Chapter 57: The Screaming Forest

Having finished packing, Joan realized she still had half an hour of leisure, so she took Conti to the wooden cabin in the woods to bid farewell to Jamie and Gray. The mixed-blood winter wolf and the gray pouch beast had grown deeply attached to Conti during their days together, and knowing that her departure might be a final one, both Jamie and Gray were saddened. Seeing their reluctance, Conti’s nose tingled with emotion, and she repeatedly promised to return and visit them someday.

After saying goodbye to the sorrowful Jamie and Gray, Joan and Conti returned to the clearing in the woods. By this time, Kalinin’s spellcasting ritual was nearing its end. The yellow agate, which conducted the power of nature, had completely merged into the heart of the black oak, acting much like a beating heart.

Kalinin intoned the final words of his prayer, and the scroll in his hands turned to ashes, marking the completion of the spell.

“Awaken, creature born of Mother Nature!” he called.

At Kalinin’s summons, the black oak trembled thunderously, undergoing a transformation from top to bottom. First, its two thickest branches morphed into arm-like limbs, their bark rough as skin, and the leaves at the ends braided themselves into wide hands. Next, the roots broke through the earth, twisting together to form sturdy legs and feet large enough to support its towering body, while the lush crown billowed like wind-blown hair. The final change came as a human-like face appeared at the center of the trunk, watching those before it with curiosity and caution.

Joan and Conti stood with Conti’s parents at the feet of this half-tree, half-man giant, all silent, though their expressions differed. Joan’s face was filled with astonishment, awed by the miracle she had witnessed. Kalinin, who had awakened the tree with his spell, smiled and greeted the treant in an ancient, mysterious tongue.

The black oak treant slowly lowered its crown and bowed deeply to the druid who had granted it wisdom.

“Thank you for giving me new life, esteemed master. How may I serve you?” it asked.

“Come with me, child of nature. Let us return to our shared home. In the depths of the forest, you will find many kindred spirits,” Kalinin replied.

“As you wish, my master,” said the treant.

With long strides, the treant followed Kalinin down the mountain. Though it moved with the grace of a heron and seemed slow, each step covered the distance of dozens taken by an ordinary person, its speed rivaling a galloping horse.

“Mira, it’s time for us to set out too!” Conti called, tugging the little tree sprite along to catch up with the treant.

The treant seemed to sense its symbiotic tree sprite lagging behind. It paused, bent low, and gently scooped Conti and Mira up in its rough, branch-woven hands.

“And Joan too!” Conti shouted.

Obediently, the treant freed a hand, picking up Joan without protest and placing him among the branches on its shoulder.

Joan quickly wrapped his arms around a thick branch to steady himself on the swaying treant. Conti, nimble as a monkey, climbed up beside him, her face flushed with excitement.

“Joan, Joan! This is so much fun!” she exclaimed.

“Yes,” Joan replied.

“Oh! The big tree still doesn’t have a name. How about we call it ‘Little Black’ from now on?” Conti suggested.

“A name would be convenient, but why ‘Little Black’?” Joan wondered.

“Because it was originally a black oak!” Conti said, and, sensing her reason wasn’t strong enough, added, “And it pairs nicely with our family’s Old White! When Old White meets Little Black, he’ll be so happy he won’t be able to stop smiling.”

“Who’s Old White?” Joan asked, puzzled.

“Well… You’ll find out when you reach Powhatan Village and meet Old White yourself!” Conti replied, winking mischievously.

...

Joan bid farewell to his grandfather and departed Delin Town with Conti’s family, joining the forty Asa hunter-riders waiting outside the settlement. The Algonquin tribe’s settlement lay two hundred miles west of Delin Town, and the group followed the Delin River westward. The first fifty miles were manageable, but after that, they plunged into dense forest, the path growing treacherous, and at times, no path existed at all. They were forced to dismount, hacking through brambles to forge their own passage. According to Conti’s family’s experience, barring unexpected encounters with beasts, bandits, or getting lost, the journey would take at least five days to reach Powhatan Village, even under ideal conditions.

The first fifty miles from Delin Town to the jungle’s edge were frequented by travelers and patrolled by the town’s guard, ensuring safety. The valley near Powhatan Village was within Asa territory and relatively secure. The most perilous stretch was the hundred-mile section in between, where the bulk of the journey crossed the “Screaming Forest.”

The “Screaming Forest” was part of the great Alf Jungle, its narrow band of conifers stretching northwest to the banks of the Iffin River and southeast to the Lizard Swamp. Its name came from the goblin tribe known as the “Screaming Clan” that infested the area. Goblins, bear goblins, and earth goblins—many infamous, evil creatures—were rampant here. Conti’s parents estimated the “Screaming Clan”’s population at over thirty thousand, mostly ordinary goblins with formidable reproductive abilities, and at least ten thousand bear and earth goblins combined. Even more troubling was the goblin population’s rapid growth. If this trend continued, it was only a matter of time before they burst out of the forest, expanding their territory into human settlements. When that happened, Powhatan Village and Delin Town would inevitably suffer.

“If the goblin clan is such a threat, why not eliminate them before they grow stronger?” Joan asked, perplexed.

“In fact, we planned to wipe out the ‘Screaming Clan’ ten years ago,” Matoka explained. “But once we made our move, we realized their strength far exceeded our expectations. Their leader, Letu, known as the ‘Tyrannosaur Conqueror,’ is an earth goblin warlord and a high-ranking black guard of the goblin god Maglubiyet. Not only is he personally formidable, but he possesses rare leadership and strategic vision for a goblin. Our Algonquin warriors have clashed with Letu’s legions many times. Though we’ve won more often than lost, we’ve never managed to defeat them completely, and our own casualties have been heavy.”

Matoka sighed and continued, “Human reproduction can’t match that of goblins. If Letu loses a unit, he can replenish his forces within two years, but we can’t raise a new generation of warriors in such a short time. This war of attrition favors Letu in the end. Moreover, the earth goblin lord is not just a military commander—he’s a skilled diplomat. From our latest intelligence, Letu is negotiating with the lizardfolk tribes in the southern swamps, seeking an alliance. If goblins and lizardfolk truly join forces, it will be disastrous for humans living near the jungle and swamp.”

Joan listened to Matoka, feeling as if a heavy stone weighed upon his heart. He had clashed with the lizardfolk tribe before, teaming with Gray to slay two lizardfolk shamans. If the lizardfolk received goblin support, would they attack his hometown, Delin Town, in revenge?