"So. You two gonna talk, or are we doing the awkward staring thing?"
The tree-man visibly relaxed, like he'd just avoided getting turned into firewood.
But instead of answering right away, he looked around—visibly nervous, his wooden body creaking.
"…We must not remain here," he said quickly.
"The death of a Dōshi… and the Sōshins… that much Tao dispersing at once… Lord Tensen will surely feel it."
"?"
Seeing that Noctis was oblivious, he added. "When a Dōshi falls, the Tao shifts far more drastically than other life forms. Lord Tensen is most sensitive to such disturbances. It is… not something that goes unnoticed."
The hooded girl stayed quiet, eyes darting around the forest.
"More will come," the tree-man continued. "Another Dōshi. Perhaps even something worse. It is only a matter of time."
"…Great."
The tree-man politely stretched his arm out and offered.
"If you would permit it, please follow us. We have a village hidden in the trees. We can continue there. I shall answer what questions I am able."
Noctis stared at him for a few seconds and nodded.
Then—
A blade of light materialized in his hand as he pointed it at the two of them.
The tree-man stiffened instantly.
The girl froze as she clutched her hood tightly.
Noctis waved the sword slightly.
"How do I know you're not the backup? From the moment I got onto the island till now, I've only seen freaks and not a single human being."
"Though the girl might be a human being, there's a chance she is a monster in disguise and you're bringing me back to turn me into fertilizer."
He then repeated the question: "How do I know you're not the back up?"
Silence.
The forest felt heavier all of a sudden.
The tree-man lowered his head slightly.
"…You do not," he admitted.
He stepped just a bit in front of the girl, wooden shoulders straightening in acceptance as he resigned themselves to their fate.
"If you deem us enemies… then we shall accept it."
The girl's fingers tightened around her sleeve seemingly powerless but she didn't speak.
The tree-man's voice softened.
"I only regret… that the child would fall as well."
Noctis stared at them, frowning as he scrutinized them.
The light blade hummed faintly in his grip.
A long moment passed.
"…You guys aren't playing by the book," he muttered.
The sword dissolved into particles.
The tree-man blinked in surprise.
"If you were backup," Noctis continued casually, "you would've jumped me while I was busy with bug-face over there."
He gestured with his thumb behind him.
"But you didn't."
The tension eased.
Noctis shoved his hands down into his waistband.
"Fine. I'll follow you."
The tree-man bowed slightly. "You have our gratitude."
"But," Noctis added, glancing at him sideways, "if this turns into some ambush situation, I'm gonna indiscriminately destroy everything in sight."
"…That would be most unfortunate," the tree-man replied seriously.
"This way."
The tree-man turned.
Noctis then noticed the young girl looking up at him, confused before she followed after the bonsai.
"…Alright," he sighed. "Lead on."
As they started walking deeper into the forest, he muttered under his breath—
"I swear, if this is a cult village, I'm leaving."
They then walked for a good while stealthily maneuvering through groups of Sōshins as they traveled.
The forest slowly started to thin out, and instead of just random trees, things began to look… structured.
Noctis slowed his steps.
Ahead of him was a clearing with old—broken houses.
Collapsed roofs. Crooked walls. Doors hanging off hinges.
And scattered around them were a couple figures sitting still like statues.
Except they weren't statues.
They were trees.
Humanoid trees—like the one guiding noctis.
A few had bark faces with closed eyes, like they were asleep.
Noctis looked around slowly.
Then looked back at the forest behind them.
Then back at the "village."
"…So it's really a village of trees," he said flatly.
He gestured vaguely.
"Isn't that just called… a forest?"
The tree-man gave a small, tired nod.
"…Your confusion is understandable."
Noctis pointed at one of the houses.
"And what's the point of houses anyway? You guys are literally just wood. Just stand in the rain or something."
The tree-man paused.
"…We were not always like this."
Noctis' expression shifted slightly.
They kept walking deeper into the settlement.
Up close, the tree-people looked less like trees and more like people who had slowly turned into them.
Their forms were humanoid.
Some even had faint facial features in the bark.
It's too damn off putting.
"We were once human in appearance," the tree-man explained. "We are a race called Hōko. Attendants of this island."
"You were human-looking?" Noctis asked.
"Yes."
"And now you're this."
"…Yes."
"How come?"
"Arborification."
"That sounds made up."
"It is a process tied to Tao," he continued calmly. "Our flesh slowly transformed. Skin hardened. Blood thickened. Limbs rooted. It's a gradual process."
"…And you couldn't stop it?"
The tree-man shook his head slightly.
"It was not a choice."
Noctis went quiet for a second as he rubbed his chin.
"…That's rough."
They stopped in front of one of the sturdier houses.
"This was once my home," the tree-man said.
Noctis looked at the brick walls.
Then at the fellow
"…Right."
They went inside.
It was simple. Old furniture. A dusty table with a couple pots. A couple chairs that looked like they might collapse if you breathed on them wrong.
The little girl pulled her hood down and sat down quietly beside the tree, giving noctis a better look at the little cutie.
Pink hair braided in buns and under the hood, she had worn a red long sleeve robe and a skirt.
Her cute mannerisms made Noctis want to adopt the little thing.
Noctis leaned against the wall instead of sitting.
"Alright," he said, crossing his arms. "Let's start over, shall we?."
The tree-man gave a small bow.
"My name is Hoko."
Noctis squinted.
"That your name or your race?"
"…Both."
"…Convenient."
He pointed a thumb at himself.
"Noctis Ashen."
Hōko nodded at him and pointed towards the girl.
"Mei."
He gave her a small nod, receiving a small wave from her
"Cool. Nice to officially meet the first two people here who didn't try to murder me."
He pushed off the wall slightly.
"Now let's start simple."
He looked at Hoko.
"What is this place really?"
"And who exactly is this Lord Tensen that the grasshopper guy keeps spouting about?"
Hōko took a deep photosynthesis before he began,
"This island is Kotaku…"
Meanwhile…
Deep within the inner sanctuary of Kotaku, where the Tao gathered thick as mist and the flowers never dared to wilt, the Lord Tensens were already aware.
They had felt a faint ripple of Tao pass through the island, like a droplet in a bucket of water.
Faint to the untrained, but loud to the sensitive.
Now they all sat quietly around a circular stone table wearing relaxed expressions except one—
The one seated at the head of the pale stone platform, posture straight, radiating the air of a leader, was the first to speak.
Her expression was calm but faint displeasure could be seen.
"I'm sure all of you are aware of why we're gathered at this table," she began.
"…It seems a Dōshi has perished.."
Chapter 5 end.