With Nymph’s order to supply mana, the tension in the room suddenly shifted from a confused sense of uncertainty to a very real sense of seriousness. Me, Tia, and the other elf children were pouring our mana into Nymph so that she could protect us from the invaders to the village, and now things were becoming more tense as the shouting from outside became more fervent.

I barely was able to make out the words “Nima” (Light) and “Malka” (Fire) on occasion, together with a strange phrase “Kikash akabzum, tii-ada zattier” for which “ada” (water) was the only word in the entire mess I could make heads or tails of. The fact this particular phrase seemed to be spoken in a reassuring tone, rather than the same earnest and panicked tone of the other two, ruled out the most logical manner in which the three words I could make out might be connected.

“It’s a spell,” Nymph suddenly said from right next to me. I immediately glared at her and silently cursed the fact that the mana I was pouring into her at this moment probably carried the exact thoughts on my mind to her, rendering the “just silently glair” approach effectively moot.

“Uhh… well, if it makes you feel better, you actually are blocking your thoughts by mentally complaining about my ability to read your mind,” Nymph said with a nervous “tee-hee” of a chuckle. “So, anyway, I mean ‘Kikash akabsum, tii-ada zattier.’ It’s the incantation to a spell. It reinforces a plant’s ability to resist fire while also healing it from burns at the same time. The dark elves are using a whole lot of fire magic. In English it would mean ‘Empowering wood magic, life of water barrier.’ That’s a somewhat liberal translation, of course,” Nymph explained.

Right. Liberal translations don’t help me with learning the actual elven words much. I suppose my previous exposure to other words in the elven language might, though, now that I know the actual context. That aside, I was rapidly becoming aware of another problem. Nika, the young girl who had been more or less using me as a security blanket since this whole thing started, seemed to be getting really nervous about the fact that Nymph was addressing me.

[Umm… I’m sorry… uhh.. spirit of the tree, has Asa done something wrong?] she asked.

‘Don’t yell.’ I hastily cautioned via my spirit energy. Nymph’s head, meanwhile, snapped around to direct a poisonous glare at the girl. Then, that glair turned into a look of shock followed by remorse as the contents of my thought-based message had likely registered with her.

[There is nothing wrong,] she snapped. [I like talking to her. She is mine. Now end these interruptions.]

Poor little Nika scrambled back a short distance in fear, but at least she seemed less concerned about me now.

‘You know? You could be a little nicer...’ I sent telepathically.

This time, she actually directed that harsh glare at me. Although she tends to get agitated at even the slightest word from the outsiders she doesn’t like, this is probably the first time I’ve ever seen her give me one of those looks.

“Asa, you have no idea what the elves of this little village say out there when they are talking about you. I have my reasons for doing this. They are all talking about you and Tia being curse bringers and things like that. Their respect for Eirlation is the only reason these bastards haven’t done anything yet, and I’m making sure their fear of me is going to be a second reason for them to reconsider any rash actions. It seems Nymphs like me are known for being volatile. I’m playing that up as much as I can.”

I couldn’t help but think now was really not the best time for her to be abrasive with a human child if her problem was the adult elves. If this was about weaving perceptions though, perhaps my misgivings were just because I’d lived too soft of a life back on Earth. Logically, I knew that any deviation from the act would make it lose its impact. Nymph would have to craft a persona of an angry mama bear who hated everyone outside of our little circle, and keeping it up even in a time like this to be nasty to a human child is exactly the sort of thing that would strengthen that image.

Logically, the choices Nymph was taking were right. It just didn’t quite sit right with me. Perhaps my greatest concern was about how much of this was an act at all. Even if it was an act, this was exactly the sort of behavior that would rewrite her brain, and become her real personality over time.

Well, it’s not going to do me a lot of good obsessing over this now, and now is definitely not the right time to get into any philosophical discussions. I will just have to be mindful of it.

I resolved these thoughts just in time to hear a groan from Rolwen. “Man, I wish I could get a look at the action out there. Being locked in here and at the mercy of others is really starting to make me itchy.”

Of course, he’s a kid now. What other role is there for him to take? I can certainly sympathize, though.

“I could let you have a look.” Nymph suddenly volunteered.

“Huh? Really?” Rolwen responded and then looked around the room. “I… don’t think it would really be a good idea to open up this room or anything. You said there were fire spells being slung around, right? We would be risking everyone in here by opening up, we can’t do that just to settle some curiosity. I’m just getting a little jumpy, it’s fine.”

“Hmmm…” Nymph’s projection put a finger up to her cheek as she tilted her head to the side in a cute thinking gesture. “Then, how about this? I can take you, Levin, Asa, and Tia up to my upper branches with some vines! I’ve got more than enough mana for that right now, thanks to Asa and everyone here.”

“Wait, wouldn’t that mean you’re using resources to get us up there?” Rolwen asked.

“It’s fine!” Nymph said. “I’ve got it all covered out there. I am even supplying energy to the other tree spirits in the grove and directing their efforts in the fight. Those elves out there have been making all these amazed mutterings about it being almost like I’m a dryad instead of a nymph because I shouldn’t be able to make all this stuff happen. I think I can spare a little to open up my top and pull you up with some vines.”

“Yeah, but isn’t Asa supplying most of that energy?” Rolwen asked.

“Ah, it’s only a little extra compared to the amount she just lets flow off her on a daily basis. In fact, if I bring her up there, then it means she’s going to have to go into her energy stealth mode to avoid being noticed by the dark elves. She actually gives ME a WHOLE lot more when she’s doing that. Her energy is flowing at its most efficient during that time.”

Is that how things are, then? Hearing this topic discussed, I can’t help but stand up and walk over to join the conversation. “Can people please stop talking about me as if I’m not here?” I asked.

“Ahh! I’m really sorry, Asa!” Nymph fretted and turned toward me, bringing the hands of her projection up to hover around my face in a caring manner. Of course, since this was just a projection, she couldn’t really touch me unless she lowered a vine or something. I’m quite glad this is something she didn’t do, though. All the children around us were looking with gape-mouthed shock at seeing Nymph’s apologetic and concerned behavior toward me, and I really don’t think we need to ratchet it up any more.

“Uhh… so, what do you think about it?” Nymph asked. “I mean, about heading up to have a look.”

“Well, if the re-location really helps you get more mana in the long run and helps you protect the town better, I’m all for it. A threat would be exactly the thing needed to stimulate my mind in the right way,” I said.

“Maybe you can shoot some of those air bullets too!” Rolwen suggested. “Lay down some supportive fire from a sniping position. It would be an excellent angle.”

“Alright, then!” Nymph said, and dropped down four vines from the ceiling at the exact locations of me, Rolwen, Levin, and Tia, in our positions scattered throughout the room.

“Wait!” Rolwen protested. “I know I’m the one who brought this up, but maybe me and Levin shouldn’t go. It’s Asa who knows the whole stealth technique. Me and Levin have a huge spirit energy though, and this room was made for the purpose of keeping it hidden. It’s definitely going to be noticed if we go up above.”

“No, if I’m going, then you two need to do too,” I told him. “This is about perceptions. The kids here need to see you going with us. If I’m the only one who goes, it’s going to raise questions. You’re the one who started complaining about being in here though, so it will be a lot more believable if you are taken along. This is about the long game. We can deal with whatever happens short term for now.”

[Wait! What’s going on?] Catla stood up from the middle of whatever she was doing when she noticed all the vines. Since Nymph is somewhat accepting of her, she was nowhere near as terrified as the other children clearly were.

[No problem, I will just be taking the girls and the boys for a little while,] Nymph declared rather brazenly. [Are all of you ready?] she asked us. [It looks like Tia is all ready to go.] Since Nymph is actually talking in Elven this time, her comment directs the attention of the entire room in Tia’s direction where she was sitting on a loop the vine had curved into as though she was sitting on a swing.

I tried to chuckle in mild exasperation at this, but due to my young body, it wound up coming out as a cute giggle. “After this is all over, we are absolutely making use of these vines. We are going to add rope climbing into our training routines. I think these bodies might just be developing quickly enough for it,” I said, and then grabbed onto my vine.

“Asa’s becoming a total drill sergeant. I think I'm starting to feel an irrepressible urge to salute,” Rolwen commented as he grabbed his own vine.

Levin groans as he follows suit. “Is this really going to be ok?” he asked.

“It’s fine,” Nymph said, “I’ll make sure to protect all of you. If anyone even tries to come close, they’re going to be ripped limb from limb. I don’t care which side they’re on.”

“Only the ones with negative intent,” I cautioned. After her earlier warning about some of the elves harboring animosity toward me and Tia, I decide not to squabble over her promise to kill members of the village. If they decide to use the cover of combat to pull something, well, I guess they’ll get what’s coming to them.