Eventually I stopped running.

The feeling of someone's gaze has made me slow down to a walking pace, not inviting hostility.

Or they might take this as a sign to be wary from my sudden action to slow down.

I didn't bother to look around, I could faintly feel it brushing past my attire due to how obviously thick it is.

The trees here have even gotten bigger as I move further to this forest, even if this growing and massive tree canopies has blocked out most if not all of the sun this, hum of influence has aided the forest below to the ground grow and giving light as they weave around cautiously around me.

With my own psychic might I instinctively cloud myself from these elements so they would only see me with their naked eyes. I doubt they are capable of seeing deeper of such feat but from lessons deeply ingrained to my warm corpse, I refuse to be open myself to this life's followers nor showing myself off of how truly capable I am.

It is as natural as a baby who cries the moment it has been birthed by its mother, I couldn't help it and I am not planning to letting it go as long this exists.

My path still stays true as I walk to this mystical land and minded my step till a steps of a curious fellow were heard in distance and only stopped my tracks when I was called by the closest among them.

"Uhh, hellu stranger!" I looked to the side of my left where I heard that voice from and saw a whitish yellow young bear with what seems to be a ridiculous hood that extends down to his chest that has been parted away by his furred big white furred belly, maybe a little more on the pudgy side than your average bear around here but maybe I'm wrong, and has a loin that has a same colors scheme on his waist

I know most animals would rather not wear anything at all due to how uncomfortable of them are so all of this are just for cosmetics for him but still that looks childish.

Even if most animals aren't as expressive with their face I can tell he seems nervous but excited as he stands behind a tree with nothing to arm himself with.

This isn't the animal that is watching over me though, wonder why he is alone, well its time to exchange his greeting with my own as I raise my hand.

"Hello" I said as I waved a little and let it down

His excitement is winning over his anxiety as he raises with his voice with light shining in his eyes

"You the Priest that's coming to visit to our sages right?" asked with a smile

He said what.

"Wh- what?" As I perked up to him. "No no no im- Well yes, I am coming to visit your home and ask with some questions but I'm just a warrior-monk from far away boy." I quickly said to him.

"How do you even-" My add up was cut off by this increasingly excited bear in front of me as he stray out of hiding the tree

"Whoaa a Warrior-priest? Thats cool! There was a lot of talk-" This is prophesy bullshit isn't it. "about you on my clan for a while now, the sages especially but they always talk quietly." he explained to me as he gets closer from the distance between us.

This kid is pretty reckless if he is gonna sneak away like this.

"So when someone told to Aunt Sana 'The Priest is coming here!' and 'notify the sages' because you were the talk of all the people there, I wanted to know who ya are so I snuck out to meet ya!" he flayed his arms out like he has to show everyone his greatest invention he have ever made in his lifetime.

...

"You're going to get in trouble like that because you snuck out, are you." It wasn't even a question, it was a statement.

"uuuuuhh" he turned away for a moment as his arms went slowly down to his back.

I can feel the exasperation and disbelief from whoever is watching me.

"Oops?" Damn this kid, imagine whoever helped raising this kid if he is this ballsy.

"Well then. since we met now, how about you walk with me to your home then while we talk then, you didn't do all work for nothing right?" I told him as I walk in advance past him, not giving him a choice.

And he followed suit "Huh uh yeah sure! So let me ask you first, whats your name?" The little bear in wonder asks.

Its going to be one of these days. "...Stultus, you?" I turned and looked at him.

He swelled in and pride as before he answered "Ghor!"

I looked ahead as I contemplated that name, the canopy of trees has started to part away but they still block the sun. "Ghor. An interesting name, so let me ask you this kid did someone did a prophesy that involved or something?"

The young bear's next words confirmed it, in fact it seems this Place called Armello is in a way expected of my presence coming here by those who knew their way of divination. No that's not right

They likely knew that I come here because of someone I talked to, someone's long dead turned to a spirit. That I knew the conversation we had was not private.

He was not a god and have a chance to do anything about it so its only me to blame.

And that meant the king knows what I want if he's not arrogant to rumors.

Even if my soul remains shrouded, the actions of what I am about to did and done still still lingers across the other realm, I hate it but I don't care if I make waves that much anymore.

As we pass by a flowing river and entertain Ghor's curiosity that I am sure that he is not paying attention to where the direction of his home while he explained in detail of how there clan reacted. Or only the ones in charge that reacted, frequent meetings and hushed whispers are the things I could make out of from his repeated talks.

This kid is incredibly gullible.

"They might have a good reason why they say in hushed whispers Ghor" I can hear someone's padded steps of the dirt and heavy breathing as they rush here and all alone on top of it.

I knew a calming walk and lighthearted talk with this winnie jr. Here has a catch to it when as turn off the triangular module from my eyes and ears the of specific ripples of sound from a living being disappeared, seeing with a clearer vision.

"Uh w-well pretty much everyone I know knew about it now, its been A good portion of the season you know!"

"Oh? And many people you know then?"

"... Few" Said in a sad tone as he slowed his pace, I slowed in return and turning while we walk to face him and saw his less than happy posture.

Incredibly sheltered and only surrounded by men higher than his age I assume? Who am I to say.

And before I say to forget it and move on the person that was rushing here has arrived with a female voice calling Ghor's name.

He snapped out of his stupor and let out a quick whimper "Uh oh"

Turning away from to meet the other animal that was rushing to get here we both to see another bear leaning against a taking a breather.

Or rather a female bear with a green cloak, with brown decorated wrist bands and a staff on her back.

Clothes are pure decoration for these creatures, every time.

""Aunt Sana" I take it." I raised my muffled voiced for her to hear.

The bear in question raises her head to meet mine in surprise and completely stands strait.

She took a subtle double take when she saw me. Something that most people would have missed because of her animal appearance.

She took a deep breath and calmed down before answered. "Yes. My name is Sana, a soothsayer and who might you be stranger?"

"You might know already know who I am but my name is Stultus, A Foreign Warrior-priest from far away." Might as well roll with it.

"Would you like to take me to your tribe and help me? I would like to ask for directions" I ended in a calm and friendly tone.

A genuine one, I admit this place is making me ironically less detached even if I have been mostly alone.

"Well my elders are actually looking forward to meeting you stultus I'll be glad to lead you to them but first."

"Ghor what did I say about running off again." she called out his name while he hides behind me nervously leaning off of behind me.

"That I would be in trouble again?" Oh scolding time

"Come here or you not gonna eat honey today."

"But aunt!"

"No buts and come here, you made quite the ruckus when they found out you know. Going off like that, especially going this far"

With a sound of disappointment coming out from him he strayed off from me and went to her. Like child that didn't what he wants but relented.

"Let's go the Sages are waiting" she said as she placed her paws on his shoulders and I followed to what she said, going to a proper path that they wanted me to go

And as we finally arrived and the trees parted, I saw for the first time something that isn't a ruin or a decrepit place or another kingdom.

The trees seemed to be at its highest now, bear cubs are running around one of the ponds far in the distance while some adults doing what seems to be magic and a few more adults of them meditating around a big and long carved stone that emits power from life, warding of intruders.

Many of these stones like this are all around this tribe in varying shapes and sizes as we pass through.

And think I see a few herbivorous animals over there in animal skulls looking directly at us.

But as we move forward to the heart of this bears home, their residents have taken notice of me stopped of what there are doing.

The talks between them were exchanged as we move on, it seems its been a while since they last had guests and a few expressed distrust even but curiosity still dominates the gossip.

Looks like Ghor's friends were too few.

Its been a while to have a feeling of something like this. Even if it had not been long there's still hint of nostalgia.

And how much I disliked due to who I was reminded of it even if its not the same one.

As all the residences gaze us, none of them dared to approach us as we now move onward on a loose stone road.

As I moved closer to them they were apparently have been talking to each for a while now and strike up a question to the soothsayer.

A little sound metal hitting stone were the only warning that both of them noticed and looked at me and saw me leaning "The sages, are they the only ones who know of my arrival here"

"Not only them but most were not aware of your arrival here"

My head tilt from that answer "why didn't they tell them then?"

She looked down "I don't want to say, its private they said."

"They always keep things private" Ghor said as he looked ahead

"Because your not old enough to get involved in their affairs Ghor" Sana said it with a little smile

"But its boring here" Ghor is acting like a child here

"Well maybe if you didn't wander far to the south-east to spook the villagers and get in trouble maybe you wont be stuck here whole then hmm?"

"But I know that..." his mutters were by the both of us and I leaned back seeing an eye catching thing.

Around the mounds of homes is a tall land mass surrounded by water and on top of it a massive tree surrounded by gates an ass the water falls on top, openings on the sides of this inverted earthen spire with steps leading up to one of them

"Were almost there, I leave it up to you when reach to those steps. They wanted to talk with you alone." That was Sana who had said that

"Not going to leave me alone until we reach there are you?" Now why would stay with me now.

"No I'm not, its not like you would be in trouble if I leave you-" "I'm here you know." Ghor quipped As Sana was caught off. "IF we leave you alone but I'd like to be the ones who answer to any questions from my clan about you if they would come and question you but it seems that its a slow day today."

Oh be careful of what you say girl you might jinx us.

"Sana!"

She have jinxed us. "So about that slow day you said."

As an armed and armored bear with his companions walking towards us she gave me quick look of shut up before looking towards them.

This bear was naturally larger than her with dark brown fur and shaved markings across his body and wore a metal chest plate with a loincloth.

Metal vambraces are on his wrists as he carry a two handed, one sided axe on his right shoulder.

"Hellu Horvey!"

"Harvey, you came back from the trip."

"Yup, just arrived with the caravan safe and sound. Looks like the Ghory over here run off again I take it?" Harvey said as he finished off with a laugh.

"Uhuh. He didn't moved that far though because he went back as quickly as I caught him." she answered back just in his mid laugh.

He just started to look at me with more an attentive look and raised ears. "Say who's this that friend here? Never saw an armelian like him, he's even as big as a bear."

"A guest, he's meeting with the sleeping sages at the capital" The darkish brown bear Harvey widens eyes even more.

"Wait really? A- someone like him out of nowhere?" Sana closed her eyes and nodded at that comment

it was until next comment she opened her eyes "The Sages said it themselves and they want to talk to him alone"

"No way your serious, alone? What's going on here?" He took a step forward at that

"I'm afraid you have to ask them after they have a chat with Stultus here, he traveled far to have a long awaited meeting with the sleeping sages."

His eyes furrowed a little "Is don't tell me this is one of those prophesies again."

"I'm afraid so Harvey" The tone she used to say it felt somber.

"Their prophesies never sounded good." He replied with the same tone as hers.

Before the atmosphere grown gray Sana had a thought in her mind.

"Ghor how about you hang out with Harvey here and maybe help with the stuffs the caravan came unloading, he would appreciate about that. Isn't that right Harvey?"

"Hmm? Oh! Right. They haven't even started unload it all yet, come on Ghor and help me take them home, we even got honey." Harvey turned back and started rushing away to his exclaimed caravan

"What? Wait, slow down!" and there they both gone leaving only A so called priest and the soothsayer

"Hope they don't mind waiting for longer" I said as I approached next to her.

She sighed and smiled at that "They won't I promise." And then stepped forward to the destination.

"Come now, I need to watch over Ghor a little more after this" And so I walked with her.

As we approach to a walk across the pond to the inverted spire with a help of a wooden bridge, I asked her one more question before I meet these sages.

"How much do you know about me." My voice has gotten a little quieter but all emotions behind my voice are gone.

"These sages. They talked about me while you were there and I want to be sure." as I have my helm looked down on her

"what exactly am I to you?"

All of the messages on her body and a brief show of fear from her mind that even in my current state still caught it due to how close we are as she slows down and stopped.

She grasped her left wrist band with her right paw and limply hold it in front of her, thinking of what she would say next.

A pregnant pause hangs over the both of us.

"I- the prophesies had always have a talk about how the Armello is at stake and many deaths that will follow." she said it as she looked down.

"They always revolved around it until when more than half a season the prophesy changed, or the lack of one that is."

"Many shamans and most people all were happy that dark future is gone but they realized they couldn't do prophesies at all. Not even druids can do it."

She does take her time does she.

"No one could see what would happen in the future so the druids asked the Wyld for guidance."

"They didn't tell me exactly of what but ever since then some of them had trouble sleeping, saying about death and spirits."

"I was one of the few there to help them at the time so I can't help hear about their cries from their drea-"

A loud step broke out of her musings of the past and before she knew it, I am infront of her as I look down. "I don't care of what those higher ups think of what I am, they'll come later with me asking them personally. But now I want your opinion of what I am to you Sana."

That might took the residences attention for those that are already watching the scene from but it seems no one is making a move yet, very likely the didn't hear that.

She looked at me with wide eyes, maybe raised to my voice too much but thankfully she answered.

"You- All the Sages has a harder time sleeping just because you exist and now they want to be there so they want appease you like your a- aa-" She was finding a right word for it and scratched he head

"An angry natural disaster?" I helped her answer for that.

"No its more than that but I cant just put it to words. There was something that people called at the castle of Armello, something about written in holy scriptures but I don't know."

"Good it should stay that way." She got close to being wrong there but her answer is good enough.

"I'm afraid I cant say the same to who I'm about to talk to." Looking back behind me and watched the inverted spire before looking back to her.

"Thank you Sana but I can take it from here, you can go and catch up to Ghor, sorry about that bit I had with you but I wanted to clear up some false rumors before they get the chance to crawl up."

She gave me a questioning look with her big eyes "Really? then well are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure, you said the sages wanted me to meet them alone and I have too much of your time. There's no point in wasting anymore since you asked my question."

She looked away. "I mean, your right but what was that about?"

My memories flashed in my mind to reminded me why I have done that. "I'm sure that we can get to talk to more after with the 'meeting' of the sleeping sages so it would come later."

I completely turned away from Sana and walked to the spire, waving a goodbye. "I'll ask the residences here for directions to where you are, no need to worry so get going now. Goodbye Sana."

"Goodbye to you too Stultus. I'll keep that in mind!" Even If I had my back turned I feel Sana has been waving back.

Now That's done, now its time for a new hassle and have a talk with some tired bears.

Hoping not to get bombarded with mercies and kissing my boots.


No I have no beta and I wont bother to find one, see ya sometime next month hopefully while this monitor is still alive