Feeling a little better after speaking with Danivra, I lifted off into the early morning light, intent on heading to see Olata. As I reached the forested area of Far Reach. I was surprised to be greeted by Olata flying up from the tree canopy urgently. She looked serious, angry even. If I was just meeting the fae queen for the first time, I’d have been intimidated. Now, I was just baffled.

“Everything okay, Olata?” I asked, coming to a stop.

“You are coming into the forest, lord Clive?”

“Well yeah. I wanted to look at what food you were producing. I still have plans to open up the restaurant. I’ll eventually want my own little garden going up there, but until then, I’ll need your help. I also just wanted to pop in and say hello to my favorite fae in the universe.”

Her stony expression broke at that, and she laughed lightly. “We all wanted to see you too, Lord Clive. I just thought we would have a little longer to prepare for your arrival.”

I raised a querying eyebrow at her cryptic response, but I doubt she saw it as she turned to lead me down into the lush forest. Once within the canopy, the difference in heat was immediately noticeable and the actual plant life was now more like a damn jungle than a temperate forest. Olata and her children had been busy.

“It’s amazing Olata, you haven’t messed about since you’ve been here,” I said as we touched down on the soft forest floor. My eyes roving around in amazement at the fruit rich bushes and trees, which shimmered vibrantly to my Food Preparation skill.

“We have been busy, it’s true. But this forest is everything you promised and more. Zeine and the Fensalfar had already done much work with the area for such a small group, and it is an honor to work with them in our new homes.

I grinned at her words. I didn’t know the history of Fae and Fensalfar interactions, but two groups working together harmoniously was music to my ears.

“I landed here so that you could acclimatize a little to the energy of the area before you reacquaint yourself with the hearth tree.”

“Sure, whatever you think’s best,” I replied, following her through the undergrowth. It parted as she passed, which was amazing to watch, but I was also wondering when the hell I’d acquainted myself with the hearth tree in the first place.

Before long, we broke into the clearing of the central pool where the hearth tree sat. Its base fully submerged, but looking healthier than ever. So many of our new Fensalfar bathed in the central pool, which had grown dramatically in the three days since our return. I couldn’t quite figure out how that had happened, but then I’d been a 20-foot demon four days ago, so I wasn’t going to look too deeply into the mechanics of that.

The speed at which everything was progressing, and without the need for defensive walls, I imagined the forest section would quickly expand to the limits of my Sphere of Influence.

“Ah, Clive,” Zeine said, approaching me with his Rella and Solla the sullen, or prick face as I affectionately thought of his son.

“We were hoping for a visit from you soon.”

“Yeah,” I said, casting my eyes suspiciously from Olata to him and the others. “That much is obvious. I just came to look at the food you’ve got growing down here. Why’s everyone being weird?”

“Was there anything you were looking for in particular?” he asked, completely avoiding my point about them acting weird.

“Nope, just perusing, really. Though you’d make my day if you told me you had tomatoes. Herbs as well. So much you can do with tomatoes and a few herbs.

“We do have tomatoes!” he said happily, like someone had called out his numbers at the bingo. “Which herbs are you looking for?”

“I don’t know if you have the same names here or even the same herbs, but Oregano, basil, wild garlic,”

“Yes, I don’t recognize those names, but I will show you to our herb garden.”

“I wouldn’t mind having a small herb garden out front of the restaurant in time. Not that I don’t love coming here, but you know.”

“Splendid idea,” Zeine replied. “We can supply you with whatever you need and everything you grow will be linked to the hearth tree, too. That way we can ensure you have an ever-ready crop.”

My mind jumped into Chef mode as he spoke. Pouring over all of the things I would need. “Well in that case, Zeine,” I replied, grinning as the list expanded rapidly in my mind and I fought to keep it reasonably simple. “I’ll have some potatoes, carrots, some lettuce, and chard. In fact I’ll see what size garden I make first. Probably best growing tatties where we have space for them. They don’t need to be fresh like salad leaves and things of that nature. But I’ll have peas and beans and peppers too.”

Zeine opened his mouth to speak when another plant popped into my head.

“Fuck! Onions, I totally need onions, too. Do you have onions? Can’t believe I nearly forgot the damn onions.”

Zeine looked startled, but Rella just laughed. “We have onions Clive. Not many, but that is something we can remedy within a day now we have strong numbers and the fae are here.

“Awesome. Oh the sauces I’m going to knock up for you lot, are going to blow your socks off. You have chili peppers, right? The spicy ones.”

“Ah, I don’t think we have those,” Olata said. “We have a number of roots and berries that are spicy, though.”

“I’ll check them out,” I said contentedly.

“If we ever travel south to Holse, they will have chili peppers there,” Rella said, surprising me.

“Why would we travel to Holse?” Zeine asked.

“Clive made friends with Jurien of Erangral. The Protector of the Heart and Champion of light.” Rella said with a reverence I’d not noticed before. Though when Jurien had revealed himself, I’d not been paying much attention to anyone else.

“You met Jurien of Erangral?” Zeine replied with awe. “How is that possible?”

“He was hunting the source of the Ethereal energy,” Olata answered. “He tested Clive and was happy with what he found. Clive gave a very good showing of himself and I would think Light will consider being an ally in the future. Olata turned and met my gaze. “It is something you should consider pursuing now we are in direct conflict with Darkness.”

“Sure,” I said, uncomfortable with how quickly the conversation changed direction, all over a few friggin chili peppers. “But that’s a conversation for later. I still need to know why you’re all being so weird?”

“We discussed following you,” Olata began.

“As did we,” Zeine added. “Once everyone was back safe.”

“Okay, well if you’re having second thoughts now, you’re a bunch of wankerous traitors. And you’ll all have to leave Far Reach.”

Not one of them handled the news well, their expressions souring.

“For fuck’s sake guys. I’m joking. There is zero expectation of you following me at all. I love you guys. You’re safe here forever.”

They all visibly relaxed. Even when I added. “Apart from Solla.” Offering Zeine’s son a grin and a wink. “I’m joking about that, too. Solla, you’re good. Anyway, if you weren’t all friendly toward me, you couldn’t remain in my Sphere of influence could you?” I added.

“That is a worry in itself,” Solla added. “What if someone decides they can’t bear you any longer because of your behavior and actions? Will they just disintegrate like Darkness' army did?”

Zeine hissed at him to be quiet, then looked back to me. “That is not our worry my lord.”

I smiled, but my mind was racing over Sola’s words. I had to admit that he raised an interesting point which I hadn’t considered before. Even if he did it in his usual dickish way. “Perhaps it should be. I mean that’s a hell of a thing to live under. Piss me off, turn to ashes.”

“Being a follower should circumvent any knee jerk reactions,” Olata said.

“Yeah, you have got a point Olata, and…” I said, returning my gaze back to Sola. “I understand your fears, and I can only promise that my intentions are to make sure we’re all safe. I listen to Sania, Olata, Danivra, Zeine and a host of others who we all have a huge amount of respect for, and they make all of this work as much as me. That said, though Solla, as always, it comes down to this: It’s your choice. If you want to leave here, please, please do. We don’t want anyone here who doesn’t want to be. But, while I don’t require everyone to follow me to remain, I do require everyone works together.”

Solla huffed, folding his arms, his dark brown eyes shifting around those gathered. “I want to stay! I was just pointing out a pitfall of living in Far Reach!”

I nodded in agreement. “And you’re right too. Just as I am, to reiterate everyone’s options. This place isn’t a fucking prison, it’s supposed to be a safe haven and we’re all just trying our best to make it stay that way.”

He cracked a grudging smile and fell silent. Awkward bastard. I thought inwardly.

Olata swiftly broke the uncomfortable tension. “Going back to our following of you, Lord Clive. We have discussed this among ourselves, and as this is not a usual God to follower situation and none of us here ever had a desire to swear to a god in our lives up until now, there will be a price to pay for our allegiance.”

It was a very stern and serious statement that I wasn’t expecting. Especially from the usually carefree fae Queen. “Well that sounds ominous as fuck, Olata. And again, you really don’t have to follow me. I really did just come here looking for tomatoes,” I chuckled lamely.

“Oh, but we are happy to swear to you. If you are willing to swear to us,” Olata replied. “By which I mean to the Hearth tree of our forest here. We would like you to commune with the Hearth tree and the linked nature energy within your Sphere of Influence. Become one with it as we have. I cannot foresee any shortfall for you, only that you are bound even more closely with the land you have already claimed as your own. And that the bond between us is both closer and more complex, balanced out with the Neuma of Nature.”

I was both surprised, and impressed with the demand. “Well damn, Olata. That’s a fascinating idea, and I’ll be honest, I like it a lot.”

All of those surrounding me seemed to radiate relief and a little joy at my acceptance of their terms. Olata flew into my chest, hugging tight. “I knew you would do it,” she said happily. “Despite our losses, I’m so happy that we were able to come here!”

I hugged the level 171 fae queen back. With my new dimensions and her being around six-foot, it was manageable. “Steady on Olata, I still have a condition of my own.”

She pulled back, glassy eyed. “What is wrong, Lord Clive?”

“If we’re really going to do this, then I don’t want any of your Fae to join me…”

She gasped before I could finish.

“Until you have taken the leap,” I added. “Then I want you to encourage them all to join me. Using your own words.”

“They need no encouragement, Lord Clive, they will join you willingly!”

“Be that as it may,” I smiled. “I want you to get the experience from them joining with me, to boost you up to cleric and possibly even Paladin or priestess as soon as possible.”

“Ah,” she beamed. “That would be highly fortuitous for me as I already have the ability to fly, but I do not have any Spicy Balls.”

I shook my head, chuckling. “I should hope not. But you being a Paladin, benefits us both. The stronger you are, the better chances we have against our numerous enemies.”

She nodded with a resolute expression. “Agreed. Now you should go over to the Hearth tree and place your hand upon its trunk so we can begin.”

I lifted up off the ground, and Olata laughed. “It is better if you go into the water, Lord Clive. They are one, and it will make your connection deeper.

With a shrug, I dropped back down and waded into the warm pond. The water lapped around my waist by the time I reached the tree.

Taking a deep breath, I placed my hands on the rough brown trunk as directed. As I did so, I felt the slight air displacement of Olata’s wings as she flew next to me.

“So what do I do? I know I messed about with the tree for a while on our journey back here, is that what I’m doing now?

“Exactly the same thing,” she replied. “Let the energy flow into you from the water and the tree and it will know your heart. What you want from it and what you are willing to give.”

“It normally takes a few days to form the bond.” Zeine said, appearing from above, on one of the thick branches. “But with your incredible level, it may be quicker. Queen Olata bonded within half an hour, though she is also already highly attuned to nature.”

“Aye, well I’m definitely not a fae queen, so let’s just see how it goes. I blanked everyone out, diving into the coarse trunk with my senses. The familiar sensation of Nature Neuma reached out to meet me inquisitively. I embraced it confidently this time and let it flow into my body, the green energy slowly leaching into me, swirling around my meridians of gold and black. It was slow and purposeful, and it seemed to be doing a little more than just swirling freely into me. As it reached my dual core, I felt it tug at the energy within and for the first time I felt a slight pang of concern.

“What the actual fuck,” I growled out loud. I heard people responding to my reaction, but I was too focused on stopping the Nature Neuma trying to dominate my core.

I found that odd, seeing as it was within my Sphere of Influence, so theoretically it shouldn’t be able to attack me. Yet here it was doing exactly that.

“You’re not taking over my core!” I growled at the tree. “If you want to join with my other powers I’ll allow it, but in my body you do what I say. You’re not taking over!”

It didn’t seem to care for my words and attacked more vehemently than before. So I attacked back, surging out at the green power with gold and black.

The Nature Neuma was powerful. Linked to all of the Fensalfar and Fae in the area now, and I didn’t feel like I could match it despite my strength. Not without using Ethereal energy. There was no doubt in my mind that the neuma from my Ethereal core would slap the shit out of Nature. Yet as I reached for it, a sudden surety that if I acted against Nature with my Ethereal energy I would most likely trigger a negative effect within my Sphere of Influence. The last thing I wanted to do was to risk hurting Olata and the others. Not to mention the potential damage to all of the trees and plants that made up our home. I loved the forest we had, deeply. My soul felt at home here among the trees and the mountains and the streams. I didn’t want to damage it all by acting brashly. With that in mind, I refrained from lashing out, and sought to calm my response.

As I brought myself under control, so too did Nature’s Neuma. It was as if it understood that I’d chosen not to go on the offensive and furthermore that I cared for it. Stopping its aggression completely, I felt relief. Even if it didn’t retreat from my body, it was no longer pushing forward, either.

We waited like that for what could have been seconds or hours, before the green power seemed to sink into the meridians of my left arm and legs. I noticed it didn’t try to enter the meridians in my head and right arm where the Immortal Shell held sway.

Once inside, it mixed with the light and dark Neuma within my mortal meridians. Inspecting the results, I found there was now a fine tendril of green nestled within the gold and black working its way slowly toward my core in a far more peaceful manner than before. I felt calm, instinctively sensing that I could trust the power to behave. If the worst happened, I always had the failsafe of my Ethereal energy to boot it back out.

As Nature took root within my core, I could hear the Hearth tree. It was speaking to me, though not in words but as vivid feelings. In some ways, it was easier to follow and understand what it was and what it wanted, as hearing actual words or looking at a picture would have been. The feelings were of unity and friendship. Togetherness.

Opening my eyes, I was surprised to see the early morning had turned to the deep dark of night, though lights shone from all around the pool in which I still stood. I just hoped it was only one day I’d lost. As I removed my hands from the Hearth tree, I was hit with a notification.

You are touched by Nature. You have allowed the Neuma of Nature to touch your core and bond with you, allowing you to commune.

Bonus Experience forfeit for this achievement.

One Bonus stat point in Ethereal Awareness has been awarded in their place to maintain the newly forged bond.

“Holy shit,” I whispered at the notification. I’d just earned my first point in Ethereal Awareness. I never ever thought I would ever need or want a point in that area, and I didn’t know what to make of it. I was already fully aware of all the Neuma in the world, but that was through my Singularity. The power of my Ethereal side. My physical body was not in tune at all. It could only be a positive thing, but I wondered why it hadn’t happened. I got the sense my ability to touch the Nature Neuma in this way was linked to my mixed core, and possibly my being an Alo-im. I felt a bit of pride at that. And that I hadn’t needed to use the Ethereal power to achieve it. While I was always happy to smash my enemies with Ethereal power, and use it to protect myself, I also felt like it was almost a cheat code. Next, I wondered what would happen if I managed to connect to all of the energies of Falritas. Why that came to mind, I wasn’t sure, and there wasn’t really any reason to do it. Yet, there was an insistence within me that it was something I should try to achieve.

“You did it Lord Clive,” Olata said elatedly, distracting me from my thoughts. “You are joined. We should begin the bonding process immediately and make Far Reach even stronger still!”

I turned to face all of those watching me with awe and acknowledged them with a wave and a smile. My eyes landed on Olata to whom I spoke, projecting my voice enough so that everyone could hear me. “Thanks for asking me to bond with the Hearth tree. It was without doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I feel infinitely closer to both you and the land we call home.”

Before I’d even finished speaking, I felt the first tendrils of prayer reach me from those gathered. I noticed that as agreed, none of the fae attempted to join me yet, so I focused on bonding Olata first. That was she could direct the others following me as I accepted the bonds of the Fensalfar.

I still felt guilt over everyone I bonded, but more so Olata than anyone. She was so powerful and almost a force of nature herself. But as always, I swallowed that guilt for all of our sakes and just hoped one day I could free them all. I was almost certain there would be a way.

As the seven hundred and fortieth fae was bonded, Olata reached Paladin level, gaining her much coveted spicy balls. After I finished bonding everyone who was willing, I found myself wondering if I’d developed the ability to manipulate plant growth now. My recently increased Intelligence stat was quick to provide an answer. Of course, I could manipulate plant growth… using Ethereal energy. But to use the connection I’d just formed with any real strength I would have to increase my Mortal Cores Ethereal awareness dramatically. Which raised an important question: Would I ever want to raise my Ethereal Awareness? There didn’t seem much point with Ethereal power of my own already, which covered all of the different powers available once I had really figured out how to use it. And at level 287 my next level and set of 10 stat points would cost a whopping 14,400 xp, which made it an expensive proposition indeed.

Physical statistics:

Strength: 387

The capacity to exert and resist force.

Dexterity: 285

Skill and ease in hand-based activity.

Agility: 357

How effectively the body can move into a range of different positions.

Speed: 317

Rate at which the body can move.

Stamina: 317

Period over which the body can effectively sustain prolonged activity.

Constitution: 467

The ability to withstand physical punishment.

Mental Statistics:

Intelligence: 337

Knowledge and its application

Charisma: 152

Charm, coerce, inspire.

Perception: 280

Awareness of surroundings

Spiritual Statistics:

Ethereal Awareness: 1

Attunement with the Gods and spirits of Gulithea. (Necessary for Ethereally supplied magical ability.)

Internal Connection: 200

Attunement with oneself. (Necessary for cultivation of one’s own inner power)

Singularity: 249

Innate understanding of universal essence (Neuma). Will increase with personal level. (Cannot be leveled by other means.)

World sense: 9.2%

Experience Points to next level: 200/14,400