Smoke and dust billowed, sparks flew, and the Giant Tree gave its final groan as it toppled.
What met the Mushroom Person Gubo's gaze was a figure standing quietly to one side, wearing a serene smile. His gray robe was utterly ordinary, its front seemingly slashed open by a blade and a section of its hem torn off at random. Yet it looked perfectly natural on him, just as his presence at the sidelines had been so difficult to notice.
An eerie silence fell for a moment, broken only by the lingering rumble of the Giant Tree's collapse.
Gubo swayed, shaking loose a few Emotion Spores.
"Master Ruger?" he said softly, as though he could not believe what he saw.
Thud! Thud, thud!
The black stone man retreated several steps in succession, putting some distance between them.
All three of those present were looking at Ruger.
In this respect, they were alike: incredulous souls and poor, startled victims. They had been fighting for their lives here, never imagining someone was watching the spectacle from the sidelines. Friend or foe aside, none of the three had sensed him. A moment of self-doubt was inevitable, and it also made them more cautious.
Because they now had doubts about more than just themselves.
Ruger glanced at the retreating black stone man, then turned back to the intriguing Mushroom Person.
"Master Gubo, greetings," Ruger said with a smile.
"Greetings." Gubo bowed in return, stiff but earnest.
That was simply how he was, not a sign that Ruger had frightened him. Sometimes, even a casual joke made in an emergency would be taken seriously by Gubo. Or rather, even if he had been startled, returning a greeting would make him briefly forget his surprise. Only after earnestly completing the courtesy would he go back to