The Earth King's fortress was carved into a mountain, its halls thrumming with the heartbeat of stone. The king himself was a bear of a man, his beard threaded with gemstones, his hands calloused from centuries of shaping rock.
"Alliance?" he boomed, crushing a goblet in his fist. "After you turned my armies against the Fire Kingdom with your tricks? You expect trust?"
"No," said Tucan. "I expect pragmatism. Your people will starve because the Ashen Pass trade routes are gone. If you provide a livable home for the half-born, I will give you back your lands."
"Restore?" The king sneered. "Your power is decay, Time-Wielder. You offer rot."
Tucan raised his hand, silver blood dripping. "This rot saved your border villages. Or did you forget?"
The king's face darkened. "You speak of mercy now? Where was your mercy when you cursed yourself to outlive us all?"
The words struck deeper than Tucan expected. "Mercy is a luxury I am… learning."
Silence. Then the Earth King sighed. "Do it. Restore the fields. But if your magic fails, I'll bury your kingdom in stone."
Tucan pressed his palm to the earth. Withered crops surged to life, roots digging deep, soil blooming green. The Earth King watched, grudging awe in his eyes.
"Why now?" he asked.
Tucan turned away. "Because someone once told me to try."