Chapter 58: The Black Wither Disease

Matoka saw the heavy expression on Joan’s face and assumed he was frightened by the goblin tribe. Smiling, she tried to reassure him, “We’re not easy to bully either. With me, Father Conti, and forty elite hunters from the Asa tribe guarding us, unless Leto himself comes, any number of goblin bandits would only be marching to their deaths.”

“That’s right, Joan. Leto’s stronghold is deep in the Screaming Forest, and the goblin lord and his generals are unlikely to wander around here. As for the other goblin thieves, they’re mostly cowardly vermin, bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Seeing our large party and a towering treant, they’d have run off long ago. They wouldn’t dare to provoke us.” Conti, perched on the treant “Little Black’s” shoulder, maintained his usual optimism about their homeward journey.

“In truth, compared to Leto’s forces, I’m more worried about threats from the north,” Galinin said thoughtfully.

“You mean the ‘Black Wilt’?” Matoka looked at her husband.

Galinin nodded, his face turning grave. “The goblins only want to seize our land and food, but the ‘Black Wilt’ spreading across the Alfheim region threatens to destroy our home. If we don’t find a way to curb the expansion of this evil force, one day the great Alf Forest will become a desert and, on the cursed earth, we won’t find a single green plant.”

“That’s enough, dear. Don’t say such frightening things in front of the children!” Matoka shot her husband a look, trying to comfort him. “Magni has already taken people to scout the northern bank of the Ifen River. Once he brings back the latest intelligence on the Black Wilt, we might find a way to fight this disaster.”

“Let’s hope so,” Viktor Galinin replied heavily.

“What exactly is the ‘Black Wilt’?” Joan couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked Conti.

“I’m not entirely sure myself. It’s said to be a supernatural disaster spreading from the Midgard region north of the Ifen River. In areas afflicted by the Black Wilt, lush trees and crops mysteriously wither overnight. Even more terrifying, infected trees can spawn evil animated plants known as ‘Wither Fiends,’ who delight in slaughtering living creatures.” Conti fell silent for several seconds, then spoke in a somber tone. “In recent years, the Black Wilt has been spreading steadily southward, with vast tracts of forest dying along the way. Human settlements have been destroyed by Wither Fiends and reduced to ruins. Now, this dreadful plague has reached the northern bank of the Ifen River. If the river can’t halt its advance, Powhatan Village, on the southern bank, will face calamity too.”

Hearing Conti’s account, Joan realized Powhatan Village was not the carefree “paradise” he’d imagined, but was beset by crises. The Asa tribe lived between internal and external dangers, struggling to survive. This made it easy to understand why the Asa people were so optimistic and bold—without a positive outlook and fearless courage, survival in such harsh circumstances would be impossible.

As Conti predicted, the next four days of travel passed without incident. The goblins encountered along the way were few and scattered, not worth mentioning, and fled at the sound of approaching hooves.

Accompanied by Conti’s family, Joan safely crossed the Screaming Forest and arrived at their journey’s end on the afternoon of February twentieth.

Standing atop the tall treant, Joan gazed out over Conti’s homeland. All he saw were vast, cultivated fields stretching along both banks of the Delin River, giving him the illusion of returning to Delin Town.

But as he continued forward, the scenery grew markedly different from Delin Town. Powhatan Village, where generations of Algonquians lived, sat in a tranquil valley surrounded by mountains and woods. This peculiar settlement, comprised of treehouses, caves, cabins, and packed earth roads, blended seamlessly into the landscape of fragrant wildflowers, ancient trees, and bubbling streams.

These scenes, so natural and harmonious, left Joan with a deep and wondrous impression, as if the village was not built by human hands, but born of nature itself—like an anthill or a beehive, its existence not damaging the ecosystem but instead serving as an essential part of the local ecological balance.

Though called a ‘village,’ Powhatan was far larger in both territory and population than Joan’s hometown, Delin Town. The permanent residents numbered no fewer than 7,000, with Asa people making up over eighty percent. A small number of elves, half-elves, and fairies who enjoyed dealing with humans also settled here. The more solitary and conservative elves and fairies lived deeper in the valley’s forests, coming to Powhatan’s market only when they needed necessities like salt, sugar, candles, or lamp oil.

From his outsider’s perspective, Joan noticed the greatest difference between Powhatan and Delin Town: the locals did not fear or shun wild animals. Whether near the bustling streets beside the village hall or the field paths along the riverbanks, groups of wild creatures strolled freely. Among them were gentle herds of deer, but bears, wolves, and lynxes were not uncommon either.

He also observed that these wild animals were not afraid of people and would not harm them. It was commonplace to see bear cubs and wolf pups playing with local children. The harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife in Powhatan was mainly due to the fact that this village was the headquarters of the Harvest Circle, a druid society in Alfheim. The beasts Joan saw were either the “animal companions” of druids and rangers—appearing wild but in truth magical creatures attuned to humanity—or their mates and offspring, all part of the Harvest Circle’s extended family.

Conti’s father, Viktor Galinin, was the chief elder of the Harvest Circle’s Alfheim branch, akin to the head of Powhatan Village—the family where humans and nature lived in harmony. Under Elder Galinin’s guidance, many young villagers had donned green robes and become a new generation of “Wild Druids.” Elder Galinin and his disciples used natural magic to heal injuries, cure illnesses, drive pests from fields and orchards, and ensure abundant harvests, asking nothing in return.

Of course, nature was not always so benign toward humans. The beasts friendly to villagers were only a small minority educated by the druids; deep in the forest lurked many more hostile animals, as well as far more dangerous goblins, orcs, ogres, and evil fairies.

Survival and growth in such a perilous, enemy-ridden environment was no easy feat. Forced by circumstances, the Asa people learned from childhood to be self-reliant and developed a tenacious character.