Li slightly opened his mouth to respond, but a flash of teal light burst forth from the shrine's heart. In the instant the light flickered and dimmed, Iona had dematerialized, her physical form completely eviscerated as her spirit, cleansed of all human influence, integrated itself within the heart.

Li could see the heart beat rapidly, growing a deep green instead of its usual amber red. Little pulses of brighter green traveled out from the heart, passing up the roots that suspended it in the air and flowing through the entire structure of the shrine itself. With every beat of that great heart of vines and roots, the spiritual energy that made of Iona flowed further and further, illuminating the shrine with a flickering green aura that cut through the nightly veil that had settled over the forest.

And as that energy flowed, Li could feel heat spreading through his own body. A red hot, fiery heat that blossomed from his chest outwards. He realized it was actual real and tangible heat as his eyes tracked to his hands, seeing heat waves shimmer around them.

This was power. No, not power. It was authority. An ability inherent to him, latent in his being but one he had never considered before.

Li knew through pure instinct what this was. This was Iona's spirit integrating with his own, or, to be more specific, it was the power that she had within her, power that had long since been muffled under human souls but now power that flowed freely and unbroken.

"Iona? Are you there?" said Li.

A rustle of leaf laced wind swirled around the innards of the shrine before particulates of green coalesced in front of Li, forming into a ghostly silhouette of Iona's form. She looked just as she did before, healthy and whole and fully in tune with her nature as a forest spirit and dryad.

"Yes, Great One," said Iona with a bow of her head, her blazing red locks waving about her like they floated in water. Her tone was utterly subservient and warm, and yet it felt cold in that Li knew that there was no way she could ever voice anything other than this tone with him.

"What is this?" said Li as he held up a hand. A fire began to flicker from his fingertips. He had an idea of what it was already, embedded as it was in his own soul, but he still wanted to ask.

"That is the divine authority vested upon me by Dagda. That of the renewing power of forest fires. As my new Guardian, that authority has now returned to you."

A small part of Li had hoped that by asking a question, she would take up that didactic tone of hers that she could not help employing even with Li. The slight smile she would wear while she taught was also gone. She was never anyone too expressive, but now, there truly was nothing.

"It's a nice gift," said Li. "In return, I promise you that once I am in full sync with my powers, I'll return you to who you were, to someone you learned to enjoy being instead of being just something."

"Any gift from you would be an honor," said Iona with a bow.

An almost automated response. The kind that she would have made the very first time she had met Li. But Li had not expected any different. He would not dawdle on what had been lost but on what he could do for the future, and for now, he had given his word, and he would work towards fulfilling it.

"Ivo!" said Li, his voice resonating through the forest. He could hear Ivo's boots crunching through the foliage at a faster pace as they ran to reach Li as quickly as possible. When he sensed Ivo's presence entering the ribs of the shrine, he turned.

"This is the one who I have decided to become a Root." Li gestured to Iona, and she smiled at Ivo. "She will teach you and the others herbalism and Druidry. Consider her a spirit of greatness near equal to the one you worship. Have yourself and other prospective priests from among the younger generations commune with her to gain an understanding of priesthood."

"Come, mortal," said Iona as she floated downwards.

Ivo widened his eyes. "She is the herbalist, no? The one that was at your side?"

"Yes, and what of it?"

"As a mortal, was she in tune enough with the forest?" said Ivo nervously. "I do not mean to question you, O seer, but even with Morrigan, those she chose to be her Roots were those with the highest of affinities with the forest's song."

"You want to ensure I've made the best choices for you and your people, I understand," said Li. "And do not be hesitant to question me. Questioning is how we learn and understand each other, no?

But I will tell you now that there is none better in this little duchy, no, perhaps this whole world that would be better suited to be a Root. You could not tell, but she too was like me, a wanderer holding beliefs foreign to the world around her.

But unlike me, she faced the harsher side of the world. She was the very last forest spirit from the north. All the suffering you have faced under your persecution, she has endured more than a hundredfold, seeing her world and her way of life burn before her, and yet she still manages to stand before you now ready to teach.

And as a teacher, I know of nobody better."

Ivo nodded deeply and kneeled before Iona. She hovered down to his level with an almost angelic presence, her expression pleasant and compassionate. She reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, and Ivo started a little, feeling the almost stinging warmth of heat emanating from her fingertips.

"Spend this night learning from her. Spread your learnings to your people." Li turned to leave. He could leave everything to Iona even without telling her anything. He realized now that this was what it meant to be a Root. His will was hers, and he knew she knew at a fundamental level. Whatever he wished, she would know and would seek to accomplish to the best of her ability.

Or to be more accurate, the best of her programming.

"And you, great seer?" said Ivo.

"I'm not going to forget the little things that are important to me now that I've become your seer and emissary to a power that can shake this world," said Li. "And my farm's long overdue for a checkup."