As the mage approached, I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan to escape. Suddenly, I sensed something familiar—a faint, yet unmistakable presence of two familiar spirits came to me, I somehow felt a connection, and could sense the movement of two objects, or rather creatures, one was small and agile moving and darting around everywhere at unimaginable speed, the other was a bit larger, it didn't move as quick as the smaller one, but I could feel it fighting a bunch of the elves outside, Could they really be here, could they really be coming to my rescue?

Just then, a commotion erupted near the entrance of the chamber. The mage turned, distracted by the sudden noise. I tunneled into my spirit vision and saw them: the fox and the squirrel, their spirits burning brightly with pure energy. They had somehow found me and were now charging into the room with a determined fury.

The fox leaped at one of the guards, its spirit energy flaring up and knocking him back. The squirrel darted around, quick and agile, distracting the other guards. The guards were momentarily disoriented, giving me the briefest window of opportunity.

I remembered one very important skill I had picked for these exact situations, guardian of the grove.

Summoning every bit of strength I had left, I focused on my spell, Guardian of the Grove. I felt the energy surge through me, more intense and powerful than ever before. With a burst of magic, I deployed the guardian—a massive spirit resembling a treant. It burst forth from the ground, forming from vines and thing branches of wood, towering over the elves and letting out a deafening roar.

The treant swung its massive limbs, scattering the guards like leaves in the wind. The fox and the squirrel continued their assault, their spirits working in perfect harmony with the golem. The mage, realizing he was outmatched, attempted to cast a spell, but the golem was too fast. It grabbed the mage with its enormous hand, crushing him before he could utter another word.

I turned my attention to the other spirits. I couldn’t leave them behind, not after everything they had been through. With a surge of determination, I channeled my essence into the glass, and it finally shattered, freeing me from the container. I floated to the ground, unsteady but resolute.

I quickly approached the surviving ancient spirit, still showing faint signs of life. I gently took his hand, pouring some of my remaining energy into him to stabilize his essence. "Hang on," I thought. "We’re getting out of here"

The last surviving ancient spirit must have lots of very recent information, and will a hundred percent help me restore the grove and defend it against these elves, so he made for a very valuable asset.

Next, I turned to the two dead spirits. I knew I couldn't revive them, but I could at least carry their essences with me and offer them a proper burial at the grove. I didn't know what was happening next, my body moved on its own, maybe out of instinct, using my spirit vision, I carefully extracted their lingering energies, focused on separating it from my own and channeled it into both the squirrel and the fox.

The two critters, once vibrant with the energy of the fallen spirits, suddenly went still. They stood motionless for a couple of seconds before collapsing to the ground, unconscious. Panic surged through me, but I had no time to dwell on their condition.

The treant, sensing the urgency, scooped me up onto its shoulder. It carefully placed the unconscious surviving ancient spirit beside me and, with one massive hand, gently picked up the now-unconscious fox and squirrel. The treant's other arm was already busy fending off the relentless attacks of the elven guards.

The treant began its march, each step a thunderous declaration of defiance. It crashed through the stone walls of the chamber, the sound of crumbling rock echoing through the corridors. The elven mages, realizing their spells had little effect on the ancient guardian, redoubled their efforts, hurling spell after spell at the treant.

We barreled through the castle's grand halls, the treant's powerful strides shaking the ground. Ornate tapestries and elegant furniture were swept aside like leaves in a storm. The guards tried to form a blockade, but they were no match for the treant's sheer strength. It swatted them away, its massive legs crushing them as we crashed through.

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As we burst out of the castle, the city sprawled out before us, illuminated by the soft glow of the twin moons. The treant didn't slow down. It plowed through the streets, the cobblestones cracking under its weight. The city was alive with activity as elves scrambled to respond to the alarm.

The treant's progress was relentless. It tore through market stalls and knocked over carts, its path of destruction unavoidable. Elves watched in shock and fear, some fleeing into alleys, others frozen in place. I noticed a few, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion, recognizing the ancient spirit on the treant's shoulder.

Before we could reach the city gates, we encountered an even more formidable obstacle. The entire city's garrison, mages and warriors had assembled, forming an impenetrable barrier, I could sense three layers of magic beside the wall of shields formed behind it. The treant, sensing the danger, came to a halt. It stood confused, circling around itself, trying to find an opening in the wall of armed elves.

Suddenly, from the shadows, a large group of elves draped in dark green robes appeared. They moved with swift precision, their appearance strikingly similar to the ones who had stood guard beside me when I passed out after purifying the little child. They clashed with the garrison, their weapons flashing in the moonlight.

"Go!" one of them yelled to the treant as they fought to break the blockade. "We'll hold them off!"

The treant didn't need to be told twice. It surged forward, breaking through the opening created by the green-robed elves. We barreled towards the gates, the sounds of battle raging behind us. The treant's powerful strides sent shockwaves through the ground, and I held on tightly to the unconscious ancient spirit beside me.

The treant didn't slow down. With a mighty roar, it crashed through the gates, splintering the wood and bending the iron. We burst through, leaving the city and its chaos behind us.

The forest ahead was dense and dark, but it felt like a sanctuary compared to the turmoil of the city. The treant continued its relentless march, each step taking us further from danger. The sounds of pursuit grew fainter, replaced by the rustling leaves and the calls of nocturnal creatures.

Finally, we reached a clearing. The treant gently set me down, along with the unconscious ancient spirit and the two critters. It knelt, its great form towering over us protectively. I looked around, the reality of our escape sinking in. We were safe for now, but the journey was far from over.

I could feel my energy depleting. Sustaining the treant required a constant flow of essence, and I wasn’t sure if I had enough to make it through the whole journey. Deciding against taking a risk, I dismissed the treant. It began retracting into the ground, its massive form slowly sinking back into the earth until it disappeared entirely.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. The ancient spirit beside me remained unconscious, as did the fox and the squirrel. I gently placed the fox and the squirrel on the ground, their small bodies rising and falling with each faint breath. The ancient spirit, a figure of great age and weariness, seemed to be in a deep, unbroken slumber.

Okay Ethan think, I am now naked, in the middle of the forest, I have three spirits to protect and barely any energy left.

Looking around, I realized we needed to find a safer place to rest and recuperate. The forest clearing offered some shelter, but we were still too exposed. With my energy reserves running low, I would need to rely on my wits and whatever resources the forest could provide.

Using my spirit vision, I scanned the surrounding area for any signs of danger or hidden sanctuaries. The forest was alive with the gentle glow of pure essence, it wasn't as pure or magical as the grove's, but it wasn't corrupted which was a relief. I spotted a small, secluded hollow beneath the roots of a massive tree. It was just large enough to provide shelter for all of us.

Carefully, I gathered the fox and the squirrel in my arms, and with a bit of effort, I managed to lift the ancient spirit as well using my whisper of wind. We made our way to the hollow, and I gently laid them down inside. The ancient spirit's breathing remained steady, and the fox and the squirrel curled up instinctively, their tiny bodies seeking warmth and safety.

Before allowing myself the luxury of rest, I knew I had to secure our location. The hollow beneath the tree roots offered some protection, but it was still too exposed for my liking. Drawing on the last reserves of my energy, I decided to use two of my spells: Terrain Reshaping and Nature's Blessing.

I began with Terrain Reshaping, focusing on the earth around the hollow. Slowly, the ground responded to my will, shifting and molding itself to create a natural barrier. The roots of the tree intertwined with the earth, forming a dense, protective weave around our hiding spot. It was like weaving a cocoon of soil and roots, offering both camouflage and a shield against potential threats.

Next, I invoked Nature's Blessing. This spell enhanced the natural growth around us, causing the foliage to thicken and the tree roots to grow even more robust. The entrance to our makeshift sanctuary was obscured by a curtain of hanging vines and leaves, making it nearly impossible to detect from the outside. The air inside became cooler and more breathable, imbued with a sense of peace and protection.

Satisfied with the work, I finally allowed myself to relax. I settled down beside the fox, the squirrel, and the ancient spirit, feeling a sense of accomplishment despite the exhaustion that tugged at my every muscle. Our sanctuary now felt secure. I took one last deep breath, feeling the gentle pulse of the earth beneath me, and finally let sleep take me.