Nahida left—she didn't even have time to guide Katheryne back to the Adventurers' Guild. The suddenly awakened Katheryne was promptly sent away by Victor Wang with a single excuse about sleepwalking.
"Lumine, there's something else I need to tell you. I once accepted a request from an Aranara to go to Vanarana and help the Aranara there. After I arrived, guess what I found?"
"What?"
Not dragging it out unnecessarily, Victor Wang pulled out a notebook with a dark green cover and explained its origin:
"This is the Aranyaka. It was left in Vanarana long ago by a golden-haired youth.
"Since no one knew the youth's name, and because he repaired an important device called the Varuna Contraption for the Aranara, they called him Nara Varuna.
"Nara Varuna probably arrived in Vanarana after the calamity of Khaenri'ah. Sumeru at that time was in ruins. He did many things for the Aranara and the forest.
"Most importantly, during that period, he often mentioned a golden-haired little sister.
"You know what I'm trying to say, right?"
"..."
Taking the Aranyaka, Lumine silently flipped through it. Paimon, also curious about this figure who seemed to be Lumine's brother, leaned close beside her.
"…If one day they could meet again, I hope the things I said won't cause too much trouble. Thinking about it like that, it might even be interesting—if the little sister were to face…"
"He really mentioned a 'little sister,' but why is all this so choppy and incomplete?" Paimon muttered after reading for a while.
"Araja said most of the stories in this book have already been lost. But the Aranara who adventured with Nara Varuna still remember those events. Do you want to go to Vanarana to see for yourself?" Victor Wang offered.
Lifting her gaze to Victor Wang, Lumine then lowered her head and read aloud the line in the Aranyaka that mattered to her most:
"…Ran away. If possible, I hope they won't resent me. But based on my experience with them, the Aranara probably cannot understand the concept of 'resentment'…"
"Victor… since Nara Varuna was helping the Aranara, why would he call leaving running away… and why would he think the Aranara would resent him…?"
…
"Golden Nara! Truly the golden Nara!"
Bending down, Lumine examined the Aranara and met Arama's curious gaze. "Hello, Arama. Do you know anything about Nara Varuna?"
Taking two cautious steps back, Arama shook his head.
"Nara Varuna's story is from a very, very long time ago. That was when the old Vanarana had just been destroyed. At that time, I wasn't even a seed yet—I was still asleep in the Samsara of Dreams. When I woke up, everyone was already living in the dream-version of Vanarana.
"But Araja definitely knows. He is a very ancient Aranara and has existed since many, many moons ago. It's said he once held a 'Festival Utsava' together with Nara Varuna."
"Festival Utsava?" Lumine asked.
On the way to the inn, she had heard Victor Wang explain many things about the Aranara.
Nara meant human, Vana meant forest, Marana was the Withering, Bija was the desert, Ararakalari referred to a special ability of the Aranara, and Vanarana was the Aranara's home… but Festival Utsava had not been mentioned.
"Festival Utsava is when the Nara friends of the Aranara, and the Aranara friends of the Nara, happily sing together. It's a very important festival. By passing Festival Utsava, strength can be gathered for the fruit of Bija."
"Bija?" Lumine asked again.
"Bija is something very powerful. As long as the wish is to help others, Bija can make it come true."
"I see…"
A thought formed in Lumine's heart. Perhaps… Nara Varuna had tricked them and taken the Bija—that was why he 'ran away'… why he feared being hated?
Victor Wang broke Lumine's speculation. "The specifics—we should ask Araja directly in Vanarana."
...
"Golden Nara, Nara Victor really brought you here. Welcome to Vanarana."
Eager to learn about Nara Varuna, Lumine and Victor Wang hurried to Vanarana overnight. After a simple greeting, Lumine stated her purpose directly.
Arama was not surprised. He gestured for Lumine and Victor Wang to sit, then sat down himself and began slowly:
"In the very earliest times, the Aranara still walked upon the land, befriending the Nara and all living things. There was no Withering in the forest yet. Until, many, many moons ago, a calamity occurred—a calamity caused by the Nara…
During that calamity, the sky turned black, the streams smelled foul like blood, and the great trees toppled like grass in the wind. Everywhere, there were dark monsters, Hilichurl Nara, and great iron lumps.
After that calamity, the Lord of the Woods returned the sands to Samsara, and the Withering began to spread across the land. Old Vanarana was destroyed. To protect themselves, the Aranara hid the new Vanarana within a dream, and no longer approached the Nara.
Only Nara Varuna remained a friend of the Aranara, helping everyone even after the destruction. He first repaired the 'Varuna Contraption,' then created the forest-nourishing 'Utsava Amrita.' He did countless good deeds for us, and the Aranara slowly began to trust the Nara again.
Nara Varuna truly was a very good Nara, but sadly… this old one has forgotten almost everything.
This old one—Arama, Araji, Arana, Aramaha, Arayama… all of us Aranara once spent a Festival Utsava with Nara Varuna. It was a difficult time, yet during the festival, we still laughed and sang together.
Later, this old one lost many memories… but I still remember the tears of Nara Varuna—the salty water dripping from his eyes, and yet it did not make the Aranara afraid.
He talked with this old one for a long, long time—telling stories of our adventures together in the forest. So even if memories were lost, the stories were not. And afterward… he left.
When we parted, he said to this old one: 'Perhaps one day, a golden Nara just like me will come to your side—and she will bring even more beautiful memories.'"
Finishing this long tale, Araja looked at Lumine. "Hehe… and here you are."
"What exactly happened back then? Since you held a Festival Utsava… did you obtain the Bija?"
"Of course. This old one used the Bija to become the Tree of Dreams."
Seeing Lumine's interest, Araja elaborated:
"Long ago, during that calamity, the strongest incarnation of the Withering appeared in the original Vanarana.
Our home was destroyed, the outside world full of Withering, and the Nara no longer trustworthy. We could only hide within a dream.
But to maintain such a vast dream, so that it wouldn't drift away like a leaf and vanish, a 'Tree of Dreams' was needed. So, this old one used the Bija to become that Tree of Dreams. And thus, everyone had a home."
Lumine murmured, "So… the Bija didn't go wrong after all…"
===BREAK===
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