The Alseid gathered around the body of Lefaljac. In the time Johann had been there, he'd never seen so many of them out at once. At first he thought there were less than a hundred of the Alseid but more than twice that number gathered for the sad occasion. 

Some sat in silence while others pleaded and gave thanks to her service and guidance over the years. Three nymphs sat outside the group and played their native instruments that gave off a more positive vibe than he would have thought appropriate. Grief came in many forms and it wasn't his place to tell anyone else how best to deal with it. Even though he hadn't harmed Lefaljac, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in part responsible for her death. That the information he surrendered to Zafira had spurred her into action.

Ajalla appeared almost out of nowhere and caught him off guard as she sat down cross-legged beside him. She laid her hand on his and looked out over the masses. "You don't have to be here for this. Kiri and I can just come and pick you up when we're finished and head to the cove."

Johann nodded, sparing her a sidelong glance as he considered it. He wasn't a member of their society and didn't want to intrude on their privacy but at the same time he felt compelled to stay. Lefaljac freed him from Zafira and helped him make it to the village. Without her patience and the water, he would have never been able to come so close to Kiri. "I owe her a lot, it's only fair for me to sit this through."

"She was tough," Ajalla said, resting her chin in her palm. her eyes shimmered a soft green but seemed focused on a distant point. "Very by the rules with no leeway for nonsense. Guess I was never made out to be a Warden in the first place but Kiri was always so determined."

"You're not a Warden? I thought you all were." Johann felt her grip tighten at the mention of Warden.

"I'm afraid I get a little too friendly around people I like." She cocked her head to the side and smiled at him sheepishly. "That's okay though. It gives me more freedom to be the way I am without endangering others. Only a fraction of the Alseid ever become Wardens. Most of us just stay on Amazon and care for our lots to do our part in keeping the balance."

"I see. Well, maybe we could speak to the Wardens. If they're already used to traveling to other worlds, then they might be willing to help us find and stop Zafira."

Ajalla let go of his hand and crossed her arms. She turned away from him and kept silent for a few heartbeats before glancing back over her shoulder at him. "There aren't any Wardens left."

"What do you mean? I thought you and Kiri were training to become one?"

"We were," she said in a low voice, trying to keep her voice calm. "Kiri urged the Elders to restart the training and send out Wardens into the universe again. The missions were halted after an incident a few thousand years ago."

"A few thous--," Johann shook his head as he tried to clear his mind. "I don't understand. Why would they stop for such a long time?"

"A group of Wardens were attacked and held hostage. It took the Elders decades to find and free them but the damage had already been done and caused a split amongst the Alseid." Ajalla shuddered. "Those Wardens were led by Zafira and the world they were meant to protect was Gaia."

It suddenly became quite clear to Johann what happened and the magnitude of the events unfolding around him. This wasn't just a fight to save Earth but between the pacifist Alseid and the aggressive Erythrai. They were the same people but following different beliefs. If the Erythrai were successful, they could change the entire universe to adopt their ways.

"I don't get it," Johann began, as he looked up to where Renili stood addressing the crowd. "Why won't they make a move and stop Zafira before it's too late?"

"Stealing from a thief doesn't change the fact that you became a thief yourself." She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder as she continued to watch the proceedings. "You don't have to understand it, but I'm still willing to help."

"How are you going to help, if you're not going to fight?" He didn't mean to be rude but felt frustrated at the lack of progress he was making with them. He did need all the friends he could get and Ajalla had been nothing but kind to him ever since he arrived.

"I have a few friends in high places. I could try speaking with them and that might get us the army we need to fight Zafira."

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"We?"

"Well, of course," Ajalla said with a grin spreading across her beautiful lips. "I'm going with you after all. Kiri's my seedling and the rules can go to Hades, if they think I'm going to sit around while you two put yourself in danger.

Johann raised his brows as he studied her. She had a way with people that let him know she meant what she said and that with her help, he might be able to tip the balance. "What kind of friends are these?"

"Six foot beasts of pure muscles with abs I could wash my clothes with." Ajalla got up, stretched and fixed her skirt. "It's been a little while since we talked, so I better get going now. Meet me at the portal but go through with Kiri if I don't make it in time. She'll be able to open up the portal again and let us in when the time is right."

"Thank you for your help. We'll be waiting for you and I'm a little curious to see just what type of friends you have."

They shared a laugh but Ajalla needed to leave if she wanted to make it back to the portal before it closed. Johann turned his attention back to the front where Renili stood. She instructed two Alseid to lower Lefaljac into the grave on a platter of wood logs. Once finished, they sealed the grave with dirt. Renili was joined by Sharina and they both got down onto their knees and laid there hands on the mound.

"Where did Ajalla go?" a voice snapped from the side. Johann glanced over to find Kiri looming over him with her hands at her hips. She looked around in search of Ajalla. "Don't tell me she'd skip out on such an important event."

"She left to get us some help. Said she knew some friends," Johann said, turning back to the front. "What are they doing?"

Kiri knitted her brows together and sat down beside him. She took his hand in her lap and lowered her eyes. "With the Mother Tree killed and the Amber Hearts taken, the Elders decided to keep Lefaljac here and not set her free. Her body will transform and from her heart will emerge a new Mother Tree. All future dryads will come from her."

"You're turning her into a tree?"

"Lefalajc would do the same if she were still alive. Becoming the Mother Tree isn't the end but simply a new form of existence. It will allow us to communicate with her and keep her teachings alive."

The hands of the Elders glowed a vibrant green before shifting to an orange and finally blue. Small orbs of energy emanated from the ground and danced in the wind. After a few minutes, the Elders paused and looked at each other. Renili stood and looked over the crowd. "Lefaljac is alive and well again. it will take some time before her mind has adapted and weeks before we will see her emerge here at the center of our village."

"We will transform our village into the Grove so that every Alseid may receive the Mother's Blessing and guidance whenever needed," Sharina said. She bowed her head and when she looked up, her eyes locked onto Johann's. "Until that time, we will continue to fill in the void left behind and deal with the crisis at hand."

"We need to leave," Johann said, recalling the Elder's plan to seal the cove and prevent any further travel.

The Alseid rose and wandered forward to the mound of soil and all gave a portion of their bio-ethereal energy to help support Lefaljac.

"It warms my heart to see you here," Renili said. She crossed through the crowd and came to where Johann was getting up. "Have you come to a decision? It would be our pleasure to have you stay amongst us, if you so choose."

"Thank you for your help, but my home is in danger." Johann straightened and took Kiri's hand in a show of unity. "I can't let Zafira get away with whatever it is she has planned."

Renili nodded, keeping her silence as she looked to Kiri and then back at Johann. "I understand your desire to do what you feel is right and won't stop you but I can remind you to look for another way. Violence appears to be the easy solution but only leads to more harm. I trust you and Kirilamei will do all that you can to prevent a catastrophe on Gaia."

"We're going to capture Zafira and bring her back to stand trial before the Elders," Kiri said.

"It's not just Zafira, you'd have to deal with," Renili pointed out. "Her sisters will be there but I'm willing to give you a chance. If you succeed in capturing Zafira and bringing her back within six days, then I will leave the Cove open. if on the morning of the sixth day you aren't here, I'll have no choice but to seal the Cove to prevent Zafira from traveling the worlds and spreading her influence."

"You're setting up a time limit," Johann blurted out. He was glad they'd give them a chance but he had no idea what Zafira's course of action would be once she reached the other side. "We need to get to the portal s soon as possible before she opens it up. The longer we wait here, the harder it’s going to be to track her down when she does open the portal.”

“Johann is right,” Kiri said, addressing the Elder. “We’ll be leaving now, we’re not entirely sure when she’ll arrive and open the portal but we’ll do our best to stop her.

“Very well,” Renili said, she looked both of them over, her expression softening. “I can’t wish you the best of luck but I can hope we’ll meet again under better circumstances.”

Kiri said her farewells to a few of her friends as well as Sharina before going back to Johann and holding out her hand. He didn’t know how good their chances were against the Erythrai, but as long as Ajalla held up her end, they still had hope.

Knowing Lefaljac wasn’t truly dead lifted his spirit. Some of the damage might be reversible as long as they acted decisively.  They left the village with a small pack of Alseid seeing them off. Some walked through the foliage of the jungle for several minutes before stopping and watching them continue on. He couldn’t blame them for not wanting to take up arms, it wasn’t their way.

“So just how far away is the Cove?” He asked, wanting to interrupt the awkward silence between them. In the two hours they'd been in Pilamo, they’d never been alone to talk over how they stood to each other. Johann had strong feelings for Kiri and wasn’t willing to give her up that easily but Kiri remained a blank page to him. Was she going with him because she felt responsible or because she still shared feelings for him as well?