Chapter 36: The Hunting Problem
Abyss and his companions followed Arcaiste towards the Druids’ meeting area.
The Druid council was clearly facing a crisis. The sacred tree’s slow but steady decline and the animals’ newfound magical abilities, seen by outsiders as a potential source of profit, were deeply troubling to the Druids, who understood the potential for ecological collapse.
These two problems weighed heavily on their minds. The lower-ranking Druids, less experienced and less powerful, could simply follow orders, but the high-ranking Druids couldn’t ignore the threat. They were desperately searching for a solution.
“This is our meeting area. All Druids gather here to discuss and resolve problems. Most of those present are high-ranking Druids. We hope you’ll join us, Master Belator, and share your wisdom,” Arcaiste said, gesturing towards a clearing ahead.
“What’s the current issue?” Abyss asked, looking towards the clearing, where several elderly Druids and a few animals were engaged in a heated discussion, their faces etched with worry.
“The most pressing issue is the safety of the Elven Kingdoms. More specifically, the safety of our hunters. You’ll understand once you join our discussion,” Arcaiste replied.
He led them into the clearing. The Druids nodded in greeting, then resumed their debate.
“…That’s absurd! Sending our apprentices to accompany the hunters? We don’t have enough apprentices, and it goes against our principles of non-interference,” a one-eyed Druid said, his voice filled with disapproval.
“Yes, I know the consequences of sending apprentices out into the world,” a female Druid with hawk-like eyes said, shaking her head. “A few years ago, I had an apprentice, Shelleville. I sent her to assist a handsome young merchant from the Western Empire with a local environmental problem. Two months later, she returned, pregnant, announcing her intention to leave the council and get married. I was furious.”
“Yes, you have no idea how much it pained me to hear that Shelleville had chosen another man. You can’t understand my pain,” a bald Druid said, nodding sympathetically.
The others paused, glaring at him.
“I apologize for interrupting. I’m Belator, a Druid summoned from the Ossi Kingdom,” Abyss said, stepping forward. “Are you discussing the safety of the Elven Kingdoms’ hunters?”
“Yes, we are,” they replied, nodding.
Most Druids were accepting of outsiders and readily welcomed Abyss into their discussion.
“We’re trying to find a way to protect our hunters from the magic-wielding animals. We’ve warned them, but hunting is their livelihood. We can’t forbid it, and the Gray Elf council wouldn’t allow it either. So, ensuring their safety has become a challenge,” the hawk-eyed Druid explained.
“I suggested sending our apprentices to accompany them, to calm the animals or help them escape, but it seems that’s not a viable solution,” a large bear, standing beside her, said in a deep, rumbling voice. “Exposing our inexperienced apprentices to the outside world could corrupt them.”
“We’ve considered other options, like inducing early hibernation, having the Druids hunt and provide the hunters with food, or even convincing the hunters to adopt a vegetarian diet, but none of these are ideal,” the bald Druid said, turning to Abyss. “You’re a visiting Druid, your experience vast. You must have some insights.”
“Hmm… This is a difficult problem,” Abyss said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
If he could use his full power, he could easily solve this problem, but he was maintaining his Druid persona. He needed to find a more “natural” solution to gain their approval.
“What if we calmed the animals, preventing them from attacking humans?” he suggested.
Arcaiste shook his head. “Master Belator, that would diminish their wild nature, disrupting the ecological balance. We must preserve their instincts, allow them to live as they always have. They might be more dangerous now, but they still have a right to exist.”
To Druids, balance was paramount. Using magic to pacify the animals would have unforeseen consequences.
“I have an idea,” Rebecca said, raising her hand. “If we can’t weaken the animals, why not strengthen the hunters?”
“Strengthen the hunters? That would also disrupt the balance,” the bear Druid said.
“We’re only concerned about the hunters’ safety when facing magical animals. We can enhance their defenses and their survival instincts only when they’re under attack,” Rebecca explained, twirling her index finger. “This would restore the balance in those specific situations, without making the hunters too powerful or the animals too weak.”
“Is there such magic? A spell that activates under specific conditions?” the hawk-eyed Druid asked. “Would we need a large-scale magic array covering the entire Elven Kingdoms?”
“There’s a more efficient and less costly solution,” Rebecca said, proudly patting her bag, revealing her identity as an alchemist. “We can use potions, combined with some natural magic. I believe it would be quite effective.”
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