Packing bags, Akatosh asks them to rather use his 'bag of holding' for easy trekking. Having explained to him about their mission he, however, didn't mind nor had the slight interest in their quest.
"So, you're to subjugate some sort of monster and also to bring a gift to the druids' elder." Akatosh implores just to make a slight interest on their behalf.
Using the teleportation stone near the temple, in seconds they are now at the borders of Northor. As cold and shivering as it gets the group decides to hasten their pace towards the druid's village. Passing dense forest and few monsters to slay. Akatosh was impressed by how the group manages to easily dispatched a high-class monster such as giant spiders with their venomous glands and dozens of hobgoblins.
"I am speechless, your collaboration with each other improves," Akatosh said.
After their conversation and a few gratitude to say the group continues their journey but not before looting the remains of the monsters, they had slain. About a few hundred meters away from the closest border of the village a giant tree with a human-like face and having both legs and arms blocks their path.
Staying vigilant Sheila unrolls a parchment. "We are from the adventurer's guild we came here to discuss something about the elders."
Taking a closer look, the tree slowly bends for a closer inspection on the parchment. And while the tree moves, they could hear the gnashing sound of wood and cracking branches.
"You may pass." The tree said moving away for them to continue.
"Do trees read?" Akatosh said towards Reith and Sei.
"Well just as you saw it, they do read," Sei replies.
"I see," Akatosh said.
"A tree spirits." Comes Amaragnum.
"I'm surprised did you finished refueling," Akatosh said to Amaragnum as they continue their walk.
"Just a slight--" Amaragnum implores when interrupted by someone.
"Haha!" A voice of a female child called. "In the name of my grandfather and as the granddaughter of one of the elders I hereby came to test your capabilities." The child says posing her stance at the party.
"Hah, LAMEEEEE…" Akatosh said at the young girl.
Having heard him saying like that, and as a sensitive person, the young druid girl was flustered. "I'll show you. I'll make you beg by destroying that large stone over there." The girl says pointing at the two-meter height border.
"Mm-hmm, we should move on," Akatosh says when the girl has immediately begun her spell.
Different from other spells, the girls conjure a magic circle with a radius of two-meter. Adding up, the ground slightly trembles, and they could see few pebbles slowly levitates. Shock by what they are seeing, the druid child then billows forth a pinkish orb as she too creates a dramatic exhibition. Her action however made her slip on the ground disarraying the direction where the orb would go.
"Mister watch out!" The druid child yelled at Akatosh since her spell went in his direction.
Not to be surprised, Akatosh and Amaragnum begun laughing as they saw the orb coming through them. Rather than a straight and fast approach, the orb however was slow and sluggish as if it were more like a dying orb before it can hit its target.
Akatosh chuckles. "How can this possibly harm someone— NGEEKK…"
The moment the orb contacted Akatosh's fingertip he was flung away like a cannonball shot at a straight line. The force was so great it sends him fifteen meters across the few trees and then rams him on a tree. Akatosh's chuckle was silent in a flash but not for Amaragnum as he laughs louder and more amused than ever before.
"What happens? You didn't nazi that coming." Amaragnum said laughing miserably at Akatosh's injuries.
"A-a healing would require," Akatosh said in a pitiful voice towards the group who came dashing at him.
As for the young druid girl, Riya went to comfort her miserable whining. "I'm sorry it wasn't my fault, I'm sorry." The child exclaimed as she weeps loudly.
In seconds of time, three female druids immediately came running at the group. Understanding what had happened the two quickly goes where Akatosh and leaving the other one to help solace the child's grumbling cry.
"Big sister Faylinn, I-I was just trying to show them, then-then I slip and then, and then the spell went—" The druid child cried.
With the help of the druid healing power, Akatosh was able to properly return to normal. But not everything for he could still feel the aftereffect of the pain similar to when Izura 'the sea queen' gave to him through their short confrontation. Left stunned, one of the druids came for an apology.
"We're very much sorry for what happen to you," Faylinn said, a beautiful short hair druid with emerald eyes.
"No need, the good thing is I'm still alive, so your apology is good enough for me." Akatosh reply.
"I'm glad, then I would like you to accept this," Faylinn said kissing Akatosh.
Having publicly shown their sweet indulgence, Akatosh's party was left star gazing at them. Jolt and disconcert Sheila and her friends felt they are out of place. Rather than honeyed clement, Akatosh felt the pain all over his body begun to ease.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
It was only less than a minute until their lips parted away. And with that Akatosh was more surprised by her magic than her kiss.
"Feeling better?" Faylinn says.
"Very much… But I would like to have more of that healing action you gave me." Akatosh smile.
Following a sweet giggle and another apology for unexpectedly kissing him without permission Faylinn then makes an introduction.
"Name's Faylinn, these are my sisters Tana and Oona. We're the caretaker of this child Aryl one of the elder's grandchild. And I daresay are you all from the adventurers' guild."
"Yes, indeed we are…" Comes Sheila showing the parchment and a short explanation regarding their quest.
Having stopped at a place, a dead-end cliff concealed by magic. "Illusion?" Akatosh says touching the walls of rocks and roots.
"You could say that," Faylinn said waving her magic.
As soon as Faylinn's magic ended Akatosh's group felt nothing had happen, that until Faylinn walk through the cease path followed by her sisters and Aryl. Having seen them crossing they too enter.
Upon stepping into the druids' cove, their sight was instantly blurred by darkness but also quickly replaced by a shining beam of light. That flash of light and darkness exchange simultaneously slightly making Akatosh's eye discomfort to blindness just for a short amount of time.
Once recovered they are now stepping on the druids' land. Oddly and new to the eye Akatosh never imagine such a place could exist. From a hundred distance large Stonehenge particularly at the center of the village can be seen. There too are glowing mushrooms and peculiar fireflies with different colors illuminating the shaded forest. Even though the forest was covered in heavy snow burying its true beauty it was still aesthetic to one's eye.
While being toured through the village of caves, forest, peculiar plants, treehouse, and druid people, Sheila, and her friends are expecting someone from this village. Not for them but for Akatosh whose eyes swayed left and right to the surroundings.
As of noon strikes, Faylinn leads them to their own respective huts made out of trees and growing mosses on top. Knowing the place of their bed Faylinn asks Akatosh and his group to see the elders at the center of the village regarding their mission.
Early in the noon the group quickly follows Faylinn's request. At the center of the village lies a large cavern, a mooting place for elders and kings, and important visitors. From there Akatosh together with Sheila's friends faces the five elders. After Faylinn had escorted Akatosh and his group, she happily returns to her duties tending Aryl. Only one mistake, Faylinn was dismay when she saw Aryl wasn't there holding her hand, she had lost her again.
Facing the elders, the party was surprised, there are few druids lingering in the meeting acting as if they are witnesses. Even Akatosh was surprised, he thought of senile and old druids, but he only saw one elderly druid in a white robe and white hair. While the rests are middle-aged and young elder druids consisting of two hags a slightly old man and an adult elder druid.
"Well, now it's good that you came." Says the senile elder druid. "I am Zeymah, the leader of the five elders. And these are my associates." Zeymah continues.
"You may call me Verthain." The slightly old druid said.
"I'm Dayes." Says the youngest elder druid.
"And these are Mironda and Talena." Zeymah says introducing the two-female druid.
While the elders are making an introduction for themselves Akatosh was hiding behind Sheila and her friends. Putting on his hood he whispers to them.
"Can you please cover my identity and introduction?" Akatosh whispers to the group.
"Why?" Replies Sheila.
"Right side from the elders," Akatosh said.
Swaying her head, Sheila and her friends saw Chifya in her beautiful dress, and with her side was Galish. When their eyes met Chifya waves her hand followed by a smile, a lost smile. Returning a sign greetings Zeymah takes notice of Akatosh in hood and cloak from behind his companion.
"I take it that your friend seems to be uncomfortable," Zeymah said relating towards Akatosh.
Having him heard, Akatosh whispers the words for Sheila to say. Acting as moderator Sheila sigh in consideration.
"It's fine, it's just that our companion is a little bit timid at a large crowd." Smiles Sheila.
"I understand… then it wouldn't hurt to be in front for us to say our greetings," Zeymah replies.
Without knowing what to reply Akatosh was forced to follow Zeymah's words. Still having his hood and cloak intact Akatosh steps forward, facing first the crowd when unknowingly his shroud was removed. It wasn't Sheila or any of her friends, but it was Aryl pulling Akatosh's cloak.
When Aryl was staring at Akatosh, Faylinn came rushing in then drags Aryl away from the group. From that commotion Faylinn apologies towards the elders and the crowd before quickly exiting the place.
As for the traveler, both eyes are lock between Akatosh and Chifya. Putting on his hood and faces the elders as if he didn't notice Chifya's cold eyes Akatosh was flustered in embarrassment and fear. And as modifying as it gets, Sheila and her friends couldn't help but being disconcerted at Akatosh's action. Though, when they saw Chifya deadlocking at Akatosh in a daggerlike eye they can tell he was in a heap of trouble.
"Hoo… what do we got here? It seems we got some good entertainment, right stillmage." Comes Tosh.
"Rag! I need teleportation." Akatosh said.
"Not my fucking problem, pussy." Amaragnum replies.
Hearing those two murmuring their chuckles and amused by his scenario Akatosh was planning to escape the place. And while he was contemplating his mind, his ears became deaf to the conversation between the elders and Sheila's companions.
After the conversation with the druid's elders, Akatosh manage to slip out from the meeting hall. Having bad timing a blizzard unexpectedly fell. Strong gush and whistles winds were driving all living things into hiding.
As quickly as they run to their huts Akatosh thought he was safe thanks to the storm. That's when he saw Sheila and her friends locking themselves in their own respective camps. His hut however was a little bit far from their camp.
Taking a quick turn and just a slight glance he saw Chifya in her wolf form. He was stun at her beauty so much as her immunity to the storm.
"GIVE IT BACK!" Chifya exclaimed trying to open the door.
"What's your offer!" Akatosh replies blocking the door with every piece of furniture he had in the room.
"I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU!" Chifya shouts gnashing her teeth.
"This is my private domicile and I will not be harassed!" Akatosh says bringing out the drawing of her parents.
Without breaking a sweat Chifya forces the door open sending a tremendous shockwave. Scattering furniture and letting snow enters the hut. Chifya slowly step inside knowing full well Akatosh was cornered.
"How rude of you," Akatosh says sweating from her deadly aura.
"Give it back!" Chifya says.
"Calm down honey."
"Don't make me--" Chifya glares ready to pounce Akatosh with her sharp claws.
"Or what?" Akatosh implies showing her the drawing.
Just by displaying her the drawing, Chifya's anger eases. "Is that—where did you--" Chifya says with her unblinking eyes locking towards the drawing.
"Touch me and I will destroy this," Akatosh says ready to shred the drawing. "And don't ever try, I can hide this using my bag, and only I can gain access to my bag of holding."
"Bitch please." Comes Amaragnum.
"Fuck you, do you want to feel that damn experience again." Thwarts Akatosh.
"Even if you manage to kill me from that unstable barbaric hatred of yours, you won't even get your precious drawing."
Lost by Akatosh's sly leverage Chifya can't help but yield in silence unable to look directly at him.
"Okay since we have a little understanding, can you close the door its freezing." Akatosh says stashing the drawing into his 'bag of holding'.
Responding to his words Chifya went and close the door with her stress and frustration still intact.
"Ain't that so hard," Akatosh says. "Now let us talk as a civilized people shall we honey." Akatosh continues fixing the chair.