It was a rather unpleasant situation to be in for Twig. He had to make a decision on whether he would side with his creation, an evil, downright rotten existence, that without a doubt had just tried to kill him and most likely try to do so again. Or if he would side with his master, and just downright throw away all these efforts he had put into growing the tree in the first place. Thus completely forfeiting ever receiving any fruits of desire that the tree would produce in the future.

It was doubtful that Matah Naht would make it very easy for him. She was a very dark and strong existence and Twig knew it would be hard to gain control over her. But on the other hand, what would it cost him to keep her alive? A few human lives he did not care about, a small amount of land, stripped bare of their lifeforce? He could shrug that off easily. In fact the only reason why Twig even hesitated to protect her was the fact that she just tried to seduce and kill him. And not only him. Also his favourite humans.

While Twig did not feel any compassion for people that he knew nothing about he would doubtlessly be hurt if Daz, Mira or Marcella died. He felt grateful to have them by his side and teaching them was the most fun he had all day. What good would it be if he had power and rule the lands with a horde of mindless monsters, if he had noone to talk to? It was a weird, almost human sentiment and it made him hesitate for a second.

Maybe it would be better to end it for the tree here after all? Twig shared a look with his master, and then ordered his disciples to get ready for teleportation. Then, witch everyone out of hearing distance, he started arguing with Teiming. “What do you think?” The prince frowned and expressed his thoughts: “Twig, a tree of darkness has not existed in our world for thousands of years. If one were to believe the legends, that is.” He sighted.

“Be that as it may, I have bigger things to worry about. I don’t want to waste any more time in this province. We are at war and we need to grasp on every straw that we can reach. If you think the tree might help, I am prepared to overlook this incident.” Then he glared at noone in particular and continued talking in a rather dark voice. “But should it harm the kingdom and its people… It will die.”

Twig nodded. “I ordered her to protect the garden when we left to deliver the message to you. If I had known that she would interpret these orders so extremely… I wouldn’t have given the order in the first place. But what is done is done. I believe that her existence is not a bad one though. We might be able to use her in the future and I am certain that I will be able to control her. Even though she is able to resist orders now.”

Right about everything Twig told his master was a lie. He was glad that his master was seemingly indifferent to the village, most likely since these people were had not been Antalian citizens. But not everything he told the prince was completely made up. He was confident that he could control Matah Naht in the future. Mainly due to his ability to conjure large armies out of thin air. If push came to shove he would just wage an all out war against her and end her existence.

The other factor was his mastery system. Twig had steadily gained experience from her existence over the past days and it seemed like that would not stop. What would he gain at the second or third level? If he gained control over her, a skill that allowed him to give orders or steal fruits from her? The mere thought of it made him greedy already. He opened up his skill window again.

[Twig - The Dark Summoner]

[Mana: 1.496/100.000]

[Mana Regeneration: 2 per second]

[Create: Monster Core]: Level 1

[Repair/Restore]: Level 1

[Absorption]: Level 1

[Ghost Shell]: Level 1

[Golem] Level 3 - Mastery 89.14%

[Skeleton] Level 2 - Mastery 01.47%

[Zombie] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Water Spirit] Level 1 - Mastery 23.82%

[Fire Elemental] Level 1 - Mastery 52.90%

[Ice Ghost] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Possessed Goblin] Level 1 - Mastery 96.00%

[Possessed Hobgoblin] Level 1 - Mastery 63.17%

[Cave Troll] Level 1 - Mastery 18.79%

[Shadow Snake] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Barrier Turtle] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Inferno Beetle] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Spider] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Hellhound] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Mimic] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Tree of Darkness] Level 1 - Mastery 11.97%

[Myconid] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Slime] Level 1 - Mastery 00.00%

[Abyss Raven] Level 1 - Mastery 09.14%

He noted to himself, that he was still far too inexperienced. Nine summonings he knew practically nothing about, not to mention that they all possessed the ability to get stronger and stronger! He needed time to see how he could grow. Nearly twelve percent mastery on the first level with [Tree of Darkness]. He really wanted to see this work out. “Master?”

Teiming, who had just turned to leave stopped. “Yes?” he asked patiently. Twig bowed behind his masters back. “Thanks for trusting my judgement. I will repay you for not killing the tree. I shall repay Antalia and we will win this war.” Teiming smiled. “Sure. Let’s go.”

Sure, Matah Naht did not give Twig any words of thanks. But Twig had already lost all hope for negotiation, friendly words and deception. It would be highly ineffective against a schemer like her. She would gain the upper hand on his greed and hopes, destroy his suspicions and then kill him whenever it suited her best. No, it was time to let her grow, mature and rippen. And then he would take what he wanted by force if he had to.

Then Twig continued towards the teleportation platform, where everyone was already waiting. The guards did not take very well to Teimings decision to spare the tree. Two of them even went as far as to stay in the village to bury the dead. Apparently they had loved ones here and promised to rebuild the village for later purposes. Teiming granted their wish, effectively signing their death sentences. Twig knew very well that those two guards would try to cut down the tree later. A fruitless effort. A punch of Daz had not been able to penetrate her bark, then their puny swords would not either.

Shrugging Twig focused on the rest of the group. seven soldiers looked not too happy, four hardly bothered and two were still embarrassed from kissing while under the influence of the earlier illusion. Mira was especially flustered and deep in thought, while Marcella was just a bit drowned in thoughts, with red ears and smiling towards Daz. Which was perfectly confident and the most happy he had ever been. Saving everyone was doing wonders for his self confidence.

Twig was really glad that everyone got out of this unharmed. Then Teiming ordered to leave. “Let’s go, everyone take a solid stance and don’t puke in the royal halls when we arrive!” Then everything started to turn around in a unpleasant manner, teleporting a large portion of golems and skeleton warriors alongside them. A few were left behind to keep an eye on Matah Naht, although Twig did not put a lot of hope in that project….

Mira felt really bad for falling for that illusion. After it was clear that the tree was not a immediate threat she sat down in the pavillion, trying to calm down. Why was she always so powerless? Marcella looked perfectly fine, smiling away confidently. Had she seen through it all? Why was she always so much better? Mira just hated that part of herself, that longed for love, a strong man to rely on that was completely on her side…

Not to mention the physical relations to men that she had never experienced, but dreamt of so very often… But she wanted to choose her own husband, her own man! She loathed the thought of being sold off like some sort of livestock, just to gain her family favours or status! And she hated her parents, more so than anyone else they were to blame for her fears. After all they had tried to marry her off two times already. Back when she was younger, she thought of it as a way to help them, but as luck had it two of her potential husbands, old disgusting men, had died just months before the wedding.

And after discovering her innate magic talent, she was finally able to escape her fate. A way not to get married off. And now she was still so weak. She feared to be weak, losing her chance to be a commanding figure or a general would result in her family ordering her back or bribing the military to release her from service! Mira needed to be strong. Now more than ever. Yet she was the weakest in her group.

Daz was so very strong physically and took all this training without complaining, while Marcella was so very good at cultivating and grew so much! How come she was the only one to be so very weak?

“Well, well, well. Dear. Why the sad thoughts?” A dark and rasping voice called out to her. Its presence felt like… the tree. Could it be? “My name is Matah Naht. Not tree.”, the voice laughed dryly. A cold shiver ran down Mira’s back before it continued. “You seek to be strong, child? Truly strong?”, Matah Naht said, this time a bit more sweetly. Almost seducing. Mira did not know how to answer her, so she just nodded.

“Gooood. Very good. You show talent. Potential. I need you to do something for me. In exchange, I shall teach you.” Mira nodded slightly, looking at the dark tree, towering above Twig and the prince that were currently arguing about something. “Keep an eye on this creature, Twig. Stay at its side. When he returns next time to me, follow him. I shall truly teach you then.~~” The voice sounded bitter sweet, almost falsely so. And Mira would have not believed a word if that had been all.

The very spirit that had seduced her earlier and showed her that cruel vision now materialized in her hand. It formed a small, almost tiny pink stone, transparent like glass. “Take this Dreadstone. Whenever there is blood spilt around you, grab onto it and it will absorb this power and restore your own.~” Matah Naht added sweetly, before shutting up completely. And no matter how often Mira called out to her in her thoughts, until Teiming gave orders to leave she did not utter a single word. “Farewell, child.” Was the last Mira heard of her rasping voice before the teleportation pulled her away from this now very lifeless garden...