CHAPTER III:

The Scarlet Monarch

  And just like that, one month had passed. I was given clothes and a place to stay, as well as permission to hunt in her forest. During the month I was also educated on all manners of things. I was told about the variety of the demi-human race, and I got a very detailed lecture about the importance of dryads.

  Dryads, which are also called the caretakers of the forest, have a caste system, as do most demi-human races. The caste system is broken up into five tiers. At the very top is a legendary existence that is said to only be born once every three centuries, this legendary existence is referred to as "The Ruler Of All Dryads." They are capable of controlling all plant life on Solterra. The next tier is considered to be unique as there are only ever three at one time. They are called Dryad Monarchs. Every Dryad Monarch is able to control thirty-three percent of the world's plant life. The next three tiers are rather simple. A Noble Dryad which has second hand control of any nearby forests and jungles; the Common Dryad which serves the Dryad Noble, as well as a Common Dryad's soul pet which is called a Dryad Grunt.

  Apparently Scarlet is a Dryad Monarch, which was rather surprising. After I found that out, I could not help but feel lucky. If she were of the noble rank, there was a higher chance that the Arachne would have won, and what made me love lady luck, even more, was that this plan could have only worked if the dryad had been a monarch. The Arachne probably wouldn't have cared if I had impeded on the Dryad Noble's territory. She would have only laughed at my efforts...

  Moving on... I have finally found a place where I belong, a place that I can call ‘Home.’

  “Licht!”

  “...mmh”

  “Licht! Get up Licht!”

  “Mmh? Scarlet… What’s going on?”

  Roused by a shout, I had given a half-minded reply, and then began to look around dazed with my cloudy eyesight. In a small hut where I slept, I could discern a figure before me with a background of-

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  Is that smoke?

  “Licht! You have to wake up! You need to get up quickly!”

  “Mmm… Scarl- Scarlet! What is happening!? What’s with the smoke!?

  “Licht! You have to leave Licht! Run out of the forest; a napalm struck the forest, so you need to escape while I calm the fire’s furry!

  “N-Napalm!! No Scarlet, I won’t leave you behind, let me help you! Tell me what I need to do!”

  Instantly I was up, and dressed. A panicked expression already formed on my face, but deep inside I had already resolved myself to live on for Scarlet’s sake, and I would not just leave her here to die.

  “Licht listen to me! I can handle this on my own, I need you to grab the sapling and evacuate the forest immediately!”

  “I… I understand... I’ll grab the sapling.... Be safe.”

  Thus my day began rather chaotically, I had run directly through the smoky forests to the center grove which was surrounded by a cluster of burning Ettinere Oaks, which are considered to be Solterra’s largest and rarest trees. In the grove was a single sapling, a sapling untouched by the flames, a sapling that consisted of many colors. With a swift dash, I had gotten within range of the plant and carefully dug up the roots that had pierced through the ground, and once I had completely freed the roots from the land, I ran once more...

  Crack!

  “Ah!”

  Crush!

  I was quick, but alas I was not fast enough... The roaring blaze spread quickly throughout the greenland, as trees turned char and the plants turned ash; and eventually, it caught up to me. I was caught unprepared as a giant tree partially covered in flame had collapsed upon me, though luckily there was a stone which had stopped the tree from crushing me underneath, it still did not protect my skin or hair, which had been burnt and singed. The sapling was safe though, I had hugged it as the tree pounced upon me, though it seems there was a twig or two that suffered from the trauma, and had snapped.

  “Licht!!”

  Though the forests were covered by the napalm, it seems that the Scarlet still has some connection to it, as she could hear my scream even though she was not nearby, and it seemed she had transferred to my location.

  “Li-”

  I had turned over to see her, but it seemed my eyes were already closing as I could only see a partial blur... an extreme green mixed with a dark shade of red was screaming at me, but alas, I was too tired to care... and I fell asleep.