Kateri led Lila silently to the very back of the village, ushering her through a small arch in the wall of trees.

  The room beyond was small and empty, save for two seed pods hanging from either side, their soft yellow glow the sole source of illumination. Lila was surprised to recognize the tree sigil engraved into the wood floor — though not as intricate as the one she saw when she awoke, it was still strikingly beautiful.

  Kateri took a knee, placing his hand beneath the sigil as he closed his eyes. The air sweetened as the floor trembled, the sigil’s network of roots and leaves splitting to reveal a short underground passage. Though the corridor was well-lit with the same seed pods as the room, Lila couldn’t help but question Kateri’s intentions. If she went in and he sealed the entrance, she would never be able to escape.

  Kateri, sensing her discomfort, placed his palm to his chest as he spoke, “I swear upon the roots of the forest that this is the way to the High Priest. If it makes you more comfortable, I will leave the entrance open while you converse.”

  Lila could feel the sincerity dripping from every word, but it did almost nothing to quell her apprehension.

  “Will you leave it open and accompany me inside?”

  If Kateri remained outside, he could immediately close the chamber…but if he accompanied her she could potentially hold him hostage to bargain for her release.

  To her relief, Kateri readily agreed, and they both began the descent into the chamber below.

  The first portion of the corridor seemed normal — the stone walls and steps were simple and clean, the seed pods bright. It was only when the steps went flat that she realized something had changed.

  There were threads. At some point the walls had become infested with them, thin silver threads directly woven into the framework of the land. Lila had thought they would unnerve her — they seemed so similar to the vines that tormented her just before. But she was fine. More than fine actually, as they inspired a sense of stability within her. Comfort. As if she was heading home.

  This raised her guard — artificial alteration of her emotions was an extremely concerning sign in a world full of magic.

  As she pondered potential ways to combat the issue the corridor began to widen, the sound of trickling water growing louder with each step.

  When they finally arrived Lila gasped, speechless at the sight.

  Before her was the most stunning underground oasis.

  It was an area full of life, everything from mammals to fish present in perfect harmony. At the edge of a pond grew a brilliant silver tree, gleaming as if made from pure starlight. The leaves sparkled like jewels as they gently swayed, though Lila’s attention was quickly drawn from the top of the ancient silver tree to its roots. They had configured themselves into a grand throne upon which an elf of unbelievable beauty sat, his long silver hair mixing seamlessly into the thinner threads of the root system.

  He smiled, his silken robe fluttering softly as he raised a hand in greeting. All sound stilled in reverence as he began to speak.

  “The forest greets you, Lila.”

  He lowered his hand as he continued, “I apologize for being unable to rise and properly welcome you. I know humans take manners quite seriously.”

  That was when Lila saw it — the connection. Ethereal roots extended from the tree into his exposed back, rendering the High Priest immobile. Lila felt her skin prickle at the similarity between the Priest’s state and those infected by the parasitic vines.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Calm yourself. This is my privilege — I am the mouthpiece through which the Divine Tree communicates with the world.”

  Kateri, who had been silently standing behind her, immediately fell to his knees at these words, his open palm once again held to his chest.

  “Blessed be the Divine Tree. Ranger Kateri greets the Voice of the Forest.”

  The High Priest placed his open palm to his chest as he replied, “The forest greets Ranger Kateri. Thank you for bringing this human and Aleydis to me.”

  “It was my honor.” At this Kateri stood, resuming his silent vigil as the High Priest turned back to address Lila.

  “Lila. The forest asks what you are.”

  Her mouth instantly ran dry at the unexpected question. Fuck. She had thought the High Priest would ask about Aleydis first. How should she respond? It was unlikely she would succeed with deflection or deception with this elf like she had with Kateri. Where was that damn System when she needed it?

  A soft laugh escaped the High Priest’s lips as he looked back to the silver tree, amusement flickering through his green eyes.

  “The forest retracts its question. Though your existence is abnormal, the forest believes you do not mean any harm. That is enough.”

  A current of unease ran through Lila at the complacency of this “forest”. How did it determine that? What did it see in her? She wanted to ask the High Priest to elaborate but…she wouldn’t be able to handle the scrutiny such a question would yield. It was better to accept this mercy.

  The High Priest tilted his head, his ears flicking slightly as he listened to a sound only he could hear. Lila watched as all joy seeped from his expression, replaced instead by heavy melancholy.

  “The forest…extends its apologies to you, Lila. Sanctuary has been revoked for all outsiders due to the…abnormalities that have occurred since the Fall six months ago. But that does not mean your presence is unwelcome. The forest also thanks you for your efforts in saving Aleydis.”

  Lila pursed her lips, a bubble of guilt rising within her throat. “It was nothing.”

  The High Priest smiled at this, preparing to respond when he suddenly stilled. He whipped his head back towards the Divine Tree as Lila noticed ripples begin to form in the nearby pond. Something was happening.

  For a moment everything was still. The animals, the tree, the High Priest, Lila — all were frozen in horrific expectation.

  And then came the scream.

  The calm and composed High Priest let out a guttural screech, lifting his hands to his head to claw at the flesh of his face. Blood splattered across the throne as he continued to wail and writhe, his tortured calls alternating between soft apologies and cries of immense pain.

  Lila could barely breathe as she watched the High Priest grimace, his teeth bloodied by the savagery he committed upon his own face. He reached his hands to his back, as he began to pull at the roots that connected him to the Divine Tree. An awful tearing sound reverberated through the chamber as a spray of blood and silver fluid exploded from his back. Nearby animals screeched as the fluid made contact, collapsing into a twitching heap as if struck by the same excruciating pain.

  “The forest…IT SCREAMS” The High Priest shrieked as he continued to rip apart his roots.

  “IT IS IN AGONY”

  The next thing Lila knew she was being pulled by Kateri back towards the corridor, yelling at her to run. So she did.

  The corridor passed by in a blur as they quickly ascended back up towards the village. Lila could hear the silver threads within the ground pulsing, writhing in that same pain that afflicted the Divine Tree.

  It terrified her.

  When they finally broke the surface, Kateri swiftly closed the path, jamming his palm so harshly to the ground Lila could’ve sworn she heard a crack. Her body continued to tremble even after the sigil closed and cut off those haunting screams. It was too much. She needed to get the hell out of this insane fucking village, this insane fucking forest, this insane fucking world!

  She was going to summon the System. Once she got away from Kateri and was alone, she was going to interrogate that thing until it told her exactly how to escape this nightmare. Yeah.

  All she needed to do was get away.