The journey to the Faedan Forest was uneventful. It was also a mirror opposite of the time with Halbraker, where his men would chat with us but rarely him. Now, Egard would talk with us, but his men remained stoic and distant.

The further east we traveled, the fewer Dwarves we saw, though the number of Grobbler traders and workers increased. We didn’t see any other races though, which began to itch at me for some reason, as apparently many races called the Nideland home.

I asked the ever-knowledgeable Danivra rather than the Dwarves who pounded the underground road with emotionless expressions, barely even talking with each other.

“There are numerous floors to the Nideland, and we have only traversed the top floor,” she explained. “This is where the majority of Dwarves live.”

“They don’t live on the lower levels?”

“Not exactly. There are a few Dwarven towns on the very lowest levels, but the Dwarves who live there are not as you would know them. They are the Deep Dwarves and are far more aggressive and territorial. They continually fight amongst one another.”

“And Darkness allows that?”

“Of course, it is part of who they are, their culture.”

“Hmm. Do they look like regular Dwarves?”

“On average, they are a few inches taller, and wider in frame, too. Their skin is far rougher and gray in color. Very much like stone skin.”

“Why don’t they come up to the higher levels?”

“I assume there are preventative measures. It could even be that Darkness’ word holds them down there. Should the residents of the Nideland ever come forth and fight for the surface, then they will be among the fighters, of that you can be sure.”

“Fascinating. Thanks, Danivra, you’re like my font of all knowledge.”

“You’re welcome, Lord Clive. I have lived a long and well-studied life,” she replied and took on a sad expression which was echoed through the bond.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Merely dwelling on the past. Of long days in the Helvien City library. It was destroyed in the attack. The same will be true of the Library in Rushing now. All of that knowledge, our races, history, burned to ash.”

“That’s devastating,” I agreed. “We’ll try and put that right, too, once everything settles down a little.”

“That would be something to look forward to. I could potentially remember much of what was written in those books. I may well be the only one left who can recount some of our racial history. As you say though, first we will attempt to save my race, then we can focus on reviving our knowledge.”

My reply was cut short by Egard shouting back. “We have arrived at the Faedan Forest exit. Warriors of Agorak, break.”

In front of us, the Dwarven line, currently walking four abreast, split down the middle. As each of the soldiers in unison took two wide controlled steps to either side, creating a walkway for us to walk through.

I was reluctant to pass among them if truth be told. If they wanted to attack us, this was almost a tailor-made opportunity.

As we all made it through their ranks to stand in front of the door, Egard gave me a wide smile.

“Well, here we go. I hope you can convince her.”

I knew the smile was for the display he’d just put on with his men. It was a clear warning if ever there was one that he was in control of our situation. When would these people ever learn that I didn’t respond well to that kind of thing, even to my own detriment? He obviously didn’t expect me to say anything either.

“Thanks for the well wishes, Egard, but please don’t do that with your men again. I know you’re our close allies, but making us walk through the middle of your armored men who don’t even talk to us felt very much like a threat.”

Egard laughed allowed. “How ridiculous, Lord Clive. I wasn’t told you were paranoid, too. These men are your guard of honor.”

“Oh, yeah. I totally get that. I wouldn’t in a million years expect you to suddenly turn on us and attack us,” I said, spelling out exactly what I thought would happen. “However, I think we can both agree that, should circumstances between us ever change and you didn’t inform me of that, then walking through our guard of honor like that would put us in a really shitty position. So I’m asking you, as a respected friend, to not do that again.”

Egard’s smile had dropped from his face. “Showing such distrust is not a good way to endear yourself to your protectors, Lord Clive.”

“I didn’t show any distrust, and I didn’t realize I had to endear myself to you beyond treating you with the respect you deserve.”

“I agree with you, Lord Clive,” Danivra said. “No distrust was shown, just a sensible request to honor our vulnerable position here.”

“But you’d only consider it a vulnerable position if you didn’t trust us,” he replied, looking smug with his logic reversal.

“Darkness already moved the goal posts once on us in regard to Malatia. And the Head Guardian of Nuinaer told me himself that things change. My trust takes that into account, and if you can't respect that, then perhaps it’s time for a change of plan.”

“I don’t think that would work out well for anyone. Shall we proceed with how things are?”

“Without the escort of doom next time?”

“Of course, Lord Clive. There was no threat intended, I assure you,” Egard said.

Sania snorted, then spoke into my mind for privacy. “Well, that’s the biggest lie of the month. Well done for calling him out on it, Clive.”

“Agreed. It was an uncouth attempt to remind us of our place. I think you caught him off guard with your bluntness.”

“That is Lord Clive’s specialty,” Grigor said, joining the conversation as we followed Egard and ten of his men out into the lush forest beyond.

I was confused and didn’t even rise to Grigor’s barbed response. I knew we had gone further north again, though mainly eastwards. So when we walked out into a positively tropical environment, I could barely believe my eyes, or my sweat glands, as perspiration sprang up. Most of my friends were similarly amazed. The Dwarves, Dokalfar, and Fensalfar remained unimpressed.

Perhaps that was the wrong word. The Fensalfar, in particular, looked as though they had just come home.

Walking along the overgrown road, batting hanging vines out of the way, I was more than a little freaked out by the large insects that scurried across the ground and in the branches above. They looked dangerous, yet didn’t seem inclined to attack us.

“My senses are dulled here,” Sania said.

“As are mine. There is a magical suppression on this place,” Danivra replied.

“But my senses aren’t magical,” Sania protested.

“Not all of them, but some of them certainly are, in particular, any gains you received from your latest evolution.”

“Wait a minute. Are you saying we’re all weaker here? Even you?” I asked.

“Yes,” Danivra said. “I apologize for not discussing it earlier. It is a moot point, though, since if we did face an enemy here, they would be similarly suppressed. It’s Olata that is doing it. Her main strength is power suppression.”

“Huh, a bit like Lierin,” I mused.

“Lierin? The builder’s partner.”

“Yup, she did it once to a flying Paladin. The look on that fucker's face when he fell out of the sky was priceless.”

“I see. She must have Fae blood, too.”

“I dunno. Her identifier says Losalfar and Human.”

“It’s common to only pick the strongest traits. An interesting mix all the same. With teaching and guidance, she could become incredibly powerful.”

“Well, the power cut thing is certainly powerful. I thought about trying to get her involved in the fight with Natom, but then I figured that, even without power, Natom would still crush us all.”

“Yes, Seraphim are powerful enough physically to make the loss of external magical power negligible.”

“Seraphim?”

“Yes. Human tier four.”

“And that’s what Natom is?”

“Indeed. Did you not know this?”

“No. I didn’t. What level will I go Seraphim then? 120?”

“No. I’m afraid not. Judging by Natom’s transcendence, I would assume Level 280 at least.”

“How old are you exactly, Danivra?”

“I am nearing the end of my eighth century.”

“Fuuuuuck. So you’re, like, older than Natom, then?”

She smiled. “By quite a margin, yes.”

“Christ alive. So how’s he so much stronger? I take it he’s just been more homicidal than you then?”

“Absolutely. Not to mention being able to use Neuma directly gives him and you a huge advantage.

“Yeah, I get that now. So, Seraphim, isn’t that like a god or something?”

“The level below, or so I believe from my research. There have been Seraphim in the past. Though, Natom is the only tier four on the planet that I know of. That said, there may be some to the south. There is at least one follower of Light in the south, a Losalfar by the name of Valnar Raiglo, who is very close to tier four.”

“What level will he transcend?”

“It depends on race. For elves, it is Level 280, and as I have said, I believe that is when Natom transcended judging by his timeline. He has never disclosed any information to anyone on the subject,”

“Holy fuck. So if that’s the level below, what about god level?”

Danivra laughed quietly. “I don’t know, Clive. That information isn’t available. I wouldn’t like to guess other than to say it is a very high level if it’s possible at all.

Our hushed conversation came to an abrupt halt as did our progression along the overgrown road as Egard raised a hand.

I waited for a few moments, but nothing seemed to be happening other than standing there.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, to which Egard turned and give me the universal shut the fuck up signal. It was different to the universal shush signal as it involved additional hand flapping and exasperated expression, as well as a single upright finger to the lips.

“Can any of you sense anything?” I asked my bonded group. They all drew a blank, which was very odd.

Egard crouched to a knee and pointed up in the sky. I heard a few hisses of surprise. There were people there. I couldn’t make out much through the trees, but I saw enough to know they wore the armor of Paladins of Justice.

“What do we do?” I asked the gang again.

“I assume they’re keeping out of the range of the power nullifying spell. What they hope to achieve from up there, I do not know,” Danivra replied.

Egard was reluctant to move any further, but I wasn’t losing another potential ally through inaction this time. He hissed at me to get back.

I crept closer, my people following me. I looked back after a little while. The Dwarves hadn’t moved. I didn’t care and moved further forward until Sania could hear voices.

“They’ve poisoned the area from above. They’re telling Olata to come out or they will poison the entire forest,” Sania told us.

“I thought they couldn’t use magic?” I asked, dumfounded.

“They must be using actual poison,” Danivra said.

“What do we think?” I asked.

“We do not know enough. I will stealth forward and assess the situation, Lord Clive,” Danivra replied.

“Sania and I will come.”

“No. Neither of you have the requisite natural stealth to do this. Remember, we cannot use our powers.”

“Ah shit, yeah. The hoodies won’t work, will they?”

“I have excellent stealth,” Sania replied.

“Maybe, but you are ten-foot tall, muscular, with a shock of wild silver hair. Even in your wolf form, you will brush each and every branch you pass in this forest. I am barely six foot, slender, and Dokalfar. I have more points in every one of my stats, and as we just discussed, I am eight hundred years old.”

Sani nodded in reply and Danivra disappeared into the trees in seconds.

We waited in tense silence and the Dokalfar with us were really not happy that their queen had gone off alone. I didn’t think they were giving her enough credit, yet even so, I had my own paranoid fears.

I whispered back to them, “Fear not. I can speak with Queen Danivra through our minds. If she is in danger, we will know immediately. I can bring her back from almost death itself. I promise you that I won't let anything happen to her.”

They seemed mollified by that. We waited again.

Danivra returned after less than five minutes, whispering so everyone could hear this time.

“There is a clearing a short way along the road and away. It appears that all of the fairies are down. There are hundreds of them, if not thousands. I do not think they are dead yet, but Olata is nowhere to be seen.”

“I am here,” a voice said quietly from nowhere. “Why are you here?”

“Olata,” Danivra said into thin air. “It is an honor.”

“Queen Danivra. It is a surprise. But why are you here at the same time as we are overrun by the minions of Justice, and why are you tethered to a half-human demon… with powers of Creation?” She said that last bit with a slightly higher pitch.

Before anyone could answer, she spoke again, “Quickly, what do you want? I do not have much time.”

“I need your help to fight Natom Hilgresh. He wants the powers of Creation for himself. When he finds out they’ve bloomed, he’s coming for me.”

There was silence for a long moment.

“Then you must help me save my people, for I will die here today in this battle if not. What say you?”

“I say, if we can, we will. And we’d do so even without promises of aid.”

“Then let us strike an accord, sapling of Creation,” Olata said.