“Well, if Shaeraggo could see this now, I’m pretty certain he’d try and kill me, Trials be damned.” I observed wryly, feeling a touch sick. Shaeula was lying exhausted on the ground, her skin pale, breath coming in rapid, heaving gasps. “To be honest, I’m quite tempted to slug myself a good one. I hate this so much.”
Shaeula grinned wearily up at me, lifting a weak hand to wipe away her tears. “I know, for some reason I rather dislike this too-too.” She shuddered at the memory of agony. “But who can complain at the results? Pain can be endured, no?”
“Yeah.” I let out a long, resigned sigh. “Well, you’ve reached Rank 5, do you think you can pass the bottleneck? You’ve been suffering a lot.”
“I believe so.” She held out her hand and I pulled her to her feet, hugging her. “Whether it is our bonds, or the fact-fact I am a Pledged One to you, when I use my Ether Healing, when it responds to the intrusion of the vile spores-spores, it is almost as if I can see it, direct it, in the way you do!” She squeezed me tightly, obviously fearing the future pain, not that I could blame her. “So yes, I will not-not stop until I can match you!”
“I get it.” I kissed her while we hugged, giving her comfort. “It was the same for me and Chirurgery. Sure, I was performing delicate, complex work, but even so, it almost felt like you were there with me when I was working on Ren-san and Kana. So… I just hope you break through soon. Seeing you suffer tears at my heart.”
“I have no wish to suffer any longer than strictly necessary.” She agreed. “Unlike that lucky idiot of a maid-maid…” she glanced over at the forest, where Hyacinth was skipping through without a care, occasionally using vines to strangle and kill an inquisitive plant creature. She was wearing her maid uniform, not a bit of protective gear in sight. Mushrooms and fungus were constantly starting to sprout from her, only to disintegrate and be absorbed into her and her nature element.
”Yeah, who’d have thought she would find it so easy to resist? I honestly don’t know if it’s only because she has been experimenting with the spores, or if nature element alone makes it possible. But if so, maybe the Seelie Court could get an army together that can fight the Myconids?” Obviously we had tried to make it as safe as possible for Hyacinth, the first time she had just run to the forest, stuck an arm in and then retreated, but as she escaped unscathed, the tests escalated, until we ended up with her happy frolicking now.
“I doubt that.” Shaeula shook her head. “It would not-not be possible. Wielders of nature element are rare, Hyacinth is unusual indeed-indeed. Many of the rest are like the dryad, tied to their groves, unable to sojourn far from them. We would never-never have the numbers. Still… knowledge is power, do you not-not say? When we triumph here, we should inform the Seelie Court. There may be other threats that can be countered in this-this way.”
“Yeah, that will help raise your status, so I’m all for it. Anyway… want to try again?” I asked, and she shuddered, but managed a tremulous nod.
“Very well-well. I shall achieve success, no-no matter the cost!”
********
“Praise the moon and the King and Queen.” Shaeula was lying on my lap, twitching, the phantom memories of pain slowly fading from her mind. “Finally, Rank 6. I believe-believe I need a long rest.” She look a deep, tortured breath. “I once more have respect for your resolve. It is madness indeed learning this way, no Fae would ever-ever countenance it.”
“Yeah.” I agreed, continuing to pamper her. “Well, we can now move onto a task a little less troubling, although we are going to have to enter the fungal forest just like Hyacinth did to make sure we’ve fully adapted.”
“Indeed, but that-that is for tomorrow. Until then… Akio, comfort me!”
“Your wish is my command!” I laughed, carrying her back towards the mansion. We passed a gang of weaselkin as we went, digging a long, straight ditch through the forest. Hyacinth was there too, having done enough to prove she was not affected by the Myconid spores, and she was now cajoling trees to move out of the way of the ditch. It was quite the sight, nature energies glowing around her, the very trees uprooting themselves and slithering to one side to allow the workers access. Sure, she broke a few to start with, the trees ripping themselves apart, but now she’s got the hang of it…
“I do worry that we are making a mess-mess of the mansion grounds.” Shaeula sighed, seeing our rather epic landscaping. “With this-this and the forest Hyacinth’s spores destroyed, I fear my brother might be angry.”
“Yeah well, he got it for you, so he’ll have to live with it. Besides, when this is all over, we can work on restoring everything to how it used to be.” As we passed, weaselkin bowed to us, before continuing with their hard labours.
“So, just what-what is the purpose for this? I am still a little confused.” Shaeula asked me.
“Well, that’s quite the explanation. Okay, well, the terrain in the corrupted forest largely rises until the Spring and the large hill that contains it, right? It does flatten out about half a mile from the edge of the forest, and the estate is also largely level terrain.” There was a lake by the grove that was filled by rivers and streams from further towards the Spring, and a shallow riverbed that continued towards the border that we had used as cover… “It’s then about two and a bit miles to the Faerie Ring Gate in a straight line if we cut through the forest, at the closest approach to the border. That’s a short distance ordinarily, for someone with our stats, but…”
As I discussed the topography of the estate and the infested forest, we reached the mansion, Shaeula still in my arms. Several of the maids looked at us askance as usual, Risha looking particularly angry, though you would have thought she was well used to our open displays of affection by now. Seeing that was souring Shaeula’s mood, so I dismissed them and took Shaeula to the bath, and then the bed…
********
Over the next couple of days in the lower Astral we alternated between brief invasions into the forest, riling up the Myconids and becoming accustomed to their spores, making sure to kill whatever Scouts and Observers they sent, which led to their forces massing at wherever we appeared quickly, which was ideal for the next stage of our plan. It was still rather awful training within the forest, as the spores were slightly different to those Hyacinth created. Still, it was close enough that with exposure training our subtle bodies had adapted, and we no longer needed the protective gear, although we were still going to wear it, for precautions if nothing else, and also to prevent the Myconids from realising we could beat their trump card.
We were now all sitting in the courtyard of the mansion, the maids begrudgingly serving us all tea and snacks, as we surveyed the impressive array of gear Ixitt and Grulgor had brought back with them. It had took longer than I thought to make it all, but it was still very quick, so I could hardly complain.
“I won’t repeat just what Bjarki said about you, some of the dwarven invective was so very inventive, and I couldn’t understand it. But the general gist was, he cursed you out for a liar for dropping more urgent work on him.” Ixitt snickered. “Still, he does like to make new and exciting crafts, and this one was certainly that.”
My gaze went to the massive wagon, with reinforced, heavy steel wheels and bed, upon which sat a truly colossal barrel, to which was fitted a long hose-like device, similar to the vacuum. There was also a folded-fan of metal, six or seven metres long, made of dwarven steel and inlaid with some complicated bluesteel etchings.
“Even breaking down what crafts he was working on, we didn’t have enough bluesteel to do precisely what you wished, but master Bjarki is nothing if not ingenious, and I helped.” Ixitt continued proudly. “Dvergr craft can amplify the effect temporarily, though it will be rather damaging to the metal. Still, if only for a short time, it’ll work.”
A short time, huh? Well, I’ve run the numbers, being as confident as I can be in an Astral setting that they hold true, so once should be enough, at least so assisted.
“Grul does not understand why all the fuss.” He rumbled, looking preposterous perched on the small chair, towering over everyone else. “Swing mace, crush fungi, this is all Grul thinks we need to do.”
“Yeah, well in the short-term, that’s right.” I agreed. “Our ultimate goal is to free the Spring. But the poor dryad touched my heart with her suffering, and more importantly…” I took a deep breath. “That Rhyming Tree… it’s Rank 5! Rank 5!” I felt it bore repeating. “Do you know how much of our ether the Rank 3 Tree we already have provides? This tree is dying, all alone in enemy Territory, ripe for … rescue! The other couple too, if we can, though the tree the dryad lives in is priority.” I calmed down a little as everyone was looking at me with various emotions, Ixitt amused and entertained, Shaeula with pity, Grulgor with confusion, and… Hey, is that Azuki hiding from Hyacinth over there? I wonder what she’s doing here. No problems I hope?
“I’d try and help the dryad even without this, but… just think about it! If we planted those trees at Shirohebizumi shrine it’d push us to new heights!”
“Well, yes-yes.” Shaeula agreed slowly. “I too am in favour of saving the dryad, if we can-can, but… should we be stealing Rhyming Trees from the Spring?”
“Stealing? Hardly!” I declared, not willing to budge on this. “Liberating! The forest around the spring is almost entirely dead anyway, when we reclaim it, it might take the Seelie Court centuries to reforest it and make it beautiful again. But I fail to see how that is our problem? We are giving them the chance, and so saving the Rhyming Trees is both our duty and a reward for our hard work! I’m not letting the chance of that massive amount of constant ether generation slip from our grasp!” I finished, deadly serious.
“Fine-fine.” Shaeula sighed, sipping from her tea elegantly. “I shall follow you, as always. Besides, I see I can not-not dissuade you on this. Besides…” she put down her cup elegantly, it clinking on her saucer. “… I admit, I wish to see our Territory prosper, and we are doing much-much good unasked.” Her grin broadened, becoming sly. “Much as my idiot brother Shaeraggo had to pay for his foolishness, so shall the Seelie Court pay us-us for our efforts.”
“The princess is hopelessly corrupted already it seems.” Ixitt remarked to Grulgor, who despite not knowing what was going on, gurgled a laugh at our vehemence. “Though I much prefer her now to the rumours of her past.”
“There is still-still one problem, is there not?” she pointed out, a maid refilling her cup, before backing off, looking troubled.
“Of course there is. It’s a damn big tree!” I declared, spreading my arms wide for emphasis. “Even the other two are fairly large, but… yeah, I’ve never seen a giant redwood, but it matches what I’ve heard about them. Though luckily it’s no record-breaker. Merely an average specimen.” I grinned. “Five to six metre diameter, fifty or so metres tall. It appears pretty desiccated, and it has lost a lot of branches and all its leaves, though the fungus… well, never mind that.” I sighed, amazed at the audacity and impossibility of what I was proposing. “It could weigh anywhere up to sixty tons, though I suspect somewhat less, due to its appalling condition. Not something we can lift easily.”
“Grul can lift puny tree, Grul is strong!” he declared.
“Yeah I doubt it, not alone, anyway.” I shook my head. “Between you, me and Shaeula, with a nice bit of help, I think we could, but taking it a few hundred metres at a time before we needed rest, in that forest, with the Myconids everywhere… no, that plan is doomed to failure. Besides, I doubt the Tree and the dryad will survive being away from the earth energy for that long in its current state. So we need a better plan.” I looked at the gear again, unidentified bundles also in the heavy wagon. “It’s crazy, but there’s no way I’m not going to risk it for a Rank 5 Tree! Oh, and the dryad of course…”
“Fine. Then explain it to us properly. After all, it must have something to do with all-all the effort my weaselkin have been putting in, digging a long trench and filling it with mud-mud and water?”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’d be better if we had someone who could use water element, but…” as I explained, comprehension dawned in their eyes, well, Shaeula’s and Ixitt’s anyway. On seeing their shock, I laughed. If we pull this off, not only can we save the dryad, but our Territory will gain an incomprehensible upgrade in terms of ether production. Besides, I was being honest when I said this unhappy end to her many centuries of struggle sits badly with me…
********
“Right, looks like they bought it…” Once more the Myconids were massing on the border opposite us, our quick probing attacks and massacre of their plant-creatures and initial Scouts bringing their forces boiling out like ants. “So, you guys make threatening moves, keep them pinned down here.” I asked the weaselkin hiding just behind the Fae Stones. “Shoot some arrows or something, make them think we might try and break in, but keep yourselves distant and safe, obviously.” The four Kamaitachi were there too, leading them. “Throw a few wind blades too. But keep a decent reserve, we’ll signal you when we are nearly back, so come running.”
”Fine-fine. We get it.” The lead Kamaitachi agreed, the one I had known the longest.
“All right then. As for us, we are off. Our ingress is in a completely different direction.”
With that Shaeula and I departed, leaving our distraction in place. After jogging along the border, we quickly reached where Grulgor, Hyacinth and Ixitt were all waiting, Grulgor being hitched to the overburdened wheeled cart, looking rather disgruntled. We were all in our heavy protective gear, and ready for battle.
“All right. We go fast, we go stealthy, and we clear away any obstacles we need to.” I declared. Behind us stretched a wide path in the trees of the estate, and a trench filled with slick mud was stretching into the distance. Getting the consistency right was hellish…
“All right, come on!” We charged across the border and into enemy Territory, moving at a very rapid pace. I had the slower Ixitt on my back, while Shaeula was carrying Hyacinth. Grulgor was pulling the heavy wagon, tires churning the dead muck of the forest, and we quickly reached the riverbed that was streaming down brackish water from the lake. Beside it the trees were sparse and rotting, so we smashed them out of the way as best we could, clearing a path.
“We have company, it seems.” I noticed several Observers and Scouts. “Deal with them as we discussed.”
Shaeula nodded, and drills of air pierced them before they could react. She gathered up all the surrounding air with her wind, and as she pressed them into the ground I channelled earth, entombing their disintegrating bodies safely below. Covering the five miles to the dying grove in mere minutes, we were immediately confronted with the dryad and her wood-puppets.
“…. came back… feed the… tree… sorry, but I…” she gasped, urging her puppets forwards to attack us. Behind her stood her tree, and looking at it again I was reminded of just how big it was. Yeah, this is totally insane. But I want it for my own. No, our own. If I was going to compete, to truly become the Astral Emperor that protected Earth, passing up an opportunity to boost my Territory so massively, despite the risk, was foolish.
“Just surrender! We are here to help!” I declared. Warning Grulgor not to kill the puppets, Shaeula dropped off Hyacinth while I put down Ixitt. “Stick to the plan!” I shouted, rushing forwards, enduring the barrage of seeds and wooden spikes from the puppets, dropping to the ground in front of them and drawing in some of the earth energy that was exuded all around us.
“Bottomless Swamp!” I declared, making up the name on the fly. I heard Shaeula click her tongue at the lame moniker, and then I was concentrating on shaping the earth, turning the solid, fetid soil to mud, and the puppets began sinking, struggling to free themselves from the sudden quagmire I created by using the water from the lake beside us. Yeah, using water element would be so much easier than doing it just with earth…
“Shaeula, do it now!” I cried, and she unleashed her pinwheels. They had a little wind to make them fly, but the bluesteel was heavily fortified with earth energies for strength. The dryad let out a bitter scream, her hair turning into the roots once more, the ground erupting around us, debris smashing and denting our chainmail.
“… intruders… warned you to stay… away… please forgive… must… feed…” she wailed, having sunk into mania, her mind almost gone. A massive tide of mud and earth formed up behind her into a colossal fist, ready to strike, and I leapt at her, distracting her from my companions and the gear we carried in the wagon.
“Just calm down!” I called to her again, unsheathing the Twin Fangs as the fist fell. I slashed, and the hand was rent into pieces, though even as they fell the dryad shaped them into sharp thorns that darted at us. Responding with my own earth energy, I clashed with them and they shattered, escaping her control. It was then that Shaeula’s pinwheels whipped through the cloud of debris, wrapping around the dryad, pinning her one good arm to her side.
“Got you-you!” Shaeula exclaimed, hauling on the handles, pulling her towards us, where she hit the ground hard, hissing and sobbing, green ichor flying everywhere.
“All right then. Ixitt, get everything ready. Grulgor, Hyacinth, keep the puppets back, but don’t kill them. As for us…” I exchanged a look with Shaeula, and she nodded, amber eyes glittering. “Sorry about this.” I told the struggling dryad. “I think this is going to hurt like hell.” And with my own eye matching Shaeula’s glow, we began to carve away at her body with wind. She screamed and thrashed, her good and missing eye both shedding virulent tears. Shit, I don’t know if Myconids can hear, but if they can, every bastard nearby will hear this.
“I know this hurts but damn well stop fighting us!” I snapped as we channelled in aether to heal her injuries. New flesh was growing over her bony arm, and even her eye was starting to reform, although the agony must have been exquisite. Though as I was working, her screams slowly starting to slow, becoming heavy, rasping breaths of pain and exhaustion, I noticed something troubling.
“Shaeula, you have the wind barrier up, right? No, of course you do.” I could see it with my Eye, so…
“I understand. The corruption is returning, despite her having no-no spores or seeds falling upon her.” Cutting it free again and healing her, the dryad was weakening, even despite my ministrations. It was then her newly restored eyes met mine, the tears they were shedding now pure water.
“… I thank you, brave travellers.” She managed to gasp. “But save your efforts. Let me go in peace, while my mind is finally clear. My grove, my tree, it is of me, as I am a part of it, and the taint has consumed it. Therefore it merely passes back to me.” She grasped our hands, her newly restored one grabbing Shaeula, the other mine. “It has been so long, and I am simply so… tired. All that remained in me was pain and the hunger to feed, to save my tree. I… I believe I consumed the other dryads that did not die from the vile corruption, hence why my grove survived.” Her nails were digging into my hands as she suffered. “So I… I should join them. At least I will die knowing my sins.”
“Nonsense.” Shaeula disagreed. “We have no time for this. If you have regrets, live to atone for them. Akio, tell her!”
“Yeah. Dying solves nothing. It only make their sacrifice worthless!” I declared. “If you’ve made mistakes, especially since they weren’t your fault, then own them and do better!”
“But it’s futile… my tree…” she was turning pale again, mushrooms starting to sprout.
“Yeah, well, we are here for that too.” I looked at her deep in the eyes, squeezing her hand heedless of the pain of her nails digging into my flesh. “I give you three Oaths. I’ll save your tree, I’ll save your life, and I’ll give you a place where you and your tree can dwell, where the earth energy is plentiful and clean. Hell, I’ll even throw in a fourth Oath. The Myconids, who drove you to such sins… they’ll fall here, and we will reclaim the Spring of Clear Reflections. In exchange, all you have to do is pledge to protect my lands, all those who dwell within, and endure, until you feel you’ve lived enough for those that died, that you killed, despite your will.”
“But… I’m not strong enough to face the guilt, the pain, any longer.” The dryad looked away, only for Shaeula to grab her hair, pulling the dryad to face her. Behind us the puppets had stopped struggling against the swamp, awaiting her end.
“Nonsense. As a noble dryad, you should-should be ashamed.” Shaeula scoffed, her amber eyes hard. “While I have not-not suffered as you have, nor would I claim anything close, I too have disgraced myself, my past a lesson in my own lack of self-worth. I am Shaeula Tu Shae Dannan. My father is prince Shaetanao, ruler of the Beastkin Fae. Akio is my beloved, and if he wishes to save you, you shall-shall be saved!”
“Prince Shaetanao? So is he no longer a Duke?” the dryad asked, confused, and Shaeula snorted wryly, though she never let go of her hand and hair.
“Indeed. You have been suffering here a long, long time. The Seelie Court has gone through many changes. Akio reached out a hand to me, and many-many others. Let him save you too! If he fails, you shall have the death you wish for, and if he succeeds, as I know-know he will, then you shall have a chance to repent, and live-live for the fallen.”
Now that the puppets had stopped, Ixitt was unloading equipment from the wagon, Grulgor helping him move the colossal barrel, the contents sloshing around gently. On seeing them head towards the tree, I smiled at the dryad gently. “I hate to rush you, but the Myconids will surely be coming any minute. My oaths to you stand. I can offer more if you want, I’m not Fae, so I don’t need to stop at three!”
“If you can save me and my tree, take me away from this hell I have endured all these years…” she swallowed, fungus creeping up her arms and legs slowly. “…I swear, I shall take root in your lands, cultivate and protect them, shelter those within under my mighty branches, and I shall serve you until my last breath.” she whispered. “Until I see the Myconids who destroyed the groves, the lakes, the streams, the undines, sylphs and dryads, all my kin… until the day they suffer the same end they did. And should they do so…” her yellow eyes glittering, she leaned up and her hair snaked around me, forcing its way into my mouth. I felt a surge of energy within, my earth energies reacting, strengthening. “…I shall be yours.”
As she fell limply Shaeula cried out to Ixitt to bring the protective gear, and he rushed over with the hood, mask, respirator and rubber suit I had them make, pulling it on over her slowly corrupting body as Shaeula worked more painful surgery and Healing.
You have joined in compact with a noble Fae from the Seelie Court. By agreeing a third covenant, your soul has become ever more like that of a Fae, thus your Fortune and Charm have increased by 1. Due to your lunar chakra you find it easier to acclimatise to the aspects of your bonded Fae, and have a higher chance of manifesting a portion of their abilities. The Fae is corrupted, her soul scarred by a vile plague, so the true power of this bond cannot be unlocked until the corruption is expunged.
Your Class, Fae-Souled, has increased from level 22 to level 23.
You received the Kiss Of A Dryad. A dryad can bestow the blessing that is her kiss only once in her life, allowing her to share the strength of her grove with the individual so blessed. The bearer of this kiss shall live long and unbroken like the oak, grow wise like the ash, grow kind like the elm, and become poison to their enemies like the yew. Your affinity and control over the earth element has increased. Your affinity for water element and wood element has increased.
With that oath spoken, she allowed Shaeula to garb her, but before the respirator and goggles were placed upon her, she smiled. “I am Asha, lost daughter of the King of Groves, Lord of the Forests, Orion, he who sleeps, wounded. One of many, to be sure, but even so… your name is Akio, is it not?”
I nodded.
“In that case, Akio… please save me and my tree, and bring me the vengeance I crave. Save as much as you can, prove to me that living with this guilt offers more than merely a long life of regret and pain!”
Kneeling down, I looked her in the eyes. “Nothing would make me happier. I’ll show you the world Shaeula and I, and all our friends and family are striving for, and there’s no room for sadness there! Now, Shaeula, Hyacinth, we have to do something about the tree’s rot, no matter how temporary. Asha, please help us. After all, it’s your tree, right?”
As the goggles covered her face I could see the tears. “Fine. I, Asha, will so swear! What can I do to help? The rot… it is very, very bad, only the earth energies here are slowing the final death.”
“Wait and watch, and see a miracle of science, magic and insanity!”