In the Hui's chieftain's tent on the outskirts of the Wellspring Glades, Seir reserved her energies as best as she could, despite the slight exaggeration she had done just recently. Her spherical form hummed with power and could last for several days with her full potential. Bantsa, the chieftain resembling a strong baboon had just entered the tent to speak, taking a knee once before the wisp.
"Your Grace, I see that the spirit was found."
"For just a moment, so it seemed. Your warriors cowered, chieftain." Seir said with clear dissatisfaction.
And that struck hard on the veteran warrior. "My humble apologies. Not all of my warriors have faced guardian spirits before, but all of them are well-trained to capture him without much harm."
"Bantsa," Seir dismissed the apology. "Now that I am empowered temporarily, I can sense the guardian spirit in the Inkwater Marsh, but I am not able to pinpoint him. Tell your forces to be cautious against this guardian spirit. He has a deep connection with my sister, Sein. This makes things much more difficult."
"Understood. What else should we know about him?"
"I cannot afford conflict with the Light of Peace so be meticulous for the capture. As far as I can tell, he cares about the lowborn of the glades. Keep vigilance of that place, and if he is found there, use whatever means to make him surrender. I want him without a single bruise, do you understand?" Seir spoke firmly, but also calmly.
"Yes, it shall be done." Bantsa respectfully retreated to reorganize their efforts. The old monkey burned with rage within. This spirit would pay dearly for defeating the scouts. The same mistake won't happen again.
…
Ori finally found a place to hide from all Hui's scouts roaming about. He began to ponder, trying to catch his breath, this marsh is not really safe anymore. Just like Howl had said… But why? Ori was distressed about this. He would love to spend some time relaxing with the folk of the glades and be squeezed by the children, but now Ori wasn't certain if any of that would be possible.
Kwolok! Of course, Kwolok must have the means to help this discordance. If Ori has to fight the Hui's warriors, they will die. Which is terribly impacting on the young spirit's heart. Ori scurries swiftly through the marsh's dense vegetation and dashes from spot to spot, silently moving in the murky pools and always checking for environmental disturbances.
There were frequent problems since Ori had to take another route to the glades. The corrupt bugs were very free and roaming about mindlessly. Ori could not take combat against these creatures. It will draw attention, will take energy to deal with, and will put Ori in a risky spot. Without mentioning the mantises and skittles all had lethal blades or possible venoms.
Ori heard movements not far from him. "I see a trail over here!" A voice screams to their comrades. "It's from a hooved creature. Bipedal. We are on the right track."
This wasn't good. Behind the spirit was another band that sounded an alarm and in front were diverse of these deadly insectoids. What to do?!
Ori is visited by a tiny dragonfly. One that flies around him ensuring the spirit has noticed it. Then, it lands on the spirit's head. Ori first had the intention to shoo it away, but as the dragonfly decided to rest there of all places, it was a fortunate event. All the insects get riled up and turn in Ori's direction. It spooked Ori to brace himself, now he has to fight that horde of bugs!
Yet the mantises, the flying skittles, and many spiked slimes charge past the spirit like he wasn't even there to encounter the Hui's warriors. And so it happens. The band is interrupted by a sudden attack. "Look out! Insect charge incoming!" And a battle began.
Ori did not know why all those bugs ignored him like that. He wasn't hidden to a point that he considered being completely unseen. He is a spirit that shines with the essence of Light! But soon Ori considered the little dragonfly on his head that took flight again and roamed around the spirit. "Was it you?" He asked the dragonfly and naturally received no response.
Ori had no time to lose, so he continued pushing forward to reach the glades without being noticed.
Someone with bright green eyes has been watching the spirit's struggles since his return to the Inkwater Marsh. Wearing a cloak to cover herself and with an ability to command insect life, Miria rooted for Ori.
With that help, Ori had finally arrived. The Wellspring Glades. "Finally, I am he–" Ori is suddenly pulled to a nearby bush and silenced.
"Shhh… careful." A voice said, somewhat familiar. The hand that covered Ori's mouth had many cyan feathers and Ori realized who it was. Tokk! "Hey there. champ. I don't want to rain on your parade, but many fans are searching for you, squork."
The wandering cyan Quito from that storming night! A bird species from the lands of Friol. Ori was given the freedom to move and speak as he calmed down and peered through the bushes to see what was happening. And it was as he feared. The Hui tribe deployed several warriors that roam and guard the glades in many places. It is now under heavy vigilance. What about the locals, where are the mokis? Where is everyone?
"Tokk, where is everyone?" Ori asked quietly. "Why are you hiding here?"
"Aye. Lily and I were not very well received by the Hui guys when we arrived to chill. They seem to be after a guardian spirit. As for the others, all are stuck inside their houses afraid of leaving." Tokk explained. "Which is a shame, the mokis must feel so bored."
Tokk continued, "I felt like it would be wise of me to warn you about that. I figured that you'd be arriving soon so I waited in hiding."
The people of the glades are being impacted because of Ori. The young spirit felt terrible knowing this, they don't have anything to do with this nonsense!
"I get that you are agitated. But man, I don't recommend getting in there. Kwolok also is not home."
Ori's ears perk hearing that. "What? Where is Kwolok!?" This was of utmost importance, Kwolok should be the only one with the power to clean up this mess.
Tokk adjusted the chewing stalk on his large beak "Unfortunately, I dunno. When I arrived this mess was already half… happening?"
Looking from outside nobody would suspect a bush with a large yellow beak sticking out or its 'glowy' nature. A Hui approached the peculiar bush to investigate but vines sprouted from the ground, silencing and coiling the tribesman warrior until a great plant maw appeared and swallowed them whole. All in a quiet few seconds.
"Tokk!" Ori poked the crazy bird, owner of the great plant to inform them of the gravity that she is eating others.
"Relax, Lily can not digest such big prey, but… she can keep them quiet for a while before spitting them out."
Oh, that was true, Ori breathed relieved. At least Ori had to believe it for now. "Fine, but I will check with you later. Do not kill anybody!"
"Aye, aye. I get ya. But what are you gonna do?"
Ori did not know. Where would Kwolok be right now? Since when could he leave his spot if he served as a pseudo-spirit tree to nurture these parts? An answer naturally came but in the form of a moki.
"Help! Someone, please help!" A moki called out in desperation and pushed through the many warriors who tried to deter her. Ori locked eyes on this particular, distressed moki and she was familiar. Ori became more agitated, worried about the warriors and what they were going to do to her. Ori wanted to recall her name, she is one of the caretakers!o
"Cut it out! What is happening!?" A warrior pacified the distressed moki, who began to speak.
"Kwolok is in grave danger! We need reinforcements to protect him from that monster that harms our waters!" She exclaimed, rushing with urgency upon a difficult scenario. And Ori heard it. Felt the urgency upon listening to the toad's name. Ori wanted to jump down there immediately but tried to hold firm.
"Hush!" The warrior made her calm down. "Nobody will do anything if you won't stop yelping!"
"But you must help us! Without Kwolok our crops, our waters, everything we have will wither!"
"None of our business! We take no orders from your kind."
The moki growled, "You uneducated buffoon. Can't you understand for once how dire this is?"
The warrior slammed the moki's face with the back of his fist, forcing her to the ground and all the other warriors laughed. All those who were confined in their homes watched in terror, but none could step in to help.
This is Meena, Ori remembered. The moki that was beside Mokk during his first arrival in the glades! She dedicates herself to the well-being of that large group of orphan children! Though watching her reception there was nothing but insulting, Ori felt the rage stir him enough to want to beat down the tribesman. But then arrived a new Hui that made all the other warriors align in salutation. One larger and brute-looking, carrying the usual enchanted staff and a large totem on his back. Many knew the chieftain of the Hui tribe, Bantsa. Many knew that he was a difficult person to deal with. And Bantsa directed himself to Meena, who was pleading for something.
"What is the reason for this tumult?" He began, questioning Meena, who at that point was seething by the disrespect she had or how blatantly they ignored the importance of Kwolok. She went face to face with the chieftain, showing no trace of hesitation or fear.
"Kwolok is in danger! Spare some of your forces to protect the last remaining good-hearted being that can nurture life in this hellhole."
All the warriors react uncomfortably before her bold, wrathful words. Bantsa knew very little about her but agreed she did have the guts to talk like that. Bantsa scans around, looking for something but is unsuccessful.
"Where is my son?"
"Doing what is right. Opher is the only decent Hui, apparently."
The people around prayed that Meena would control her words before she was punished. Meena was fairly known in the glades to be very vocal about her frustration with the past of Niwen. Since her difficult childhood, Meena studied every piece available to her, every archive, and every scroll about the rule of Seir and the suffering that endured after the withering began. Meena hated Seir for as long as she could remember. The empty reasons to start a war, and to let the forest suffer its consequences were unforgivable.
The Hui too was on the list of her critics. The tribe had inflated a stupid sense of superiority because they were loyal followers. An ego that they use to abuse those who cannot defend themselves. Kwolok was the one who kept them in check. However, the absence of the great toad gave room for them to apply 'safety' as they saw fit.
As proof, Bantsa just sneered. This little moki was very brave to say all that. And his attitude was ever obnoxious to her.
"I will wait for that fool. As for your request, I will not endanger my tribe. Begone."
"You can't be serious." Meena lashed out. "Are you gonna stand there and rot like the rest of your idiotic tribe? Awaiting orders? Are you gonna pray to Seir when Decay reaches your front door?" Meena continued, sparing no word, holding nothing back to make her frustration clear.
"You swore to protect this forest, or swore to protect your oblivious god!?"
That was a point of no return. A moki had no right to talk to loyal followers like that, but she did not care about these rules. Mokis were treated like a lowborn species most of the time. So many things that mokis endured because of the mistakes of others. Meena was the embodiment of all that stress and she was one courageous enough to say it.
And wasn't afraid of the punishment that would follow.
"Kwolok has made his choice," Bantsa replied coldly, striking his staff at the ground to make a strong and imposing sound. "Niwen does not need a voice that does not speak for the Light."
Meena already expected to hear such insolence. She tightened her fists, and clenched her teeth, but knew she was impotent to do anything. She has no claws, no sharp fangs, or brute strength. Mokis are prey in the food chain. So few mokis were trained in combat in the past, and they did not prove to be good enough to withstand the challenges.
Bantsa looked down at her. "Little moki, your bloodline was blessed with the gift of Seir. How can you be such a disappointment to your ancestors?"
There it was. Another point that Meena hated was her own golden eyes. Meena's great, great-grandparents of generations ago did something to earn a grain of Seir's light, changing the natural eye color to the bright yellow that so many have today. To some it means prestige, it means protection, status. Power.
To Meena, naturally, it means nothing. Merely a genetic alteration. Maybe shackles that Seir could harness at any moment.
"I would pluck out my eyes if that wouldn't make the children sad. I would crawl the rest of my life blind if it meant being free from the stain that you call a blessing."
"Enough!" Bantsa strikes the ground again, creating a noticeable shockwave, but that does not make Meena waver. "You shall be sentenced to execution for your disrespect towards Her Grace. Disrespect towards her loyal followers and insulting language."
Two warriors come to immobilize Meena and make her drop to her knees. Not that Meena had a chance against them, but she did not drop without a fight. "Your days of superiority will end, Bantsa! You will yet face someone of your size and realize that Seir does not care about you!" Tears began to stream down her face and Bantsa himself would be the executioner. He lifted the blessed staff to strike her head with a single blow.
"This is the fate of all who disrespect the might of Her Grace!"
Meena thought of the children she cared for together with Mokk and others. The meals she prepared for them and the time she dedicated to giving their childhoods everything she did not have. At least… She said everything she wanted. Spoke true to her heart.
She just did not want to see the children cry… when they witnessed her incoming end.
Bantsa swung down with such tremendous force that the earth trembled. The warriors cheered to their chieftain. And none caught sight of the dashing blue flames that rescued Meena at the last second.
Ori took Meena away from the strike's range and raged at such disrespect toward life. Bantsa smirked. "Oh? There you are. Her Grace was right after all."
Meena had no words as she saw her savior seethe just like she did. The guardian spirit…had arrived. Her tears could not stop.
"Who is the villain here!?" Ori exclaimed aloud. "Not even Decay shuns life as you do. You are worse than it. You crown yourselves as protectors and brazenly ignore the calling of the innocent people! Have you no shame upon yourselves!?"
Long seconds of silence dominated the place. The rageful speech of Ori had frozen the majority of the Hui's warriors. The people of the glades who were once too scared to pronounce themselves had a splinter of courage upon the spirit's appearance and challenging words. That raised their hopes, and they started to leave their homes and gather in protest. Bantsa was losing control over the rabble because a mere boy spoke a little too loud. It pissed the chieftain.
"Bold words for an outsider." Bantsa stepped forward, preparing for battle and wielding the totem. "Yet, empty coming from a means to an end. Surrender. Don't make it harder for yourself."
Ori placed Meena at a safe distance and faced the Hui chieftain head-on, mustering all his mastery over the flames of purification, giving no intent in surrendering peacefully. What Howl had said struck Ori like an arrow. What he just witnessed was miles from an acceptable treatment coming from what Ori expected to be at least honorary warriors.
Howl was correct. The Wellspring Glades aren't safe. Not with the Hui tribe manifesting order like tyrants. They should be protectors as Kwolok had said. How on earth do they have the audacity to simply reach such a conclusion to kill a moki expressing themselves? Asking for help?
How could they!?
Bantsa smirked anew, happy to make a demonstration, and put the lowborn in their place. He roared furiously, slamming his chest and accepting the challenge. "I am Bantsa! Former disciple of the Archlancer Zerin! Grand chieftain of the Hui tribe! Prepare yourself!" Bantsa strikes the earth with the totem and everything trembles as a show of his ridiculous strength.
"And I am the disciple of the coolest artist ever." Ori readied himself. "You shall be humbled down from your pedestal."
Ori and Bantsa stared at one another steadily, awaiting the opponent to falter for an instant or make a move. The atmosphere becomes crushingly tense. They haven't even clashed, yet others gulped in dry. Meanwhile, Tokk was ready to unleash Lily on the surrounding forces of the Hui tribe. Ready to try to ease things up for the innocent people. He just awaited the fight to start. Bantsa is a real threat to Lily, so he has to be occupied.
"Tell me. Have you found any survivors of the Noy tribe?" Bantsa suddenly asked, forcing Ori to be cautious.
"I found nothing but a devastated landscape. One that I dare believe you are connected to."
Bantsa covers his face with one hand, releasing a short laugh like he recalled good memories. "The Noy were our rivals for generations. We were so similar but so different in our customs, our ways. Even our ancestors had settled a healthy relationship among the tribes. Creating sports and whatnot. Can you imagine?" More laughter filled the air.
Ori doesn't move or talk. He wasn't amused either.
"But then after a while, everything changed."
The chieftain picked up a rock on the ground and crushed it to dust. "An opportunity to prove ourselves in true combat lit up our true destiny. No more petty sports! No more of all those wastes of time! I found joy in breaking this fragile alliance between the tribes. It felt good to crush them with the aid of the army of Seir! To feel whole in a much greater purpose!" The large chieftain bolstered proudly.
"Once they realized their crushing defeat, they fled, but not before Her Grace was struck somehow. Those defilers were given the opportunity to embrace greatness and look at what they brought upon themselves. See what they did to Niwen!"
"Niwen has been damaged by the Light! The shadows only fought to survive!" Ori argued back.
"Is that so?" The chieftain mused, so there are survivors. "Is that what those scoundrels told you? How I wish to crush you like they were!" Each provoking word would push Ori to a greater rageful temper.
"But it doesn't matter. They can do nothing now but cower like rats, however numerous they may be. Andronius may prowl these fields, but he'll never dare to hunt us!" Bantsa laughed again. "Do you realize how powerful Her Grace truly is? Can you grasp how strong we became by swearing our loyalty!? I will happily give you a demonstration."
Ori was disturbed by how Bantsa simply explained how joyful it is to destroy relationships for power. "You are sick to the core," Ori said deadly serious.
A dragonfly flew above the fighting site, scanning the many tribesmen present and the crowd of mokis and others that had begun borrowing courage from the spirit and opposed the oppressing forces of the Hui. Naturally, the entirety of the Wellspring Glades rooted for Ori.
Miria watched through this dragonfly and wasn't thrilled about the fight that would storm down in the middle of the village. This battle will be problematic. The dragonfly flew erratically. It will cost too much for the villagers! Miria stirred the insect crawlers available in the marsh and asked them to dig their way to the Wellspring glades to impede the fighters. It perhaps will cost her the lives of many of them, but so be it!
But events take a wild turn. The sound of thunder arrived suddenly. A great flash of lightning drew attention. The Light of Bravery herself made a thundering appearance. The villagers, the warriors, and the fighters, all give due attention to the real, imposing being that could eradicate them all. Fear froze everyone that wasn't about to fight. The villagers couldn't catch a break.
Seir herself had come. That could not mean anything good. The shining orb of light flew in, hovering closer and closer to the fighters until it went to the Hui's chieftain.
"Bantsa!" Her voice echoed powerfully and harsher than the chieftain had ever heard. He took a knee before her as a sign of respect.
"Your Grace, I swear that I intended no harm upon the guardian spirit! I sought only to place order among these riled-up lowborns!"
Ori discovered that he could not move. A static field of electricity ran across the earth, paralyzing him and all others. Neither could Meena who for the first time could lay eyes on the person that was the heart of all their problems. The wisp of Niwen, conscious at last. Meena wanted to go there and question her but even if she could, it wouldn't end well.
"I require your forces to change focus." Seir requested. "A group of invaders have entered Niwen to the east. Intercept and vanquish them!"
With the order given, Bantsa dutifully obeyed "It shall be done immediately!" He roared for the entire tribe to follow him. Energized with power, all the Hui go to their new demanding task, leaving the people of the glades alone. The word invaders sparks curiosity among the people, including Ori, but nothing could be done about it.
With them gone, Seir then moved to Ori, flying close to him. "Brave spirit, finally I can meet you in person. For a nibelian, I am quite impressed." She said intrigued. Ori could feel like he was being caressed by her light energy, like a pair of hands roamed about his body, tingling his nerves wherever her light touched. "To stand before so many foes in the protection of the weak is admirable. To work so hard to repair the Wellspring Mill and journey to the Silent Woods and return unharmed is memorable." Seir hovered closer to Ori's face.
"And waste of time as well. If only Kwolok had been useful… You would now be on your way to take your new place among the legends of Niwen." She said softly and went to the moki behind him, the moki that had a lot to say.
"Alas, things do go as we often wish, isn't that so, Meena? No matter how you choose to see me, I never wanted Niwen to suffer in such a state. No matter what you believe, your mortal mind can't comprehend what I seek to restore. That said, I will make an exception for your rebellious show today. You are intelligent, brave, and heroic day by day. The service you do for the children, in this village is commendable. Your ancestors are proud of you."
Meena wanted to turn her face away. These words meant little to help the state of the forest. The wisp of Niwen spent years in slumber and now is back without ever explaining her decision to ignite a war years ago or how she was struck down from her seat on the Spirit Willow. And worse, Meena could fear that Seir learned nothing from these events, which brings a question that begs to be asked: will history repeat itself once she returns to power?
"I won't commit the same mistake again. I assure you of it." Seir read the moki. What mistake? Meena felt the urge to ask Seir but she was paralyzed, unable to do so. The wisp leaves her behind right after, going back to the spirit that she is so interested in.
"This time… I will have order." She said grimly.
Seir's lightning field remains active but surprisingly one breaks free from the stasis. Ori burns away the jolting currencies keeping him frozen.
"Seir!" Ori called and luckily, Seir was listening. The Light of Bravery, the culprit of many of the disorders that fell before Niwen as Ori was informed. "What in the name of the Light are you doing?"
Seir doesn't respond to the question despite feeling provoked.
"I have hundreds of questions to ask you. But I simply fail to understand... Do you know how many you've hurt? Do you know how many suffer today? Why did you rage a war? What drove you to this?"
Seir shined brighter, sparks of lightning escaping as something Ori said made her angrier. "My wish has always been to see Niwen prosper and grow. To erase the evil of Decay here and beyond. My actions would ensure the greater good of all. Until I met betrayal from my most loyal companion."
Seir pauses shortly and Ori is able to confirm that an ally indeed removed her from her seat of power.
"Guardian spirit, do not waste time. You understand what is required."
Ori could guess what Seir wanted but showed defiance. "I do not understand a single thing! All I have learned so far is that you were a great factor to prejudice this land and its inhabitants. You killed those Hui warriors for nothing. You give those tyrants the liberty to wreak havoc as they see fit."
Ori took a moment. "You attacked the dark owls, subjugated the Noy tribe. Made the niweni spirits kill rampantly for you. For what reason?"
Even when questioned to such a level, Seir still doesn't answer anything. Seconds passed as Ori anticipated anything from the Light of Bravery, yet she just hovered there with her light shifting subtly with every question going her way.
"I sought to give all a chance…" Seir said softly, as she was reflecting about herself. "I orchestrated the creation of many great warriors, perfect soldiers. Ever loyal. If they cooperated, if they had pledged themselves to me..."
For that fleeting moment, Seir appeared to be reachable. Ori pushed forward. "Tell me, what happened?"
Seir then shifts again, returning to her imposing self. "You waste your time. My time. in that frivolous search of yours, guardian spirit, you endanger this land with each passing second – for nothing."
"You call my wish to find my family frivolous?"
"Family?" Seir repeated, bitterly. "Now I see… How things are unruly out there… You share a sibling relationship with a dark owl."
Ori noticeably hesitates a moment. How? Maybe the prophecy might have revealed that already. Ori couldn't keep pondering. "Is it too alien for you?"
"Abandon those false fantasies, child. Guardian spirits don't have families. They have a duty and nothing more. You can lie to yourself as much as you want, the Light of Peace is too soft to see the threats of our world. Blind to raise arms against our enemy."
Seir continued, "Instead, she insists and allows spirits to be free and mingle with lower races. Forming bonds and families and wasting the opportunity to hone their talents for combat. How deplorable it is seeing your state and how inefficient Sein is to command her spirits. Every other nation must be exactly the same. They are so incapable that I need to do it all myself."
Ori had to understand the meanings between the lines. One thing was clear, Seir sees the Light as superior to all and her duty is above all things. All for the sake of fighting Decay? How extreme can she be? Yet, insulting Sein was something Ori would not permit, talking back a pinching truth.
"Sein, inefficient? Nibel has spirits, Seir. Something Niwen has not because of your actions."
"Silence!" Seir thundered. "I will not suffer this insolence. Not by you or anyone. Our time runs short – I will claim what is mine. You will take your rightful destiny as my soulbind. Bringing forth the renewal of Niwen for me. So my mission can proceed. No matter how long it takes."
Ori stood valiant until those last words as Seir flew high into the air, shining so brightly that Ori had to shield his eyes. The brightness quickly fades and Seir's appearance changes much like how Sein could dom a spirit form to amplify her powers. It is the ultimate form of combat a wisp can take.
Ori watched in shock. Seir really would reserve no energy.
Her spirit form was valorous like a valkyr in gold and red, showy and fitting for a maiden of battle. Seir had a large pair of silver feathery wings on her back and wore various golden armor plates over her body. The plates of her waist also displayed down a long and red silk cloth. She branded a radiant sword and a round shield along with a golden and winged helmet that showed her glowing eyes of the same color. Casting down her powerful gaze.
Feathers drift slowly downward as Seir's stepped on the earth. Such a vision was breathtaking but also so scary. Ori became anxious. Why did she transform? Does Seir intend to fight, here and now? No way he can go against an empowered wisp! What if she attacks the villagers? All because she requires a new spirit tree?
Fortunately or not for Ori, Seir needed not to use intimidation or hostages. As her very glorious presence suddenly silenced Ori's thoughts. Seir calmly moved forward.
"What I did, was for the better for our world. The shadows are only a fodder to Decay. A looming threat disguised as innocents." Her words were much more soothing, and graceful like an angel. With every step she took, Ori's heartbeat took alarming haste but his body relaxed in her presence. Ori knew he had to move, his instinct yelled at the back of his mind, but the body disobeyed.
"In time, you will understand, but now, I require you to take a fundamental step for Niwen. You will become our hero. Songs about your bravery will span for years to come."
Seir's sword and shield disappear as she closes in enough to reach out and warmly caress and hold Ori's face. Her hand, her touch radiated an enchanting grace. One that quickly tranquilized Ori like the sound of a calm heartbeat. Her light mesmerized him greatly, seeking not only to soothe the mind but control it. Seir was met with resistance, ever so slightly pitiful from him, and furthermore, a seal left by Sein, prevented Seir from taking full control. A nuisance, but It shouldn't take long as her power was caringly injected into him. Once the seal is broken, Sein might be alerted, a risk Seir would take happily. Ori progressively lost sight of the world around him. Seir was everything his eyes could capture. He would definitely call her beautiful if he could.
"You will earn the most sacred of rites known to spirit-kind. You shall ascend. You shall be one with me."
Her words danced in his mind ever so invitingly as Ori's instincts were being quelled, soon to harness control. She will first override memories and silence his consciousness. To then implant new thoughts and new goals that Ori would obediently follow, slowly but surely, taking her time.
But Seir is interrupted by a falling spear that lands between the two, cutting Seir's connection to Ori and forcing her away. In that same instant, a blackish figure lands on the field picks up the spear, and hurls it at Seir. This time she defends the spear with her shield and once able to look around, Ori and Meena have vanished. Seir was impressed, that was way too fast. Way too precise. There was only one that Seir knew that could wield a spear of this caliber. And seeing the weapon slowly disappearing, she recognized it.
"Zerin…" She said with a shred of sadness in her voice before she opened her wings wide. "You were once my greatest spirit."
Seir vanishes in a flash of thunder, at last freeing the villagers of the Wellspring Glades from their paralysis.
…
Ori's mind began to recover from the intruding power of Seir and returned to consciousness. A moki called his name, shaking him. His blurred vision could focus again, and his body moved.
"Thank the light!" Meena said, relieved, helping Ori to recover fully. Ori accepted her help, standing back up and feeling mostly normal again. His location was definitely different. Bubbles of air flew around, and there was a scent similar to the sea. There was no beach. There was no actual sea, but many pools, waterfalls, and a pinkish coral flora painting what his eyes could see.
"Where… are we?" Ori asked slowly.
"You did not follow as I ordered..." Zerin said close by, drawing Ori's attention.
"Zerin. What, what happened?!" Ori asked as Meena was fairly scared of the armored and corrupted spirit, but also willing to hear what he had to say since he took them away from Seir. The name Zerin wasn't unfamiliar to her due to her studies. Zerin was a historical figure to Niwen. Said to be the most skillful fighter to ever walk this land.
"He took us away from Seir. Don't you remember?" Meena replied. And Ori's eyes widen as it comes back to him like an avalanche. Seir was there. She transformed and things became foggy from there on. He couldn't remember much from the point she touched him.
"You almost got captured by Seir's mind control." Zerin imparts. "A power every wisp has to seize complete control from spirit-kind. Though she couldn't do it instantly it seemed. Thank the entity that protected you at that moment. Otherwise, you'd be gone, like the rest of my brothers and sisters."
"Mind control?" Ori was almost speechless, Sein had told him about that years ago. Standing still was difficult as he lacked balance every now and then. But he did understand that he was saved at that moment. "Thank you. I… will be more careful."
"There is no such thing as being careful. You lack the will to face a wisp. You lack the strength to strike back. Do you want to help our people? Then deny Seir your soul."
Ori became pensive, not wanting to think about it, but that thought returned. Ori had to become a spirit tree. With none other than with Seir. "You mean… The prophecy… I am to become–"
Zerin stared Ori dead in the face. "Did you feel thrilled? Did you feel honored? Are you prepared to become the next Spirit Tree of Niwen? Seir has chosen you and will not reconsider."
The sounds of waterfalls and the many bubbles were soothing but so overwhelmingly loud as Ori became completely lost before the question. Ori had no answer. He felt frozen and tense once again.
"Hey, pull yourself together. I did tell you to leave, didn't I?"
Ori recovered, breathing in a slight haste. "I cannot leave! Not yet. I know that life here is hanging by a thread. Something must be done before it breaks."
Zerin takes a moment to calm down, sighing. "Commendable as it may be, I will put it simply: Seir is not your friend. That much I believe you understood."
Menna stepped in, trying to be as respectful as possible, "Sir Zerin, is it possible to prevent Seir from recovering her full power? Because I fear that history is fated to repeat itself."
"It will repeat itself without a doubt. However, some problems need to be solved if we are to have success, little moki. Niwen will undoubtedly change. And it will depend on the following events to decide if fate is kind to us all."
"Miria and I will do everything possible in our power before it is too late for us. Can I trust you to keep him out of her reach?"
Meena looks at Ori before returning to Zerin and noticing the other familiar name. "Miria? The grand researcher of Niwen? She is alive?"
Zerin doesn't respond, looking afflicted. Miria 'lives' under a certain condition that Zerin wouldn't really call living. Just like himself. The silence prolonged as Meena opted to answer his question. "Yes. Yes, of course."
It all sounded strange to discuss things with a being corrupted. To discuss denying a wisp her powers that might be the only way to banish Decay. It all felt far too weird to Ori. Beyond that, the taint of Decay is all over Zerin, yet he must be coming from a long way to know what he is saying. Perhaps Zerin does not hear the maddening whispers. He has his will intact, unlike Iyo.
"Zerin, how do you resist the corruption of Decay?" Ori asked independently if it was a matter to be discussed and thankfully Zerin did not deny Ori of the knowledge. As it is something Zerin is constantly focused on.
"It is a matter of willpower and how you keep yourself occupied to ignore the whispers. I am not immune to them, but I am fighting to stay in control."
Ori paid close attention to the bit of knowledge regarding corruption. "Then you're in an unending battle. How can you do this?"
"It is a battle that eventually we will lose. Decay plays differently with each being it grasps. Sometimes one becomes a thrall easily, sometimes it takes time to rot away the resistance. Then events lead to what you may remember with Iyo. In my or Miria's case, it is just that we still have a will to fight it. For now, Miria and I will support you and the others however we can."
Ori realized that Zerin had limited time before he'd turn. And visibly showed this worry. It was annoying how Ori behaved, making Zerin impatient. This was not important right now, yet it was just the young spirit's nature to worry about others, Zerin supposed. Ori was in the middle of a chaotic place completely lost. Without a moment to rest to understand the situation. Always going from point to point without arguing… Zerin considered all that. Remembering how willingly he spared Iyo from an eternity of suffering. The way that Ori worries about others before himself is plausible but so stressful since much more will be asked of him. Zerin sighed, recalling old memories.
He reminds me of my old students. The new recruits full of talents never honed. Filled with insecurities and fears. A new soul. At least… this one can keep his name.
"If I maybe… If I become…" Ori stops himself, struggling with the acceptance of the role he has to take.
Now impatient, Zerin's visor lit up as he approached and grabbed Ori by the tuft horns atop his head. Ori made an attempt to remove Zerin but he would not budge. "No spirit tree will ever undo the damage done by Seir. All the lives lost cannot be restored! Cannot be cured!"
The tugging of his tuft horns hurt a lot. Ori truthfully did not know how to respond. But if he doesn't do that, how else will the people of the glades live a future free from this evil?
"There is a whole story to explain to you how I became like this. Do you think it was an accident? Do you think I asked for this? This is the result of the inconsequence of Seir. To her, we are nothing but tools. Think carefully, soldier. Do not take this decision for granted." Zerin lectured, releasing Ori and preparing to leave.
"Do not treat me like a child," Ori said. "I… may not know how to proceed, but I still am willing to help this forest."
Zerin summoned his weapon, a large spear not of Light energy but of steel, anointed with various markings of niweni's symbols. A weapon forged in fire and unlike any weapon of spirit-kind Ori had ever seen. The sharpened tip came to nearly press against Ori's neck and not even touching it felt sharp enough to make a cut. Ori respectfully did not test his luck, but seeing how Zerin is adamant about fighting Seir also meant protection for himself in a way. And worst, Ori dreaded having to pick a side.
"You already helped more than you can imagine," Zerin said surprisingly caringly. "Have courage, soldier. For your family and for yourself. Now go, attend to this moki request. Help Kwolok."
Kwolok. Ori's ears shot up when remembered the original goal he had in mind. The very reason for Meena to have passed through that disrespect. So much happened in so little time that Ori honestly had forgotten. With this opportunity, Ori agreed and focused utterly on that as Zerin pulled away the spear.
"I hope we have an understanding. Keep yourself low and do not leave Kwolok's side once he's safe. We will meet again."
"Ca-can you help us too?" Meena asked, acknowledging that Zerin had great combat prowess and chances for success would be much higher with him present.
However, Zerin could not join them. He looked afflicted. "I… cannot join you, but I wish you luck. Prepare yourself, spirit of Nibel. The Luma Pools beckon."
Zerin leaves Ori and Meena behind the pretty surroundings of the Luma Pools. And now with so much information to absorb Ori needed time to think, which unfortunately he had none. Ori decided to put all that aside however he could and focus firstly on helping Kwolok.
"Let's go," Ori said and Meena led the way.
…
A/N: Hello! This chapter was another one that took me some time to feel satisfied with. It continues the topic presented in the previous chap, "The endgame", something that makes me nervous. I often catch myself thinking, musing, and wondering if I am overdoing it, being too forceful, or something similar. There is no good in overthinking so I am happy to take courage to launch the chap. Hope the reading is enjoyable, until next time!