Part 1
The day after their arrival in Aeris Village, it was time for Yuna and her companions to catch up with Cherri, the dryad who governed the Mythara Forest.
The group walked along the path leading to the great sakura tree at the heart of the forest.
Each step brought them closer to a breathtaking sight: a tree so massive it seemed to touch the sky, its branches stretching out as if embracing the entire forest.
A constant rain of petals fell around them, covering the ground in a pink carpet that swayed with the wind.
"What an imposing tree," Thalindra said, stopping for a moment to admire it. "It truly commands a unique kind of respect. What did you say it's called again?"
"It's a sakura tree, Kizu," Kizuna replied, flitting around the dwarf with her usual boundless energy.
"Honestly, I never get tired of looking at it," Haruto said, narrowing his eyes to take in the sight of branches stretching beyond what the eye could see. "I've never seen a sakura this massive."
"This is the first time I've seen a tree like this. Maybe it's because Cherri is a dryad?" Thalindra asked curiously, scratching her chin.
"According to legend," Yuna said, her tone taking on a slightly solemn note, "Cherri was brought here from Haruto's world thousands of years ago."
"They say the first hero planted the tree and gave the elves a home in this forest."
"Or at least, that's what Cherri herself has told us," Yuna added with a soft smile. "The truth is, our stories are passed down by word of mouth, and they tend to change over time.
"But Cherri still speaks to the tribal leaders now and then, so there must be some truth to it."
Thalindra nodded slowly, letting her gaze wander across the majestic sakura.
"If what you say is true, this tree isn't just huge. It's a pillar of their entire history," she said with admiration, as the group moved closer to the grand auditorium built beneath the sakura's branches.
"That's right," Yuna replied with a nod. "She would be the equivalent of a queen here in Mythara, if you want to put it that way. Cherri has the final word."
"For example, tribal leaders don't inherit their titles by bloodline."
"It's Cherri who appoints them, based on their strength, wisdom, commitment—or whatever quality she deems worthy of leadership," she added seriously.
"Fascinating. Like the Queen of England... but in tree form, and with magical powers," Simmone remarked, her usual cold tone betraying a hint of genuine curiosity.
"I found her to be very solemn and kind when I met her," Haruto said, recalling his last encounter with Cherri.
The group finally reached Cherri's grand auditorium.
The structures seemed to sprout naturally from the tree itself, with archways made of intertwined branches and petals gently falling to the ground.
There, at the entrance, stood Lord Kazeharu and Terram, surrounded by a few villagers from the earth elf tribe.
"Yuna! Haruto! How are you?" Terram called out with enthusiasm as he spotted them approaching.
"Lord Terram, it's a pleasure," Yuna replied, shaking his hand with a cordial smile.
"It's good to see you again, Lord Terram," Haruto said, bowing slightly in a show of respect.
"Come on, no need to be so formal!" Terram laughed. "And these young ladies with you—who might they be?" he asked, turning his gaze toward Simmone and Thalindra.
"Simmone Amoretta," the small girl said, carefully lifting her dress to avoid touching the ground as she made a flawless curtsey.
"My, what an elegant young lady. The light elves would be green with envy," he commented with a playful smile.
"Thalindra Terrafist," the dwarf introduced herself, her tone calm and direct.
"Oh, a pleasure to meet you, Thalindra. I see the fire of a warrior in you," he said, observing her with keen interest. "You remind me of a certain fire elf I know," he added with a teasing tone.
Thalindra raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a half-smile.
"I hope that's a compliment, because comparisons aren't always welcome," she replied, though her tone suggested she was enjoying the attention.
Terram let out a hearty laugh.
"Without a doubt, you've got the spirit of a warrior. I like you," Terram said, giving Thalindra a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Lord Kazeharu, already familiar with them, simply offered the group a simple greeting.
At that moment, a whirlwind of sakura leaves began to swirl at the center of the auditorium.
From within it, Cherri emerged with her majestic, rose-hued form, petals cascading around her and creating a vision almost too magical to be real.
It was, without a doubt, an incredible sight to witness.
"Welcome to my auditorium," the dryad said, her voice melodious and solemn.
Everyone in the group bowed respectfully, though Thalindra took a moment longer to react—not used to the protocols of Mythara, nor to standing before such an imposing figure.
Eventually, she followed the others' example, trying not to draw attention to herself.
"Come now, there's no need for so much formality," Cherri said with a soft smile, waving her hand gently to dispel the tension.
"It's wonderful to see you all healthy... and I see some new faces as well," she added, her gaze moving gracefully across the group.
"Oh, great Cherri, I've brought some witnesses from the tribe to share their experiences on the matter," Terram said, bowing with exaggerated flourish. "I hope they'll be welcome in your sanctuary."
Cherri laughed softly, her tone warm and relaxed.
"Terram, Terram, you make me sound like a dictator. All children of the forest are welcome here. I simply prefer not to appear in the villages too often—to avoid causing a commotion, that's all."
"Heh, heh, sorry, sorry," Terram said, scratching the back of his neck with an awkward smile.
Lord Kazeharu stepped forward, adopting a serious but respectful tone.
"Lady Cherri, as we discussed, I have brought young Haruto Kibou and his group," he said, gesturing toward the adventurers.
Cherri's eyes rested on Haruto—and for a brief moment, her solemn expression wavered.
"Oh, young Haruto Kibou, it's a joy to see you safe and sound," Cherri said, bowing her head slightly.
Though her voice retained its usual softness, there was a subtle hesitation—almost imperceptible—that betrayed her unease.
Haruto, with his characteristic calm, nodded politely.
"Thank you, Cherri. It's good to be back among the Aeris tribe. The wind elves have always been very welcoming. I'm very grateful to Lord Kazeharu," he said diplomatically.
Kazeharu nodded, but added in a slightly correcting tone:
"Although I must point out that the leader of the group is Yuna, by her own words."
Haruto gave a faint smile, though a small cynical voice echoed in his mind:
"I'm just a background character. If this were a manga, I wouldn't even make it onto the cover," he thought, resigned.
"Commentary! Please don't worry, Master. To Kizuna and Olivia, you'll always be a fine supporting character," Olivia chimed into his mind, winking confidently.
Haruto let out a soft sigh, muttering to himself:
"Tch... not even in my own thoughts do they leave me in peace."
The low comment made Kizuna let out a mischievous giggle as she fluttered around Haruto.
"Kikiki, Olivia must be scolding him, Kizu," the little one thought, amused.
Cherri returned to her solemn demeanor, directing her attention back to the group.
"I'm glad to hear that," she said, pausing as she looked at Simmone and Thalindra.
"I've already heard the introductions of Simmone and the great artisan of Molgaroth, Thalindra."
Both girls nodded upon hearing their names, showing their respect.
"Then, please take your seats, and let's begin with what brings us together today," Cherri continued, motioning toward the finely crafted wooden seats.
"Terram, would you like to start with the details?"
The elf crossed his arms, placing one hand on his chin as he carefully considered his words before speaking.
"Well, as you know, we earth elves are responsible for providing food for the entire forest," he began, his voice firm. "We also trade with humans and dwarves from the bordering cities."
"We produce everything—fruits, vegetables, teas, meats, milk... That's why we have the largest amount of land under our care, and multiple villages rely on our protection," Terram explained.
He paused, his face darkening slightly.
"However, recently, our livestock has been under attack. We haven't found the culprit, but we assume it's some kind of demi-human."
The group listened intently as Terram continued.
"We call it 'Golden Eyes,' because witnesses claim to have seen yellow eyes—glowing like twin lights—staring at them from the bushes."
Haruto frowned, intrigued.
"Anything else you've noticed?" he asked.
Terram nodded slowly, as if piecing the mystery together.
"The strangest part isn't just the eyes. It always disables our traps, breaks through our fences with precision, and—most puzzling of all—we can't detect it with tracking magic."
Cherri spoke up, her tone thoughtful.
"It's true. I myself tried tracking it with my magic, which spans the entire forest, and had no success. There's no trace of its presence."
Lord Kazeharu nodded, his expression serious as he recalled past events.
"About a year ago, during one of our expeditions, we couldn't find it either. Only footprints, claw marks..."
"And not to sound arrogant, but we're very skilled at tracking," he added, a note of frustration in his voice.
Haruto, arms crossed, spoke calmly.
"That's because you're relying too much on mana traces. If this creature can mask its magical presence, traditional methods won't work."
Thalindra lightly struck her fist into her palm, as if a realization had dawned on her.
"That's right. It seems like this being somehow conceals its mana trail. That's impressive."
Simmone placed her small hands on the table, speaking her thoughts aloud.
"If I were a monster trying to stay hidden, I'd erase every trace of my presence to keep from being tracked," she said in her cold, analytical tone. "Which suggests it's either highly intelligent... or very afraid."
Everyone present fell silent for a moment, processing Simmone's words.
The tension in the room began to rise, as each person reflected on how they might face such an elusive enemy.