“So Mont Ryoux is winning their war against the Pytheonian Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

The children skipped over the kingdoms themselves and went straight to asking about the situation. This cemented in Hemlock’s mind the possibility that the elves didn’t originate from the forest. They likely already had some background knowledge of the world, but had been cut off from the current situation for an unknown period of time.

”And that’s going to be bad?”

Hemlock nodded with Siya’s conclusion. But by the tone of her voice Hemlock assumed she was unsure of why exactly it was a problem.

“Well, it’s bad for the rest of us because most of the surrounding countries don’t want to see it happen. Mont Ryoux has never been a popular nation in diplomatic times, and they have few allies who would legitimize their annexation of Pytheonia. Few want to see the kingdom expand its influence at all.”

The shaky voice of Arjun questioned Hemlock.

“But w-why would that lead to a bigger war?”

“Well that’s just my expectation of how the situation will develop, but it’s not totally unrealistic. Right now, because of the increased number of beasts coming from the woodlands and coasts, many countries and organizations are in a troubled position. While it may seem like they’re too busy with dealing with the beasts to pay attention to the war, that’s not the case.”

Hemlock explained while shucking the ring off of a mushroom.

“Even more so when many areas are vulnerable to beasts, none of these organizations want a power like Mont Ryoux to inch closer to their territory. That kingdom gaining new borders after a century of being locked behind the Trescult Woods and the Deadlands could make the current era far worse for neutral organizations. It could even lead to even more organizations and countries dissolving, should Mont Ryoux attempt to capitalize on the situation with the beasts.”

“Wait, what do you mean Mont Ryoux has been locked behind the Trecult Woods? Isn’t that where we are?”

Siya questioned abruptly. Hemlock paused, a little shocked by the girl’s doubt. It was true that it was a little weird…the priest paused, trying to remember why that was.

“Yes, this is the Trescult Woods…if I remember correctly, there was something in the Trecult Woods that had kept most countries from venturing into it or using it as a crossroads, at least officially. Likely something to do with the beasts, but I’m not sure of the exact reason.”

As otherwise this area would have been paved over long ago. The Trescult Woods was a gigantic conglomeration of woodlands that was near the very center of the continent, after all. If not for whatever kept most countries out of it, it would almost certainly provide a good thoroughfare for merchants. Disregarding its abundant natural resources, countries would fight over it just for this reason.

“Is that why there are so many serpenti around here now?”

Hemlock raised a brow at Arjun’s question.

“You mean there weren't always so many serpenti here? I thought from their numbers that they were a native species?”

The boy paused, shooting a look over to his sister.

“No…there were none here until maybe a year ago?”

“What about before that?”

Hemlock asked, to which Siya responded.

“We wouldn’t know past two years ago, but there were definitely none around back then.”

That piqued the priest’s curiosity.

“Did you all arrive here around two years ago, then?”

Arjun and Siya nodded.

“Though I think Muan was here a little before that, and Licht has definitely been here longer.”

Hemlock nodded as well. He could only imagine how long the mystical guardian of the grove had lived in these woods, or even existed as a whole.

…

Like a baby with more excitement than it could contain, Licht unconsciously clapped to himself. The fixtures of his face rose unwittingly, breaking into a smile he couldn’t stop.

“Yes! Hahahaha!”

He had finally done it! A major step in progress, what could qualify as a leap forward in his research, possibly saving him years of study, had just been made!

His system, omnipresent as it was, notified him at the same time with a series of pings.

[Skill Upgraded: Wood Manipulation (C) -> Wood Manipulation (C+)]

[Skill Upgraded: Biogenical Growth (C+) -> Biogenical Growth (B-)]

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

[Skill Upgraded: Passive Construct Body (C-) -> Passive Construct Body (C)]

Frrrrshhhhh.

A wet squelch resounded within the underground chamber as bundles of green thread and mycelia gushed forth from the exterior of Licht’s body. At the same time, Licht felt a warm sensation wash over his body, along with a pleasant tightening that welled up from within him.

Taking a quick peek at the notifications, Licht had no doubt this change was a result of the ascension in rank of [Biogenical Growth]. There was clearly a barrier of entry from rank C to B, and now that he had crossed it, something fundamental had changed.

Licht opened his ‘eyes’ once again. Walking to another room full of stuff he had stored from the merchant caravan, he looked at himself through the reflection of a standing mirror.

“I’ve changed indeed.”

Like a mini-evolution, his wooden exterior had morphed as a result of the skill upgrade, spurring the root structure of his body to turn outward in places, blooming with leafy growths and moss. The wood plate that covered his face had grown more jagged and crown-like at the top, and the contours of his face had become more shaped and defined. His lack of eyes was now much more apparent, as he no longer had the flat wooden surface but empty pockets where sensory organs should have been.

In addition, the upgrade of the skill had made his surface a walking planter for foliage. Moss and other growths lined many of the cracks between his limbs. Licht stretched himself. Seeing that the new growth did little to restrict his movement, he put away the thoughts of stripping all the new gains from his body.

As long as they didn’t restrict or hinder him, Licht didn’t care what such a small thing looked like. Now unconcerned about the physical effects of the skill, he pondered about its possible application.

His innate ability to grow himself had been taken out of the hands of his conscious mind and had become something he did effortlessly. As Licht made motions he watched as his feet and hands spread vegetative growth around the inside of the chamber. Wherever he moved, grassy lichen and floral growths would sprout up.

“I’ve become…walking fertilizer?”

Licht realized that it bore surprising likeness with a certain super-villainesses' power from Earth, but he supposed that on Hadea he was far enough from any potential copyright allegations.

Coming down off the high of his success, he directed his focus back to the matter at hand. Although the improvement of his growth skill was important, he could explore its effects later. He was here to implement the results of his experiment after all, and the skill’s improvement had just come as a consequence.

Licht looked down at the small sapling in his hands. This was the project he had been focused on for what seemed like forever, but really hadn’t even been two years. Creating a new species of tree, a new life, from [Biogenical Growth], [Wood Manipulation], [Warmth], [Construct Body], and much more had proved difficult.

From the start of the project, the only day he had ever gone without attempting it had been when the grove was attacked by the parasitized merchant caravan, yet not during any other attacks. That alone should put into perspective just how arduous the task had been.

But Licht had finally finished! Profiting greatly.

“And now, I can finally replenish the forest, restoring the beauty that was poisoned through withe remnants when I evolved.”

Licht felt like he could finally atone. Even though he had gone around and spread the local species of trees, which he had actually accomplished mostly via [Arboreal Sense] surprisingly, earning a rank-up for the skill, he didn’t feel like it was enough.

But with spreading a new species of tree, one uniquely adapted to the forest, and connected to him via the body skill, he could both replenish nature and improve himself. If the possibility Licht believed in was correct, the connection he had formed with the sapling by creating it with his skills could increase the security of the grove tremendously.

Carrying the sapling with him, Licht walked out of the underground chamber and melded with the great hollow root that ran vertical at the center of the workshop. His orb traveled upward through it, a hollowed bubble with the sapling inside following behind.

As he looked at the sapling in transit, Licht outlined his plans for the new species. Being derived from himself, it carried a portion of his abilities, and would make for a very sturdy material indeed.

“I’ll first see how spreadable it is outside of the grove. And then, I’ll renovate our fortifications using the new material.”

…

Three days later, Hemlock awoke in his cabin to the sound of shaking leaves. Though it wouldn’t be so unusual of a sound within a forest ordinarily, the grove wasn’t a natural place. It was supposedly cut off from the rest of the forest, and Hemlock knew he hadn’t heard such a sound since he had been here.

His eyes fluttered open, and the priest got up. Looking around the dark interior of the room provided for him, he searched for the door handle. His quarters had been erected shortly after he got here, soon after his first meeting with Licht. While watching a cabin spring up out of the earth had been a little shocking, he had realized the cause after the elves had explained it to him.

Since then, the prowess of the guardian of the grove, Licht, had continued to shock him. Being able to move wood and plant life on a whim was incredible to Hemlock. Though he had studied a variety of nature spirits, Licht’s prowess seemed far removed from any of them. And as the priest continued to labor around different parts of the grove, he saw the influence of that prowess everywhere.

The wooden weaving of the walls were far too neat to have been shaped by human tools and had none of the markings such methods would have left behind.

The buildings seemed like they had been molded by an invisible hand. Not a single nail nor support beam could be found along their surfaces or interiors.

Even the great tree at the center seemed to be designed. The patterns of its branches forming indescribable shapes, like the stained glass windows of churches. Not to mention its hollowed out interior, formed into an immaculately ‘carved’ room for meetings.

If Hemlock hadn’t been told the cause of all of these things beforehand, by the time he realized the artificiality of his surroundings he might’ve questioned his own mental acuity.

After all this evidence witnessed firsthand, Hemlock could only conclude that Licht was some kind of high-level nature spirit. At least something beyond his knowledge.

After fumbling around and exiting his cabin, Hemlock looked toward the source of the noise. The grove at this time was dark, as it was early morning and still sleeping hours, but the priest was concerned and didn’t want to let the matter be.

For if it was some kind of enemy, how would he be repaying the generosity of the denizens of the grove by letting it be?

Though Hemlock obviously hoped it wasn’t a foe. Though his body was healing well lately, it still was a long way off from being ready for combat. Not that Hemlock had ever been much of a fighter.

Just as these thoughts ran through his head, Hemlock turned the corner of the building and was able to barely see in the dark, the distant shape of the walls going soft and blending together, and the tall form of a wooden giant guiding them with its hands.