A dryad? I racked my brain for memories of dryads in the fantasy stories I had known in my previous world. From what I could remember, they were some sort of forest spirit.

‘Picea’ continued, “Now that I have introduced myself, I think it’s fair you return the favor. I’ve never seen such a curious elf before. You’re able to talk coherently before most can crawl, and that’s not to mention that you fly!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, I guess I was an oddity even to a magical forest spirit.

“My name is Kane. I live not too far away from here I think.” I said, giving the best introduction I could without giving away too much sensitive information.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, little Kane! Are you by chance lost?” Picea asked.

I nodded my head, “I’m super lost. So, if there’s nothing else you need from me, I’ll be taking my leave.” I said, trying to quickly excuse myself.

Picea was evidently not pleased by my words, and a frown developed on her pretty face.

“Oh, how terrible! Well let me help you, sweet child. It is only fair that I repay your kindness.” she said with a pleading look.

I narrowed my eyes at Picea suspiciously. They didn’t seem hostile at first glance, but they obviously ate people. I knew this from witnessing it first hand.

However, if they were a spirit of the forest, I imagined they would at least know which direction I came from. Their offer to help was far too promising to let go.

I sighed, “Thanks Picea, I would really appreciate it.” I said placatingly.

The last thing I wanted to do was upset some enigmatic spirit. I was not confident in my abilities to defend myself against some strange fantasy creature.

Picea beamed at me brightly when she heard this. She turned around with a bounce, causing her supple peaks to dance with her movements.

I coughed as I looked away, the sight was too much for my young eyes to bear.

“Now, it seems like you came from North of here. Judging by the disturbances in the forest, there was a portal opened up a short distance away.” Picea said as she walked through the forest

“A portal?! I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m pretty sure the guys who kidnapped me were only walking for like ten minutes.” I replied, not sure what they were talking about.

Picea frowned before they seemingly came to a realization.

“You poor thing! I’m sorry to tell you, but we’re nearly four hundred miles from the nearest Elven settlement.” they said as if it was no big deal.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard this though, “F-four hundred miles?! There’s no way it’s that far away.”

Picea simply shook her head, “It’s the truth, your kinfolk must have brought you here through that portal. It’s a shame, the portal has long since closed. You’ll need to find another way home.”

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My eyes widened in shock when I heard this.

“Where the f*ck am I?” I wondered aloud, looking around the forest with a lost expression.

Picea smiled at me gently, “Do not worry little one, for you are within my domain and protection. You are standing in the great forest of Elarion.”

“Elarion? I guess that’s supposed to mean something to me.” I said, not amused.

Picea said nothing though, and she smirked while reaching out a hand to her side. This action caused a torrent of vines to erupt from around her, and I watched as these vines lifted her up high into the air.

The sheer quantity of these vines made me gulp, for Rolim’s magical powers paled in comparison to this strange dryad.

I said nothing as I followed Picea up into the air, my new sword hovering behind me and ready to move if I sensed any shenanigans.

Fortunately, Picea did not seem to harbor any ill intent towards me.

“Elarion is the name of this region—Legends say that the sixth saint was buried here. If they are to be believed, they were an elf of such astounding magical power that just their corpse provided enough nourishment for this magical forest to form around them.” she explained.

Her explanation did not do much to alleviate my confusion, but I gave them my full attention.

These were all things that I had never heard of.

Picea continued, “I was born nearly a millennium in the past, formed from the accumulated spiritual energy that had gathered here for centuries. This forest has been my home my entire life.”

I was growing confused the longer this went on. They seemed to be a creature that was much higher than me in the pecking order, so why were they being so friendly with me?

Maybe it was because of the ‘gift’ I had given them.

“So, Miss Dryad, since you’re so strong—Can you just open up another portal for me?” I asked, making my best puppy-dog expression .

Picea sighed as she shook her head, “I am sorry, my child. I do not know any portal magics. From what I understand, elves like to create portals to inhospitable areas to make shady deals and the like.” she explained.

She smiled at me though, “Do not fear, for I will shelter you within my branch.”

Picea then held her hands out again, and this time a monumental tree began to emerge from the forest’s soil.

This tree had illustrious, purple leaves, and its base was made of a mystical-looking wood that shimmered in the moonlight. I held my breath as this tree soon approached us in height, and then continued for a few dozen meters until it stood nearly 70 meters high (230 feet).

“You can rest here for the night, little Kane. It will be safe in there.” Picea said.

I didn’t understand what they were getting at, “Wait, isn’t that just a tre-” I began to say, but my words became stuck in my throat as I watched what happened next.

Thirty meters above the forest floor wood parted as a doorway opened up on the base of the gigantic tree. The doorway was so high in the air I doubted that anyone who couldn’t fly could reach it.

I said nothing as I watched Picea walk down a pathway of branches that had formed towards the doorway. She soon disappeared into the tree.

They made no motions for me to follow them, but I floated behind them nonetheless. As strange as all of this seemed, I figured I had better chances inside of the tree than out in the wilderness.

As I crossed the wooden threshold, I became able to see the interior of this uncanny tree.

It was actually much more spacious than it would appear from the outside. The room was circular in shape, and had to be at least twenty meters in diameter. The height was just as impressive, and the ceiling stood tens of meters above me.

The room of course had wooden walls, but what was more interesting was the strange furniture that had formed out of the very floor itself.

Wooden tables and furniture adorned the room, and I even saw a bed sitting in the corner. The bed looked surprisingly comfortable though, even if the blankets and mattress seemed to be made entirely from leaves.

Some of the wooden tables in the room were stacked high with papers and various scrolls, and strange apparatus littered shelves that were scattered around. When I looked back at the bed a wave of exhaustion abruptly fell upon me, and I couldn’t help but yawn. Picea seemed to sense this.

“Why don’t you take a rest, I imagine you are fatigued.” she said, smiling at me reassuringly.

I still didn’t know if I could trust this so-called dryad, but I really didn’t think I could sleep while floating in the air. The only alternative was to sleep on the forest floor.

This seemed like a much better idea, so I floated over to the bed and lowered myself onto it.

Not only was I dead tired, but my head was also throbbing immensely. I imagined my frequent use of my powers was the cause, as I hadn’t used them this much in my entire life.

I yawned, “I’m so damn hungry.”

Picea laughed, following me onto the bed.

I looked up at her in surprise as I watched her climb into the bed with me. I was left speechless as I saw her grab one of her large breasts with her hand and bring it towards me.

“I figured you would be. Here, little one. Eat.” they said, urging me to drink from their breast.

I nearly choked when I saw this. After all, weren’t they a plant?!

Picea seemed confused by my hesitation, “What’s the matter? Is this not what baby’s eat?” she asked, still holding her tit up to my face.

When I looked at the lime colored nipple above me, I didn’t know whether or not I should laugh or cry!

‘I know I’m still a baby, but isn’t this too much?’ I wondered, not sure if I should take the forest spirit up on their offer.

However, my rumbling stomach soon made up my mind for me.

Before I knew it I was sucking on the dryad’s teat, drinking from their milk. I called it, ‘milk’, but it felt more correct to call it some type of nectar.

The milk tasted like honey, and was several times sweeter and more nourishing than my own mother’s.

It only took me a few minutes to drink my fill, and I let out a satisfying burp when I had finished. I didn’t know when Picea had started holding me, but I didn’t have the strength to resist as I fell asleep.

That night I slept like a rock.