Persea made her way through the underbrush, stopping frequently to inspect the white growth that had begun to overtake the vegetation in the area.

“Still spreading whenever it's left unchecked I see…” She mumbled under her breath as she drew forth mana, expelling it in a powerful purge spell that washed over the forest around her. Within moments the mold powdered up as it turned a light gray, crumbling from the plants. Shielding her nose, she willed a slight breeze to pick up the powder and push it back towards the infected woods. Although the mold was effectively destroyed, she still did not risk inhaling any of it. As the air cleared she lowered her hands, kneeling to inspect the vegetation left behind. The bark had grown soft and porous from where the mold had penetrated the plants, greedily consuming its flesh. The pocket marked plants sent a slight shiver up her back as her skin seemed to crawl at the thought of what happened to animals unlucky enough to contract such a plague.

Quickly standing she continued her rounds, stopping frequently to repeat the process of purging the land from disease. Though she felt better pushing the infection back she knew it was only a temporary measure. When the mold had first shown up the druids had tried to purge it from the land, but had found that the closer they came to its center the stronger the plague would resist their attacks, she could still recall the frightening creatures she had seen the mold form into as it fought against the druidic magic attempting to end its life. Only when the druids had fallen back were they able to combat the growth, as it seemed to weaken in strength and resilience the farther out it spread. Even now the Druidic council spent most of their time debating how to best combat such a thing, even debating asking for aid from the nearby inhabitants, though such a task would only be done if nothing else could be done. As druids had long shared a shaky relationship with those outside the woods.

I wonder where such a plague came from…

At first they had assumed it was simply a naturally occurring disease, however after being met with such a savage attack when they tried to cure it from the land they quickly realized some sort of magic had to be involved, Who, or what was behind such a thing had still eluded them over the years. But as long as they could contain its growth they would sit and debate for years to come still, after all, Druids were known for their patience, always planning out what would take years to come to fruition.

As she continued along lost in her thoughts a sudden shiver crept up her spine, instantly putting her on edge. She paused as she felt the air around her slowly.

Corruption.

She could feel tainted mana nearby, at first blaming the moldy growth she quickly realized it had a sense of direction to it, drawing her deeper into the white woods as she approached it.

What is this? Could it be related to the disease’s origins?

Her emotions were mixed, the curiosity of potential joy flowed through her as she realized she might find something related to the source of the infection, however underneath this a growing sense of unease had taken a hold in her as she worried about exactly what that could be. Slowing her pace, she crept through the woods, listening intently for any signs of what was ahead.

It’s close by…

The woods opened before her as she pushed through what was left of the decayed underbrush, entering a small clearing.

What…what is this?

The clearing which was covered in white growth just days earlier now resembled a battlefield, the ground on the far side had darkened and seemed to be repelling the growth around it, the mold was responding aggressively to the disturbance as it had grown thick and ragged surrounding the area, even the infected had gathered, throwing themselves at the source of the disturbance. Their shambling bodies thrashed at the ground violently before they seemed to succumb to some toxic effect, thrashing around before becoming still where they lay. The molded growth would quiver and tendril outward, attempting to bury and contaminate the blacked earth below them before it's flesh would darken and wither back.

It’s as if the infection…finds itself infected?

Persea stared dumbfounded at the conflict now taking place before her, the last of the infected creatures thrashed about wildly before falling still as she watched on. Normally they would prioritize attacking anything living nearby, but their effort seemed focused and directed towards the disturbance now in their midst. As she slowly approached to get a better look, what few infected that remained seemed oblivious to her presence, instead choosing to plunge into the tainted earth in desperation, seeking to infect what was ailing them.

All to no avail…

The last of the growth withered and died as she watched in awe, the ground now littered in corpses. What had caused such a battle to take place here? Stepping over the thickened growth she slowly placed her foot onto the darkened earth, waiting hesitantly for anything to happen.

Nothing?

She had expected some sort of reaction based on what it had done to the mold, but just felt a lingering mana gently rising from the ground. Feeling slightly at ease she stepped fully onto the earth and began examining it, looking for clues as to why it reacted so harshly to the infection.

It took only a moment of sifting about the earth to find traces of a dark liquid that had dried up examining it closer she could only draw that it resembled dried blood in all but color, summoning mana to her fingertips she grew a large leave from her nail, before willing it to twine in on itself, creating a small pouch. Gently reaching down she scooped some of the soil containing the substance into the pouch before tucking it away in her clothes. She might not understand what exactly this substance was, but she knew it needed to be observed and studied by her people. Standing up she paused, feeling an odd sensation on her back.

Like being watched.

Although she could not explain it, she could feel someone or something, watching her intently, looking around she could see no movement that gave away any sort of observer.

The growth perhaps?

Knowing that the disease was acting strange around this unknown substance, she quickly summoned forth mana and expelled it around herself, cleansing the growth away from the clearing. Looking over her work she still felt the eerie sensation of being watched. Shaking her head to try and rid herself of the feeling she quickly began making her way out of the clearing, even though it was her duty to observe and cleanse the growth around the forest she knew that bringing this substance to the others was important, she would work late to finish cleansing her area of the forest after delivering it.

Entering the tree line, she quickly made her way through the rotten underbrush aiming for the old road that had once cut through these woods, although much of it had grown over and been abandoned it was still the quickest way to cut through much of the area. Reaching the road, she cautiously looked down it in either direction before fully revealing herself.

Why can't I shake this feeling?

The Druids had established themselves as an old and powerful force of nature, only ever failing in their tasks when it came to the heart of the growth, a plague that they had still managed to contain once it wandered from its source of strength, but despite her years of magical usage she still felt herself becoming increasingly worried, the feeling of being watched so strongly began to bare her nerves, her hairs seemed to stand on end and she felt her palms becoming sweaty.

“S…Show yourself! I know you’re there!” Calling out she attempted to bluff any observers into revealing themselves, only to be met with silence.

“Dammit” She gritted her teeth slightly as she began making her way down the road, making sure to frequently glance around the woods as she tried to pick up on any presence.

Whos out there!?

Her pace quickened as she felt the urge to rid herself of this growing feeling, first a quick walk, which then led to into a light jog, finally Persea found herself pushing mana into her legs as she bolted down the road at a pace a deer would struggle to keep.

Seconds turned into minutes as she covered ground, feeling her mana reserves shrinking while her legs began to ache, she slowed before stopping, bending over slightly to catch her breath. A sudden snap broke out through the woods causing her to snap to attention, the mana swelling up in her hands.

A deep voice seemed to echo out around her with no concrete sense of direction.

“That was a little foolish Druid ”

Twisting around she frantically looked for the source of the voice.

“Who are you!? Show yourself coward!” She yelled out, feeling her face becoming clammy as her senses heightened, looking for any sign of an attacker.

“Oh? Can you not find me?” The voice seemed slightly taken back but the undertone was abundantly clear.

Its pleased.

“How long have you done magic?” The voice again rang out around her. Though it had changed from a mocking tone to a nonchalant one.

Feeling a surge of anger swell up in her, she flared out mana aggressively from her hands, causing a sudden burst of vines to sprout up from the ground around her, some thicker than a man's arm.

“One cannot call themselves a protector of the forest until they have mastered nature's magic mortal!” The ground seemed to swell around her as more vines surged forth, lifting the dirt under her feet skyward until she stood on a pedestal of vegetation and earth twice her height.

“Now I won’t ask you again. Reveal yourself!” She felt a sense of pride swell in herself, though she knew naught how this being masked themselves from her she knew that only the most practiced of mages would dare contend with a Druid in the forest.

The voice remained silent for a minute before it replied, speaking slowly.

“And yet here you stand, unable to break the thinnest of soul lines and discern who speaks to you.”

She felt the disgust in the words.

They’re looking down on me…

“For one who has mastered the magic of nature…I am sorely disappointed.” The words cut like a knife into her pride turning it in on itself, nothing but rage remained within her as she listened to this being’s pity filled words.

“THIS COMING FROM A COWARD! THEN SHOW YOURSELF MAGE!” Her roar echoed out as the vines thickened around her, thorns began bristling outwards over the plants exterior, as her anger took form.

“OR ARE YOU TOO SCARED TO SHOW YOURSELF?” Her final cry mocked the being’s words, as she felt her pride flare up again.

A coward boasts loudest when hiding away!

Nothing but silence met her ears as she waited for a reply, seconds turned into minutes until she began to feel foolish standing there at the ready, while waiting for a voice to speak that clearly was no longer present.

The feeling of being watched is gone as well… Did I scare the mage off?

Smirking to herself she lightly hopped down from the pillar, only to find her vision warp as she stepped off it, blinding colors engulfed her sight as she felt her body become weightless, flailing her limbs about she frantically tried to find some sort of bearing as she began to lose all sense of direction. With a lurch she felt herself slam into the ground feet first, tipping forward as her vision snapped back into focus on a wooden floor quickly rising to greet her, face first.

“Huoof” The air escaped her chest as she hit the floor, momentarily dazed she shook her head trying to clear her thoughts and figure out where she was. Judging by the sudden change in light and wooden floors she was certainly indoors, the smell of dust and blood hung heavy in the air around her. Just as she began to lift herself from the ground a familiar voice met her ears, only now instead of being unable to tell where it originated from, she knew the speaker was standing directly in front of her.

“What did you call me again?” His voice seemed to vibrate the air around her, raising her eyes as she held back a gasp at the being before her.

His gray skin stood out as a stark contrast in the room, as well as the sheer size of him, even without the horns present he stood several heads taller than any druid from her village, his impressive height equally matched by the muscular features of his body. With just a sleeveless tunic covering his torso she could see the muscles twitch under his skin, showcasing a physical strength far beyond hers.

Meeting his yellowed eyes she could see nothing but a deep brooding mind staring back at her.

What is this monster…

Drawing forth mana in her limbs she burst to her feet only to be met with a blinding light as she felt herself lifted from the ground by the throat.

H…How!?

His arms glowed dimly in the small room as he firmly held her up in the air, she had neither seen nor been able to react at the sudden burst of speed he had displayed while grabbing her, she had simply found herself within his grip.

“You know, I was very relieved when you couldn’t find me back in the woods.” He shined a set of enlarged canines towards her in a broad grin as he calmly began walking around the small room, still firmly carrying her in front of him easily.

“I had never expected that soul magic would be considered a rarity in this world, I fully expected to face a backlash from the first magic user I found, but to find out you were powerless to do anything? I knew then that gathering you was perfectly within my capabilities. Though it was a shame that I had to use such a crude transportation spell, souls don’t come cheap you know, and this village already has a serious population issue.” He flicked his snake-like tongue out as he glanced down, following his gaze she could see two villagers heaped up against the wall, their throats split ear to ear.

The spirit village!!?!

Gritting her teeth, she tried to force words out to curse him for what he had done, only to feel his grip tighten around her throat.

“I think that’s enough talking for now, shall we begin?” He motioned towards her with his free hand, as if to mock her current predicament.

Bastard, i'll show you what happens when you bring nature's wrath!

Calling forth a surge of mana into herself she willed it out to summon her vines…only to find nothing happening.

W..what!? Why?!

“Oh, Having problems?” His lips curled up as he brought her face closer to his own. “Oddly enough I can't manipulate anything but soul magic outside my body it seems, but moving around mana I'm in contact with? My forte.” The runes surrounding his arms glowed at his words, instantly what mana she had pulled forth seemed to sap away from her body before dissipating completely.

His grip tightened ever so slightly, now completely cutting off her windpipe. As she feebly struggled in his grasp she could hear him chuckle softly “Don’t worry, you won't die. I have big plans for someone with your abilities''

The last thing she made out before her consciousness slipped away was a pair of yellow eyes intensely watching her.