Chapter 266 - Seed of the Carnivorous Giant Plant
Katherine Evenhart:
After the release of the surviving nobles, we had a private meeting to discuss the next steps. Margaery was determined to maintain stability. She explained that she didn’t want to create problems with the kingdom and that she would need the cooperation of the remaining nobles to preserve peace. Our family had never had the ambition to ascend to absolute power or conquer beyond what we already had. Margaery knew that, despite our strength, peace was far more valuable.
Even with Cylla, as Nathan’s guardian, Margaery made it clear that she didn’t intend to use this strength for subjugation or the expansion of power. She knew the risks, and she didn’t want to drag the family into a large-scale war. The existence of Cylla would remain a secret. The human kingdom possessed a vast military force: inquisitor mages, an army of soldiers mounted on winged horses, an army of mages and common soldiers, as well as magical weaponry and enchanted relics. In addition, the kingdom had the support of the alliance of the three kingdoms, ensuring formidable defense against any attempt at domination.
Even as members of the royal elf family, our intention was never to claim the crown of either the human kingdom or the elves. Margaery decided to maintain things as they were because dragging Nathan and Chloe into a large-scale conflict was not an option. Therefore, we would continue keeping Cylla’s existence a secret. What she truly wanted was to ensure a peaceful and secure future for our children, even if it meant using force to maintain that peace within the duchy. Her priority had always been the safety and well-being of the family.
After the meeting, we continued following Margaery’s plan. The remaining enemy soldiers prostrated themselves before us, swearing never to reveal what they had seen, from Cylla to our magical military capabilities, including my own spell. To ensure they would never forget the danger they were in, Margaery made sure to give them a lesson and had them kneel before Cylla. When they saw the great dragon roaring at them, I could feel the living fear they were experiencing, and some even passed out. We then made them watch as the bodies were devoured by my giant plant, and also watched Cylla chew some corpses and spit them out for fun.
We recorded the identity of each surviving soldier, their commanders, and the nobles they served. If there was the slightest chance of any information leaking, all of them would be executed. Although they were only soldiers, following their superiors' orders, we knew that the greatest risk of betrayal came from the nobles. However, after the terror they faced, we were confident that no one would dare speak. They were all now pieces in our own game, subdued by fear and force.
Even if, at some point, the story of what happened here leaks, it would be hard to believe reports of a dragon’s existence. And if, by some chance, they do believe it... well, let them come to us, knock on our door, and question us. Because they will all be greeted by Cylla. Our goal is peace, but that doesn’t mean we are cowards. If anyone dares to try something against us... they’d better be prepared. Because we know exactly where they live. And I wouldn’t hesitate to send a dragon to their castle if it meant protecting my family.
It’s all for you, children.
I spoke those words in my heart, feeling the weight of the crime I committed. The spell I used was something that should never have been created. Years ago, I developed a magic to strengthen my plants, feeding them with what they consumed. The concept was simple: by combining carnivorous nature with other seeds, the plants evolved. Upon dying, they would generate new seeds, and each new plant was stronger than the previous one, depending on the type of meat it was nourished with. Until then, I had never fed these plants with human flesh, let alone in such large quantities as I did during the war.
Now, looking at the monster I had created, I felt immense guilt. Each new seed planted was amplified by the human sacrifice, using their body as the host. The plant that was born was no longer just an experiment, but a living weapon that I had transformed into an abomination. In the end, my giant plant fed on everything, even the other plants.
“What do I do with you?” I asked, staring at the massive seed before me. It was the size of an ox, the result of the death of my carnivorous giant plant. My heart ached knowing that something so cruel had been born from the command I gave it.
Margaery approached, watching the scene with curiosity. “What will you do with this thing? Are you really going to destroy it?” she asked, her tone indecisive.
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I sighed, still touching the surface of the seed. “I don’t know. It’s still my daughter, in a way... she’s sleeping in there, and I feel guilty for what I did to her. Before she died, she said she would accept whatever fate I gave her.”
Margaery furrowed her brow, a bit confused. “You really talk to these plants? I always thought that was just a joke.”
“Yes, I do,” I replied, gently caressing the seed. “When they die, they leave a new seed and transfer everything to it. It’s like a cycle of nature, something perfect. They continue to exist, one way or another.”
We stood there, both staring at the seed, while I pondered the fate of this new life that had been born from a tragedy.
Margaery glanced at the seed again, still not fully understanding the affection I felt for it. “Is it like the Carnellian Heritage ability?” she asked, trying to make a connection.
“Yes…” I replied, still touching the seed. “Normally, they would live longer because they would stay in the ground, growing naturally. But I placed them in humans, and that’s what killed them. This girl is a very old plant I created. Through her, I made a special seed, placed it in a human, and it created that green monster. This is the plant that spent the most time with me.”
Margaery stared at the dead plant and the seed, trying to understand. “I still don’t get it…” she said, confused.
“This little plant has been with me for 15 years. It was born the same day Nathan was. I created this carnivorous plant to stay near his crib, to kill any insects that came near. They grew up together. Later, when we traveled with Hugo and Nathan to the castle, she came with us in the carriage. We’ve always been together, and over time, she grew. It took 15 years to get to the point of creating the seed that made that green monster. That’s why I can’t easily make more of them. It took 15 years of feeding these plants with my mana. And now, she’s all that’s left. Before she died, she started the process of evolution.”
As I touched the seed, I felt the weight of the loss. That plant had been like a daughter to me, always present, always growing beside me and Nathan. But now, the guilt of having had her feed on people was a burden that was hard to carry.
“It must be painful for you…” Margaery commented, observing the size of the plant. “I never imagined it would get so big when you mentioned that it could grow by feeding on humans.”
I sighed, unsure of what to do with what I had created.
“Neither did I. I had never given her people to eat. She fed on many soldiers and even mages. She ate humans with mana gems, and I don’t even know what that triggered in her. But before she died, she played with me, like she always did, and said that if I chose to kill her, she would accept it, and then she left and turned into a seed.”
Margaery approached me.
“You value life more than anyone here. Even though you’re a ruthless woman, I know you don’t like doing these things. I’ll let you have your moment, and I won’t force you to keep that seed just because it’s in my interest,” she said.
I looked at her, grateful.
“Thank you…” I said, feeling part of the weight lift from me.
She gave me a pat on the shoulder.
“But what do you mean by ‘played’ with you?” Margaery asked, trying to change the subject and calm me down.
“It’s a silly thing I always do with my plants. When they’re near death and ready to generate a new seed, they comfort me, saying it’s the natural process, but that they’ll come back stronger to protect me. They always tell me the new name of the plant species they’ll become, but I always laugh and tell them I’ll just call them my daughters.”
“And what’s the name of the species of the thing inside that giant seed?”
I stared at the seed and ran my hand over it, caressing it gently.
“She told me it’s called ‘Dryad’,” I said, a weight in my heart. “A plant that came to life by feeding on normal humans and mage-humans.”
Margaery sighed.
“Dryad? I think it’s better just to call it ‘little plant,’” she said, laughing. “Katie, I’ll leave her future up to you.”
I looked at the seed and remembered all the time we had spent together. She had been my partner in caring for Nathan. She killed every mosquito that came near his crib and was always with me. Even when I played hide and seek with baby Nathan, she would tell me where he had hidden. She was always there for me. I couldn’t lose my little daughter.
“I’ll keep her,” I said. “When the time is right, I’ll let her free from this seed. I can’t lose someone from my family.”
Margaery gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“I was waiting for you to say that. Do you think I’d let you destroy her?” She laughed. “Of course not. I need all the help I can get to care for our two children. I’ll have this big seed sent to our family vault. One day, when you’re ready, you can plant it and let her out of this cocoon,” my friend said.
I nodded.
“I’m glad you’re the only one in the world who’s a user of the plant element in the summoner category. Only you can make these monstrous plants,” she said, laughing as she left.
As she walked away, I returned to caressing the seed.
“I won’t abandon you, my daughter. I’m sorry for making you do those things.”
‘It’s okay, Mom. But if you had asked me to destroy myself, I would have done it. But I’m happy to stay with you and my brother.’
I caressed her, and then we continued talking.
‘When I get out of this cocoon, you’ll be surprised by how I’ll be, Mom. We, dryads, are the protective spirits of the children of the Great Elf Mother of Alfheim.’
“I don’t know what you mean by that, but okay. At the right time, I’ll wake you up,” I said, touching the seed with my power and putting it to sleep while it finished developing inside.