"I take it the water is flowing freely again?" Arin asked, shifting his attention back to the problem that had brought him into the forest in the first place. He was eager to know whether the changes made by the village's new management had been sufficient to begin restoring the woodland's natural balance. If the water supply had been fully restored, he could focus on calming the forest and determining whether any further intervention was necessary. However, the expression on Alex's face suggested that the situation was not quite as straightforward as Arin had hoped. The man paused before answering, apparently preparing to explain why they had not simply opened the dam and allowed the water to return all at once.
"Well, about that," Alex began, before explaining the reasoning behind their decision. The water was indeed flowing freely again, but they had not completely dismantled the dam or released all the water it had accumulated. After inspecting the structure and examining the lake behind it, Alex had concluded that opening everything at once would create another serious problem. A sudden surge could send far too much water rushing into the stream, uprooting trees and damaging the surrounding environment in the process. Although the stream did not appear particularly large when viewed from the mine, the water it carried accumulated over time, and the artificial lake had grown considerably since the dam was built.
Alex had therefore decided to restore the water flow in stages rather than risk causing another disturbance. The gradual release would allow the stream and its surroundings to adjust without subjecting them to a sudden flood, while also reducing the possibility of damaging the very forest they were trying to restore. It was a more cautious approach than simply destroying the dam, but the circumstances demanded that they consider the consequences of every decision. They had already learned that apparently convenient changes could create problems far beyond the mine itself, and Alex had no desire to repeat the former manager's mistakes. For now, he believed that allowing the water to return gradually was the safest course of action.
"That is good," Arin said, nodding in approval. "We will go to the stream and see whether we can calm the forest down now that the water is returning." He was satisfied that Alex had taken the time to consider the environmental consequences rather than rushing into a decision that might worsen the situation. Even so, restoring the water flow was only the first step, and Arin still needed to determine how much damage had already been done to the forest's natural balance. He intended to follow the stream, observe how the woodland responded, and use his connection to identify any remaining disturbances. With luck, the forest would begin recovering once the source of the problem had been addressed.
"Good luck with the changing of the guard," Arin added as he prepared to leave the office. The arrival of the ships would bring not only supplies but also the opportunity for Luckes to return to Brussels and for the Ravelino delegation to take up its responsibilities. Arin knew that the mine's management would soon change again, but he had no reason to remain and observe the transition. His own task lay beyond the village, where the stream and the forest needed attention. Having said what he needed to say, he walked outside and headed toward the road leading back into the woodland, already thinking about the work ahead.
"I must say, Arin, you are a lot more social than you were during your last mission," Bill remarked as he walked beside him along the road toward the mine. He had noticed that Arin had been more willing to speak with strangers during this journey, particularly when compared with his behaviour on previous assignments. Back then, their leader had often disappeared for long periods, leaving the rest of the group to manage conversations and meetings without him. His sudden willingness to engage with Luckes and Alex had therefore been noticeable enough for Bill to comment on it. He was curious whether Arin had changed his attitude or whether the current circumstances simply made it easier for him to tolerate other people.
"What can I say, Bill? This environment suits me much better," Arin answered without hesitation. "Besides, there has been very little contact with strangers, and I already had a warning that something was wrong with the forest." He found it easier to interact with people when the conversations had a clear purpose and did not require him to spend hours dealing with unfamiliar social expectations. The forest provided a comfortable environment in which he could concentrate on his responsibilities without being surrounded by people demanding his attention. He was also reluctant to admit that his original plans had been interrupted when his grandfather found him and managed to block his detection ability. Arin was still irritated about that incident, but he had no intention of discussing it with his cousins.
"Well, as long as you participate in the fun this time," Tom said, shaking his head as he joined the conversation. "It was rather difficult to explain to everyone why you never showed up at the parties." He reminded Arin that plenty of people had been willing to network, make friends, and establish useful connections, only for their leader to disappear whenever such gatherings were organised. When Arin did attend meetings, he usually remained silent unless someone directly asked him a question, after which he would vanish again as soon as he could find a suitable opportunity. The rest of the group had repeatedly been forced to explain his behaviour to people who expected their leader to be more involved. Tom was therefore hoping that this trip would be different, although he was not entirely convinced that Arin would change his habits.
"For that, I am sorry, but I blame Grandma," Arin replied, looking away as though the explanation should settle the matter. "She knew I would not be in a good mood, so it was hardly my fault." He was clearly not interested in revisiting the subject, particularly when he believed that his grandmother had understood perfectly well why he had been unhappy. The others could complain about his lack of participation all they wanted, but Arin had no intention of pretending that he enjoyed gatherings simply because other people considered them important. He preferred practical work and the company of the forest, where he did not have to waste time explaining himself. With that excuse delivered, he turned his attention toward the path ahead.
"But here we are," Arin concluded, stopping beside the partially drained lake that had formed behind the dam. When it was full, the lake stretched approximately fifty metres across, making it a substantial body of water despite the relatively narrow stream that carried its overflow away. The reduced water level made it easier to observe the exposed banks and the areas that had been submerged, giving Arin a better idea of how much the dam had altered the surrounding environment. He was eager to stop talking about his social habits and begin examining the actual problem, especially now that the water was being released again. The longer he stood there discussing unrelated matters, the longer it would take to determine whether the forest had begun to recover.
"Let's follow the stream and see where the problem lies," Arin said quickly, his voice carrying a noticeable sense of urgency. Bill and Tom exchanged glances, recognising the obvious attempt to redirect the conversation before it could return to his behaviour at previous gatherings. Neither of them seemed particularly surprised, since they had known Arin long enough to recognise when he wanted to avoid an uncomfortable subject. Nevertheless, they decided to humour him rather than continue teasing him, especially when they had a genuine reason to investigate the stream. The group turned toward the flowing water and began following its course into the forest, leaving the conversation behind as they focused on the task that had brought them there.