Fairies scurried around, to and fro, as they were settling in to their new home. They scrounged through the grotto, gathering up whatever could be used.

Leaves were piled up, making makeshift bedding of questionable comfort; twigs and stones were fashioned together, crafting crude furniture fit for a tiny fairy; vines were strapped together and wrapped around stalagmites, hanging down like drapes, dividing living space and providing privacy.

Aleria learned a lot about the fairies as she watched them work. It seemed like overkill in how they made sure everything aligned and looked perfect, especially when they began using flowers to decorate their creations.

Seems fairies care a lot about aesthetics. They do remember that this is just a temporary shelter right?

A few fairies had been assigned to drag the corpse of the father bird into the mana-spring, and clean up whatever was left of the mother bird. All three monster bodies were now in the process of being dissolved by the churning maelstrom of World Energy.

It’s so handy having such convenient corpse disposal. It was important after all; even dead bodies were a danger in the Integrated World if left lying around. You never knew what kinds of creatures could be attracted, or even if the corpse would stay down; zombies were a thing.

Aleria overlooked everything going on from above, from within the tree canopy.

She sat in a wooden throne, fashioned into the side of the tree’s trunk. She didn’t know what to think about how a seat for royalty was just…here. It was as if the tree grew this way expecting someone to use it. I wonder if it has always been here, or if the tree changed itself upon my arrival.

She’d probably never figure out that mystery—trees couldn’t speak after all. Well…a Tree Spirit could, but if this tree had one it would’ve shown itself by now.

Around her were eight fairies, they were all that was left of the dozen she’d set out to find this shelter with.

Four casualties Aleria thought solemnly. It wasn’t unusual, thousands of casualties were normal back in her old life; the first few years after Integration claimed billions even. But it still left a bitter taste in her mouth. These were her subjects after all…

This number consisted of the six fairies whom she’d sent back to gather up the colony and bring them here. At the time it had seemed like a bad decision since it required splitting the group, but now she was relieved that she had. If they came here, there would’ve just been more dead.

These six had been so joyful and full of expression when they came back with the colony in tow; they had been chattering away, laughing, giggling, flying around in circles; they had come to her seeking praise for a job well done.

‘Had’ being the keyword.

As now they were silent. Not even so much as a shuffle could be heard. Their back were hunched over and their wings drooped. They looked like statues as they watched their sisters work.

Miia—the seventh fairy—appeared the most distressed of the bunch. She wasn’t even looking over her sisters; her eyes were trained onto the branch beneath her feet, trying to bore a hole through it.

If her condition could be summed up in one word: it would be listless. She’d been present after all, seen the deaths firsthand.

The eighth fairy—whom shouldn’t even be alive—was somehow the most chipper of the bunch. The short green haired fairy—despite knocking on death’s door—seemed to have already bounced back.

She was off to the side, staring across at another of the tree’s branches; staring right at where the big yellow fruit hung previous. She had a complicated expression on her face, one that Aleria couldn’t understand.

With the Re-Creation Fruit missing, someone had to have eaten it. Perhaps thats what her expression means… Maybe she didn’t get the most out of the fruit?

Aleria theorized that Green somehow ate it, even though she shouldn’t have had any opportunity; you know, while being drowned in World Energy?

Maybe the tree gave it to her? Or maybe she commanded the tree.

That seemed more likely to Aleria as tree’s cannot think on their own without a spirit; that meant somebody needed to have made the tree constrict the bird and carry the fairy out of the Mana-Spring.

Green was the only one around her who had an affinity with plant-life.

Her theory gained traction when she’d inspected the green-haired healer.

I can’t call her Green anymore…

[Leafia | Lvl 5 | Uncommon Wind Fairy]

The little fairy had been Named. Leafia…good name. It certainly fits. She’d also leveled up and gained the Uncommon Monster Title.

However, she was still a Wind Fairy and that confused Aleria. She obviously used the Life Element and not the Wind Element, so how can she be a Wind Fairy?

Something wasn’t adding up here but she couldn’t put her finger on what.

Mutation could be a factor… it was something that concerned her deeply. Being immersed in World Energy for that long should’ve been enough.

It would be simple to tell if she’d been mutated soon; since she’ll become a powerhouse… at least before wasting away rapidly.

That was the thing about Mutation: it’d make you powerful but at the cost of living; it’d increase your potential, letting you level fast but at the cost of never advancing Tier’s; it’d make you smarter, more intelligent but at the cost of losing your sanity; it’d make your good points shine, but make your bad points darker.

Bathing, ingesting, using, even touching World Energy caused the condition, but the amount required varied; and as you increased your Tier the more resistance you gained.

Because of this it was theorized that World Energy eventually became the only energy one could rely on. That you’d eventually be able to do anything you set your mind on—at least when connected to the world.

The fact that at Tier 6 one started exploring the mysteries of the world, using them to gain power and advance, gave credence to this way of thought.

Maybe that was why the multi-headed dragon was so strong.

Regardless, at lower tiers, it was an affliction—and that’s exactly what it was: an affliction. Despite that many believed World Energy to be the key to higher tiers. Despite the many experiments put into it, with all the live test-subjects. Mutation still took the lives of most who attempted; willing, or not.

And there was no known cure…at least not a well-known one. Aleria knew all of this because she’d once been Mutated and she’d managed to do the impossible: cure herself.

She’d been desperate after she lost her chance at Knighthood. When her dream vanished in the span of one quest. When you had once been amongst the strongest, paving a way forward with the greatest, but you then found yourself falling behind, would make anyone do the unquestionable.

She’d spent years trying to find other paths to power, a unique class, a piece of equipment, anything that would suit her and sustain her desires. Her [Swordsman] Class Path had allowed her to advance over those years, but it was far too basic to reach the top.

And that was where she wanted to be, back where she belonged—the top. She didn’t want to be seen as weak by anyone. She’d gotten enough of that before Integration, as a weak little orphan, as a coddle child by her adopted family, as a woman in society with peculiar tastes, as a human who didn’t conform.

She wanted to be strong; she wanted to be the strongest.

Which was both how and why she eventually found herself taking in World Energy, wanting to mutate herself. That’s how desperate she was.

Unlike many, she did it willingly. Maybe that factored into why I could cure myself?

After Mutating she grew in areas where she’d never before, it felt as if a path hidden had been revealed to her; Magic entered her life. She become a Light Summoner.

She used it to commune with the elemental spirits connected to the Elemental Plane, searching for an answer, a solution. One day a Greater Spirit answered her call; the Great Light Spirit Freya.

Freya granted her the [Valkyrie] Class and through that she was able break past the barrier mutation placed on Tiering Up, curing herself of the affliction in the process.

Even then, she still carried the aftereffects from being mutated. What she did to the mother bird is an example of one; her darker personality, one she had kept under control and hidden all her life, now came out to play on occasion, regardless of what she wished. It was even able to influence her thoughts.

If Leafia was Mutated, then Aleria hoped she was up to the task of pushing boundaries and have the mindset to do the impossible, otherwise, she’d become another waste of potential. And if she does manage, then I hope the lingering effects aren’t as destructive and life-altering as mine.

Aleria thought back on the three monsters she’d just encountered and fought. All of them had done something abnormal for a Monster—especially Unnamed—at this low level.

The snake had subconsciously used the Earth Element to defend itself against her sword-strikes and could use a ridiculous poison able turn solid rock into a liquid in seconds.

The mother bird had been a terrible fighter, with no experience, but it made up for it with a berserker heart; it didn’t feel pain and didn’t tire. And had used Blood Magic to sap the vitality of another to last even longer.

The father bird on the other hand, did know how to fight and Aleria couldn’t tell if it was Mutated like the other two. It could certainly use the Wind Element to a similar degree as she did—creating wings instead of a sword—but that could just have been a normal ability of its’.

I hope that their proximity to the Mana-Spring is what caused these Monsters to Mutate and not because I’ve walked into someones sick World Energy-Mutation experiment.

Come to think of it, if these mutations are common around here, then maybe the affliction played a part in the bee uprising. If that’s the case then taking back the Colony is going to be more difficult than I first expected.

Regardless, she couldn’t use their mutations as an excuse for her own poor showing. She’d underestimated her enemies—all three of them—while overestimating her own capabilities.

One word summarized her attitude during these fights: Arrogance. She’d acted like she was still her in her old body, her old life; she acted as if she were a Tier 6 powerhouse facing off against Tier 1 ants.

She obviously knew this wasn’t the case, but deep down she subconsciously rejected the notion. She didn’t want to believe it. She didn’t want to wake to the reality that all her progress, all her hard work, all her blood, sweat, and tears had disappeared

All she could do now, after the fact, was beat herself up over what she should’ve done different.

I should’ve eviscerated the snake in the first second, I was certainly mad enough to let go. But she hadn’t. And if she were telling the truth—and it happened again—she still wouldn’t allow her bloodthirsty side to take the stage. Even if somebody died because of her inaction.

She hated that side of her; hated that it was very much a part of her, even if amplified by her previous affliction. Especially because she blamed that part of herself for her failure to become a Knight.

If that damn snake had died then we never would’ve needed to chase it into the unknown. We would’ve had the time to prepare and gather intel on the Spring and whoever—or whatever—occupied it.

There wouldn’t have even been a single causality, let alone four.

Nevertheless, what’s done is done. There’s no going back.

Aleria regarded her fairies again, they were all still out of it.

She cleared her throat, preparing to speak and as a way to get attention.

“You eight faced a difficult challenge today.” She began, the fairies all turned to listen, she was their Queen after all, they couldn’t not listen.

“There may have been…complications, but you all performed admirably and to the best of your abilities.” Miia opened her mouth—

“—Now, now.” Aleria waved her down. “You did utilize everything at your disposal. It isn’t your fault if you weren’t strong enough; so there is no need to be so down, or beat yourself up over the past.

“What you should do instead, is look towards the future!” Aleria said with passion, talking as much to the fairies, as to herself.

“If you weren’t powerful enough this time, then train, become stronger, so that next time…you will be strong enough.”

The mournful clouds which clouded the eight fairies eyes parted, revealing swirling tempests, while the green specks within Leafia’s sprouted.

“Let the dead be remembered, but use them as examples of your failures, so that they may not be repeated!”

“I want strong,” declared a voice amongst the fairies. It radiated the desire for blood.

Everyone’s eyes darted to it’s origin.

Miia stood defiantly, her eyes had become twin tornadoes ready to destroy.

Aleria had no response. She was shocked stiff; as were the other fairies. She can speak!?

Leafia was the first to wake from stupor.

“I too want strength. To support my sisters.” She spoke as well. Her voice: calm and soothing. “It would be an honor… For my Queen to teach.” She bowed.

Leafia speaking didn’t have as much impact on Aleria as Miia did. Although it only raised more concern about possible Mutation, her development was just too fast. Or maybe she’s a natural. I might be jumping at shadows here; better withhold judgment for now.

Although a second voice seemed to dumbfound the other six fairies, they too began to speak up one-by-one—albeit in incomprehensible fairy-speak. You can’t have it all I suppose. Aleria assumed that they too, wished to grow stronger.

Just as I’d hoped… Time to bring the Cadre back. Or at least a namesake.

“In that case I dub thee eight, Queensguard. You shall become my elite, my greatest weapon, protectors of not just me, but the kingdom and all its inhabitants.”

Aleria looked over each of them, before she continued; “Now, go and rest. On morrow’s dawn we shall begin.”