Vanarana 2

Over mountains when they blocked the way, across rivers when they stood in the way.

Having sprinted all the way here, Lin Feng had considered the impact on the environment and had not used his Authority for travel, pulling tricks like elemental propulsion.

Yet even relying only on his physical abilities and occasional short-range teleportation, he still reached Vanarana in little time.

When Lin Feng stepped into this world again, he found the beautiful dreamscape considerably quieter now that the Utsava Festival had passed.

The magnificent purple sky remained as dreamlike as ever, and the Viparyas blooming beside the paths were still as dazzling as when he had first seen them.

Because of the previous Utsava Festival, Lin Feng had dutifully played countless games of hide-and-seek with hundreds of Aranara, so he now knew Vanarana's terrain like the back of his hand.

After his earlier mad dash, Lin Feng did not rush straight to Rana Raga's little house.

He merely stood atop one of Vanarana's distinctive giant leaves, taking a moment to calm himself after getting overly worked up from speeding along earlier.

At the same time, he did not forget to distribute the "plump little bugs" and "fresh fruit" he had gathered along the way as gifts to the Aranara he encountered.

—This time, the gifts were unexpectedly well received.

Though he had learned from the story that Aranara liked "plump little bugs," watching these vegetable-like little fellows happily eat bugs still gave Lin Feng a strange sense of contrast.

After handing out the gifts, Lin Feng headed directly for Ranaraja's house, intending to retrieve the Vanarana Fruit he had stored there earlier.

Unexpectedly, Lin Feng did not see Lesser Lord Kusanali anywhere in Vanarana this time.

—Coming here probably was not especially easy for Nahida.

Thinking of how Nahida possessed Authority over dreams yet generally appeared only in worlds constructed entirely from Spiritual Power,

Lin Feng guessed that although the dream created by the Aranara was extremely stable, perhaps precisely because it was too stable, entering this world poised between reality and illusion placed additional strain on Nahida.

—Otherwise, there was no reason for Lesser Lord Kusanali not to soak in Vanarana's piles of cabbages every day.

Lin Feng felt somewhat regretful that he could not immediately bring the gifts to Nahida.

But having decided to make quick work of the Withering, he sensed the still-bright sky outside and planned to finish this long-delayed commission first before going to share the good news with Nahida.

He slowly proceeded along the dirt path enclosed by wooden fences.

Making his way with practiced ease to the center of Vanarana, Lin Feng looked at the only two-story building in the entire dreamscape and faintly released his own dream aura.

After using Vanarana's unique way of knocking to alert the house's owner, Lin Feng entered the peculiar spherical building.

The moment he crossed the threshold, he saw Ranaraja standing quietly before the table.

"Long time no see, Ranaraja."

"Following my previous agreement with Laramoth, I have come to retrieve the Vanarana Fruit and take part in the final campaign against the Withering Manifestation."

Lin Feng explained the situation concisely.

"..."

Ranaraja, with its two little mustache-like whiskers, seemed half a beat slow to react. After a moment of silence, it said in a dry voice,

"I have already heard from Laramoth about what happened before."

"It said that because the Awakened King Tree had been corroded by the Withering, you stopped it from entering the Awakened King Tree."

"It believed its strength was insufficient and intended to cultivate a stronger 'Rangalari,' but I know that you simply did not wish for it to 'sprout' so soon."

Ranaraja paused. Like an old man in his twilight years, it tilted its body back slightly and sank into memories.

"Nara and Aranara once played together, walking together beneath the shade of trees. I no longer remember such an era, but I have always remembered stories like these."

"As a seed, Laramoth has spent only a short time walking upon the earth. I hope it will see that day."

"Therefore, I am very happy that Laramoth was able to become friends with Nara Lin Feng."

"..."

Ranaraja fell silent again.

Though Aranara were not good with words, it had spoken such a long passage in one breath.

Lin Feng sensed the conflict in Ranaraja's heart.

Having lived too long, it possessed human knowledge, yet it had also unconsciously acquired human troubles.

—Sprouting and growing was a seed's mission, and after passing away, everything would reunite in "Eternal Sands."

Yet when faced with a companion's departure, it still felt reluctant to part and still instinctively tried to hold them back.

The conflict between personal desire and duty caused this Aranara, which cared for its juniors like an elder, great pain.

"You need not blame yourself for your own wishes. Accepting one's mission and caring for one's juniors are not contradictory."

Lin Feng comforted it.

"Besides, since I have come here, it means everything will no longer develop as it did 'originally.'"

Lin Feng looked at it and slightly released his Authority as proof of his words.

!!!

Ranaraja's somewhat hunched body seemed to have been filled with vitality. In surprise, it bounced twice on the spot.

"This... this is the power of the 'King of a Thousand Trees'!"

"In memories from a very long time ago, I once felt such an aura."

"Though it has now become a 'story,' only the King of a Thousand Trees once possessed the power to make dead earth flourish anew!"

The instant Rana Raga's withered yellow body sensed this power, even the leaves atop its head trembled excitedly.

It looked at Lin Feng before it as though it had seen that figure from the past, speaking in an emotional voice,

"Not even the most tenacious 'Marana' can contend against the King of a Thousand Trees' power."

"With such power, perhaps even the Awakened King Tree can be healed!"

Ranaraja raised its head, pointing the two brown leaves above its mustache directly at Lin Feng.

Though he could not see its eyes, Lin Feng had the distinct feeling that Ranaraja was watching him.

"Nara Lin Feng, on behalf of the Aranara, I make a request of you."

"In the coming operation, every resident of Vanarana will assist you with all their strength."

"So please put an end to the 'death' that has accumulated across this land over hundreds of years."

"Please save the Awakened King Tree, the 'mother' of all Aranara."

"..."

Ranaraja lowered its body and made its request.

"All Aranara are my friends. There's no need to be so formal."

"Defeating the Withering was my mission to begin with, but I'll take on the request to heal the Awakened King Tree as well."

Lin Feng readily accepted Ranaraja's request.

"But I hope you can agree to one thing for me."

Lin Feng looked at Ranaraja.

"I agree."

Ranaraja agreed immediately without even hearing what the request was.

"Don't reject it so quickly. It's not anything excessive...???"

"Ahem... You agreed that quickly?"

Ranaraja's unexpected straightforwardness left Lin Feng somewhat at a loss.

After collecting his thoughts, he still said frankly,

"Please gather every Aranara who does not resist fighting, or who is interested in strength and Rangalari."

"I will join them in saving their mother and give them an unforgettable 'memory.'"

"In return, I hope that one day in the future, they will also join me in 'saving' a certain awkward little fellow."

Thinking of someone's awkward personality, Lin Feng decided it was better not to tell her about his plan to "clean up" the Akademiya.