Adam rubbed his forehead, thinking about Lucy and Mara. Jurot noted how the half elf was deep in thought, and left him to them. They followed the path the parting trees had revealed, moving swiftly through the forest.

‘To think my first meeting with Mara would be marred like this,’ he thought, trying to keep the other, much darker thoughts at bay. Lucy’s friend, who was definitely more than just a simple friend, was now a battery for the forest. ‘How depressing.’

Yet, before he could think too deeply, they stepped out of the tree line to see an army of many hundreds, perhaps a thousand, soldiers. Each were adorned in chain mail, with spears and blades, ready for war. Many were setting up their camp, but there were a few dozen on guard, keeping an eye out.

The pair stared at the soldiers, and the soldiers who were on duty, stared at them.

One soldier quickly stepped forward, inhaling deeply. “Halt! This territory has been claimed by King Justinian Blackwater!” Her voice boomed through the entire area, causing the other soldiers within the camp to quickly scramble into formation.

“This forest has already been claimed by the Iyr!” Jurot exclaimed back, proudly. He wasn’t going to let the Kingdom claim something which the Iyrmen had already claimed.

The soldier remained silent for a moment, ruminating on his words. She motioned to another soldier, nodding her head, and the other soldier quickly left to one of the tents which had already been set up.

A familiar figure appeared, in his armour of white and gold plate mail. His hair was sun kissed, and his eyes were ocean blue. The sword at his side was beautiful, the pommel shaped into the head of a lion.

“If it isn’t the Iyrman and the elf,” the Duke said, staring at the pair of them. His eyes remained focused on the elf, and at the mention of Adam’s race, the soldiers tensed up, readied to fight.

“I beg your pardon, Duke Lionheart, but I am a half elf,” Adam corrected, flashing a sweet smile. ‘What the hell is the Duke doing here?’ Suddenly, this situation had become so much more difficult.

“I have heard that you are staking your claim for this forest on behalf of the Iyr,” Duke Lionheart said.

“The forest has already been claimed by the Iyr,” Jurot repeated, his voice clear.

The Duke glanced between the pair. “We should discuss this. Why don’t you come into our tent and we can talk?” The Duke extended a hand back towards the tent, inviting them to follow. It was a piece of advice, but could easily be seen as a threat.

“The Chief will come to speak with you, Duke Lionheart,” Jurot said, his voice even. It was a piece of advice, but could easily be seen as a threat.

“That is good news,” the Duke replied. ‘Of course it wouldn’t be so easy,’ he thought. He had commandeered these soldiers in his name from the South Fort. “The claims seem to have been made at the same time.”

“Considering that we were here before you, and were almost the forest’s fuel, that seems unlikely,” Adam said, daring to speak up. ‘I really shouldn’t get on the Duke’s radar, but the facts need to be established now, in front of all the soldiers. Though, I probably should have said it respectfully. Damn it, I really should have kept my mouth shut.’

“Such a matter will be discussed soon,” the Duke said, smiling. With that, he turned and marched back to the tent.

Adam placed a hand on Jurot’s shoulder. “Come, let’s return back to camp,” he said, turning and leaving. Once they were far enough away, he rubbed his forehead. “I fucked up.”

Jurot glanced at the half elf. “What do you mean?”

“I think we might be in for a bad time,” Adam admitted. “I don’t trust my luck one bit. Mara turned into fuel for the forest, and now that Duke bastard can state a half truth that the Iyrmen claimed the forest alongside an elf blooded bastard.” He continued to rub his forehead.

“Politics,” Jurot said, his lips forming a frown. “That’s no good.”

“Yeah, you aren’t kidding…” Adam shook his head. His brow was pulsing from the stress of everything. “Jurot, be real with me for a moment.”

“I am always real,” Jurot said, raising a hand, wiggling his fingers, double checking his statement.

“I meant, be serious with me for a moment.”

Jurot nodded his head. ‘I am serious…’

“If the Kingdom and the Iyr truly go to war…” Adam sighed, having wished he hadn’t said it and raised the flag. “Who would win?”

“The Iyr would not lose,” Jurot replied after a long moment of thought.

“It wouldn’t lose, but would it win?” Adam asked, raising his brow.

“It would not lose,” Jurot repeated. “We may not win, but we would not lose.”

“I’ve never heard an Iyrman speak in circles before.”

“The Iyr may not be able to defeat the Kingdom’s armies, perhaps there are too many of them, and perhaps we are unable to destroy every city. However, the Kingdom will be unable to defeat the Iyr, we would push them back at our border, and they would be unable to step into Main Iyr.” Jurot, for once, spoke with a thoughtful tone.

“What if the Iyr didn’t have a fortified position? Say, down south, a forest which the Iyr promised to protect…”

Jurot blinked, understanding what Adam was referring to. He glanced around at the forest, and fell into deep thought for once. “It would be difficult, but not impossible.”

“If the Iyr decides to make a fort here, the King may use it as justification against the Iyr later. The Iyr has promised to defend it only for a decade, so there’s no need for you to push in too many resources.”

“The forest can defend us well,” Jurot said. “It is a fortress, even without the walls you have seen in the Iyr. We of the Iyr are well versed in using the forest to our advantage, especially if we are defending within it.”

Adam nodded his head, sighing in relief. “That’s good.”

Jurot wasn’t sure how many people would come to defend the forest. “We will send many companies to the forest to defend it.”

“The King may end up destroying the forest instead. He may be the type who will destroy something if he can’t have it.”

“The Iyr has defended itself for centuries, defending something for ten years is a much simpler matter,” Jurot said.

“Why does the King want this forest anyway?” Adam asked. “You only claimed it so it would become a sanctuary for the Iyrmen.”

“A new forest, awakened in such a way, will be abundant in resources, and will have a Guardian. A new Guardian can be easily brought under heel, as those with well established Guardians are difficult to deal with. It is why the Kingdom, though large and expansive, can only defend its main roads and cities, and some villages.” Jurot recalled how it had been explained to him as a child. “Most of the Kingdom’s land is not under the King’s rule.”

“Oh,” Adam said. “So why does the Guardian only want to be safe for ten years?”

“In ten years time, the Guardian will have gained enough strength that it will be able to rule within the forest with a greater power.”

“So the Iyrmen are going to protect a burgeoning threat to the Kingdom’s south.” Adam sighed. “The King definitely won’t like that.”

“It would be difficult for the King to war with us,” Jurot said. “The price would be too high, especially for a simple awakened forest.”

“It would be difficult, but not impossible.” Adam quoted Jurot. He thought about his previous life and suddenly found that he wasn’t as reassured as he’d like to be. “There’s no price high enough for a man’s ego.”

Jurot did not refute the statement. After all, that was one of the many things taught by the tale of the Blackwater Crisis.

“If the Iyr goes to war, I’ll be there,” Adam said. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to your mother, or to Lanarot.”

Jurot stared at Adam for a moment. “I believe you Adam, but why would you fight for us?”

“Aren’t I your brother?” Adam chuckled. “I’ll explain it properly once we’re back at the Iyr, alright? After meeting with a Demon Lord, I think it’s time.”

Jurot nodded his head, leaving Adam in peace.

“Don’t you think it’s been a little too long?” Adam asked, as he stepped back into the grove, where Lucy lay unconscious beside Mara. “Nevermind.” Adam walked over to the Demon Lord and squatted down beside her. “Did you beat her up again?”

“Yes,” the tree said, sitting on the opposite side, away from the demon women.

“Well, I don’t think you can blame her, can you?” Adam said, placing a blanket under Lucy’s head.

“She is weak for now, but she will soon become a threat. I will not be so lenient then.”

“Don’t show up in front of her, or have me by your side,” Adam said, not accepting that it might hurt her again.

“You speak with a light tone,” it said, staring at Adam. “Is it because you are a stranger in this world, like her?”

“You can tell?” Adam asked, glancing towards the tree.

“I can,” it replied, simply, refusing to elaborate on how it knew.

“Something like that,” Adam said, staring back at the unconscious demon girl. “I was alone. I had been torn away from my family and friends, all due to the machinations of the gods. Well, one in specific.” Adam continue to stare at the demon girl, and then to Mara, her friend.

Jurot paid close attention to Adam’s words, piecing them together within his mind, the puzzle almost solved.

“I’m a little jealous, though,” the half elf admitted. “Lucy came with someone. Mara, her closest companion, had somehow come into this world with her.” He sighed. “Then, soon after, Mara was torn away from her. She’s dying, right in front of her eyes, and she can’t do anything to help.” Adam threw a glance to Jurot for a moment, before staring back at the girl, brushing her hair. “That feeling of helplessness. I’ve felt it before.”

Jurot could hear the raw emotion the half elf’s voice, noting the look in Adam’s eyes. It was lonely.

“That’s why, even if she keeps slapping you, you better take it.” Adam inhaled deeply. “I’ll tell you this, Guardian. In ten years time, you’ll be strong.” He continued to brush her hair with his finger. “In ten years time, I’ll be stronger.”

“I have taken your words to heart,” it said.

“Good, because she’s my friend.” Adam threw a nod to Jurot. “So is Jurot, and I’m not in the business of letting people bully my friends for free. You paid the price for trying to kill us, but I was nice, and gave it to you cheaply. Don’t think it’ll be so cheap next time.”

“You should be careful threatening me in my home,” it said.

Adam smiled. “Right now, Jurot is beside me. I don’t think he’ll let you kill me. If you kill any of us, well, you better pray you find another thousand Guardians somewhere, because the Iyr does not fuck around.”

It remained silent.

Adam exhaled, sitting beside the unmoving tree beside him. He wasn’t sure if it was a normal tree, or a tree which could move. He leaned back against it, relaxing. ‘I really shouldn’t talk so much smack to the tree…’