Ashar the Hermit

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At Raduno Town...

In the dimly lit confines of The Social Club Tavern, Fugar sat wearily on a chair, his weathered face reflecting the weight of his years...

"I first met the man named Ashar about 25 years ago..."

The old man's memories began to resurface, transporting him back in time to the early days of the island's settlement. The tale unfolded in the distant past, spanning decades that witnessed the arrival of young Fugar and his fellow pioneers on this untamed, uncharted land...

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In the beginning, they faced countless challenges as they sought to establish a sense of community amidst the wild forests, gradually transforming patches of rugged terrain into fertile agricultural grounds.

Life bloomed and thrived... but there was one part of the island that remained untouched—an enigmatic forest nestled in the northeast, harbouring dangerous and mysterious creatures later known as 'Saberos'. These creatures, bearing a pitch-black obsidian coat, bore a striking resemblance to saber-toothed tigers and were renowned for their feral and territorial behaviours.

Aware of the perils that lurked within the forest, the settlers collectively agreed to leave it untouched, dubbing it the 'Forbidden Forest'. They understood that it was far too dangerous to venture into its depths.

As time passed and the small community expanded, attracting many new immigrants, their focus shifted towards building the first town on the island: Raduno Town.

One day, however, as they were preparing for the grand opening ceremony of their proud establishment, an ordinary-looking old man appeared, claiming to have emerged from the heart of the Forbidden Forest itself...

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"We were taken aback by two surprising revelations that day.. The first was the fact that someone had been living within the forest for several decades, completely unbeknownst to us... And the second was the realisation that this aged individual had managed to survive alone amidst those dangerous beasts..." reminisced the old advisor.

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Introducing himself as 'Ashar', the old man spoke with wisdom and humility. He had witnessed the struggles and prosperity of the growing community from the solitude of the forest. He approached them with a warm smile and offered a contribution to their feast, presenting the fruits he had cultivated within the Forbidden Forest, "These are not just ordinary fruits," Ashar explained good-humoredly, "They have exquisite tastes and will also keep you strong and healthy!"

Then on the day of the celebration, the townspeople gathered at the newly opened tavern, known as 'The Social Club'. Ashar joined them as promised, bearing the green, pear-shaped fruits, "The true treasure lies within the 'seeds' of these fruits," Ashar revealed. "I recommend consuming them whole to experience their full flavour and benefits!"

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Fugar vividly recalled being the first to try it...

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As he bit into one, a stunning turquoise-coloured seed with a small 2-inch oval shape revealed itself... The seeds were not only beautiful but also surpassed any other fruits they had encountered on the island. The taste was divine, and everyone present relished the experience, adding to the lively celebrating atmosphere of the special event. And the visiting old man became known as 'Ashar the Hermit', a strange, yet respected figure in their small community ever since...

To their astonishment, moreover, they began to feel rejuvenated the days following the feast. Their strengths seemed to surge, and despite working tirelessly, they experienced less fatigue... Fugar reminisced, "We were all grateful to Ashar, for his gifts had an undeniable impact on our lives. It was as if our very community's strengths had swollen..."

"I remember that day too! The fruit seed tasted incredible and I've rarely been sick in these past years...all thanks to the old man, Ashar!" Intervened Farlan keenly. His father gently grinned, before continuing his story...

"As time passed, the town thrived, and I eventually assumed the role of community leader. A year into my leadership, Ashar paid me a personal visit and shared some mind-blowing revelations..."

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Ashar the Hermit disclosed to Fugar that the fruits he had brought to the celebration ceremony were called 'Guardian Seeds'. Among their several miraculous effects, they helped doubled the eater's strength and enhanced his overall well-being, making illness a rarity.

The Hermit proceeded to disclose that he originally had merely 3 of these remarkable seeds. He consumed one of them before his arrival on the island, which enabled him to withstand the harsh forest surroundings and eventually formed a bond with the Saberos, while he planted the remaining two. Regrettably, one of the seeds perished, but the other survived and blossomed...

"Fugar, my friend," Ashar explained, "these fruits are extraordinary. They take 20 years to grow and mature, but their effects are truly worth the efforts!" Driven by the ever-resilient and struggling community, he took it upon himself to cultivate as many Guardian Seeds as possible to cater to all the island's inhabitants.

He further shared,"Since it's the seeds that truly count, one must choose between consuming them for immediate benefits or planting them to grow another tree, which will yield 40-50 fruits in the next 20 years! On the day of the celebration, I brought more than half of the forest's produces to share with all of you and planted the rest."

"For over forty years since my arrival, I have diligently harvested and replanted these seeds, multiplying their numbers." He momentarily pondered over something, before breaking into a wide grin, "In the upcoming harvesting season, we should be able to provide for all the ever-growing population on this island! Isn't that marvellous, Fugar?!!"

Overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement, the Community Head expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the very first settler, "Thank you, Ashar! Your selfless dedication to our well- being is immeasurable! We are forever indebted to you for your unwavering care..!"

And with that, they both parted ways, each looking forward to the future of their secured and healthy community...

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As Fugar took a short interval, taking a sip of water while the room stayed silent, Ben Beckman thoughtfully murmured to himself, "Guardian Seeds...I've heard of them before..."

"Please go on, Fugar-san...seems like there's a lot more to this story that you have yet to reveal, isn't it?" Encouraged the Red Hair Captain.

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With a nod, Fugar resumed, his voice now tinged with heaviness...

"Unfortunately, things took an unexpected turn... Just a few years later, the Marine Headquarters announced their intention to seize control of our island, subjecting it to the regulations of the World Government. Lord Bogart and his family, who claimed to be former royalties, arrived on the scene and were appointed as our new rulers, bestowing upon the island the name 'Rinascita'. I, too, was chosen to assist in their administrations."

He paused for a moment, reflecting on the rapid changes that had unfolded. "Everything happened so swiftly. Within a short span of time, a grand capital city was constructed, and I found myself immersed in the duties of building new infrastructure and overseeing various construction projects. Amidst the chaos, I lost touch with Ashar, as my responsibilities confined me to the new capital. The years passed, events unfolded, and Farlan's account likely fills in some of the details for you earlier..."

Fugar's voice wavered slightly as he continued, his tone laden with regrets... "It was only about three years ago when supplies started to seriously dwindle, when Lord Bogart had already been facing mounting financial problems for some time. He proposed the idea of extracting resources from the Forbidden Forest, the last remaining untouched wilderness on Rinascita...

"However, I vehemently disagreed, knowing the dangers that lurked within and above all, to protect the secretive cultivations that Ashar had devoted all his life to cherish for everyone of us."

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"We cannot venture into that perilous place, my Lord..!" He pleaded. "The Saberos are fiercely territorial! For decades, none of us has been able to approach, let alone invade their deep territory!"

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"Thankfully, Lord Bogart reluctantly abandoned the idea, fearing the wrath of the beasts. But the situation deteriorated when the Basilisk Pirates arrived and struck a deal with the Lord. Outlying towns suffered greatly at the hands of these cold-blooded people, engaging in looting, attacks, and even occasional acts of sexual violence. The only condition the Lord imposed was that no one should be killed, sparing the lives of the townspeople..."

Fugar's expression grew somber as he recounted an incident that occurred over a month ago involving his daughter's two sons... "Both of them were working as labourers in the capital when they got into a severe brawl with some members of the Basilisk crew in a nearby town. Fortunately, both parties sustained injuries but escaped fatal harms..."

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Upon hearing the news, Fugar's patience reached its breaking point. He confronted Lord Bogart, expressing his concerns about the escalating threats posed by the callous pirates. "My Lord, the recent actions of this vicious pirate group are deeply troubling! Shouldn't we reconsider our dealings with them? The risks they bring to our people far outweigh any benefits we may gain!"

His plea seemed to resonate with the island's ruler, who contemplated it for a considerable time. Finally, the Lord proposed a solution..."To address this problem," he said, "I have decided to relocate the Basilisk Pirate hideouts into the Forbidden Forest. This way, they will be farther away from most of the towns, reducing the chances of harms or clashes. Moreover, since the Saberos have long hindered our access to natural resources, these powerful pirates should be able to eliminate all of them for us. It's like killing two birds with one stone, don't you agree?"

The Lord's decision left his advisor speechless, a sense of dread washing over him. His mind raced, desperately seeking a way to halt this devastating plan, 'No, no, no!' his thoughts screamed, searching for any solution to prevent the pirates from invading Ashar's life-time home...

'If I can explain the truth to the Lord, perhaps he will understand and leave the forest untouched!'

With limited options available, Fugar decided to take a risk and reveal the secrets of Ashar and the Guardian Seeds... "You see, my Lord..." he began, his voice filled with urgency, "With the miraculous effects these Guardian Seeds bestow upon our people, coupled with our continuous trainings, we will become a stronger nation capable of protecting ourselves! Thus, we would no longer need those pirates for our defence!!"

He attempted to persuade Lord Bogart, and to his surprise...it seemed to have an impact. The Lord's face broke into a wide, exciting smile..."Ah, what a marvelous tale, Fugar! I am truly impressed by this Ashar figure and his remarkable contributions to our country's well-being! I shall reconsider the plan more carefully now that I have this additional information!" Then the Lord placed a reassuring hand on Fugar's shoulder before dismissing him...

" Well done, indeed. Well done..."

Fugar breathed a sigh of relief as it appeared the plan had been suspended. However, only one week later, another incident occurred, shattering his peace to bits...

Ethan and Lucas, who had recently been released from the hospital, mysteriously disappeared overnight. The following day, rumours began to circulate in the capital, suggesting that the Basilisk Crew, the same ones involved in the previous fight, had kidnapped the boys...

Yet, without concrete evidence, it seemed there was little they could do.

Fugar's worries for their well-beings consumed him, but he was powerless to take any action. Lord Bogart attempted to make contact with the Basilisk captain, a man known as 'Metal Fang Snake'. "He insisted that he had nothing to do with it," the Lord shared with a concerned tone...

"But worry not, Fugar! I have already informed the Marines and requested for an investigation. However, it will take some time for them to arrive. Let us pray for the safety of both boys while we await the marines' supports!"

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"And shortly after that, you, the infamous Red Hair Pirates, arrived on this island..." Fugar continued, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and anxiousness.

"Though I couldn't fathom the true reasons behind the abduction of my grandsons. It could have been a vengeful act after their previous clashes or something entirely different... However, I also caught wind of news about your encounters with the Basilisk crew. It raised suspicions within me that they might have had knowledge about Ashar and his works in the Forbidden Forest, in which their hideouts were closely located on its outskirt for two years! Perhaps they sought to claim the Guardian Seeds for themselves and tried to prevent you from uncovering their secrets! It's mere speculation, but the more I pondered over it, the greater my worries grew..."

His voice began to tremble..."It wasn't just the lives of my grandsons at stakes, but also Ashar's, potentially in the brutal clutches of these merciless pirates! And since you managed to defeat them yesterday, I couldn't wait for the marines any longer! So I sought your immediate assistance in venturing into the forest as the swifter we move, the greater the chance of finding them all still alive...!!" Finished the old man with his head slightly bow down, anxiously waiting for the pirate crew's reactions...

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Fugar's final sentence hung in the air, laden with urgency and hope. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the Red Hair Pirates, as they now understood the daunting quest that lay before them...

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A moment later, the redheaded Captain gradually rose from his seat, scanning his crew with a swift gaze before uttering, "It's time to get into that mysterious Forest."

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