Exhaustion washed over Samuel once again, and he sat down on the barren soil, his chest heaving. Using his counter seemed to drain mana in equal measures with whatever he was reflecting. There had been a considerable amount of force behind that attempted self-destruction magic, and it had depleted even Samuel’s fresh reserves in order to counter it. It was only in critical moments like this that he noticed it.

It had been the same with the fight against Neratas, he remembered. The long lead-up to an epic fight, with him and his allies conquering their foe. Then, in the end, as most of his allies lay on the ground severely wounded, he used his counter to stop the most destructive spell the enemy could use. It always left him feeling drained and useless. He supposed he could use the runes on his back to recharge himself again, but some instinct warned him not to. There was no way of knowing what would happen when such unique magic was pushed so far.

A small, feeble movement caught his attention, and he craned his neck to make out more details. There, on the ground exactly where the chaotic mana had last stood, was a person. Rather, it was what remained of the person. There was no blood, but the body had chunks missing in the torso, and most of their legs were gone. Only one arm remained, and it was futilely attempting to push its form off the ground.

Samuel recognized what was left of the figure’s robes. It was identical to those worn by the Wild Mages, with dark fur and fabric woven from natural materials. The face was unfamiliar to Samuel, but he knew at once that he was the source of the devastating force they had risked so much to kill. He couldn’t comprehend it. How had one of the mages ended up like this? Unable to stand, he crawled the short distance on hands and knees, coming closer.

The figure, who looked to be several years younger than him, was trying to say something. His lips moved, but no sound came out, and his eyes were filled with a horrible mix of fear and shame. The arm that had been lifting it slowly gave out, and Samuel only just managed to catch him. The body turned, and the dirt-streaked face looked up at his own, tears flowing down the face, running tracks through the filth.

“I-” the boy squeaked out, unable to make more sounds.

“Shh,” Samuel said, trickling a little mana onto the head to calm the boy down. He could tell at once that survival was impossible. He resolved to do his best to keep him comfortable so that he could at least be spared the pain before he passed. It seemed to work. The face relaxed, and the boy drew in one long, shuddering breath.

“I tried to kill you,” the voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. “Why?”

“You lost control of yourself,” Samuel replied. “I killed you, it’s the least I can do to help ease your passing.”

The boy tried to shake his head, but couldn’t manage it. “You saved me. I killed so many of my family.”

“How did you become that monster?” Samuel asked. “You’re just a kid.”

The boy stared up at him in silence, trying to remember. He became so still that, for a moment, Samuel thought he had passed on already. Then he took another long breath. His face was full of pain again, this time of the emotional and mental variety.

“I was jealous of my brother,” he whispered softly. “I wanted to be stronger than him, so I tried to use Corruption.”

Samuel almost recoiled in horror but resisted with a supreme effort. He stared down at the sunken face, horrified at the mere thought of a mortal attempting to use corruption for their own benefit. The only beings who could manage that were Ancients, and even then it caused significant damage to them. Grimr was forced to seek out the enchantment of divinity to protect himself, such was the power of that burden.

“You know what Corruption can do to nature,” Samuel said, shaking his head. “You’re a Wild Mage. You doomed yourself from the start.”

“I’m glad you could stop me,” the boy said. “Thank you. Tell the other one for me.”

Samuel didn’t reply, only nodded. He could feel the tears beginning to form behind his own eyes, and he held them back for the boy’s benefit. He even managed a weak smile down at him, and that seemed to be enough. The boy let out another long sigh and closed his eyes. Samuel felt the life leave him and finally allowed the tears to fall.

“You poor soul,” he said quietly. “I hope you’re at peace wherever you’re going.”

He gently laid the body down on the barren soil and got shakily to his feet. He didn’t know how long he stood there, staring in silence down at the body of his vanquished foe. Jealousy had led him to take a risk he couldn’t handle, and, as a result, he had been forcefully transformed into something so evil, hungry, and destructive.

The sound of footsteps rushing through the brush behind him jerked him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see Tobi running into sight. His gaze switched between his exhausted mentor to the signs of carnage the chaotic creature had left behind, then finally to the small and broken body in the dirt. He grasped the truth of the situation at once, and his face twisted into a mask of horror.

“Did you get his name?”

Samuel shook his head. “I only had time to learn how it happened. The others will know him, but I don’t think we should tell him.”

Tobi looked back at him in pained silence, uncertainty lingering in his eyes. “How will you keep them from discovering it?”

Samuel had put no thought to figuring that out, but no sooner had Tobi asked the question than Samuel found the answer. Turning away, he knelt beside the body. He put his hands over the boy and began an impromptu prayer. He wasn’t sure it would be as effective as he wanted, but he put all his remaining energy into it, reaching out to the nearby trees. Then, in the Ancient tongue, he began.

“Wanderer, I dedicate this life, its body, and its growth to you. Accept this gift in The Mother’s name, so that new life may flourish from death.”

Several seconds of silence lapsed after he finished the incantation, and he began to feel a flicker of doubt. Then the ground shuddered violently, and life, pure natural energy, began to pour out of the body. All the remaining shards of chaotic mana were returning to the boy’s body, but turning into raw life energy as they swirled upwards.

The trees all around Samuel reached out with their roots and branches, conjoining in the center over the boy. The energy of Ahya pulsed more strongly than ever, and slowly, new roots began to sprout from the ground out of nowhere. Weaving over the torn form and pulling it down. The new plant feasted on the Ahyan energy, growing tremendously, surging upward to match the clean energy. In just under a minute, a tall tree had grown into the center of the clear ground, standing as tall as if it had been there for a century.

Tobi took a step back, peering up at the top of the tree in awe. Then he glanced down at the base, and dropped to his knees, his head bowed. Suddenly filled with a flare of new power, Samuel stood again. He directed his mana at the tree and spoke again in the Ancient tongue.

“Come, Wanderer, Guardian of Nature. Enter your domain, and let your influence flourish.”

It was certainly a little too flowery compared to the other times that he’d contacted Grimr, but he felt the ritualistic phrasing was necessary. Sure enough, natural energy began to pool at the very core of the new white tree, gradually growing in strength. Then a pocket at the very base opened, and Grimr himself appeared, stepping directly out of the trunk and setting his feet down on the barren soil.

“Well done, Samuel,” the small Ancient said. He looked just as he’d done before, with one exception. There was now a jet-black mark on one side of his forehead, just over the eye. It looked like a jagged claw, and it fairly radiated power. “Well done indeed.”

There was a commotion around them, and Samuel turned to see dozens of people standing between the trees, staring in silent awe at the sudden appearance of the God of Nature. Judging by their expressions, they were shocked to see such immediate proof of his presence and power. Nearly a hundred eyes were fixed on Grimr.

“Well, my visit here is long overdue,” Grimr said dryly, allowing his voice to carry to the new spectators. His presence loomed, there was no other word for it. “Do you accept the truth of my existence now? Will you accept me as your Guardian or will you continue to refute my right?”

One by one, the druids of Zaban dropped to their knees, pressing their hands and heads into the earth in unmistakable reverence. Grimr lifted his head slightly in response, staring imperiously out at his followers. Just from their attention alone, his energy seemed to swell, becoming more potent.

“Good,” he said, nodding once. “Go now, and spread the word.”

The druids were gone in a flash, disappearing between the tall trees back to their colonies. Grimr relaxed immediately, returning to his slouching prowl-like walk as he moved closer to Samuel. He spared one glance for Tobi, where he knelt, his eyes narrowed in recognition. Then he returned his gaze to the tall mage in front of him and grinned.

“Thanks for your help on this, Samuel. You have no idea how frustrating it was to see the problem, but be unable to fix it. You’ve helped me a great deal.”