Ashes and Kingdoms

Around the same time, quiet anomalies appeared even in Southwestern Orgenia on the national side.

"Hey Nix...... don't you think the woods have gotten closer these days?

Oria rested her hands on field work, and looked back to the south and said: A baby with a bump on his back wakes up and moves his little hands and feet with his thighs.

On the other side of the acre, Nix also stopped his hand and shaded himself.

"Oh, that's what I thought, too. You're certainly closer to the woods than you were when you first got here. I didn't care if it was natural at first."

At his feet, which has become a difficult face, his little walking daughter is twisting the dirt around. The breeding dog who was patrolling the territory returned and licked the toddler's face. Oria narrowed her eyes to the idyllic and peaceful sight, and swayed her grumpy son with her back into a ton and gave up.

"We used to have a bigger place to pick wood and thatch. Lately... a little bit in the back, already..."

Oria clouds her words and shakes her head. Nix just nodded silently, too.

Everyone living in the village holds both gratitude and awe for the Great Forest. Thanks to the great forest just around the corner, there are hardly any mortals or beasts of darkness around here. Still not even found in the Imperial Legion soldiers and officials.

But the Great Forest is still a mysteriously contraindicated land. Miscellaneous forests that pick what you need to live in are spread around the village, but on the south side it leads to the Great Forest. Beyond a certain point, vegetation and air change so plainly that children can see it. As soon as I realize that, I have to turn back. Otherwise I won't be able to go home.

Now, between the time the village was built in this place and now, some of them disappeared into the back of the woods.

The Great Forest shows depression from behind the groves. It doesn't feel right, swallowing the forest and covering it up to this village.

Everyone in the village as well as Oria and Nix had that anxiety.

It's not just about the Great Forest. There is also a smelly movement in the outside world. Those who go out to the old city and secretly buy and sell essentials also buy rumors, but the story of the resurrection of Dragon Hou Elesia in the east had already reached this point. The fact that General Glaus left the capital in a great hurry, and that conscription is taking place there to get reinforcements out of the Nakte Dragon Marquis this time.

Three years ago, the battle between the General and Elesia was unexpectedly settled for a short period of time, and until just before that, Senato the Dragon Hou in the west, who was against the Emperor, did not move the soldiers.

But not this time. Wouldn't this be a massive battle to bisect the country - the citizens are anxiously whispering in every town?

"I can't believe dragons are involved in people's wars."

Nix snapped and shook his head. Oria nods, too, and again, frowns looking at the tree perimeters that look across the hill.

"... I wonder if the gods have become angry"

"So the Great Forest moved out, huh? No way! If the gods were to stop the war, they'd tear it between the Imperial Capital and Nornicom this time."

I joked and Nix said, but the laughter I couldn't help but make quickly dried up and disappeared. Oria also blues and gazes at him without blinking.

I can't stop laughing. If the story of the war is a historical fact, the gods have the power to do just that. We were able to isolate all of Diatius from the rest of the land, so we couldn't have built it enough to tear one of the regions apart.

The two stared at each other silently for a while, but slightly, Nix, the dog scratched his leg and returned to me. He accidentally spills a bitter laugh at two pairs of dogs and daughters, like asking what he's standing on.

"No way, man."

Again he said, holding up his daughter. If that's the case, there's nothing a helpless person can do. I just hope my precious family is safe so this neighborhood doesn't get involved.

- So quietly prepared, just a few days later.

With the dawn, astonishment rocked the village.

The first villagers who woke up and opened the window exclaimed, and one after the other woke up surprised by it, laying further shouts.

He that wanders, he that cometh in at ease, he that crieth out. Of all the reactions, only the children were different. We jumped out of the house to explore the outside world, which had changed completely overnight, in the midst of adult terror.

Of course, some of my parents scolded me so tightly that I was pulled over, but I can't keep them locked indoors forever because they're noisy looking up at giant trees and saying "ooh" or "wow" in places where the escaped children were squares.

I know I can't help being caged with the adults, so I'm going out with one or two of them right away. And as one, he looked up at the green trees that completely surrounded him, with awe and admiration.

"No way really, I can't believe the woods are moving..."

Oria and Nix were no exception. I lean back on my back, looking up at the slightest sky peeking from between the peripheries and wondering if that was real.

"The air is sweet."

Nix snapped with an ambiguous look. It's a moist, dark air characteristic of the Great Forest. All the buildings in the village were safe, but in a slightly open place, the trees laid down their roots, both on the road and in the square. As if it had been growing there for decades.

Nix, who was dreaming and looking around, blinked with his pussy when he noticed the village chief's voice calling everyone and gathering them. Apparently, they're all trying to make sure they're all okay.

It's a boulder not to forget your job, even in a situation without such a thump. Nix laughed bitterly at that thought, pounding Oria's back.

"Looks like the village chief's calling. Let's take the kids and go and report them safe."

"Ah... yeah, right"

Oria is also feeling like she's finally awake, hurrying back to the house. He held each of the toddlers still asleep, and the two headed to the square. Correctly, to what used to be the square.

Occupied by giant trees that would be centuries old, the square was considerably narrower, but there was still about room for villagers to gather.

Three dozen villagers arrive, surprised to report each safe. When Oria and Nix also told the village chief that they had an entire family, they avoided sidestepping him to keep him out of the way of the others. And as it were, in leisure time while waiting, he walks slowly along the trunk observing giant trees.

When I came to the other side of the thick trunk, the unfamiliar woman's voice reached my ear.

"Mr. Oria......?

A call that doesn't seem certain. Oria blinked her eyes and looked back at the one who spoke. Nix frowns, too, and takes a step forward there.

Between the buildings, I saw a woman coming this way through a slightly narrowed street with trees. He wears unusual woven garments that he has never seen before.

No way, and Nix crushed the same word for how many times.

"Is that the legendary Fidae tribe?

Responding to Nix whispering in a low voice, Oria also responds by diving her voice.

"I don't know. But why my name...... Ah!

Oria, who thought of a reason, raised a short cry. Then he presses his son in his arms against Nix and runs toward the woman.

(It's Farnein. That kid told me about us!

So is that kid nearby too? Are you safe and well? Will I see you?

The memory of a young girl with wavy black hair and green eyes rises to the back of her brain one after the other. The way you eat sweets happily, the swell when you obstinate, the grumpy smile, and the last cry you saw just a little bit.

"Um..."

Run over and open your mouth to ask for news without breathing. As it were, Oria was stunned.

The woman dressed in a Fidae costume hid half her face in a mask. But the remaining half, a face bordered by long, wavy black hair, was blessed with the beauty of rare sight. Deep green eyes glimmer like lakes in a soft light that fills the area, hiding thoughts and wisdom deep down.

In front of the stand-up Oria, she slowly spread her grin. It was the same gorgeous and fascinating grin as the girl in Oria's memory.

"It's been a long time,“ sister. ""

The soft voice totally belonged to the adult, but the nostalgic sound put in was undisputed and authentic. Nevertheless, Oria's are just surprised and confused, and can't even afford to miss them very much. Nix, who has been after something, also stands stunned when he can distinguish clearly what she looks like.

Before they could even stare at each other, the woman - Farnayne - told them quietly, but clearly.

I'm here to protect you.