Chapter 13. The Tales of the Ents

The second-to-last enclosure Arthur had to tend to belonged to the ents. These ancient beings immediately sparked a mix of curiosity and mild apprehension in him. In textbooks and stories, ents were described as wise guardians of the forests, but their excessive talkativeness was often mentioned as a trait that could exhaust even the most patient listeners.

"Well then, ents. Let's see what you're really like," Arthur muttered, holding the caretaker's guide as he made his way into their enclosure.

The ent enclosure was truly unique. It was a vast area that looked like an actual forest, with towering trees, thick undergrowth, and air so crisp and fresh it made Arthur's head spin for a moment.

As soon as he stepped inside, one of the trees stirred. Features slowly formed on its bark, and its massive roots stretched out of the ground, turning into legs.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" a deep, resonant voice rumbled.

"Hello. My name is Arthur," he introduced himself. "I've been assigned to take care of you."

The ent, whose bark was a deep green with patches of moss, leaned closer, examining Arthur.

"Arthur… A good name. Sounds like someone who could listen to a dozen or so stories," it said meaningfully.

"Uh… I'm here to help," Arthur replied cautiously, realizing that "a dozen or so" might translate into a very long conversation.

He barely had time to finish speaking when another tree began to move. This ent was shorter than the first, but its voice was just as loud.

"Help? That means you can listen! Sit down, young wizard, and I'll tell you about the time I saved a tree on the edge of the world."

Before Arthur knew it, he found himself surrounded by a small group of ents, who slowly but surely began telling their tales.

The first ent started:

"Long ago, before this academy was even founded, I was just a young sapling. My forest was attacked by an ancient beast that devoured magical energy. We trees banded together to drive it away…" It continued speaking, as if it had truly been part of some legendary battle.

Arthur listened, but the more details were added, the less believable the story seemed.

"And how did you defeat it?" he asked, trying not to sound too skeptical.

"Ah, it was the greatest battle! We summoned rain, wind, lightning, and all the spirits of the forest. The beast fled, and our forest was saved," the ent concluded triumphantly.

Arthur barely suppressed a smile.

"That sounds… impressive," he said.

The second ent wasn't about to be left out.

"And my story is about how I protected an entire human village from a swamp demon invasion!"

As Arthur listened to yet another grand tale, he began to doubt their truthfulness. The stories were too epic, too heroic to be real. But then again, who was he to question beings that had lived for thousands of years?

While the ents spoke, Arthur started inspecting the enclosure. Despite their strength, the ents' environment still needed care.

He noticed that some of the plants looked a little wilted.

"Uh, excuse me, but is it normal for those bushes over there to look… not entirely healthy?" he asked the nearest ent.

"Ah, those bushes. We call them 'lazy bushes.' They prefer to rest rather than grow," the ent replied lazily.

"Or they just forget they need sunlight," another added.

"Or maybe they're just being stubborn," a third chimed in.

"Got it," Arthur chuckled. "Then I'll just water them."

The ents watched with interest as he used a special bucket that evenly distributed water infused with magical energy.

"Well done, young wizard," one of them rumbled approvingly. "You remind me of myself when I cared for my first saplings."

As his work neared completion, Arthur finally decided to ask:

"So… all your stories… Did they really happen?"

The ents exchanged glances—or rather, shifted slightly.

"Let's just say we add a few details to make them more interesting," one said with a smirk.

"But every great event starts with something small," another added.

Arthur laughed.

"Well, I'm glad I got to hear your 'great events.'"

As he prepared to leave, the ents waved their branches at him, promising to tell even more stories next time.

Just as Arthur was about to step out of the enclosure, a thick branch gently blocked his path.

"Wait, young wizard! There are still so many stories you need to hear…" an ent said, its voice carrying an unmistakable grin.

Arthur sighed, realizing there was no escape.

"Alright, one more story," he said, sitting down on a large root.

An ent who introduced himself as Sedrach began:

The Tale of the Floating Island

"Long ago, when I was just a young sprout, the world was very different. The lands were separated by skies, and enormous floating islands drifted above. One of them was called Lebo, and it was my home. It was beautiful, filled with thousands of flowers, singing streams, and ancient magic."

"Floating islands?" Arthur repeated, surprised by the beginning.

"Yes, yes, don't look so skeptical, young one," Sedrach said, his crown swaying. "It was a true wonder. But one day, dark mages attacked our island, seeking to steal its core. They tried to destroy us from within, spreading chaos among the inhabitants."

Arthur imagined the scene.

"And what happened?"

"We, the ents, along with the forest spirits, created a barrier that repelled their attacks. But both the island and its people suffered heavy damage… We became bound to the island, unable to move, and eventually, it lost its ability to float. Now, its remains rest somewhere in the ocean," Sedrach finished with a note of sadness.

Arthur frowned. It sounded too dramatic to be entirely made up.

"Is that true?"

"Perhaps," Sedrach said slyly. "Or maybe I embellished it a little."

A much older and larger ent, with a deep crack in its trunk—what it called a 'lightning scar'—interrupted:

"Sedrach always tells sad stories. Mine will be more cheerful!"

"Go ahead," Arthur said, his expectations already lowered.

The ent began:

"The Valley of Eternal Sunset. That's what they called the place where I spent a thousand years. It was a valley bathed in an endless sunset. We trees loved its soft light, and no one disturbed us. One day, a traveler arrived, lost and weary. He wore all black and carried a long staff. I immediately found him suspicious."

"What did he do?" Arthur asked.

"He tried to steal the sunset's light," the ent said gravely.

"Steal… light?" Arthur echoed, his skepticism growing.

"Yes! This was a micro-world with unique rules. He wanted to capture the light in a magical crystal. But we, the trees, did not allow it. We slowed him with winds and tangled him in our roots. In the end, he escaped, but his crystal shattered, and the sunset's light remained with us," the ent concluded proudly.

Arthur smiled. The story was absurd, but oddly heartwarming.

Another ent, the youngest with smooth bark, told a much simpler tale:

"Long ago, when I was just a small sapling, a boy lived near my forest. Every day, he would come to me, bringing water and talking about his dreams of becoming a wizard. He was the son of a woodcutter, but unlike his father, he didn't want to cut down trees."

"What happened to him?" Arthur asked.

"One day, he disappeared. But before he left, he placed a small amulet at my roots. Years later, I learned that he had become a wizard but died in an accident. Even though he will never return, I still keep his amulet," the ent said, revealing a dark stone nestled among its roots.

"And you still remember him?"

"Of course. We ents never forget those who respected us."

Arthur left the enclosure with a smile, his mind buzzing with the ents' tales.

"These creatures could tell more stories than all the books in the academy, but how much of it was real… that's another question."

Just as Arthur was about to leave the enclosure, something roughly grabbed his shoulder. He turned around and saw a massive branch of one of the ents wrapped around him like a giant arm.

"Not so fast, young mage!" said Sedrah, the same ent, lowering his massive crown closer to Arthur's face. "We can't let you go without telling you one more story."

"But I... I have things to do!" protested Arthur, trying to break free.

"Tasks can wait, but stories cannot. Otherwise, they wither like leaves in autumn!" The ent smiled, as much as a tree could, and tightened its grip around him.

Sedrah didn't wait for Arthur's consent and immediately began:

"There was a time when people forgot about us. They cut down all the trees, leaving only barren land. The world became dry, empty, and cold. Rivers dried up, the earth cracked, and the sky turned gray."

"And how did you fix it?" Arthur managed to ask, feeling the branches slowly pulling him back toward the tree.

"We returned, rising from the ashes and forgotten seeds. But not just as trees—we became sentient, like what you see now. And then a war began, lasting for centuries. In the end, we restored the world, and people learned to respect nature once more," Sedrah said proudly.

Arthur scoffed.

"Did you, by any chance, make up this story to make people feel guilty?"

"Perhaps," the ent replied mysteriously. "But listen to another one."

Arthur realized that arguing was pointless and braced himself for another "tale."

This time, another ent intervened, using its branches to gently "pass" Arthur closer to itself.

"It was the age of dragons," the new storyteller began, his voice resonant. "One of them was extraordinarily wise. He was our friend, often flying to us for advice."

"A dragon? To you?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Of course. He often perched in our crowns, resting and telling us about the lives of dragons. And we shared our stories with him. But one day, humans betrayed the dragon. They lured him into a trap to steal his treasures."

"How did you save him?" Arthur asked, realizing it was best to just play along to avoid angering the ents.

"We summoned a storm. Our branches shot lightning, and our roots caused earthquakes. We destroyed those who tried to harm him. But the dragon was disappointed in humans and never returned."

"Of course, of course," Arthur muttered.

When the ents started a new story about "star seeds capable of reviving dead forests," Arthur felt time slipping away.

"I... uh... just remembered I have a lecture in a few minutes," he suddenly said, trying to wriggle out of the entangling branches.

"A lecture?" Sedrah repeated, slightly loosening his grip. "But you can come back later, can't you?"

"Of course, of course! I'll definitely return," Arthur replied quickly, stepping back as soon as the branches released him.

"We will be waiting, young mage," the ent said with a smile, letting him go.

Arthur wasted no time and hurried toward the exit, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one would stop him again.

When he finally left the enclosure, his heart was pounding, and only one thought occupied his mind:

"Ents are amazing storytellers, but honestly, their love for stories could drive anyone insane!"

He swore that next time, he would escape much faster…