The hero who was soon to be you know whose wife continued his journey across the terrain. He walked until he came across a green lush valley. There was a huge waterfall leading to the center of the valley and the trees around were tall and brimming full of life.  

The air down there was very fresh and full of magic power, so our main character who had now gotten used to talking in the scenery, stopped to help himself to the fruits of the forest. 

Talking to Winter for all that time without realizing just how long they been at it, he ate everything the elves gave him. Sure, they gave him enough for about a week, but he was a foodie, finishing it all in just two days. He’s really lucky that the hero’s luck is one of the most formidable powers in the universe and that he just happened to get a ride from the representation of winter, who took him to a place not far from a valley of trees where he’d definitely be able to find some food. 

The hero who didn’t realize just how OP his luck level was began to collect some wild fruits and berries and mushrooms. He picked enough to last him a while and just as he was about to leave the place where he gathered his food, he heard the voice, presumably a child, crying. 

He listened closer and determined exactly where the cries were coming from, following it. The cries led him to an old looking oak tree. He followed to cries attentively to determine exactly from where around the oak tree they were coming for. 

Looking behind the tree, he saw a young-looking boy who looked quite peculiar in his eyes. The boy had leafy green long hair covered in leaves, white skin almost transparent that you’d think he was made out of glass. Another bizarre thing about the boy were vines, lots of vines. The boy was surrounded by lots of vines, as if they protected him. His clothes were also made out of leaves and vines. 

“Hello... um, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the matter?” Marcel asked the strange creature he knew nothing about. The creature looked startled at first when Marcel was talking to him, but then he stopped his crying and answered his question. Marcel finally noticed his lime colored eyes. 

“This tree hear is sick and I've tried everything I can, but I just can’t seem to give it the boost it needs to recover and get healthy with my current level of power. I’m afraid this oak tree will begin to die in just a number of days.” He continued his crying afterwards. Marcel thought that well, it was just one tree and there’s a valley full of them, so he wouldn’t mind seeing it perish, but he didn’t say that to the sensitive creature. He was the hero, not some insensitive jerk, although, he did mention the part about there being a forest full of trees. 

When the boy heard what he had to say, he stopped crying and flew into a fit of rage towards our hero. “One tree, just one tree? Don’t you know that trees have a soul of their own? They may not talk to you, but I hear them very loud and clear. This tree here is saying, “I do not want to die, someone help me. Save me!” and you’re telling me to abandon it?” His rage grew as he went on about the tree’s feelings. 

“Okay, okay, I’ll help. All you have to do is supply the tree with enough power to heal itself, right?” He coaxed the boy’s anger away and the boy began to cheer up after hearing Marcel would help the tree. 

“Yes. I’ve given it all my magic but it wasn’t sufficient enough to restore its healing factor. Just a bit more and the tree will be fine.” Marcel nodded to the creature and Marcel began to use light element healing magic on the tree.  

The tree began to look much healthier than it was before after he was done supplying it his magic and the creature rejoiced and sincerely thanked Marcel. 

“Now that you’ve helped me, I must inquire your name. Who are you?” The creature asked Marcel with an expression revealing a slight trace of hostility, “You haven’t come to harm the forest, have you?” The boy’s hostility was growing and the vines around him looked ready to attack Marcel. 

“No, no. I was just passing through. If I had come to harm the forest, would I have assisted you in helping this oak tree?” The creature thought he made a fairly good point. Stopping to help a mere tree that others regard as insignificant is something only either a dryad like him or an elf would do. Other than the dryads or the elves, only someone kindhearted would think of helping a sick tree, so he knew that he couldn’t be a bad person. 

The dryad finally introduced himself to Marcel, who was fairly curious about his identity: “My name is Aspen, a dryad who lives in this forest...” the branches around the dryad touched the oak tree and he nodded saying, “hmm, I see” sometimes. He finally got back to him and continued, “You must be Marcel, the hero, I take it.” 

Marcel was somewhat confused when he learnt that the dryad already knew about him without him saying anything. He simply nodded and then he finally asked the dryad, “How do you know who I am? I never told you anything about myself, but you seem to know me.” 

“Mm-hmm. The forest told me all about you just now. This oak tree provided me with all the information I needed.” Marcel looked even more confused, so the dryad explained elaborately, “You see, I'm a tree spirit, a dryad. We’re caretakers of the nature and have the authority to punish anyone wanting to harm it. This oak tree is connected to the forest which in turn is connected to the earth. The earth knows all more about you than you think. I just asked this tree, who in turn asked the forest, who asked the earth. Everything in nature is connected in a similar fashion.” Marcel thought that the earth was amazing. Being capable of something that incredible and the dryads being able to tap into that information is very incredible.  

“Um... I also heard that you were heading towards the city of the demon lord’s residence to defeat him. Let me give you a piece of advice, it’s a totally bad idea. That man is very intact with nature and he’s also quite the formidable opponent. No human or monster can best him when it comes to power. His power’s tremendous, enough to make mountains shake and the heavens to tear asunder. Battling someone like that will surely be the end of you.” The dryad carried a worried look on his face. It seemed to not want Marcel to die. 

Marcel’s clear blue eyes carried clear, unwavering commitment to defeat the demon lord. No doubt or shred of hesitation visible in his eyes as clear as the blue sky. He just smiled to the dryad and the dryad smiled too. 

“Okay, I understand. But I still have to reward you for helping this tree. Both the forest and this tree demand it, so here...” The vines around the dryad wrapped themselves around Marcel’s left arm and another touched the oak tree. Aspen said something Marcel couldn’t hear and the upper part of his left arm where the dryad’s vines wrapped stung for just a few second. When the vines retreated back to the dryad, Marcel saw that his arm had the same floral patten as the vines covered in leaves. His arm had something like a tattoo, green in color, which looked exactly like the vines. 

He looked at the beautiful pattern on his arm and asked, “What’s this?” The dryad answered, “It’s your reward. Now you can also hear the voice of nature, just like me. I’m sure it’ll come in handy along your journey. The forest and I decided that I'd be the perfect gift for you.  

I must once again thank you for helping this oak tree in its time of need. You have my gratitude.” The dryad bowed his head, making Marcel all flustered and embarrassed. He had Aspen lift his head and the dryad ran along after thanking him again. Marcel thanked him for the gift before he was completely out of sight.  

Marcel looked at his gift with a smile and then continued onward on his journey to slay his soon to-be husband. His gift helped him get out of the valley efficiently and without harm. He thought of how lucky he was to receive such a gift and then he followed the path that led to a city he saw from very far away. He was very close to his goal and someone was getting happy. 

Another someone also received news from the spirit of the world that his wife was close and he was also in high spirits. It wouldn’t be long before the two finally met.