“Praise be to the stars; this Forest has an end!” Mishka said her expression ecstatic. Eve rolled her eyes as her clothing shifted from a bathing suit into the typical witch set of pointy hats, robes, and pouches. A long staff capped with Felix completed the look of a traveling caster accompanying a set of rich wealthy patrons.

Looking over the elf’s living area was a lesson in what put the Wood in wood elf. Trees had been shifted using elvish magic creating enormous redwood-sized living quarters for multiple families. The entire construct reached off into the distance out of sight. The currently visible living area boasted a very obvious touch of Green Mana use. Of course, the centerpiece of the community was a massive tree that spanned the sky in the distance. It wasn’t quite as big as fictional World Trees, or able to cover the sky with one hand, but there was little doubt as to what it was.

Are you prepared? Eve sent to Kudzu.

Completely. Bargain with confidence, either they provide what you desire or I will have another specimen or species to examine. Kudzu replied along with the mental link.

Eve looked at the wood elf Warband leader and said, “Are any Elders available? Oh, and what was your name by the way?”

A flash of annoyance crossed the wood elf Warband patrol leader before he said “I will send word to see if any of the Elders are available. My name is Lee Golas for future reference, mortal.” One of the younger men in the Warband raced off at a signal from the leader.

Eve rolled her eyes and said, “Real name please not the dimensional joke that never ends.” Elf humor was just as bad as dwarven without a doubt.

Smirking the false Lee Golas said, “Edward Greenwinter, I couldn’t resist the chance to add another twist to the legend.”

Striding forward Eve took the lead as the starship team followed behind like a gaggle of ducklings after their mother. She watched the women carefully observing the use of magic in architecture. While the wood elf culture might not be interested in the fanatical use of technology, they weren’t Luddites either. As long as technology, or magi-tech, could be implemented in a concealed manner it was completely acceptable and even encouraged. Thus, the streets they walked following Greenwinter were lit, paved, and clean.

The Warband split as they moved through the wood elf community slowly fraying until only Edward Greenwinter was left. As they approached another community square Eve twisted space around her group until they were floating barely an inch off the ground. She felt there was no need to torture people who had walked the entire day following inhuman escorts. Iantha gave a narrow glance asking with her expression why Eve didn’t do something like this earlier.

Casting her gaze about Eve wordlessly replied, of course, she wouldn’t do it normally, but here in the heart of wood elf power, it was as much flex as it was a comforting gesture. She was in essence stating that even here in the Heart of the Forest, her power was in no way limited. Eve was telling the elves that even without ambient mana, she was still a potent threat.

If the wood elf Elders cared enough, they could put effort into suppressing me, but that’s a slippery slope. Eve thought as she floated the group to follow Edward Greenwinter without effort. No, a Tier Seven wouldn’t risk the System deciding that suppression was the same as an attack. Let the environment do the majority of the battle, typical wood elf strategy which would normally work just peachy.

A flicker of will passed through the wood elf territory and Eve relaxed imperceptibly when Tier Six was the highest visible mana power level. While the lack of a higher mana signature didn’t mean there wasn’t a Tier Seven like Ohm somewhere around, it did mean they were not easy to summon. Eve was in fact almost a hundred percent certain there was a Tier Seven, probably in deep meditation, hibernation, or sleep. Such an Elder was almost mandatory in order to prevent the Tier Sixes from turning into crazed despots. However, a willingness not to be seen was par to admitting they wouldn’t interfere unless Eve did something drastic enough to force them into action.

A few Contracts won’t pull someone like that into the light unless I’m attempting to enslave the entire community, which point of fact isn’t happening. Eve thought nodding to herself. While they might venerate the World Tree, it isn’t an elf, which is perhaps something the Tree itself doesn’t grasp yet.

Arriving in one of the ubiquitous squares Eve’s small group was met by four wood elves that showed actual signs of age. The clear marks of time upon the older elf’s demonstrated these could only be Elders of the community. Edward moved forward to talk to the oldest male in the group while the other three looked at Eve with undisguised annoyance.

Edward finished reporting and exited the square fading into the living forest with barely a whisper of his passing. Shrugging, Eve moved up approaching the Elders with casual aplomb. Closer to the World Tree meant the Green Mana in the air was thicker than before slowly crowding out other sources of mana. Eve’s eyes flickered silver for a moment before she flexed her Shroud output pushing the Green Mana away and flooding the area with the shining tint of silver power.

“Can we get these little power games over; my garden has pests that need removal Simon.” The older female Elder said grumbled.

“Annie, we have to show a youngling that flash isn’t substance.” The younger female Elder replied in lieu of the oldest male Elder whose eyes had betrayed his irritation towards Annie.

“Jasmine you could probably flex your power better if you took the stick out of your…” Annie was interrupted by a soft cough from the younger male Elder.

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“Thank you, Tyron, I would hate for our guests to think we were a gaggle of bickering senile idiots,” Simon said smoothly stepping up to meet Eve.

Eve watched in amusement as the Elder, Simon, attempted to flush the silver flow of her mana with an influx of Green. Once the older male elf realized he couldn’t compare with the output of her Shroud she said, “I’m not good with the negotiation stuff so I’ll just be upfront. I need to get a few signatures and then I can be on my way.”

The other three Elders narrowed their eyes before feeding further power to Simon allowing him to push back the silver flow of power emanating from Eve. In response, her eyes blazed the molten chrome of untouched alloy seeming to leech the very air of color. Eve pushed the Shroud further causing the space around her to shudder in an unstable manner. To the shock of the wood elf Elders, the silver color flooded out clearing an even wider area and thrust the Green Mana to the furthest reaches. Witch’s Dust motes started to swirl around Eve and Felix’s crystal began to glow as she smirked before saying, “Suppression is a tactic that only works on the ignorant masses. Are we going to keep this up? The moment it crosses into actual combat I won’t be holding back like this. You are not lower Tiers; the System won’t stop me from beating you within an inch of your extensively long lives.”

Simon waved a hand releasing the pressure of Green Mana, and Eve reacted instantly her eyes dimming to bleached silver grey. The dim glow of Felix’s sapphire crystal flickered out like a light switch had been turned off. The older male elf sighed and said, “Witches. Your kind is always annoying to deal with. Let’s see the Contract, as long as it isn’t something insane, we can probably work something out.”

Eve pretended to pull the Contract from one of her pouches before handing the scroll over to Simon with minimal fanfare.

The older elf’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at her pouch before unrolling the scroll and skimming the text. Eve wasn’t very worried as she only had a few requests besides the normal ones. Primarily support assistance Blessings for three groups consisting of Iantha, Rex, and Purple along with their respective teams. She didn’t even try to ask for specific levels, leaving it entirely up to the wood elves as no matter what rank the Blessings were she could decipher them.

“This isn’t very extravagant,” Simon said stroking his goatee while glancing at the other Elders. After passing the Contract around with solid nods Simon and the others appeared to come to a consensus.

Annie said, “Alright. This shouldn’t be a problem to get done, but you’ll need to bargain with the Tree separately. That won’t be a problem right?”

Eve flashed a brilliant smile and said, “I look forward to it.”

A few short signatures later the Elders departed with potions, gems, and a large bag of metallic ores split among themselves. Eve on the other hand looked at the Contract in satisfaction before rolling the scroll up. Scooping Iantha and the crew up she looked around for a moment before using Spatial Step to move directly to the World Tree’s trunk after orienting herself. Whereas before it would have been akin to an act of war to do something like this, now Eve was an honored guest.

Money truly was the most miraculous superpower after all.

Why battle when I can just buy victory! Eve thought smugly.

Before the group lay the base of the Tree’s enormous trunk which rose from the ground like the wooden finger of a god of nature. Eve moved forward her steps flowing like water currents feeding into the ocean depths. There was no need to worry, as Eve could already sense the World Tree focusing its attention on Kudzu. The sensation was akin to two predators staring each other down from across a narrow ravine. Eve placed her hand upon the bark of the World Tree’s trunk before initiating a mental conversation.

ENEMY! The World Tree shouted in an accusing tone.

Ally. Eve said smoothly. I have done no harm to you.

Wretched enemy’s ally, filled with the scent of twisted space. The World Tree replied.

Be that as it may, I offer a way out. Eve sent keeping her mind focused.

Poisoned apples! The World Tree dismissed her words with annoyance.

Rolling her eyes, Eve pulled the contents of the Contract up parsing them to the World Tree for review.

Several minutes of long silence descended as the World Tree considered the offer. Eve knew that Kudzu’s position of strength factored heavily into the World Tree’s decision. Currently, they had the upper hand, but it was only a matter of time until the World Tree attempted to strike back or took desperate measures.

Trade? The World Tree sent finally shifting a few of the terms and adding a completely new set.

Eve’s eyebrows raised as she read through the altered Contract. Her interest was piqued by the deceptively simple request the World Tree offered. In exchange for the highest Blessing possible for her people, and even more, specifically those that would aid them immensely, Eve would take up the duties normally held by specific wood elves.

You want me to be the Substitute Summon for those who have demonic descent in their ancestry? Eve sent with a curious tone.

Black blood isn’t the fault of a young sapling. The World Tree replied firmly.

Why would you want to prevent them from being Summoned? Eve asked.

Bad sap weakens the trunk. The World Tree replied sending images of elves slowly turning into shadowy husks. Only the brilliant green eyes that screamed for aid remained vibrant in the shells of the dying elves.

The demonic blood comes to the fore and slowly cripples them? Eve asked. Another image of the Tree infusing vitality into the dying elves only to have it slowly sapped with each new Summoning as the years passed.

Permanent. Solution. Final. Success. The World Tree sent in a firm tone.

How does this benefit me? Eve asked, she had no doubt the World Tree wouldn’t have made the offer only dependent on her mercy.

Images flowed into Eve’s mind of countless worlds filled to the brim with knowledge and Systems. It was a hodgepodge of strange and wonderful things, but the most important concept that firmly shone through was the lack of boredom.

So, this is how you kept from going mad through the endless seasons. Eve sent with appreciation. Not many understood the true horror that the weight of countless years bore. That a plant could find a solution that equated to dimensional voyeurism was impressive in a manner of speaking.

Good deal. The World Tree replied adeptly dodging the inherent accusation with leafy nimbleness.

Eve considered the angles before nodding; it was an adequate solution and the entertainment value wasn’t low. As a Summoned creature she would be immune to true death since only permanent death in her home dimension where the System held sway would count.

I will accept contingent on your signature. Eve replied firmly.

As both finished signing the Contract a devilish grin lit Eve’s face. Finally, she had something that would keep Nota’s thirst for knowledge from turning into an obsession. Without any doubt, Eve felt she had gotten the better of the towering tree in this gamble until the Tree sent a parting shot.

Watch out for Summoning in the shower. The World Tree sent with a tone of schadenfreude.

Eve’s eyebrow twitched in irritation.