Silverstream says "Both Brightfire and I have already volunteered to go with you. Whoever you choose to go with you, the other will care for the tree while you are gone."

"If I say that we are going to fly to the mountains, do you still want to go?"

Silverstream says "Nope! Brightfire can go! I will care for the tree!"

Brightfire says "Fine by me! I enjoy flying!"

"Well, that settles that."

Stillwater says "What about the orcs?"

"They don't enter the mountains, so I will just land us in the mountains."

Brightfire says "What about the things that live in the mountains?"

"I will deal with anything that tries to eat us."

Stillwater says "I trust you to keep my daughter safe."

"Of course. Is there anything else I need to know?"

Stillwater says "No. You now know everything I do."

"Alright, we will leave in the morning. I will tend to the tree before I leave. If we are gone more than a day then I will trust you to care for it, Silverstream."

Silverstream says "Sure!"

Stillwater says "Anything that I need to do while you are gone?"

"Have all the elves take a turn at sailing the warship. I would like everyone to be able to help out in an emergency. Other than that, pay attention to those with the nack for sailing, they will be our crew."

Stillwater says "Sure, I can do that!"

"Make sure they learn everything they can from the humans before we set them free."

Stillwater says "Will do."

Silverstream says "Is there anything else we need to discuss? If not, we should get back to the party."

"No, that is everything that I can think of."

Stillwater says "Alright. You should join us, you are our hero after all!"

"Thanks, but I am fine right here."

They look like they want to argue with me, but in the end they don't try and return to the party. Once they are gone I close my eyes, create a soulscape, and update Myria on everything. When she chews me out for being reckless, I can't help but notice she sounds exactly like Silverstream.

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It is to be expected though, all women seem to share an ability when it comes to lecturing. Once she is done chewing me out I end the soulscape and get some sleep. In the morning, after breakfast, I use the giant eagle form to fly over to the tree with Brightfire.

As I am landing, the tree reaches out with its feelings to welcome me, it seems excited to see me. Figuring it is hungry, once Brightfire jumps down, I drop shapeshift and start feeding it mana. As I am channeling mana from a piece of the gate I can feel the tree's happiness.

Its feelings continue as I finish with the first piece and move on to the second. However, when I finish the second piece the tree doesn't seem satisfied, it projects hunger. So, I grab a third piece of the gate and continue channeling it to the tree.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Channeling has progressed to level 7!

Channeling

Level 7

Int +7 Mana +70

You are very experienced at channeling mana.

'Yay! More mana!'

Even after completely draining the third piece the tree still seems hungry. So I go ahead and grab a fourth piece to feed to it, only once it is gone does the tree seem satisfied. It would make sense for its appetite to grow as the tree grows, but that means I have a problem.

The number of gate pieces remaining isn't even enough for a full week at this rate. Despite that, I place two more pieces by the tree's roots before I leave. For it to continue growing I have to make sure it is supplied with enough mana.

Without enough mana it would take years to grow to the size I need and I can't wait that long. True, I could sail back using the warship, but then I couldn't take all of the elves. Even with only those I rescued, the ship was overcrowded and that wouldn't work on a long voyage.

The ship also needs to be able to carry enough food and water, just in case I am not around. It shouldn't come to that, but I do plan to continue looking for more elves as we travel. Knowing me and my habit of finding side quests, it is better to be prepared.

Well, as prepared as I can manage to be considering I am guessing about a lot of things. I will just do the best I can and hope that it is enough, if it isn't I will figure it out as I go. So, basically the same as usual for me, follow the plan till it fails, then wing it.

Once the tree is satisfied I change back to the giant eagle and wait for Brightfire to mount up. After she does I launch into the air and fly northwest, towards the mountains. It takes a little under two hours for me to reach the northern end of the mountains.

Once I find a place to land, Brightfire jumps down and starts looking around for signs. When she moves away I drop shapeshift and follow her, keeping an eye out for danger. She wanders back and forth across the entire area I landed in, but doesn't find anything.

"Did I land us in the wrong area?"

Brightfire says "Looks like it, but we should be close. I will keep looking."

Brightfire gives me a smile before turning to continue searching the area. As she does I simply follow along and protect her, I can sense things nearby, but they don't approach. They probably caught my scent and don't want to mess with me, which is fine by me.

After a few more hours of searching Brightfire finds the sign she has been looking for. It is carved into a rock hidden under some bushes, but it points the way to the next sign. Before moving on we stop and have some lunch, then Brightfire heads for the next sign.

The signs lead us deeper into the mountains and soon things start coming out to take a look at us. Most of them skulk away after taking a look at us, but the group of lions don't. There are over twenty of them, with three males, and they are eyeing Brightfire.

I quickly move forward and put myself between Brightfire and the lions. The lions look a lot less confident once I am in the way, but they still growl at me. Of course, I growl back at them, which backs them off a little, but they don't leave.

The three males let out a roar at me, but it doesn't affect me and I roar back at them. However, I get a little carried away and roar at full force without meaning to. The lions take off running, but the roar echoes throughout the mountains.