‘Five hundred thousand Mora just for a tip, five million for a live capture.’
‘That old geezer Azar has some good taste after all.’
He thought to himself gleefully.
‘But it’s a shame—this world only has Mora, no Primogems.’
‘If it were fifty Primogems and five hundred Primogems, I’d just lie back and wait for the Traveler to come find me himself.’
‘Then I’d obediently get caught and go home with the Traveler—’
As he was lost in self-satisfied admiration, Nahida’s hand gently landed on his head and ruffled it.
‘What are you thinking about?’ she asked softly.
Amid snapped back to reality and looked up at her.
Nahida had already withdrawn her gaze and was observing the surroundings.
Then she raised her hand, and a faint green light glowed in her palm.
Dendro Energy flowed around her fingertips, weaving together as if alive.
Soon, a bamboo basket appeared in her hand.
The basket was intricately woven, each bamboo strip even and delicate, with a small lid that could be closed.
Nahida held the basket up to her eyes, examined it, and nodded in satisfaction.
Then she looked at Amid.
‘Amid, I’m sorry to trouble you for now,’ she said softly, opening the lid of the basket.
‘Go inside and hide for a bit.
I’ll let you out when it’s safe.’
Amid looked at the basket, then at his portrait on the wanted notice.
He understood Nahida’s meaning.
‘Fine, I’ll go in.’
Without hesitation, he folded his small wings and slipped into the basket.
Once inside, he even reached out a tiny paw to pull the lid shut.
It was a bit dark inside the basket, but he could see outside through the gaps in the weave.
Amid curled up, finding a comfortable position to nestle in.
‘It’s actually quite cozy.’
He thought to himself, then—
‘Bi~’ he chirped softly to signal he was ready.
Nahida turned and gathered some Sweet Flowers and Mint from the roadside, along with a few plants that looked like medicinal herbs, and placed them all in the basket, covering Amid with a layer on top.
After doing this, she slung the basket over her back, adjusted its position so it rested snugly against her back—not too loose, not too stifling.
Now she looked like a child out gathering herbs.
Carrying a basket filled with freshly picked medicinal plants.
Nahida straightened her clothes and began walking toward Gandharva Ville.
The entrance to Gandharva Ville had guards stationed there.
Several Forest Rangers passed by, pack animals ambled slowly—everything felt relaxed.
Nahida walked in, and no one gave her a second glance.
A little girl carrying a bamboo basket was far too common a sight here.
The guards only gave a routine check of the basket’s contents.
Upon seeing the top layer of Sweet Flowers and Mint, they let Nahida pass without further inspection.
After all, what harm could a little girl possibly intend?
Amid peeked out through the gaps in the basket.
Gandharva Ville was much livelier than in the game.
Everything felt so vibrant, so real.
Nahida walked slowly.
She was in no hurry.
As she walked, she observed everything around her.
The people and things she had seen countless times in dreams were now right before her eyes.
Real, vivid, within reach.
The corner of her mouth curved slightly upward.
Not long after walking, she saw a young Forest Ranger sorting arrows by the roadside.
Nahida walked over and stopped.
‘Hello,’ she spoke softly, her voice gentle.
‘Excuse me, is Mr.
Tighnari here?’
The young Forest Ranger looked up.
Seeing a little girl with a bamboo basket, he didn’t think much of it.
‘Looking for Mr.
Tighnari?’ He pointed upward.
‘He’s up there, the third treehouse.
Are you here to deliver herbs?’
Nahida nodded.
‘Thank you.’
She carried the basket and began walking up the vine-woven wooden bridge.
Amid thought quietly inside the basket:
‘Tighnari, we’re coming.’