Elder Thryssa's words settled heavily in the air, lingering in the quiet space between us.
For a moment, I simply stared at her, unsure if I had heard correctly. The thought of leaving the village, the forest, and everything I had grown familiar with felt sudden and unexpected.
"What?" I asked, the surprise slipping out before I could stop it.
Then I spoke again, more slowly this time, trying to confirm what she meant. "Do you mean… I have to leave this village and the forest and go outside?"
Elder Thryssa watched me calmly for a second, her expression steady and unreadable. Then she nodded her head.
"Yes."
Before she could say anything further, I quickly asked, "Why?"
A faint smile appeared on her face, calm and composed as always.
"It is a mission for you."
"A mission?" I repeated, trying to understand what she meant.
She nodded again. "Yes. A mission."
Then she continued slowly, her tone steady and composed. "In two to three months' time, you will have to leave this place and go outside for a mission."
I fell silent, absorbing her words. Leaving the forest… leaving the village… stepping beyond the only place that had become familiar to me. The thought felt strange. It had always seemed distant, something that might happen far in the future, yet now it was being placed directly before me.
After a moment, I looked at her again. "But why me?"
"Because you can speak their language fluently," she replied calmly. "It will make things easier for the mission."
I understood immediately. Among everyone here, I was the only one who could communicate fluently with outsiders. If the mission required interacting beyond the forest, then it made sense why she had chosen me.
"What is the mission?" I asked, curiosity growing.
"You will get to know when the time comes," she replied calmly.
Her answer only deepened my curiosity, but I chose not to press further. If she had decided not to reveal it yet, there was likely a reason behind it.
Instead, I glanced toward Charlie, who stood silently at the side, listening to the conversation without interrupting. His expression remained calm, but I could tell he was thinking carefully about what this meant.
I turned back toward Elder Thryssa, hesitating slightly before speaking.
"Can I refuse this mission?" I asked.
A faint smile appeared on her face again, calm and understanding.
"Yes," she said. "You may refuse."
She paused briefly before continuing, her tone calm yet carrying quiet weight.
"But refusing will lessen your impression among the elders. If you accept the mission, however, you will be able to impress the other elders as well."
I lowered my gaze slightly, thinking over her words. This was not a simple decision. Leaving the forest meant stepping into unfamiliar territory, possibly facing unknown dangers. At the same time, this was an opportunity. One that could influence how the elders viewed me.
I did not want to answer impulsively.
After a moment, I lifted my head and met her gaze again. "Then I will confirm later. Would that be alright?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "Take your time."
She then turned and began walking toward the door, her movements calm and unhurried. Just before stepping outside, she paused briefly, her back still facing us. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a steady voice.
"I hope you will agree to this."
Then she stepped outside and left, her figure disappearing beyond the doorway. The house fell quiet once more, the weight of her words lingering in the still air.
I remained standing where I was for a moment, silently processing everything she had said. Leaving the forest… going outside… a mission I knew nothing about. The thought stirred both curiosity and unease within me.
After a few seconds, I turned toward Charlie.
"Charlie, what do you think?"
Charlie remained silent for a moment, carefully considering his response. His expression grew serious before he finally spoke.
"It might be dangerous, young master, especially if our enemies discover your identity outside," he said slowly. "But if young master wishes to go… I will protect you with my life on the line."
I looked at him quietly for a moment, considering his words and the resolve in his tone.
"Let us think about it carefully and decide," I said finally.
Charlie gave a respectful nod. "Yes, young master."
After a brief silence, I asked him to bring the meat for Camose. Charlie moved to the adjoining area and returned shortly with a wooden bowl filled with small pieces of meat. He placed it down near the base of the great tree, careful not to make too much noise.
I gently lifted Camose from my arm and lowered it near the bowl. The little snake responded immediately, its body sliding smoothly from my hand onto the wooden floor. It paused briefly, then lowered its head toward the bowl.
With slow, deliberate movements, Camose began eating, taking small bites one after another, completely focused on the food before it.
Charlie and I quietly stepped outside, careful not to disturb Camose while it ate. This had become the simplest way to continue practicing without drawing its attention or triggering another misunderstanding. Leaving the door slightly ajar, we made our way toward the open space near the pond.
The morning air felt calm, and the still water reflected the pale light filtering through the trees. We took our usual positions and resumed control training. Charlie formed small fire shots at steady intervals, and I responded by shaping shields with focused precision. The practice continued for some time, the rhythm familiar and steady, allowing me to refine my control further.
After completing the session, we returned to the house.
As I stepped inside, my eyes immediately moved toward the great tree. Camose was curled quietly at the base of the trunk, its small body coiled comfortably, appearing fast asleep. There was no sign of disturbance or movement.
Relief washed over me as I saw it resting peacefully, exactly where I had left it.
---
The next few days passed in a steady rhythm. Training, cultivation, and quiet routines filled each day, giving little room for distraction. Despite the conversation with Elder Thryssa lingering in my mind, I focused on maintaining discipline, continuing my practice with Charlie while also growing accustomed to Camose's presence.
Soon, another hunting day arrived.
We left early in the morning, the cool air still carrying traces of dawn as we walked toward the village gate. The surroundings were calm, with only a few villagers already awake and moving about their morning routines.
When we reached the meeting point, I noticed that only Sham was waiting.
He stood near the gate with his usual relaxed posture, his sword resting at his side. As we approached, his gaze shifted toward my arm.
Camose was wrapped loosely around it, resting quietly as if it had grown accustomed to accompanying me everywhere.
Sham's eyes remained fixed on my arm, his expression clearly surprised as he observed Camose resting quietly around it.
"Arthur… skra-serpent beast?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied calmly, gently rubbing Camose's head. "This is my friend."
Sham blinked, his brows drawing slightly together in confusion. "Skra… friend?"
I nodded lightly. "You can call him Camose."
He continued staring at the small snake, still processing what I had said. I understood his confusion. In this barbarian village, beasts were rarely seen as companions. They were hunted for food, used for clothing, medicine, or crafted into tools and materials. Keeping one as a friend was something unfamiliar to them.
"Skra-all know about this?" Sham asked after a moment.
I shook my head. "No. Only Elder Thryssa knows."
Sham nodded slowly, his expression settling into quiet understanding. The mention of Elder Thryssa seemed to remove any remaining doubt in his mind. If she had approved, then there was nothing more to question.
"Skra-we go now," he said.
I glanced around instinctively, expecting to see another familiar figure approaching. "Are we not waiting for Sister Vaela?" I asked.
Sham shook his head. "Sister skra-not come. She away for mission."
I paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. That explained why I had not seen her these past few days. I had assumed she was busy with training or other duties, but it seemed she had already left for a mission of her own.
For a brief moment, my thoughts drifted back to Elder Thryssa's words. In two to three months, I too might be leaving the forest for a mission.
The idea lingered quietly in my mind.
Without further delay, Sham turned toward the forest path, and we followed. The three of us moved forward together, stepping beyond the village boundary as the trees gradually thickened ahead, the familiar hunt beginning once again.