The long standing trees were as old as anybody could recall. Though certain areas of the forest are harvested. Much of it is left alone, much for the respect of Grimroot himself.
Rice and Tyler had hiked through it. The path quickly eroded into brush, A narrow beaten down passage from monsters, the only real passage through the forest. Best regarded as a game trail. gnarled roots eclipsed into the path, tall grass licking at their knees, the canopy far above. leaving the forest in a low shadowed light. Only toleratable to see up to a few hundred feet before the shadows blackened out their sight.
Just as Rice said, Tyler Chewed the anti mutation medicine. It tasted horrible, giving him a bitter expression on the trip.
His focus on trying to ignore the taste, sometimes they would still. Rice explained that just as one can retain more power, so can they experience heightened senses. However without experience of the years. You can't tap the full potential of the power given.
To become a Hellrazer was a career choice, it's process was life altering. You had to be serious to get in the business.
If you quit, all that hard work and hardship goes to waste. The power given is stripped and your "expelled" that was basically Job suicide if you wanted to work with the factions that delt In "governmental administration"
In other words, if you quit. You burn your ability to get a job in any other factions administration for the city.
With how many good paying jobs drop into that category, you'd have to find an alternative for work.
Rice led Tyler on what he thought was circles. Until Rice halted again, turning to him. They had so far gotten past the creatures with no hassle. "Swallow. Past these trees is designated as the inner grove."
Rice swallowed, before continuing. Tyler naturally followed instruction. Keeping up, almost as if there were a barrier Tyler felt himself almost run through a brick wall, a subtle pressure exerting itself on him constantly unlike before, when it was just an unease.
He also began to hear a soft whimper. It ceased moments later.
"Oh? I feel you friends, please this way!"
A gnarled gravely voice said with a soft excitement. To his astonishment the trees ahead seemingly parted. Revealing a path to a scary tree.
Tyler shuddered almost stopping but Rice nudged him on. Indicating to him not to be rude.
The tree in question.. it wasn't right, supernaturals take on any forms, unsettling, unnerving, scary and strange. Bot never had he seen this tree or any supernatural who looked similar ..to.. t-that.
Grimroot, a fifteen meter tall tree. It's blackened bark a gnarled mess just like the trees voice. That same back showcased a horrific scene he would have nightmares of for a long time.
How would he explain that?!
A human like body stretched into the height of the tree. From its base to just before it's trunk branched into limbs.
The human figure perpetually held a look of agony and sadness.
His legs stretched roots of the tree and the bark had grown under his skin around his legs, stretching it until it ripped In some places. Underneath a weird mushy Gray with glowing Mushrooms growing from It, the mushrooms were large giving off a radioactive light. Even bones of the leg showed. Shattered and parted by the trees blackened bark which now to Tyler appeared more like petrified blood.
His waist stretched but his upper half had clearly been torn ripped from his lower body by at leadt a few feet. The skin plastered Over bark, gray mush growing mushrooms. His rib cage Held flaps of skin, grayed by frozen rot.
His rib cage shown, within a beating thu'um echoed lighty, the mushrooms within pulsating. The ribcage treated like a morbid flower pot. The arms of this human male were in the same state of the legs and finally the face.. oh god.. the face.
Tyler felt his lunch come up his throat. He forced it back down.
Grimroot's face or we'll his head the skull bulging fractured along his left eye bark had grown into the cracks parting it from the skull just a little more. The rest of His skull looks like the tree had pierced it forcefully Breaking into the brain chamber.
Grimroot looked like a human who got killed, grotequely tortured and taken over by it. From the trees branches hang symbols, taboo signs, trinkets of unknown meaning.
Rice greeted grimroot as if an old friend. "Long time no see Grim, I'm sorry for my friends demeanor. This is his first time here so he is experiencing it all for the first time"
Grimroot dismissed Tyler "No worries Rice, it's not a reaction I take personally anymore. It's just another nature to react that way. Come update me on the laws, oh and what ahs happened in the city in the last five years!"
Rice happy did so. "Tyler come over here. I want you to manifest a contract of information related to the law of it."
Tyler fighting back his urge to break down and lose his stomach responded with a straight answer. "Sir, I don't know how to do that.."
"What, They haven't shown you that yet?"
Rice said, Tyler shrugged haggard from his attempted calm. "You havent.. shown me.. they said you had to pass that down"
"Wha.. they didnt..mm.. ha.. okay come here"
"Imma teach you have to manifest contracts and what not. For now the contract of law."
Tyler came over wearily as Rice motioned with his hand. "Concentrate your energy and apply will to what you intend."
"Will? Intent? Wha.. sir-"
Rice gave A look as if he wanted to slap a certain boss- dangerous thoughts..
"Okay just watch"
The energy around his right hand glowered with a faint magma. He flicked his palm up, pulling it down as a contact manifested, unraveling in the same instant to show the laws of contracts.
He showcased this to Grimroot, whilst looking back at Tyler "got that?"
Oh yea he got something, Rice was a horrible teacher!