I awoke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the dense foliage of our makeshift sanctuary. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of earth and leaves. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, feeling the weight of exhaustion still lingering in my limbs.
The fox and the squirrel were still by my side, their chests rising and falling steadily. The ancient spirit lay beside me, looking less withered than before, though still unconscious. A small sense of relief washed over me.
As I sat up, I noticed a small group of elves cautiously approaching our hiding spot. They were wearing the same robes as the ones who had helped us escape the city. I couldn’t be sure if they were truly allies or if the evil elves had disguised themselves to deceive us. To avoid any potential threat, I decided to act preemptively.
Not wanting to cause harm unnecessarily, I opted for a non-lethal approach. I peeked out of the hollow opening and used my Nature’s Blessing to make thin, yet strong, vines sprout from the ground. They wrapped around the approaching elves’ legs and torsos, immobilizing them without causing harm.
The elves halted, startled and confused. They looked around, trying to understand what had just happened. I maintained the vines' hold, ensuring they were secure but not painfully tight.
Stepping out of the hollow, I kept my distance and made my presence known. The young woman leading the group locked eyes with me. Her expression shifted from confusion to recognition, then to relief.
She gestured for her companions to remain calm and spoke in a soothing voice. “Please, ancient one, we mean you no harm. We were among those who aided in your escape from the city. My name is Elara. We are here to ensure your safety and offer any assistance you need.”
Elara’s words were sincere, and her aura, as seen through my spirit vision, was pure. Yet, I remained cautious, as even the evil elves had appeared genuine in their deceitful act.
Elara’s expression softened. “We understand your caution. The world is filled with secrets, and trust must be earned. But please let us show you our intentions” Elara said, gesturing with her hand.
One of the elves, an older man with a gentle demeanor, produced a small, intricately carved box from his robes and opened it, revealing a glowing crystal. The warm, soothing light reminded me of the purity I had sensed in the grove, its essence was very similar to the oak and the willow, yet somehow more energetic and lively.
“This is a spirit stone,” Elara explained. “It binds us to our promises" she said placing her hand on the stone, "We swear on our souls that we seek only to aid you”
The other elves placed their hands on the stone, their faces solemn and sincere as they repeated Elara's oath.
Elara met my gaze once more. “Please, let us help. We can guide you back to the grove safely"
After considering their words and observing their actions, I decided to take a calculated risk. If they really were here to help, I could use all the help I could get. I gradually loosened the vines, allowing them to fall away while remaining vigilant. The elves made no sudden moves, showing respect for the tentative trust I extended.
I felt the stone calling for me, and so I took it from Elara, feeling its warmth and purity. Focusing my energy, I began to drain its essence, rejuvenating my depleted reserves. The energy flowed into me, revitalizing my strength and enhancing my connection with the elves who swore their oath on the stone. I could now sense their movements, similar to how I sensed the fox and the squirrel. So it was really some sort of contract, not some bullshit they were spewing just to make me let my guard down, alright then, that's a plus on the trust progress.
But I didn't really fully trust them yet, With my energy restored, I summoned my treant once more. The massive wooden guardian emerged from the ground, towering over us. I directed the treant to carefully lift the fox, the squirrel, and the ancient spirit, holding them securely.
I gestured for the elves to lead the way back to the grove. They nodded in understanding and began to move.
After a while, we reached the grove. I was still without my artifacts—the bow, the brush, and my kimono. The sight before me abruptly pulled me from my thoughts. The oak tree I had purified was now fully corrupted, its once vibrant aura twisted into a dark, malevolent presence. Around its base lay the corpses of the elves who been following me around for the past week.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
A deep ache of sorrow filled me as I saw the fallen elves. My heart sank at the sight of the corrupted tree and the lifeless bodies. Frustration and a sense of helplessness washed over me. The contrast between the hope and purity I had once seen here and the devastation before me was stark.
Elara shed a tear and knelt beside one of the corpses, placing a white flower gently in its hand.
Her expression hardened as she gazed at the corrupted oak. “You must be confused, ancient spirits have to stay in the spirit realm for centuries before returning to the mortal world after all so let me explain more about what’s been happening,” she began. “The Shadow Blades are not just a rogue faction; they are a deeply entrenched threat to all that is sacred to us. Their ideology is rooted in a twisted belief that elves are the only true rulers of this world. They view other races as lesser and believe that it’s their divine right to dominate all of them”
She sighed heavily, her voice tinged with sadness. “For centuries, we’ve protected the groves and the world tree, which serves as a beacon of balance and life for our lands. The world tree’s health is vital to the entire realm. It not only supports our magic but sustains the natural order of things. The divine laws that allow plants to sprout and new life to be born, is all supplied by the world tree after all”
Elara’s eyes took on a distant look as she continued. “The Shadow Blades sought to undermine this balance by targeting the groves that supply the world tree with pure essence. They believe that if they can corrupt these sources, they will weaken the world tree to the point of collapse. In their twisted vision, this would pave the way for their reign as the divine law preventing them from venturing out of elven lands will collapse”
She paused to compose herself. “Our struggle has been long and grueling. We’ve managed to fend them off for decades, but their tactics have grown increasingly devious. They infiltrate our ranks, corrupting those who should naturally protect. The recent capture of you was part of their strategy to demoralize us and create a diversion”
Elara’s gaze remained somber as she continued, “You might be wondering why we didn’t act sooner to prevent your capture, or why we didn’t confront the Shadow Blades directly to stop them from taking you to the city”
She took a deep breath before explaining, “The situation was more complex than it appeared. We had to be incredibly cautious. Any overt action against the Shadow Blades at that time could have resulted in unintended consequences. You could have interpreted it as an attack on you and the grove and joined hands with them for all we know. The Shadow Blades are skilled at manipulating situations to their advantage. They anticipated our moves and were prepared to exploit any aggressive response from us"
Her voice grew more earnest. “Our goal was to avoid giving them any excuse to escalate the conflict. If we had attacked them directly, they would have used it as a pretext to justify further aggression, not just against us but against the grove itself. They would have portrayed us as the aggressors, possibly turning you against us"
Elara’s expression became resolute. “By allowing the situation to unfold as it did, we hoped to maintain a strategic advantage. We planned to wait until the right moment, when we could act decisively without risking the safety of the grove or giving the Shadow Blades any leverage. Unfortunately, we were forced into a precarious situation where we had to act quickly once you were in their grasp, to minimize the damage and protect the remaining sources of purity"
She looked at the corrupted oak and the fallen elves with a pained expression. “It was a gamble, and one that has cost us dearly. But we had to balance the immediate threat with the long-term survival of the grove. Now, we must rebuild and fortify our defenses, and we need your help to ensure the Shadow Blades are stopped once and for all"
As I surveyed the devastation before me, my mind replayed Elara’s explanation and the events that led us here. I took a deep breath, trying to make sense of it all.
Okay, so the Shadow Blades are a group of radical elves who want to overthrow the balance and rule over the other races, reminds me of a certain painter. Their plan was to corrupt the groves to weaken the world tree, believing that its fall would lift the barrier preventing them from venturing out of the elven forest, and i'll have to say they’re pretty methodical and ruthless in their approach.
Elara and her group couldn’t just attack them outright. The Shadow Blades are experts at turning situations to their favor. If Elara had made a move, they’d have given the Shadow Blades a reason to escalate, potentially putting the grove and their own people at greater risk, and to be perfectly honest I could see myself seeing the shadow blades as the victims in such situation.
It was a strategic play—waiting for the right moment to strike without giving the enemy an advantage. Still, it’s hard to accept the cost of this gamble. The grove is in ruins, and those elves who trusted me are gone. It’s a harsh reminder that even the best strategies can come with a steep price.
I looked around at the corruption surrounding the oak tree, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. I needed to focus on what I can do now. Rebuilding starts with understanding the full extent of the damage and finding a way to counteract it. If the Shadow Blades are as dangerous as Elara says, then this isn’t just about purification anymore—it’s about stopping a potential full-scale assault on the grove in the near future.
There was a lot to process, but I needed to keep moving forward. The goal was clear: protect what remains, purify the corruption, and find a way to strike back against those who brought this destruction. There’s no room for hesitation anymore.