The foreign man introduced himself as 'Helm', the sound of the word fitting the name of the capital city they were headed into—belonging to the same language that is spoken by the natives in the plant kingdom. Midas found himself awing at the sheer height of the massive tree trunk they carted towards—the unbelievable size allowed for massive moss growth that clung onto the lower roots that reached into the surrounding dirt, while tinier trees were able to sprout from the base.
Midas's theory that the trunk used to belong to a massive tree was supported by the many fallen branches that sat around the capital city—their path, which used to be quite straightforward, now wound and took many curves, avoiding huge pieces of wood that remained from the time the tree must've fallen. Most of these branches were left alone to eventually dry and decay; others, however, used the fallen wood as cover, building up huts, lifting up the giant sticks with pillars, and covering any open spaces by using cut-up pieces of giant blades of grass, which were easier to come by in the southern regions of the kingdom.
Helm seemingly was well known in the outer regions of the city; those who chose to come out of their huts—opening their relatively tiny doors to stand outside of their fenced-off gardens—greeted him with smiles and gentle waving motions, as if they knew him personally. Uteli found herself drawn to the intricately braided plant fibers that formed tiny pots, their plump shape holding together dirt in which flowers and tinier sprouts flourished.
The youth was able to see that the pieces of giant grass blades were not only used for construction—their sturdiness also allowed them to be used for making clothing, acting as a light body armor, covering the chest and shoulders as they lay on top of a layer of plant-made yarn, sometimes colored in orange or white. The spare people they passed by sometimes even had the same kind of headwear, the tops of their heads flat.
Eventually finding themselves in a crook that opened up between the giant pieces of bark that covered the seemingly ancient tree trunk, Helm eventually entered through it, finding themselves among other travelers, a mix of volk that rode on the same kind of giant bug they relied on, while others came by using the standard carriage hulled in striped cloth. The people from the plant and water kingdoms weren't shy to interact, however, chatting and showing off their goods to each other as all of them seemingly waited for something to happen.
Through the dim darkness, Midas was eventually able to make out that all of them currently stood on a giant wooden platform, supported by giant wooden gears and thick, vine-like rope that led upwards. Over their heads shone the dim light of the cloudy sky. Before the youth could realize, he listened to the screeching of the wood—his eyes widening as the platform all of them were positioned on now moved up the giant trunk.
Javelin observed the crowd, staying beside the youth and Uteli as he noticed the many crates that were carried on either bug or carriage—most likely containing goods that were planned to be sold at the upcoming festival. Some strapped wooden platforms on the back of the black insects; the wood was tightened by rope that wrapped around the underside of the six-legged creatures, securing the platform and its seemingly perfectly shaped beams underneath in place.
"There's already quite a lot of distress, I see..."
"Well, the festival that announces the peak of the third of growth is a beloved spectacle among natives and salesmen from outside the state alike... Many come here to celebrate since the weather around this time is perfect to be outside—even though this trestempo is quite different."
Helm's explanation wasn't met directly with an answer; a dim squabble toned through the shaft as the platform was dragged upwards through—completely surrounded by wood, the only source of light shining from over their heads as the speck of light quickly widened to eventually reveal more of the grey sky, a sign they came closer to the top.
"I've heard rumors of the festival being moved inland due to increasing pirate activity along the coast. Is that true...?"
"It is. A decision made by one of the assigned foremen that secures the perimeter in which the wagons get parked in—never saw him in person, but the man is rumored to become a commander of the water kingdom knighthood."
The youth noticed some sort of caution in the voice Jikith used to ask his question, quietly observing the sharp smile his initial driver had on his lips as he listened to the reply of Helm. Facing the blonde man more directly, Jikith sat himself on top of the Fahin again. The expression of the blonde man dimmed slightly, glancing between the grinning man and Guan, who sat on his bug behind him.
"Do you also know if he will be present at the festival...?"
"No, I suppose we will have to see once the fest begins."
Lightly shaken as the wooden platform stopped moving suddenly, the youth turned his head around. Met with high-rising pieces of wood, the inside of the tree trunk was partly overgrown with trees and moss, which crept in between parts of chipped-away wood, partially used for material, as houses were squeezed in between unused remains. Seeing windows and doorways, hollowed-out inside blocky shapes of wood, towers built out of logs, spare planks, and giant leafage used to shape pointed roofs—the youth froze slightly, looking around at the sight of what Baumfall really was.
Passing by cranes that mirrored the shapes of the one Midas destroyed the time he was stuck inside the desert quarry, their group passed by dig sites that hulled out the untouched masses of wood that remained behind the trunks' thick bark, seemingly not corroded, as blocks of reddish-brown wood were cut and lifted up from manmade holes, almost perfectly angled.
In between these cranes stood watchtowers and multistory housing with wide bases, which were built on top of already depleted parts of the trunk, constructed on top of thek-like remains, which were hollowed out to be made into houses as well. The roofing was made from either pieces of giant grass or big leaves held together to form cone-like roofing, which blended in with the green of the trees and moss that managed to sprout and spread on the surface.
Their elevation slowly sunk as they passed by wooden bridges spanning between cracks that either eventually opened up in the wood with time or were carved out. The pathways were completely wooden, growing tighter as they reached the middle of the city, which was marked by a circular wooden platform, much tinier yet heavily guarded by men in thick plant-made fiber, wooden armor, and spears, who scanned the pathway that encircled the free space, examining seemingly every carriage or bug that passed by.
Helm eventually stopped at an inn, making Guan slip off of his giant bug. The blond man stayed on top. Looking back at them, he explained that the building that spanned up above them was a cheap place to stay in, unknown amongst many travelers and salesmen, as it was built at the end of the street they passed through. Watching the blonde man leave, Jihid and Guan were quick to leave their carriage at the side of the narrow pathway.
Midas noticed that the base of the building was part of the actual trunk—melting into the floor—even though the sharp corners that the cut out and left behind part of the wood didn't make it seem like it. The streets were dimly filled, and the clothes of the people who passed by were matching with the green clothing the old lady from the orphonage wore, something Uteli seemed to be also noticing as she aimlessly glanced through the masses.
"Alright then... I will keep my promise of bringing you back once you're done—me and Guan have some things to take care of as well. I'll stay at this inn as well, so if you have gotten what you need, just come by and tell me."
"Thank you. There's one last thing, however... Do you happen to know when the festival is set to begin?
"You should have around four days left... If you lose track, just watch out for fancy people from the water kingdom—they will arrive one day before the fest begins. Oh... and if I were you, I would try to find out where the expensive trading goods are being stored before the festival begins. Anyhow, I wish you good luck..."
Midas widened his eyes, staring at the floor as Jikith whispered in his ear, before eventually passing them as he waved them goodbye with an amused expression on his face. Grabbing their bags, Javelin headed towards Midas while Uteli grabbed her axe—the three of them unsure what to do next. The youth eventually noticed that their need for money grew much more prominent with the disappearance of Jikith—forced to finance their accommodation themselves, as the idea of working for a guild reappeared in the head of the youth again.
"Try to get a room with these coins. I'm not sure how high their prices are, but if a local says it's among the cheapest inns in the city, then I'm hoping it will be enough for at least one night. I'll try to get some work to finance the rest of the days we have to stay here until the festival starts. While I'm doing so, I need you two to gather some information about the festival for me..."
"What...? Are you sure you don't want us to help you with that...? I'm sure it will be easier if we go together."
"Who knows what kind of work this is going to be, Javelin... I'd say it's best if we split up. I'm fine with doing this on my own—this way we can use our time to the fullest. Maybe we could also go to the north of the city and search for the secluded part of the forest Graf had mentioned..."
Unable to say much against Midas's plans, Javelin watched as the youth pressed his two silver coins into Utelis's palm—eventually turning and leaving in the same direction as their driver. Not having to worry about anyone for a while now, the youth squeezed his way through the masses, remembering a wooden icon that was nailed into the wooden wall of a building they passed by on their way to the inn. The shape of a treasure chest was the same as the one he had seen on the icon of the guildwork club that was printed on the paper he had to fill out.
Catching his breath dimly, somewhat feeling excitement build up inside of him as Midas had yearned to have some money to his name for a while now, the youth opened the door, immediately being glared at by a man in blue cloth and metal plating, barely avoiding bumping into the stranger as he entered through the door. The inside of the building was entirely wooden; the round tables that were used to drink and eat at didn't seem to belong to the same species of wood, as their color was much darker than the walls around him.
Eventually standing at a board filled with pinned-up papers, Midas widened his eyes lightly—some of the jobs promised up to five silver coins for a group of four people. The smile the youth almost had on his face quickly dimmed down, however, as he scanned the papers—all of them requiring some sort of rank he wasn't informed about while also seemingly requiring him to work in a group of at least three to four people.
"Are you new here...?"
Midas turned to a seated woman, her blonde hair bound up by an orange-colored band, placing her hands on the wooden counter carved out in front of her—mustering the child with a formal smile. Blinking twice, the youth spared no time to stand in front of her, simply nodding at her question as he already imagined himself getting his hands on a new sickle.
"Well, then. To start fulfilling quests, you are required to fill out this paper—doing so will allow us to register you as an adventurer. Whatever kind of task you like to fulfill—mercenary, personal guard, or person tasked to retrieve lost items or people—all of it is possible once you give us the required details."
Her formally light words easily stuck in the head of the youth as he watched her glide an empty paper onto the counter for him to fill out, bringing quill and ink towards him to write with. Midas wasted no time in picking up the feather - beginning with writing his name on the emty line.