[color=8dc73f][center][h2]Freyr[/h2][/center][/color] Ditzy and Nagare's words after he told them about his people and Nera still echoed in his mind. Did Nera really want to go with him? Would she abandon the woods and her family, her race just as he did? He never had considered that. Nera had a place in the village now, she was important and respected... Still a Viera at the eyes of the other Viera. No... He was sure it was the other way around. She felt betrayed by what Freyr did. She wanted him to stay, but he left her. Her, the forest, the Viera, the village... he left them all behind. Reconciliation was... unlikely. Freyr was still a bit lost in his own thoughts when Nagare apologized herself after replying to Ditzy, trying to explain a bit about the situation. [color=8dc73f]"It's... ok. Don't worry about it. There are a lot of things involved. It's indeed... complicated."[/color] Freyr said, with a discreet smile towards Ditzy and Nagare as they kept walking towards Jote's house. [center][h3][color=007236]The Vieran Village, in front of Elder Jote's house.[/color][/h3][/center] [color=8dc73f]"Elder Jote, This is Ditzy and Nagare."[/color] Freyr began, as he greeted her with a discreet, but polite bow as he introduced his companions. [color=8dc73f]"I know I am not welcome anymore... And that we are outsiders but... The world outside is changing... Please hear us."[/color] Freyr said. Jote heard silently as the group spoke, with a serious expression in her face before she replied them. [color=007236]"He left the woods and the Viera. He broken the laws of the woods, [I]our[/I] laws and traditions that we have been following for centuries."[/color] Jote said, looking to Ditzy with a piercing stare. Despite Ditzy's friendly and innocent happiness, it was clear that Jote didn't appreciate outsiders speaking about Viera's traditions and the laws of the woods and trying to contradict her. [color=8dc73f]"You are all very far from home... Outsiders couldn't possibly understand how we live. The Viera have followed the same laws and traditions, the laws of the woods for centuries. The forest is our home, we never intervened with the outside world and never will."[/color] Jote said, her voice making clear that there was no room to discussion about those things. [color=8dc73f]"Even the woods are changing, Jote. And you know it. I can still hear it's voice. If the Viera don't change their traditions and their way of life, they will be left behind."[/color] Freyr said, with a serious tone. [color=8dc73f]"The Varjans are a threat. To all of us. It's only a matter of time until they come for the Viera. If they come, they will use us as weapons... What will you do when that happens?"[/color] Freyr asked, looking to Jote. [color=007236]"No human would be foolish enough to enter the forest. Despite their greed, no human has ever reached so deeps inside the woods before and it's not now that it will happen. We never did nothing to the humans outside the forest, as such, they have no reason to attack us. I don't know why despite you having left the woods, it still sees you as it's child, as one of the Viera, but our sacred traditions remain the same. You are outsiders, your voices have no weight for us and our village. If you want me to hear you, bring me proof of what you say."[/color] Jote said, with a harsh expression before she got inside again. It was clear that Freyr felt Jote's words, especially the part about his words having no weight in the village. Despite all that, he knew... He knew that she was right... [color=8dc73f]"She... is right... We are outsiders... Our words carry no weight for Jote herself or the village..."[/color] Freyr said, looking down and then looking to Ditzy and Nagare. "If things continue like this..." Freyr mumbled to himself. It was obvious to both Ditzy and Nagare what it would happen. Even though Jote was the Elder, she refused to change the Viera's traditions and laws or even acknowledge the outside word as a possible threat to their lifestyle. [color=8dc73f]"I'm sorry to drag you guys to this mess... We should-"[/color] Freyr started saying, but suddenly interrupted himself with a clearly alarmed, almost panicked face. Initially, the reason for that was completely unknown for both Ditzy and Nagare, but a second after that, both of them, even Ditzy who wasn't that sensitive to magic could feel a strange breeze passing through the trees and swirling around Freyr for a moment. It was clear that it wasn't just wind. It had a different type of magic, a different type of energy. If they paid enough attention, It was almost as if the wind and the trees where whispering something as the leaves ruffled and the branches from the gigantic trees moved gently with the breeze. A second after that, Jote slammed the door open with an equally alarmed expression on her face. [color=007236]"Nera was... captured."[/color] Jote said, her voice trembling with rage. [@AzureKnight] [@Restalaan]