Chapter 8 -- The fellowship

AIO: I'd love to be a writer as a profession. That way, even among the constant busyness we call life, I could guarantee 40+ hours on this every week!

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Thorn and Reach stood mildly confused. Tomo more so.

...

Shile: "I have told you all I know."

Thorn: ...

The light-emanating R remained at eye level on the gigantic dark blue tree.

Tomo: The letter 'R'...

Tomo: "It's your name Reach!"

Reach: "I strongly doubt that's what it stands for..."

Shile walked up to the letter.

Shile: "It's breathtakingly beautiful up close."

Reach opted to join Shile.

Reach: ...

Reach: You can almost feel the power of light within.

Reach put his left hand forward, hesitating.

Reach: "Is it okay if I touch it?"

Shile: "Certainly. It is adjoined to your tree. You could almost consider it your property."

Reach felt uncomfortable considering the relic to be his own, but the sentiment was welcome.

Reach softly touched the letter with his left hand.

A warm pulse coursed throughout his body. A gentle energy.

It reminded Reach of the living village trees, but was undoubtedly different.

His fingers temporarily lit up in a peaceful yellow.

Reach: Wow..

...

Tomo: "What does it feel like? Is it hot?"

Reach: "No..."

Reach: "It is kind."

Tomo: ?

Reach withdrew his hand.

Thorn joined Shile and Reach, crossing her arms as she visibly inspected the letter.

Thorn: "The light doesn't seem to fade."

Thorn: "Earlier and even now, it's always bright."

This statement became more evident as we entered a luminous evening.

Shile: "Yes. Its radiance is perpetual."

Shile: "I cannot explain it."

Thorn: ...

The letter appeared to be moulded out of a tough hard stone, despite its gentle energy.

Thorn: "A unique stone. I can't tell what colour it's supposed to be."

...

Tomo too, joined the group.

Tomo: "Hey mister."

Shile: Not attempting my name anymore?

Tomo: "How come you didn't name the village after the letter?"

Tomo: "Is there another tree with a 'G' on it?"

Shile: He remembers the name of the village but not my name?

...

Shile: "No, there are no other letters like this one in the village."

Shile: "And honestly, I'm not sure which came first; the village or the letter. Though I'm inclined to say the latter."

Tomo: I thought old people were supposed to know everything?

Shile: "The elders before me safeguarded this tree."

Shile: "At some point it became the icon of our village. Something to be protected."

Thorn: ...

Thorn surveyed the sky.

Thorn: "What about outside the village?"

Shile: "Hm?"

Thorn: "Are there more letters like this one?"

Shile: ...

Shile: "There could be dozens. I'm not sure."

Shile: "I've heard rumours of sightings but it seems to bear no significance. Similar to coin collecting."

Thorn: What's wrong with coin collecting?

Reach walked alongside the base of the tree, caressing its dark wood.

Reach: "So do I have to create doors and such?"

Shile: "Initially, yes."

Reach: ...

Shile: "It is more intuitive than you think.”

Shile: “Don't forget you moved that letter down the tree on your first try."

...

Reach stopped in his stroll, closing his eyes.

His palm flat upon the tree.

Shile: "Let me ask you a simple question..."

Shile: "What does your dream home look like?"

Tomo and Thorn started to feel vibrations.

The grand dark blue tree began to morph and react to Reach's thoughts.

A vast doorway opened up at ground level.

Hundreds of windows spawned vertically towards the heavens.

Walkways, stairs, and bridges formed around the tree's enormous frame.

The dark blue leaves spread from top-to-bottom in a spectacular glittering pattern.

Tomo grinned.

Reach opened his eyes, retracting his hand.

Shile: "Very well done. Though you may be compensating for a few too many people."

Reach looked up. The illustrious R once again high on the tree, but not high enough to be indiscernible.

Shile: "Currently only you are permitted to enter."

Reach: ...

Shile shook his hand in a series of unique movements.

Thorn: ...

One of his personal trees returned to hand him a wooden bow and arrow.

Tomo: ?

...

Shile immediately shoots the arrow at one of the open windows.

Tomo: “Na-“

The tree instantly morphs to cover the opening, creating a firm thud which breaks the arrow in two.

Shile: "The trees are capable of sensing hostile intent. They try to protect from any possibility of danger."

Shile: "As I have said, the trees cannot be broken by normal means."

Thorn: ...

Shile flicks his hand, dismissing the sprouted tree which departs with his bow.

Shile directs Reach’s attention back to the ritual podium.

Shile: "Every tree is able to grow a podium resembling this one, to allow for additional blood links."

...

Shile: "Picture it in your head, and create it."

Reach repeated the same pattern from before... And did exactly as instructed.

Shile: "Fortunately, all you need for additional links is one drop per person."

Tomo: Th-Thank god I don't have to cut off my arms.

A small basin-esque shape became visible on the outside of the tree.

Where a valve would typically sit atop the basin stood a miniature spike instead, comparable to a thorn.

Shile: He's one step ahead.

Shile: "Ahem. If you two would please."

Thorn: ...

Thorn walked up and pricked her finger on the miniature spike. A sole drop descended.

Tomo built up the courage and did the same.

Shile: "Very good."

...

Shile: "As of this moment, you three are the owners of this tree."

Reach glanced upward in unadulterated reverence.

A faint smile entered his neutral expression.

Tomo: ?

Reach: ...

Reach: "I've got an idea."

- - - -

The sun now set.

A calm dusk loomed over the trees.

With Shile back to his duties, the three sat round a large orange rock.

The rock was stationed outside of the grand dark blue tree, which had moved from the circular grass area back to its original position in the village - with the help of Reach.

Tomo: ...

Tomo: “Is this supposed to mimic a campfire?”

Thorn put her palms in the air towards the orange rock.

Thorn: “It is indeed warm.”

Reach: “Fascinating.”

...

Reach: “I assume it’s distasteful to burn wood in this village?”

Thorn: “Probably.”

Tomo exhaled, relaxing on the spot.

He took a notable gulp of water.

Tomo: “Big day.”

Tomo looked at Reach.

Tomo: “Big month.”

Reach: “We haven’t known each other that long.”

Tomo: “Huh?”

.

..

.

A light rain began to trickle.

The heat of the rock did not waver.

The setting embellished with a calm, dark glow.

Reach felt the minor droplets tap his medium black hair.

The base of the dark blue tree slowly morphed, creating a deep humming noise.

Several branches stretched forward to construct a makeshift roof above the three.

Tomo: “Wow... That’s neat...”

Tomo paused and listened to the ambient rainfall.

Smiling sincerely, he spoke from the heart.

Tomo: “I could fall in love with the rain. I mean it.”

...

Thorn: ...

Thorn didn't dislike the sentiment.

Thorn: "I prefer fire."

Tomo: ?

Thorn: "Rain gets in my armour."

Reach: ...

Reach: What do you mean you prefer fire?

The three noticed neighbouring villagers enjoying their respective havens.

One villager - apparently impaired from the waist down, was lifted to a higher tree by a flurry of yellow-covered branches.

Tomo's kind-hearted smile persisted, if only for a moment longer.

...

Tomo thought back to Reach's earlier confrontation with the masked looters.

Internally he was impressed at his own memory, but tried not to be distracted by the notion.

Tomo: "There's such a variety of people."

Reach: ...

Tomo: "An endless, mixture..."

Tomo gleaned his own palm.

Tomo: "It blows my mind to think that every person in the history of existence... Was once an innocent little baby."

Thorn: ...

Tomo: "Raised and nurtured for months by a pregnant person, only to change into something horrible... Or to die for no good reason..."

Reach: “Mmm.”

...

Tomo softly clenched his fist.

Tomo: "All that effort. All that love..."

Tomo: "...Just to grow up and kill each other.”

...

Tomo: “To kill millions... Why?"

Thorn: ...

Tomo's words seemed to resonate with Thorn.

Not from a relatability perspective, but an empathetic one.

Thorn: When he's not being dumb, he's actually very earnest.

...

Tomo: "It's like they kill without thinking about the parents on the other side."

Tomo: "I don't get it."

Reach: ...

Reach: "Was your childhood ravaged by war, Tomo?"

Tomo: "Good question."

Tomo: "Apparently I'm not allowed to know."

Reach: "Hmm."

Tomo released his fist.

He cupped his hands together.

Tomo: “Anyways, what was your idea, Reach?”

Reach did not respond at first.

He appreciated the fluctuation of Tomo’s thoughts and feelings.

Reach: He doesn’t seem to forget my name.

Tomo: ?

Reach: “Right.”

Reach: “Tomo, how much do you remember about our conversations on the night we met?”

Tomo: “Hmm...”

Tomo looked up in thought.

Tomo: “I remember the stuff about you and your disease pretty well.”

Tomo: “And we decided to be explorers, of course.”

Thorn: ...

Reach: “Yeah. Well, back then we talked about making a difference. Even if only marginal.”

Reach: “Ever since coming here I’ve thought about that more and more... About how we could make it all more tangible.”

Tomo: ...

Reach: “I remember you wanted to live a life that’s not boring.”

Tomo: “Y-Yes.”

Tomo: That does sound like me..

Reach glanced around within the pure ambience.

Reach: “I’ve grown to enjoy it here.”

Tomo: Is that a pun?

Reach: “And with this so-called ‘home’ we can properly set up camp.”

Reach: “Invite like-minded people to our cause and allow them to establish blood links.”

Tomo: “What are you saying?”

Reach: “I’m saying...”

...

Reach: “...We start a fellowship.”

Thorn appeared confused.

Thorn: “A fellowship? As in a group?”

Thorn: It’s... Sort of lame.

Tomo: “I think it’s cool.”

Reach: “Thanks, me too.”

Thorn: ...

Reach: “The three of us would be the first members.”

Tomo smiled.

Thorn seemed to regret her temporary pledge of allegiance to Reach.

Thorn: Maybe I should challenge him again right now...

Tomo scratched his chin in thought.

Tomo: “So it’d be a fellowship... To make the world a better place?”

Reach: “More or less.”

Tomo: “You can be real corny sometimes, you know that Reach?”

Reach: ...

Tomo: “But don’t worry, I’m in!”

Thorn pondered the duality of Reach once again.

Thorn: This side of Reach can be so optimistic and proactive.

...

..

.

Reach touched the rumbling device on his outer left shoulder.

Reach: “Life for me... Mostly felt aimless.”

Reach: “I’m not sure how to describe it.”

Tomo: ...

Reach: “It’s as if you constantly question why you’re alive.”

Thorn listened intently.

Reach: “Occasionally you brim with hope as you try to find a goal, but ultimately return to despair when that hope is lost.”

Thorn: ...

Reach: “Like I was always searching for an answer but could never find it.”

...

Reach: “That type of frustration slowly melts your very core... And I’m sure many people die without ever filling that void.”

The three dwelled in the latest mood change.

Reach: “So this will be good.”

Reach glanced at Tomo.

Reach: “A chance to search for that ‘something’...”

...

...

Thorn: “Why didn’t you do anything up until now?”

Reach: ...

A dark glaze slightly overcame Reach.

Reach: “Sometimes the darkness can be comfortable.”

Reach: “Almost too comfortable... To a fault.”

Thorn: ...

Reach: “It’s safe, and quiet.”

Tomo: Though he did train plenty...

Reach relaxed his visage.

Reach: “I like to think Tomo was the final push I needed.”

Reach: “He and I are more similar than you’d suspect.”

Tomo felt the genuineness of Reach’s words.

Reach: “So let’s explore the world and recruit the best allies. With this tree as our home base.”

...

Reach: “I’m sure there’s great people out there we simply haven’t met yet.”

Tomo found himself unconditionally smiling.

Tomo: “We could call the tree ‘R-base’.”

Reach: ...

Reach: “We could...”

Reach examined his fingers which had previously lit up upon touching the letter.

Reach: “Our goal is to fight for those who are lost.”

...

Tomo: “Sounds good.”

Tomo: Corny..

Thorn remained sceptical of the idea but not enough to actively stop it.

Thorn: “What kind of allies do you wish to recruit?”

Reach: “Those with comparable values, I suppose.”

Reach: “And I know, we’re certainly not perfect.”

Thorn: “Hmm.”

Reach: “I want a mutual sense of companionship. Or rather, companions you would happily die for.”

...

Thorn: “That might be a stretch.”

Thorn grabbed a cloth and begun cleaning her blades.

Thorn: “Don’t forget.”

Thorn: “I am helping you in return for the mercy I’ve been shown.”

Reach: ...

Tomo: Thorn...

...

Thorn: “I agreed not to betray you within reason. But one day I shall fight you again.”

.

..

...

Thorn: “So do not die before then.”

A miniature grin took over Reach.

Tomo’s shoulders felt metaphorically lifted.

This was the poetic beginning... Of an enduring fellowship.

- - - -

One of few, a man with lapis blue eyes that tempted change, slowly approached...

????: “They all have no idea...”

...

????: “...What overwhelming power looks like.”

[Chapter 8 -- End]