Kirk was sitting across from , both of us tearing into the freshly cooked at he’d hunted earlier. The crackling fire between us filled the air with a smoky aroma, mixing with the wild scent of the forest. He looked like he was savoring every bite, jaw working rhythmically, chewing that at as if it was the last al he’d ever get in his life. The grease on his lips shimred under the firelight, and the popping sound from the burning wood gave our quiet al a strange sense of peace amidst all the madness.
"You know," he finally said, his mouth half full, "I’ve gotta say... what you’re planning is really, really, really bold. Like, I can’t even believe you had the guts to suggest sothing that insane." He took another bite, shaking his head like he was chewing over my sanity rather than the at.
"You think it’s impossible too?" I asked him, leaning back a bit, poking at the fire with a stick while watching the sparks rise into the dark sky.
"Of course it’s impossible," he grunted. "Not only that—it’s damn reckless. You’re basically trying to pick a fight that has no point. There’s no way in hell you can get the other tribes to agree to sothing like that. Sure, maybe the Elven Kingdom’s got your back, and yeah, if you sohow convince the Chief to side with you, maybe it could work for a while... but that’s only scratching the surface. You know how it is—the races in the Great Forest might share the sa air, the sa trees, and the sa soil, but that doesn’t an we live in harmony."
I understood where he was coming from. Even when I accepted this path, I knew what I was stepping into. The idea was crazy, no doubt about that. But knowing all that didn’t an I’d give up before even trying.
"You’re not saying we’re gonna go to war with you, right?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "’Cause, look, we could maybe handle a scrap with the Centaurs if things got ugly, but the Titans? That’d be a death sentence. You know damn well how that’d end."
He wasn’t wrong. The Titans were the undisputed giants of the Great Forest—literally. They lived up on the colossal mountain to the west, and they rarely interfered with anyone unless soone trespassed or ssed with their land. No one wanted to imagine what a real war involving them would look like. Even Kirk, who’d faced monsters twice his size, didn’t dare think about it for too long.
"Nah," I said, tossing a small stick into the fire and watching it vanish into the flas. "Negotiation’s the only card I can play right now. It’d be stupid to rush things and cause another pointless war. That’s not what I want. I want the Great Forest united—not divided even further."
If we managed to unite all the races here, the Great Forest would beco sothing untouchable—strong enough to hold its ground against the Republic or the Empire. An unbreakable fortress of life and nature. Slavers, bandits, and outsiders wouldn’t stand a chance of getting in or tearing it apart.
If this dream beca reality, it wouldn’t just be a win for —it’d change everything. Trade would flourish, defenses would grow stronger, and everyone would finally have sothing worth protecting. This wasn’t just about peace; it was about survival, about giving the people of the forest sothing to believe in.
The formation of the Nation of the Great Forest... it would mark a turning point in history. Power would shift. The balance between kingdoms would crumble and rebuild. The Empire would be forced to watch, powerless to interfere—at least for a while. Unless they ca up with so miraculous plan, which honestly, I doubted they could do in a heartbeat.
"You’re really serious about this, huh?" Kirk finally said after a long pause, his tone quieter now.
Before I could respond, the deep hum of blades echoed across the treetops. The familiar rhythm of rotors cutting through the wind made look up instantly. The sky’s calm night was broken by the sight of the helicopter descending through the shadows.
I stood up, brushing the dirt from my clothes, and walked outside as the beast tribe mbers began gathering around, curious but unsurprised. They already knew what to expect. The strong wind whipped my hair back as the helicopter slowly landed, scattering dust and leaves in every direction.
Then the door opened—
"Leon!"
That voice—I recognized it imdiately. Trill. Sa as ever, full of energy and reckless affection. Before I could even brace myself, she leapt from the helicopter with the force of a missile, landing straight on in a high-speed tackle. Her arms wrapped around tightly, her laughter muffled against my chest.
"I missed you!" she said, her voice full of warmth.
"It’s only been a week," I replied with a soft chuckle.
"But I already missed you!" she pouted, looking up at with her sharp, glowing eyes.
I couldn’t help but smile. A week might not sound like much, but for her, it probably felt like forever. Truth be told, I felt the sa. Her scent—sweet and wild—hit the mont she clung to . It was familiar, calming, and for so reason, it made all the stress that had built up inside just lt away.
"Fufufu, I did too, you know?"
Titania’s elegant voice drifted through the wind as she stepped out of the helicopter. Her silver hair shimred faintly under the moonlight, her composure as flawless as ever. Yr wasn’t with her—she’d stayed with Su back at the Leonamon—but soone else had co instead.
"You never stop finding ways to surprise , Leon," said Myrcella as she stepped out next, her voice trembling slightly. "I honestly thought nothing could shock anymore, but riding sothing like this... gods, even I wasn’t ready for that."
Her legs wobbled as she spoke, her steps slow and cautious, like every part of her body was rebelling against the idea of being off the ground. The fear of heights was written all over her face.
I gave her a silent look, a small nod telling her it was okay. She hesitated for a second, then slowly approached . When she was close enough, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a steady embrace.
The warmth of her body, Trill’s lingering scent, Titania’s calm gaze—it all felt grounding.
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