"Hehe... this makes me want to sing again. Just like when I became a mermaid."
Aveline started to tease her hair with her fingers as her voice suddenly resounded within the clearing. It was light and beautiful, even if she used no words.
"Damn... if you keep singing, I'll tear out your throat!"
Aveline smiled as her voice began to emit power. The surrounding trees suddenly began to move closer, their roots aiming to bing Vayr.
"You know, I truly do love Enna. I won't harm her. I'll just keep you bound, feeding you to keep you alive. But, the moment you start to release her, I'll kill you. Mercilessly. I don't know why your people are doing this, nor do I care. You're harming innocent and beautiful people that I cherish! You will pay!"
Suddenly, the roots snagged the evading Vayr.
"Agh! You bitch... Royal Dryads were never able to make trees this fast! Only a Dryad Quee- AGH!"
"Ey. Slacken the grip. Jeez, I know I got mad. Don't pout at me!"
Vayr glared at Aveline.
"You can hear their voices. The spirits within the trees. God, you truly are one of them."
Aveline nodded with an adorable smile.
"The trees confirmed it. I'm a Dryad Queen! Haha! The Descending Goddess and a Dryad Queen. Kinda scary that I'm this strong... hmm, will my girls like these forms? No no... combat only. They can only play with the regular me!"
Aveline hopped through the grass, it supporting her of its own volition, as she got closer to Vayr.
"Disgusting. You act just like those happy bitches. Ugh... you're even more beautiful than you've ever been! Agh! What the fuck?! She's still here?"
Aveline smiled as she got closer.
"Enna, I'll kiss you if you can break free. If you're quick-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME!?"
"-I'll... huh. Well that was quick."
Aveline leaned up, locking her lips with the blushing Enna. Vayr had fallen off of her, almost like it was a costume.
The roots slowly let Enna go, but Aveline held her in her arms, kissing her deeply. When they finally separated, Aveline held her hand tight.
"I was really worried about you!"
Enna was in a daze, her face scarlet and her legs attempting to buckle.
"A-Aveline... I n-need a new pair..."
"Oh..."
Aveline gaze her another peck before she led her back to the vine shield covering the others.
"One sec. You can change your panties if none of them were destroyed."
Turning back, Aveline glared at the dark mass floating and roiling in pain.
"That bitch! How was her lust and obsessive power able to remove me?!"
Vayr continued to sob to himself, but suddenly felt a massive force grip him.
"N-no! Not this! I can't die!"
"You hurt what I cherish. Go fuck yourself."
Vine suddenly ripped into him, skewering him from many angles.
"So they're solid when they are like this?"
Aveline looked into the treeline, then smiled and waved at the dark mass overhead. It began to descend, landing in Aveline's outstretched hand.
"You're strangely not hostile... and you seem more solid then Vayr was."
A cute and soft voice came from within it.
"I-I sealed that power. Th-the one that let's us merge."
The mass shuddered.
"I don't want to hurt your people! I'm disgusted and tired of fighting my own from within... I left them."
Aveline smiled as she gripped the mass softly.
"You're coming with me then. You can open up a lot of confusing doors that we desperately need. What's your name?"
"I'm uh... the Princess of Corruption. Naname."
"Cuter then I expected... and why are you out here?"
"Eh... can I keep it a secret for now? It's embarrassing..."
"Oh! Are you the corrupt being that's fallen for me?"
Aveline could have sworn she saw the black mass turn pink for a second, but Naname didn't say anything more.
"Silent treatment. Gotcha. I'll treat you nicely, since you're so honest."
'She's not lying. That's for sure. Lie Detector is amazing.'
Aveline carried Naname back to the girls, releasing and healing them all. As they began to come around, Aveline filled them all in on what had happened. She had long turned back into her regular self.
"So, Lenora..."
"Yes, we will head back. None of us, save you, can figh- Aveline?!"
Lenora reached out towards Aveline as she collapsed, exhaustion finally ramming her into the ground.
-
"Damn. How have we not found the bearer of that accursed mark?"
"We know not, my king. We have heard rumors, however."
"Rumors? What of?"
"Orion no longer bears the mark of the hero, now a young lady does. She is apparently the daughter of the Synclairs. A powerful family that fought beside your father in the war. They call her, The Descending Goddess."
"Ha. Big name for a little girl. Find me a time to meet her, she will bend to my will. If she doesn't, I'll make her my slave."
The kings smile made his cohorts shiver with fear.
"I suggest backing off, my king."
One man vanished as he spoke, his words more a threat then a warning.