Barkh and Mau were slowly making their way through the eastern gate, heading along the path toward Damu. Just moments ago, the Mooloomooks, which had been utterly out of control, were now quietly stepping in sync with Mau's pace as he walked, holding the reins after dismounting from the wagon. The wagon's wheels rolled smoothly without a single jolt.
Barkh placed one hand on his hip and stroked his chin with the other, bursting into hearty laughter.
"Mau, you didn't stuff yourself too much, did you? You're such a tiny little thing, but you sure can eat! When you first said you'd drive this wagon around peddling goods, I worried I'd have to fill the whole thing just with ingredients to feed you! Kahahaha!"
At Barkh's booming laughter, Mau scrunched up his face in protest.
"Bro, I don't eat that much... And I'm bigger than most other Dawis... I only pack as much food as I need..."
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Got it. But Mau, you don't snore, do you? Your companions on this trip didn't complain? If this kid snores in his sleep, no one would get a wink."
Barkh turned his head toward Gravel's group, who were traveling with them, and asked.
In response to Barkh's question, Gravel, riding horseback alongside the wagon, offered a slight smile.
"No snoring at all. Though... there was some sleep-talking. Things like 'This is mine!' or 'Just one more bite!'"
The moment Nia heard that, Nia leaned back on the saddle and burst into laughter.
"Puhit! So you really do eat a ton, nyar? Even dreaming about chowing down.!"
"No! I just... I'm just diligently serving customers and doing business in my dreams! Really, it's not about eating!"
Mau's face flushed red as he made his excuses, but the mood around him had already shifted to teasing. Barkh placed a hand on Mau's head and ruffled it messily.
"Kahaha! Alright, alright. What a dedicated merchant you are! But as a frail Dawi, your big brother here is always worried. Sometimes I think I should've raised you tougher when you were little."
"... (If you'd raised me any tougher, I'd be dead... Bro.)"
Mau muttered inwardly, recalling the past. In his childhood, Barkh's "training" methods had been downright brutal. He'd loaded Mau's small back with a full load of deer meat and made him run along forest paths. Once, when a pack of starving wolves was drawn by the scent of blood and approached Mau, Barkh had urged him on with, "Now run for real!" The sound of the wolves' paws pounding the ground, their sharp breaths, still echoed vividly in his ears.
And that wasn't all. On freezing winter days, Mau had to practice balancing on a frozen river, plunging into the icy water if he slipped even once. Barkh would push him with, "If you can't do this, no dinner tonight!" Occasionally, he'd have to climb mountain paths carrying heavy stones, and dropping one meant starting over from the bottom. He'd fallen countless times, scraping his knees bloody, but Barkh never let him stop.
In the end, Mau had barely escaped Barkh's grueling grip by fabricating a story about starting a business with his friend Dallen. Yet those memories still haunted him like nightmares. Hidden deep in his chest, waves of fear would surge up, leaving his body rigid at times. Even now, whenever his brother Barkh said things like "I should've raised you tougher." those horrific memories resurfaced, making Mau shudder.
Mau pursed his lips, about to retort, but Barkh's playful tone made him feel like he'd lose any argument. Gravel shook his head at the sight, while Dallen and Nia stifled giggles.
Barkh walked alongside the wagon, ruffling Mau's hair once more.
"Well, when we meet up at home later, let's arm-wrestle! If you win, I'll buy you a Mooloomook!"
Mau flinched and turned his head away.
"Arm-wrestling... let's do it next time, Barkh bro. I'm too tired right now... Calming down the Mooloomooks and driving the wagon wore me out."
At that, laughter erupted from everyone around. Barkh patted Mau's head again and smiled toward Dallen, who was sitting in the wagon.
"Anyway, see you at dinner. I've got to head back to the Sun side gate. And big brother Daroon is over at the Moonlit Citadel, on the moon side edge of the Tharn Forest, so it'll be hard to see him this time too."
Mau nodded and saw Barkh off. As Barkh turned back toward the gate, Mau's wagon resumed its journey toward Damu.
As the group's wagon neared Damu, the roadside began to fill with Dawi and Muwa bustling about in preparation for the festival. Dallen explained to the companions around that it was the season for the fish-catching festival called Dook-Dook Pioran-o, drawing fishers from all around Damu.
Many of the passersby were fishers with spears, bidents, and harpoons slung over their backs. Anglers appeared too, with long fishing rods over their shoulders and hats adorned with colorful lure hooks. Some Dawis rolled large wooden barrels, preparing to store salmon for the festival, and the excitement and festive energy rode the wind, spreading toward Damu.
"This festival seems quite large-scale, more than I expected."
Gravel looked around with evident interest and remarked.
Dallen nodded with a smile on his lips.
"It's all thanks to the Kannook Salmon. Ordinary salmon swim upstream before autumn or winter arrives, but Kannook Salmon ascend in the dead of winter. This is the most crucial time for the fishers. And it doesn't happen every year—only every three years—so the anticipation builds, making the festival even grander."
Nia's eyes sparkled as Nia looked up.
"How big are those salmon.?"
"The small ones are about 15 stones, the big ones over 250 stones. And the legendary 'King of Kannook Salmon' has never been caught. It's said to lead the school, flooding rivers, shattering ice, even toppling bridges as it swims upstream."
At Dallen's words, the entire group wore expressions of astonishment.
Mau nodded and added,
"Barkh bro participated in the Dook-Dook Pioran-o festival as a harpooner once. He said the one he caught was at least 80 stones. I didn't see it myself—just heard him bragging about it."
Iris raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued, and asked,
"How do they cook such massive salmon?"
Dallen continued his explanation.
"When a Kannook Salmon is caught, the village holds its grandest feast. The whole fish is roasted over a wood fire, rubbed with ginger powder, pepper, and salt, then seasoned further to taste with spices. I prefer adding rosemary. And the one who catches the largest Kannook Salmon at the festival earns the honorable title of 'Trag'—meaning the harpooner of Nauul, the mana whale guardian spirit of Damu."
Gravel folded his arms, tilting his head as he tried to recall if he'd read about Damu's guardian spirit, the mana whale Nauul.
"Damu's guardian spirit, the mana whale Nauul... I think I've read about it somewhere..."
Nia bounced with excitement, exclaiming in an eager voice,
"For real!? Hehehee! Gotta try some!"
Before long, Damu's eastern wall came into view before the group.
Massive trees had taken root, forming the wall, with sturdy stones encasing the spaces between them. The living trees intertwined like a single organic barrier, and at the base of the trunks, moss and vines grew, lending a soft green hue. The branches rose above the wall, naturally casting shade, and whenever the wind blew, the leaves rustled against each other in a whispering chorus. The heavy, colossal stones weren't merely stacked; they were entwined with the trees' roots, firmly anchored.
Below the wall, Dawi and Muwa moved busily. Muwas used their manifested hands of mana to carry light loads or inspect the wall's condition, while Dawi, with their muscular builds, hauled large and heavy materials. Among them, Muwa children darted about playing pranks, and the wall guards welcomed visitors, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Keuraber stepped down from the wagon and halted, gazing at the wall. His fingers slowly brushed his waist. A familiar yet unfamiliar sight. He drew a deep breath. The memories of when this very wall before him was being built flooded back vividly.
Back then, just like now, the air was thick with dust and the scent of wood, as hundreds of Dawi and Muwa gathered together. Enormous trees lay across multiple massive carts connected in a line. Dawis secured them tightly with ropes, while Muwas carefully balanced them with their manifested hands. Thick, sturdy wooden wheels rumbled as dozens of Dawi slowly pushed and pulled toward the wall site. Hundreds of mana-manifested hands from the Muwas enveloped the trees, and floating hands in the air gently lifted the colossal timber. Nearby, Muwas fluttered their wings, concentrating on the hands they'd created; with each gesture, the trees rose steadily without a tremor.
Dawis held the ropes taut, supporting the trees. The thick, tense ropes pulled, swelling the Dawis' powerful forearms with strain. Rough, beast-like breaths filled the air, and their large feet stomped the solid ground as they positioned the trees in place.
"One, two, pull!"
At the resounding command, the ropes tightened further, and the trees finally settled as part of the wall. Dirt flew up, and the roots sank deep into the firm earth once more. The Muwas' hands gave a final gentle push to secure them before fading away slowly.
Keuraber remembered that moment. The sweat-soaked faces in the dust, the countless Muwa hands lifting the massive trees, and the masons of Laboreus, silently chiseling stones to build the wall around the trees.
And now, the result stood before him. The leaves swayed in the wind, whispering low, and the wall's stones held their ground solidly, enduring the weight of long years. Keuraber nodded quietly.
"To exist and remain in this world for so long—that is true strength."
With a faint smile, he resumed his steps.
Beyond the wall, Damu's streets came into view. The city interior buzzed with festival preparations, Dawi and Muwa hustling everywhere. Warm air mingled with spice scents wafted about, and the market was lined with tents of various colors. Muwas used their manifested hands to move goods or hang decorations, while Dawis carried large and small equipment, erecting structures needed for the festival.
Iris looked around in admiration.
"Damu is truly unique. A wall made with living trees. But Aquiln's eastern wall was being built in a similar way, wasn't it?"
Gravel crossed his arms, looking up at the wall.
"Yes, though in Aquiln, it wasn't finished yet when we saw it, so seeing this completed wall makes the difference stark."
Mau smiled broadly at Gravel and Iris's reactions.
"Aquiln's eastern wall will look similar once it's done. Over time, it'll become even sturdier, merging seamlessly with the trees."
As the group entered the city, Dallen took the lead and said,
"Welcome to Damu. First, I'll guide you to the grand mansion of Elder Benarr, the merchant magnate."
The group exchanged nods, and the wagon began moving again. As they headed through the wall toward the city center, the festival's vibrant energy grew thicker still.