It has been well over a week since I arrived in this world, and I'm kind of used to the elves sticking around the grove now. Their presence, once a source of tension and uncertainty, had become a familiar part of my daily routine. They seemed to have an unspoken understanding that I was here to help, and their offerings of fruits, flowers, and tokens continued to appear around the base of the oak tree, I didn't really touch the offerings at all, but the animals that live in the purified area seem to enjoy the fruits, so it's not entirely useless after all.
The mornings had a certain rhythm to them. I would wake up to the sound of rustling leaves and the sight of the elves moving quietly through the grove, usually picking up some berries or some flowers. If my knowledge about them from the novels I read back on earth hold any truth, It means that the grove's flora had magical traits that the elves used in their rituals or tools. Though we still couldn't communicate verbally, a kind of silent camaraderie had developed between us. They watched me work with a mix of curiosity and respect, sometimes mimicking my movements or Intervening whenever I get attacked by a corrupted creature.
Today, as I set out to continue my purification efforts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of progress. The grove's status window showed incremental improvements, and the magic flow, while still disrupted, was beginning to stabilize in the areas I had worked on for the past week.
Grove of Eternal Blossoms - Status
* Overall Health: 25%
* Tree Vitality: 32%
* Flora Diversity: 18%
* Fauna Health: 22%
* Purity Level: 15% (Corrupted)
* Magic Flow: Disrupted
* Overall Level: 1
Tasks to Restore Grove:
* Purify Corrupted Areas: 3/5
* Heal Fauna: 10/50
* Revitalize Trees: 20/100
* Reintroduce Flora: 8/200
* Stabilize Magic Flow: 1/3
As I finished reviewing the status window, I noticed an unusual amount of activity among the elves. There were more of them than usual, and they were all armed and armored, sweeping through the corrupted areas of the grove with a sense of urgency. Curious and concerned, I decided to follow them silently, my mind was racing, did I misplace my trust in the elves? are they planning to take over the grove now that it's slowly healing? I activated the camouflage ability of my Kimono and climbed up one of the trees, using my whisper of wind to move from one branch to another silently.
I trailed them through the grove, observing their movements. They seemed to be searching for something or someone, their eyes scanning the ground and the surroundings with intense focus. It wasn’t long before one of them noticed me. He stepped forward, raising his hand with his palm facing me, I was starting to think that this was their way of greeting each other at this point.
I decided against climbing down the tree, for my own safety of course, there was no telling what a group of armed elves would do If a helpless ancient spirit like myself was to allow himself to get surrounded by them. I sat on the branch looking down as he opened his mouth.
"Little girl" he said making a short gesture pointing to the ground, I don't know if they knew I could understand them, but if I were in their place, and a spirit doesn't reply back to me, I would assume It doesn't speak the language, "Lost" he pointed to the deeper part of the grove, "Please help" he continued with a pleading tone.
I nodded to show I understood. The elf's expression softened with relief. A lost child in these corrupted areas was in grave danger, and I knew I had to find her quickly. Without wasting another moment, I descended from the tree and headed deeper into the grove. The grove was big, but it wasn't huge, I'd say it spanned around a good 500 Acres, a 2km2 radius. It extends in a roughly circular pattern. It stretches outwards in all directions. The deeper parts, where corruption is most intense, are naturally located towards the center of the grove, where I initially woke up.
I continued deeper into the grove, my spirit vision revealing the corruption’s twisted tendrils choking the life out of everything. The further I went, the denser and darker the corruption became. The vibrant greens and subtle colors of the areas I purified gave way to sickly, distorted hues.
As I moved cautiously, I kept an eye out for any signs of the lost girl. The grove was vast, and finding her in this corrupted labyrinth was no small task. Every now and then, I would catch glimpses of movement—a shadow darting between trees, a flicker of something in the corner of my vision. But each time, it turned out to be nothing more than the twisted flora and fauna of the grove.
At one point, I came upon a particularly dense area of corruption. The air was thick with a foul, cloying odor, and the ground was covered in a tangle of roots and vines that seemed almost alive. I took a deep breath and began to paint, the strokes of my brush glowing with purifying light. The corruption hissed and recoiled as the light touched it, but it was slow, painstaking work.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally cleared a path through the dense corruption. My spirit vision caught a flicker of movement ahead—a small figure, huddled and trembling. I quickened my pace, hiding behind a small withered tree trunk to not startle her.
The girl was young, perhaps no older than eight or nine, with long, tangled hair that seemed to shimmer faintly even in the corrupted light. Her clothes were tattered and stained, likely from catching on the twisted vines and thorns that popped out everywhere within the corrupted grove. Her eyes, wide and filled with fear, were a striking shade of emerald green, standing out vividly against the pallor of her skin. She clutched a small, carved wooden charm tightly in her hand, perhaps a token from her family.
I attempted to approach her cautiously, moving as quietly as I could through the underbrush. But as I drew nearer, I quickly noticed something that made me stop in my tracks.
A giant wolf, its fur a deep, shadowy gray, was huddled protectively against the same tree where the girl was crouched. Its eyes, gleaming like molten gold in the dim light, were fixed intently on me. I could feel its gaze tracking my every movement—if I shifted right, its eyes followed. If I moved left, the same. It was as though the wolf was assessing me, waiting for my next action.
After a moment, the wolf stood, its powerful frame bristling. I instinctively reached for my bow, nocking an arrow with a steady hand. But as I drew the bowstring, I hesitated. Elemental arrows had wide area effects, and I didn’t want to risk harming the girl or inadvertently causing a disaster. The wolf's size and its protective stance were intimidating, but the potential collateral damage made me reconsider.
I quickly assessed my options. Trying to draw the wolf away from the girl seemed risky. There was no certainty it wouldn’t perceive the girl as threatened and act aggressively. I questioned why the wolf hadn't already attacked or devoured her—was it biding its time? Or perhaps it was waiting for the right moment to strike?
As I continued to ponder, the wolf’s behavior was increasingly confusing. It hadn’t shown any overt hostility towards me, despite its imposing presence. Its protective stance suggested it was guarding the girl, not merely keeping her as a potential meal.
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I took a deep breath and began to approach the girl and the wolf cautiously. Each step I took was deliberate, mindful of the giant wolf’s unwavering gaze. Its molten gold eyes followed my every move, but still not reacting or moving itself.
The air around us seemed to thicken with tension as I neared. The girl, still huddled against the tree, appeared to be half-asleep, her breathing shallow and rhythmic. I made sure to keep my movements slow and non-threatening, careful not to startle either her or the wolf. The wolf's stance remained rigid, its body tense as if ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
Finally, I reached the girl’s side, making sure to stay within the wolf’s line of sight. I glanced briefly at the wolf, trying to convey through my presence that I meant no harm. The wolf’s eyes softened slightly, though its body still radiated a cautious energy. I knew that my next move was crucial. I needed to carefully rouse the girl without startling the wolf, ensuring that the process would not be seen as a threat.
I extended a hand gently towards the girl, my movements deliberate and slow. The wolf’s eyes followed the motion, its gaze steady and vigilant. As my hand neared the girl, I gently attempted to wake her up, but she seemed deeply entrenched in a restless sleep, her body limp against the tree. I was initially afraid that she might actually be dead, but I noticed that she was breathing. I put a hand against her chest and felt a subtle heartbeat, Phew, I really didn't want to see a dead child, finally I decided to use my spirit vision to maybe understand what was happening to her.
Through my spirit vision, I saw the corruption writhing and seething within her, a dark, violent storm struggling against her life essence. The corruption was not passive; it was actively battling her very essence, trying to consume and overtake it. It was a vicious struggle, a stark contrast to her fragile, peaceful appearance.
I immediately considered using the celestial flames to purify her, but hesitation gripped me. The flames might be perceived as an attack by the wolf, and I didn’t want to risk escalating the situation. The wolf’s presence was a constant reminder of the potential danger, and I couldn’t afford to provoke it, not just for my own safety but for the little girl's safety as well.
Opting for a less confrontational approach, I decided to carry the girl on my back. I shifted my form, lowering myself and gently lifting her onto my shoulders, making sure she was secure but comfortable. My movements were slow and careful, ensuring that she wouldn’t be jostled or disturbed too much.
The wolf, still as a statue beside the tree, watched me with unwavering intensity. As I prepared to leave, I noticed its gaze follow me with a mix of curiosity and caution. I began making my way back through the grove, moving on all fours keeping the girl balanced and secure, the wolf didn't seem to follow me or react to me taking her away, so she really wasn't a prey which was a relief.
As I was about to leave the immediate area, the wolf's form shimmered slightly before vanishing completely. My heart raced with questions—was it an illusion all along, or perhaps a fellow spirit? The sudden disappearance left me with more questions than answers, but there was no time for contemplation.
With the wolf gone, I had considered lowering the girl on the ground and attempting the purification, but I thought about it, and I remembered how the purified parts of the grove could push life energy into all surrounding living creatures, if the corrupted grove does the same, and the corruption intensifies inside her during the struggle with the celestial flames, the flames may consider her unpurifiable and kill her, which was a risk i was not willing to take.
As I moved, I tried to remember the path to the clearing, my senses alert to every rustle and shift in the environment. The closer I got, the more I hoped the cleared area would serve as a stronger foundation for my purification efforts. If I could get her there, I believed the existing purity of the area would bolster the celestial flames, helping to cleanse her without the added threat of corruption overpowering the process.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of maneuvering through the oppressive gloom, I spotted the familiar signs of the purified clearing—a brighter atmosphere, the vibrant colors of restored flora, and the gentle flow of clean magic. I carefully settled the girl on the ground, taking a moment to ensure she was positioned comfortably before preparing to begin the purification process.
First, I began by creating a protective barrier around us, even if it was a purified clearing, corrupted creatures may bust in at any given moment, and I needed my full focus on the purification process. I used my spirit vision and started marking the perimeter of the clearing with a protective sigil, drawing it carefully in the air with my verdant brush. I could feel the energy of the clearing responding to my actions, but I knew I had to be meticulous. Any mistake could compromise the safety of the girl or the effectiveness of the purification.
Drawing the sigil was crucial for creating a zone where the celestial flames could work without interference. I had to ensure that no external corruption would seep in during the process. The clearing’s existing purity should help, but I needed to reinforce it.
Next, I turned my attention to the girl. I could sense the corruption inside her, a roiling mass of darkness fighting desperately against the life essence she had left. The celestial flames, with their purifying heat, could do much to cleanse her, but it was not a simple task. I had to be careful and methodical, I waited first for the purified grove to start connecting with her meridian, sure enough, after a couple seconds, the grove was pumping bright green energy into her vessels, helping her life essence regain ground against the corruption.
I summoned the celestial flames and let them flicker gently above her. As the flames began to touch her, they immediately clashed with the corruption. It was as if a silent battle was unfolding—a fierce struggle between the purifying light and the consuming darkness. The corruption inside her was fighting back with ferocity. It clung to her life essence with tenacity, trying to resist the flames’ cleansing heat. I had to monitor every reaction closely, interfering whenever I deemed necessary, whether by engulfing her in more of the celestial flames, or withdrawing them ever so slightly if they started to react violently.
I could see the corruption writhing and contorting in response to the celestial flames. The process was slow and required constant adjustment. I carefully adjusted the intensity of the flames, making sure they were strong enough to combat the corruption but not so intense that they would harm the girl. This process is more intricate than I initially thought. If the flames are too strong, they risk doing more harm than good. I have to keep the intensity just right to ensure the corruption is burned away without overwhelming her.
As I continued, I used my spirit vision to guide me. I could see the threads of corruption being slowly drawn out of her, each thread a dark wisp against the brilliance of the flames. It was a slow and exhausting task, requiring all of my focus and energy. I had to keep the flames steady and maintain the protective barrier around us to prevent any additional corruption from influencing the process.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed a large group of elves standing just outside the perimeter I had marked. They were watching me with concerned looks, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anxiety. Some of them were on their knees, praying fervently, while others stood silently, observing with worried faces. It seemed that the shimmering dome I had created around the clearing had attracted their attention, and they had come to investigate.
Despite their presence, I decided to keep the barrier maintained and focus on the purification. The girl’s condition was my priority. The elves’ concern was evident, but I couldn’t afford any distractions or interruptions at this critical moment, what made this so difficult is that the corruption was way stronger than her life essence, which made things more complicated. If the corruption was a tad bit weaker, or even on par with her life essence, the celestial flames could have easily pushed it back, but that wasn't really the case.
As the celestial flames continued their work, I saw the corruption inside the girl slowly diminishing. The once-turbulent struggle between the light and darkness began to calm. Her breathing steadied, and her body relaxed. The corruption that had fought so fiercely against the flames was finally being subdued.
Exhausted but relieved, I allowed the celestial flames to slowly diminish, their task nearly complete. I sat back, watching as the girl’s condition improved, hoping that the purification had been enough to save her from the lingering corruption.
I fought to maintain my concentration, but the strain was immense. The last thing I saw before my vision blurred was the concerned faces of the elves and the faint flickering of the barrier. Their expressions shifted from worried to shocked as the barrier’s light dimmed and finally collapsed.
The ground beneath me felt unsteady, and darkness began to encroach upon my vision. My last conscious thought was of the girl, now peaceful and free from the corruption. The celestial flames had done their work, and I hoped that would be enough before the overwhelming exhaustion claimed me.