Geodenisis Arboreth

I turned around looking at where the elderly G'eth was pointing. As I turned I noticed the surrounding area. It was a large open courtyard. The moss I had been sleeping on was located under an overhang made of live branches from a nearby tree. The center of the courtyard had a natural spring running through it and the surrounding fauna was remarkable. I had worked at a garden center on earth so I could notice the care that was put into this courtyard. Then again the G'eth can manipulate plants so maybe it is natural for them. I had seen G'eth villages in my past life but never a courtyard this stunning.

Valerian, the warrior the elderly G'eth mentioned, was standing by a large arched door at the end of the courtyard. He was clearly a much younger G'eth similar to me in height. The vines comprising his torso and arms much denser and smooth than the elderly G'eth. The green of the leaves in his hair vibrant as if freshly grown, his emerald eyes were a light green color.

The G'eth have no need for clothes or weapons as their ability to manipulate the surrounding plants and their own body give them great dexterity in combat. G'eth are best known for their spear techniques and ability to control an enemies movements.

They use their arm to form the shape of a spear and manipulate the vines to make it more dense at the head, increasing its penetrative ability. Some gifted G'eth can even form multiple spears, lashing out at the same time to corner enemies. They can also manipulate the surrounding plants to bind up enemies slowing them down or completely stopping their movements.

That's one of the reasons they struggle against the Grootslang. It's hard slick scales and long body make it hard to bind with high defense. It's fangs can also easily break through even G'eth manipulated plants, which are sturdier than normal ones. It's somewhat of a natural enemy of the G'eth.

I looked at Valerian and bowed.

"Thank you for saving my life! I will forever remain in your debt."

Valerian laughed loudly, "Debt? What debt? I was merely doing what I should for a fellow warrior."

He seemed energetic and cheerful.

Then a despondent mood fell over him, "Plus, the Grootslang killed someone important to me. You have avenged him."

The somber mood passed and his energy returned.

"Therefore, if there is any debt owed it is I who owe you."

I straightened up, "Surely saving a life is worth more than avenging one. "

"Hmmm."

He seemed to think long and hard.

"In that case, take me as your brother and you can consider your debt paid."

I was shocked, "This is all you want?"

"Yes and now that I am your brother you must take me with you to see the world," he replied shamelessly.

I didn't have gaining a G'eth ally in my plans, but I don't think it will cause any problems.

Valerian looked at the elderly G'eth and said, "I'm assuming you won't have a problem with this Grand Elder Corytheius."

Grand Elder? He is a Grand Elder? I was floored. I never heard of any human even meeting a Grand Elder in my past life. Grand Elders ruled the forest and G'eth villages for the surrounding 50,000 kilometers. There were only five in all of Agartha and they were rumored to be immortal.

Corytheius looked at Valerian and said, "If this, warrior, takes you, as a brother, I see, no reason, to deny you. I knew, from the time, you were, a sprout, you could not, stay rooted, here."

Valerian kneeled, "Thank you, father."

Corytheius turned to me, "Warrior, what is, your name?"

"Troy Williams," I responded quickly.

I was more than a little nervous now that I knew he was a Grand Elder. It was rumored they could decimate armies and control entire forest. However, either those rumors were untrue or Corytheius was weakened at the moment. Otherwise, the Grootslang would have been killed long ago.

"Troy Williams, do you, accept the, brotherhood of, Valerian Nightshade, and promise, to remain, an ally, with the, G'eth people."

"Yes sir."

Corytheius extended a vine-like hand towards my left shoulder. As it neared the vine began to subtly glow. When it touched a weird itching sensation came over my shoulder. When I looked, a green tattoo in the shape of a tree with its roots extending down rose under my skin like a brand. However, while it was startling, it wasn't painful at all.

"This is, the mark, of the Arboreth, symbolizing you, as a friend, of the G'eth."

Valerian walked up and threw his arm over my shoulder.

"Haha, now we are brothers."

I couldn't help but think he is gonna be a lot to handle. That's alright though, I feel like I can trust him. After all, he did save my life.

I looked at Corytheius, he seemed to have a mix of relief and worry on his face. There was one question pressing on my mind that I simply couldn't help but ask.

"Grand Elder, if I may, can I ask you something?"

"You may," he responded.

"How did you heal me? I have never heard of such incredible healing abilities in all of Agartha."

"This...," he was clearly struggling with the answer.

"Since you, are an ally, of the G'eth, you could, have some, right to know, the answer. However, it is, an important, secret of, my people. I cannot, tell you, for free."

He paused, then said, "If you, agree to, hand over, the corpse, of the, Grootslang, I can, tell you. Do not, worry, we will, still prepare, some gifts, for you."

This is not an easy decision. I know just how much the Grootslang is worth because of my past life. In the last timeline, a human mercenary group rose to incredible heights after killing the Grootslang. Not only were they able to make over 50 sets of high-quality armor, they sold the remaining parts for the absurdly high price of 100,000 gold. Considering the fact that an average farming family could live on five gold a year, this is an enormous sum.

However, sometimes knowledge is invaluable, as I well know after fighting the Grootslang. Either way I could not have gotten the profit from the Grootslang on my own anyways. I could have easily been killed by others for it.

"Grand Elder, I am willing to turn over the corpse to your village."

"Fantastic!" He heartily bellowed.

"To understand, the source, of what, healed you, you must first, know how, we G'eth, came to be."

Corytheius sat back down in his chair, the roots at his feet extended till they reached the spring in the center of the courtyard.

"Valerian, you know, the story, tell Troy."

Valerian nodded his head and began, "When this world formed it was nothing but a large desolate mass with no life. One day an object descended from above. Within that object a single seed. The seed took root at the center of the world and grew into the Geodenisis Arboreth. It's also known as, the world tree. It gave life to the planet and is the mother of all G'eth. Every G'eth is born from it."

Corytheius cut in, "I picked, Valerian's bud, myself, and nurtured him, in this courtyard, before he, became the warrior, he is today."

He paused looking softly at Valerian.

"When I saw, what you had, done for, my village, I used some, of the sap, of the, Geodenisis Arboreth, we have stored, in our treasury. The vitality, it contains, cannot be measured, and it is, capable of, restoring all life, that has, even one, breath left. This secret, cannot be, know to the, outside world. They would, surely destroy, Geodenisis Arboreth, in their greed. This would, destroy not only, the G'eth, but all, of Agartha."

Nodding, I understood the gravity of the secret that he revealed to me.

"I sense, greatness in you, please do not, disappoint me." He slowly said as he closed his eyes.

"I will not reveal your secret even in the face of death."

Valerian headed to the exit.

"Let's go, he needs to rest. It's been a long time since he spoke this much."

I ran to catch up with Valerian who was almost through the arched exit. Before leaving, I looked back at Grand Elder Corytheius. I meant everything I said. I thought it was over for me, again.

Corytheius brought me back at a great cost and was even willing to share many secrets. There's no way he didn't know I wouldn't be able to sell the Grootslang on my own. I wasn't the type to return kindness with enmity. Right now I'm too weak, but one day I will repay this debt to him.

Finally I caught up to Valerian, "How about showing me around the village?"

"Not a problem brother!" Valerian grinned.