"The great orc warrior Alyon, grandfather of the Supreme Lord of the Orc Steppes; someone looking at your titles would mistake you for a man!"
"Gather your underwear and trousers; we have almost arrived!"
After his last move, the hulking orc, provoked by humans, had continued walking as if nothing happened; while planning to cross the remaining distance like this, his friend's voice would ring in his ears.
"They were asking for it; what should I have done, congratulated them?"
"Okay, cut the crap; look, there are people waiting inside the shield to welcome us."
Nafız was right; after realizing there were people coming from outside, activity had started among the druids; especially those who had sent their acquaintances outside the shield for help were waiting in great excitement.
"Rigasamos, you have returned, my son!"
The old man with snow-white skin, who appeared to be wearing a robe made of wide leaves, had shouted excitedly; while walking toward the green-haired druid, his gaze would embrace him before he did.
"I returned, father!"
The Fourth Root Yinhorn wasn't surprised at all when he saw the two orcs behind his son; after giving a small head nod, he hugged the green-haired druid longingly.
"Orcs have come; help has arrived!"
"Orcs have come!"
These two words had started spreading in waves; the Druid Settlement, whose area didn't look very large, felt more alive than ever in these moments.
"Fourth Root, would you accompany our guests to the council?"
Amidst all the commotion, a voice would suppress all existing noise; it had a timbre that almost filled one's insides with awe.
"Esteemed guests, please follow me!"
While signaling his son to go and rest with his hand, the Fourth Root Yinhorn had started walking to lead the duo from the other side.
The duo, who didn't get the chance to examine their surroundings due to the events while passing through the tunnel formed by the shield and the welcome at the entrance, was currently scrutinizing the environment with curious eyes.
While the siege continued, the outside of the settlement had turned into barren lands; in contrast, a riot of color and harmony was experienced inside the shield. While grass grown up to the knee hid red and purple flowers among them, druids were meditating in the shadows created by the trees lined up in rows.
"Please, this way!"
When the white-haired Yinhorn came in front of a large tree, he stepped aside and left the way to the duo coming behind him; an opening wide enough for two people to fit caught the eye on the thick trunk rising by intertwining like a braid.
The orcs involuntarily started examining the majestic tree rising before them; while starting from its wide trunk and going up, Nafız's eyes got caught on the leaves swinging from the branches as if they were about to fall any moment.
How similar these were to the leaves forming the robe of the old druid walking in front of them.
"The Council is waiting for you inside!"
Thinking his guests fell into hesitation, the Fourth Root Yinhorn would repeat his call.
Coming to their senses, the duo entered through the opening in the tree's trunk without thinking further; they were walking slowly, unaware that they would encounter a scene they never expected a little later.
The inside was very wide; although no light appeared to enter from anywhere, the place was as bright as noon. Even though they couldn't see the area the tree covered before entering, having such a wide floor would surprise the two orcs.
"We greet the first orcs setting foot in our settlement after a hundred years with respect!"
There were four druids opposite Nafız and Alyon; with their snow-white skins and clothes similar to the robe on Yinhorn, they had bowed their heads toward them with their hands on their hearts.
Meanwhile, the old man accompanying them also moved next to these people and gave his greeting silently; at the same time, an indescribable feeling had started to wrap Nafız's body.
There hadn't been a time period in either of her lives where she felt this peaceful; if she didn't have a purpose she couldn't give up on, she might have wanted to be trapped in the moment forever.
"My name is Nafız, and the person you see next to me is Alyon. We were sent to your lands by the Supreme Lord of the Orc Steppes, Khan!"
"Our aim is to protect you as it has been since time immemorial and to make the Wild Swamp the home of druids again!"
The druids with bowed heads would suddenly turn their eyes onto the speaking female orc; while living through long days of torment, these words had come like a drop of rain falling on cracked earth from thirst.
"Noble Lord Nafız, the words you uttered caused our hearts to fill with love!"
Among the druids, a middle-aged woman with silver glimmers falling on her yellow hair was speaking with a sigh; the smile she placed on her face without caring about her eyes slightly tearing up was of the kind that those who saw it would fall in love with.
"This is just a task given to me, but I also have some personal reasons for being here!"
The female orc, scanning the people opposite her one by one, addressed them by raising her voice a bit.
"Please tell us; we are ready to do whatever we can!"
"Since you are so eager, there is no need to prolong the subject; what I want is the Essence of The Divine Tree!"
Although a not-so-short time passed over the last sentence, the druids hadn't broken their silence; they looked as if they were trying to comprehend the most ridiculous thing they had heard in their lives.
"No way!"
"Impossible!"
"Out of the question!"
After a while, words of total refusal started coming out of their mouths; their loving gazes had changed, and they had started seeing the orcs like two thieves who came to steal their most valuable possession.
"I will make you an offer; you will have only one right to answer. Don't answer without thinking it over thoroughly!"
Taking a long breath, Nafız would start speaking distinctly as if afraid of not being understood.
"Currently, the Orc Lord has sealed his motherland with his unique ability; he will apply the same process within the Wild Swamp using elixirs made from his own blood!"
"When this happens, you will no longer need any shield; when that time comes, I want you to give me the Essence of The Divine Tree!"
Nafız had spoken openly; after talking with the mysterious man who visited their tents during their seclusion, the plan they decided on was exactly like this.
"This is a very difficult decision, but we need to learn why you want this sacred object that is our protector!"
Druids were not calculating people either; whatever was in their minds was exactly the same as what came out of their mouths.
The female orc wouldn't find the person asking her the question strange; surely an explanation was needed when asking for such an important thing.
"To save someone who sacrificed his life because of me!"
The answer had come from a place the druids never expected; they were aware of why their continent was invaded. The Essence of The Divine Tree was making the mouths of all four civilizations water; the Hell Realm and the Lands of Light were after this unique object to strengthen their magical techniques, the Mercenaries for profit, and the Machine Lords to use in their scientific studies.
After many long years, an orc stood before them and said she wanted the thing the whole world desired to save someone's life; without losing time, the druids would come together and start discussing this matter.
Nafız had learned many things from Green along the way; she knew that those who would decide were the people known as the Five Roots and forming the Druid Council.
According to the normal timeline, an hour had passed, but the Roots wearing robes made of the leaves of the tree they were in hadn't been able to reach a decision.
While Alyon started grumbling slowly, Nafız stood in a corner without making a sound; while waiting for the answer to be given to her, she hadn't shown a sign that would reveal what was going on inside her head.
"Friend orc warriors, the Council has made its decision!"
When the Five Roots lined up again, one person among them who had never spoken before calmly started speaking.