The Land: Forging (Chaos Seeds Book 2)

CHAPTER 6

Richter went through his forms for the next two hours. At some point, the rain broke, but that did not slow Yoshi down. He kept drilling with Richter, correcting each improper stance with a whack of his stick. The villagers came up to watch the show. They began to shout out, “Keep your head up!”, “Don’t let your sword drop!”, “Oooh, that one looked like it hurt!”

Richter didn’t mind the good natured ribbing. These people had been working hard, and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world for them to see him sweating and enduring hardship as well. During the training, Yoshi introduced a third form, Dancing Fireflies, and a fourth, Rain on Hot Stone. He was starting on a fifth, when Hisako called a stop.

“People of the Mist Village! Please douse your torches. The ceremony will proceed best in darkness. Follow me.” She started walking toward the northeast corner of the meadow. The Seed Core was held high above her head. The tracings of green veins cast a small but distinctive light, so following her was easy despite the rain and darkness. They walked until they were only a few hundred yards from the northern cliff face. She turned and faced Richter and the other villagers. The only light was from the green glow of the Seed Core, the soft white light from Futen and the phosphorescent lake in the distance.

“Richter please come stand beside me.” He moved to comply, and she handed him the Seed Core. He looked at her questioningly. He had assumed Hisako would do the actual planting. She just shook her head with that gentle smile she always had. “It needs to be you,” she said quietly. “Simply focus on the Seed Core, and you will know what to do.”

Richter turned his gaze from the Hearth Mother to the object in his hands. Being so close to the Seed Core brought its wondrous scent to his nose. This time, the smell was of pine, clean wood burning, and food baking in the oven. He was overtaken by a memory. He had been playing football in the front yard with his older brother. His brother had teased him about a bad throw, but did it with love and warmth in his voice, so it was alright. They had been out front for about an hour. Initially, they had been sent to the yard to rake the leaves up. Football had been a master plan to stay out of the way of their mother, and thereby avoid being assigned any other chores.

That morning, his brother showed him again and again how to throw a perfect spiral. Unfortunately, it was also something he failed at again and again. But then, he finally got it right! When they finally were called inside by their father, cheeks tingling with the cold, James was still riding a wave of elation. The warmth from inside the house competed with the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen to capture his attention. It had been a perfect day.

Richter came back to himself. Other nearby villagers seemed to have been caught in their own remembrances, and all had smiles on their faces. Not wasting any more time, Richter raised the Seed Core above his head with both hands. The rain fell down on him, and he had to blink the water clear. “Thank you all for coming up here and braving this weather. Those of you near me caught a taste of this object’s power. You have felt its goodness. It is not just an object of power, but also a symbol of what we are trying to create here. We will care for this tree, and it will care for us. That is how we will live.” The next words that he said seemed to come from somewhere else. It was if something was speaking through him.

“Through service, ascendance. Through dedication, transcendence!”

You have created the motto of your village! These words and the ideals they embody will find seed within the heart of all who embrace the Mist Village as their true home. Loyalty of all villagers increased by +100.

DING!

The Loyalty of your village has increased from Neutral to Dependable. You have shown yourself to be a capable leader and exemplify ideals they believe in. Your people are not just a collection of individuals anymore, they have a common goal. +25% to Productivity.

Richter read the prompt twice. There was still so much he didn’t know about this new world. Looking out over the sea of faces in front of him, he saw only joy and encouragement. The people stood a bit taller and waited for him patiently. He focused on the Seed Core.

Do you wish to plant the Seed Core at this location? Yes or No?

He was about to finish the quest, and then he realized he was missing an opportunity. He quickly withdrew a Potion of Clarity from his Bag, and drank it. Choosing ‘Yes’, he stood, arms above his head with rain pouring down over him. Then the Core began to vibrate. The vibrations grew, and the Seed began turning in his hands. The rotation was slow at first. As it picked up speed, the green veins on the outside glowed brighter and brighter. The Core was moving so fast that the friction burned Richter’s hands and he dropped it. The Seed didn’t fall, though. It continued spinning in midair. The green light was now bright enough to clearly see everyone in the Meadow. All of a sudden, the Core fell to the ground. Plummeted would have been a better description. It shot down, but was spinning so fast that only the barest ripple was felt in the feet of those standing around the impact site. A clean hole could be seen in the ground with the green light shining straight up onto the clouds like a spotlight.

Richter, Hisako, Yoshi and Sion stood directly at the impact site. Hisako thrust her hand into the light. Richter started to reach out to stop her, but she stood there calmly with no ill effects so he stopped himself. The beam of light lasted for about thirty seconds, and then vanished, leaving a column-shaped afterimage in everyone’s vision. All was quiet and then a white light could be seen from the depths of the hole. That was when the rumbling began. It built in volume and was soon accompanied by vibrations in the earth. Richter felt like he was standing on the back of some huge awakening beast. It occurred to him that standing right next to this particular hole might not be the best idea any longer. He picked his head up to share his sentiments with the others, but couldn’t. Of course the only reason that he couldn’t, was because everyone else had already backed away. He quickly followed their example.

Before he had moved twenty yards away, a silver tendril shot up from the hole. That metallic fiber was only the tip of the spear. The growth continued moving upwards and was joined by others. They all ascended until they were each one hundred feet in the air. Then they began to interweave into a complex braid. When each tendril finished weaving, only half the length of each had been used. The remaining segments arched upward and then bent outward. More branches sprouted from the original eight columns. Each branch gave birth to another smaller generation. Dozens at first, then hundreds, then even more. In the rain and darkness of night, the amount grew into an uncountable lattice of silver branches, weakly reflecting Futen’s light and the occasional flash of lightning.

It occurred to Richter that standing in the middle of a lightning storm by a tree that very well could be composed of metal could perhaps be a bad idea. It also occurred to him that he couldn’t be seen as the only person running away from what was basically a miracle. He’d look like a punk!

Apparently oblivious to the potential danger, Hisako cast a quick spell that sent a golden ball of light into the air above their heads. The shine was strong enough to illuminate the entire glade like the sun. As soon as the light fell upon the tree, she gasped in shock, “A Quickening!”

You have completed the Quest: Tree of Power I. The Seed Core has been planted within the boundaries of your domain.

Reward: 25,000 (base 20,000) experience points.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 6 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 7 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 8 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

…

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 38 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

You have received 2,500 (base 2,000) bonus experience for reaching level 10 in the skill: Herb Lore.

You have received 5,000 (base 4,000) bonus experience for reaching level 20 in the skill: Herb Lore.

You have received 7,500 (base 6,000) bonus experience for reaching level 30 in the skill: Herb Lore.

Congratulations! You have advanced from Novice to Initiate in: Herb Lore. You can detect two effects from picked herbs. Can negate one negative effect from ingested herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced from Initiate to Apprentice in: Herb Lore. You can detect three effects from picked herbs. Can negate two negative effect from ingested herbs.

Bonus Reward: 20,000 experience points for all of your Companions.

Bonus Reward: 5,000 experience points for all members of your village.

Reward: A Quickening.

Know This! You have successfully grown a Quickening. This is a celestial tree normally seen only in higher planes of existence. Many scholars attribute the overall greater powers and health of higher planes denizens to this tree. It bears fruit that, when eaten, helps to unlock the hidden potential of the imbiber. Your people will surpass their previous potential! Affinities for all skills potentially increased by consumption of the fruit of the Quickening.

Know This! Your Quickening has been built on a Place of Power. Consequently, it is infused with the Dark, Life, Water and Air magic. Consuming the fruit of the Quickening now has a specifically increased chance of increasing affinity for learning these branches of magic in addition to increasing affinities as a whole.

Know This! All present at the sprouting of a Quickening will have an increase in random affinities.

Congratulations! Your Quickening has reached level 1!

Congratulations! Your Quickening has reached level 2!

Know This! The Blessing of Growth cast by the Hearth Mother of the Wood Sprites has combined with the Life magic of your Place of Power! The strength of the Blessing has been magnified. Your Quickening has advanced to Level 2!

Know This! It is well known that the fruit of the Quickening can unlock the potential of individuals. The tree can do much more, however. At level 2, it will awaken the potential of your lands. All resources in surrounding area improved in yield by 25%. 25% greater chance to find rare resources!

TRING!

You have reached level 11! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

TRING!

You have reached level 12! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

TRING!

You have reached level 13! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

You have either characteristic points or skill percentage points to allocate from the previous level. Now that you have progressed again, you must allocate your points within the next week or they will randomly be assigned for you.

You have unlocked the Quest: Tree of Power II. The emergence of a celestial tree on this plane will not have gone unnoticed! The tree requires care to cultivate it and strength to protect it! Will you protect it and assign caretakers to your Quickening? Yes or No?

These prompts crowded his vision one after another. He was barely able to glance at each before the next came. He quickly read through each… WHAATTTT?!? He had no idea that you got experience from progressing in your skills! He made a mental note to ask Randy exactly how that worked later. He kept going through his prompts and accepted the quest. When he cleared his vision, he looked at all of his villagers. He hadn’t expected them to receive experience from his quest, but he was sure glad of it!

From the expressions on their faces, they were stunned too. Some of them were only level one or two. Most people did not advance farther since the two main ways of receiving experience were battle, quests and apparently skill leveling. The last depended heavily on your inherent ability for a skill and how much time you could invest into practicing it. Richter took his fast leveling for granted, but he had the boon of his Fast Learner ability. He had primarily been in combat for most of his time in The Land, and as such his magic and combat skills had leveled quickly. Not too many bakers were fighting, and not too many glass blowers were pursuing large quests. There were always small quests associated here and there Richter had been told, but apparently the experience earned was modest. As such, most non-fighters did not advance their level past two or three.

The point was, the 5,000 experience points would bump his lower level villagers up one or two levels all at once. Richter just hoped the parents would guide their children to wise point allocation. He didn’t need a bunch of super strong toddlers knocking down walls!

Randolphus was at the front of the crowd. He looked at Richter with an unreadable expression. Wiping rain off of his face he asked, “Is this experience because of you, my Lord?”

“Yes,” Richter replied. “It is a bonus reward for planting the Seed Core.”

A chorus of ‘Thank you’ and ‘Hooray for Lord Richter’ issued from the crowd.

Your efforts have aided the development of your people! Morale increased +300. Loyalty increased by +150.

DING!

The Morale of your village has increased from Neutral to Happy. Your guidance has made the general mood of your village increase! +10% to Population Growth. +10% to Productivity. +10% to Fighting Spirit.

“Thank you, my Lord,” Randolphus said with his head bowed. Richter just smiled at him and nodded his head. He turned back and took in the sight of the Quickening illuminated by Hisako’s golden light.

The tree truly did belong in heaven, Richter thought. The base was about fifty feet across, each of the eight tendrils about five feet in diameter. Gaps could be seen in the trunk, the tendrils forming an octuple helix. It wasn’t the width of the trunk that was remarkable, however. The tree had the shine of polished silver. Every surface was smooth without the ridges that were normally seen in bark. Instead, intricate tracings ran across the trunk in smooth whorls. The branches exhibited the graceful bowing limbs of a willow tree, and the tips were only five feet above the ground.

It was the forming leaves that made the tree truly breathtaking. Each was about the size of Richter’s hand and were a soft white in color. The leaves’ thick velvet appearance made them appear heavy, but they easily shifted in the wind, showing their silver underbellies for just a moment before again presenting the creamy white smoothness of their tops. The effect was mesmerizing. Hisako was walking under the boughs of the tree with her hands cupped to her chest. Just before passing under the canopy she looked back, and then motioned with her head for him to follow.

Richter and the rest of the villagers walked forward to shelter under the tree. The broad leaves formed a thick canopy which effectively kept all rain off of them. Hisako cast another globe of light that made a cheery atmosphere under the protection of the trees limbs. As Richter joined her, she gave him a brilliant smile with tears flowing freely down her face. Her words were so soft they seemed like an exhale, “We did it.”

She had been holding her cupped hands to her chest. She slowly and carefully lowered them to show all what she had been holding. An opalescent orb was resting in her hands. As he watched it grew more and more clear until it was gone all together. In its place was a small figure curled up in the fetal position. The creature was wrapped in clear wings that had an iridescent shine. They unfurled and the diminutive person stood, using Hisako’s hands as a platform.

She, because despite being only six inches tall there was no doubt as to her femininity, was clad in white cloth that looked like a woman’s slip. Her skin was a pale blue that contrasted with the jet black hair. Her eyes were still closed when she tilted her head back, opened her mouth and began to sing.

There were no words. There didn’t need to be. Images came clear to the minds of all present, produced from the pure light of her voice. She sang of love and family. Of a people dedicated to life and the cultivation of forests. Then the song became melancholy, and imparted a story of death and loss. The melody spoke of an entire people dying out. The music pulled sorrow out of Richter’s soul and he wept.

The tone became frantic as the survivors struggled to stay ahead of the plague that had ravaged her people. The complexity of the song had decreased as the pixie sang, and all present realized that the loss of each tone represented the loss of a life. Suddenly there were only two tones left from the entire tapestry of beauty they had initially heard. The incalculable loss tore at the hearts of everyone present. It was enough to bring Richter to his knees.

Out of despair, though, came one note of hope. A hope for a people to one day be reborn. The light and younger tone… a daughter, was overjoyed by the news. The queen mother sang once again of love, and then then sacrifice. A life consumed by a spell to halt time. The two tones became one, and the remaining tone was once again overcome with sorrow and grief. And the then the song ended, not tapering away, but abruptly shut off, as if the remaining life was walled away from the world.

Richter continued to weep on his knees, but with the ending of the song was able to collect himself once again. He looked around and saw everyone present was weeping freely, many laying down, completely overcome. A warmth wrapped around his shoulders, his familiar drawn to comfort him in his sorrow. Even Yoshi’s gruff exterior was overcome, and tears trailed down his cheeks. Richter’s eyes ached from expressed sorrow, but he could see the prompt clearly.

HARK AND REJOICE! The pixie that emerged from the Royal Pixie Chrysalis was none other than a queen! Her mother sacrificed her life to keep her daughter in stasis until the plague had died out. The pixie race can be reborn!

Congratulations! You have won +3,000 Fame points! You have brought back the lost race of Royal Pixies!

CHIME!

Congratulations! You have advanced to Reputation Level 3! “You seem like someone I should listen to” New quests and opportunities will become available to you!

You have completed the Quest: Resurgence of Light I. Reward: 6,250 (base 5,000) experience

You have unlocked the Quest: Resurgence of Light II. Witness the following interaction between Hisako and the pixie queen to learn more.

Hisako was the only one in the glade that had stayed on her feet. She looked at the small pixie in her hands and said, “Your mother’s sacrifice was not in vain. Hope still exists while you are here. Sprites still exist in many places in The Land, and we will all fight and die for you. You are home my queen!”

The pixie opened her eyes and looked at Hisako. Each sclera was cornflower blue, but her irises were an intense violent, that glowed in the night. With a flap of her wings she flew up and hovered in front of the Hearth Mother’s face. Her voice was the piping notes of a piccolo, “But I am all alone! I have no one!” The sorrow in those two short sentences was heart wrenching.

“You are not alone, little one,” Hisako said. Her voice was full with sympathy and comfort. “Though you and your people have been absent from the land for long centuries, you have not been forgotten. We have kept your memory alive through the old stories. Every sprite living has grown hearing the stories of your people’s beauty and goodness. The deeds of great pixies live on in our stories. We well remember the valor of Petanu, the pixie general who held back the gremlin army. We laughed at the stories Eniola, the pixie trickster. And we will remember your mother, little one, if you would only tell us her name.”

The pixie hovered in the air looking at Hisako. When she spoke, she did so softly, “Her name was Alexandrella.”

“Ahhh,” Hisako said, “and so we shall remember Queen Alexandrella the Loving. We will revere her for eternity, and share the story of how her sacrifice brought light back into the world. The only question now little one, is will you honor her sacrifice? Will you bring the beauty and wonder of the pixie race back into The Land?”

Again, the pixie hovered silently before replying. After a few moments, though, her slouched posture straightened. When she spoke, the self-pity was gone from her voice. Though her voice still quavered with sadness, it also had the practiced tones of royalty, “I will. I give thanks to the Wood Sprites for their faith and love through the long years.” She then turned to Richter, “I also give thanks to you. I feel in my heart that you played a large part in releasing me from my chrysalis.”

Your relationship with Royal Pixie Queen has improved from neutral to friendly.

“I will happily do my duty and honor my queen’s sacrifice,” she continued. “Will you help me, Hearth Mother? I need protection and a suitable tree to foster my children. It will be several months before my first children are born. Is there a Steelborn Oak or a Silver Elm that you know of?”

Hisako simply looked at Richter.

Know this! The life cycle of pixies is intrinsically tied to nature. Male and female pixies exist, but that is not how they reproduce. Male pixies are larger and stronger than their female counterparts, but are sterile. Any female pixie can create more pixies, by binding their spirit to a tree. A cocoon is created that adheres to the tree and after a time, two pixies are born of this union. The offspring have unique attributes that are determined by the type of tree they are born from. Pixie females can only bind their spirit to a tree once per year. A queen pixie is special in that she can generate a great deal more mana, and so each binding will create one hundred pixies. She can also bind her spirit to a tree twice per year. Be aware, the binding between pixie and tree is unto death. Both benefit from the binding, but if one dies the other may as well.

Update on Quest: Resurgence of Light II. The Royal Pixie queen needs a tree to “foster” her progeny. Will you accept responsibility for this task? Reward: Increased regard of Royal Pixie queen. Yes or no?

Richter had to read the first prompt three times to make sure he understood. When he dismissed it and minimized the second, he looked back at Hisako. The pixie queen was still hovering in the same place. He thought he understood what the Hearth Mother was trying to silently communicate. Would he allow the pixie to bind to his new celestial tree? On the one hand, if the pixies would truly gain properties of the tree they bound to, it would mean a great boon for the queen. Her progeny might be powerful, and therefore better able to protect themselves. It could also mean another ally for his village. Pixies could even be considered caretakers, couldn’t they?

The other argument, though, was that if the queen died, the Quickening could be destroyed with her. He hadn’t known what tree would grow out of the Seed Core, but now that he did, could he risk it? The Quickening would make his people, and the very land his village was built on more powerful! Was it right to risk the future of his people on a very small new life, basically alone in this large and dangerous world?

More thoughts for and against went through Richter’s mind quick as lightning. He felt like he was drowning in calculations and moral obligations, both to his people and his conscience. Ultimately, he based this decision on a decision he had made early in his life. Many years ago he had decided that when all things were equal, he would act on what he hoped to be true, rather than on what he feared to be true. His hope was that his village would grow to be a force of positive change in The Land. Bringing a peaceful species back from the brink of extinction… well that was exactly the type of change he imagined.

“What is your name, my queen,” Richter asked.

“I am Elora, my Lord,” she said with a bow of her tiny head and a midair curtsy.

Richter consciously accessed his Gift of Tongues ability, rather than passively let it translate for him. In the pixie language, Elora meant ‘hope.’ Well if ever there was a sign you’d made the right choice, he thought. He pulled up his minimized prompt and selected ‘Yes.’

“Elora, I would like to make a deal with you. I will protect you and help you in whatever way I can to further the rebirth of your race, and in return…”

“Yes,” she asked in her small voice.

“You have to call me Richter,” he said with a small smirk.

She flew from her position near Hisako to hover before his face. He was able to make out the small details of her tiny expressions. She ranged from confusion to curiosity as she searched his face, then she gave a small smile and said, “I accept your terms.” She held out her small hand to shake.

Richter gave a laugh that was echoed by everyone present. Elora was speaking in the pixie tongue, so his people most likely had no idea what she was saying. The sight of a tiny flying woman shaking hands with the Master of their village was amusing all by itself, though. He raised his hand and extended his pinky to touch her hand. He bent his finger once slightly up and down, and everyone cheered.

“Thank you, Richter! Oh, thank you! What tree do you have for me? I promise that I will make it grow tall and strong.”

“I believe you, Elora. And to answer your question, look up.”

A confused expression on her face, the pixie looked up as requested. She looked around for a second, searching. Then she faced him, her eyes round and wide with comprehension. “But I can’t, my Lord! This is a celestial tree! I could not be so bold as to bind myself to such a wonderful and vast spirit! I am not worthy of this!”

Richter held up a finger, “Now we just shook on the agreement, so I don’t want to hear ‘my Lord’ coming from you again!” Elora’s distress was so cute he was struggling not to laugh. “Now more importantly, you are unique in The Land, just the way this tree is. If even half of what I hear from the wood sprites is true, your return is a great boon to all of us. Not only are you worthy, but I believe this tree has grown for the purpose of being your home.”

Hisako had walked closer while he was talking. “Elora, I understand your hesitance. I am in awe of seeing a Quickening in The Land as well, but it is not our place to question the will of the forest. You belong here. Will you stay?”

The pixie looked back and forth between the two Masters. She settled on Richter, “Are you sure?” He could see the excitement on her face.

“Of course,” he said. “Welcome home.”

“Thank youuu!” Elora leaned in and placed a kiss on his nose, and then disappeared.

You have been gifted with the Kiss of the Royal Pixie Queen. +3 Charisma.

You have completed the Quest: Resurgence of Light II. Binding to a celestial tree will accelerate the pixie life cycle. Because of the choice of tree, you have gone far beyond the requirements of the quest. You will be rewarded proportionally. Reward: Elora has increased regard for you. Bonus Reward: A new Companion. Reward: 1,250 (base 1,000) experience. Bonus Reward: 5,000 (base 4,000) experience.

Your relationship with Elora, the Royal Pixie Queen, has improved from friendly to loyal.

Elora, the Royal Pixie, has become your Companion. Companions will stay with you only as long your goals align.

You have completed the Quest: Tree of Power II. You have found the perfect caretakers of your Quickening. Pixies are bound to the fabric of The Land. All trees thrive under a pixie’s care. Reward: 5,000 (base 4,000) experience.

TRING!

You have reached level 14! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

You have either characteristic points or skill percentage points to allocate from the previous level. Now that you have progressed again, you must allocate your points within the next week or they will randomly be assigned for you.

You have unlocked the Quest: Resurgence of Light III. It will take one month for her first children to be born. Will you protect the Royal Pixie Queen until new pixies are brought into the world? Reward: Unknown. Yes or No?

You have unlocked the Quest: Tree of Power III. Grow the Quickening to Level 3. The Quickening is a force of good in this world. Help it to thrive and protect it as it grows. Reward: Unknown. Yes or No?

Accepting both quests, Richter smiled broadly. He almost broke his arm patting himself on the back. His thoughts ran something like, ‘I love it when a plan come together! Now where’s my cigar! I’m the man! I piss excellence BEFORE I wake up!’

Narcissism aside, he now saw exactly why Potions of Clarity were so prized. If you could coincide it with a boss fight or quest completion, you could shave years off of the time it would take to level.

After he finished stroking his ego, he tried to figure out where his newest Companion had gotten off to. Richter looked at Hisako, “She can turn invisible?”

The Hearth Mother just laughed, “Not that I know of, but there is one common theme to all of the stories about pixies. They are FAST!” Then she did something unexpected. She embraced him. “Thank you for this. You found the evil weapon that imprisoned the chrysalis. You provided the magic to finally release her. Now you have given her a home, and risked the most powerful object in your realm to do it.”

Richter tensed, feeling a bit of shame that she had deduced his thought process and hesitance to allow the pixie to bind to the Quickening. She released him from the hug, but didn’t fully let go, keeping her hands on his forearms and holding him at arm’s length.

“Do not feel shame,” she said. “You are a Master of a Place of Power, and the Lord of a village. Your decisions carry great weight, and deserve to be considered from all angles. I might like an innocent saint, but I would not trust him with the wellbeing of the only pixie in existence. A man who has the ability to think selfish thoughts, however, but then chooses a finer path... That is a man who I would fight side by side with. That is a man I would trust.

Your relationship with Hisako has improved to Ally.

The relationship of the Wood Sprites of Nadria to the Mist Village has improved to Ally.

Richter looked at her with surprise. She simply nodded and said, “May our two peoples rise together, and if necessary, fall together.” Richter had no words and so simply embraced her again.

When they broke apart, Richter saw all of the villagers and the sprites staring at the two of them. Raising his voice, he said, “The people of the Mist Village and the wood sprites of the Forest of Nadria are allies! May we rise together!”

First one person took up the shout, then another, then everyone present was repeating the same phrase with passion.

Under the canopy of a heavenly tree, in the wake of the rebirth of an ancient race, two groups celebrated their friendship and hope for the future, “May we rise together! May we rise together!”