Inside Vera Fortress, a thin film of vines covered the stone brick walls. Under the vines, Leona saw mosaic murals. The colored tiles showed ancient mages spreading the roots of the Elder Tree across Vestra. Extra stained glass details worked into the walls added braided bands of magic being manipulated by the ancient mages. Walking down the hall the murals played out a historical saga.

Gigantic murals stretched on depicting spanning battlefields that were illuminated with the smallest level of detail. They showed mages infusing cut trees with magic that made them come to life. They were fighting a gigantic dragon that Leona was sure was made from a collection of pearls embedded into the wall.

Leona was caught up in the splendor of the art. It showed her a time long before the shattering of the veil in the sky, when magic could be used to create life itself. Her and Tusund passed more armored guards as they headed into a larger audience room. In this room, the murals reached their climax. A great stained-glass window above was shaped like the Overseer’s eye, looking down on a catastrophic battle. Below the tear filled eye, roots from the elder tree were dragging the dragon under the crashing ocean waves.

“What is all of this?” Leona asked, turning her head up in awe.

“It’s my favorite view,” a voice came in response.

Leona turned down to the source of the voice to see King Alder resting upon his throne. Being a human-Chlorophane hybrid gave him a unique look. He had bark for skin and was shaped like a human boy with two tree branch horns. Large emeralds in a gold crown encircled his horns. He had jade earrings and a layer of magic tear gems sewn into the inside of his red coat. Amber eyes and an expectant smile trained on Leona. Alder sat with his fingers interlaced. She looked at Tusund who was already in his salute, kneeling with his arms reaching to the sky. Following his gesture, Leona emulated the way that the Sages from her story had knelt to the Overseer.

“You may rise, and tell me what you seek,” the king said.

Tusund pushed his moss dread locks behind his pointed ears and replied, “I, Tusund Palo come here with my friend Leona. If your Majesty is open to share, I would like to inquire on your health. We also seek some resources for our quest.”

King Alder’s throne was a living tree adorned with crystals and magic gems. Without moving, he manipulated his small vines around the tree to bring a gold chalice to his mouth. Black vines that he had no say over remained wrapped around his body like tight coils, digging into his bark. Leona thought that he looked worse off than in the posters she saw downtown.

“I’m fine,” the king replied gruffly. “There is only so much one can do when the threat beyond the wall continues to grow. I either strain myself to stop the monsters, or we lose the wall. I would gladly take the first over the latter.”

“Sorry to hear, but I understand the necessity,” Tusund replied, downcast.

A look of pity was quickly hidden on Tusund’s face. Leona knew that all Chlorophanes were connected in some way. She could imagine that Tusund understood more of what the king was experiencing than he would ever admit. Even if the king was one of the most powerful mages in Vestra, his curse would inevitably claim him.

“You two are the last audience I will hold today. If you would like to join me on the way back to my office, we can make a quick stop for whatever you may need,” Alder said, making a quick circle with his hand.

Six guards that were cloaked in invisibility revealed themselves. The pairs were located by the door, in front of the king, and right beside Leona and Tusund. Surprised, Leona jumped towards Tusund. The guard by her starred at her indifferently, but somewhere in his eyes, there might have been a smile.

In protest of his crackling vine-bound joints, the king rose from his throne and began his journey . He expected Leona and Tusund to follow him. They joined up with him and his guards fell into formation around them. Most of the guards armed with spears or great swords kept their distance from the king, filling out the space along the edges of the formation. Two paired with swords and shields remained close to the king.

The escort took them down a different hallway, that Leona found to be artistically barren. They were in a section of the fortress where some of the soldiers had their barracks. In the distance Leona could see a few of them that were passing the time, playing with magic.

The soldiers had built some sort of indoor jungle gym that served as a challenging gauntlet. The plant’s shoddy construction spanned across the entire width of the hall, and rose up to the high ceilings above. There was hanging bars, zip-lines, and plenty of traps. Before they caught sight of the king, the soldiers were daring each other to brave the perilous obstacles.

When the first soldier saw them approaching, he looked like his heart had fallen into his boots. From a distance Leona could hear them shouting to each other, as they rushed to tear down their construction. By the time the king’s escort passed their barracks, everything had been cleaned and there was not a single person left out in the hallway.

“Remind me to make a note to their quartermaster about this,” Alder grumbled to one of his guards. “They better think twice about wasting all of my tear gems.”

King Alder went to unlock the door to a supply room. A residual death-stare directed at the soldiers remained on his face. The cursed vines that cut into him only enhanced the dark look. Leona suspected that if he had his full vitality, he would have chastised and disciplined the soldiers himself.

Inside the supply room there was various locked trunks stacked onto towering shelves. Some open boxes held old map scrolls, others had dusty uniforms. Leona saw containers marked for cannon ammo and some that held components of magical weapons.

“So what do you need?” the king’s voice echoed.

“Just some funds and a few orbs,” Tusund’s voice was small.

“Orbs!” The kings voice boomed. “Those are reserved for my hunter captains and commanders, why do you want one?”

Before Tusund could speak Leona answered honestly, “It’s so I can communicate with my parents.”

The king turned away, facing the towering racks of supplies. His hands were clasped behind his long coat as he thought silently for a moment.

“I will conditionally grant your request. Though you may not be a hunter now, with your expertise in fighting I would not put it past you to try later. So I ask you to consider continuing your education. If you you do so, I’ll let you keep the orbs. Otherwise, upon your return, I will need them back in good condition. You may make a fine hunter captain,” Alder mused.

“I can’t cast any magic,” Leona said.

“Not yet,” Alder laughed. “Personally, I barely cast a spell these days. That doesn’t make me any less of a monarch.”

One of Alder’s guards was already manipulating vines to bring down a box, but Leona was not paying attention. The way that the king had nonchalantly said ‘not yet’ to her casting magic echoed in her head. She never fully considered the possibility that her curse could be fixed. The relic she was tasked with finding might be able to do that. The king seemed to be putting a lot of favor their way. He must believe that the ancient relic could be capable of healing him too.

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When Leona came back to attention, Alder had pulled a silk cover off of a small crystal ball and set it into her hands. Tusund had one as well. The orb was cold to the touch and was a deep blue color. She was reminded of the Overseer’s eyes with their cold-steel glare. She put it away carefully.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Leona and Tusund said together.

“Just be sure to keep it covered when you are not using it. Sometimes, I swear, it’ll watch you,” he replied, disgusted.

Leaving the storage room, the escort was greeted by a strange soldier. With no one else around, they stood silently on the wall, opposite of the doorway. Armor that was similar to that of the king’s guards, but less ornate, covered every bit of them. The escort froze, all of the guards prepared themselves for a confrontation. To keep Leona from continuing forward, Alder held out his arm.

“What’s going on?” Leona asked, fear creeping into her voice.

“They are not human,” Alder whispered.

Leona stepped back. Fear made her head feel all spiky like there was a chill in the air. It was not just her imagination, it was definitely much colder than it should be for a tropical rain forest. Leona caught a glimpse of the little squirrel in Tusund’s branches, hiding away.

Suddenly, Alder’s guards threw him to the ground. A long spike burst from the lone soldier, taking a single leaf off of Alder’s head. It lodged itself into the wall behind him, sending out a web of cracks. A series of smaller spikes shot out below it. The guards covered the king with their shields. Spikes snapped over their steel.

Alder kicked Leona’s feet out from under her. She fell beside him as another spike zipped over her head. Shocked and paralyzed by fear, she watched the soldier retract the spikes.

Cracking and creaking sounds resonated in the hallway. The lone soldier twitched, holes appearing in his chest. Breaking out of the suit of armor like an eggshell was an arm. Then there was another arm, and another. More arms, pealing out of the suit.

Standing before them was a monster. It was a hodgepodge of people and animals melting together. Faces always shifting. An empty scream fell from Leona’s throat. She grasped for her sword, and drew it. Something more than fear animated her as she stood up. The monster’s screams called out to her. It spoke in a language lost to time, but she understood. Hunger. Pain. Rage. She wanted it to stop.

The guards were engaged, throwing big cuts to the monster’s limbs. Each time they cut a part free, it withered away and a trapped spirit ran free. As Leona rushed to aid them, she saw the animal spirits bounding away. Joining the guards, she let lose a flurry of cuts. She tried to imagine the monster as her training stand. Gaps filling in after one cut flowed to the next.

Colorful spirits of birds, foxes, and fish spilled from the monster’s blood. It groaned and shook. Magic vines pulled Leona behind a guard. Tusund’s work, she thought. Tar black spikes shot out of the monster, flinging the guard into her. They were all flung back by the force. As they hit the floor, she heard the sound of shattering glass. The guards wards had broken.

Leona felt like her whole body was bruised. The guard that fell on her helped her stagger to her feet. When she reoriented herself she saw that the monster was pulling itself towards the king.

With frightening speed, the monster’s arms pulled it’s mass forward as it folded in on itself. It was melting and falling, but new arms reached out. It charged the king and his guards as they attempted to flee.

The guards raised their shields in defense of their king and thrust their blades into the monster’s numerous eyes. The monster howled and black tendrils sprung from its back. The tendrils slammed the guards into the walls. Wards shattered, and they fell unconscious.

Left alone, Alder swore to himself. Using magic he raised a tree trunk shield. The monsters spikes pierced through it. Leona could hear his gems shattering. Everyone sprinted to him. The guards cast vines to hold the monster, but it was useless. The monster contorted like a snake and slipped out.

The king held his ground when the monster rushed him with the jaws of a tiger. Alder’s tree branch horns caught it by the neck. Leona watched as he twisted his horns, throwing the monster down.

Tusund reach the king first and cast roots out from the ground to grapple the monster. Leona and everyone else joined in chopping at the monster’s infinite limbs. Animal claws thrashed about in the root’s bind. Leona gasped as one swiped past her eyes.

Tusund’s bark protected him and so did the armor on the guards. Next to them, Leona felt venerable. The fight was going on too long. Where were all those soldiers from the barracks? Could no one hear them? The monster was breaking free again.

“Make room!” Alder ordered.

The guards snatched her away from the monster. Everyone cleared space around the monster. Alder’s eyes darkened. The vines along the fortress walls rose in response to his magic. They grew larger and sprouted thorns. Faster than eyes could follow, the vines shredded the monster. It took only seconds, and there was nothing left. Countless people and animals spirits leaped out from the withering remains.

Deep slashes ran through the wall behind where the monster stood. Hands tensed like they bore claws, Alder winced. Before he fell, one of the guards took hold of him. Tusund was already by his side.

“No more monsters in my house,” the king labored to speak. “Everyone safe?”

“Two guards got knocked out, but I think I see them getting up now,” Leona called out.

“Tell them to go home and rest, I’ll have healers see to them,” Tusund replied.

The guards brushed off the broken tear gems that had protected them. Leona rejoined the others and saw what damage the magic had done. The dark vines must have tightened around the king’s arms. A dark honey-like liquid that was a mix of blood and sap was soaking into his coat sleeves.

Alder pulled in a sharp breath as the guard that was supporting him gingerly removed his coat. It looked like all the tear gems that had been sewn into its inside were shattered. The ruffled white shirt Alder wore had sleeves stained to match his coat. The guard took out a small knife, cutting away the king’s sleeves. Leona looked away after she saw the dark vines coiling around his arms like a sharp spring.

Without receiving any orders, Tusund began work on healing Alder’s arms. One of Tusund’s hands was large enough to cover the king’s entire arm. When he removed his hand a thin coating of pure, golden sap had sealed all the cuts.

“What was that thing?” Leona asked the king, while his other arm was being healed.

“I don’t know,” he said, gritting his teeth. “It was stronger than a normal shifting monster. It got in here, and no one saw it.”

“I think it had souls in it,” she said with a shiver.

“For any matter, we need to make sure the fortress is clear. Check everyone, we have to be sure this was the only one,” he said to one of his guards. “Leona, Tusund, your support proved to be invaluable. I won’t forget this. Keep the orbs, you owe me nothing." Another guard helped Alder to his feet, and was pushing him off in a hurry. "I’m sorry to say, but I have much to attend to now, you both should go as well. I pray that the Overseer watches over you on your quest.”

“Thank you,” Tusund said with a bow casting shade over the king and his guard.

Leona and Tusund left Vera Fortress behind. Soldiers were running all about the place, and into the city, the same frenzy continued. Leona had hoped for a quite night. She also hoped that King Alder would not use his magic again. Tusund was walking her home, and he shared some of his thoughts.

“I wish he could stop. I worry that his kingship will be the death of him," Tusund said solemnly. "It’s tough, but he knows the risks."

The night air was damp and the stars were hidden behind trees and clouds. Leona thought that she saw one of the animal spirits flying through the foliage above. She couldn’t be sure. Her life felt like it was somewhere between a dream and a nightmare. She had fought her first monster today. It had been an especially dangerous one to sneak into the fortress without drawing any attention. The monster wanted to attack the king first, but it also wanted her too.

At the front door to her house, Tusund gave her the orb he had and bid her farewell. Leona went inside and shared the orbs with her family. When asked about her night, she didn’t know what to say. She needed reassurance. Leona hugged her parents and they hugged her back.

“So your leaving tomorrow?” Dad said.

Leona nodded.

“Cheer up,” Dad said. “Tomorrow we’ll send you off with a big breakfast.”

Mom chipped in, saying, “and when you get home, we’ll have a feast.”

Leona put on her best smile and went to her room.