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The four had arrived, Slace and Vira in their original clothes from before the fire kingdom. The four were confronted by gates made of wood and hard vines.
Vira looked around, waiting for the gate to open; the breeze of the wind, the humid heat, and the constant trees—it was like a rainforest.
But this place didn't bring her curiosity or intrigue; it brought discomfort as bad memories started to resurface.
Slace looked at Iml, who couldn't go and who seemed worried but brave nonetheless.
"What's wrong?" Slace asked.
"This place doesn't have the ancient dragon movement, so I could be hunted." Iml explained.
Slace sighed, another waste of time and effort.
He found a secluded spot nobody would see, pressing his hands against the ground.
A large shadow started to form as Slace started to sweat; it was a huge waste of energy.
After a while a shadow the size of the dragon was made. Slace got up, wiping the sweat off his forehead and pointing at it.
"You can use this; it's the shade world. You should know of it; you'll be able to hide there until we leave the nature kingdom.
Iml nodded, looking intrigued, before walking over to it.
"Of course, one of the Kurai's specialties! Ignis told me about it."
With that, Iml left through the shadow, thanking Slace as it disappeared behind him.
Slace then began to walk toward the open gate with Kisei.
"Why are you taking so long, idiot?" Slace said, snapping her back to reality as she saw that the gate was already down.
"It's nothing." Vira said in response, following behind Slace and Kisei.
Slace stayed near the gate once they got inside, talking to the knights.
"You're the Naturians, right? Could you tell me where the nearest bank is? I'd rather not waste time."
The knights or Naturians nodded, pointing towards a huge tree. "You'll find it burrowed in that tree there; we are very diverse, so you'll get a fair deal."
Slace simply nodded; yes, they were diverse. I mean, one of the Naturians was a beastfolk.
Slace walked forward, catching up to the group before making a decision.
"I have to go to the bank, so let's separate," Slace ordered, but he just found the two annoying.
They nodded as they all left their separate ways.
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Slace was walking towards the bank to exchange money; as he did, he passed many faces: beastfolk, people from the fire kingdom, the knight kingdom, and even the ice kingdom.
This place got even more diverse compared to the last time he was here, although he still knew the native species of the nature kingdom.
He looked up at the castle, a whole building encompassed in a tree; it was like the tree had made it.
"The elves..."
Slace looked around; they have kept the old architecture, huts, and tree houses. like a tree tribe of sorts.
Then a familiar voice rang out as someone ran at Slace. "Is that you, Slace?!"
Slace got ready to fight, stopping as he noticed who it was; it was Herald.
Slace then noticed a person behind Herald as he got his blade ready, recognizing him.
"Valerius…"
Herald broke up the conflict by getting in the middle of us. "You two seem to have a bad history, and I dislike this guy too."
Looking back, Valerius had knocked out Herald in the knight kingdom.
Then Herald patted Valerius on the back with a smile. "But we made up, and we're all good now."
Valerius adverted his gaze awkwardly before giving a humble apology.
"Yes, I still feel terrible for that. Sorry for earlier too, Slace; I hadn't expected to see you here."
"Slace, who's that?" Herald asked.
Valerius pointed at the now irritated Slace.
"It's him, of course. Did you forget his name?"
Herald looked at Slace, then back at Valerius, then back at Slace before getting an annoyed look.
"What in the endland's, man?! I thought we were friends; why'd you lie about your name?"
"Thanks a lot, asshole." Slace said, looking at Valerius.
"You're quite welcome," Valerius said, bowing.
Slace let go of his sword, sighing as he looked at the two. What a weird duo, and an enemy being so nice to him—he couldn't understand it.
"So how'd you two even meet each other?" Slace had to ask; after all, this was very unexpected.
Before Herald could explain, Valerius began to speak, holding himself up much like a respected royal.
"I came here in search of a vacation, yet I ended up harried at the river while fishing."
Herald looked annoyed. "Learn to not interrupt others, prodigy knight."
Valerius looked back at Herald, nodding apologetically and bowing. "Yes, I'm terribly sorry; I'll set a reminder for myself next time."
Herald and both Slace sighed; this guy was too humble, but he was so used to royal life that he acted as a royal; it was annoying to say the least.
Herald spoke up, walking in front and taking out his fishing rod from earlier.
"Well anyways, would you like to continue fishing, Valerius?"
Valerius nodded as he turned to Slace. "Would you perhaps like to join us?"
Slace looked irritated; he was immediately going to say no, but he no longer had any rations, and he wouldn't mind eating some fish.
He started to salivate thinking about it before putting his arm around his mouth, embarrassed. "Sure... I'd be an idiot to deny a free meal."
But to Valerius and Herald it sounded more like a threat with how bitter Slace was; either way, they let him follow along.
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They arrived at the river in the kingdom; it was a pretty big river and flowed with life, but there was a reason.
Herald grabbed a free fishing rod and passed it to Slace, who took it.
"It's hunting season because of overpopulation; it always happens during this hot of a season." Herald explained as he gave a confident smile.
He put the bucket of bait down and another for the fish before yanking his rod into the sea, waiting for fish, and sitting down.
"That's why a hunter's job is so important, ya see." He continued switching topics. "Don't worry, we can share bait."
Valerius and Slace nodded, putting the bait onto their hooks and thrusting their rods into the river, waiting.
Herald caught on, ready and away instantly, getting up and pulling back, looking like he was having a tough time, and despite that, he still smiled.
"This is a big one, alright! Can't let it escape!"
Herald pulled back, fighting against the fish; he looked determined as his foot dragged on the ground, the fish pulling back.
"I'M NOT LETTING GO!" Herald yelled at the top of his lungs, finally pulling the huge fish out.
He picked it up, putting it in the bucket with a gleeful look.
"This is gonna be tasty when I cook it."
Valerius clapped at the display, applauding Herald, although he didn't expect Herald to yell at the top of his lungs.
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A few moments passed, and Herald and Valerius had been catching bait after bait.
Well, Slace, who was still standing there with his rod in the water, caught nothing, although it didn't really bother him that much.
He murmured to himself, watching all the other fishers catch fish, "It makes sense; I'm tainted with Endland's aura after all; animals wouldn't like to approach me, and if they do, it's with aggression."
There were a few exceptions like messenger birds, but that was about it.
Slace sighed in slight defeat; there was no way he would ever catch a fish, but then his rod caught something.
He looked surprised as he pulled it out, the thing landing in his hand.
Slace looked at it, disappointment forming on his face. "A boot?"
He threw it to the ground. irritated.
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Vira was walking through the nature kingdom, face downcast, rage building, her past resurfacing to the top.
Those experiments, her being a clone—she hated it; her emotions were starting to come out.
That's when she noticed something, a crowd, and as she walked towards it, she looked upward, seeing the man she hated.
Yoltzin.
He was talking to the crowd as he usually did; he always talked to them every day.
"Hello, my people. I suppose you're doing fabulously today. With my command we have dealt with the incident the other day, so do not worry. With me as your king, you'll always be safe."
The crowd cheered on; they loved Yoltzin. He was an elf, handsome, strong, charming, and soothing, a great leader, and a kind soul... but it was all a persona, and Vira knew that when she looked up at Yoltzin with pure hatred.
Then something unexpected happened. Yoltzin jerked his head, his long green hair flowing with him, and he was looking straight at Vira; he just gave her a small warm smile.
Vira's eyes changed from rage to fear as her body trembled; the group of people then scattered as she used the moment to run away, heading to a secluded area around trees.
But she saw too late; she heard the footsteps as she stopped in her tracks, standing still, so terrified she couldn't even sweat. She was frozen.
Yoltzin then spoke, his voice still as soothing as ever. Vira could sense that calm smile on his face; it creeped her out.
"So you have come back to me, my precious child; let us go. I have much to show you."