"Your Majesty, the barrier surrounding the Great Forest has been lifted. We tested its safety using an inmate sentenced to death, and he was able to enter and exit the forest unharmed," the envoy reported, bowing deeply.
The old man seated on the throne wore a mask of disinterest until the envoy's final words. His eyes widened, and he sat up straight, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"Are you certain, boy? That forest has been sealed since my great-great-grandfather's time. I've even heard tales that it's been closed off since the founding of this kingdom."
The messenger nodded eagerly. "We are absolutely certain, Your Majesty. From what we've seen, the forest is abundant with untapped resources. Its sheer vastness promises prosperity for generations to come."
"Yes! Gather the best soldiers in the kingdom, along with our finest cartographers and botanists, and prepare to embark immediately. We cannot allow anyone else to discover this forest before we lay claim to its riches!"
The king's voice boomed with authority as he barked the order to his aide, who stood dutifully by his side. Without hesitation, the aide scurried off to make the necessary preparations.
Isho sat staring at the glowing green crystal resting in the center of the crater he was born in. "This has to be the Heart of Creation I was told about, right?" he mused aloud, his voice carrying through the silent forest. "What should I do with it? I can't just leave it out in the open. Though… for some reason, I feel like there aren't any humans here—or any other intelligent species, for that matter."
As the forest's guardian spirit, Isho could feel the presence of every creature within its boundaries. He instinctively knew their locations and even had a vague sense of which beasts claimed which territories. "Perks of being the forest's guardian spirit, I guess. But… what else can I do?"
He raised a hand in front of his face, pondering what abilities a tree might have. As the thought crossed his mind, his fingers elongated, growing into thick branches that shot skyward. He stopped the rapid growth and, with a simple thought, returned his hand to its normal form.
"Well, that's useful. I wonder if it works with the other trees?"
Focusing on a nearby tree, Isho extended his will. Just like his hand, the tree grew rapidly, its branches twisting and stretching at his command. Satisfied, he willed it to return to its original state.
Finally, he turned his attention to his chest. With a thought, a cavity opened, forming a small, hollow chamber within him. "Since I don't have a safe place to put it for now, I'll keep it here," he decided. His hand grew, wrapping securely around the glowing green crystal. Carefully, he placed it in the cavity and allowed it to close, sealing the Heart of Creation within.
"Should be safe here. Now, let's get an idea of everything in the forest," Isho muttered to himself, settling into his surroundings. He placed his hands against the ground, feeling the pulse of the forest flow through him. It was as if every root, every leaf, every breath of wind carried information directly to his consciousness.
Closing his glowing, featureless eyes, he visualized the entire forest in his mind—a vast network of life teeming with creatures, both large and small. He could sense the intricate web of trees, the underbrush, and even the faint vibrations of insects skittering across the forest floor. Each tree was like an extension of himself, each one resonating with his own life force.
"Interesting," Isho murmured. He stood up, flexing his bark-covered fingers. "If I can feel the entire forest... could I also move through it?"
With that thought, he focused on a tall, sturdy oak a few hundred yards away. He envisioned himself stepping into the bark of a nearby tree and emerging from the oak's trunk. As soon as he willed it, his body dissolved into glowing green motes, merging seamlessly with the tree he was leaning against. A moment later, he materialized from the oak he'd pictured, his form reforming with the same glow.
"Hah!" he exclaimed, inspecting the bark he'd just emerged from. "Teleportation...This could be very useful." His voice reverberated with a mixture of surprise and excitement. "I can be anywhere in this forest in an instant."
Curiosity bubbling inside him, Isho decided to test the limits of his new ability. He teleported rapidly between trees, each transition becoming faster and smoother than the last. By the time he returned to his starting point, his confidence in his newfound power was absolute.
"Now, about defenses," Isho muttered, pacing near the crater. "If I'm supposed to guard this place, I'll need help. The forest is vast, and even I can't be everywhere at once."
A creature he saw while surveying the forest flashed through his mind sparked an idea tree monsters. He raised his hand, focusing on the network of roots beneath him. With a deliberate thought, he channeled his energy into the ground, commanding it to take shape. The roots twisted and coiled, bursting from the soil to form a humanoid figure. The resulting creature stood tall, its body composed of bark, vines, and moss, with glowing green eyes much like Isho's own.
"It worked!" Isho whispered, circling the creature. It was strong, sturdy, and fully under his control. "Let's try another one."
This time, he envisioned a creature designed for speed. The roots responded to his command, weaving into the shape of a four-legged beast with razor-sharp claws made from jagged wood. The creature let out a low, guttural growl as it came to life, staring at Isho as though awaiting orders.
"Perfect," Isho said, a sense of pride swelling within him. "If I can make more of these... I can properly defend this forest and make a decent army."
Satisfied with his progress, Isho summoned a few more creatures of varying shapes and sizes. Some resembled towering giants, others smaller but nimble. Each one was connected to him, awaiting his guidance.
He turned to the glowing crystal within his chest, a sense of duty washing over him. "I wonder what's gonna happen," he said softly, his voice carrying through the forest. "Though It is strange that there are no humans at all in the forest I wonder what happened."
With that, Isho began exploring more ways to manipulate his environment, fully embracing his role as the guardian spirit of the forest.