After spending some time looking for a safe place to camp out, Althea and Kyran went off in search of food and water. Arron and Sophia tended to the campfire. I took a seat on a pile of rubble and sighed.
"You're troubled, Creator." Sophia said.
"Indeed," I said. "I had no idea Amber was working with the heretics. It doesn't make any sense. I need to get to the bottom of this. Just what is the Great Tree after? Why has it rebelled against me? I just... don't understand."
"Lord Thomas," Arron spoke in a soft voice with his hands clinging onto his knees. "Why did you ask the survivors to head to the eastern forest? Would it not be prudent to go elsewhere? The Great Tree lies in that direction."
I looked at him softly and said, "To the west lies the desert, and to the north are the mountains. The only place for the survivors to go is the eastern forest. The South is rather dangerous. The East is safest, that's where they'll most be safe. I have a plan to deal with the heretics and the Great Tree, but it'll take time. We have to ensure the survival of the elves until I'm ready."
"But won't they be exposed in the forest?" Arron asked.
"Not necessarily," I replied. "If the heretics are controlling the demons, they'll most likely be concentrated in the city. The survivors will be safer in the forest. And from what I understand from Amber's betrayal, the Great Tree doesn't seek to completely annihilate the elves."
"I see," Arron said.
"Creator," Sophia asked. "Do you believe the Great Tree is evil?"
I gave a puzzled expression and replied, "I don't know. I have no clue what the Great Tree is planning, or why it has turned against me. But I will not tolerate rebellion. I am the Author of Life. I created this world. I created the elves. I am their god, and they will not rebel against me."
I had a jumble of thoughts floating through my mind but I only now noticed that I was beginning to think more and more like a god. "Benny, what do you think?"
"I believe the Great Tree may be misguided. Perhaps it is acting in a way that it thinks is best for the elves like Amber said. Perhaps it is not truly evil."
"But it is rebelling against me," I said. "It is defying me. That cannot be tolerated."
"Yes, Thomas," Benny replied. "You are correct. But perhaps there is a way to reason with the Great Tree. Perhaps there is a way to make it understand that its actions are not in the best interests of the elves."
"Maybe," I said. "But for now, I must deal with the heretics and the demons."
"Indeed," Benny replied.
After some time had passed, Althea and Kyran arrived back at the camp with some food and water. We ate and drank, and we began to regain our strength.
"Are you rested enough?" Althea asked. "It is time to move on. There are more survivors out there, and we must help them."
"Yes," I said. "We must not delay. The longer we wait, the more elves will die."
"Haha! I'm going to slaughter more demons than I can count!" Kyran said while slamming his fist to his chest in typical warrior fashion.
And so, we set off. We ventured deeper into the ruined city, and we searched for survivors. Along the way, we encountered numerous demons and monsters. We fought them, and we slayed them.
We repeated the process of fighting demons, rescuing citizens and resting, several times over.
During the fighting, I was able to use Imagination Amplification several more times. Each time, the headache became slightly more intense, and the amount of time I was able to use the power increased.
'It seems I'm becoming more acclimated to the power, ' I thought. 'But it's taking a nasty toll on my body. I still have to face more demons and then there's the possibility of fighting the Great Tree. I don't know if I'll be able to last much longer.'
"Creator, you are weary. You should not overexert yourself. You are not a fighter by nature."
"Sophia's right, you know. You are the Author of Life. Your purpose is to create and to inspire. You should not have to fight on the front lines."
"Thank you, Sophia. But I can't abandon the elves. I have to protect them. I have to save them."
"And we will, Thomas," Althea replied.
Althea's smile was filled with kindness and compassion.
"You're right, Althea. We will save them."
Althea's expression turned to a stern one and said, "Let's get moving, our people need us."