I smiled at those all-too-familiar words, realizing once again the ease of 'cooperation' when one possessed strength.
"I need an Oath."
The Dryad's eyes flickered at my request—it was a great one. Her manner grew stiff as she mulled my words over in her head, the deepening silence between us eventually broken by her sigh.
"For what?" she asked, as if finally coming to terms with her decision.
My smile grew at her silent agreement to my demands.
"The Oath of Life."
Her face strained at my greed.
"Impossible."
[Narrator POV]
The Dryads—known for their solitude and peaceful nature—appear in countless myths and legends as a small helping hand to the less fortunate or adventurous. Little was known about their lifestyle, as few knew their true purpose for life. Even fewer men knew the truth behind their creed, managed and protected by the true owners of this world.
It was enough to make a grown man cry.
However, none but the Dryads themselves knew about the Oaths, for they were their greatest source of strength—and an insurmountable weakness that could never be let known.
[Hizel POV]
Once again, the Dryad's heart palpitated with worry, her sharp mind finding it impossible to handle the weight of this thing's words. The mythical Dryads, known for their elusiveness and mystique, had finally met their match.
After all, how could you compare a local rarity to something out of this world?
Thus, the Dryad had been fighting a losing battle from the start. For the first time in her life, it was she who faced a lack of information about her opponent.
It felt strange.
Unnatural even, for the great Dryads—seers of truth, peering into the future—to find themselves at a loss of direction.
Although she knew little about this creature who had made her life a living nightmare, she was certain of one thing...
'It's sadistic.'
Its every word had caused her more terror than the last.
Of course, they both knew that it was a purposeful decision on his part, to slowly tear away her will to fight against his 'requests.'
And it had worked.
'How does he know about the Oaths?!'
Of everything that this thing had said, from everything that it was, his last words had been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Before, Hizel had believed, despite the demon's refusal, that her youngest sister had betrayed her.
Now, she realized, that she had been wrong.
So wrong.
It was bittersweet, the feeling of having been proven wrong. For one, it meant that her sister's name had been cleared.
'Isabel would never reveal the truth of the Oaths.'
Unfortunately, it also meant that this creature had found some other means to learn of their secrets.
The more time she spent talking to this thing, learning about this thing, the more certain she grew... of the future she saw when she was enlightened by the All-Mother.
'There's no hope.' Her last ounce of loyalty crumbled under the weight of reason. Her mind begged her to take this demon's promise for 'help.'
[Narrator POV]
The Oaths.
As a toddler ages into a teen, as a teen ages into an adult, as an adult ages into a coffin, such is the natural lifecycle of man.
Every creature, no matter how big or small, strong or weak, has a natural life cycle that they progress through.
Dryads were no different. However, where the lifecycle of man was gradual from one step to the next, these creatures, speaking with the voice of nature, made the process much simpler.
Where a man might never grow out of his inner child despite being inches away from death, the Dryads faced no such fault.
Seven distinct periods of growth, each marked by an Oath:
The Oath of the Calling - Signifying their birth.
The Oath of Worship - Signifying their choice to follow the All-Mother as their guide.
The Oath of Obedience - Signifying their will to follow the All-Mother's commands without question or delay.
The Oath of Unity - A testament to the love they possess for their sisters in creed.
The Oath of Forgiveness - Marking the end of a Dryad's life of servitude, asking for forgiveness should they have made any mistakes during their youth, cleansing their spirit.
The Oath of Severance - Made minutes after the last, separating their ties from family and forest, abandoning their vessels so they may return to their true homes, in the All-Mother's gentle embrace.
However, the All-Mother was kind, giving them a choice. For those Dryads unable to let go of their worldly affairs—their regrets, their loves, more often than not for their families rather than the forest.
Some Dryads considered it a test, while others considered it a choice—the last act of the All-Mother's kindness.
The Final Oath.
The Oath of Life.
Living for something other than the All-Mother.
[Kuzan POV]
Her firm refusal to my request only caused my smile to widen.
Despite her firm exterior, I could see that she was merely a step away from that leap of faith.
"Are you sure?" I asked with a scholarly gaze, "Just think about it, you would all still be following your creed. What difference does it make if you go to the grave a bit later rather than sooner?"
Despite my honeyed words, accompanied by my silver tongue, even I could do little to downplay the severity of my demand.
The Oath of Life.
A chain of words that would bind their very existence.
Apparently from Isabel's memories, it took place even before the fourth Oath—The Oath of Forgiveness, as in Hizel's own words, "there was no forgiving one once they had taken that disgraceful step."
It was an interesting mechanism of their being, for their very souls to be subject to the bounds of their Oaths.
'If it were anyone else, I would have no choice but to end their life.' Thankfully for them, at least today, the reveal of their most tightly guarded secret had been their ultimate fortune.
For it had given even the stone-hearted man, ready to kill, the assurance he needed to keep them alive.
'The risk is still present, but it's still within the manageable thresholds.'
It was a decision made not from the mind, as one might expect, but from the heart—after weighing the outcomes in a fraction of a second.
It was my nature.
And the Oath of Hope would be their own.
A transformation of nature, a blessing of beliefs.
"It's your only chance to save your sisters from suffering."
It was my final push.
My final act of repayment for what Isabel had willingly given me.
I valued the cooperation, after all.
My eyes grew narrower, as I wasn't liking how long it was taking for her to agree to my all-too-generous request.
"You should thank your youngest sister for my patience with you lot," I said aloud, reminding them of their positions.
My words proved effective, as I could determine from her mannerisms, now unguarded, that they had made their choice.
"Fine," their leader replied in a bitter tone, while clenching her teeth. My eyes moved on, now encompassing her group.
"We agree," they replied in unison, no less dead than their leader's.
"Perfec—" I began hurriedly, not wanting them to go back on their word.
"But we shall not become your pawns." Her gaze grew determined. "You shall leave the forest at once after the Oath is complete."
"And...?" I edged her on, testing her intelligence. Surely, she wasn't as dumb as she looked.
"We shall pretend you don't exist."
Though not perfect, it was an acceptable proposal.
Still, I wouldn't be me if I didn't try to gain some icing on the cake.
"And that's all you offer for my help?"
The Dryad's expression changed, quickly forming into one of glee.
'Damn...'
"We don't need your help." It was as if the voice of nature itself aligned with her resolve. "We shall pretend you don't exist... and you shall do the same."
"I so swear on life itself."
And her sisters followed.
"We so swear on life itself."
I turned my gaze to their youngest and most mischievous sister, who had long since awoken from her slumber despite her act. Her upper body slumped under my piercing gaze, leaving her no room for hesitation.
'I'm sure she's cursing her sisters in her head for not taking my offer to help.'
"I swear on life itself to not betray your trust."
'Cheeky little brat.'
Clearly, she didn't want to let go of their last saving grace.
Swearing the same Oath as her sisters would be burning the bridge for future agreements.
Any cooperation is based upon trust. It is the very bedrock of any relationship.
And Isabel had offered it herself, without request, on a silver platter.
'Fun wasn't something that I seriously considered after coming to this world... but this...'
I smiled while gnashing my teeth, in an attempt to get one last scare out of the tree huggers. However, it proved no use, as they were true to their word and ignored my very presence since swearing their Oaths.
All of them, except Isabel, who, while unaffected by my show of 'spookiness,' pleaded with me with her eyes to leave the forest.
Sighhh, I turned my head down, helpless against their decision.
'It's fine,' I tried cheering myself up, 'Although I didn't get the information I was looking for, at least I reduced the risk of unnecessary trouble down the line.'
Thus, I turned my back to them and left, walking in the direction of the long-departed carriage, which now carried my great jungle cat.
I couldn't help but think of what was in store for me next...
Despite my better judgment, I couldn't help but reminisce... about my time in the US. Especially my first meeting with the President.
It was the fundamental rule of play: the bigger the stage, the greater the game...
I knew for a fact that unexpected trouble is no fun... but calculated chaos...
'That's a whole 'nother ball game...'