Kateri led Lila to the very back of the village, ushering her through a small arch in the wall of trees. 

The room beyond was small and empty, save for two seed pods hanging from either side, their soft yellow glow the sole source of illumination. Lila was surprised to recognize the tree sigil engraved into the wood floor — though not as intricate as the one she saw when she awoke, it was still strikingly beautiful. 

Kateri took a knee, placing his hand beneath the sigil as he closed his eyes. The air sweetened as the floor trembled, the sigil’s network of roots and leaves splitting to reveal a short underground passage. 

Though the corridor was well-lit with the same seed pods as the room, Lila couldn’t help but question Kateri’s intentions. If she went in and he sealed the entrance…she would never be able to escape.

Kateri, sensing her discomfort, placed his palm to his chest as he spoke, “I swear upon the roots of the forest that this is the way to the High Priest. If it makes you more comfortable, I will leave the entrance open while you converse.”

Lila could feel the sincerity dripping from every word, but it did almost nothing to quell her apprehension.

“Will you leave it open and accompany me inside?” 

If Kateri remained outside, he could immediately close the chamber…but if he accompanied her she could potentially hold him hostage to bargain for her release. 

To her relief, Kateri readily agreed, and they both began the descent into the chamber below. 

The first portion of the corridor seemed normal — the stone walls and steps were simple and clean, the seed pods bright. It was only when the steps went flat that she noticed something had changed. 

There were threads. 

At some point the walls had become infested with them, thin silver threads directly woven into the framework of the land. 

Lila thought they would unnerve her, being as similar as they were to the vines that had tormented her mere hours before. 

But she was fine.

More than fine — they actually seemed to inspire a sense of stability within her. A calming presence that made this corridor warm and even a bit…comfortable?

Lila’s shoulders relaxed, all her tension siphoned away by the glittering threads.

It was a welcome relief — with concerning implications. 

Though this one seemed innocuous enough, there was no telling what other substances these elves had access to.

Lila clicked her tongue.

Drugs and poisons. How could she have not considered that? 

She couldn’t afford any more oversights.

It was as she pondered ways to combat these silver vines that the corridor began to widen, the sound of trickling water growing louder with each step.

They had arrived.

For the second time since entering the village, Lila found herself speechless.

Before her was an underground oasis.

It was an area full of life, with everything from mammals and fish to plants and insects present in perfect harmony. A small waterfall fed into a pond littered with jeweled leaves, courtesy of the brilliant silver tree growing in its midst. 

It was as if the River itself had descended upon them. 

Each portion of the tree shone like carefully woven starlight, the brightest of which was concentrated in the aerial roots that curled to form a grand throne. 

Sat upon it was an elf of unbelievable beauty, his long silver hair mixing seamlessly with the thinner threads of the root system.

He smiled, his silken robe fluttering softly as he raised a hand in greeting. All stilled in reverence as he began to speak.

“The forest greets you, Lila.” 

He lowered his hand as he continued, “I apologize for being unable to rise and properly welcome you. I know humans take manners quite seriously.”

The elf shifted, allowing Lila to catch a glimpse of his fully exposed back. 

She grimaced at the disgustingly familiar sight.

A dozen ethereal roots extended from the tree directly into his skin, forming a network of silver veins just below the surface. Though she couldn’t exactly hear it, she could see it — the rhythmic pulse that forced his flesh to tighten and relax continuously without reprieve. 

Lila’s hand brushed against her sheathed dagger. 

“Calm yourself.”

Shit.

 

She stilled, mind racing as she waited for the High Priest’s next words. His face remained composed, his tone kind.

“This is my privilege — I am the mouthpiece through which the Divine Tree communicates with the world.” 

Kateri, who had been silently standing behind her, immediately fell to his knees at these words, his open palm once again held to his chest. 

“Blessed be the Divine Tree. Ranger Kateri greets the Voice of the Forest.”

The High Priest returned the gesture as he replied, “The forest greets Ranger Kateri. Thank you for bringing this human and Aleydis to me.”

“It was my honor.” At this Kateri stood, resuming his silent vigil. 

Lila slowly lowered her hand from her waist. It seemed this…attachment was different from those in the forest — consensual and intentional rather than parasitic. 

But what did that mean for the others? 

The High Priest spoke before she could voice her confusion.

“Lila. The forest asks what you are.”

Fuck. 

The roots had distracted her — she lost the initiative in the conversation. 

Now she had to directly answer the question she feared most.

Lila bit at her inner cheek as she debated the safest response.

It hadn’t asked ‘who’…it asked ‘what’. A concerning turn of phrase. 

The High Priest and Kateri saw her and identified her as a ‘human trespasser’ — which was an objectively true statement minus her status as ‘non-native’.

What did this ‘forest’ see differently? 

What did it know? 

Lila hated being in the dark.

Should she just be honest?

This entity was the first thing beside the System that seemed aware of her predicament — could it also know a way to return?

But what if it determined she was dangerous instead?

“Lila?”

Dammit, this was not something she had anticipated.

Her plan was to act as a human seeking sanctuary that was unaware of the ban, as Kateri had assumed. 

She hadn’t expected the High Priest or this ‘forest’ to be capable of discerning deeper.

What should she say?

“I—“

Lila started to speak only to be cut off by a soft laugh. 

The High Priest had glanced back to the silver tree, amusement flickering through his green eyes. 

“The forest retracts its question. In exchange, it requests brief communion.” 

Lila couldn’t keep up with the conversation. 

She flinched when a small silver root shot out from the ground before her, a single leaf unfurling from its tip to make contact with her forehead. 

It was over as soon as it began. The root retracted back into the ground, leaving behind a single tiny hole. 

“Though your existence is abnormal, the forest believes you do not mean any harm. That is enough.” 

A current of unease ran through Lila at the High Priest’s verdict — and the complacency of this “forest”. 

How did it determine that? 

She wanted to ask the High Priest to elaborate but…she wouldn’t be able to handle the scrutiny such a question would yield.

At least not yet. 

It was better to accept this mercy and request another audience once she learned more.

The High Priest tilted his head, his ears flicking slightly as he listened to a sound only he could hear. Joy faded from his expression, replaced instead by heavy melancholy. 

“The forest…extends its apologies to you, Lila. Sanctuary has been revoked for all outsiders due to the…abnormalities that have occurred since the Fall. But that does not mean your presence is unwelcome. The forest also thanks you for your efforts in saving Aleydis.”

Lila pursed her lips, uncomfortable. “It was the least I could do.”

The High Priest smiled, the kind curve lingering for only a second before it froze in place — a sudden mask that failed to hide the growing fear in his eyes.

He whipped his head back towards the Divine Tree as Lila noticed ripples take shape in the nearby pond. 

Something was happening. 

The vibrations spread, startling a small flock of birds from out of the crown of the silver tree.

Lila felt Kateri grip her wrist, his intent to leave clear through the strength with which he held her arm. 

But it was too late.

The screaming had already begun.

The calm and composed High Priest had let out a guttural screech, lifting his hands to his head to claw at the flesh of his face. Blood splattered across the throne as he continued to wail and writhe, his tortured calls alternating between soft apologies and cries of immense pain. 

Lila could barely breathe as she watched the High Priest grimace, his teeth bloodied by the savagery he committed upon his own face. He reached his hands toward his back and began to rip at the roots that connected him to the Divine Tree. An awful tearing sound reverberated through the chamber as a spray of blood and silver fluid exploded from the broken connection. 

Nearby animals screeched as the fluid made contact, collapsing into a twitching heap as if struck by the same excruciating pain.

“The forest…IT SCREAMS” The High Priest shrieked as he continued to pull on his roots. 

“IT IS IN AGONY” 

 

The next thing Lila knew she was being forcefully pulled by Kateri back towards the corridor, the few remaining animals joining them as they started to run. 

The vibrations continued to develop into tremors. 

Lila struggled to keep her balance, forced to rely entirely on Kateri’s grip as her source of stability. 

The corridor was passing by in a blur. The silver threads within the ground pulsed, writhing in the same way as the Divine Tree.

Was this how it fed?

When they finally broke the surface, Kateri let Lila go, sending her tumbling forward while he knelt down beside the sigil.

He jammed his palm harshly to the ground, closing the path with such force that Lila could’ve sworn she heard a crack. 

She flinched when the sigil slammed shut, her body continuing to shake as those haunting cries replayed in her mind. 

It was too much. 

The blood, the face, the screams — she just couldn’t take this anymore. 

She needed to leave. 

She had to get the hell out of this insane fucking village, this insane fucking forest, this insane fucking world! 

Lila held her herself tight, trying her best to stop trembling.

The System. 

She could strike a deal with it. 

The ‘shard’ or whatever for her return — that could work, right?

Right?

She just needed to figure out how to make it appear.