Chapter – 35
The Forestâs Bustle and a New Neighbor…
With Celestina and Leonora joining them, Akio and the othersâ cabin had grown even livelier, though the atmosphere remained calm and warm. The two royalsâ education, as well as Leonoraâs knowledge and experience as a knight, offered new learning opportunities for Akio and the others. Through snippets of conversation, the refugees occasionally glimpsed the culture and circumstances of their homelands, gradually broadening their worldview.
One evening, as a cold wind swept through, several weary figures appeared outside the cabin. They were covered in mud and exhaustion marked their faces. Speaking little, they explained that the Garunia Empireâs invasion had not only reached Eldoria Kingdom but also spread to nearby small villages and settlements. The empireâs soldiers spared no one who resisted, slaughtering civilians and looting food and supplies. These refugees had lost their homes and fled into the forest with only a few possessions, seeking a safe place.
Considering Celestina and Leonoraâs experience and the life they had built in the forest, Akio and the others had no hesitation in welcoming them warmly. Since the cabin was small, Akio and Aruto took the lead in quickly setting up several temporary shelters.
Among the refugees were not only humans but also animal-like humanoids with long ears. One stood out in particularâa young woman with reddish-brown fluffy ears and a constantly cheerful smile. Her name was Kina. Though her village had been attacked by the Garunia Empire and she had been separated from her family, she showed little despair. Instead, she spoke brightly, as if encouraging everyone:
“Thereâs no point in getting depressed here! We just have to work together and survive!”
Kina actively spoke to Akio and the others.
“You guys are the ones living in this forest? Amazing, youâve come this far. If you ever need help, donât hesitate to ask! Iâm pretty strong, you know!”
True to her word, she lifted heavy loads with ease and helped set up the temporary shelters with practiced skill. Her cheerful personality and energy gradually eased the tense atmosphere among the refugees.
Akio became intrigued by Kinaâs abilities as an animal-like humanoid and asked her many questions. She explained that her keen sense of smell allowed her to detect danger, her night vision was excellent, and she had extensive knowledge of forest plants and animals. These skills could prove extremely useful for surviving in the forest.
A few days later, the refugees began building simple homes around Akioâs cabin. Kina took the lead, teaching humans how to construct houses using the skills of the animal humanoids and the forestâs natural resources. Working together, humans and animal humanoids began to naturally interact, learning about each otherâs cultures and customs. Celestina and Leonora also took active roles, helping distribute supplies and tending to the refugeesâ emotional needs, applying their experience as royals.
Seeing the situation as an opportunity to create a new village, Akio proposed to everyone:
“This place is getting too cramped. If the empireâs forces ever come here, there wonât be enough places to hide. Why donât we move deeper into the forest and build a new village together? That way, weâll have a safer place and can survive by helping each other.”
The refugees all agreed. Having lost their homes and living in uncertain times, Akioâs words felt like a beacon of hope. Celestina and Leonora also recognized that moving was necessary to ensure safety from the empireâs threat.
Thus, humans led by Akio, animal humanoids including Kina, and Eldoria Princess Celestina with her knight Leonora set out deeper into the forest. Ahead of them lay a blank land for a new life. Carrying their pasts, but with hope for the future, these people of different species and cultures began to build a new community together. The energetic presence of Kina, the animal-like young woman, might just become a guiding light on their journey.
