He was just born when his mother died of childbirth. He was born into poverty, with only an older sister and an abusive father to help him grow. He cried a lot.

He was one when his sister was 7. She was leaving more and more, for longer. His father almost never came back anymore.

He was two when his father left. His fathers name was Rabi. His sister was Ivy. He had no name yet.

He was three when his Grandparents came to live with them. They named him Elm. Ivy stopped disappearing as much. They lived better.

Elm was four when his sister was finally done with primary school. She was ten. After the summer, she would go to middle school. She only had to go to high school, after that. Prep school was too expensive.

He was five years old when he went to preschool. He found out that he was a handsome boy there.

He was six when his sister was nearly done with middle school. She was starting to vanish again. She said, “Elm, don’t worry. Big Sister Ivy is working.” He didn’t like it.

He was seven when Ivy finally graduated from middle school. Soon, she would be done with school. Just 3 more years.

He was eight when his grandparents decided to move into a better house. They could afford it. Ivy was disappearing more now, but she was more satisfied. She daydreamed more.

He was nine when Ivy was almost done with school. He was getting smarter. He still hated her disappearances.

He was ten when Ivy was told to go to two more years of school. She would be in prep. She was beautiful enough that she would probably be a concubine, so she needed education. This was when he learned that their genes were from nobles. Their signature, elf-dark skin was clean and pure, even after living out here for so long. Their hair was pure white and beautiful. He would be a diplomat, if all was well. It wasn’t.

He was eleven when Ivy rarely came home. She was ‘in love’. He didn’t like it. Love took her away from him.

He was twelve when Ivy vanished.

He got out of his funk at thirteen.

He learned more than ever at fourteen.

He was finally fifteen.

The demon war was happening. He saw the refugees. He was sixteen.

He saw the orphans at seventeen.

He was chosen as a hero at eighteen. He wouldn’t let others' experience what happened to him.

He was nineteen when he began fighting. He met Hibiscus.

Onyx almost died. She was a Stone-Cut Dwarf. Bonny and Wings got together. They were gay. They were all twenty. He and Hibiscus were in love. He still cried about his sister.

He blitzed through the Demon King’s defences at twenty-one. A corrupt named Vine was his right hand woman.

He had just turned twenty two when the Demon King and his lover plummeted off the edge of the abyss. He cried. The King's lover was Ivy, his right hand woman. Ivy was his sister. He found his sister to lose her forever. Him and Hibiscus were engaged.

He was crowned King at twenty three. Hibiscus was the Queen. Hibiscus was pregnant. He fixed the broken parts of the kingdom.

He was a father at twenty four. Twins. Onyx had passed. They couldn’t repair her forever. Bonny and Wings adopted a sick child named Ron. Ron died. Hibiscus was pregnant again.

He still cried.

At five hundred and seventy-two, outliving everyone in the hero party but Hibiscus, Elm of the Hundred Trees passed. He died surrounded by children and grandchildren. His last abilities as a dryad were released to bless the world. They cried.

He was five hundred and seventy-three, mentally, when he woke again.