SWNOVELXO Chapter 1339: Resurfaced Memories (Part 2)
A/N: Would you hate me if I start an ML story with a playboy MC lololool. It probably won't be a harem tho, but yeah xD For the girlies' POV, there would be another POV character in the form of the ML's sister. She's a kid though, so it has a childcare subplot going on.
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Anyway, they continued to climb a few more steps, passing by several more neighborhoods. As they walked, he couldn't help but keep comparing.
"Father, do you think it is superior to our treehouses?"
Their treehouses were also magnificent. Mansions and complex houses, and entire complex communities, were built above ground, supported by massive trees hundreds of meters in height.
There were more than a hundred people there and, together, they created a large floating village that would amaze anyone who hadn't lived there since birth.
His father smiled. "Each community adjusted according to its own situation," he said. "And each arrangement was the best for that place."
Garan looked at him and nodded in understanding.
His clan found a home in the Eastern Elder Forest where trees could grow hundreds of meters high with trunks tens of meters in diameter. They had a large amount of wood resources, so their houses were very naturally made of wood.
In contrast, this village lived on a mountain, so their houses were made of rocks, though some of them he didn't find familiar.
At the same time, according to the scrolls in the village library, this village was famous for their love of plants.
He thought they'd be in treehouses like theirs, not on a mountain above the clouds. However, they did have lush trees and gardens for a place filled with rocks.
It was just that as they climbed up, his eyes widened a bit when he saw that they were actually in a valley. The valley was not too deep and could only be accessibly from this side, which was probably why he hadn't see it before.
He saw the massive terraces of crops and plants, incredibly vibrant, especially under the bright sun. It was like a large lake made of plants and flowers, and he had never seen anything like it.
"Beautiful, right?" his father asked, looking at his blank face and knowing the emotions underneath. "Each clan has its own rules, and they also have their own preferences. They liked their plants, we liked our heights."
"..."
Garan narrowed his eyes at him. He didn't dislike heights, but he wouldn't go out of his way to find a high place either.
Eventually, they reached their destination, which was the house at the very top. It was a lovely, crystal-like, house surrounded by a beautiful garden of colorful and glittering flowers, many of which he did not recognize.
"Do you know why we're here?" he asked. Garan blinked and looked at the cart being pulled by their servant behind them.
It had a small mountain of things. If a rune wasn't used here, the wheel would've either given way, or created deep tracks wherever it passed by.
When they were loading it up, he overheard his father say these were offerings to the leaders of the other tribe. From the stories in the scrolls, there was a common situation wherein this was uttered:
To make the sacrifices.
(Obviously, Garan had a specific choice in the scrolls he read)
Garan nodded, as reticent as always. His father, assuming he really did understand, rubbed his soft head again. He then turned his head to look at the large mansion again.
"Garan, my son, are you ready to meet your future wife?"
Garan pursed his lips. He didn't know what 'wife' meant, but his father took it very seriously, so he did too.
The two entered a wide room that seemed even larger than it appeared from outside. Was it part of this clan's magic, he wondered.
The two of them were led deeper into the house, their 'sacrifices' taken by the other side's servants and arranged elsewhere.
Soon, they reached one of the deeper rooms with one of the more intricately designed doors he had seen in the house so far. When it opened, he found out it was a large bedroom.
There were two adults, a man and a woman. The man was standing on the side of the bed while the woman was on the bed.
Although he didn't remember their faces, he knew they were smiling. The woman was holding a little bundle wrapped around beautiful silk fabric.
His father's hand found the back of his head, gently nudging him forward to the three people.
"Come here, little one," the woman gently said, and Little Garan approached them with a complicated expression.
Before heading here, his father asked him aside for a serious talk, and then he brought him here.
Growing up, one of the things that could make his father seriously discuss something was his training.
Not long ago, in fact, he had been fighting with monsters several times his size. Ironically, this made the little bundle seem a bit more intimidating, as if it were as strong as those monsters compressed together.
It must be why the lady was holding on to it. The fabric must be a special containment vessel.
He wondered if he should take out his weapon, but that'd probably be rude and a show of disrespect, considering they had already handled the monster on their own.
However, the woman suddenly turned the bundle to show Garan what was inside.
Immediately, he was met with a beautiful little girl with green eyes.
He was always a quiet and introspective child, but his eyes sparkled as he looked at the child.
When she made a toothless grin, little Garan was completely smitten.
His father patted his head. "This baby is your betrothed. Is she not beautiful?"
He nodded, very honestly. The combination of his stoic face and chubby cheeks made the adults giggle.
"You two are the hope of our ancestors…" the woman said. "So take care of her well, okay?"
Garan nodded again, very sincerely, all without pulling his eyes away from the baby.
"Gggguuuew!" the baby giggled with her milky voice, showing off her toothless grin that made everyone's hearts to melt.
Little Garan gaped at her smile and her pure green eyes, and felt time slow down a little.
That moment, he knew for certain that he'd do anything to protect that smile.