A viewpoint a long way from Foster:
A place out of time. A dimension where the real and the unreal merged. Space seemed in constant distortion, twisted by inconceivable forces. The darkness was not simply an absence of light, but an entity in itself, vibrant and threatening.
Seven presences stood there. Invisible. Undefinable. Only their power and will imposed themselves on this dimension, forming a circle of shadows and whispers inaudible to lesser beings.
A heavy silence preceded the first word.
- A General of Hell has fallen.
Laughter rose up, distorted, unreal, as if several voices were intermingling in sinister mockery.
- No matter. One pawn destroyed. Another will take its place.
- His power was worthless in the face of what was happening. All we have to do is breathe his fragment of power into a new Obscurus.
- So goes our cycle. So goes the inevitable.
An invisible shudder ran through the dimension. An obscure, almost tangible wave escaped from the circle. Already, somewhere in the abyss of the world, a new Obscurus was mutating, fuelled by the power that a mere mortal had dared to challenge.
- The fallen pawn is nothing. But the world begins to move. The prey struggles.
- They cling to their hopes. Pitiful.
Another silence, even heavier. Then the coldest voice in the circle spoke up.
- Our goal remains the same. The extermination of the Wood Elves continues.
A chill rippled through the assembly. Even here, in this place where all logic bent to their will, these words carried a sinister weight.
- Their end is near.
- Soon, there will be none left.
- And then...
There was an unvoiced cackle of unhealthy anticipation. A shiver of corrupt power spread across the black immensity.
- Then we can seize what will ensure the survival of our people.
Then, in one imperceptible but absolute movement, the Seven Lords of the Apocalypse ceased their meeting. Darkness engulfed their presence. Emptiness reigned once again.
And somewhere, in a world still unaware of the evil that surrounded it, a fateful destiny was being woven in the shadows.
Back to Foster:
The icy wind blew across the charred ruins of Vollua, carrying with it the lingering smell of death and ash. Where once stood majestic sylvan mansions, only the carcasses of blackened trees and broken footbridges bore witness to the fallen grandeur of the forest city.
Foster and Giovanni were alone.
The nobility and the royal family had fled without a backward glance, abandoning what was left of theirs, abandoning their land, abandoning even hope. They fled to safer lands, leaving Vollua to the monsters and spectres of its past. Only Foster and Giovanni remained, unable to leave the last tangible trace of Lïanna.
She was still there. But different.
The miniature World Tree had grown. It was sturdier, more vibrant, its trunk rising strongly towards the starry sky. Its branches grew thicker every day, and its emerald and blue leaves seemed to dance in the night wind. Yet Lianna was no more than a blurred, diffuse consciousness, unable to express herself, unable to take elven form. She was there, but silent, frozen in her new state.
Foster ran a hand over the living bark, feeling the faint but persistent pulse of energy running through it. His blood had something to do with it. For several days, he had been offering a drop of his own vital fluid every morning, and with each offering, the tree grew, becoming a little more powerful, a little more... alive.
The daily life of the two survivors had become a silent routine.
In the mornings, Giovanni set off to hunt in the ruins and surrounding woods, finding enough food to survive in what had become a hostile environment. As for Foster, he stayed with Lïanna, meditating, observing the changes in his body since his rise to power. He took the time to train, to feel the growing power within him and to hone his new powers.
Every evening, they shared their discoveries around an improvised fire, exchanging a few words before drifting off to sleep, troubled by fatigue and grief.
Until that evening.
Giovanni stared at the fire, silent.
The flames flickered in the night wind, casting dancing shadows on the devastated ground. He hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been burning in his mind for several days.
- Foster... do you think your blood could... change me?
The former woodland elf looked up in surprise. He stared at Giovanni for a moment, trying to understand what was behind this request. Ever since Lïanna's death, his friend had been carrying an immense burden, a mixture of guilt and determination.
- Why, he asked?
- Because we can't go on like this. You and I... we're alone. Vollua is gone. The nobility have abandoned us. Lïanna... she's here, but she's not really herself. If your blood can make her stronger, then maybe it can make me... different. Stronger. Our peace won't last forever. That monster was just the beginning, who knows what these monsters are capable of and especially what those who sent them are capable of.
Foster's eyes darkened, he knew only too well. He remained silent, analysing the implications of this idea. The Blood Legacy allowed him to infuse his own vital essence into other entities. Lïanna had reacted to this, gradually awakening. Giovanni... what would happen to him if he received this same gift?
- I don't know what it would do,' he admitted. It could kill you. Or worse, turn you into something you don't want to become.
- It'll be the same if I stay as I am now and it's far too long to go through conventional voices.
Foster sighed. This was not a decision to be taken lightly. He himself was only just beginning to understand the ramifications of his own powers. And yet, the idea was tempting. If Giovanni could survive the infusion, he might be able to evolve and become an ally capable of helping them in the battle ahead.
He glanced at the World Tree, its branches quivering in the night breeze. He knew that this would only be the first step. He also knew that this decision, if taken, would lead them down a path with no return.
Foster held out his hand, watching her by the light of the fire. His blood was no longer ordinary. It carried a unique force, a power capable of changing things.
- Tomorrow,' he said at last. Tomorrow, we'll try. I need some time alone.
Giovanni nodded and let Foster think about it.
Foster's eyes became bright, the future of his people depended on this one experience, if Giovanni changed then they could all rise.
The next day:
The next morning, with the morning mist still clinging to the charred branches of Vollua, Giovanni rose with a new determination. His gaze was fixed on the World Tree that was once Lïanna, whose branches were thickening slightly, a sign of its gradual growth under the influence of Foster's blood.
Foster, for his part, had moved away, trying to avoid the conversation that was inevitably going to take place. He knew what Giovanni wanted to ask him, and he wasn't ready for that.
- Foster, we need to talk,' said Giovanni as he approached.
Foster closed his eyes for a moment before turning to his friend. He could see the gleam of resolution in Giovanni's eyes, and it only made him feel more uneasy.
- Don't tell me you really want to try,' he sighed.
- Of course I want to try! You've seen what your blood has done to Lianna. She's becoming something beyond us. I want to be part of it, I want to be stronger, and above all... I want to protect those who are left. I refuse to be weak, Foster.
There was silence. Foster looked away. The idea of altering the very essence of a living being... it was more than just feeding a tree its blood. It was a frontier he hesitated to cross.
- You don't understand what you're asking for, Giovanni. It's not just a blessing, it's a mutation. This blood, it's... unstable. I don't know what it will do to you. It could kill you.
- I'm warning you, we're not going to have the same conversation as yesterday!
Foster ran a hand through his hair, torn. But he knew that Giovanni wouldn't give up. So, after a long breath, he resigned himself.
- Fine... But if anything goes wrong, I'll kill you before you become a monster.
A slight smile crossed Giovanni's face.
- That's fine by me.