《Cinder Roots (Undergoing a Rewrite)》 CHAPTER 1 - THE GIRL AND THE TREE The ground was hot, and the little sapling could feel the energy being leaked from the sky. What a wonderful day. He didn¡¯t like the nights. Too cold for his taste. But the sun¡­ Oh, how he loved it. He could feel his warm blanket cover him, like a mother holding her newborn child. The wind is loud today, the sapling thought. For him, the wind was a mystery. Sometimes it was strong, roaring like a wild beast, threatening to rip him apart. Other times it was calm with a pleasant breeze that touched him, making his tiny leaves shift like they were dancing. Weird fellow. Well, who I am to judge. Maybe he only needs a friend! One like mine! He thought happily. His friend. The only thing that kept him sane in this darkness. It was a presence, beautiful and full of hope, like a song in spring. She was the only real thing he knew, other than the sun and the wind. Nothing except him grew here. Not in this tiny scarred spot in the forest he called home. He felt the wind changing directions. What are you trying to tell me, bud? He shifted his focus. I knew this was going to be a good day! His friend had come. They didn¡¯t talk to each other, but he could feel the connection between them. He met her on the same day he was born. The sapling didn¡¯t know if it was destiny that made her come to his glave that day, or pure coincidence. I don¡¯t really care. I¡¯m here for her and she¡¯s here for me. That''s all that matters. They spent the entire day together before she left. He was alone again. It was a comforting feeling, having someone to be alongside you, but it was gone, and he needed to work. It was a tedious task, slowly stretching your roots to find minerals and water, but it was a necessary one if he wanted to grow. He knew he was lucky he found a veil of water close to the surface, as the subterranean river he could feel the vibration of was meters deep, and his roots were too tiny to reach for now, but the tree didn¡¯t worry, this was something to drive for, a goal. He needed something to do; he needed to stay active. The ever present sensation of being dragged away was there. It was like a soft voice in the back of his core, whispering to him, trying to make give up, fade away in nothingness. He was afraid of what would happen if he accepted this feeling. So he worked, growing faster and faster, trying to not lose himself to whatever happened to him. The seasons went by, year after year, the same old routine, gather water and nutrients, feel the breeze, and grow. The presence went by sometimes; he tried to communicate with it, shifting his golden leaves in his now large canopy to send some kind of signal, but of course it was impossible. This plagued him every time he tried. That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m tired of this. This is the day. He concentrated, shifting his focus to the back of his core, his most obscure place, where he never tried to look, and the familiar sensation of being dragged away slowly crept over. He resisted. I need to know this, he thought, I don¡¯t want to be like this forever; I want to communicate; I want to see; I want to wander around; I need to discover what¡¯s out there! As he focused more and more, a pain he never felt before rained over him. But he didn¡¯t give up.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. He didn¡¯t know how much time passed by the time something finally happened. As the pain became almost unbearable, he saw something inside his core. A tiny flame. Just looking at it was intoxicating.
Congratulations, you became kindled!
... What?
Name Nameless
Level 1
Race Cinderborn Tree (Awakened)
Class Unavailable (Unlocked at level 5)
WHAT???
Rain fell over her aunt''s grave. Tiny droplets were forming on her clothes. She shifted her dress uncomfortably. I miss her so much; she thought sadly as her head rested upon her husband¡¯s chest; him hugging her softly and caressing her hair with all the care in the world. A rockfall had crushed her. On a rainy day much like this one, she still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Honey, it''s time to go,¡± Robert said. It really was. The sun was going away, and she knew everything would be pitch black in a few hours. Grabbing her husband''s hand, she walked without adding a single word. The ground was soft, but not muddy, she could smell the petrichor released from the ground, the familiar scent calmed her, always there before the rain. Agatha looked over her shoulder and she saw that lonely tree again. It was close to the burial site her mother selected for her aunt. How could she, she reflected, she didn¡¯t even come to her grave, she just sat there and told where we could bury her. At least she promised to look after Dara. Only Titania knows how much my daughter needs a rest. Her daughter was inseparable from her aunt, much like she was as a kid. She cried so much when we told her¡­ But even so, my mother should have been there. Her husband respected her silence, and they walked home together without muttering a single word. The wind was talking enough for both. He was a sturdy type, never to talk too much, tall and wide as a barrel, with a kind expression on his face. In comparison, she was a genuine beauty, with her auburn hair brighter than ever, fairer than most, but wilder than all, a feature that her daughter certainly inherited. It was getting dark. They could only see a few meters ahead. Agatha conjured a Light Ball. It shone bright with a green hue over their heads. She wasn¡¯t afraid of the woods, but she respected their dangers, and in the nighttime, every care was necessary. Most creatures of the night stayed clear of her Light Ball. They won¡¯t be getting close, at least not in this depth of the forest, she considered. She saw a few owls passing by, flying so quick it was just a blur. She heard bats making clicking sounds as she got closer and closer to her house. Just a house¡­ never my home. Dara, her daughter, was already sleeping, hugging a deer toy the local tailor had given her. Her mother was sitting by the fireplace. ¡°You really took your time, eh?,¡± she said with a serious expression, ¡°look Agatha, I need to talk to you.¡± ¡°What now?¡± Indignation boiled over her, ¡°first you don¡¯t come to pay your respects to your sister, and now you sit here all condescending?¡± ¡°Dracia,¡± her mother said, ¡°Dracia is advancing¡± ¡°So WHAT?,¡± she was getting angrier by the second. Robert walked to the kitchen trying to hide away. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about those blasted dracians, let them come! I will show them.¡± ¡°Is different now, they have a new emperor, and he promised them the forest,¡± she said serenely, ¡°a messenger from Varania just left.¡± ¡°Why do they want the forest, anyway?¡± The anger was fading. Doubt covered her face as she began to understand her mother''s statement. ¡°Hah, you go there every day and you don¡¯t know?¡±, her mother laughed, "Just look over, the forest is a pure gold mine to them, Sylvan is easily the biggest forest left in the whole continent, if it weren''t for the Fey and the Elves, they would already arrived, or do you think us druids can take care of a whole army of Kindleds? Not even the Treants or the blasted Huourns would stand a chance.¡± She didn¡¯t have an answer for that. ¡°I just wanted you to know.¡± she said as she left, not even bothering to close the door. CHAPTER 2 - SEARCH Really, what¡¯s going on? What¡¯s this all about? The pain slowly faded away. He couldn¡¯t feel the dragging that always had plagued him anymore. He could think clearly now. Cinderborn? What does that mean? He pondered. As if it was following a cue, a message appeared in his core.
Cinderborn Tree (Awakened) - This tree, born in ashes, received the blessing of fire, permeating it with curiosity
+5 Charm Added
Affinity with Fire added
+5 Charm? That.. That fire I saw inside me. Was that normal? Other trees have it as well? I want to look at it again. It was so beautiful. He focused more, trying to replicate whatever event happened before. A coreache began. Damn it, I can feel it cracking. That won¡¯t do, I need to find out what this is. He focused again, but not on the back of his core like the last attempt, but on the message that showed up. The message shifted.
Strength 0
Dexterity 0
Constitution 30
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 5
Charm 5 (+5)
Huh? That was easy enough. I don¡¯t really know what all this meant though. I mean, some of them like Strength and Agility were quite intuitive, but what about Wisdom and Charm? Maybe I should concentrate on them directly? As he focused, more information showed up.
Wisdom Measurement of perception and insight
Charm Measurement of charisma, force of personality and persuasiveness
A bubble of excitement blew over. That¡¯s awesome! If I can do something to gain more Agility or even Strength, I may be able to finally get out of this shell! As his thought finished, he sensed something new approaching.
Her baby girl ran away again. ¡°For Titania¡¯s sake, this is the fifth time this month!¡± she cursed. Agatha was visiting her aunt¡¯s grave with her girl yesterday, but after they went home and she woke up, her daughter was just gone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, you did the same as a kid,¡± Her husband said. ¡°She¡¯s thirteen, Robert!¡± She replied, ¡°and I never ran away¡± they both knew she lied, but she couldn¡¯t afford to lose another argument. Agatha stormed out of her house, stepping angrily at the ground, and after kicking a hard-looking rock and cursing her tantrum, she started to think. Maybe she just has gone to the village to visit my mother? She thought, I may be overthinking this too much. After the sudden death of her aunt, she began to overprotect her kid, and as always, overprotecting parents led to a rebellious youth. Oh Dara, why did you have to become so much like me. She recovered herself, beginning to walk down the gravel path that showed the passage to Pern village. The birds were skittish, making continuous and intense chirping and clicking noises. They are making alarm calls? Maybe a Bandar is passing by, she thought. Oh well, I don¡¯t really have the time to check it out right now. Agatha could see Pern. The little settlement was quiet. Her mother moved to the village proper a few seasons back, buying her new house from an old couple that were moving out. "Times are changing. Don¡¯t want to be near the forest when things start to happen." It was all about Dracia these days. Even she was a little apprehensive, but abandoning the wilds never crossed her mind. She knocked on her mother¡¯s door, nobody answered. She checked to see if it was locked. It wasn¡¯t. Opening the door, she entered the wooden house. It revealed one thousand scents and one more. Smells of chamomile, feverfew, valerian and countless other medicinal herbs her mother used to treat the villagers permeated her senses.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. It was a cozy house, with plants and potions everywhere. One particular jar of bright red liquid grabbed her attention. Analyze, she thought as she grabbed the jar, and a screen revealing information appeared.
Potion of Enduring Vitality
This potion, made by an insightful druid, by infusing multiple herbs, grants the drinker a capability to resist most fatal wounds for a short period
¡°Wanting to buy something?¡± The voice took her by surprise, almost making Agatha drop the liquid. After seeing who had entered the building, she relaxed. Agatha put the jar back in its place. ¡°Oh, you startled me a little,¡± she said embarrassingly, ¡°actually, I came here to ask you about Dara¡± ¡°Dara? What about her?¡± ¡°She ran away again, I was thinking I could find her here.¡± ¡°Again eh? Yes, she passed here this morning,¡± her mother said, crossing her arms. Relief was apparent on her face. ¡°Oh great! Do you know where she is?¡± ¡°No.¡± "¡­ No?¡± "No." They just stared at each other for a few excruciating seconds. ¡°Look, if you are done, I suggest that you leave, my granddaughter certainly isn¡¯t here,¡± her face shifted in an ugly expression, ¡°I¡¯ve got business to do if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Her mother began to turn her back, but before she could even react to the previous statement, they heard a scream outside the house. ¡°Damn it, I thought I had more time,¡± her mother said with frustration in her voice. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± She quickly replied. ¡°The Dracian army finally arrived.¡± ¡°What!? But how?¡± She said with worry in her face, ¡°How did they got here so fast without no one coming to warn us!?¡± ¡°They must be sieging Varania right now,¡± her mother said while rapidly grabbing numerous potions. Varania was the only proper city close to Pern village. Part of a big alliance of city-states, the city thrived on commerce, mainly providing the adventurers with goods to the various incursions deep into Sylvan. They must have been betrayed, Agatha thought. If the city falls, Sylvan may truly be doomed. ¡°Quickly! Grab that jar you almost dropped!¡± her mother said, exasperated. She obeyed. ¡°We have to protect the village! Follow me,¡± She said as she left the house. Agatha followed suit. ¡°THE DRACIANS ARE HERE!¡± she heard someone shout. It was truly chaos outside. Some people were trying to run, others to hide. A hay carriage was burning, along with its owner. A smell of burnt meat invaded her nostrils. She saw the invading soldiers, with their mail armor and shiny helmets. Some were running after the villagers, others were occupied burning down the houses. Carrie, the local tailor, was lying on the ground with a sword wound on her back. An old retired soldier whose name she had forgotten was courageously trying to fight an armored Sergeant. His rusted sword broke down as he tried to block a Sword Skill. He didn''t last long. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! Fight!¡± Her mother¡¯s call shocked her out of the daze. She cast the Barkskin spell as her mother shape-shifted into a huge deer.
Barkskin
Creates a wood-like skin, enhancing the caster''s natural defenses
Shape-shift
Allows the caster to shape into a wild, non sapient animal of choice. Can be cast 1 time per day
An enemy archer saw her, aiming the arrow straight at her forehead. The arrow bounced off. He tried firing again, but when he was about to release the arrow, a huge deer charged with its antler straight at the man''s stomach. It was too fast for him to dodge, and he was impaled. Blood came out of his mouth as the huge deer threw him with an enormous strength to two other approaching soldiers. They were sent flying. As the deer was crushing full armored soldiers with its hooves, she cast another spell.
Greater Water Spray
Grants an ability to shoot great quantities of water from the caster''s own hands
She aimed the spell to the next close soldier, cupping her hands together to increase the water pressure. The water was so fast that it penetrated the man¡¯s helmet easily, killing him instantly. She was biting her lips. Her mouth tasted like iron. One after the other they came, sword and shield ready, adapting to her movements. She wasn''t trained to fight armored opponents. Of course she had to kill before; the world wasn''t fair for someone who lived in the wild. Dangerous animals always came, and many times she had to resort to killing to fend off the beasts. But this... This was different for her. She hoped she would not have nightmares if she survived this. One soldier managed to get close, striking her with his sword. Her now wooden skin splintered. My Barkskin won''t last much longer, she thought as she jumped back to dodge the next blow. The druid''s water spray faded. Agatha tried to summon another spell, Earth High Ground.
Earth High Ground
Grants the ability to mold the earth, forming a hill below the caster''s feet
She cast Greater Water Spray again as her mother shifted back to her human form. The two Kindled women defended their positions with extreme devotion. The advantage was clear now. Unkindleds weren¡¯t a match for their combined forces, as it gave them not only the abilities to cast feats that were considered impossible for normal humans, but granted them the abilities to know what they were facing. Analyze.
Dracian Foot Soldier Unkindled infantry conscripted by the Dracian Army
Level (Unkindled)
Race Human
HP 30/100
Affliction status - Fear - is active
Sensing his army needed to reorganize for this new threat, the Sergeant called his troops back. They''ll return, she thought, and I still don¡¯t know where my daughter is. CHAPTER 3 - PETRICHOR The sun went down while she was treating the wounded. Her mother was preparing the defences, mud walls and stone spikes, conjured by her elemental magic. The few villagers that didn¡¯t get themselves killed stood by her mother¡¯s side. The cowards had already run away from Pern, and the ones remaining were the stubborn and courageous ones that wouldn¡¯t abandon their home. They stood their ground with pitchforks and axes. The forest gives, and the forest takes. This end was expected. ¡°The night is almost upon us. It won''t take long now,¡± Agatha''s mother said while approaching her. ¡°Do you think we have a chance?¡± she asked, cleaning her hands in her now dirty and bloodied dress. ¡°It''s very difficult to say¡­ That depends if they bring any more kindleds with them,¡± her mother answered, ¡°we have to hope their main force is occupied in Varania.¡± ¡°The Sergeant is a kindled,¡± she stated, ¡°I saw him use a sword skill.¡± ¡°That''ll be a problem¡­ I can¡¯t shape-shift anymore today to fight him face-to-face,¡± her mother said. Kindleds that used sword skills were known to be extremely deadly in battle, striking with an amazing combination of speed and force. Many adventurers and officers often favored the sword skill finesse, making it the most famous and widely spread kindled class. ¡°We got lucky that he was more concerned about the lives of his soldiers than coming after us,¡± Agatha said, ¡°maybe we can Mesmerize some wild animals to help us in the fight?¡± Mesmerize was a useful druid spell, making a wild animal a temporary companion. Titania''s power blessed most wild animals in Sylvan, making them naturally kindled. With this, Sylvan was one of the few places in the entire continent to have a natural protection to their borders. ¡°I think this may work, good idea,¡± her mother said with a proud, but stern look on her face. ¡°I''ll stay here in case they come early, now go!¡± She wandered to the opposite side as the soldiers came. The forest was silent, Agatha didn¡¯t hear any sounds being made except the ones she did. The animals were cautious. She sang a familiar song, while making gentle gestures with her hands as she walked, almost dancing. She was doing the exact thing her aunt taught her. This''ll calm them down, she thought. Her aunt was great with animals, making even the greatest ones relax. She activated the Cat¡¯s Eye ability, allowing her to see in the dark. Don¡¯t want to scare them away with my Light Ball right now. A yellow-furred fox carefully approached. She cast her Animal Talk skill.
Animal Talk
A skill created by the fey. Grants the caster a temporary ability to understand and communicate with wild animals
¡°Hello there, little one,¡± she whispered gently, ¡°I really need some help, can you show me the way to one of your powerful friends?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The fox nodded and walked deep into the woods. Agatha followed. The animal was looking back at her every few seconds, making sure she didn¡¯t get lost. She wasn¡¯t worried about that. The forest was her home. A big brown bear was waiting for them. Lying on his belly, near a small pond, he was apparently sleeping. She thanked the little fox as she approached the bear slowly, trying to don¡¯t make any sound. A particularly snappy branch made her fail. The bear¡¯s eyes opened, and with an incredible speed he charged at her. She didn''t lose time, quickly casting Mesmerize directly at the bear¡¯s face. The bear instantly relaxed, looking at her with a puppy face. He was so cute she almost forgot he was charging at her moments ago. Almost. ¡°Heya there grumpy boy, you terrified me, you know,¡± she said, softly stroking her hand over his brown fur. It was wet. ¡°Look, I really need some help to fight some nasties, what do you think about giving me a paw?¡± The gigantic bear purred like a cat. Great, now I just need to go back. She climbed on his back, mounting him like a warhorse. "Let¡¯s go! This way," she cast a Light Ball, "Just follow the light!" He was fast. The forest she crossed in half an hour took him only minutes. The wind blew her wild hair. Her green eyes shifted to the potion on her belt. Still here, she thought as the bear charged. They arrived, but it was late. The battle had already begun. The mud walls her mother made, now dry and hard as stone, were stopping the advance of the enemy force. Villagers were stabbing the soldiers with pitchforks while her mother cast Stone Spikes, giving it to other settlers for them to use as makeshift javelins. Her mother saw her arriving. ¡°AGATHA, GO DEFEND THE FLANKS, THEY ARE TRYING TO ENCIRCLE US!¡± She screamed to the top of her lungs. She didn¡¯t waste time answering. Directing her bear companion to the left side of her village, she saw the enemy Sergeant leading his troops to invade the center of the village. He was a tall, but slender looking man, with black feathers adorning his helmet, and a dark-gold colored symbol in his armor, resembling a black hippogriff. The hippogriff was the national animal of Dracia. She couldn¡¯t see his face in the middle of the night, with only the fire lights to illuminate, it was a hard task. Right, the fire, she thought, I need to put out the fire first before it spreads. As she began to cast her Water Spray spell, they aimed an enormous Fireball straight at her. If it wasn¡¯t for her bear quick dodge to the side, she would have been burned to a crisp. A Fire Mage? They brought a damned Fire Mage!? she could see him now, with his red robes now illuminated by the fire that was still in his hands. He''ll burn the entire village along with a section of the forest, I need to take him down quickly. She charged him, mounted on the brown bear, but to no avail. He was being protected by the Sergeant along with seven other soldiers. One tried to poke her bear with spears, only for the colossal beast to slash his enormous claws at the soldier''s head, decapitating him instantly. ¡°Kill the bear! Don¡¯t let her get close to the mage!¡± she heard the Sergeant scream orders to his men. Finishing her Water Spray spell and activating her Barkskin ability, she prepared herself. Six soldiers left before I could get to the Sergeant and the Fire Mage. One soldier advanced, using his huge shield to block the bear''s paws. The bear didn¡¯t slash this time, opting instead to charge at the man''s shield with his enormous jaws opened. It was shattered instantly. She used the opportunity to cup her hands together, aiming at the soldier''s chest. Another approaching soldier used the bear¡¯s momentum to strike with a huge war spear at the beast''s side. The spear penetrated his flesh. He cried with pain. The enemy mage aimed a Fireball at her. She used her Water Spray to slow the incoming meteor of fire, but to no avail. The explosion sent her flying away. Her Barkskin protected her from most of the blast, but her HP was dangerously low now. The bear was now being surrounded. He roared with a mixture of pain and rage. His eyes, maddened with fury, were shifting uncontrollably. His movements were becoming slower, his stamina fading away. Noticing this, the Sergeant ordered his crossbowmen to shoot. A dozen bolts pierced the beast¡¯s fur. The Sergeant closed his distance, and with a swift strike of his blade, beheaded the beast. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!'' She screamed. Her voice wrought with the sound of loss. They were now coming after her. Her body was burning with pain. She drank the Potion of Enduring Vitality her mother had given her. The taste was bitter. She tried to get up and prepare for another cast of Barkskin. Before she could finish the spell, a lucky crossbow bolt pierced her chest. Another one reached her stomach. The pain was maddening. Now with the primary threat taken care of, the Sergeant commanded new orders. ¡°Advance to the village center! Let¡¯s crush them!¡± Still alive because of the potion¡¯s effect, she crawled away from the fight. We lost the battle. She couldn¡¯t think straight. The only thing on her mind was her daughter. I NEED TO FIND HER. WHERE IS SHE? The realization came with a bang. Of course she would be there. Her aunt¡¯s grave. Her daughter was at her aunt¡¯s grave. Few excruciating minutes passed as her crawling turned into a painful walk. She was bleeding profusely, the bolts still embed in her body. The potion¡¯s effect was ending. She entered a glave. The only thing watching her drop at the grass was a lonely tree. The tree was beautiful. Her mind was becoming a blank fog. It started to rain. Her blood was being washed away. The grass was getting red. She could feel the petrichor, that entrancing smell of the rain. Robert''s face... Golden leaves... Her aunt''s song.... Dara. These faint whispers were the last thoughts that crossed her mind. The sounds of the forest swallowed her silence. CHAPTER 4 - CHANGE Something¡¯s wrong, the ash-like tree thought. His friend was lying down on the grass near him. Its presence was getting smaller, fading. It needs my help! Each passing second getting dimmer and dimmer. How can I? How¡­ This is it, I have to move, I can¡¯t just watch my friend disappear. He pushed, almost like a bird trying to get out of an egg. Cmon, I can do this, I need to do this! My whole life was preparing me for this moment! I just need to¡­ Move! He heard something snapping.
Major change imminent. Starting transformation process
... ... ...
Congratulations! By using your pure determination, you have forced an evolution
Warning - Evolutions are rare events that can change your entire being. Reevaluation of base stats started
Name Nameless
Level 1
Race Cinderborn Treant
Class Unavailable (Unlocked at Level 5)
Cinderborn Treant
This Treant, once a tree, received the blessing of fire, permeating it with curiosity. Treants are a race of tree-shepherds, that care and protect their lesser cousins
+5 Charm added
Affinity with Fire added
Loads of information screens appeared in his mind. He didn¡¯t care. Right now his focus was on the body he saw. Yes, saw, he could see now. The world was still dark, but he could define shapes. The body on the ground was that of a young-looking creature. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He tried moving his roots, only to find they weren''t roots anymore. With some difficulty, he managed to move without falling flat on his face. Approaching as fast as he could without stumbling over, he now saw blood covering the ground, creating a trail that leaded out of his glave. I¡­ I took too long. My friend is gone. The Treant didn¡¯t understand what he felt. He was just empty. The giant felt the falling rain. I dreamed of this¡­ But¡­ But I¡¯ve failed. He grabbed the body, carrying it like it was the most delicate thing in the world. Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure you have your rest. He placed it alongside a great oak. He picked tiny flowers with his big trunk-like hands and adorned his friend''s cold body. Rain clouded his yellow eyes. I will discover what happened to you, he promised. The blood trail his friend left was slowly fading, getting cleaned by the falling rain. I need to be quick. He looked at his new body. He was similar to the tree he once was. His skin was made from the same ash-like bark. Massive arms and legs powered him. Yellow and black moss covered the lower part of his face, mimicking a beard. He still had the same golden leafs, but his canopy was smaller, more concentrated. His eyes were like a golden, almost orange, flame. He shifted his attention to the information screens that had appeared.
Congratulations! You''ve earned the achievement ¡°Fireborn I¡±
Fireborn I
Have the status ¡°Affinity with Fire¡± active. Grants basic fire spells and average fire resistance
Congratulations! You''ve earned the achievement ¡°Evolver¡±
Evolver
You''ve forced an evolution. Evolution is its own reward
Skills and Spells
False Shift
While the Treant remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree
Tree Talk (Racial skill)
Treats have a natural capability to speak to and understand normal trees, if they feel like talking
Rooted Down (Racial skill)
While in a rooted state, Treants can feel the earth, noticing events happening a great distance away.
Lesser Burning Hands
Lesser version of a basic fire spell that coats the caster hands in fire. Only harmful for other entities
Fire-Shaping
Fire spell that allows the caster to create and shape fire at will
Analyze
Kindled basic skill. Grants basic information about living beings or static objects
Yeah, this will be handy, he thought while following the blood trail. A mixture of anger and sadness filling his eyes. CHAPTER 5 - MONSTER The Treant slowed his thundering movements. I know I¡¯m getting close, I can sense them through the earth, he thought, I need to prepare myself before I do anything. This is a new body for me, I must know my own shortcomings. He gazed upon the changed status.
Strength 15
Dexterity 5
Constitution 10
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 5
Charm 5 (+5)
A rumbling noise sounded throughout the forest. So my base value is 50, right? Plus the 5 I received from my race, I¡¯ve got 55 total. A long bar appeared on the corner of his vision.
HP 200/200
200? I don¡¯t know if this is good. What does it mean? He tried to Analyze the stat.
Health Points
Measure of the amount of damage a being may receive before dying. 100 HP is the base for all living things, Kindled or not. Can be increased by getting more Constitution. Every Constitution point equals 10 HP.
So by this definition my HP was 400 before. I won¡¯t complain. I¡¯m more balanced in almost every aspect now, and I can¡¯t deny I love my new strength value. It really complements my Burning Hands spell. No matter, this isn¡¯t why I¡¯m here. My friend. I need to find whatever or whoever did that do my friend. He started walking again; the trees shaking whenever he touched them. I''m lucky that is dark out here, he realized. The only lights in the forest were his flaming eyes, as the moon¡¯s light was getting blocked by the enormous tree¡¯s canopy. They were much bigger than him. He was a good three meters tall, but the older trees that blocked his path dwarfed him. I¡¯ll try to talk to them later. After a few good minutes of walking, the rain stopped as he saw an opening in the trees. He crouched and stood still, activating his False Shift skill. He could hear someone talking but wasn¡¯t able to define any words. He needed to get closer. I guess stealth won¡¯t work judging by my eyes, so I have to get any advantages possible before going there. This is for her. He knew inside that his actions were also for himself.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. His Rooted Down ability activated, he could now tell how many were there. Eleven. He started running, his stomps making the ground shake. The golden-leafed Treant activated his Burning Hands spell. He saw them. They were resting outside a burnt village, most wearing armor, but one of them was just with a red robe. That one must be important. He focused on him.
They were resting on the outskirts of Pern. Guess it isn¡¯t Pern anymore, eh? He thought. The main party returned to Varania¡¯s siege, but some got left behind to guarantee that, if any settlers who weren¡¯t present on the attack returned, were killed. The soldier was short, and a little on the pudgy side. He recently got himself married, but he couldn¡¯t even enjoy this fact. His father-in-law insisted that he needed to enlist on Dracia¡¯s army new campaign. ¡°It''ll be good. Maybe they will even reward you! Not everyone gets such a golden opportunity to become a Kindled!¡± His father-in-law had said. Yeah, I''ve got myself kindled alright. It isn''t worth it. I just wanna make sum babies with my wife. I hate this forest, he thought. He got lucky that his now father-in-law allowed him to live after getting his daughter pregnant without marrying her first, so he couldn¡¯t refuse. The old man is hoping that I get myself killed. ¡°Ohhh, you saw that grandma? She killed four of us before we dropped her!¡± One of the other soldiers said. ¡°Nah mate, Rogers told me she turned into a buncha leaves¡± ¡°And I say Rogers is full of crap!¡± He said while spitting in the fire. "Please, stay quiet, I¡¯m trying to concentrate here! And stop spitting at my beautiful flame," the fire mage Sendormist said. Weird guy. Why is he always staring at the fire? ¡°Fuckin mages,¡± the soldier muttered as he spitted again. ¡°He''s right, shut the hell up,¡± his Sergeant commanded. ¡°Aight boss¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s restless today¡­ Even I feel something¡­ Something in my bones, like¡­ Like someone¡¯s watching us. He thought of the villagers. Maybe their spirits are watching us right now, cursing and damning our souls. He felt a shiver on his spine as he heard a stomp. ¡°What on the damned earth is this noise?¡± He said, before turning his head and seeing this giant, hulking mass of wood coming after them. It was fast. It was so fast that every step the monster took looked almost like a leap.
You are afflicted with the - Fear - status
He immediately noticed that the tree monster hands were burning, the living fire entering every crevice its reach would allow, looking like burning charcoal. But what really terrified him was its eyes, looking straight at them like it was going to devour anything that stood on its path. He felt his pants getting wet.
The affliction status - Fear - evolved to - Terror -
He was right. The spirits summoned a monster to kill them. CHAPTER 6 - NIGHT TERROR Smelling the smoke coming out of his hands, he lunged forward. The advance was so fast that most of the soldiers didn¡¯t get any time to react. He tried to kick the red-robed man, but as he was one of the first that saw him coming, he jumped back, flying a few meters in the air. Instead, he grabbed the nearest soldier by the torso with one of his hands, crushing all its bones in a single, strong crush, while hammering another with a closed fist at the same time. Most of them retreated a few steps, panic surging in their eyes. One, apparently the group¡¯s leader, drew his sword. He struck his blade at his lower thigh, chipping the wood that made up his body. It hurt, but his natural defence held up the major chunk of damage.
HP 190/200
Defiance in his face, the leader started making a motion with his blade. Before the man could finish the sword skill, he threw the burning body he held straight at his opponent¡¯s face. The leader skillfully evaded, advancing again with the sword over his shoulder. ¡°Sendormist! Do a Fire Ray, I¡¯ll finish him off!¡± The man said, his lips twitching with fury. I can understand what he says... But now is not the time to think about this. Putting his fists up in a blocking stance, he awaited for the impact. The red-robed man, hearing the call, closed together his fists behind his back, before doing a forward hand motion. A fire ray came out of his now open palms in his direction. It was fast hitting his chest with a blast.
Fire damage received was reduced
HP 150/200
Confusion was plastered on their faces as he began to recover from the spell. Out of the eleven, only a few enemies remained. With their morale shattered by the sudden surprise attack, most ran away. Analyze.
Dracian Sergeant A squad commander enlisted by Dracia¡¯s army
Level 3
Race Human
HP 90/150
Name Sendormist
Level 5
Race Human
Class Fire Mage
HP 110/110
Human¡­ My friend was a human. Using this unexpected outcome to his favor, he started to punch the leader¡¯s body with his burning fists. The man was too close for a successful dodge. His enemy tumbled as the impact of his fists crushed the man''s armor, breaking a beautiful hippogriff symbol.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The pure weight behind his fists was enough to make a small crater as he slammed the body, punching and punching without a pause. The man was already dead when he stopped. He looked back to the small campfire. The red-robed man had left, along with the rest of other soldiers, vanishing into the night. Kneeling down at the wet grass, a racuous scream of pain left his mouth. I¡­ I¡¯ve done it. The feeling of emptiness was still inside his chest. He felt tired. I need to move on. He looked over at the morning sun. It was gorgeous. Yes, that¡¯s right! I can explore the world now! I can¡­ He held his head in his hands for a few minutes. He put those thoughts away, realizing that a few new information screens appeared. Focus! I need to focus.
You¡¯ve defeated an enemy with a higher level than you! +500 XP
You¡¯ve defeated an enemy! +100 XP
You¡¯ve defeated a non-kindled enemy! +5 XP
XP 855/500
Congratulations! You¡¯ve leveled up!
XP to next level - 605/500
Your skill - Lesser Burning Hands - Leveled Up!
Lesser Burning Hands evolved into - Burning Hands -
Congratulations! You¡¯ve earned the achievement ¡°Night Terror¡±
Night Terror
By using the night as your cover, you¡¯ve made a higher leveled enemy run away in terror. Opponents are more likely to fear you
You have 5 unspent status points. Do you wish to allocate?
What I should invest in? Maybe constitution? I know I was lucky to only lose 50 HP during that fight. They looked honestly surprised after I survived that Fire Ray. I guess I¡¯m lucky I¡¯ve got some fire resistance. This gave me a second opportunity to do a surprise strike at them, but what really gave me the upper hand was my strength, I¡¯m sure of it. He decided.
+ 5 Strength
Now, what about my Burning Hands leveling up? He activated the skill a second time. It feels way hotter! Doing a few jabs in the air, he felt his wooden lips curl up into a smile. Yeah, I¡¯ve got nothing to gain by just feeling sorry about myself. His confidence now restored, he looked up at the sky. The sun appeared on the horizon, illuminating the bodies that were on the ground. He looked over his shoulder and saw a small village. Huh, didn¡¯t notice that there. Following the path that led to the village, burnt houses began to cover his vision. Now I¡¯m sure I really was lucky to have that fire resistance heh? He felt the wind on his back. I guess my friend lived here before¡­ Before those other humans attacked. Why? Why they attacked? He pondered on this fact. Sure, I killed some of them, but it was justified, right? I¡¯d never attack other trees, or treants for that matter¡­ I think? I... I don¡¯t understand. The concept of killing was too new for him. He sat down and looked up at the sky again. This I understand. The sun¡¯s warm light heated him. ¡°Hello there.¡± He almost jumped as he heard someone speak. He turned only to find a human looking at him. Its grey hair was filled with all types of leaves. It was small. He knew humans were small creatures, taking by example the soldiers he fought, but this one was even smaller. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d wake up. Name¡¯s Anna¡± Immediately getting his fists up in a battle stance, he Analyzed.
Name Anna
Level 13
Race Human
Class Elder Druid
CHAPTER 7 - WISDOM Level 13! How on the... A surprised expression was visible on his face. ¡°Look at you, all fired-up, don¡¯tcha worry, I ain¡¯t here to scare you off or anything. Actually, I know you.¡± What? How? ¡°You know you can talk too, right?¡± I do? He struggled to make a sound. Focusing, he reminded himself of how he made noises before. The creaking of his branches, the thumps of his footsteps... He made a sound. He didn''t move anything, but instead it came from within. "Hum... Hi? Who are you?" The noise rumbled out like a waterfall, deep, rough. This is new! He enjoyed talking. Testing, he found it was simple to put his thoughts into words. She Ignored his question. ¡°I supposed I can explain some things to you, it¡¯s part of my job, anyway. But not here, it¡¯s not safe,¡± With a swift hand motion she started walking. I don¡¯t trust her. At least not yet. But she may be the only one who can give me answers for my questions. I¡¯ll follow her for now. Still alert, he trailed after her. The old human, looking back to confirm he was following, upped her pace. Even with his big legs, following her was difficult. He imagined a smaller creature would have an even greater difficulty to maintain the distance. A few minutes went by as they entered the forest. His large body made dodging the trees a quite demanding task. Finding a lake, she stopped. It was crystal clear, a few birds flying by. He spotted a dragonfly in the reeds nearby. ¡°That¡¯s far enough. Ask away,¡± she said while sitting down near the lakeside, in a comfy-looking rock, filled with moss. Trying to find a comfortable place for himself, he leaned against a gigantic tree. ¡°You said you knew me. How?¡± ¡°You were the golden-leafed tree that grew on the glade the fire cleared, weren''t you?¡± she said, more a statement than a question. ¡°My daughter, Agatha, used to visit you all the time.¡± Her daughter visited me? Oh! So that means¡­ ¡°You are my friend¡¯s mother!¡± ¡°Friend? How quaint.¡± Agatha, her name was Agatha. I won¡¯t forget this. ¡°Anna¡­ You know she¡­¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Yes, I know she died. It was my fault.¡± She closed her eyes. ¡°We never got really close, you know. I¡­ I never knew the right words to say. My sister did that caring job for me, before she died too. Even my granddaughter disappeared.¡± The woman said while looking into the horizon. Strangely, she didn¡¯t sound as distraught as he thought she would be. A granddaughter? Agatha¡¯s child? A moment of silence passed. ¡°Moving on, I recently received a new ability, after my Class Upgrade. It''s called Ancient Gaze. It allows me to see what trees have the potential of becoming a Treant. You had this potential. Normally, Treants are born when the goddess'' power permeates their core, kindling them. But sometimes, the awakened trees become Huorns, wild trees dominated by anger and distrust, and so this is more of a double-edged sword than anything. Questions?¡± His mind was spinning. ¡°Class upgrade? Goddess? Huorns? What?¡± A look passed over her face. ¡°Oh well, let¡¯s divide this in parts. You gain a class upgrade after level 10. They say you gain another one after level 20, but I''ve never known someone past that level, so I can''t say for sure.¡± ¡°Okay, the class you upgrade into is related to the class you were before?¡± "Sometimes yes, but it really depends on what achievements you gained. For example, I¡¯ve gotten the Long-Lived achievement before I reached level 10, so I was given the choice of becoming an Elder Druid." ¡°And how much XP would I need to reach level 10?¡± ¡°The XP doubles every time,¡± she told him, ¡°I think you can guess how much you must get to be on the higher levels.¡± ¡°How in the damned earth did you gain this much XP? You would need to defeat hundreds, if not thousands, of enemies!¡± ¡°This you must learn by yourself,¡± she laughed. ¡°I think I understand.... What about the other things?¡± ¡°So many questions, so little time¡­¡± Anna closed her eyes for a second, ¡°Look, I brought you here for a single reason, I need a message delivered for someone, and I can¡¯t go deep into the forest, not right now.¡± ¡°This message, what is it?¡± She took something out of her green poncho. ¡°Here, take this. Deliver it to Barcus, he''ll know what to do.¡± It was a small medallion, made of gold. ¡°He lives in a small community, deep in the woods, west of here.¡± ¡°But why? Who is this Barcus?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a Treant like you, an ancient one in fact. He was my old master,¡± Anna said, looking away. ¡°He taught me everything I know.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m inclined to think he won''t deny helping you too, if you bring my message to him.¡± A master? For a split second, he thought of turning his back on Anna and tracking down the red mage that fled the battle. No, I can¡¯t do this right now. I need to prepare myself. ¡°I accept.¡±
Sendormist entered the Imperial City. The fire mage was a scrummy-looking man. His glasses tilted a little too much to the left, his red robe was unkempt, and full of ashes. The only thing he had that he really prized was his moustache. It was big, shiny and curvy. He sometimes passed the whole evening just shining it and looking at the fire. The flame was a thing that wondered all fire users. More than a hundred books were published yearly with a single goal, to describe the fire¡¯s nature, but they all failed in his mind. He himself made one of them. It was more like a rite of passage than anything. ¡°I need a drink,¡± he muttered to himself. Givale was enormous, the biggest city on the west side of the continent, some said. This claim was, of course, very debated, as the city-states to the east are always trying to disprove this. Being big did nothing good to them now, did it? The news of Varania¡¯s defeat was quick to reach the capital, posters were being glued on the walls and little boys were screaming the news on the city¡¯s road. He wasn¡¯t there to see the city fall. The teleportation sickness was making him feel nauseous. Just need a good mead, that¡¯s all. But he knew the nightmares were waiting for him. A Treant with fire resistance? And not only that, he had fire fookin fists! This defies everything we knew about elemental magic and resistances! His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the tavern sign. Really? The Blinking Tree? What a damn fitting name. He entered the building. Inside, a few patrons were sitting, mugs filling the tables. He chose a cozy spot near the fireplace. After waiting a couple seconds, a good-looking girl came to the side of his table. ¡°Welcome, can I get you anything?¡± She looked at his clothes with a distrustful face. ¡°Just a little bit of mead or ale would be fine for now.¡± "We¡¯ve got Mead from Honeykew Meadery, 2 copper coins per mug, and Whiteblier¡¯s deposit, 4 copper per mug. Also, we recently got a hold of some Dwarven Ale, although this would be a little more expensive, 1 silver per mug. What you¡¯d want to be served?" ¡°Don¡¯t care, bring me one of everything.¡± Being a mage paid well. Her eyes glinted with the prospect of profit. ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll bring them right away, sir!¡± His mind wandered back to the Treant. It¡¯s basic knowledge that a kindled can only learn a certain aspect of elemental magic that follows the principle of his kindling parent, or the one he absorbed the soul of. His mugs arrived, filled with alcoholic content. He grabbed one and started drinking mindlessly. But the thing is, I¡¯m fairly certain that Titania¡¯s nature is the absolute opposite of what fire meant. This can only mean that it absorbed someone else''s soul, or that he was kindled by another being. Both possibilities frightened him. He somehow learned the rituals himself? No¡­ That¡¯s not possible. He couldn¡¯t learn this before waking up, and the Treants awoke already kindled. But¡­ Titania is the only one who can kindle nature''s spirits, right? Something¡¯s not adding up. That¡¯s it, I need to visit Givale¡¯s imperial archives. Leaving a couple of coins on the table, he readied himself to leave. CHAPTER 8 - THE OLD MAN OF THE WOODS The treant was still near the lake. That old human was weird, the nameless treant thought, thinking over his last conversation. That''s a good enough reason to at least try! I mean, it¡¯s just a simple medallion, right? And to explore the forest, oh hohoho, I¡¯m excited! He considered what to do. I think I should try my Tree Talk skill. Maybe they can tell me something.
Tree Talk (Racial skill)
Treats have a natural capability to speak to and understand normal trees, if they feel like talking
If they feel like talking uh? well, let¡¯s see if anyone here feels talkative today. When he activated the skill, he started to feel every tree in a large circular radius over him. He sensed that all but one were sleeping. It was a giant willow tree. ¡°Uh, hello there,¡± the treant spoke. ¡°GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN!¡± He heard a shout inside his mind. ¡°YOU DON¡¯T SEE I¡¯M TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP???¡± Aren''t you the grumpy one? The treant thought. No matter, I can handle this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you, but I¡¯m in need of some directions¡± ¡°Damn kids these days, don¡¯t even know how to walk before losing themselves,¡± the old tree muttered inside his mind. Be patient. ¡°I really need some help, oh kind elder.¡± He heard a little laugh ¡°Kind elder, eh? Maybe I was wrong about you after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so.¡± ¡°If I help you, will you leave me be?¡± ¡°Yes! I promise!¡± ¡°So go on, tell me what you need to know.¡± ¡°I need to find Barcus, he¡¯s a Treant like me! I thought you maybe know where he lives?¡± ¡°You Treants and you weird names. Hardoak, Burnleaf, Wisehusk, Treeherb, arrgh, I even met one name Beardtree!¡± He felt a laugh inside his head. ¡°Yes, I know Barcus. He¡¯s always coming here to nag about everything, saying that I need to wake up or whatever. Why? I¡¯m quite comfortable right here.¡± ¡°Soo, you know where he may be at?¡± ¡°Of course not! Why would I ever involve myself with that spoiled brat¡± ¡°But you just said he always is coming here!¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Oh yes, the last time he came was about ehh, 36?¡± ¡°36 days?¡± ¡°Years.¡± Darn it. ¡°I guess you could ask the wind? He always knows everything. Nah, you don¡¯t look the type to talk to the wind.¡± ¡°So what can I do?¡± ¡°You are one of those walky ones right? You should know better than I do!¡± The treant sighed loudly. ¡°Guess I¡¯m by myself on this one. Well, thanks for your time.¡± ¡°Sorry about that, kid,¡± the old willow spoke in his mind. ¡°But tell me, before you go, tell me, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Name? I¡­ I never thought about that.¡± ¡°I imagined that you wouldn''t. You¡¯re young.¡± The old tree became silent. An image began to form inside the treant¡¯s mind, a lonely willow seed flying with the wind. Before he could focus more on what he was seeing, the moment passed. ¡°Allow me, The Old Man Of The Woods, to grant you a name, young child of fire.¡± Child of fire? ¡°I would be honored.¡± ¡°By the grace given me by the wind, I declare that for now on, you shall be known as Oberon.¡± Oberon. He looked at his stats.
Name Oberon
Level 2
Race Cinderborn Treant
Class Unavailable (Unlocked at Level 5)
The name felt perfect for him. ¡°That the four elements guide you to safe paths on your journey. Good luck, kid.¡±
The treant was gone now, disappearing between the trees. He was a fortunate discovery. It would be good if he succeeds. It¡¯s unnecessary, but it''s always good to tip the odds a bit further. Titania losing the war right away won¡¯t do me any good, but she needs to remain distracted. Spreading a few false informations along with the message is a delightful bonus. The fey surely discovered what my granddaughter is by now, but I don¡¯t need them to know she is right here, with me. She looked up to the sky. Almost noon, I need to get back. Grabbing a small leaf from her poncho¡¯s side pocket, she whispered a magic spell. ¡°Mother¡¯s Return.¡±
Mother¡¯s Return
By activating the skill while holding a leaf, the caster can teleport to the leaf¡¯s original tree
She felt a gust of wind on her back. Closing her eyes, she prepared herself for the teleportation. It was a weird feeling, almost like floating on water. The trick is to relax and let yourself be taken away; she remembered herself. Many times she felt the teleportation sickness overcome her senses, but always a quick learner. This was easily rectified. Feeling the teleportation was over, she opened her eyes. In her front stood a rough-looking cottage. The windows were covered in wooden boards, and a strong door was barring the entrance. She personally enchanted them, pouring her potion mixes in the wood itself. She stopped a few meters from the door, as she thought about the moments that led to this happening. Agatha¡¯s death was unexpected. I knew it was going to happen, but I wish I was the one to end it. She deserved an explanation. She wasn''t really risking herself in the village defense, her most priceless skill guaranteed her survival. It was unavoidable¡­ I needed to make sure what I was doing was the right decision, and I owed at least this to them. Testing her battle skills one last time, she assured herself that what she was about to do was necessary. I gave my all. Their spirits know this. She let go of the breath she didn¡¯t know she was holding. Finally, this is going to happen! She laughed with excitement. Agatha was useless to me, but Dara, oh Dara, you were the thing I was looking for. My golden angel. The moment she held her child in her arms, moments after she was born, she knew she¡¯d failed. But when Robert went and told her that Agatha was waiting for a baby, her hopes rose again. The girl went straight into her house the morning before the battle, and the only thing she needed to do was drop a little bit of a powerful sleeping potion in the tea she prepared. She was going to visit my sister¡¯s grave¡­ I almost felt guilty. Five more years would''ve been perfect, but I don¡¯t have the luxury to be patient. It¡¯s now or never. She opened the door. CHAPTER 9 - ALL THAT MATTERS When the old woman opened the cottage¡¯s door and looked inside the room, her heart almost stopped. Where is the girl??!! She thought desperately, how? She couldn¡¯t just wake up and leave? I made sure the potion was strong enough to last an entire week! Maybe her powers revealed themselves?? no, it can¡¯t be possible, she isn¡¯t kindled yet, they must be dormant! Anna¡¯s head pulsed. I can¡¯t believe it! Just when I was about to do the ritual! Why? Why? Her eyes filled up with madness. No, no, no, no, no, no! HOW COULD IT HOW COULD IT HOW COUL- Something clicked in her mind. She laughed. I know! It has to be Titania! That filthy whore! Ohohohoho, you¡¯re going to pay for this! No more games! Her blind fury a moment ago started to take shape as an icy anger. She took a deep, controlled breath. A plan was forming inside her head. I can¡¯t go deep in the forest, for this certainly is where Dara is in right now, but I know someone who can. Robert is still alive. Grabbing a leaf she took from a tree near her daughter¡¯s home, she activated her skill again. ¡°Mother¡¯s Return.¡± She noticed that the familiar feeling of being pulled in and out of existence taxed her a lot more this time. My powers are almost exhausted. I need to rest before using them more today. The door to Agatha¡¯s home was open. He¡¯s gotta be here. When she stepped over to enter the house, a hulking mass of a man charged her. Using a quick side-step, she dodged the attack. The men fell to the ground. ¡°Robert! Dear! It¡¯s me!,¡± she said, staring with no compassion in her eyes as she watched the man turn around, still in the ground, to face her.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Anna? You¡­ You¡¯re really alive?!¡± he sobbed. She didn¡¯t even need to look in his eyes to notice he was crying. Pathetic. The person Anna was seeing right now was a crumbling mess. It appears he already knows the news. ¡°Yes, Robert, I¡¯m right here.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Anna, I saw Agath¡­¡± His eyes darkened. She felt something growing in him. Something other than his sadness. Anger. Good. She crouched over, reaching to the man''s shoulder, ¡°please, tell me everything.¡± Her voice was coated in honey. ¡°Dara had run away that morning¡­ Agatha had gone to search for her. I wasn¡¯t really worried, you know, she was still sad about your sister Lucia passing away, they were really close. I knew she just needed some time alone¡­¡± He stared at the ground, looking away. ¡°I thought to do something special for her when Agatha brought her back..¡± ¡°Something special?¡± Anna asked. ¡°I went into the forest. I¡­ I had this stupid plan to hunt a deer and make a good steak for my daughter, to cheer her up. Agatha never allowed her to eat meat, as she was going to be a druid and all, but I knew she always wanted to try it. Always a rebel, right?¡± He smiled sadly. He got up on his feet. ¡°I hunted the blasted deer in a secluded area near Lucia¡¯s grave. That''s when I saw the fire and the column of smoke coming out of Pern, so I started running towards it.¡± Robert grabbed an axe that was embedded in a tree stump. She could see he was holding it so strongly that his hand was trembling. ¡°I saw a monster, Anna. I saw the monster that killed my wife. I saw this giant¡­ Tree holding her body. It was covered in blood. Agatha¡¯s blood!¡± He struck the tree stump with his axe, almost cutting it in half. Interesting. He thinks that Treant killed Agatha¡­ ¡°I couldn¡¯t do anything, Anna! She was already dead. I thought of attacking the beast, but my legs couldn¡¯t move towards anywhere close to that thing,¡± he told her. ¡°I returned to the forest, trying to make my way here, to find Dara, but she was also gone. Why?! Tell me, Anna! Why is this happening?!¡± He threw the axe in his hand at the forest. ¡°They were the only ones I had! I just want my family back.¡± She could feel the pain in his voice. ¡°You might want to grab that axe, Robert, because I know where Dara is. She¡¯s alive.¡± Upon hearing those words, Robert grabbed her shoulders. ¡°You know where she is?! Where?! Tell me!¡± She now could hear hope in his voice, but the anger was still present. ¡°Dara¡¯s inside Sylvan. I believe the Fey kidnapped her. Will you go after her, Robert? You¡¯ll bring her back?¡± "That¡¯s all I want, Anna," he said while staring the forest. ¡°Before you go, I¡¯ll teach you how to perform a forced kindling. You wouldn''t survive Sylvan otherwise.¡± He turned to face her. ¡°How can I do this?¡± ¡°To become a Kindled, you need to be a gifted part of someone''s soul. The binding of souls, or The Gift as some liked to say, links the individual''s fate together. I can''t kindle you myself, as I''ve already kindled someone else. Only the Greater Feys and the Elements can kindle multiple beings. But there¡¯s another method, a forbidden technique that you can perform to become a Kindled without the binding,¡± she said with a serious expression. ¡°This method,¡± she continued, ¡°is done by absorbing the soul of someone who¡¯s Kindled. That would be a quite difficult task for an Unkindled like you, if you weren''t in Sylvan with me helping. I''ll teach you how to perform it. Are you ready? Will you accept this?" ¡°I¡¯m prepared to do whatever it takes if it means Dara will be safe. That¡¯s all that matters to me.¡± He¡¯ll do anything to get her back, won''t he? Maybe he isn¡¯t as pathetic as I thought. ¡°Follow me,¡± she said while entering the woods. CHAPTER 10 - THE CREEPING FOG
The tree he had passed earlier had long since been left behind. The forest grew as he walked. He noticed the sounds of the forest. Or rather, the lack of them. He could hear no birds, only the wind passing through the leaves of countless giant trees, older than all. The forest was dark, though the sun was high in the sky. Almost no sunlight could reach the soil. A chill passed into the depths of his center. He was feeling a sudden cold. In the midst of the quiet, he found himself growing tired. Every tree looked the same here. A thick blanket of fog began to cover the ground. His tall build made sure he could still see, but everything below his waist was white. In his foggy mind, words were beginning to form. Maybe I should lie down and rest a bit¡­ Yes.. That would help¡­ As his roots touched the hardened earth, he noticed something was different, the grass in the ground below him was frozen. Little droplets of ice were covering the surface. This isn¡¯t right, what¡¯s going on?! Fighting his urge to rest, the corner of his fiery eyes sensed a movement. This isn¡¯t a normal fog! He readied himself in a combat stance, fists up and ready.. I can¡¯t see anything! I need to clear this fog somehow. He felt whatever was hunting him was getting closer. The fog touching the corners of his mind. Maybe I should retreat, Oberon thought. No, I can¡¯t do this anymore. No backing down. I will find a way to deal with this head-on! A plan started to form. That¡¯s it! I can¡¯t let this creature strike first. I won¡¯t stand here waiting for its attack. Let''s make its life more difficult, shall we? He stopped moving, rooting himself in the earth. Now, let¡¯s find where you are¡­ He sensed the earth. A flash of movement. There! As the creature almost struck him, jumping at his wooden neck, he threw a flaming punch directly into its underbelly, sending the beast flying. Not wasting more time thinking, he let his instincts of survival take over. A sudden urge of speed took over his legs as he followed the flying creature. When he heard a thump against the bark of a fallen tree, he knew where to strike next. Delivering a kick with all the strength he could muster, he shattered the dead oak. The beast dodged his strike in the last second.The surprise he delivered to the monster caused it to break the illusion. The fog began to dissipate. He could clearly see the large animal now.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Its fur was white as snow, great and long icicles as its fangs. Small dots of black adorned the creature''s face, making its eyes look like a small blue lake between a scorched landscape. Analyze.
Young Illusory Frostfang A territorial subspecies of the great frostfang cat, that uses its Illusion skills to make its prey confused and unaware before striking
Level 4
Race Frostfang
HP 120/220
Now the real battle begins. The Frostfang wasted no time and used its strong legs to jump for his neck. He tried dodging, but the creature was too fast. Giant Ice fangs punctured his bark, digging deep. Using his hands to grab the beast, he tried to throw it at another tree, but the creature didn¡¯t wave a bit, still with its fangs stuck in his neck. My bark isn¡¯t enough to protect me against this! I need to do something! His HP was dangerously low now. The cold was spreading fast. When it almost reached his core, the memory of the dancing fire inside him flooded his mind. That''s it! Fire-Shaping! Using his ability, he took control of the fire in his fists, and began to spread it to every corner of his body, forming a cloak of flame. The Frostfang feeling the heat tried to avoid the fire. ¡°Wanting to get away now? That won''t do, just when we started to get along!¡± He hugged the beast, not letting it go. Before long, just cinders remained in his arms.
You¡¯ve defeated an enemy with a higher level than you! +500 XP
XP - 605/1000
Congratulations! You''ve learned the skill Fire-Coat!
Fire Coat
By using your skill to shape all fire around, you created a coat of fire, dealing damage to every entity that comes close
Congratulations! You¡¯ve earned the achievement ¡°Brawler I¡±
Brawler I
By defeating multiple higher leveled enemies unarmed, you proved you fear no one. Damage inflicted while unarmed increased
Before looking at the screens that popped up, he rooted himself again. I need to be sure that this was the only one Frostfang in the area. He sensed every living thing in the surrounding area, every ant working, every leaf shifting, every spider spinning its web. Hum, it seems clear to me. Oberon glanced over at the screens. A smile formed on his wooden face. It appears I can create my own skills! He thought excitedly. This opens a new window of possibilities! I just need to be creative enough to design new ways of using my fire. This is going to be fun! But before I mess with that, I need to see what this Fire Coat really is about. CHAPTER 11 - EXPLOSION I need to find an open area to test my Fire-coat. Don¡¯t want to burn anyone here by accident, the newly named Treant thought. He scouted the area using his roots. Finding a suitable area, a small opening between the trees, he prepared himself to cast the spell. Fire coat! The fire enveloped him. He could feel the heat, but it wasn¡¯t overbearing. It was pleasant, like a sunny summer''s day. The aura-like fire covering him was small. I think I can do better than this. He concentrated on the fire itself. How it was coming out of his body. The crackling sounds it was making. How it connected inside his core. It¡¯s not just a simple fire, is it? It''s an extension of my body. It''s part of me. The thought brought a smile to his wooden lips. In this single moment that he realized this fact, Oberon was happy. True happiness, something he was devoid of since Agatha¡¯s death. He looked up, seeing the rising sun. ¡°This is how you feel every day? I think I can grow used to it,¡± he laughed. Concentrating, he connected again to his fire. He didn¡¯t even need to activate his Fire-Shaping skill to manipulate the fire. It was natural for the Treant. The fire aura grew, getting hotter and hotter with every passing second. It was thrilling, but it was also tiresome. As the fire grew, he felt himself becoming weaker. It grew tenfold when he finally stopped. As he sat down to catch a breath, he began to thinkHe pondered his options. Now let¡¯s try doing another thing. He used his Fire-Shaping skill to modify the flame. Oberon tried to create the shape of the swords the soldiers he had fought were using, but the fire became fickle, weak Oberon gathered all the fire in his body into a single point in his hand. He tried to make it smaller, more concentrated. Dense. The result was something that looked like a small sun. Incredible.
HP 130/200
The explosion pushed him back quite a bit. Ok, no more playing with fire, he thought, as he got himself up. His mossy beard smelled of burnt hair. He opened his skills tab after doing a quick recovery.
Skills and Spells
False Shift
While the Treant remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree
Tree Talk (Racial skill)You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Treats have a natural capability to speak to and understand normal trees, if they feel like talking
Rooted Down (Racial skill)
While in a rooted state, Treants can feel the earth, noticing events happening a great distance away.
Burning Hands
Basic fire spell that coats the caster hands in fire. Only harmful for other entities
Fire-Shaping
Fire spell that allows the caster to create and shape fire at will
Fire Coat
By using your skill to shape all fire around, you created a coat of fire, dealing damage to every entity that comes close
Analyze
Kindled basic skill. Grants basic information about living beings or static objects
Nothing new, huh? I wonder what¡¯s the requirements to create or learn a new spell like I did last time. There¡¯s a certain trigger to it? I managed to create the Fire Coat while I was fighting. I''ll need to test later. He didn¡¯t need to wait very long. The treant heard a rumbling noise coming out of the corner of the forest, and he turned to look. Oberon saw a gigantic creature looking at him from the other side of the clearing, near the trees. It must''ve heard the explosion! Analyze!
Adult Boarcupine A territorial animal that has the appearance of a boar, but with quills resembling those of a porcupine
Level 4
Race Boarcupine
HP 280/280
¡°Hey buddy, let¡¯s calm down. I¡¯m sorry I disturbed you with that sound,¡± he spoke, trying to calm the beast, but the Boarcupine was having none of it. The animal was snorting a white smoke while putting its great white tusks on the ground, preparing to attack. Oberon activated his fire fists. The Boarcupine charged straight at him. It was fast. The treant waited. The beast was getting closer. He could smell its stench. Almost there. At the last second, Oberon did a sidestep and grabbed the creature with both hands and, using the beast''s own momentum and all the strength he could muster, threw the Boarcupine on the ground. The beast didn¡¯t waste any moment, growing its quills and making them pierce the Treant wooden body. Oberon retreated.
HP 70/200
I can¡¯t get too close or those quills will be the end of me. I need to attack from a safe distance, but how? The Boarcupine didn¡¯t let him finish his thought as it charged again, almost body slamming the Treant. Think, Oberon, think! He thought as he dodged another attack. That¡¯s it! He began to make the same concentrated fire ball he had done earlier, but this time he didn¡¯t hold it in his hands, blowing himself up, but instead, threw the ball at the Boarcupine as it was charging again to strike him. He missed, the ball landed instead of hitting the beast, landed near it, exploding in the process. It seemed to have worked either way, as the blast startled the Boarcupine, making it tumble and fall as it was charging. Oberon used this opportunity to throw another explosive fireball at the fallen beast. He didn¡¯t miss this time.
You¡¯ve defeated an enemy with a higher level than you! +500 XP
XP - 1105/1000
Congratulations! You¡¯ve leveled up!
XP to next level - 105/2000
CHAPTER 12 - DEEP BREATH Time to leave, Oberon thought as he began to run away from the Boarcupine body. These explosions certainly attracted more predators. I must be more careful next time, can¡¯t let my guard down in this forest. Who knows what could be hiding in the next bush, stalking me. I still don¡¯t know what creatures live in Sylvan, but judging by the ones I encountered so far, I think I can have an idea. His legs were stomping the ground. After jogging for a good 10 minutes, he felt it was safe enough to start walking again. Oberon felt a little tired, but this was nothing compared to the exhaustion he was having when he expanded his Fire Coat earlier this day. He looked up, but couldn¡¯t tell the time, as the ever-present trees were blocking a good portion of the sunlight. I need to take a rest, my HP hasn''t recovered yet. Oberon stopped, activating his False Shift skill that made him look like a regular tree. His body hardened up, and his white legs began to take shape as regular, but still massive, tree roots. Should be safe this way, he thought as he closed his eyes. It looks like I¡¯ve leveled up. This seems pretty easy for now, but I¡¯m sure leveling up will become harder and harder judging by the doubling of the XP necessary at each level. The Treant opened his stats. A familiar blue table revealing a message appeared. Why are they always blue?
You have 5 unspent status points. Do you wish to allocate?
I need to be careful in what attribute I should invest in, as these status points will certainly become scarce if the primary way of gaining them is leveling up. I¡¯m not sure what to increase. I thought my strength was pretty reliable until the Boarcupine fight, but what made the difference was my quick thinking and not just brute force. I also almost got hit plenty of times with his charging attack and looking back now, I was lucky to have survived that encounter as I lost a good chunk of my HP, even with my Barkskin, he thought while shifting his leafs, frustrated. Oberon sighed, Dexterity and Constitution, then. I¡¯ll look at the other ones in my next level, but it¡¯s a safe bet to build into my physical stats, seeing the result of my fights until now.
+3 Dexterity
+2 ConstitutionA case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Strength 20
Dexterity 8
Constitution 12
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 5
Charm 5 (+5)
After doing a good check on his stats, he looked at his spells tab again. Still no new skills, eh? He thought, disappointed. Even after that fight and my use of the Explosive Fireball, I didn¡¯t gain the skill itself. So my theory of gaining skills when fighting was wrong. What did I do differently when I created the Fire Coat? He tried to remember the fight against the Frostfang, but ultimately failed to notice anything. It just happened all too fast. This is giving me a coreache, Oberon thought while making a mental frown. I also need to understand what good having a proper skill on my tab does to me, seeing that I could use the attack even without it. I know that there¡¯s a missing piece in this puzzle, I just need to find what it is, Oberon thought while scratching his head I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find out sometime. He sighed again, now coming out of his False Shift. He did a few jabs in the air, and three side steps. Even though I increased only a few points in dexterity, my movements really appear to be more nimble than before, he thought while smiling. I was right, I really need to be careful investing those points, they can make the difference between winning or losing, and I can¡¯t imagine what¡¯d happen if I lost in any of those fights. Oberon got those somber thoughts of his head. What I need to do now is find that Treant, Barcus. That old lady Anna told me he was in a secluded community, deep inside Sylvan, but how did she expect me to find it? This forest is massive! Deliver the message and get my answers. That sounded a good deal back then, but this is harder than it looked. I just hope she was right trusting me with this. He looked at the medallion she¡¯d given him. He¡¯d worn it like an armband, seeing it would not fit as a regular medallion on his huge neck. I wonder what¡¯s its significance. What¡¯s the message I am supposed to pass with this? The world is more complicated than I thought it was. Can¡¯t let my mind be swarmed with thoughts of what¡¯s going to happen, or how I''m going to do it. He took a deep breath, calming his mind. Oberon looked around the area he was in. I can¡¯t see anything from here. Maybe climbing a tree would help? It¡¯ll allow me to see what¡¯s ahead, even though it¡¯ll probably be just an endless sea of green. ¡°Hey, at least it''s going to be a good sight, right?¡± He told himself, trying to see the positive side of life. Oberon scouted the area, trying to find the tallest tree that he could climb. It needs to be tall enough to get me above the canopy, but not so tall that I¡¯d pass too much time just getting up. This won¡¯t work if the night gets up before I do. Some time passed before he found a perfect candidate for the job, a giant redwood tree. Time to climb this bad boy, he grinned. CHAPTER 13 - THE HORIZON This isn¡¯t as easy as I thought. He was heavy. It required a lot of strength just to climb a few meters up on the tree. Luckily, the tree bark had rough gaps where he could grip his wooden fingers on. He was near the top when he realized he was already over the forest¡¯s canopy and could see the horizon freely. ¡°I did it!¡± He spoke, letting out a little laugh in the process. Finding a strong branch to hold his height, he sat down to rest. Oberon looked at the horizon. It was breathtaking. He didn¡¯t just see a sea of green trees. There were also mountains with snowy tops, hills covered in trees with colors he had never seen before, and great valleys where river streams met. The sun began to set. It had a gorgeous shade of orange. The clouds above had a tint of pink in them. The wind was singing. He never felt so calm in his entire life. The effort of climbing here was worth it, just for this moment alone. I¡¯ve never known Sylvan could be this beautiful. He let himself become lost in the view for a couple of minutes. He breathed slowly, enjoying the last sun rays of the day. He put his hand on the branch of the redwood tree he was sitting. It was warm. He activated his Tree Talk skill. ¡°Thanks for letting me climb you. You have quite the view here. I wonder how much time you¡¯ve spent here, looking at the sunset. A thousand years? Maybe more? Sometimes I forget how small I am.¡± The redwood didn¡¯t respond to him. Not by talking, at least. I could feel that the redwood heard me. It must be a little shy. It doesn¡¯t matter, not everything needs to be said out loud. The sun was almost out when he spotted something in the corner of his fiery eyes. A huge and weirdly shaped rock on an opening of the forest. This isn¡¯t a natural rock formation. Oberon adjusted his vision, trying to distinguish the strange rock¡¯s features. A building! Maybe I could find Barcus there! He thought, smilling.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Ok Oberon, climbing here was a great idea. You¡¯re a genius, you know? He laughed at his own joke. Time to climb back. Oberon looked down. It seemed to be higher than he thought it was. Calm down. You got up here and now you need to go down there. No mystery, he reassured himself. Getting up, he heard a female voice in his head. "Watch out!¡± The redwood tree spoke to him. The voice was soft, but he could feel the distress in its tone. He turned his head only to see a winged creature flying towards him. It looked like the birds he commonly saw up on the trees, but this was much bigger. It had stripes of red adorning its grey feathers. The head was bald, with evil red and yellow eyes, and a sharp looking curved beak. On the end of each of the monster¡¯s four muscular legs, there was a giant talon, ready to rip off the flesh of any enemy. Its tail differed from anything he saw before, long and segmented with what looked like a sharp stinger on its end. The flying beast let out a scream. Oberon tried to ready himself, but it was too late. The monster talons pierced his bark, almost pushing him off the edge of the branch he was on. He grabbed the redwood trunk, trying to not lose balance. The bird was now flying in circles, watching him. It''s waiting for a moment to strike, biding its time to see if I open my guard. This one is smart, he thought. I can¡¯t attack him from here. If I use my Explosive Fireball it might attract others, and I can¡¯t just jump away from this tree. If he comes close, I might have a chance of striking, but I also can¡¯t use my fire as it might burn this whole tree down. I¡¯m running out of options. He Analyzed.
Adult Stinger Vulture A four-legged vulture that has a venomous stinger in its tail. Won¡¯t attack unless it feels threatened, or when close to its nest
Level 2
Race Stinger Vulture
HP 100/100
The Vulture screamed again. Why is it screaming this way? It''s almost like it is asking for help. Not near a second passed when he got his answer. Another Singer Vulture appeared. Its appearance was similar to the one that was attacking him, but its feathers were colored differently, pitch-black. There¡¯s another one?! They both lunged at him at the same time. Oberon tried to punch the black one, but the beast evaded his attack, grabbing his arm with its talons. The grey vulture used this opportunity to grab the Treant¡¯s other arm. Oberon tried to flail his arms wildly, hoping to free himself from the beasts, but they held on tight. Flapping their powerful wings in the air, they managed to fly while holding him. If I activate my Fire Coat, they might drop me before they began to burn, but this way I¡¯ll also fall down! He thought, a worried shadowed his face. They were getting high in the sky. The wind was strong, but the vultures were still going up. The black one released its talons from his arms. They are going to drop me! His mind raced, thinking of every possible action he could take to save himself. A wild idea came to his head. If I¡¯m going down, you¡¯re coming with me! As the grey giant vulture released him in the air, he grabbed the monster leg with his now free hand. The vulture was screaming, trying to fly again. It began to scratch Oberon¡¯s body with its talons, pierce him with its beak, bash him with its wings, but it was useless. They were falling together. Oberon looked down. The ground was approaching fast. He used the Stinger Vulture body as a shield. He closed his eyes and prepared for the imminent impact. A loud sound echoed in the forest. Oberon felt every fiber of his body scream in pain.
HP 14/220
He opened his eyes only to find a crater around him. Not a great idea after all. His vision darkened. CHAPTER 14 - è„¿N AIRD The girl woke up. She was lying down in the grass, her head resting upon a mossy rock, near a giant field of dandelions. Where am I? I¡­ I don¡¯t remember coming here. She raised her body up in a sitting position. I was just in grandma¡¯s house, how did I get here? Okay, calm down Dara, remember what Aunt told us. ¡°If you ever find yourself lost, the first thing you should do is take a good look at your surroundings. Don¡¯t panic, just trust the forest and she will lead you back to me,¡± she remembered. Ok, first things first, what time is it? She looked up to the sky. It''s dawn? but it was already morning when I got to grandma¡¯s. Or I somehow just teleported here, or a day passed. Oh damn, mom¡¯s gonna be so angry. Ok, Ok, don¡¯t think about that now Dara. Just focus on getting home. Getting up on her feet, she surveyed the surrounding wilderness. A dandelion field? I don¡¯t remember anyone mentioning a dandelion field anywhere inside Sylvan. What in the¡­ She heard a pop sound. Turning around quickly, she almost fainted when she saw what was looking at her. A fey. ¡°Hello Dara.¡± the creature muttered to her. She couldn¡¯t think of an answer. The fey was tall, with green glowing markings adorning his black-as-night skin. Parts of his body were covered in white fur, just like his long hair. He had a fair face, hawk-like eyes and curved horns that looked like the bark of an old tree. With his goat-like legs, he stepped forward, looking straight at her. ¡°My name is Ceallach gel¡¯ls Eochaidh, I¡¯m pleased to meet you.¡± He said with a small head nod. A greater fey? I.. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seeing a greater fey in front of me! And not just his spirit, he¡¯s physically here! Her initial shock was replaced with a careful excitement. I always wanted to see one! The stories aunt told me! And is right here!Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Pleased to meet you too! My name is¡­ Wait, how do you know my name?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been observing you for quite some time, little one,¡± he told, his eyes meeting hers. ¡°You were observing me?¡± She asked. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t reveal myself to you, but times are dire. I have brought you here for your safety,¡± he said while looking around. ¡°Wait, where exactly am I?¡± ¡°You are in An ¨¤ird, the Point, is a place between your world and mine.¡± He grabbed a small dandelion. ¡°I didn''t know somewhere like this existed! it''s beautiful!¡± ¡°I wouldn''t expect it. Few in your world know about the existence of this place.¡± he sighed before continuing. ¡°Be careful of beautiful things, little one, they almost never are what they look like.¡± He blew the dandelion flower. Seeds began to fly away, following the wind current. He turned his back and started walking. ¡°Accompany me,¡± he said, ¡°and be quick on your feet.¡± She walked alongside him for a few minutes, trying to not let her curiosity get the best of her. The scenery slowly changed, the ground was becoming rocky, she could see only a few dandelions, that were numerous before, but the ever present wind was strong as ever. ¡°We soon will pass through the wind gate. Getting here to An ¨¤ird may be easy once you know the way, but leaving, this is the hard task,¡± he told her. ¡°What!? I can¡¯t hear you!¡± She shouted. The wind was getting so fast she couldn¡¯t hear her own breath. ¡°Hold on tight! Whatever happens, don¡¯t let go of my hand,¡± the fey shouted back, extending his hands towards Dara, and she quickly grabbed before the wind swooped her. She closed her eyes. The wind was too much. Her body was almost flying away, taken by the current like the dandelion seeds Ceallach had blown earlier. The only thing keeping her on the ground was the Greater Fey. His grip tightened on her hand. This short minute appeared to be an hour long in her head, but finally, the wind had calmed down. Opening her eyes, Dara gasped. She was on a cliff¡¯s edge, underneath her was the biggest lake she¡¯d ever see. Or perhaps it was a sea? She didn¡¯t get the chance to confirm it, because Ceallach soon talked to her. ¡°You¡¯ll need to head into the core of Sylvan little one, at the Fountain of Life," he said, looking at her. "I can¡¯t protect you here anymore. They already know that I brought you here.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s after me? Why have you brought me here only to send me to Sylvan again? What about my family?¡± She was afraid, but not for herself. ¡°Listen to me!¡± He shouted, grabbing her shoulders. ¡°You are in grave danger! She is after you, they are after you, everyone in this forest is trying to find you!¡± He closed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t explain everything to you. There¡¯s no time to lose. They will be here in any second now.¡± Pointing his finger to the horizon, he continued, ¡°I can¡¯t take you to the deep areas of Sylvan, for those pathways were locked a long time ago, but I will open the closest option for you.¡± ¡°Will you come with me?¡± ¡°I would if I could, little one, but I¡¯m trapped here, in An ¨¤ird,¡± he said while looking around, sadness in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you must find your own allies,¡± he spoke, now looking directly at her. ¡°Good luck, and remember, be careful. Sylvan is a fair maiden. You can trust the forest with all your heart, but know that many others do the same. She will treat everyone the same way.¡± Ceallach gave her a final look. ¡°I know you can do it. It¡¯s in your blood.¡± With a superhuman speed, he closed on and pushed her off the cliff.