Weeks turned into months as the training ground under the great oak tree slowly took shape. Garrin and his team worked tirelessly, constructing platforms, installing the training dummies from Lucas's strange book, and building practice ranges. Tyrn's involvement became a source of equal parts wonder and frustration.
"This enchanted spot better be worth it," Garrin muttered one afternoon, wiping sweat from his brow as he observed Tyrn sketch intricate runes into the dirt.
Tyrn shot him a lazy glance. "It'll let your spell-slinging friends practice without turning this field into a crater. Seems worth it to me."
"But how does it work?" Garrin asked, leaning on his hammer.
"You don't want the answer to that," Tyrn replied, yawning.
Bogo, always nearby, took meticulous notes as Tyrn worked. The crystals required for the enchantment had been expensive, purchased with the money Bogo had earned from his traps. Yet Tyrn somehow knew exactly where to find them—an obscure trader who had no problem dealing with an eccentric hunter-inventor from Suntails Hollow.
By the end of two months, the training ground stood as a testament to their combined effort. The oak tree now overlooked an impressive site:
A sparring arena for melee practice.
Elemental channels carved into the earth for magical experimentation.
Target ranges set up with the specialized training dummies Lucas had described, including those for races few had ever seen in the village.
Agility tracks and weighted training equipment, all designed to push even the strongest to their limits.
The entire clearing buzzed with possibility.
When Garrin called for the final inspection, Bogo nodded appreciatively, a proud but mischievous glint in his eye. As the hunters and villagers began to celebrate, Garrin rested his hands on his hips, turning to his son. "Well? It's done. Satisfied?"
Bogo hesitated, his smile broadening. "Not yet."
The workers froze. Garrin's crew stared at him in disbelief, their expressions teetering between confusion and indignation. Garrin flicked sharply. "Not yet?" he echoed. "What's missing? This place is perfect!"
"It is perfect," Bogo reassured, raising his hands. "I'm not saying your work isn't incredible. It just needs one last thing. Something I've been working on."
Behind him, a line of hunters emerged from the path leading to Bogo's workshop, each pulling a heavy cart draped with thick cloth. Curious whispers spread through the crowd as villagers gathered to watch.
Bogo gestured toward the carts, his grin wide as the hunters began arranging them in a precise formation around the oak tree. The carts were placed carefully at the north, west, south, and east points of the clearing, forming a perfect circle with the oak at its heart.
"Okay," Bogo said, stepping back to admire the arrangement. "Lucas, Ryssa, Dorian—each of you, pick a cart and stand beside it."
The three exchanged bewildered glances but complied, moving to their assigned positions.
Bogo took his place at the southernmost cart and turned to the crowd, addressing both his friends and the gathered villagers. "These past few months have been about creating something special. This tree—it's been our spot for years. It's where we've trained, laughed, argued, and grown. It deserves to be more than just a tree. And now, with your help... it's ready."
With that, he raised a hand, gesturing to his friends. "On the count of three, unveil the statues. Together."
"One," Bogo began, his voice steady.
"Two," Ryssa echoed, gripping the cloth.
"Three!"
In perfect unison, the group pulled the cloth from their respective statues, revealing breathtaking works of marble artistry.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the villagers beheld what could only be described as divine. Each statue was a heroic ideal of its subject, capturing not only their likeness but the very essence of who they aspired to become.
Dorian stood proudly at the northern point, his marble form poised with his lute in one hand and his other raised as though conjuring magic from the wind. The details of his clothing shimmered with the intricate embroidery of a master bard, and his expression radiated bravery and confidence.
Ryssa, positioned at the western point, held a sphere of fire and water in her outstretched hands, her robes flowing like the elements she commanded. Her horns were carved with intricate spirals, and her expression was fierce yet serene—a tiefling in harmony with herself and the magic around her.
Lucas took the eastern point, depicted mid-stance with a longsword raised in a confident arc. His armor gleamed with ornate patterns, and his determined gaze pointed toward the horizon as though challenging the world to test his resolve.
Bogo completed the circle at the southern point, holding a set of tools and standing among objects that symbolized his craftsmanship: gears, traps, and a half-finished weapon. His statue's expression was warm, his gaze fixed on the tree as if preparing to hand down a legacy of ingenuity to future generations.
For several long moments, the group and the villagers stared in stunned silence. Even Garrin seemed at a loss for words.
Finally, Dorian broke the silence, his voice thick with emotion. "Bogo... how... this is..."
"You're incredible," Ryssa whispered, running her fingers along the edge of her statue's robes.
Lucas didn't bother holding back his tears this time. "This... this is our place. Forever. I'll... I'll..." Unable to finish his sentence, he grabbed Bogo in another bone-crushing hug.
Bogo laughed, patting Lucas on the head. "Alright, alright. It's nothing fancy—I just thought the tree deserved company. And so do we."
The group burst into laughter, even as some of them blinked away tears. The villagers erupted into applause, their cheers filling the air as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the statues and the oak tree in a warm, golden light.
Dorian, standing beneath his statue, strummed his lute and raised his voice. "Here's to the tree that saw our roots—and the dreams that'll take us beyond it!"
The crowd cheered again as the circle of heroes stood beneath the oak tree, a symbol of Suntails Hollow's pride and its brightest dreams yet to come.
**A/N**
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~🧣KujoW
**A/N**