The Living Forest

(Previous chapter - Var and Gauge purchase Feryx, a seemingly powerful dagger and arrive at Riftcore - Interdimensional browsing centre -Aurivallis system branch)

Riftcore is a multigalaxy organisation researching about the endless extent of universe. Knowledge about stars, gates, planets.... you name it we have it. - a small description at the entrance

Var walks up to the only staff available at the centre. A fat man wearing some sort of glasses and a weird dress. Gauge looks at him for a while, head to toe, and then asks,

"What are you wearing,looks like an armor made of curtains back in our palace."

the fat man was analysing some data on a extended version of the riftcore Var had; The Riftcore monitor. Distracted by Gauge but not annoyed by him rather with a welcoming face,

"Welcome to Riftcore browsing centres, where vast data about the universe is available for anyone at such a small fee of 50 gate units. Zayden myr at your service.(shifting his gaze from looking at both Var and Gauge to focusing only gauge)My dress? it's only natural you find it weird. These are from my hometown back in Rafter. They call these shirt and Jeans."

Gauge was still concerned about the dress "That could tear from heavy wind let alone a war." he thought to himself. Var interrupts their exchange,

"And that is exactly why we are here." and he smirks like some smart guy.

"For my shirt and jeans?"

asked Zaden. Upon hearing this Gauge burst into laughter, Var was slightly embarrassed but he too liked the joke. After seeing them laugh, Zaden looked satisfied,

"Finally, some people with a humour sense. In a planet where people just wanna take what they want and leave as soon as possible, it's hard to find people like you. And for that I will help you for free this time.(he looks at Var and smirks) I know you were talking about Rafter." and he winks.

Gauge after hearing their destination questions,

"Rafter? what can we see there, are we gonna buy jeans for me Var." it was no mocking, since Var brought him the Feryx, he thought he was gonna buy him some jeans too. Var's embarrassment stacked one on top of another as he made a tired yet smiling face.

Zaden laughs this time, "I like you 2, I might even make my next service free for you. But no young man, Planet Rafter is also known as the planet of knowledge, the birthplace of prophecies. That's why your friend seeks it, not because you want a pair of trousers."

his laugh reduced to giggles as he tried to stop laughing.He searches up Rafter and gets a few results, without removing his eyes of the screen he conveys,

"There seems to be a gate connecting to Rafter on the opposite side of Xerith."

Var sighs as he hears this,

"aghh...thats gonna take forever from here"

Zaden notices the disappointment on his face, continues browsing the Aurivallis system. The destination is Rafter in the Stellarian Prime system. contradictory to what it's named, Rafter is not a planet, instead it one of the moons of an uninhabited planet, Scaelith.

"Don't worry, that's why I am here, to reduce your stress and provide a swift passage to your destination. there is a shunt pathway to the opposite side of Xerith. but you'll need to warp to Floravere and back to Xerith. Luckily there is a gate to Floravere nearby! sending coordinates now, connect your riftcore to the monitor please."

Var as looks at his riftcore updated with 3 locations, two gates in Xerith and one in Floravere. He was relieved, a whole lot of distance cut short thanks to Zaden's service,

"Thank you, that was really helpful(he turns to Gauge) well lets get going Kid,let's find out how flames flow out of your fists."

Zaden looks at them ready to go, and gives an eerie look,

"Careful, the opposite pole of Xerith is one of the uncharted areas of Aurivallis and there must be a reason for that."

Var and Gauge look at each other and then at Zaden, nod simultaneously and head off to the Gate coordinates not far from the bazaar.

(few minutes later,near the gate)

"So Floravere, what do we expect?"

inquires Gauge. Var looking down on the path they are walking,

"I do not know, all I know is that the planet is filled with vegetation just like yours. You might know better than me. As far as I am concerned it's going to be a cakewalk to the the next gate. I am more worried about,what we would face behind it."

A silence falls, Gauge realizes that they were gonna jump into the unknown lands of Xerith. He seems worried for a bit; then lightens up and looks at Var and speaks,

"Hey, We defeated a god after all, how hard could it be?"

Var looks back at him, then back at the ground, closes his eyes and smiles(the enthusiasm of this kid.....'You' did after all) he thinks to himself,

"You're right. I am just worried because I haven't left Vel kartha for so long..."

As they speak both of them arrived at the gate. It was rather a small one, probably 8 foot in height. Both gauge and Var jump in without a second thought.

(Floravere, Auravillis system sector II)

Just a few seconds later, both of them fall on the ground. This time the ground was soft unlike in Xerith. They find themselves in a deep dense forest. Var stands up and pulls up his riftcore,

"Well, any average mortal would lose his way here, glad we have the coordinates. Plus aren't we lucky to land in a peaceful planet like this."

He heads up to a tree, sat under its shade and rested his back on the trunk of the tree.

"Hey, do you mind?" a voice pops out of nowhere, Gauge noticed where the voice came from,chuckles softly but kept silent cause it would be funny to let Var discover on his own. Var looks around, to the sky and to the ground confused where the voice came from.

"Behind you bloodsucker." said the voice

as Var turns around He looks at the tree with eyes and mouth. He was startled and crawled backwards to Gauge's feet. He looks at his face wet with laughter, realized he was embarrassesd again, stood up,

"That wasn't funny." he said with a serious expression on his face as he tries to retain his prideful stance.The tree observes them and asks,

"Why have you come to sunflower village, what is your purpose of visiting"

Var still finds it weird that a tree can speak. Gauge was standing beside him wondering as he asks,

"sunflower village does that mean all these guys can talk."

Var comes closer to Gauge and whispers,

"I guess so..."

and he looks at the tree and responds,

"Our coordinates show that there is a Gate beyond this village, if you'd let us we would just pass by."

Now the tree was confused but his barky face did not reveal any expression. With his stoic face he responds,

"Coorda-what-aaa???(sighs deeply) it wouldn't matter, the path beyond the village is guarded by a tyrant...An ominous banyan tree."

Now all three are confused.

Next chapter - The Tree Tyrant