This funny-looking grandpa held a powerful authority in this small village, he exuded a powerful Aura of Life and Nature similar to Austucia, and he seemed clearly angered that she invited many Players here.
It seems that not even the Players that choose the Druid Class are invited here… So they can only develop with the most surface level stuff, never fully aware of the true wonders right below their noses.
"As one of the three patriarchs, I cannot allow you to simply bring outsiders to our sacred lands, even less Players! They are forbidden from entering the Fey Wilds!"
[NPC Name]: [Augustus Woodenhold Hunter]
[Gender]: [Male]
[Title]: [The Father Of Forest Beasts]
[Guild]: [Verdant Green Society]
[Guild Alliance]: [Verdant Green Society]
[Race]: [Human (Old)]
[Job Class]: [Spiritual Father Of Forest Animals]
[Level]: [336/350]
I checked whatever I could see of his Status, and he ended looking stronger than Austucia by a few levels! Apparently he even completed his first trial!
It makes sense now that there are opossums living on his beard, and also many bugs crawling all over his body while he seems unfazed. In fact, now that I realize, he's bald and the black hair on his head is a big black rat!
"Lady Verdant herself invited them, Augustus, you can't stop them, or she will punish you for your insolence." Austucia said confidently. "Move aside please."
"T-That's… Is that true, Lady Verdant?" Augustus glanced at the gigantic tree behind him.
Suddenly, the tree glowed brightly, a single flower blossomed from within it, as a tiny green colored fairy flew down towards us.
"Guests are here! Come inside the tree! Mama is waiting you inside!"
She ignored the old man, as the tiny fairy begged us to enter the gigantic tree from a small crevice on the bottom of it.
"Wait, what?!"
Augustus was clearly shocked, but he simply couldn't refute a newborn fairy. The druids here were all invited and had to act politely to the true inhabitants of this Realm, the fey.
"That's right! Don't be grumpy, mister Augustus! Let them in, or mama will get angry!"
The little fairy reprimanded the old man, as he grabbed the rat on his head and started caressing it. The fat rat did not mind this, happily being caressed.
"I-Is that… so?"
"Well, can we go in then? Stop bothering us."
Austucia then stepped forwards, the rest of the Druids were in shock at what they heard from the little fairy.
"B-But why would she invite… Players here?" Augustus was doubting his own beliefs now. "This makes no sense… Why, Mother of Nature?"
"If you do not trust mother, then you might as well not walk within these lands anymore, grandpa!" the fairy said mischievously.
"Eep! N-No, I didn't mean it that way! I trust her judgement!" The old man cried, begging for forgiveness. "I'm sorry… You may pass then, I… I apologize for my rudeness."
The wooden walls he had erected without us realizing quickly disappeared, as we were able to step into the giant temple, which led to a huge crevice in the tree.
"But I shall see to the end of this! I am still not sure, perhaps you are trying to deceive our innocent lady."
Augustus reluctantly began following us from behind, although we didn't really mind.
Once we entered the temple, we noticed over ten armed druids protecting the crevice, there was a huge barrier made out of the forces of Nature and Spirits as well.
"Open the Gate to the Verdant Green's Heart, our mother has invited these… guests."
"Players?!"
"Is this true?!"
"Wait, no, that can't be true!"
The Druids all pointed their weapons at us, made of wood or elements they wielded with ease… They were all between Level 200 to Level 280… very strong.
"Let them in!"
The green fairy quickly flew in front of them, the Druids stepped back before her tiny presence…
"Mother said to let them IN, so do that!"
"B-But little fey, this is…"
"DO it! Don't make her angry now! These are very important guests!"
"…"
"…"
"…"
All the druids glanced at one another, and then back in Augusts and Austucia, both nodded… Reluctantly, they opened the colorful gate of magic, as we stepped inside the tree.
In there, we saw thousands of spirits walking from one place to another, there was a whole village no druid was allowed to enter in here, made exclusively of Spirits!
And they were not just lesser spirits, there were big ones, Advanced and High Spirits mostly, of all shapes and sizes.
Some resembled animals, others had amorphous forms, a few were human-like… A lot of them were winged, like fairies.
"Welcome to the Inner Heart Village, where mother nourishes all of her children." The fairy spoke. "I was born just recently, but she gave me all this knowledge to guide you well!"
"I-I see, this place… It only become smore wondrous with each step." I said in awe.
"It sure is…" Mark nodded.
"Wooow…" Acorn glanced around.
"So many Spirits…!" Brisingra said.
"There are even Darkness and Moonlight Spirits?" Rita found herself swarmed by many of them.
In fact, all of us were swarmed by Spirits, they were amused by our affinities, and wanted to create pacts with us right away!
"Wait… T-This is, how could they want to make a pact with you so easily when it took us Druids YEARS of effort to get their trust?!" Augusts was left speechless.
"Augustus, will you finally understand?" Austucia sighed. "These children are special, they're not like us… They have been chosen."
"But why them and not us?" Augustus sighed, feeling rather jealous.
"Jealously is a bad feeling to have for a druid as old and experienced as you." Austucia laughed. "We are old and worn out, they are young and vibrant, that should be enough to say they're special- Look, even non-players have been chosen as well!"
There were Spirits surrounding our NPC friends, and even Johanna…
"I've never been in this place before, I don't know what to do…!" Johanna was panicking.
"Hahah, calm down! It's fine! Let's go up!"
Suddenly, the little fairy generated a powerful gust of winds, lifting us up from the ground and into the skies, above the summit of the gigantic tree. She completely ignored the other spirits trying to make contracts with us…
FLUOOOSH!
And in a flash, we landed on the highest chamber, a throne made of wood and leaves, where someone sat down.
She held a beautiful and motherly smile.
"Welcome to my Domain, the Fey Wilds, my dear children."
She had no specific appearance, other than that of a motherly silhouette, made of green and golden spiritual essence, long air as green as all the plants of this world, eyes shining with golden light, piercing our souls.
The moment she spoke, she spoke into our very minds, her presence seeping into every pore of our bodies, it felt like she caressed our souls with her voice, making them stronger.
The presence she exuded was not one of intimidation, but one of endless love and care, it felt like she was the true goddess of life and nature in this world…
"Lady Verdant…!"
Augustus, Austucia, and Johanna quickly kneeled before her divine presence.
