Kael stirred, his body aching as though he had been run through with jagged shards of glass. The faint light of the grove filtered through his half-lidded eyes, casting an ethereal glow on the faces of his companions. Nyxara, Lireal, and Aldric hovered around him, their expressions a mixture of concern and relief.
"Kael," Nyxara said softly, her hand resting on his shoulder. "You're back. Thank the gods."
Kael blinked, his vision clearing, and it was then he noticed something unusual beyond his companions. Towering figures loomed in the distance, their shapes blending with the massive trees around them. They were not men but living giants of wood and bark, their bodies gnarled and ancient, with glowing green eyes that radiated wisdom and quiet power.
Ents.
The air thrummed with their presence, as though the grove itself breathed life into these ancient guardians. Their movements were slow and deliberate, the creak of their limbs echoing like the groan of old trees in a storm.
"He's awake," rumbled one of the ents, its deep voice resonating through the grove like a rolling thunderclap.
Kael struggled to sit up, his body weak and heavy. Lireal helped him, her grip steady as she glanced nervously at the towering figures.
"You've been out for hours," Aldric said, his hammer resting against the ground. "We thought the corruption had claimed you… until they arrived."
Kael's gaze shifted between his companions and the ents. One stepped forward, its immense form blotting out the dim light above. It leaned down, its bark-like face creased with what might have been curiosity or solemnity.
"You," the ent said, its voice as ancient as the forest itself. "You have been touched by the essence of the Grove. Speak, bearer of visions. What have you seen?"
Kael hesitated, the memory of the mask and the pain still fresh in his mind. He glanced at Nyxara, who nodded encouragingly. "Tell them, Kael. They might know what this means."
Taking a deep breath, Kael recounted his experience—the vibrant forest, the boy in the stream, the mask hidden beneath the rock, and the excruciating moment it fused with him. As he spoke, the ents listened in silence, their glowing eyes fixed on him, their massive forms eerily still.
When he finished, another ent stepped forward, its bark-covered hand brushing the ground as if communing with the earth itself. "The mask you describe is no ordinary relic. It is a fragment of the Verdant Warden, the ancient spirit who once watched over this grove."
"The Verdant Warden?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse.
The first ent nodded, its branches swaying. "Long ago, the Warden was the guardian of balance, ensuring life thrived while corruption was kept at bay. But when the void began seeping into the world, the Warden sacrificed itself to protect this place. Its essence was scattered, hidden away in the depths of the forest. What you found was one of its remnants."
Kael clenched his fists, his mind racing. "If this… essence is inside me, then why does it feel like it's tearing me apart? The pain—"
"The Warden's power is not meant for mortals," the ent interrupted. "It is ancient, wild, and untamed. By touching the mask, you have bound yourself to a fragment of the Warden's soul. Its power is now yours to wield… but it comes with a cost."
Nyxara stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly. "What kind of cost?"
The ent's gaze shifted to her. "Should he fail to master this power, the corruption already within him will claim him completely. He will become a vessel of void and decay, a threat to all life."
A heavy silence fell over the grove. Kael looked down at his hands, the faint green glow of the Warden's essence flickering beneath his skin. "And if I succeed?"
"Then you will become a champion of the Verdant Warden," the ent replied. "A guardian of balance, capable of purging the void from this world. But the path is treacherous, and the Warden's essence will test your will at every turn."
Lireal knelt beside him, her eyes steady. "You're not alone, Kael. Whatever this is, we'll face it together."
Aldric nodded, his hammer glowing faintly with holy light. "The Light guides us all. Even in the face of such trials, we do not abandon our own."
Kael swallowed hard, the weight of their words grounding him. He looked up at the ents, their towering forms a reminder of the ancient power that now coursed through him.
"What do I need to do?" he asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.
The ent extended a massive, gnarled hand toward the totem in the center of the grove, its energy pulsing faintly. "The totem holds another fragment of the Warden's essence. To harness the power within you, you must attune to the totem and face the Warden's trial. Only then will you learn to wield the balance of life and corruption."
Kael nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then I'll do it. Whatever it takes, I'll see this through."
As he struggled to stand, his companions helped him to his feet. The ents stepped back, their glowing eyes watching in solemn silence as Kael approached the totem.