Sherah and the Saplings. Meeting

The time had come at last. Sherah, Hamdani, and 3 other guards have gone deeper into the forests of the saplings. Visus brought them to a powerful shaman by the name of Sycamore. To Sherah, this was the moment of truth that would change /risu/ forever.
Sycamore looked at them with curiousity. He had never personally seen the risuners before but like many other saplings, had heard rumors and stories about those who resembled hoomans but had squirrel tails. He would make eye contact with Sherah and prepare himself for whatever would transpire.

"Ah Visus. That was quicker than expected. I thought the risuners would take a bit more time before showing up"

Visus had only a simple response before he stepped back and leaned on the wall near the door to the outside forest.

"They were quite insistent on getting to you as fast as possible. Sherah here has been extremely passionate about this moment ever since she left home".

It was true. Sherah's eyes were nearly glowing at how excited she was. Words could not express her visible happiness as her body shook a bit from being in the presence of this sapling shaman. Hamdani had to calm her down before approacing him and the 3 risuner guards joined Visus in the back of the room, guarding the door with their grape agate staffs.

Sycamore turned his eyes to Sherah now with a bit of amusement. While she did her best to remain professional it was clear that she was eager to begin negotiating. "You can relax now my dear, I understand you went through many hardships just to make it here and invested a lot in your safety".

Hamdani was right along Sherah, trying her best to calm her down. After a few seconds she was able to fully compose herself and begin speaking.

"Yes you are correct. I'm sure you already know some of this but it is my mission to exchange magical knowledge with you. It is the belief of all the witches in my land as well as the entire crew and many risuners back home that you can save our people from horrible invaders. You have a magical field covering everything that would be perfect if we could somehow have a similar system. The trees that are sentient that fight for as well would ensure peace and prosperity for the rest of time. I have heard everything about your magics and it is far more powerful than ours. And we have much to offer you of course"

Sycamore looked at the hopeful risuner with a more curious feeling. Something wasn't right about this. Why had these people come halfway across the world just to learn magic? And with their massive variety of magic that they have already, one of which being the purple fireball staffs that they carry, it all seemed illogical.

"So let me make sure I have everything right. Your nation was being targeted by people who would capture your kind and take them away to faraway lands. You would fight back with only limited success but had no permanent answer until some other nation comes by and protects you. These people who you refer to as kronies are then seen as heroes by many and to this day you maintain good relations with them. From this point on you get your disorganized country together and expel any remaining hostile powers in your land while openly allowing many foreigners in that allow value to you"?

Sherah replied "Yes that is correct so far"

Sycamore continued. "And with these allies you learn many ways of the modern world and adapt yourselves accordingly. You create an army, make guns similar to hoomans, tell anyone you dont like to go away or be slaughtered and then just when you think you have achieved a time of peace some risuner puts you on the brink of civil war."

Sherah at this point was starting to get a bit worried. "Well yes but what does that have to do with magic"?

"I will get there. Realizing that there is a risuner that hates your methods and is about to overthrow your way of life you then decide to make a massive reform to the country in a project that you call Project Nut. Part of that mission is you being sent here. And now here you are seeking to learn our magic because you believe it will save you and everyone will be happy."

Hamdani looked at him with suspicion. Something was wrong here. She could simply sense it by his tone and face. She then looked to Sherah who was getting increasingly nervous but still trying to compose herself. "Yes you have it all correct"

"Now let me ask you this. Why have you not seeked the help from the many allies you have. Or why have not been able to form a solution on your own? Im very sorry my dear but you traveled halfway across the world for a magic you dont know how to use. Powered by a goddess you do not worship. I appreciate the efforts and all that your crew are doing for us right now but I dont see how this will work."

Sherah right now was panicking on the inside. Hamdani was nearly visibly furious at this old man. To think that these saplings have been living in peace their whole lives without anyone to bother them. That they are nearly invincible because of their sapling transformation field and with their trees that can kill. She stepped forward, knowing that her usual methods would do nothing to a sapling.

"Excuse me but have you ever faced a problem like this? You never had to deal with anyone and likely never will. Anyone can try to attack you but either be forced into saplings or be killed without you even having to fight.
Do you really think risuners want to go to war all the time? Were fucking sick of fighting we just want to live in peace and not have to deal with this shit. Our magic is still developing and it will take 50 years before we have enough to use it commonly. Meanwhile the threat to the north has been obliterated and the one to the south is your ally."