I decided to explore this new ability. I was excited to explore this system my familiars had crafted while I was away. I promised to myself I would never get that high again.

Who am I kidding? I totally would. It would be a smaller dose next time. Maybe I would turn it into an edible and make a drink out of it.

I made a note to ask Regina Apis about this. Could she make the mead with the manajuana? I bet that would be awesome.

I closed my eyes and sank into my Verdant Dominion. Green flooded my vision and the sounds around me faded out. I sank down into a lotus position and simply felt the world.

Trees, leaves, ants, bees. I heard and felt the scrabble of insects through my branches. I felt things chewing on my roots. The wind flowed through my leaves. I stretched down and felt water deep in my roots.

The sensation of connection was overwhelming, yet familiar. It was as if every part of me was both alive and aware, each root and branch an extension of my being. I could feel the life force pulsing through the trees, the gentle hum of the bees as they went about their work, and the industrious movement of the ants as they scurried through their endless tasks. The entire forest was a living, breathing entity, and I was at its center, the heart of this vast network of life.

As I delved deeper, the distinctions between my physical body and the world around me blurred. I could sense the delicate interplay of mana within the soil, the way it nourished the roots and was absorbed by the plants. I could feel the slight shifts in the wind, carrying with it the whispers of distant places. It was all so clear, so vivid.

I decided to test my newfound ability. Focusing on a single point within the forest, I willed a connection to form. The ground beneath me seemed to tremble slightly as my awareness expanded. I could feel the ants and bees responding to my intent, their movements becoming more synchronized, more purposeful. The trees seemed to lean in, as if listening for my command.

Slowly, I reached out further, my consciousness traveling through the roots and branches until I found myself at the edge of the forest. The boundary between the dimensional shard and the outside world was faint, but it was there, a thin veil separating the two. I hesitated for a moment, then pushed through, feeling the familiar tug of the shard’s protective barrier as it yielded to my will.

On the other side, the world felt different; more chaotic, more unpredictable. The mana here was wilder, less refined. I could sense the presence of the bandits Fernando had mentioned earlier, their movements erratic as they tried to evade detection. But they couldn’t hide from me, not now. I tracked their progress through the forest, noting their paths and the way they moved through the underbrush.

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A sudden rustling drew my attention, and I focused on a nearby clearing. There, a group of the bandits had set up camp, unaware that they were being watched. I could feel their unease, the way the forest seemed to press in on them, as if it too, resented their presence. I knew I could act now, disrupt their plans, send them fleeing back to where they came from. But I held back, want to test the limits of this ability further.

Instead, I drew back, letting my awareness recede until I was once again fully present in the dimensional shard. I opened my eyes, the green fading from my vision as the sounds of the shard returned. The map before me was still updating, the tiny figures of ants and bees moving across its surface.

Seraphina and Regina Apis were watching me, their expressions curious. I could sense their questions, their eagerness to know what I had discovered.

“I can feel everything,” I said, my voice filled with wonder. “The trees, the animals, the very flow of mana itself. I can track the bandits, see where they’ve been and where they’re going. It’s like, I’m part of the forest itself.”

I paused and took a deep breath. “Also, there is shit everywhere. I need to clean that up before people start getting sick. Who is in charge of urban planning?” I asked.

Everyone looked around at each other. “Urban planning?” Seraphina asked. “I imagine it would be Scott, he is running the town.”

I sighed. “Damn, that’s what I thought. Welp, I found the bandits.” I pointed to an area on the map. “They are here, up north.” I turned towards Fernando. “Let’s up the surveillance in that area and try to flush them out. I also want to find out where they are coming from and how they have been avoiding you.”

“Got it boss.” Fernando gave me a squirrel high five. “Maybe my skills are too low.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I said. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll go talk to Scott tomorrow. What’s the status on the quest board we have been running?”

Regina Apis answered. “Not good, it hasn’t found as much traction as we wanted. People are mostly going after the easy to gather type quests. The rewards aren’t as popular as you thought they would be.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right.” I rubbed my eyes. “Ok, we need to create reasons for people to use the money. What’s Raj been using at his market?”

Regina Apis replied again. “I think it is still mostly barter. To be honest, Gavrin, neither Seraphina or I really understand how this capitalism works.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Neither do I. Money has always been a little imaginary. The trick is convincing other people it isn’t.”

I turned my attention back to the map. “Right, I will focus on expanding my perception through the forest. I will follow the bandits back north and find their point of origin. Thor and Loki, you will step up patrols to make sure we aren’t being flanked. Regina Apis you will be our eyes in the skies. Let’s get some bees out there and scouting. And Seraphina, let’s get some ants digging throughout the town. I want to put in a proper sewage system and improve the water supply.”

I got affirmative nods from everyone, of a flutter of wings from Regina. I turned my attention back to the map and let my mind flow back into the forest. This was a most agreeable activity for me.