Book 4. Chapter 16: Sacrifice and Awakening

Book 4. Chapter 16: Sacrifice and Awakening

The Hart family had welcomed Nadessa into their home, her now sitting on their couch. She looked around in wonderment at the furnishings and even the plants.

Nadessa smiled as she took in the feel of the room. This place feels amazing! The mana is so thick, and the vitality I feel like Im back at home in the World Tree!

Ophelia said, Welcome to our home, Nadessa. Did you need something to eat?Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Nadessa shook her head. Us dryads are much like plants. Sunlight, water, and plant nutrients through our feet is what we absorb. Just standing in your home, I feel more than full!

Her smile was beaming and infectious, like that of a child. Berri looked on with an especially warm smile.

Nadessas expression then turned serious. I guess I might as well be out with why I wanted to talk with you in secret. The truth is, we have a World Tree seed that is coming, and it requires the utmost protection and secrecy.

It was Blood who asked, How is that possible? I have read about your world, and the World Tree is something that is meant to be only one per world, having a special connection to the Yggdrasil itself. Often, they dont seed until their branches reach space, for that seed to be whipped through it and travel the multiverse, to find its new home. To have one

Nadessas face scrunched up in pain. We did something that shouldnt be done. When we knew our World Tree and thus the world was dying, we had to do something. We had hundreds of hamadryads, dryads, and treants all working their magic on it. It took a sacrifice of the Treant King and many of his wives life force to create the seedling and control where it would go: into our possession.

Jake thought he understood. This type of sacrifice was not something the Framework would protect them against. Some part of their mind and spirit was expended to accomplish this, rather than it being attacked by Tartarus. Being that their action was not allowed on some level unlike Fhesiah attempting ascension, they would not be restored.

Nadessa continued, We have a descendant of the Treant King to go along with it, a hamadryad to pair with the World Tree seed. It is a rare opportunity, to make a powerful pairing such as this. Normally, wherever the seed lands and plants, it is too late to pair a hamadryad with it.

Jake had to agree that it sounded powerful to match up a creature with something such as that, but there was something not quite right in his mind about this, and using it here on Highlands.

Tanda asked, But what about the balance? Our world is one in which the large amount of life force is at balance with that of death. While our jungles and oceans are teeming with life, there are deserts, swamps, and parts of the ocean filled with death. For such a massive addition of life force, there must be a counterbalance in death, to balance and continue the cycle of rebirth. To counter something at the level of the World Tree, we would need a similar entity to be its opposite.

Jake did remember seeing a few swamps as they flew in the distance, but had a hard time imagining that the world was balanced. The life force was simply too much already, and those appeared to be a much smaller percentage of area. Perhaps they were located on the other side of the world, as they had only seen a small percentage of it up to now.

Nadessa frowned in thought, looking a little worried. Is it no good? We really are out of options here! We really need your help, and this world seemed like it would be perfect. Are you sure it cant be done?

Fhesiah said, I think we have time, but it feels questionable to kick the can down the road. The World Tree wont grow up in a day, throwing the entire world off balance, right? This could be a problem that we solve in the future. Our family progresses rapidly, we could be the peak of the next Tier in less than a hundred years easily.

Nadessa nodded. I doubt that it could be at the level of throwing the entire world off balance for many years. It can depend, though. Our original worlds levels of life and vitality were far lower than here, Id wager this world is close to the peak of this Tier in that aspect. Then, we should have a hamadryad bonding with it from the beginning. If thats the case, we could delay or accelerate things.

Ophelia hummed. Isnt there one more problem too? Something like the World Tree must be somewhat similar to the Heart of the World, no? Can both of these things really exist on the same world?

Jake nodded. This world is tiny, too. Even if they can work together, can such a small one really have both?

Tanda said, The world wasnt always small, though. It shrunk when it became cursed.

Everyone looked at Tanda with a frown of disbelief.

Fhesiah voiced everyones thoughts. What?

Tanda blushed. I-Its true! Why dont you believe me? The mountains growing to make the valleys deeper and the plateaus higher is a part of it growing, the curse being removed! If you guys remove the curse, then it should grow and become bigger once again.

Nadessa was a bit distressed. This is very concerning. If were unable to find a place for the World Seed, Im afraid we dont have many options. Id hate to have to do it, but wed have to give it over to Gaia. Our sacrifice would have been for nothing.

Jake asked, Why Gaia? Cant we talk to Brigid

Nadessa interrupted, We cannot bring this to other Gods! This seed has a portion of Gaias divinity in it, and to claim ownership of it by another God or Goddess would be seen as an attack on her. She would be allowed to challenge them with a [War Trial] at worst, or a [War Games] at the least.

Jake understood that [War Games] were sort of like enabling PVP mode on non-contested worlds. A guild or guilds could engage in these games, making it a challenge for the other God or Goddess to accomplish anything, their people often being slaughtered or assassinated to spend time awaiting resurrection. It persisted on Contested Worlds, and Jake thought it was absolutely crazy. Beating Tartarus was challenging enough without infighting.

A [War Trial] was even worse. Ownership of worlds could change hands, and to Jake, it was hard to imagine how the uninitiated wouldnt end up in the crosshairs. It was seen as a sort of contest, where the loser would pay immensely in damages.

The only reason the Framework allowed such contests was twofold. One, was because the gods had wanted this mechanism when they created it, in order to give up portions of their authority and power to create it in the first place.

The second was because of the losers payment and the empowerment from the act of the competition. Frequently, the end result was more powerful warriors, having gained both experience and rewards from the Trial, allowing them to be more successful in facing Tartarus.

One could understand that anyone in Jakes party was worth much more than several people individually. The idea that after the Trial, more people near Jakes level would be created was certainly worthwhile.

From what Jake understood, the [War Trial] was also an event that could be triggered by Tartarus. In a similar contest across many worlds and even Tiers, it could bet worlds and other treasures of value, that had to be matched by the Alliance to begin the Trial itself.

Jake frowned. Of course, with Fhesiah he had no fear of an ambush near enemy territory, but on his and Tandas side, Ira was still

There was a cracking sound from their fireplace, causing everyone to look. Fhesiah smiled.

Looks like your concern wont be a problem, our little friend has returned.

The void crystal broke open, and a dark snout for a creature too large to fit in the tiny crystal appeared. Its nostrils flared, as the crack spread even further. The top of the crystal shattered, allowing a draconic face with horns to come out. It turned in on itself, and it bit into the crystal, shattering the rest of it.

As the crystal shattered, it was like the creatures body just appeared or phased into existence. Ira roared in triumph, Jake feeling its excitement and pride.

Jake saw that Ira was now a [Juvenile Voidwyrm] over the familiar information sheet. Its body was now extremely black, making it hard to tell if the creature was substantial. However, it was just a trick of the eye, as the creatures body was so black it was hard to gauge the distance. Ira did not need to enter the material, or three-dimensional plane that Jakes and everyone elses bodies resided.

The creature was now about the size of a small boa with the head of a dragon, complete with horns. Small flames like smoke came off the creatures body, like that of Jakes hearth. Flecks of white, black, and red were wafting off the creature, likely as a result of the many energies from Jakes hearth and the refuges hearth it consumed. Jake thought the creature almost looked like a Chinese dragon.

Welcome back, Ira. Congratulations on your growth.

Berri said, Yay, Ira! A snake and a dragon, thats a great combination! Gimme a hug!

Ira and Berri wrapped themselves around each other in a hug, Ira wrapping around her chest and Berri hugging the creature with her arms.

Tandas tail was wagging, as she joined each of the girls, taking turns giving the creature a hug.

Ophelia said, We missed you, Ira. Glad to have you back.

Jake asked, Feeling stronger now, Ira? Do you need some more rest, or?

Ira smirked, sending Jake a feeling of confidence and pride. While the creature still couldnt send words, Jake understood the creatures desires much clearer now. He kept his magic calm, and didnt resist the creatures action against him.

Jake was swallowed with darkness, before being transitioned into the air right above Berri. He fell through the air, Ira, and the other girls moving out of the way. Berri caught him with her chest and arms like catching a stuffed animal, giggling.

Yay! That was cool, Ira. You can deliver Jake to me anytime!

Tanda was all smiles. Yeah! That looks fun. Can you teleport me?

Jake got Iras feelings, and shook his head. It looks like no. Its because of my affinity with the void, and our connection as my familiar. In a pinch, Ira may be able to shift you a little, but Berri is way too big. Ira is better off moving whatever might be attacking you instead, or, doing this.

He took out one of Berris ammunition from his storage bracelet, and threw it at the wall. Ira surrounded it in darkness, and the momentum was removed, causing the object to fall from gravity straight to the ground instead.

Then, a thin tear in space cut through the bowling ball-sized object, slicing it in half.

Ira then shifted between physical reality and the void, becoming visible or invisible, ruffling each of the girls hair or feathers as it rapidly moved around the refuge, snaking around and nudging the girls. It moved rapidly, and if it wrapped its body around something, showed off a powerful constriction.

Ira teleported back in front of them. It raised its chin, proud and filled with triumph.

Tanda and Ophelia clapped. Tanda said, Wow, Ira, youre so cool! I could hardly follow how fast you moved, and I cant even feel where you are!

Blood nodded. Even with my senses, I have a hard time following you, Ira. I guess only Fhesiah can follow it?

Fhesiah said, I can have some trouble with it, too. I had never encountered such a creature, so this is a good experience for me in detecting such a thing.

Jake nodded. He had already learned from Davonius that he needed to improve his magical senses, and did get some time the other day with him. He had helped Dave by trying to improve the lab in Kenwodi, enchanting various cauldrons and tools.

Jake said, The tear in space and teleport moves, it cannot do those frequently in combat. This should be very useful. In that final battle in the HQ, Ira could have just got me out of there, rather than Ophelia having to block the knight with her body.

Tanda was all smiles, her wings pulsing and her tail wagging as she looked at Jake. That means we can do our hunting date then, right? Ira will watch over us?

Ira grinned with a nod, and then entered Jakes chest once more, wrapping itself around his hearth in a coil. He smiled at the creatures presence, having missed it this past week.

Welcome back, my friend. Thanks for always watching over us.

Ira sent a contented smile, and Jake got the impression it was like a cat taking a nap in front of a fireplace. Despite resting, the creatures mind simply worked differently. It would be resting and getting used to its new body, but it would be vigilant.

Jake looked over at Tanda with a smile. He was looking forward to their first date.