"Where are we?"
Ruella's feeble voice sounded as she opened her eyes. Her curiosity caused her to raise her torso from the ground.
"Careful!"
An immediately supported her to sit up. She was looking forward to talking to Ruella when she awakes.
"We are about 11 kilometres away from the forest. You were unconscious, so we decided to take a break till you are up."
An replied as her hands gently supported to sit. Ruella glanced around and was wonderstruck.
There were no other trees in the vicinity. The tree under which An and Ruella sat, was an Okyute Banyan tree. The proud lone tree stood 37 metres tall and its dense green tiny leaves casted it's shade in an approximate radius of 18 metres. The grass surrounding the tree was green while those that were exposed to direct starlight showed signs of brown and aging. Lee glanced around and found Lee sitting cross-legged, and his eyes closed. Composure painted his face as he sat about 6 metres away from them. Unfortunately, she did not see the faint sparkling of lightning inside his plams. Other than Fero and antelope, there were no other being's in sight. Ruella was seeing this kind of surrounding for the first time.
"We are in a savannah."
An recognised her visible confusion. She gave a brief description on what savannah is and what are the specialities of the savannah. Ruella gave her interest and senses to the lecture, despite an annoying dizziness.
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11 A.M.
15345 Essence harvested.
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[...That concludes the history of my predecessors.]
'I still have a doubt. You told us that marriages are done at the altar of a deity. What did you mean by that?'
[The deities or gods I mentioned are a race called 'Tubian'. They are marvelous and mysterious beings exclusively to Zaxaluke. Their origin is unknown, but my predecessors believed that they were formed out of the laws of Life and Death. They are excellent shapeshifters with sky as the limit. They can grant blessings like a deity.
Tubians are a race of near-immortality beings. They avoid death with such a slight margin that they are literally 'Living Wonders'. How they look or how they live are a mystery till date. Their signature feature, Adaptive Disguise, can evade mental probing and the finest perception skill there is. None can sense or see them unless they allow to. Their numbers are obscure and I even doubt that they have any means of reproduction.
These beings have all kinds of behavioural patterns. There have been seven Tubians in the past which resembled the seven deadly sins. Some seek peace and solitude while some are attention hoarders. Likewise, there are benevolent ones and psychopaths among them. But they are not territorial. They live by consuming Essence, the same thing you get at each hour! Throughout history, they have exhibited great power to obtain followers that call themselves 'Chosen People'! Those nincompoops will have their Essence slowly drained from them while the Tubian grants them temporary powers, like a bait.
One important thing, THOSE COWARDS HID WHEN THE WHOLE PLANET WAS WAGED WAR BY THE ANCIENT CONTINENTS!]
Lee unlocked his eyes as D yelled like a madman. His countenance did not falter as he silently listened to D.
'So.I have no way to sense them? There should be something!'
[Tubians are bound to the laws of Time and Space of the Dimension. So they can only be found if you have Absolute expertise in both Time and Space. If not, you will have to follow the concealed trail of Essence absorbed by the Tubian.]
*vague exchanges*
Lee turned his head and saw the two females chatting merrily. An was charming as usual, but Ruella's facial resemblance with An caught his attention. At a glance, they will be mistaken to share one father but different mothers. Lee shuttled his eyes between the two of them and his findings were precise and minute.
Ruella felt a pair of eyes scanning her and turned her head to see Lee. An glanced in the same direction and saw him repeatedly staring at both of them. The faint frown between his brows went unnoticed.
"What are you looking at?!"
An felt strange by her husband's behaviour. She raised a question and Lee took a moment to think of an answer.
"You two.look almost similar!"
Lee rubbed his chin with a deep frown. It was then the two females glanced at each other and found the uniqueness. Their expressions went in awe with bafflement.
Lee was puzzled by their reactions.
"You two were having a conversation, right? Then how come you both have not noticed this?!"
Lee patted his rear as he stood up. Slivers of daylight seeped through the dense verdure and fell on his face. Lee scanned around his surroundings with his enhanced eyesight. His extended range went beyond the normal scope. But his blank face and palms resting at his hips gave an imitation of a disappointed mother.
"If I am right...then we should go...THAT way!"
His index finger pointed in the right direction after taking a U-turn from where they came.
"But, we cannot travel at noon. Ruella will have trouble."
Lee added as he came and sat opposite to the ladies. Ruella nodded in agreement as intense heat was an enemy of druids. An recalled one of her descriptions about the druid's likes and dislikes.
Lee brought a 4x4 picnic mat from the Shop for 160 Essence. 8 loaves of Honey Bread and 4 bottles of milk appeared along with 2 kilograms of Rain Rabbit's meat. Fero jumped up in joy at the first glance. Ruella was confused and amused by this reaction. She couldn't help but gulp down the drool as she took the milk's fragrant bait. The antelope displayed her discontent as she saw nothing edible for her. She soon reconciled as An extended a loaf of bread towards her.
*nomnomnomnom*
*nomnom*
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The time neared 12 midday when D yelled and diverted Lee's attention to the Map. Several Mucus Boas had surrounded and were attacking a green dot. Lee sprang up like a loaded spring and dashed towards the spot. The ladies and beasts were dumbfounded by his sudden and strange actions.
"I'll be right back!"