Chronicles of Espiria Season 3
Episode 5 – A Forest Council
Written by the Dude
Nemora was working on healing Gorvo's extensive injuries, and Kaz and the rest of the Dusk Patrol were still searching for the demonic entity that wore Nemora's form; this prevented them from taking part in the meeting that involved Arden, Ulmus, Seirus, Respen, and Lyca. Seirus would often look over his shoulder during the council, concerned for his friend despite knowing he was in good hands.
"I have never spoken to an elemental before." Lyca said to Seirus and Respen with a bow. "It is an honor."
"The honor is ours to stand in the presence of the hero chosen by the celestial hind." Respen answered with a bow of his own, causing Lyca to blush.
"There will be time for pleasantries later." Arden interrupted with some urgency. "I think it best we begin by summarizing what we know, beginning with the prison erected by Tasi. This prison was meant to contain a Hypogean entity named Ezizh, the demon responsible for our nightmares after the fall of the Barred Gate; it also contained the curse that Ulmus briefly suffered from. Somehow, it would seem that Ezizh found a way to escape."
"He did not escape." Respen said in a sad tone. "He was released by Khazard."
Seirus tensed at the mention of Khazard's name.
"Who is Khazard?" Lyca asked. "I remember hearing his name once, but who is he?"
"Khazard is a traitor to Espiria." Seirus said through clenched teeth. "A former water elemental who gave himself over to the Hypogean Hoard. He deserves worse than death for his crimes against Espiria."
"There is still good in him, Seirus." Respen chimed in. "I could feel it as we spoke. If only we could release him from the serpent's forked tongue..."
"We will release him from his life!" Seirus snapped back.
"Please, please!" Arden shouted. "Khazard's fall is a hard subject for us, but before we discuss his fate, we must know better what he has done. Now, it seems that when Khazard released Ezizh, he also released the curse on Ulmus, which took the form of a dark image of Nemora."
"But why Nemora?" Ulmus asked.
"Unfortunately, I do not know. We know frighteningly little about this curse, including how it could gain form and Wilder intelligence to begin with. Whatever the case, it and Ezizh were released at the same time. In all likelihood, they were working together; the skinshifting curse attacked us here probably to draw our attention away from Ezizh and Khazard as they carried out their mission in the Azure Cove."
"What did they do to the cove?" Lyca asked. "It looks like Khazard just froze it; that should melt pretty quickly, right?"
"Unfortunately, no." Seirus answered. "Khazard is keeping the entire area in permanent winter. I cannot return to the water to recover my strength while the ice remains."
"But they do not simply move against Seirus." Arden continued. "They move to destroy the Dark Forest. Dura chose wisely and carefully when she planted Yggdrasil here; while most of Espiria experiences uncomfortable heat in the summer and biting cold in the winter, the Dark Forest enjoys a pleasant climate all year thanks in part to the temperate winds from the Azure Cove. With the cove encased in ice, those pleasant winds will instead bring the chill of winter to the forest."
"That will interfere with the growth of the young trees." Ulmus noted with concern.
"That is but the beginning, old friend." Arden continued darkly. "A slowly advancing wall of frost travels from the cove through the soil, freezing and killing any plant life it touches. If the frost were to reach the roots of Yggdrasil, all would be lost."
"So how do we stop it?" Lyca asked, eager for a task she could accomplish herself.
"We kill the traitor." Seirus said with more eagerness than he thought he had.
"There is no guarantee that killing Khazard would have any effect at all, not if the curses he has weaved can persist after his death. If it is Hypogean magic, I may be able to stop the spread of the frost with another barrier, but that is not certain if Khazard has found a way to mix in his own elemental magic."
"If I may..." Respen began.
"You will not try to reason with him, Respen." Seirus warned. "We cannot afford the loss of the wind elemental at a time like this."
"But if it is the wind that speeds the chilling of the forest, perhaps I can slow it by calming the winds in the Azure Cove."
"It is a start." Arden said. "You and Seirus will see to it. Lyca, I need you to keep Yggdrasil secure; nothing draws near the great tree except Ulmus and me. Ulmus, I will meet you at the foot of Yggdrasil to seek its advice; I first wish to see how Nemora is progressing with Gorvo."
"You're seeing me about what now?"
All eyes turned to find Nemora walking up to the group, spear in hand and slightly weary, from the opposite direction one would expect her to come had she just been with Gorvo.
"Wait, what were you doing just now?" Respen asked, confused.
"I just got back from looking for that fake me." she answered, disappointed. "I couldn't find it anywhere."
"But if you are there..."
Seirus trailed off as he whipped around toward the clearing in which they thought Nemora had been working on Gorvo. Indeed, Nemora and Gorvo were still there, but none of Gorvo's wounds appeared to be healing. Soon, the other Nemora looked up and noticed the real Nemora standing with the group. Seeing no further reason to maintain the charade, the demonic entity allowed its eyes to darken as a wicked smile appeared on its face.
"Master Ezizh sends his greetings, Seirus!"
The doppelganger took its spear and struck Gorvo's shell, creating sparks that ignited the many flammable substances that Gorvo's skin was saturated in. He was fully engulfed in Hypogean flames in seconds. The entity scampered off with a giggle while Seirus and Respen tried to use their powers to extinguish the flames. Alas, their efforts proved to be in vain; Gorvo, the indomitable guardian of the Azure Cove, was dead.
All were stunned into silence; such a cold-blooded murder had not taken place in the Dark Forest since the days of the schism of the Ya. Seirus was the first to respond by shattering a pile of vials and beakers left behind by Solise, trying in vain to vent his anger and frustration. He turned to Respen with more malice in his eyes than he meant to direct at him.
"Do you still think there is something in Khazard worth saving?!"