“So it appears we could have a deal. If I agree to help you, in addition to sharing your knowledge about the forest, you will transport your core into my lair.”

Tom stared at me unblinking for a long minute. I could see him pondering my deal very carefully, before speaking again.

“It appears there is a reason why you would want my core so close to your reach, do you plan to hold me hostage like I am now?”

I smiled reassuringly at the cat who looked more and more suspicious.

“Nothing of the sort, follow me.” I motioned the spirit to follow as I willed the vines and roots that were covering the entrance of my cave to retreat and I walked in.

Tom hesitated for a moment but eventually relented and followed me inside, where I had stopped in front of my hoard.

“This is my current hoard. I know it’s nothing crazy, but it gives me strength, and the more I add to it the more powerful I will become.” As I spoke I looked at the spirit who seemed to connect the dots.

“If you accept my deal and I fulfill my end of the bargain, you will transport your core here. If my assumptions are correct it will be a very valuable addition, and I vow to not restrict your freedom or drain your energy in the same way that the seraphyte is doing now.”

As I finished my explanation Tom was pacing up and down the purple grass of my cave, seemingly in deep thought.

“And I am afraid you will have to trust me on that final point.” I added, before sitting down and letting the spirit sink into his considerations.

After a few minutes, the cat settled down in front of me and stared into my eyes.

“It appears you leave me with very little choice, dragon.” He paused for a moment, seemingly giving his next words one final consideration.

“I accept your deal.”

I smiled at his words.

“That’s great Tom, and you can call me Juniper!” I stood up and made for the cave’s exit.

“Now point me towards this seraphyte so I can deal with it.”

“Not yet.” He said without moving.

“You are not powerful enough to face the creature.”

I trotted back to where he was sitting, slightly annoyed.

“Then why did you approach me if I can’t take this thing down? I thought you were pressed on time!” I said, inadvertently raising my voice.

“You possess great potential as a dragon, Juniper, and I still have some time that I plan to use to help you.”

I considered his words. Knowing that he was a spirit of the forest, his teachings would probably be valuable.

“Like I mentioned before, I have been observing you since your birth into this world. The abilities you’ve displayed proved that you possess a class similar to mine.”

I looked at the cat, shocked at the familiar term.

“Wait, you have a class system too?”

“Yes, as does every other sentient creature in this world, but let’s not stray from the subject.” The cat continued. “Your ability to command the nature that surrounds you is crude and unrefined, almost like you try to bend the forest to your will, but it has served you well thus far.”

I didn’t know whether to feel slightly annoyed at the remark.

Hey I was just doing my best, snarky cat. I already have to deal with one cheeky System, you better not add yourself into the fray.

“Ehm…”

I snapped out of my trance and looked at Tom.

“You just thought of something rude, didn’t you?”

I casually looked away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear teacher.”

His eyes narrowed for a long moment, then he continued.

“Don’t call me teacher, just Tom is fine.” He sighed, before continuing.

“Theory is the foundation of all practice," Tom began his explanation. "To truly coexist with the energy of the forest, you must understand its essence. It's not a resource to be tapped into, it's a sacred flow that sustains all life."

He stood up and made for the exit of the cave.

“We will go somewhere else. Somewhere that will help you understand.”

We started walking towards the deepest part of the forest, where the vegetation was thicker. After a while, Tom began to speak again.

“The first time you connected with the forest. Describe it to me.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

I recollected my first day into this world, my first encounter with the crab and the moment I selected the Phytomancer class.

“It was overwhelming. I remember feeling like I was drowning in a sea of whispers, each leaf and blade of grass calling out to me. It was like being in the middle of a crowded room where everyone was talking at once, and I couldn't make sense of anything." I paused, the memory vivid in my mind. "It was... painful."

Tom was looking at me, expecting more, so I continued.

“I found a way to shut down the stream. Almost like I have encapsulated my mind in a barrier, only lowering it slightly when I wish to tap into the plant life around me.”

The cat listened to my words with attention.

“Curious. You have become part of the forest’s life stream, yet at the same time it is almost like you have rejected it. Tell me more of how you protect your mind with a barrier.”

"It wasn't something I consciously did at first," I explained, searching for the right words to describe the sensation. "It was more like an instinctual reaction, a way to protect myself from being overwhelmed. The energy was too intense for me to handle all at once. I wanted to block it and it sort of happened naturally."

Tom nodded thoughtfully as we continued our trek deeper into the forest, the canopy above us thickening, filtering the sunlight into soft, dappled patterns on the forest floor.

“That might be an innate ability of your species which allows you to protect your mind to such a degree. We are, after all, in a very ancient and powerful forest that almost overflows with energy.” He paused briefly. “I dare say that any other weaker creature that attempted what you did would have succumbed to the mental strain.”

I shuddered a bit at the thought as I continued walking.

It is at these moments that I sure am glad of being a dragon.

We ventured deep into the heart of the forest, with every step I could feel the energy around me increasing. This is the furthest I had ever been from my lair.

Tom led me to a clearing where the dense forest seemed to split apart. The grass formed a spiral shape beginning in the middle of the clearing, giving the entire scene a very mystical feeling. I felt the energy almost pulsating from the middle of the spiral.

https://i.imgur.com/RraiotX.png [https://i.imgur.com/RraiotX.png]

“We have arrived.”

Tom snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Welcome to the heart of the forest. This is where the life force begins its journey and spreads through the entire forest. Every grass blade, every fern, every tree, they all draw their energy to survive from this place.”

He paused, seemingly recollecting some memories.

“And it is also my birth place.” He looked at the spiral for a long moment, before turning back to me.

"This is where you learn." He declared, gesturing to the center of the spiral.

"Your first lesson," Tom continued, his voice echoing slightly in the open space, "is to understand and embrace the energy of the forest, not just to draw upon it when you need it. You've been holding back, protecting yourself from being overwhelmed by the energy flow. It's time to let go of that fear."

I looked at him skeptically. "Let go? The last time I did that, it was... unbearable."

Tom nodded sympathetically. "It will be different this time. I will guide you through it. The pain was because you resisted the energy, tried to control it. You need to let it flow through you, become a part of it."

He motioned for me to step into the center of the spiral. Hesitantly, I did as instructed, feeling the energy pulsating stronger with every step I took. Standing in the middle, I looked at Tom for guidance.

"Close your eyes," he instructed. "Breathe deeply. Feel the life around you—the trees, the plants, the soil. They're not separate entities but parts of a greater whole. You're part of this whole, Juniper."

I took a deep breath, trying to relax. At first, all I felt was a slight tingling sensation, but as I focused, the whispers of the forest began to fill my senses again. This time, however, Tom's presence seemed to anchor me, preventing the sensations from becoming overwhelming.

"Now," Tom's voice came, both from outside and inside my head, "instead of shutting it out, welcome it. Imagine your barrier not as a wall but as a gate. Open it, but remain in control."

I visualized my mental barrier as a gate, slowly letting it open. The energy flow intensified, threatening to sweep me away with its force.

I gritted my teeth as I started to feel the strain on my mind, but I remembered Tom's words: 'become a part of it.' I let the gate open wider, the energy cascading into me like a river breaking through a dam. The sensation was unlike anything I had ever experienced; it was both exhilarating and terrifying. The energy of the forest flowed through me, its life force intertwining with my own. I could feel every tree, every plant, every blade of grass as if they were an extension of myself.

The whispers of the forest became clearer, no longer a cacophony of noise but a symphony of life speaking directly to my soul. Each voice told a story of growth and survival. I was a part of that story now, a thread woven into the fabric of the forest.

But as the energy continued to flow, it became too much for me to handle. The symphony grew louder, the voices overwhelming. Panic set in as I realized I couldn't stop the flow. The energy was consuming me, threatening to erase the boundaries between myself and the forest.

In a moment of lucidity I looked at Tom, who was pacing around me, seemingly speaking to me, but his voice was lost in the roar of the energy. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees, the grass spiraling around me as if responding to my distress. My vision blurred, the vibrant colors of the forest merging into a whirlwind of light and shadow.

Suddenly, I felt a new tendril of life force that made its way towards me. I focused on it and found it originated from Tom, who was sitting in front of me, his eyes closed. His voice reached me, distant and echoing, he was speaking directly into my mind.

"Juniper, let go! You're resisting again. Breathe!"

I gasped for air, trying to follow his instructions, but it was like breathing through a cloth, each breath more labored than the last. The energy was suffocating me, a tidal wave that I could neither escape nor withstand.

In a final act of desperation, I envisioned my mental gate slamming shut. The flow of energy cut off abruptly, leaving me gasping on the forest floor. The sudden silence was deafening, the absence of the forest's life force leaving me feeling empty and disconnected.

Tom was at my side in an instant, his form glowing softly as he looked at me with concerned eyes.

"You pushed too hard, too fast. You must learn to moderate the flow, to let it in without letting it overwhelm you."

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. The experience had been both awe-inspiring and terrifying. I had felt the life of the forest in a way I never thought possible, but I had also come dangerously close to losing myself in it.

"You really should be more careful with yourself, Juniper." Tom added after a moment, a light tease in his voice.

"The forest won't run away, there's no need to try and embrace it all at once."

"We'll try again tomorrow," Tom said gently. "For now, rest. No one will threaten us, not while we are here."

I nodded again and closed my eyes, completely disregarding the system notification that I noticed in the corner of my vision. I felt too exhausted to say anything else. As if lulled by the quiet symphony of the forest, I slowly let myself drift to sleep.

Phytomancer - Experience +300

Phytomancer - Level up!