Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 77: The Jungle’s Treasures

Chapter 77: The Jungle’s Treasures

"What do you have in mind, Kane?" Asael asked, his voice sharp as he glared at the three soldiers who had been chattering too much.

"We need plenty of vines. There’s an abundance of them over there," Lara said, pointing toward the dense jungle that clung to the steep slopes of Hainai like an emerald wall. "And we’ll need branches or bamboo poles—if we can’t find planks."

Asael nodded, already forming a plan. His men could scale down the ravine’s sheer walls and climb the other side to construct a bridge. It was risky but necessary.

Without hesitation, the group retraced their steps toward Hainai, weaving through tangled undergrowth and towering trees. The journey took twenty minutes, but when they emerged into a clearing, they found what they needed—bamboo—a whole forest of it.

Slender green stalks rose high into the sky, swaying rhythmically with the wind. Lara and Asael exchanged a glance; they had the same idea.

"Cut twenty stalks," Asael ordered his voice firm. "Strip them clean; remove the thorns."

The soldiers got to work immediately, hacking away with short, efficient strokes. Meanwhile, Lara scouted the area for a sturdy tree they could use as a central pillar. After a few moments, she spotted the perfect candidate—a towering coconut tree with a slender but strong trunk stretching over ten meters into the sky.

She reached for her bolo—but realized she didn’t have one. Sighing, she turned, intending to find Asael and ask for a blade.

But before she could take a step, a figure moved from behind the tree. Aramis.

Without being asked, he raised his sword and, with precise, measured swings, began chopping down the coconut tree.

Lara crossed her arms, one brow arched. "So, you finally decided to stop lurking in the shadows."

Aramis gave her a sheepish grin. "You knew I was following you all along?"

She hesitated for a second. He was different when they were alone—less rigid, more... human. It was unsettling. Did he have a split personality?

"Of course," she said smoothly, masking her thoughts. She turned to ask for the bolo from Asael, but by the time she returned, Aramis had already cut down the tree. It crashed with a thud, its impact sending a slight tremor through the ground.

With Bener and Kellan’s help, they dragged the felled tree to the edge of the Graza Pass. Together, they pushed it over the cliffside, watching as it tumbled down to the dry riverbed below.

The descent into the ravine was treacherous. Vines and ropes secured their way, but the jagged rocks and loose soil made every step a gamble. Lara led the way, agile and sure-footed, with Aramis and Bener close behind. Kellan, however, cursed under his breath with each unsteady foothold.

Once at the bottom, the three men immediately began digging a deep hole with their knives and spears.

Meanwhile, Lara busied herself carving a notch into the end of the coconut trunk—precise, measured work so that another branch would fit snugly, forming a sturdy joint.

An hour of relentless labor passed. When they finally stepped back, a massive T-shaped pillar stood in the heart of the ravine.

Above them, Asael and his men had finished cutting and bundling the bamboo poles. They then used thick vines to weave everything together, and the bridge, a meter wide with two handrails, slowly took shape.

The sun has traveled a quarter of its way in the sky, casting long shadows as the final knots were tied.

After two grueling hours, the bamboo bridge was complete.

The first test came when the Eagle Team crossed it, one by one. It held. Only then did Asael realize something was off. His sharp eyes scanned the group—and landed on a familiar face.

"You," he said coldly. "Why are you here?"

The man met his gaze without flinching. "My master is Alaric. His orders were clear—guard Kane." Aramis’s voice was unreadable, his expression impassive.

Asael narrowed his eyes but said nothing further. Soon, darkness would veil the entire mountain. They would deal with this later. For now, they needed rest.

They found a suitable campsite a short distance from the Graza Pass. A small clearing lay nestled beside a stream.

Lara looked up at the mountain peak, lost in thought. In the modern era, this place was called Ilaya, a resting point for mountaineers before they ascended MarNubes Peak. The peak itself had become a popular camping ground, a haven where travelers woke to an ethereal and dreamlike view of the sea of clouds.

She could not count how often she had been to the MarNubes Peak. Every time she visited home and stayed with her family, she would leave with her heart bruised and soul shattered, the weight of harsh words and lingering wounds pressing down on her.

And so, she always found herself returning to the mountain —seeking solace and healing through the sensory experience of standing amidst the sea of clouds, hoping that the breathtaking view as she stood on top of the world could mend what life had fractured.

"Ahem." Asael cleared his throat. "Something on your mind?"

Lara hesitated before answering. "Nothing. Just... remembering something."

Breaking the moment, she reached for her sleeping gear, unrolling the mat and blanket she had strapped beneath her pack. Asael’s gaze flickered to the bag beside her—a peculiar, practical thing that had caught his eye since morning.

"May I see that?" he asked, gesturing to it.

Lara nodded and passed it to him. The moment the bag left her hands, Bener and Kellan materialized, crowding the space.

"I’ve never seen anything like this before," Bener said, slipping the shoulder straps on and adjusting them. "It carries so much but still feels light!"

"Let me try!" Kellan practically bounced with excitement.

"It’s well-crafted," Bener muttered, ignoring Kellan’s outstretched hands. "Where did you get it, Kane?"

"I had someone make it for me," Lara replied. "I can ask her to make one for you, too."

"Really?" Bener smiled.

Kellan’s eyes brightened. "Can I also have one?"

Asael, who had somehow been shoved aside during the commotion, scowled.

"Both of you—"