Chapter 69: Eldiron
Calling Ildisiar a village would’ve been stretching it.
It was a small settlement of less than two hundred inhabitants, with a majority of the people working in the tea harvesting trade. Yet, the other portion of the population were all ancient masters, their progeny and disciples.
And a favored pastime of theirs was to congregate around gigantic trees and share knowledge among themselves.
“Don’t you think it’s a little overbearing to simply drag me along and expect me to teach?” Orodan asked, amused.
“Is it? From what you tell me, you quite enjoy teaching people. Whether it’s through taking on a student or giving someone a beating, I’ve heard you’re rather good at imparting lessons,” Eldarion said. “Why not spend some time around the tree of wisdom? Learn a little, impart a bit of your own knowledge? The trees know more than they let on, and the venerable one here in Ildisiar is the eldest of them all. And given what you tell me of your goals… the tree may be of more help than you realize.”
The trees of wisdom.
Who would’ve thought that the oldest living things on Eldiron weren’t elves or dragons… but trees? Indeed, the trees of wisdom were towering and ancient things. Frankly, aside from the world core and its guardians, Orodan suspected these trees might genuinely be the oldest living things on Alastaia.
Settlements formed around these aged trees. And there was a reason Ildisiar, a small settlement for tea harvesting, had so many elven Masters and Grandmasters living within. It was for the chance to seek wisdom from the oldest living thing in the settlement.
And it took the form of debates and discussion between parties, with the tree serving as the mediator.