Hearing the pained screams and groans from the injured was one of the worst experiences Aleesha had ever gone through.

Nine of us made it out thanks to the archmage. Two more died before we reached a healer.

The survivors all had various degrees of injuries, some having even lost limbs to the first surprise attack and had healers now trying to restore them.

Was it bad luck that the demon lord killed both of the healers we had when she attacked? Or was it a calculated move?

Aleesha sighed. Nobody would have died if I hadn’t insisted on going.

“Aand all done! Just as pretty as you were before! Or are you pretty? I mean, I don’t know, with you elves. You all look the same. I think you lot look soo booriing. Strange curves, only two legs. How do you guys even stay standing with two legs? I’ve always wondered why you guys only have two legs. What’s the benefit of having two legs? I mean, you’re slow, even though you’re tall. You fall over. I even saw two elves having intercourse once, and it was all a mess of limbs in weird angles, and-” (?)

“Thank you! Thank you for treating me.” Aleesha interrupted the centauri.

There were two kinds of centauri, although they both were partly humanoid. The first kind was similar to elks in size and normally quite withdrawn. While the other kind looked like deers, not even tall enough to reach Aleesha’s shoulder when she was standing, looking mostly like children.

And they had no lid on their mouths at all. Whatever was on their mind, they would say it out loud to anyone who would listen. And Aleesha was currently listening to the apprentice healer, who had finished healing her injured neck while running her mouth.

“No problem! Take care out there! Although if you did, you wouldn’t have ended up here, huh? You elves are really slow at changing your ways. So I suspect we’ll see you here again before long. I mean, the demons have gone away, how did you lot manage to get that badly beaten up? You must be really, really, REALLY, stupid to-”(?)

“Thank you! I’ll get going now.” Aleesha said with a strained smile as she stood up.

“Okidokie! See you later!” The centauri said cheerfully and jumped away as she chirped over her shoulder. "Try not to die! I really dislike corpses! They creep me out. Sometimes, when nobody is looking, I poke them to make sure they are-"

Aleesha watched the dryad skip away from her and sighed as the dryad's voice was fading with the distance. 

It had taken a while for her to heal Aleesha’s wounds, but Aleesha didn’t mind as all the experienced healers were tending to those that had far more severe injuries. 

Aleesha walked out from the infirmary and took in the sight of the city. 

Elves planted and grew their trees into the specific shapes they wanted to form their houses. There were no streets as the houses were all grown randomly, and the only paths throughout the city were the large flat stones at regular intervals. 

I should probably speak to my father.

Aleesha already had a feeling the conversation wouldn’t be pleasant as she walked towards the world tree that made the city center. It stretched high enough to reach the clouds, and the longest branches were almost a kilometer long. 

As she walked, Aleesha noticed a few angered gazes directed at her.

Seems the news is already out.

Once she reached the world tree she climbed one of the well-trodden roots that led to the cavity in the stem. Although most of the population lived outside, the councillors and other prominent people and organizations resided inside the world tree.

Reaching her father’s office, she knocked on the oak door before it swung open. Inside, she saw her father overlooking the city as he stood on the balcony connected to the room.

Her father spoke before she had reached him. “You’re back.”

Aleesha put her hand on the rail and looked over the city. “I guess you’ve heard?”

“I’ve heard.” Her father sighed. “Many are calling you foolish.”

Aleesha clenched the railing. “Maybe I am. But we need answers.”

“We have the answer already: we won.” Her father retorted.

“We don’t know that!” Aleesha exclaimed in anger. “If you even spent half as much time thinking about it as you did smoking questionable leaves, you’d see that too!” 

Her father snorted. “Remember that you are not speaking to your father right now, but Feynhil Vhau Thessinda. The leader of the elves. And insulting my pastimes will gain you nothing. Especially if your investigation didn’t yield anything.”

Aleesha frowned. “It yielded something.”

Feynhil turned and looked at his daughter. “Oh?”

After Aleesha finished retelling the events with the sapling and demon lord, her father frowned in contemplation as his eyes rested on the horizon.

“It could simply be the demon lord’s attempt to spread fear among us.” Feynhil stated.

“It could. But what about what the sapling said? Have you ever heard a sapling lie?” Aleesha countered.

“You said the sapling seemed old. It’s memories could be muddled with the passage of time.” (Feynhil)

“Come on!” Aleesha exclaimed. “How long are you going to keep refuting! Open your eyes already!” 

Feynhil turned his gaze to Aleesha as he spoke calmly. “My eyes are open. I believe as you do.”

“Then why do you keep refuting!” Aleesha said with frustration.

“Because that’s what the councillors will do.” Her father turned back to look at the city and sighed. “They have decided to hold a hearing. They are concerned that you are not fit to be a Shau.”

Aleesha frowned. “So you agree with me?”

“Yes.” (Feynhil)

“Then what about when I came to request the investigation?” (Aleesha)

“It was the right choice. You need to learn to have sound arguments as the Shau Thassinda.” (Feynhil)

Aleesha looked out over the city below. “I don’t care if I’m a Shau or not.”

“You should, if you want to continue investigating. It will be harder for you otherwise.” (Feynhil)

______________

“The archmage Vandelor has since returned and confirmed the disappearance of the demon lord as well, thus we have proof that agitating the demons was an unnecessary action!” (?)

So that’s what he was called. He left almost immediately after getting us to safety, we didn’t even get a chance to thank him.

“However, he also had suspicions that the expedition team was likely spotted earlier than they know. And the expedition didn’t attack the demons at the time either.” (??)

“You would listen to the suspicions of a loose cannon like that? Why was he even there in the first place!” (?)

“Didn’t you, yourself, just use Vandelor’s judgement as your argument? And from what I’ve been told, he held the same suspicions as the Shau Thessinda. That the demons were up to something.” (??)

“Of course they were up to something, they were going back home with their tail between their legs!” (?)

““Hear! Hear!”” (???)(????)

Aleesha sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. These old farts can’t see past their noses.

“-Shau Thessinda?” (??)

Aleesha’s head jerked up and looked back at the councillor who addressed her. “Yes?”

Muted snickers could be heard from the other councillors, but Vhau Heyleene smiled gently as she repeated her question. “I heard the demon lord said something to you about us having lost?”

“Ah, yes. She said that their victory was assured, and that our souls were as good as theirs already.” (Aleesha)

Snorts resounded in the wooden hall. 

“Souls. We don’t even know if they exist.” (?)

[This one knows they exist. (S)]

All eyes turned to the sapling that stood on one side in the chamber. The sapling had been present for as long as anyone knew, to witness the decisions and debates the elves had, and offer input. 

Though the inputs provided were so few and far between, that the sapling more often than not was completely forgotten.

Silence ensued as nobody knew how to continue the conversation. One of the councillors eventually chose to hesitantly address the sapling. “Could you elaborate for us, wise elder?” (???)

[This one knows that if there is life, there is a soul. This one knows there can not be one without the other. (S)]

Everyone sank into contemplation. Aleesha thought that many likely wanted to ask more questions from the sapling, but weren’t sure what.

“In any case, we don’t know what the demon lord meant. For all we know, it was only trying to scare us.” (?)

Aleesha turned her eyes toward her father who sat in the center of the half circle the councillors were seated in. You called it, father. 

Her father met her gaze and blinked with one eye.

“Knight-Warden Zanadell submitted her report. It says that you made the decision to move closer to the demons, Shau?” (?)

Aleesha nodded. “I did.”

“Did you consider the risks involved?” (?)

Aleesha sighed. “I did. I wasn’t expecting there to be a demon lord present, however.”

“You should have been able to conclude the presence of a demon lord from the actions of the demons! They only listen to the commands of demon lords!” (?)

Aleesha grit her teeth in anger as her father’s voice resounded in the chamber.

“If one could conclude that a demon lord was present from that, how could we come to the conclusion we won?” (Feynhil)

“Hear!” (Vhau Heyleene)

Thank you, father.

Aleesha stood up from her seat and addressed the councillors. “During my expedition I spoke with a sapling. It claimed that the demons only follow the commands of the gods.”

“Gods!?” (?)

“The saplings believe in gods!?” (???)

Half the councillors had stood up and turned their eyes towards the sapling. 

“Could you confirm if the saplings believe in the existence of gods, wise elder?” (Vhau Heyleene)

After a pause the answer came.

[This one denies. (S)]

What?!

Several angered and hateful gazes turned towards Aleesha, and she felt her back break out in a cold sweat.

[This one knows the existence of gods. (S)]

Aleesha let out a sigh of relief and sat down. Could’ve just said that to begin with. They thought I had fabricated the words of a sapling.

The previously angered looks turned to contemplative ones as those that had stood up sat down.

“How come we haven’t heard of this before, wise elder?” (???)

[This one remembers that your race has not inquired on the matter since your arrival. (S)]

“...Our arrival?” (?)

Aleesha addressed the councillor. “Yes. Apparently, our ancestors came to this world as refugees from the demons.”

A silence descended upon the discussion.

“Your findings can be discussed at another time. This hearing has the purpose of determining the accountability of the Shau Thessinda for the deaths of fourteen of our kin who accompanied her.” (Vhau Heyleene)

Fourteen? Dammit. Looks like someone died in the infirmary.

The councillor drew a breath before she continued. 

“With that in mind, does anyone wish to make further inquiries before we vote?” (Vhau Heyleene)

She let a pause ensue to allow anyone time to speak up. As nobody did, she turned towards Aleesha. 

“Aleesha Shau Thessinda. Do you have any final remarks?” (Vhau Heylenee)

Aleesha stood up before she spoke. “While I regret the loss of life, I believe the investigation was necessary. In hindsight, many things could have been done differently. However, whatever the demons are up to, I hold no doubt that it will affect not only our race, but the centauri and saplings as well. Therefore, the lives lost might in the long run be a small price to pay, if we gain insight that allows us to prepare and save all races from destruction. I stand by my choices, and their consequences.”

Aleesha sat down. After allowing everyone a moment to digest the information, her father stood up from his seat. 

“Those who are in favor of the opinion that the accused is responsible for the deaths of fourteen of our kin, and should be revoked as a Shau.” (Feynhil)

Aleesha watched and saw four of the councillors raise their hands.

Four out of twelve, but father isn’t allowed to vote. Not too many. 

It all depends on how many abstain.

“And those of the opinion that the deaths were not a result of incompetence of the accused, and should remain as a Shau.” (Feynhil)

Aleesha watched as one by one arms were being raised.

Five. 

Her father was about to announce the result when another arm was raised. A wry smile spread on his face as everyone turned their heads to look at the sapling. “Forgive me, wise elder, but only elves are allowed to vote in this hearing.”

[This one recalls you asked for opinions, not votes. (S)]

______________

Aleesha let out a sigh as she exited the hall. Unpleasant old farts. 

“Rough time?” (Zanadell)

Aleesha turned to the voice and saw that Zanadell was leaning against the wall in the corridor, just outside the doors. It was a blindspot she had completely missed.

What’s she doing here?

Aleesha shrugged. “Just what you’d expect, I suppose.”

Zanadell snorted. “My hearing was the same.”

Aleesha raised an eyebrow. “You had a hearing as well?” 

“Of course. Although you choose where we went, I was in command of choosing how to go about it. Most of the councillors have smoked so much weeds that laying blame is the only thing they know how to do.” (Zanadell)

Aleesha almost let out a giggle. If it wasn’t for Zanadell’s strict face, she likely would have.

“How did your hearing go?” Aleesha asked.

“Same as yours I suppose. The councillors just let out their need to vent, but nothing more.” Zanadell replied.

For a moment, Aleesha wasn’t sure how to respond. 

“I’m sorry that we lost so many.” Aleesha eventually said dejectedly.

Zanadell nodded. “Me too.”

Aleesha cocked her head. “You’re not going to blame me for it?”

Zanadell frowned. “Why should I?”

Why shouldn’t you?

“Don’t you think that being assigned as my escort was only a waste of time, effort and life? The foolish antics of a youngster?” Aleesha asked.

Zanadell snorted before asking rhetorically. “Why were you named a Shau?”

What?

“I see you don’t actually know why. I suppose your understanding of yourself is what your youth truly makes you lack.” Zanadell sighed.

Aleesha frowned. “So why was I named Shau?”

“Because you’re not afraid to go where others would rather not, be with your mind or with your body. To possess one of those qualities is rare enough, but you possess both.” Zanadell paused. “Your father has raised you well. I’ve been told he is the same. It is sad however, that you don’t realize your own importance.”

Aleesha shrugged. “There are plenty of others who can take my place as Shau.” 

“But they don’t inspire others, nor stand up to the elders like you do.” Zanadell replied. “Aside from your lack of self-awareness, you’d make for an excellent leader.”

Aleesha frowned. “I’m well aware of my own strengths and weaknesses.”

“Perhaps, but you’re not aware of how you influence those around you, nor how they view you.” Zanadell countered. 

Aleesha frowned. “And how would you know that?”

“It’s obvious from your misconceptions.” Zanadell responded. “Do you remember the people that came with you on the expedition?”

“Of course I remember!” Aleesha exclaimed.

“Good, you should remember them. And you should also remember that we weren’t assigned as your escort. That is a misconception on your part.” (Zanadell)

Aleesha frowned in confusion. What? Did they have another purpose for following me?

Zanadell sighed as she looked at Aleesha. “We volunteered.”

Aleesha raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really.” Zanadell replied. “You should get out more, and get a change of pace from dealing with councillors all the time. Their views of you are hardly representative of our people.”

Aleesha frowned as she wasn’t sure how to respond. 

She might be right. Maybe I really don’t know how people view me.

I didn’t even know father was supporting my choices, even though he -

[Ding!]

What?