The Dryad race, also known as the "Daughters of the Forest," is a rather peculiar race.
Simply put, they are not an indigenous race of this world, but rather a special race that mutated under the influence of magic or curses, much like werewolves.
In the Dryad Kingdom of Brokilon Forest, there exists a very magical forest and an incredibly powerful Dryad Queen who has lived for thousands of years.
It is the special spring water and magical rituals there that can transform human little girls into young Dryads.
The difference is this.
After transforming into werewolves, most werewolves lose their sanity; although their physiques are enhanced and they possess various special abilities, their intelligence is severely affected, making them bloodthirsty and violent, and thus shunned by the world.
However, after transforming into Dryads, they not only possess a longer lifespan than humans and are naturally able to use some nature-based magic, but they are also very adapted to living in forests and wilderness.
Although it seems fortunate, the Dryad race also has a flaw.
This race consists only of females; only female children are born, and magical rituals can only transform little girls. They must rely on mating with human males or Elf males to reproduce.
Therefore, a legend has always circulated around the forests where Dryads live.
It is said that Dryad enchantresses steal little girls from human villages, drug males who wander into the forest, and secretly bear their children.
While this is not entirely true and contains many slanders, it is also the reason Guilliman made such an abrupt request to the Dryad girl, despite it being their first meeting.
After all, this is the Dryad tradition.
Indeed, upon hearing the Witcher's suggestion, the Dryad girl, Ibor, did not feel angry, nor was she shy like a human maiden.
Instead, she tilted her head and carefully scrutinized the strong man in front of her again, much like a female animal examining a male in the animal kingdom.
After a few seconds, she shook her head with some regret, saying:
"You are indeed a very strong man, Witcher, stronger than any human I have ever seen."
"If this were in Brokilon Forest, you might be favored by many of my Dryad sisters."
"However, when I left Brokilon Forest, my sisters had not yet taught me how to have children."
"If you wish, I can introduce you to my sisters; they would probably be willing to have children with you."
Can't have children? And wants to introduce her sisters to me?
Hearing this rather explosive statement, Guilliman confirmed again that the Dryad girl in front of him was indeed a fresh, naive newcomer, likely without experience in that area, and worthy of good training.
Although he would be happy to be introduced to the Dryad girl's sisters, other Dryads probably knew about the Witcher's inability to reproduce and wouldn't be so easily fooled.
So, Guilliman chuckled, looking very generous and magnanimous, and placed his hand on Ibor's smooth, delicate shoulder, saying:
"It's alright, Ibor."
"I won't mind that you can't have children."
"When it comes to having children, I am an expert, with a lot of practical experience."
"You must have heard that having children isn't successful on the first try; it requires repeated practice."
"I will practice with you diligently."
The Dryad girl was a little bewildered by the Witcher's attitude, staring at him with wide, innocent eyes like a fawn.
However, she recalled seeing in the Dryad Kingdom that other Dryad sisters, disliking humans, would often knock human males unconscious before bringing them back to the forest.
Doing such things with an unconscious man indeed made it not so easy to conceive; some men would be held for several years, drugged many times, before being released.
The Dryad Queen sent these young Dryads out of the kingdom because she sensed that the current situation was turbulent and the world was undergoing great changes.
She hoped that these young Dryads would experience more of the outside world, encounter different things, and mature after traveling for a period.
Even surviving independently in the outer forests, spreading their roots, and establishing new Dryad tribes was an option.
Thinking of these things, although she instinctively felt something was a little off, Ibor still nodded, looking at the strong and handsome Witcher, and said:
"In that case, thank you."
"Guilliman, thank you for being willing to teach me."
At this point, Ibor suddenly thought of something.
She bit her lower lip lightly, somewhat guiltily avoiding Guilliman's eyes, and said:
"But, before leaving the Dryad forest, my sisters told me not to easily trust the words of human men outside; I must give them a certain test."
"Last year, I was attacked by the Pterodactyls on Pterodactyl Island to the northeast and suffered significant injuries. Fortunately, the Druid Elder took me in, which saved my life."
"To prove your bravery, you need to bring me back a Pterodactyl egg."
"If you do that, I will believe you."
Hearing the Dryad girl's somewhat hesitant trial mission, Guilliman didn't feel it was excessive at all; instead, he felt he had gained another great advantage.
Last time, the pair of Pterodactyls and three Pterodactyl eggs from Ammonite Village not only provided him with thousands of Oren as a reward but also a full four hundred Soul Power.
This time, he actually heard intelligence about Pterodactyl Island; wasn't that like a great treasure waiting for him to unearth?
The Witcher seemed to already see countless Soul Power, countless dragon eggs, and Pterodactyl materials waving at him.
Next, Guilliman stayed in this Druid Circle for a while longer. Besides admiring the rare and special scenery, he also took out the fine wine and food from his storage space, chatting and eating with the Dryad girl Ibor, fostering their relationship.
When the time was right, he took his weapons and set off for the logging camp that the old Druid Samoyeg had mentioned, intending to have a good talk with the loggers there.
He hoped they were a group of reasonable good people who would accept his friendly suggestions.
Otherwise, in this wilderness, no one could guarantee what might happen... After walking for about ten minutes, a somewhat sparse camp and campfire soon appeared before Guilliman.
In a large clearing where only tree stumps remained, a dozen loggers were busily felling surrounding trees with axes, crosscut saws, and handsaws.
When they saw the fully armed Witcher enter their camp, several of them immediately put down their tools, picked up weapons, and surrounded him.
Leading them was a Dwarf warrior wearing a horned helmet and heavy armor.
Although he wasn't tall, he was bulky, and with the rather intimidating heavy armor he wore, he looked like an iron block, quite imposing.
Looking at the approaching Witcher, the Dwarf heavy armored warrior planted his battle-axe in front of him and roared:
"Hey! Stop, who are you?"
"Why are you here?"
"Speak quickly, we don't welcome strangers here."