbering red bison and stepped foot into Wildwood. Tyrus took in a deep breath, allowing his lungs to be pierced by the chills and floral scent. An exhale released a white mist that sprayed into nothingness.

As he walked ahead, he came across a tree with a scratch on its bark. He briefly glanced at the arched cave, reminiscing about the encounter with a rock spider there. It was hard to believe that he had struggled so much against a single spider, only to defeat an entire group of them a few days later, thanks to some clever tactics and assistance.

As he thought about assistance, Tyrus couldn't help but wonder how Meadow was doing. It had been quite some time since he last saw the little fairy. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to go back to Wildwood after successfully escaping the tunnels due to time constraints. This made him wonder if Elder Treant and the others were concerned about his well-being, considering he hadn't reported to them yet. So much had occurred in such a short amount of time.

In his walk, Tyrus took in his surroundings. The forest was quiet, with not an animal in sight. Moonlight cast long shadows across his path, streaking past the foliage and shining against red mushrooms and boulders. Trees swayed in a rhythm, accompanied by a faint breeze, causing loose leaves and grass to rustle with the dancing current. Valis was quite the spectacle when looking upon it from a vantage point, but nothing truly beats admiring nature at its finest up close. It was fortunate that the drake hadn't burned this place down. Suffering from a broken arm really was worth it.

Soon, Tyrus stopped in his tracks once the mana quality in the air shifted. Satisfied that he walked far inward, he took in a deep breath and looked toward a tree to his right.

"It's been a while, Armless Treant."

With his words, a thunderous sound akin to a tree being uprooted echoed through the serene forest. The trembling tree branch swayed, its rugged finger-like branches moving, as a cloud of dirt was whisked away by a gentle gust of wind. The long limbs, serving as legs, gracefully bent, while the crown of the treant quivered, bringing it into a humble kneeling position.

"I greet the Hero of Wildwood!" the treant boomed.

Tyrus cheeks reddened. "Come on, there's no need for that. You can just call me Tyrus, okay? Please, rise."

"As you command, Tyrus."

The treant rose, revealing teeth as sharp as stakes and eyes of honey. Not long after, more loud noises from all around him shattered the calm atmosphere as the ground violently trembled. Treants emerged one after the other and encircled Tyrus. Before long, dozens of treants of different shapes and sizes arrived.

"You have returned to us, Hero of Wildwood!"

"Elder Treant and the others were worried when you hadn't returned for some time!"

"We scoured every inch of the forest but found no signs of you," said Armless Treant. "Elder Treant, however, was convinced you were still alive, mentioning it was only a matter of time until you came back. And as sure as day, you have returned to us!"

Tyrus gaped at the treants in awe. Despite their intimidating features, they were rather pleasant and kind. To think they searched every crevice for even an inkling of his whereabouts. Tyrus felt even worse for leaving them in the dark like that. He should make it a point in the future to always let Elder Treant know he was leaving.

"Can you take me to the sanctuary?" Tyrus asked. "I want to speak with Elder Treant about something important."

"You do not need permission to enter!" they all answered in unison. "We will accompany you and defend you with our lives if need be! You are the Hero of Wildwood! Think of this forest as your own territory."

"Um, okay. That's nice to know. Lead the way."

As one, the treants spun and headed in the opposite direction, with Armless Treant leading the pack and Tyrus in the middle. The smooth tapping sound of roots moving in coordination resounded through the forest as they marched. Along the way, as the mana got more dense and rich, the creatures that weren't in sight appeared.

Fairies flew near and fro from the overhanging trees, shining their jade-like bodies like a gathering of fireflies. Spirits made of water popped their heads through the surface of a nearby pond, waving at Tyrus as he passed. Through the plentiful thickets that appeared the deeper they traveled, so did the thickness of the regular trees. Creatures, startled by the stampede, zigzagged through the foliage, never to be seen again.

In no time, they arrived, evident by the pit that formed in Tyrus stomach, as if he was falling. Then came the sight of a remarkable clearing filled to the brim with nepora and verdant grass. In the middle of the clearing was Elder Treant, this time, it's crown showing off even more of autumn than summer. A bit of silver from above filtered through it's glossy leaves, but that light was merely an ant to the amount of fairies currently swarming the tip of the tree,as if it were their nest.

Eyes as blue as an ocean peered at this, and Elder Treant said, "As I surmised, you are alive and well. Welcome back, young one. It is good to see you in great health."

Tyrus waved and took a seat in front of the big tree. "It's good to be back, Elder Treant."