Prologue

“Wait! Come back!” I attempt to voice. This moment in time is lasting an eternity. I’m unable to move. I’m unable to even breathe let alone cry out to my comrades. My words and thoughts reach no one. This pain radiating from my chest is unlike anything I have ever felt before. It seems like all of my being is surrounding this single point in my chest. I can’t look down, but I know it’s there. That dagger lodged there... This is my end.

Bodies of both our noble people and the Alvyan fanatics litter this decimated forest. The gargantuan tree that is the epicenter of their cursed magic is now ablaze in a pillar of bright flames and black smoke. Good riddance if you ask me.

More pain... More throbbing... Please make this stop. Why won’t it end? I’ve already been proclaimed dead by the captain himself. I’m right here, I am lying right here. Why doesn’t anyone seem to notice? Why are they cheering as if we won while I am in such a position? Please don’t leave me here in this hell. This burning... Is it from pain or anger? Is it a jealous rage that I cannot be with those closest to me and celebrate our victory with them as they march away? Why did this happen to me?

It’s all that damned druid’s doing! If only he hadn’t hindered me from claiming my prize, the head of the Alvyan priestess, I would be the hero celebrated for weeks in taverns. At least the druid is also gone; he was slain by the captain shortly after impaling me with his only weapon. He continues to lie motionless at my feet, staring at me, taunting me as if he succeeded. I supposed he did. Unfortunately, the priestess escaped through the chaos. I’m the only one who witnessed her dissolve into the darkness, but I can’t do anything to stop her. Does it even matter now?

This agony, I feel it enveloping me completely. It seems to be my only conscious thought anymore... Nothing but darkness and complete misery.

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I hear it as I am reaching for more vunderberries. The sound of a grove beast’s horn. I haven’t heard the sound in over eighty cycles, but I cannot mistake this most unpleasant warning. Moments later, Raul is at the entryway babbling something about invaders before collapsing from his obvious sprint.

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This cannot be happening. Our people live in peace. We have no known enemies, outward hostility, or even worldly treasures to be raided by the greedy humans. Our forest is spelled to confuse and repel any stray sentient races. Have none of the traps and alarm spells been a counter? “Please don’t be the demon races” I plead, offering up a prayer to the gods. Simply unbelievable. Before my disbelief can build further, Raul has my hand. “We need to move Priestess.”

“I know my duty.” I retort. The room is already empty and I resist following my people to help defend my home. We head swiftly and directly towards the dagger. Emilio tucks it under his robe as we advance towards the rear escape. I smell it, the smell of smoke. I hear it, the unmistakable cries of chaos and death.

The scene I arrive upon breaching the rear hollow of Mother Tree is my own personal hell. Human men, soldiers from the looks of them, are slaying my unprepared people mercilessly. Flames and blood are everywhere. Fire licks up the surrounding trees, singes all of the homes, and even scorches my mother’s branches above me. I cannot stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. I touch my forehead to her trunk briefly before following Emilio. “Rest well Mother, may you find peace”

“Hurry Riera! Rest well Vivina.” He bows swiftly before taking my hand and pulling me along again.

We barely near the forest's edge as I hear the whistle of a blade pass my ear. A soldier has pursued us this far and seems to be out for me specifically. Emilio blocks his next swing with an instantaneous vine spell, but this man seems relentless. Without Emilio’s staff, he is limited to such weak cantrips. Without my bow or a sword, I am also useless in this skirmish.

There is an unknown anger and ambition within this man’s eyes. Somehow he even gets the best of Emilio, knocking him to the ground. He turns towards me. Weaponless, I know I need to run, but I need Emilio and the dagger first. I dodge his first swing to the side, realizing I am not wearing anything close to battle garb when I trip over my priestess robes.

I feel it, my death has finally come after so many years. My people are all dead, so maybe this will end my brief, but tremendous, suffering. I accept my death with a bitter taste in my mouth.

“No!” I can’t help but scream in response to Emilio throwing himself between us. The soldier’s sword lodged itself into his shoulder.

“Run Riera! I’ll be right behind you!”

I run. My eyes water because I know he won’t be following me, but I need to keep moving. “The dagger!” I curse myself for forgetting as I reach the first tree and brave a look. It’s lodged in the soldier's chest!

He must have used it to save me. How stupid can he be, valuing my life more? While bleeding heavily from his shoulder, he tries to try and pull it out of the soldier who is growing limp in his arms. He knows only an Alvyan priestess can remove one of those. I take my start to help him and freeze in my tracks. There is another man racing towards them very fast.

“Behind you!” I want to scream, but I know it will only give away my location to the oncoming man and troops following. Emilio is cut down before me and I can do nothing but watch in horror. Both Emilio and the dagger are lost. I have no hope but to retreat for now and hope that I may retrieve is after everything has subsided. With a heavy heart, I disappear further into the forest.