Ebonheim stood at the edge of the clearing, her gaze sweeping over the corrupted grove. The twisted trees, the corrupted animals, the pulsating device lodged in Aelindra's chest. Each piece of the puzzle was right in front of her, but how did they fit together?
Her Divine Sight allowed her to see the arcane energy that emanated from Aelindra, but more specifically from the magitech device lodged in her chest. The energy flowed like a river, branching off from Aelindra and weaving through the grove.
Ebonheim focused on the trees first, tracing the flow of energy to each one. She counted silently, her brow furrowing as she realized the extent of the corruption. Next, she turned her attention to the animals. They were harder to count, their forms shifting and changing as they moved throughout the area.
There were more corrupted trees than animals. But while the animals were fewer in number, their corruption was more potent, the energy around them pulsating with a darker hue.
She looked back at the device and found the sequence of numbers that correlated to the number of trees and animals. However, there were still two sets of numbers that were unknown to her. One of them could be related to Aelindra's heartbeat.
An idea popped into her mind on how to figure out the remaining mystery.
"Ivera," she called, "I need you to do something for me."
The sprite fluttered over, her tiny face filled with concern. "What is it? What can I do to help?"
"I need you to lure a few animals away from the grove," Ebonheim explained.
"Huh? What for?"
"Earlier, when an animal wandered off the grove, the energy connected to it vanished. I didn't look at the numbers on the device at that time so I didn't see what changed. So now I need you to lure a few animals away while I watch the device. Can you do that?"
Ivera looked doubtful. "I can try placing a charm spell on them to guide them away. I've done it before so I know it still works on them but...are you sure that this will do something?"
"I'm not," Ebonheim admitted. "But it's worth a try."
With a sigh and a nod, Ivera flew off, her tiny form disappearing into the underbrush. Ebonheim watched her go, then turned her attention back to the grove. She focused on the device, watching the numbers change as Ivera led the animals away.
As the numbers shifted, there was no change in Aelindra. The dryad remained still, her vacant eyes staring blankly ahead. The corruption was still there, as potent as ever. However, she noticed that the numbers on the device associated with the number of corrupted animals in the grove diminished. One of the unknown sets of numbers also diminished.
A short while later, Ivera returned, flying over to land beside Ebonheim. "Alright, I got lured some of them away. Just so you know, they go crazy and hostile once they left the area and after my spell wore off. Maybe that's why those animals attacked us earlier."
Ebonheim nodded. "Yeah...maybe." She turned her attention back to Aelindra and narrowed her eyes as she studied the device again. "How many animals did you manage to lure?"
"Um...two deers, three squirrels, and a rabbit."
Six animals. Ebonheim looked at the numbers once more and saw that the amount matched how much the numbers represented the number of animals linked to the device. She shifted her attention to the unknown set, expecting the number to be three less...and it was!
"I think I have an idea now," she said softly.
"Well don't just keep it to yourself," Ivera fumed. "What is it?"
"Sorry," Ebonheim said sheepishly. "The numbers in front of the device represent the number of corrupted trees and animals linked to it. Some of the numbers also represent the types of animals...and maybe even the types of trees in the group, I'll have to look at each one to be sure. The last bit of numbers must represent Aelindra's heartbeat since it didn't change."
Ivera tilted her head in confusion. "Alright...so now that you've figured all of that out, can you save Aelindra?"
"I have a few ideas to try. First, I want to see if having fewer corrupted trees compared to the number of corrupted animals linked to it would have any effect."
"You mean to destroy the trees?" Ivera gasped.
Ebonheim nodded firmly, readying her bow. "I don't know how Aelindra will react but be prepared for any retaliation." It didn't sit well with her, having to destroy trees that still had a chance to be cleansed, but she'll devote some time to regrowing the damage done even if Elmsworth didn't ask her to.
"But what about the animals?" Ivera asked, her eyes wide with fear. "Won't they attack us?"
Ebonheim paused. She hadn't considered that. If they saw her attacking the trees, they might see it as a threat and attack.
"We'll have to be careful," Ebonheim said, lowering her bow. "If that happens, can you try distracting them?"
Ivera gulped. "Only if a few of them attack. If you put the whole grove into a frenzy then you're on your own."
Ebonheim smiled grimly and lifted her bow once more. "Let's hope they don't make things difficult."
She activated her Enchanted Essence bolt power once more and six leaf-shaped sigils of light manifested behind her shoulder. She took aim at a corrupted tree, her fingers steady on the bowstring as light flared into existence, shaping into the form of her arrow.
The Essence Bolt cut through the air, a streak of divine energy that hit the tree with a resounding crack. The tree shuddered, its branches shaking as the energy coursed through it. Then, with a deafening roar, it exploded, shards of wood and energy scattering in all directions.
Ebonheim didn't wait to see the aftermath. She nocked another divine arrow and let it fly, then another, and another. Each Essence Bolt found its mark, each tree exploding in a burst of energy, though the larger ones took three or more shots to destroy.
As she worked, she kept a close eye on the animals in the grove, expecting them to attack. But the animals seemed to be ignoring her attacks altogether in their stupor. They continued to wander aimlessly.
Ebonheim continued destroying the corrupted trees and watched their number dwindle on the device. But it wasn't enough. There were still too many corrupted trees compared to the number of corrupted animals, and she didn't have the Essence to continuously use her Enchanted Essence Bolt to bring the number of trees down further without waiting hours for her energy to replenish. She did notice a change in the number she thought only corresponded to the types of animals, which meant that the number also took into account the types of trees the device was linked to.
She tried piecing it all together once again: There were more corrupted trees than animals, but each one was less than the number representing the types of animals and trees corrupted. The number representing the types of trees and animals corrupted was less than the combined amount, which made sense since multiple animals or trees of the same type were in the group. Finally, Aelindra's heartbeat was less than the number representing the different types of trees and animals corrupted, but not by much.
If all these factors were necessary to keep the grove corrupted, what if it was all reversed?
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
She turned to Ivera, her voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at her. "We need to lure more of the animals into the grove."
Ivera's eyes widened. "What?! You just told me to lure them out of the grove earlier. Now you want me to lure them back in?!"
Ebonheim smiled apologetically. "Sorry, sorry! I don't have the Essence to destroy enough of the trees unless you want to sit around while I recuperate my energy. Instead, I want to get more of the corrupted animals back in here. You won't do it alone this time, I'll go out too. We also need to make sure not to add more types of animals than what's already present here."
Ivera crossed her arms in front of her and grumbled. "Alright fine! But just so you know, I'm also running low on mana so this had better work."
Ebonheim nodded and focused on accessing the Akashic System. She needed something similar to Ivera's magic that could charm the animals. Glowing words shimmered into view in front of her.
[Name] Charm Animals (Rank I)
[Effect] This ability allows you to temporarily charm animals within a certain radius, influencing their behavior and making them friendly and cooperative towards you.
[Range] 10-meter radius
[Target] Animals within range
[Duration] 1 hour
[Cost] 10 Essence
[Would you like to acquire this ability for 50 Quintessence]
It’d be a good investment, so yes.
[Quintessence] 7508 -> 7458
[Acquired Divine Ability: Charm Animals (Rank I)]
Perfect. This was much more efficient to use than her Essence Bolt and if it came down to it, she could use herself as bait and corral the animals back here.
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Ebonheim and Ivera split up, each heading in a different direction. Ebonheim moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the forest for any signs of corrupted animals. She moved quietly, her steps light and careful. She didn't want to startle any potential targets.
She found a corrupted fox first, its fur matted and its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It snarled at her approach, but Ebonheim held up her hands in a placating gesture. She reached out with her will and soft, soothing energy calmed the fox's aggression.
With a gentle push of her power, she guided the fox back towards the grove. It moved reluctantly, its body tense and ready to bolt. But Ebonheim kept her magic steady, her presence a calming force that kept the fox from fleeing.
She repeated the process with a corrupted badger and a pair of corrupted birds, each one adding to the number of animals in the grove. Each time she returned, she checked the numbers on the device. The number representing animals was increasing, but it was still less than the number of corrupted trees.
Meanwhile, Ivera was having her own success. She returned to the grove with a corrupted boar trailing behind her, its snout twitching nervously as its hooves thudded against the ground. The creature's eyes glowed bright yellow and its mouth hung open. Following the boar was a corrupted hawk, crow, and sparrow, her magic guiding them into the grove. She was panting heavily, her wings fluttering weakly.
"I...I think that's all I can do," she said, her voice weak. "I'm...I'm out of mana."
Ebonheim patted the sprite's head lightly. "Good job." She looked back at the device. The number of corrupted animals was now greater than the number of corrupted trees. But the number representing the variety of species was still greater than the dryad's heartbeat. In order to bring the number below the threshold, she needed to reduce the types of trees corrupted by three.
"Okay. The last thing to do is see how many types of trees are corrupted, then destroy enough so that there are three fewer types."
"And then Aelindra will be saved?" Ivera asked.
"I'm hoping," Ebonheim replied.
Ebonheim turned her attention to the corrupted trees, her gaze sweeping over the twisted forms. Each one was different, the corruption twisting and warping them into grotesque parodies of their former selves. But beneath the corruption, the essence of what they once were still remained.
She moved closer to the nearest tree, her hand reaching out to brush against the gnarled bark. The tree shuddered under her touch, a low groan echoing through the grove. Ebonheim pulled her hand back, her brow furrowing as she studied the tree.
It was an oak, its once mighty branches now twisted and gnarled. The leaves were a sickly yellow, the veins glowing with a faint, eerie light. Ebonheim moved on to the next tree, a birch. Its bark was blackened and cracked, the leaves shriveled and lifeless.
One by one, she examined each tree, her mind cataloging the different species. Oak, birch, ash, pine, maple, willow, elm, yew, and hawthorn. Nine different species, each one corrupted and twisted.
Her gaze fell on the hawthorn trees. There were only a few of them, their twisted forms standing out amongst the others. They were the fewest of a given type. If she destroyed them, it would reduce the number without causing too much damage to the grove.
Ebonheim activated her Enchanted Essence Bolt once more and drew her bow, her fingers steady on the string. She took aim at the nearest hawthorn tree, her breath steady as she let the arrow fly. The arrow struck true, the tree shuddering as the divine energy coursed through it. With a deafening crack, the tree exploded, shards of wood and energy scattering in all directions.
As the last tree fell, Ebonheim lowered her bow and looked over at the magitech device. The number representing the animals remained greater than the number of trees, and the variety of trees and animals was now less than the dryad's heartbeat. The pattern of energy emanating from Aelindra and the device changed to a more subdued rhythm, a more natural flow.
"That should be it." Ebonheim let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The conditions had been met. The grove should be cleansed.
But nothing happened.
Ebonheim frowned, her gaze locked on the device. The numbers were right. The conditions had been met. So why wasn't the grove cleansed?
"Ebonheim?" Ivera's voice was soft, filled with worry. "What's wrong? Why isn't it working?"
"I don't know," Ebonheim admitted, her voice filled with frustration. "The conditions have been met. The grove should be cleansed."
"Maybe...maybe it needs a push?" Ivera suggested. "Like, a burst of mana or something?"
Ebonheim paused, considering the sprite's words. It was possible. The device was magical, after all. Maybe it needed a magical trigger to deactivate.
With a nod, Ebonheim raised her hand, her Essence gathering at her fingertips. She focused on the device, her Essence reaching out towards it. She could feel the corruption, the twisted arcane energy that pulsed from the device. But beneath it, she could also feel the natural magic of the grove, the life energy that had been suppressed by the corruption.
With a deep breath, Ebonheim released her Essence. It surged forward, a wave of pure, cleansing energy that washed over Aelindra. It collided with the device, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the grove.
For a moment, everything was still. Then, slowly, the device began to glow. The light grew brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. Then, with a final, brilliant flash, the light faded.
Ebonheim blinked, her eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness. She looked at the device, the numbers were gone. The device was deactivated.
She reached out, her hand closing around the device. This time, there was no shock, no force hurling her backward. Instead, the device felt cold, lifeless.
With a firm tug, she pulled the device free. Aelindra let out a gasp, her body shuddering as the device was removed. The corruption receded, the sickly glow fading from her skin. The dryad slumped forward, her body limp.
Ebonheim caught her, her arms wrapping around the dryad's frail form.
A soft gasp drew her attention. She turned to see Ivera, her eyes wide with awe. "Ebonheim...look."
Ebonheim followed her gaze, her breath catching in her throat. The grove was changing. The corruption was fading, the twisted trees straightening and the animals shaking off their unnatural metallic shells. The grove was returning to its natural state.
But the most dramatic change was Aelindra. The dryad was glowing, her body radiating a soft, green light. The metal patches on her skin were receding, replaced by healthy, vibrant bark. Ebonheim let out a breathless laugh, relief washing over her.
Aelindra's eyes fluttered open, the vacant look gone. She looked at Ebonheim, her gaze filled with confusion and fear. "What...what happened?"
"You were corrupted," Ebonheim explained gently. "But you're safe now."
Aelindra's gaze drifted to the device in Ebonheim's hand, her eyes widening in horror. "That...that was in me?"
Ebonheim nodded, her grip on the device tightening. "But it's over now. The grove is safe."
Aelindra let out a shaky breath, her body sagging against Ebonheim. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you."
Ebonheim smiled. They had done it. They had cleansed the grove. The corruption was gone, the grove was safe, and Aelindra was free.
As she held the dryad, Ebonheim looked around at the grove. The trees were regaining their natural color and shape. The metallic filigree covering the animals had vanished, leaving behind healthy fur and flesh. The ground around them had returned to its normal grassy brown.
Ivera flew over and hugged Aelindra's arm, a soft coo coming from her lips. Ebonheim let go of Aelindra and watched as both of them embraced.
Ebonheim looked at the magitech device on her hand, its intricate spherical surface gleaming in the dim sunlight. Part of her wanted to completely destroy it here and now, but it didn't seem to pose any threat anymore. And destroying it could potentially cause something worse to happen.
She had never seen anything like it before, not even amongst Roderick’s wares. Maybe she could ask him if he knew anything about it whenever he comes back from another visit. Either way, she should store this device somewhere safe and secluded before it could cause any more harm.