"We can infor-"
"NO Neiphm," my eldest sister shut down our suggestions before we could even start, "I forbid it, in the name of the All-mother."
"The All-mother has stated to leave it alone, otherwise an even darker future may follow."
The future was fluid; however, why would the All-mother show such a dreaded one?
"You're wrong, Neiphm," her voice shook, "that's the best possible future that can follow for us."
"If we wanted to keep the forest and the council safe, for their sake, we cannot allow them to become aware of his presence."
"How do you think they'll react to another creature of his strength not under their dominion?"
Her question shook the hearts of her sisters.
"They might not care for worldly affairs, but they are proud. We absolutely cannot allow them to become aware of one another."
Her words were law, for their sister spoke on the All-mother's behalf. Should it have been for any other reason, the Dryads would have to pick between their family and loyalty to their rules.
However, once the All-mother spoke, there was no need to debate further.
"So do we do nothing?" Neiphm asked calmly, not out of spite but just wanting to help. She trusted her sister's words, she trusted her wisdom, she just wanted more clarity to follow her sister's commands without fault.
"No." Hizel responded to her query, still obviously weighed down by the revelation she replied.
"One of us needs to determine his intentions. The longer he stays in the forest, the higher the chance they become aware of his presence." Her sister's tone was commanding, as she was directing orders out of her experience as a leader, rather than trust in her vision.
Despite glancing at the future, she was far from being able to control it. All she could do was make decisions that would hopefully lead to the outcome that she foresaw.
It was like climbing a mountain, but instead of starting at its foot, you were already at the top. Now you would have to retrace your steps carefully, as getting back down would be no less difficult and dangerous as climbing it in the first place, with new challenges in store no matter the side of the climb.
It was a guess in the dark, with a brief flicker of light illuminating the exit, only for it to disappear as quickly as it came.
"I'll do it." Their youngest sister rose her hand with determination.
She was undoubtedly the most qualified of the bunch, considering their elder sister could not leave the All-mother's abode unguarded to face that monster.
She had been the first one to find the anomaly in the forest. She had been the only one to have been able to 'escape' from that thing unharmed.
She had the most experience 'dealing' with that thing.
Still, the sisters did not want her to go. Isabel was their beloved younger sister, the one that they always spoiled, the one most loved by all.
Putting her in such danger again,...
It broke their hearts.
"Yes." Hizel's acknowledgement of her request left no room for change, as the rest of the sisters knew her love for Isabel.
The only reason she would ever put her in such a situation would be because it's necessary.
"We trust you, Isabel, do what you must," for the first time in Hizel's long life, she could not afford to give her sister any help, for her oath to the All-mother and her vision prevented her from interfering, "convince this beast to leave the forest. Even if you have to give him 'the source'."
Her last few words caused worry to again spread onto the faces of her sisters.
"The council will not realize that something is amiss, however, we shall lose our prosperity," Hizel spoke her sister's thoughts out loud, giving words to their worry, "but we have no choice."
"They were unmoved when a Basilisk Queen invaded the tomb; why would they care if it were to disappear?" Her words broke them out of their lament.
Of course, they knew, the council couldn't care less about what happened to that cave, however a single spark of curiosity could lead down a path, causing the council to learn of that thing's existence.
Plus, it was much more unfortunate for them, considering how much they had to plead to be given such a bountiful source of energy for the forest. It was the answer to their prayers, to have been able to secure such a prize that would cause other Dryads to turn green-eyed with envy.
So much effort, so much planning, wasted because of that thing's existence.
They had lacked the strength to guard their treasure.
Thus, as follows history, it was stolen away by an outsider by force, who had now made the tomb its home.
The sisters had schemed, day and night, discounting Isabel of course as she needed her sleep as a growing girl, until eventually, they had found a solution.
"We were prepared to lose it anyway, what difference does it make if it's to the humans or to that thing?"
Although the Queen Basilisk had yet to devour it, still recovering from its injuries, it was only a matter of time until it woke up again.
"Instead of luring the humans to the snake, we will need to lead that beast to the Kingdom."
"That is the only way forward," Hizel stated her final address to her sisters before going to recuperate in her room, "whatever you have to do, Isabel."
"Lead him out of the forest and into that Kingdom's grasps. Let that Queen figure out how to handle that beast."
"You're playing with fire, sister Hizel," Isabel spoke, warning her elder sister of trying to trick that demon, "you can't lie to him."
The young Dryad had learned her lesson, trying to trick that demon into taking care of their problem for them by calling it a dungeon instead of what it really was...
"And is it the best idea to let those two meet?" Neiphm chimed in, "we've all seen her before, don't you think their meeting will lead to a similar disaster as him meeting the council?"
It was their duty to give their opinions to try and convince their dear sister to consider the alternatives.
However, once a decision was made, it was final.
"It's as All-mother has advised, we must oblige."
They would follow their sister's words, even if it caused them to fall into ruin.
"All hail the All-mother."
[Present Day]
[Kuzan POV]
"He doesn't like water, and the best place to give him pats..." it was the greatest mistake imaginable, letting a cat owner talk about their cat, "...and he needs to behave, don't give in to his demand for pats every time..."
I continued explaining the do's and don'ts to the forest spirit, as it took my words as gospel, making sure to not miss a word.
It was fun, seeing just how motivating fear can truly be.
"Ok you two, make sure to not get lost." I waved them goodbye, getting ready for the feast of a lifetime.
It wasn't just Garfield who wanted to stretch his legs...
"It's been so long since I've had a good fight."
I had grown tired, tired of hiding away in the forest, tired of hunting these lesser creatures to prepare for my hunt.
I could feel it, myself stagnating in my previous world. 'When's the last time I learned a new martial arts technique?'
Of course, I had been training, thinking, trying to come up with a suitable technique. Although even now I was still far from the point of creating my own martial arts techniques, I could feel myself then running out of room to grow.
'It is the environment that molds the beast.' Although I had a good few techniques that I could try and replicate, there was just a lack of opponents present in that world to test out my theories.
With Yujiro not giving me the time of day, I was forced to continue shadow boxing to make up for this shortcoming, a game which had quickly grown boring.
'But now I can continue,' I could feel it, the power as I clenched my fist, 'on my path as a martial artist.'
(cut to chapter 98)
[A few hours later...]
[Isabel POV]
While that devil made his way over to the tomb, his pet ran in the complete opposite direction.
It did not run away from me as I had hoped, neither did it maul me when out of that devil's sight. Instead, it waited patiently for me to catch up before going deeper into the forest...
We had grown closer in the past few hours, as I was no longer scared of it hunting me, especially considering his deal with that devil.
'Just what is he doing?' I was more confused than worried by the Goldfang's behavior.
It continued to sniff the ground, tracking its prey by their scent, when suddenly its head popped up in happiness, at having found its target.
"Haaaa, haaaa," I was panting, trying to catch up to that Goldfang, as it went just fast enough to not be let out of my sight.
"Wait a sec, wait, wait!" However, my shouts did little to stop it from strutting forth towards its meal.
My eyes widened in realization as I finally understood what it was going after, seeing their figures over the horizon.
"Nooooooo!"
"Stop, stop, stop!!!" I was finally able to catch up to the Goldfang, giving him some pats to stop him from killing that knight group.
"Are you a Dryad?" Their commander asked warily.
"Of course I am," I replied with exhaustion, having just run a marathon to catch up to this one, "are you the humans that my siste-
"Sis Hizel!!!" I shouted in jubilation as my sister suddenly arrived at the scene.
I jumped into her embrace while Garfield continued to lay lazily on the floor.
My sister smiled while giving me a pat on the head, however as much as I was happy to see her again, I was undeserving of her appreciation.
"You shouldn't thank me, sister Hizel, I didn't do anything," I let out with truth, "he's gonna leave anyway."
"I've failed, sister Hizel." I put my head down in disappointment, as although it had all worked out in the end, it was far from my doing.
"You're wrong, Isabel," my sister replied while playing with my hair, "You've done well."
"It is us who have failed you."
She gave me one final squish before releasing me from her hug and walking over to Garfield to my horror.
"We made an agreement, Goldfang," she spoke to the beast with words of nature, that were her right as the speaker for the All-mother.
Thus, although I could understand my sister, I was still unable to piece together Garfield's responses.
"Do you not have any care for the meat?"
"Checheche..." my eyebrows rose up in surprise, as it didn't take someone with the ability to speak to the beasts to understand the Goldfang's response.
'He's laughing at her.'
They continued their discussions, with me only being able to make out half of the conversation while the humans understood none.
Instead, they stayed frozen in place, all waiting for their turn to speak.
"Don't you want to make your mother proud?" I only grew more confused as it seemed that after all of my sister's words had proved ineffective, it was these that finally caused Garfield to rise.
"Grrrr..."
'It agreed.' I could tell.
"Perfect," my sister replied, after which she turned her attention to the knights who were staring terrified at my sister's greatness.
[Commander Stubborn POV]
A cold sweat ran down my back, as most of my men grew horrified at the realization.
'Can all Dryads control beasts?'
[Hizel POV]
"Sorry for the late introductions, I would like to say my heartfelt thanks to the Prince of the Kingdom of Alkavia for personally attending this talk."
"I would like to have welcomed you to our abode, but the forest is currently too dangerous and unstable for the Prince to stay, thus we will be forced to continue our discussions here."
"I hope you understand Prince."
"Of course," Prince Michael chimed in, no longer looking like a piece of baggage about to be carried away, but like a noble man worthy of his title of Prince. "I would like to thank the Dryads for their consideration for my safety."
"I hope that we can continue our discussions in the safety of my carriage if that's suitable?" Of course, it was mere wordplay, as the Prince simply wanted privacy before continuing their discussions.
"Of course, I would be glad to do so, while my sister stays here taking care of our friend." Hizel let out a small smile in Isabel's direction before entering the carriage, which was occupied by both the Prince and the leader of this battalion who had just survived his most dangerous confrontation yet.
The doors of the carriage closed as the conversation started to flow,...
"What's wrong?" The Prince started the conversation, throwing away all precedents of nobility and negotiation.
Hizel smiled at the young man's words, "you truly do have a gift, Prince Michael."