The two quickly packed up all their essential needs, restocking their supply of high-quality food pills from the Elder Tree and taking everything they needed for a long journey to the Mellow.
Rui's stoic eyes slowly returned to the Elder Tree. "Once again, thank you for saving our lives."
What should have been a pleasant, warm expression of gratitude turned into what was almost an intense face-off.
"Thank you for telling us where the Divine Doctor went," he continued, devoid of warmth. "Thank you for bequeathing a millennium's worth of knowledge and experience with the biosphere of the Beast Domain."
…Thank you for knowledge from another world. The Elder Tree returned his gratitude. I look forward to you keeping your word in regard to aid from the Kandrian Empire.
"I will." Rui nodded slowly. "You know that."
I do. Be sure to plant a grove of connector tree species in the Kandrian Empire.