As the chieftains were being led towards the building that Lucius was waiting for them in, they walked past the training grounds where the kid shrooms were currently training. Right now they were attempting to lift pebbles, most of them being too weak to even get it off the ground.
"They would have the children perform such feats of strength? I was not aware that the Lighted One led a warrior unit," one of the chieftains whispered, as he himself wondered whether he would've been able to lift some of those pebbles without the shri'killian's blessing.
Just as they were about to leave, one of the kids managed to get a pebble off the ground ever so slightly. This one was a little plump for its size, something about it was definitely abnormal.
"It's the Radiant Tree," another chieftain whispered as if answering the unspoken question that filled everyone's mind.
The group then proceeded deeper into the main camp, with every step they moved closer toward the Radiant Tree, and they could feel their fatigue slowly being alleviated.
"Will we be visiting the Radiant Tree?" one of the chieftains asked their guide.
"Those from the external camp are prohibited from going near the Lighted One's tree," the kid shroom replied. Of course, this was a lie, it just felt that it would not be smart for Pagan to find them anywhere near that area. After all, Pagan treated the thing almost as highly as he treated the Lighted One.
As they walked past the many structures within the internal camp, a single thought plagued the chieftains' minds. ~Can I join the Lighted One's warrior unit?~
The chieftains were well aware that the Lighted One did not trust them very much, otherwise, why would he have their people live on the outskirts, and even the chieftains live a distance away from the main camp?
Though the reason for this mistrust was something they could not understand. Thoughts such as; 'He could just kill us in an instant if he wanted to.' or 'Does he really see us as a threat? We who are creatures fundamentally beneath him?'
They had come to the conclusion that the Lighted One saw them as tainted. And perhaps he had only taken the children in because they could be saved somehow.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to request that I officially join his warrior unit. If I can work directly under him, the-"
"Oi, oi. What's this about 'I'? We thought that it was a given that we would ask for that. Are you trying to get ahead of us?" another chieftain asked, staring daggers at the first.
The group then broke out into a bit of a squabble, however, a moment later the child shroom who had been leading them stopped.
"Prostate yourselves, we are about to be in the presence of the Lighted One and his Supreme Servants," the kid shroom announced, before gesturing for the chieftains to wait outside.
"Lighted One, the chieftains await your word, shall I allow them entrance?" the kid shroom asked. Of course, the chieftains understood why it was doing all this. It was common courtesy to ask to be in the presence of the Lighted One. At least according to Pagan.
"Ah yes, let them in," the Lighted One replied. The chieftains shivered for a moment, before walking in.
The Supreme Servants were currently sitting on odd objects that looked somewhat comfortable. The shrooms had no concept of royalty, but sitting around the round table, Hannibal and Alpha seemed like lords.
~For them to be so composed in the presence of absolute power. These Supreme Servants truly are in a league of their own,~ one of the chieftains thought before turning to look at the chosen one.
Although they had seen him many times, they could never get over the way he looked. It was as if he were built for battle.
His claws and teeth were sharper than that of any creatures they had ever met. His tail which was currently waving in the air, like a snake searching for prey, was larger than even he was, making him look twice the size he should've.
And even as he spoke to his Supreme Servants, he spoke with complete confidence in himself. There was a time they had thought that if all the Supreme Servants banded together, they could kill him, but it was established that even they do not know of his complete strength.
*
"Have you guys been well?" Lucius asked, after all, it had been a while since he saw them. For a moment the chieftains were quiet, though they moved their hands as if they were talking.
~Have they forgotten how to speak?~ Lucius wondered, watching as the chieftains moved their mouths.
"Did something happen to them?" he asked, looking towards the kid shroom.
"The Lighted One has asked you a question, why do you take so long to answer?" the kid shroom asked, and the chieftains realized their mistake.
A look of dread filled their faces, they had been so deep in thought that they forgot that the Lighted One did not read minds.
"I understand, you guys must be tired," Lucius quickly interjected before they could plea for merciful deaths.
"Look, I'll be taking you guys along on a little mission. You'll be helping Hannibal and Alpha build a few structures," he explained vaguely.
"Do we have any mushrooms in storage?" he asked after. Since they were planning on making this little camp dispensable, there was no point in using stronger materials.
"F-Forgive us Lighted One. We used all the mushrooms to create the structures that the Lighted One's second hand had requested us to build," one of the chieftains replied.
"Second hand? You mean Pagan?" Alpha asked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.
"T-That is correct, your Supremeness," the chieftain replied.
"Supremeness?" Alpha whispered to himself. To him, it was like they were making these honourary names up as they went.
"So that means we'll have to take a little detour to the clan lands," Lucius sighed.
