Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 206
Arnie suddenly felt his ears getting a little warm.
He straightened up in Oscar’s arms, gripping his shoulder to look outside, but saw nothing except trees and forest paths.
Charlie turned to look as well. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Arnie said, shrinking back into his arms a little sulkily.
Wind and Green led them, this time without mounts. Arnie, being small and slow, was carried by Charlie all the way—ever since being taken by Atta, Arnie had been clinging to Charlie, so he was quite used to it.
The seer’s residence was a bit of a distance from the Nawen tribe’s settlement. Before setting off, Charlie thought they might be blindfolded to keep the location secret, but Wind and Green seemed completely unfazed, apparently unafraid that they might remember the route to the seer.
Maybe because the forest itself was a giant maze, the Nawen tribe was confident about this? Charlie thought. If so, the terrain might neutralize the advantage of Lemena’s knights once they enter the forest. If these people were stubborn and unwilling to let Arnie return home safely, he might need to find a way to guide Alfred and the others…
Arnie, looking up and seeing Charlie’s expression, patted his arm seriously. “It’s okay.”
Charlie pinched his cheek but said nothing.
Green glanced back at the two of them, her eyes curious—she had never left the forest, and it was her first time seeing outsiders.
The seer seemed very interested in these two outsiders but hadn’t revealed much information. After meeting them yesterday, Green, like the other tribesmen, had taken a liking to the big-eyed, fair-skinned Arnie.
However, this delicate child wasn’t very willing to talk to people. Aside from his servant, only Wind could exchange a few words with him. He ignored everyone else. But his pride didn’t make him unlikeable because he was so young.
The seer’s residence wasn’t in the trees. They walked around the roots of several massive ancient trees and found a recessed tunnel in the center, guarded by two armed men. Seeing Wind and Green approach, they silently stepped aside.
Charlie felt like he was entering the base of a tree. The tunnel occasionally had thick tree roots exposed to the air. It was dimly lit but not damp, with glowing moss on the ground providing enough light to see the way. Arnie, seeing various colored mushrooms in the tunnel, was curious and wanted to touch them but was stopped by Charlie.
This time, Arnie didn’t insist because he could sense that Oscar was slightly tense.
Logically, a seer, akin to a mage or astrologer, wouldn’t give off a violent impression. But for some reason, Oscar was very cautious, more so than when facing the hostile Atta and his group.
Emotions were contagious. Arnie, sensing this, warily glanced at Green, who was watching him, then turned his head and remained still.
Green looked a little disappointed, but they soon followed the light out of the tunnel. The exit opened into a small valley. Most of the sky was covered by large tree branches, but gaps allowed sunlight to filter through, making the flowers, fruit trees, and grass in the valley look bright and lively. The scattered dome-shaped wooden houses looked like giant mushrooms sprouting from the ground, giving a somewhat cute appearance.
The atmosphere here was very different from the settlement—outside, the treehouses, the connecting bridges in the air, and the armed Nawen tribesmen exuded a sense of constant readiness for battle. Although they lived in the forest, they weren’t its masters. Large predators posed a threat to their survival, and the warnings about Arnie’s safety in the forest weren’t mere politeness.
But here, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Though they couldn’t move freely, Charlie guessed there were no large beasts in this small valley, as it seemed to be a haven for all the Nawen tribe’s children.
They wore light, simple clothes, laughing and playing. A few young people dressed like Green watched over them but didn’t join in their games or restrain them.
Wind and Green’s expressions softened as they entered the valley. Green led them to the largest two-story house, walking up to the porch and speaking softly through the door.
The door opened, and someone carrying a baby a few months old came out, looking at them curiously.
“Wind.” The person greeted him.
Wind smiled at him.
“This is Grass.” He lifted the baby a little higher. “He just got his name.”
Green signaled Charlie and Arnie to follow her inside, leaving Wind to converse outside.
“He’s waiting for you,” Green said, puzzled why the seer had specifically requested to see the servant as well. She scrutinized him, trying to see what was so special about him.
The house had no foyer. The entrance led straight into a circular living room. Green stayed outside, closing the door behind them.
Charlie put Arnie down, and they both looked around the room.
For someone of high status, this house was surprisingly simple. Though it was fully furnished, even the cushions on the birchwood ladder were ordinary handmade blankets, with no gold or silver ornaments in sight.
Even Kurt’s residence in the Green Forest was more elaborate than this.
The living room was empty, but there was a partitioned area with a smooth, arched wooden door that had a wooden handle on it.
Charlie held Arnie’s hand and walked to the partition, knocking lightly on the door.
“Come in,” someone said from inside.
Charlie pressed the handle, opening the door to a small sunroom. A very thin man sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a mess of books.
“Welcome,” he said. “I am Spring, the seer of the Nawen tribe.”
Spring didn’t look very healthy—he was extremely thin. His long, white, dull hair made him look elderly, but his demeanor was youthful, and his eyes hinted at the handsomeness of his younger days.
Charlie sighed inwardly and, instead of stepping forward, bowed to him from where he stood.
“Hello,” he said. “Please forgive me for not being able to introduce myself.”
He could feel the powerful magic beneath Spring’s calm exterior. Regardless of his status, this strength alone deserved respect. He didn’t want to use a pseudonym to deceive the other party, yet he had reasons to hide his identity, so he could only apologize.
“No problem,” Spring said, looking at him. “I can sense your conflict… Was your appearance here a mistake or a choice?”
Charlie once again felt that rare sensation of being seen through. This man, sitting deep in the forest, seemed to know everything about him with just one glance.
“Both a mistake and a choice,” Charlie said softly.
Spring nodded and turned to Arnie.
“Arnie, come closer,” he said kindly.
Arnie looked at Charlie, and seeing him nod, took a few steps forward.
“Are you a seer?” Arnie asked. “Like an astrologer?”
“Astrologers and seers aren’t the same,” Spring replied gently. “But when it comes to prophecy, astrologers, diviners, and seers all touch upon the future, each in their own way.”
Charlie felt that Spring’s tone was strange when he mentioned the “future”, but he wondered if he was being paranoid.
Arnie stared at Spring, finding him odd—like a very old plant, he seemed to have no scent or breath, yet had slight emotional reactions. One could tell he was alive, knew he was breathing, but couldn’t clearly sense it.
“Are you human?” Arnie asked bluntly.
Charlie: “……”
He almost forgot that this kid, despite his cute appearance, had a knack for saying unpleasant things.
“I am human.” Spring wasn’t angry, seeming to understand Arnie perfectly. “A bit different from ordinary people, but still human.”
He continued, “You are also a bit different from ordinary people, aren’t you?”
Arnie remained silent.
Spring reached out and placed his hand above Arnie’s head without touching his hair, as if stroking him from a distance.
“Your hair and eyes are beautiful. Thirteen hundred years ago, there was a branch of elves with this hair color. They migrated from the north, delicate and sensitive, skilled in calculation and craftsmanship.”
“You have their blood,” Spring said. “So the Nawen tribe will never harm you. They acted recklessly, and I apologize to you.”
Arnie didn’t expect an apology here. He didn’t respond but instead asked, “How do you know I have elven blood? It’s been many, many years.”
“Bloodlines thin out but never truly disappear,” Spring said softly. “Most people…like your ancestors, live and die without showing any traces. You are a fortunate accident. This blessing may be difficult for even your descendants to inherit.”
“Since you’re here, would you like to see something left by another ancestor? Deep in the forest,” Spring said. “Though most of it was taken away, some remnants remain. If anyone is worthy of seeing those remnants now, it is you.”
Charlie finally interjected, “Didn’t the hidden realms of the elves begin to disappear after they left? The beauty of their domains was largely due to elven magic. Without that magic, even the most wondrous places would eventually return to their natural state.”
He knew Arnie was a very curious child and was worried that Spring might easily lure him into the forest depths. This seer was very powerful, and Charlie didn’t want to follow his lead, fearing he might not be able to protect Arnie if something went wrong.
“They sealed off a small part of their territory, and the Nawen tribe promised to guard the entrance for a thousand years,” Spring said calmly.
Charlie’s expression remained unchanged, but inside he was shocked because of the immense implications of that statement.
The elves had left the continent decisively, reportedly leaving none behind. And indeed, no records of elves had surfaced since then. But Spring said the elves had entrusted them to guard a door for a thousand years. If they intended to leave forever, why leave a door? Did they plan to return one day, or were there elves who had never left the continent?
But he couldn’t ask further. As the seer of the Nawen tribe, Spring was undoubtedly aligned with the elves. Charlie believed that if he showed any intention of probing into the elves’ existence, Spring would likely ensure he never left the forest alive.
Arnie hesitated, then looked back at Charlie.
Both Charlie and Spring were watching him.
The small child stood on the floor, his face showing a rare expression of indecision.
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