The scholarly faction of the Sorii Grove sat upon their roots, doing their best to manage the forest in the way that Cicily had instructed before she left. As her aspect was learning, she had long since learned everything she could about the ways to manage such a settlement. That was the reason she felt it was safe to leave in the first place.
However, there would always be unexpected problems that arose. For instance, without Cicily around, there was no longer a source of new potions emerging from the forest. Some of the scholars had attempted to replicate her methods, using the knowledge saved within the tree, but to little effect. Nothing that they created was as revolutionary as the potions Cicily herself brewed.
Without those potions, the forest became isolated from the world’s focus, and people saw the sylvans as little more than glorified gardeners. They did not intrude on the forest itself, as they regularly saw the might of its caretakers when facing invading monsters. But they also did not spend as much time and effort communicating with it anymore.
Over the years that had passed, the Sorii Grove had completed its task of making the planet livable. At this point, there were numerous open-air cities constructed throughout the planet at key resource sites. Many of these cities were located only just barely outside of the forest itself, so that they could harvest valuable minerals hidden underground beneath the roots of the trees.
As such… it was no wonder that there were shrines to the Greater Pantheon located within these cities. Within the Church of the Wanderer, a temple dedicated to the worship of Aurivy built within the original settlement of Sorii, a golden portal arose. This was a common sight to the followers of the halfling goddess, so they paid little mind to the event, only curious about the identity of this time’s traveler.
It must be known that while the travel via Aurivy’s temple was widely known, it was typically cheaper to take the dimensional gates for transit. Unless they were on Fyor, or within an underdeveloped region, it was rare for people to actually use this method. It was, after all, quite expensive.
Just as they were wondering which wealthy noble or businessman it was using this portal, they saw a golden figure emerging, her body covered in a dress of vines and leaves. When she saw the demonic priest standing nearby, she furrowed her brow in focus. As she did so, a faintly distorted voice emerged in the demon’s mind.
Is this the land of Sorii? The golden-skinned woman asked, eliciting a nod from the demon. When she received that confirmation, a smile blossomed on the face of the woman, who quickly turned and fled from the temple.
As she left, the demon couldn’t help but remember the stories of a special type of sylvan, one that had left this world many years ago, and had not appeared again since. For a moment, he even wondered if this was Cicily, but then recalled that the sylvans he knew of were able to speak, as opposed to what she had just shown.
Ratan ran through the city happily, eyes sweeping over the metallic and glass forms. It all felt so different from what she was used to, it was almost surreal. However, at the same time, she knew that she needed to quickly reach the forest, and share the knowledge she had with the local tree. She was not the only sister who wanted to visit this world.
Within Lorek, at the southern edge of the continent and at the heart of the great forest, the great forest stood tall and strong against any monsters that approached it. The star beasts below the realm of Immortal Demon could only watch helplessly as the roots of the trees moved in an almost mystical pattern.
The entire forest radiated an aura mixed with fire and life, an astral glow lighting it even in the darkest night. Such was the power of the cultivation system that the grove practiced, training themselves as one entity through the connection they shared with the forest. And at its heart was Narissa of Growth, meditating atop her lonely branch.
Even with the accelerated growth speed offered by her aspect, there had not yet been another golden sister born from the tree. There were still many more years to wait before she would have anyone that she could properly hold a conversation with.
Although she could communicate with the sylvans of other colors, it was… unfulfilling. While they did have intelligence, they only had a low level of self-awareness. Each served more as an extension of the forest as opposed to an individual being. In times of strife, that indeed made it easier for them to cooperate, acting with one thought. But, when the world was at peace, the solitude became stifling.
There had been many times when Narissa contemplated leaving the forest for a short venture to other inhabited areas. From the tallest branch of the mother tree, she could even see such settlements in the far distance. The problem was that the forest could not properly act without her there to guide it. While the others were seen as extensions of the forest, its arms and legs, she was its heart. Leaving the forest would cause it to be bereft of its ability to properly defend itself in times of emergency.
And so, she could do nothing but sit and meditate, hoping to encounter another band of travelers. After having given it some thought, she should have given an invitation to the last band that passed, telling them that she would offer safe harbor to those in need. Perhaps doing so would provide her with the company that she desired.
As she was thinking about that, she felt a faint disturbance within the forest, her eyes shooting open. A presence had appeared, one both familiar and foreign at the same time. Narissa stood from her meditation, walking out to the end of her branch and focusing her vision.
In the far distance, she could see a glowing dot approaching the forest at high speeds. Has Dana come to talk? She asked herself, a smile growing on her face. As the only one in this world near godhood, Dana had paid a visit weeks ago to meet her. Although Dana looked as if she had lost all hope, she was still the most interesting conversation partner that Narissa had spoken with.
Yet, something seemed different about the golden light flying towards her. It did not feel the same as Dana. Rather, it felt more… pure, as if she was not witnessing the arrival of a half-god, but the advent of a true deity. From the depths of her being, Narissa had an instinctive desire to prostrate herself when first seeing this light, but managed to withstand this urge.
When the light came closer, Narissa saw that it was another golden sylvan, much like herself. Moreover, it was one that had a faint presence in the memories of her tree. Sadly, her mother was not of an aspect that could easily pass down knowledge, so Narissa still did not know this stranger’s name.
Once the stranger noticed her, the golden light flickered, and an additional figure stepped onto the branch of the tree where Narissa waited. The moment that golden foot made contact with the tall branch, information flooded into Narissa’s mind. Philia? She asked mentally, as if testing the name.
Philia nodded her head in response, transferring the information about what was needed of the grove. The temple that they had to build. Although it took Narissa a few moments to process the information, she readily agreed as if this had been what she was waiting for all along.
At the same time… Philia looked at Narissa with something akin to pity. While she was transferring the information over, she also had the chance to review what was already stored within the tree. She saw Narissa’s loneliness, her need to communicate with someone, anyone. Philia walked forward, wrapping her arms around Narissa’s surprised form. Gracia had a good daughter…
Narissa didn’t know why those words hit her as strongly as they did, but found her arms coming up to hug this sylvan goddess, her shoulders shaking faintly. For the first time in her life, she felt as if she had met someone that understood her, someone that she could speak to on any level.
Will you stay around? She asked hopefully, eventually releasing Philia from her embrace. The thought of losing the only other person like her caused more dread than she thought it should have.
Until the temples are completed. Philia nodded her head in agreement. I’ll be using my power to help speed things along. After it’s done, I’ll take you back with me, and ask one of the other sisters to watch the forest for a little while.
Hearing that Philia would leave so soon almost broke Narissa’s heart. However, hearing that she would have the chance to go with her seemed to be the silver lining behind a dark cloud. The younger sylvan nodded her head eagerly, looking as if she would do anything to get what Philia had just promised her.
By the way… Philia looked at her with a somewhat complicated expression. You are the sylvan of Growth, aren’t you? How are you practicing the cultivation path of Wood?
As a goddess, and one who had reached her level by walking the path of cultivation, Philia had the ability to tell what path Narissa was cultivating after being in contact with her for only a few moments. Yet, this baffled her, as the common sense she knew dictated that each sylvan could only cultivate the path that they were born with.
Narissa beamed a wide smile as she realized that she had the chance to share information with what should be considered her senior in almost every aspect. Growth is only just one of many aspects of Wood. By incorporating my own path into the path of Wood, I was able to practice it together with my forest.
Despite the explanation, Philia’s eyes only went wider. Your entire forest cultivates this path?
This time, it was Narissa’s turn to be confused. Isn’t it normal for the forest to cultivate as one?
Philia simply shook her head, sitting down with Narissa to explain things to her. Your future sisters… their paths have already been set since before you were born. If the entire forest cultivates the same path, and their own path is incompatible, they will be unable to join you on it. In my forest, we assign the paths for everyone to practice based on a variety of factors. Everyone gets something related to their job, and that way there will be something for the future sisters to learn from later.
Narissa’s golden face seemed to lose a bit of its color when she heard that. Have I made a mistake…? She knew that it was no easy thing to undo the cultivation of the forest. Yet, she already had millions of individuals within her forest practicing this method. How would she manage to fix this before it was too late?
Philia reached an arm out to hold Narissa by the waist, comforting her. I’ll try to reorganize things. When the new sylvans are born, don’t start them on the path of wood. I’ll set up different districts of the forest and help prepare you for your sisters. As the Goddess of Cities, this is something that I can do.
Cities…? Narissa looked at her in confusion. The forest is a city now?
Philia cleared her throat awkwardly, glancing off to the side. A city is merely a place with a defined boundary, a large population, and local governing figures. We have the boundary of the forest, the population of sylvans, and we ourselves are the governing figures. As long as I look at it like that, this place is our city, is it not?
