Sirius felt his heart ache. Or was it his cracked ribs, he wasn't sure. He was extremely reluctant to go in that room.

  "Hey, Friend of a Snake?" whispered Silver Song, seeing that he wasn't moving.

  "Yes... Yes, I'm coming," Sirius said and took a shallow breath, before carefully lifting himself up and passing through the entrance.

  The door loudly slammed shut behind him, louder than his thundering heart in his ears. He looked at the floor, not finding any strength to lift his head. His mind raced with numerous what-ifs, trying to formulate a myriad of plans. He felt his Thought Constellation swirl at incredible speeds, anxiety fuelling its chaotic and unstoppable whirlwind of thoughts. He began hyperventilating. Cold sweat streaked his pulsing temple.

  "Friend of a Snake," sounded powerful voice of Calmness of Storm, pulling Sirius out of his thoughts.

  Sirius stopped breathing and gradually lifted his head. WIth unfocused gaze he stared at the other side of the hall. "Y-yes?"

  "We have come to conclusion..." Calmness of Storm was deliberately dragging his answer.

  "Y-yes?..."

  "That you are..." another pause made Sirius' heart stop, "... an extremely rare case."

  Sirius' lungs burnt. He was holding his breath for too long. Yet, he could not release his breath, as he opened and closed his mouth without a sound.

  "Hey, relax and listen carefully!" said annoyed Rain of Fire.

  "You have nothing to worry about," reassured Glint of Gold with a smile.

  "We happened to overhear your small dialogue outside, and that may have influenced our decision a bit," sneered Blizzard Bringer. "Whisper of Nature, do you have any grievances with our foreign visitor?"

  "Grievances? Apart from making my daughter abandon my family's heritage?"

  "Yes. Apart from that." Blizzard Bringer stared intently at old druid.

  Whisper of Nature glanced at Sirius, who was expectantly awaiting for his answer. Old man grunted and answered, pridefully raising his head, "No, Blizzard Bringer. After sorting out our harsh feelings, I understand that I am grateful, even if I don't want to admit that. Not only he saved my daughter's life, he allowed her to become another powerful member of our family."

  Sirius' gaze drifted towards Calmness of Storm, who was smiling at him. He lifted his bushy brow, revealing the grey eye with pupil shining with pale cyan light. Sirius expectantly nodded, silent question readable on his face.

  "Since the only person who had any problems with your conduct agrees that you do not deserve death, we concluded that you may stay in Plain Veins," Calmness of Storm stated their decision.

  Sirius exhaled and fell to his knees. "Next time just say the last part..."

  "Next time?" sneered Rain of Fire with a smirk.

  Loud laugh from the right side of the table attracted everyone's attention. Sirius saw the tall and bulky heap of clothing shudder, as youthful laugh of a young man filled the room. The heap began moving. Thin branch-like hand cracked and grasped the wooden staff, that was leaning in a high chair. Another hand gripped the armrest and pushed down. The heap turned out to be a thick cloak made of fur, that uncovered when the man stood up, revealing his visage.

  He was tall. Too tall, in fact. His bright blue eyes looked down at everyone in the room, from towering two heads taller than the bulky and towering tavern-keeper Iron Hands. His lanky posture made him look unnatural, yet his fluid motion put Sirius in deep awe. Sirius looked at this giant, and the giant looked down, his eyes glowing in the dark. He gracefully stepped out of the circle and bent down in front of Sirius. Sirius felt an invisible force lift him up to his feet, and he saw that smooth-looking dark skin of the man was in fact rough and bark-like. The man tilted his head with a smile, making a row of earrings in his long ears rattle a little. Sirius was stunned in front of this druid. He was unlike anyone he saw before, and his every cell practically vibrated with power. Sirius knew that this is the Wish of Nature, the being closest to a deity to the forest tribe.

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  "You have gifted us a new Path, and for that we are grateful," slowly stated Wish of Nature in a deep bass. Sirius could swear he heard the rustling of leaves in his voice. "Your eyes see this World differently than ours, let it be your strength. After all, you are not like them, nor you are like us."

  "Who... 'them'?" whispered Sirius, baffled that Wish of Nature repeated the word of Ghost of the Past.

  "Those who came before us, and those who will come after." The man tilted his head the other way.

  "I... I don't understand, why are you telling me all that?"

  Wish of Nature laughed a little and leaned towards Sirius' ear. He whispered, "The World have already blessed your Path. Protect that blessing at all costs. Don't let them steal it. Don't let us destroy it." Wish of Nature stepped back and stood straight. He turned towards elders and bowed, "Forgive my interruption. I shall take my place."

  "It is rare to see you stand in front of us, you should do it more often," laughed Calmness of Storm.

  "Maybe I will." Wish of Nature nodded with a smile and returned to his place, thick coat covering his body seemingly on its own.

  Calmness of Storm glanced to the side with a smirk, "I announce that the Rite of the Name will happen this evening. Until then - get ready, tidy yourself from the traces of battle."

  "Thank you, Elders!" said Whisper of Nature and Silver Song in unison. Sirius awkwardly repeated after them.

  "You may go. Except Friend of a Snake," said Calmness of Storm, once again making Sirius nervous. Sirius nodded at Silver Song, and she reluctantly left the hall along with her father.

  With the door shut, Sirius asked, "Yes, Elders."

  "The man who ambushed you. He was from the church. We also got some intel from him."

  "Already? But you didn't leave the room..."

  "Who said we need to leave?" sneered Glint of Gold and created a golden thread between his fingers.

  "Yes, that's right. The Church of the Kingdom is spreading information that you was coerced by the Crimson Crusade. Do you understand what that means?"

  "Crimson Crusade is considered a terrorist organisation... Does that mean it gives them a reason to officially use army to get me?"

  "It does. Yet, that wouldn't be possible for them. Too much people for one person. It is like searching for a needle in hay bale," explained Nameless Wind, a young elder in light clothes who was the logistics specialist among the elders.

  "But your will scares them enough to send mercenaries," added Indomitable Will.

  "I wanted to say!..." Nameless Wind raised his voice at Indomitable Will, "I wanted to say that moving out armies for the sake of finding you is pointless. Yet!..." he raised his finger, "my scouts say that the Kingdom's army is currently taking control over fringe tribes, spreading their faith and setting up outposts."

  "That is highly unusual of them, I must add," said Glint of Gold, "They prefer covert operations, converting most malleable of our people. They almost set up a church in Plain Veins that way."

  "That is correct. I wanted to ask you, Friend of a Snake, do you know anything about that?"

  "Outposts... Army... They are not preparing for war with western Republic, don't they?"

  "A war with Conflux? No way... The whole Betweenlands are separating their countries, why would they prepare for war?" Nameless Wind pulled out a map and began frantically looking over the borders.

  "Strength of Mind, you said that northern mountain tribes are getting cut off from the rest of tribes, right?" Calmness of Storm asked.

  "Yes..." the elder with thick grey hair and beard answered, seemingly in daze. "Trade stopped... Two tribes died... Rest combined... They isolate themselves to protect..."

  "Can they survive without trade?" asked Blizzard Bringer.

  "Not all..."

  "They are really moving west! They take over the south, protecting themselves from mercenaries over there!" shouted nameless Wind in shock, "Their current actions are just a foundation!"

  "Any moves from Conflux Republic, Hears All?" asked Rain of Fire.

  The middle-aged woman twitched her ear and turned Rain of Fire with her eyes empty. Without moving her mouth, she answered, "Not that I know of. They are very pushy to set up trade with many tribes along their border." She was talking in a whisper, yet her voice was as loud as everyone else's.

  "Tensions are rising..." said Calmness of Storm.

  "But all druids are in danger of getting in a crossfire," said Sirius, understanding the whole gravity of their situation. "With all tribes faring for themselves, will you be able to protect everyone?"

  "The boy is right," said Rain of Fire, "We must prepare for the worst."

  "I am glad you see that too," said Calmness of Storm, "That means I was not mistaken." He sighed. "Go home, Friend of a Snake. You have other matters to sort out."

  "Yes. Thank you, Elders," Sirius bowed, the news weighing down on his mind.