The conflict had been settled, everything went well and I basked in prayers every day. The houses, I call them shacks, were coming along quite nicely and the villagers had settled down for the most part. While I still received the occasional evil eye, which I of course returned, although without effect, from the passing magi, the other villagers had quickly adapted to the rule I had put in place. Though this may have been largely due to Narvi being the one to tell them about those rules.
Nerida had taken to spend most of her time with me either cultivating by taking advantage of the magic vortex I created or just telling me about this world.
I was especially interested in their power system, being fuelled by magic but with an essentially different approach. Their way of cultivating reminded me of a tale I had heard from a passing archmage of a world where so-called cultivators used qi to cultivate their bodies and spirits, exerting power through martial arts and techniques. But the thing used in this world clearly wasn't qi, it was magic. It seemed like the people in this world were using a synergy between the two, albeit a synergy that didn't produce a stronger but a weaker result. Their grading was also different, much more primitive might I say. I mean basing everything on a feudal system isn't very creative.
Half a year passed in a flash and nothing of particular interest happened, Nerida had taught me quite a bit of common knowledge over this time but I felt like she was hiding something, or more specifically how she and the others got here. She told me that this forest was to the north of the sky kingdom and that there were no others close by.
Based on that I assumed they were originally from the sky kingdom but had to leave out of reasons unknown to me. And because this totally isn't a predictable novel, this was, of course, the day I'd get to know about their past.
Nerida came to the tree in the early morning hours, she was clearly upset. Probably courtesy to Erik, he was getting bolder over the last months and I could see him and Nerida get into fights in the distance. Today had been another such day but something felt off, it seemed different, worse. Nerida just sat there and meditated for 3 hours, then she spoke.
„You know, It's my fault that we had to leave our home. Before all this happened we were known as the mountain bull clan, led by my father a baron magus but then a member of our clan insulted the verdant serpent clan and as an apology they wanted me to marry the son of their leader. I refused and they wiped most of our clan out, forcing the rest to flee the kingdom, expelled forever. All because I refused the marriage and my father didn't want to force me."
She was crying and though I wanted to give her a shoulder to cry on I was well aware of my ability to do so.
'You shouldn't blame yourself, it wasn't you who insulted the verdant serpent clan, was it? Nor did you decline against your father's wishes. He let you chose and was ready to fight for that choice even if it cost him his life. So don't blame yourself.'
„Okay, thanks for trying to cheer me up-"
With a loud burst, the woodwork to the north of the clearing exploded. A whole group of wolves came charging out, making a beeline for the camp. I assumed they too were here because of hunger, like the humans when they first arrived. Only that they weren't going to be satisfied with some apples, they were here for meat, human meat quite possibly. Shame, for them, they needed to run past me.
„Tempest wolves! And there's eight of them, we are doomed!"
Nerida took up a combat stance, wanting to make some kind of last stand or something. I just locked on to these wolves with my leaves and fired.
It was a gory battle to behold, though I guess slaughter would be more fitting. Thousands of leaf blades flew towards the wolves shredding the first three, leaving only an unidentifiable mass of flesh and hide. The four in the back fared better, dodging to the sides, only ending up as dismembered corpses from touching the outermost leaves. Just the Alpha, the strongest of the pack and the one who had been the furthest in the had escaped with a few minor cuts.
I had stopped my barrage of leaves to allow greater visibility and to plan my next move. The Alpha interpreted this as weakness after exhaustion myself and resumed his charge straight towards me. Charging head on at a 15-meter tree with an immense density and an approximate weight of multiple tons, great idea.
He too discovered this when he was in the process to sink his teeth into me only to find he couldn't penetrate my bark. A quick leaf blade to the back of the head was all it took to make him breathe his last.
'May the earthen one see your bravery and gift you strength in your next life, may the eternal one guide you on your travels and may the lasting one bless your mind and soul.'
„What was that about?"
'The wolves did nothing wrong, they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. A little prayer seemed appropriate.'
„Who did you pray to?"
'That is a story for another time.'
That evening the prayers felt more intense than usual, basking in this feeling was great. I had also absorbed the other wolves through my roots, leaving the blood that soaked the ground to my subordinate trees. With the help of the blood, acting as fertilizer, the system had theorized that in another half year my innermost circle would be fully grown and ready for duty.
Wondering what tomorrow would bring I settled down for the night.