Empress Natalia, I mean she calls herself Everlast, is decked to the nines.

I honestly don’t think if she wasn’t empowered by the fruits, that she could handle the weight of all that finery.

Phoenix style headdress, hair down to her ankles, robes inlaid with pure silver Runes, practically a walking treasury.

Behind her stand two young men, and three young girls. There’s an older male in the background behind her as well.

Right now I’m listening to the most ridiculous logic I’ve ever heard in this lifetime being spouted by one of the young men.

“You owe us for keeping this garden maintained, fees for feeding, fees for land usage, and lastly fees for creating the Mana Wells. Everything here that is provided for you is done by the graciousness of Mother!” the young prince shouted.

Honestly, my first impulse was to melt him. However, on second thought I probably couldn’t find a better source of entertainment. On the other hand, he is asking me for fees.

I’m curious if they are ignorant of what they owe me.

Since the small grey flame trick didn’t go well, I reach out and cause the air to vibrate in order to mimic speech. This takes more effort since air isn’t one of my usual methods. Chaos allows me access to all forms of the five elements, true. It’s just that the ones I used the most such as Fire, Water, and so forth are much easier to use even now.

“Are you functionally braindead, Prince?” I ask. I really am being honest, it’s possible the poor guy has something wrong with his head. Maybe the Empress dropped him when he was younger?

The young prince turns a particular shade of red before screaming, “I’ll chop you into kindling and use you to light my winter mansion, you worthless wooden leech!”

Now, that’s rather cute. I’m still calm though, I mean, do they think I can’t sense my own creations?

I can clearly tell that everyone here in the Imperial Family has used the fruits of my labors.

Hah. Couldn’t resist that one. Seriously though, I can tell they have all used the fruits.

Did the Empress happen to leave out that those were my creations?

Their talent comes from me.

Their longevity comes from me.

Without me, these people are nothing.

Yet they dare to scream, and whine, and spout garbage to my face.

Rustle!

No, you are right. I shouldn’t get worked up.

I ignore the prince as Empress Everlast steps up, she’s clearly allowed him to set the tone of their negotiation.

“Empires are expensive. More than anyone else here, I understand the true level of the ‘gifts’ that have been given. Times change though, costs increase, and money doesn’t grow on trees. There has to be give and take in order for a relationship to prosper. Perhaps another ‘gift’ could allow us to work better in harmony together?” Everlast said, her tone conciliatory.

What is this, an episode of bad cop, good cop?

I’ve been patient.

I didn’t immediately kill anyone out of hand.

In fact, I’m not going to kill anyone at all here.

No, what they need is a lesson.

That’s right, they need a teaching moment.

They need to understand that Dryad is far nicer than me, and that I am not to be trifled with.

Reaching out my senses I pull.

Chaos magic, at the roots, is magic based on the application of the enormous power of disorder that exists everywhere.

From the basic disorder of Chaos, arises the Order of mana, ki, and all other forms of power.

Chaos in itself is bent into useful structures merely through the power of will, or sometimes naturally existing formations.

At least that’s what I theorize so far.

So, when I pull on the Chaos magic that is part of the Imperial Family it easily unravels like a badly knitted sweater.

After all, like calls to like, far easier to destroy than create or maintain.

There is a brief pause as a sharp collective gasp of pain flashes out from the gathered individuals.

“Let me help you understand your positions.” I begin to explain, “You are servants, valued servants yes, but in the end servants. Not rulers. Not kings or queens. Not princes or princesses. You are my agents in the world below.”

Anger has given way to fear on their faces now.

“I am not an amoral psychopath. I am willing to trade, to barter, to negotiate, to assist even at cost to myself. As long as the end result is within a certain margin of profit, I can allow my servants to act as they please.” I pause for effect, “However, when those who I allow to serve me attempt to place themselves higher…”

I am interrupted by the prince who was talking of chopping me into kindling. He pulls out a strangely formed weapon and leaps at me.

Dammit, who allowed spatial rings to get circulated like this!

Those things are security nightmares.

Crack!

“As I was saying before your idiot son interrupted me…” I ignore the young man’s attempt to injure me. Unless he has something on the level of a Divine weapon, or a Chaos empowered hatchet, he’s not going to dent my bark, much less injure me. “I grow unhappy. Unhappiness is something that grows the longer it is allowed to fester, and so, I lance the unhappiness without delay.”

What is wrong with this moron? Hasn’t he realized he can’t injure me yet?

Ah! One of the princesses is distancing herself from the rest of them. Perhaps they entire family isn’t a wash.

“You.”

The young woman that’s moved away from the rest of her family points to herself.

“Yes, you. Come here.” I motion with my branches for her to approach me. “Explain why you were backing away from the rest of them.”

“I-I didn’t want to be near them if you decided to, um, melt them. Brother attacking you seemed like something that might, uh, result in bad things happening.” the young woman said with a slightly fearful tone.

“Do you care about the rest of your family?” I ask curiously.

“Not really, they always treat me mean because I like to research things and read in the library. I’m not into politics, swordfights, or horseback riding.”

Oh! I like her immensely already!

Yeah, I never was good at any of that crap either back on Earth.

“Would you like to represent me? Since you have already seen what can happen to those who displease me, would you like to see the other side of the coin?” I ask.

A memory of a creepy white van flashes through my mind for a second.

Nah, I’m definitely not luring a small child with power coated candy.

Rustlee.

Silence you! I’m solving this problem my way!

“Uh, yes?”

“Good, good, what was your name again?” I ask.

“Emily Everlast?” the young woman says.

Reaching out to the Mana Wells I try something new. The fruit is still a good idea, but I want something further. I want to avoid this issue from cropping up again.

Looking at the young woman I reach deep into her gene structure and start to change it.

I alter her telomeres so they no longer degrade with aging. I increase intelligence, by altering brain tissue, and increase her memory capacity. Bones shift as I alter them to take the shape of carbon nano-tubes, while organs are strengthened by being re-woven into optimal shapes. I increase the size of her heart, while changing the shape to be more effective. Her nerves are replaced by silicone structured pathways that increase her reaction speed immensely.

Yes, this should do for a test subject.

Emily gets up off the ground after the convulsions wear off. Her hair has been bleached pure white due to the recent changes, while her eyes are blood red rubies. I doubt she’ll have any problems with male attention if the drooling from her brothers are any indication.

The final change is simple in form, but devastating in effect.

I bridge the gap between us weaving a structure of pure Runic Chaos. Now she can draw on the power I use in a very minor way.

Of course a few safeguards are in there as well.

Small stuff like if she attempts to betray me Organic Organize will reduce her to red mush and other safeguards.

There’s no need to burden her with that knowledge though.

“Take this small gift, and, please restart the chef competition.” I say with a pleading tone, “I’m very hungry after waking up!”