Arc 1: Wyvern Rebellion - Chapter 20

-Hours earlier-

Vines with thorns lash away toward Basil, Thorn himself clawing the air; mimicking the vines movements. In his human form, his green hair and eyes giving him a wild, almost feral look. Basil countered with a wave of his hand, the earth beneath them rippling as thick roots burst forth. They coiled defensively, their rough bark snagging against the thorns, slowing their advance but not halting it entirely. A flash of sunlight glinting off Basil's glasses preceded a burst of flowering vines, blue trumpets unfurling with unnatural speed.

Thorn cackled, the sound echoing through the tangle of vines. "Is that all you got, old man? Trying to make this place pretty?" He flicked his wrist, sending a whip of thorns slicing through the flowers. Their vibrant petals rained down, a burst of color amidst the choking green.

The vines rapidly snaked out toward the guild master, causing him to summon tree roots breaking through the cobblestone streets of the deserted Magnolia Town. They wrapped around his shin pulling him away from the attack. Basil landed gracefully, his calm demeanor shining through. But deep inside, he was fuming.

"Forcing vines to flail about? Not quite creative, considering all the boasting I've heard from people about Wyverns." Basil mocked. Thorn bristled, his leafy green eyes flashing with anger.

"Don't you dare underestimate me, wizard!" He roared, and the ground beneath Basil erupted. Giant, thorny tendrils burst forth, smashing apart the cobblestone and launching stones through the air like deadly projectiles. Basil dashed to the side. He slid pushing a hand out. An enormous sunflower bloomed shielding the buildings from the debris. Basil drew green circles into the air, pushing them into the ground. Tree raced upward, challenging the vines. Basil could hear Oakwise's voice.

I've checked on your other guild members. A majority of them have won their battles. All except Abernathy, the miscreant. That Wyvern let him live and she left. Seems she defected. The tree spirit informed. Basil never took his eyes off of the Wyvern.

"Thank you. This makes things a bit easier to manage. After all, I owe Master Makarov for allowing my guild to handle things." The guild master responded. "Dear Wyvern. Thorn, if I remember your compatriot correctly? I'm afraid to inform you, but your other Wyvernian comrades have been taken out. And no sooner will Iris fall as well. You'd be doing Fiore a grand favor if you stand down." Basil spoke. His voice kept an upbeat tone, his cheerful personality still shining through. Thorn snarled, his feral expression twisting in rage.

"Don't lie to me, wizard!" His voice was a guttural rasp. With a surge of power, the invasive vines snaked toward Basil, twisting and twining in a relentless assault. Thick tendrils lashed out, seeking to entangle the guild master, while thorny barbs shot forth like venomous projectiles.

Basil held his ground, but the onslaught from Thorn was relentless. With each surge of thorny barbs, he wove a defensive barrier of vibrant wildflowers. They bloomed and scattered, bursting upon impact with the projectiles and cushioning his retreat. Yet, with each step back, rage sparked within him.

Basil's calm facade began to strain. Thorns tore through his flowering defenses, leaving tiny gashes along his arms. With each dodging leap and retreating step, Thorn's cruel taunts dug deeper. Yet, Basil moved with practiced grace, each parry a well-calculated retreat.

Thorn scoffed, a gust of wind from his Wyvern form scattering the pollen. "Nice try, old man, but I'm not some buzzing bee!" With a ferocious swipe, thorns sliced through the delicate wildflowers. "These weeds might be blind to you, but I can see their every move!" He lunged again, but this time with a surprising change of tactic. Instead of whipping vines, his hands dug into the ground, fingers twisting like roots.

The ground beneath Thorn shifted uneasily, causing Basil to stumble slightly.

"Basil, what is that?" Sylvara's voice whispered through rustling leaves, a hint of fear in her normally gentle tone.

"He's somehow... tapping into the invasive vines directly," Oakwise rumbled, his voice thick with concern. "The boy's defenses won't hold for much longer."

Reldrin scoffed. "Finally putting that druid knowledge to good use, eh? Too bad he's using it to spread that unnatural blight!"

Basil gritted his teeth. "Please, I'm trying to concentrate!" He snapped, momentarily distracted by the tree spirits' worried murmurs.

With a frustrated sigh, he shifted his focus. He drew a circle in the air, sunlight gleaming upon his hand. "Show yourself!" As he slammed his palm onto the ground, a bright pulse of energy surged outwards, revealing a faint network of thorny roots snaking beneath the cobblestones.

I love it! The name "Sunspot Mines" adds a tactical, almost mischievous element to Basil's technique, perfectly fitting his personality.

Here's how this could unfold in the fight:

With the ground trembling and vines still surging toward him, Basil feigned a retreat. With each deliberate step back, his fingertips glanced the cobblestones, leaving a subtle shimmer of light in their wake. Thorn, focused on pressing his advantage, paid the gleaming spots no heed.

Suddenly, Basil spun, planting his feet with newfound determination. "Enough." His voice, usually gentle, held an edge of steel.

As the first tendrils burst towards him, Basil slammed his hands down.

"Sunspot Mines!" Blinding light filled the air, followed by a surge of growth so explosive it sent shockwaves cracking through the street. Thorn stumbled, his control over the vines momentarily severed as they became ensnared by impossibly thick, sun-drenched stems.

"What the- What is this?" He asked looking around. The invasive plant seemed to be stopped in its tracks.

"I'd be careful if I were you. I'm sure I don't have to explain too much about how photosynthesis works, since we're both keen on plants. As plants take in carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water, it produces its own energy while producing oxygen. However, that process is magnified several times in this magic. Step wrong, and you'll get a face full of the sun." Basil explained.

"It is a good thing that your powers are also dependent on the sun. Your energy is constantly being drained. But I am willing to bet that you can't maintain your energy forever. And I'm more than happy to wait till that happens. So, surrender now. Spare yourself." The guild master instructed.

The Wyvern remained silent, contemplating. Basil held his ground.

Thorn tensed, a vicious smile curling his lips.

"Do you know what the difference between you and I is, human?" He inquired. Basil smiled kindly, shaking his head and placing his hands on his hips.

"I'll indulge. Pray tell." He responded.

"There's a fundamental connection that individuals have with other species in their area. Humans with humans. Beast with beast. And even humans with beast. But overwhelmingly, what is the most abundant life form in any land?" The Wyvern quizzed.

"Plants, of course. Without plants, there wouldn't be any animal life at all. Well, not in the ecosystem we're used to anyway. You need water and soil for plants, so without them, animals couldn't live." Basil answered in his chipper tone.

"Good. So what happens when humans connect with plants? You try to control, use and abuse. Humans like you seem to realize living alongside them is more to your benefit than trying to control them. But then again, plants work on pure instinct. They can't reason like you and you other pest on Ishgar." Thorn rambled. "Humans have the ability to think and to choose. Even when the choice is a horrible one. Why, if only humans had stayed in the wilderness where they belonged, this country wouldn't have problems with their plants!" Thorn began to walk forward, walking in a particular path.

"Reason and instinct. They clash, don't they? Reason erases all form of instinct, trying to suppress and control." Thorn laughed. "So why did nature give birth to beings of reason? Why was there a need for them?" He stopped in a spot.

"You see, plants don't have the power to change or alter anything in their environment. They conform and adapt. They understand when to stop and when to go. Beasts, as vicious as they are, also thrive on instinct. They know where they can go and where they are meant to be. But you humans. You spineless traitorous humans. Smart yet idiotic. You have courage and bravery. You go where you don't belong, where you're not wanted. You bow to the dragons only to turn and fight them when they share Dragon Slaying Magic. You began to cut down beings of instinct, trying to tell us our place." Thorn continued. He pointed at a spot, to which exploded, debris and dust spreading all over. The sound was deafening but filled with an unexpected comfortable warmth. Plants and vine mingled, coming through the ground one by one. Thorn began to point at different spots, sun filled explosions erupting. Thorn stared Basil down. Soon, the field around them was scarred. The vines and flowers seemed to join as one, raising from the ground.

"If the world were to go to war, who would be on the opposing sides?" He asked. Basil clenched his fist.

"Humans and their beasts would be on one side, and the plants and Wyverns on the other." Basil stated. Thorn grinned, his sharp, jagged fangs poking over his lip. He laughed.

"Wrong! It'd be the entire world versus humans! The ones who live in harmony with each other, and the one species who believe that their hopes and dreams are more important than anything else." The Wyvern mage spoke. Basil could only watch as the giant mass of vines began to shift and change.

"They want to save the world. But in doing so, they destroyed it. If that doesn't spell irony, then I don't know what does. This species of vines. It's not a pest. It belongs to a world where plants thrive and coexist. No humans to be seen." Thorn stood face to face with Basil, his body clearly stronger and more built than the guild master. "Lord Wyrnxoth will put you humans in your place. Wyverns are beast of instinct. We understand the hierarchy of the world. We tried to live alongside Dragons and Humans. And all that did was force us to run while a human who was drunk on power turned into a Dragon and slaughtered everyone." Thorn glared. "We will restore the world to its original glory. Before Humanity ever existed. A world where only those who listen to their instincts survive and live in harmony." Thorn held up his hand. Basil was prepared for battle.

"This is your only chance, human. Call off your guild. As I understand it, you're their master. You wouldn't want them to struggle in vain." The Wyvern ordered.

Basil smirked. "Are you that naïve? This is a guild of mages who are fighting for their way of life. For their friends. For the future they believe in. You are fighting for your freedom. Fighting for something you think is yours." Basil adjusted his glasses. His hands went into his pockets and pulled out fistful of seeds. "Their connections with each other, with their guild, is purely of heart." Basil flung the seeds all over. "And to point out, it's quite presumptuous of you to think you know what plants want." Basil sneered. From the seeds sprouted beautiful flowers. The colors ranged from yellow to blues and reds. The flora stretched their leaves and petals as they grew. Basil smiled as they did.

"Harmony. Quite the exclusive list you've compiled. Everyone against humans... If it was the will of nature to throw everything into icy chaos, an ice age, would you bend over backwards to its whim?" Basil countered with his own question. The plant mage extended his hand, gesturing outward. "Nature isn't one mind. It's the collective of a million minds. Nature is the sum of all of the beings on the planet. Not any single entity is excluded from that. We exist because nature intended we exist. This pyramid of prey and predator isn't something nature intended, but it exist as a natural course of life. As a Wyvern, have you ever taken the time to sit and converse with the humans that lived alongside you? Sit and truly listen?" Basil questioned. He looked up at the Wyvern, whose body seemed to be shivering.

"You see, nature has an incredible strength that resides in unity. By taking out individual beings, it weakens the whole. Are you doing this for nature's sake? Or are you doing this for your selfishness?" Basil asked. He could see the vines shifting in front of him. He saw Thorn clenching his fists.

"Now now, I'm not finished. Let's talk about a certain flower. One that you've been helping spread." Basil continued. The vines were starting to wrap around the two of them.

"This parasitic vine. It feeds off of the nutrients in the ground, draining it. You say it has no natural predators. But, that's only a perspective. A closed minded one at that. If you truly understand plants as you say you do, then you'd be able to hear its voice." Basil stated. He paused briefly. "Have you?" He inquired.

"Yes!" Thorn spat.

"Then you'd be able to help it. To heal it. To release it from the chains it's in right now. You think you're giving it space to grow and thrive. But all you've done is taken it from its home and released it in a foreign place. It grows because it's scared. You've felt fear before, haven't you?" Basil asked.

Thorn snarled.

"As a mage who specializes in plants, it is my duty to understand their needs. They can't speak. They can't move. They can't act. But they have a voice, and only do what they can to survive. I've spent my whole life researching plants. And you believe you know what their needs are." Basil stated. The two stared each other down in an unspoken war of hanger and, the vines and flowers growing all around them.

"I know that voice, and that's the voice of a plant that's being stripped from its home. A plant that's being forced to adapt. A plant that's dying." Basil pointed at Thorn. "But you don't hear it? Do you?"

Thorn's eyes shifted into an overwhelming fury. He bared his teeth and his brow furrowed.

"You're a pest human. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I can see in your eyes that you didn't struggle to survive in nature. You chose this path. I grew up in the wilds, whether I wanted to or not. I lived alongside my kind and the world. We were free." Thorn growled. His fist clenched harder, threatening to break Basil's bones. "I'm done talking human. I will bury you and return you to nature."

"Before you do, I wanted to say something. Perhaps it may be the last thing you'll hear from 'me'. You say you know nature and despise humans. But then you look into my eyes and assume I never had to struggle in nature. That's how I know you're deaf to nature." Basil stated.

Thorn had enough of sharing philosophies. His fist surged forward, wanting to break the mage's glasses. On either side of them, large thorny bundles of vines charged in, ready to smash Basil in between them. They collided, causing a massive explosion. Dirt, rocks and pieces of plants flew everywhere. A huge cloud of smoke concealed the battlefield. Thorn stood, a frown on his face.

"Insects like you deserve to be crushed under my heel." He affirmed. His eyes widened as he saw tree roots had erupted from the ground and shielded Basil.

"I thought I had told you that I had it handled." Basil told the tree spirits. Oakwise appeared on one of the tree roots, his leafy mustache forming.

"If you're trying to beat the Wyvern by boring him to death, then we wouldn't have to intervene." The tree spirit jabbed.

"Now now, there's no need for hostilities." Sylvara, another of the tree spirits, commented. A bird landed on her shoulder. She offered it a small seed, which it ate happily.

"Besides, you're the one who jumped in to protect Basil, ya old fool!" Reldrin, the third tree spirit, argued. He turned to Basil.

"Told ya he was a grumpy old geezer who wanted some action!" He exclaimed.

Oakwise glared at Reldrin.

"You want me to chop you down, Reldrin?" He challenged.

"Only if you're ready to have that bush on your face trimmed!" Reldrin retaliated.

Sylvara sighed.

"Boys, enough. We're here to protect Basil. Oakwise, please provide some support while Reldrin and I will attempt to calm the Wyvern. Basil, I'd suggest you focus on healing yourself and getting your Magic Power back to full. It seems it was somewhat depleted." The female tree spirit stated. From the ground grew three familiar wooden golems. The tree spirits traveled through the wood and reached the golems.

"My my, it seems you've taken care of the star trees quite brilliantly. Uno, Dos, and Tres are quite happy." Sylvara commented while occupying Dos. A leafy shaped bow appeared on it. Oakwise inhabited Uno, a leafy mustache appearing at the center, and Reldrin occupying Tres, creases shaping the tree spirits mouth.

"That mustache looks even more ridiculous on a star tree." Reldrin commented.

"It's called style, you overgrown stump." Oakwise retorted.

"Oh, like that makes any sense."

"Boys! You both can compare bark when we get back to the grove. Now is not the time." Sylvara scolded. The golems took positions in front of Basil.

Thorn stared in shock. He felt the presence of ancient magic. His eyes darted around to locate the source.

"What is this?" He asked aloud.

"Be careful little Wyvern. Just because you feel powerful doesn't mean you actually are." Oakwise stated.

"And just because you feel weak doesn't mean you are!" Reldrin added. Oakwise smacked Reldrin in the back of the head. "Let us handle the threats you termite brain."

Reldrin glared at Oakwise.

"Say that again, you prickly ash!" The tree spirit shot back.

"Tree spirits? What are they doing here?" Thorn wondered. The two were getting into an argument about who was more powerful. Sylvara waddled forward.

"I sense a great power in you Wyvern. Not only that, but your love for nature is undoubtedly deep. Tell me, why do you fight beside a monster who wishes to wipe out the existence of the human race?" Sylvara asked.

"Because this is our best chance to kill all of the humans." He shot back. Sylvara frowned.

"I feel as if you're not telling the whole truth." She said softly. "You feel angry. Desperate. Is it because you saw your fellow Wyverns wiped out by humans? Because you witnessed their destruction of the world and its natural inhabitants? Or is it something else?" Sylvara waved her star body's arms to indicate the potential reasonings.

Thorn looked between the four. This human was quite different alright. Not only did he have command of plants, but ancient tree spirits came to his aid of their own volition. The Wyvern returned his gaze to Sylvara.

"You were there when Acnologia began to destroy all the dragons 400 years prior, right?" He asked her. Sylvara took a moment before speaking. She could see the sadness and fury in his eyes.

"Yes. We saw the tragedy." She said simply.

"Then you understand the losses us Wyverns had endured. The reason we were forced to leave this world. I remember my father, teaching me how to fly among the clouds... We wanted to live in peace with the Dragons and Humans, and now that we've returned, the dragons are all gone." Thorn expressed. The tree spirit waddled to the side, expertly guiding the tree star golem, and pointed out the destruction.

"Your leader is willing to follow the same path as Acnologia. The same dragon that drove your people away. You and your Wyvern compatriots are willing to make humanity suffer as you have?" She asked.

"Acnologia was a destroyer, a force of pure chaos. We seek to restore balance to a world corrupted by humanity's greed. And do not forget, the Dragons favored humans over their own kind, gifting them dangerous magic that ultimately led to their own downfall." Thorn pointed out.

Sylvara shook her head, which is the entire golem body. "And yet, do you know who ended Acnologia reign of terror?" She asked. Thorn turned his head slightly, his interest piqued by this answer.

"Humans. As you said, by the very same magic they were taught. The world experiences tragedies, just as much as nature, but it recovers eventually. And soon after, will fight back those who mean it harm. The Wyverns have returned to their home world, why not embrace this chance?" Sylvara pleaded. Basil stepped forward having been able to recover a good portion of his magic. Oakwise and Reldrin stood beside him.

"The plants have never been happier. You have a connection to them, I'm sure you can understand their voice." Basil added. Thorn's heart raced, having been offered a chance to truly hear the plants. He slowly knelt, his eyes never leaving the four. He touched one of the flowers that Basil summoned and focused. At first, he couldn't hear much. But he soon felt overwhelming emotions. Animals and plants living their life as nature intended. None had suffered as much as it did back then. His fury slowly faded, accepting this new truth.

The tree spirits looked on, enjoying having been able to share this with the Wyvern. They were ready for war, but were satisfied that at least with one of them, they could have a peace. Sylvara stepped a bit closer.

"There is balance. The cycle has returned to normal. There shouldn't be any reason to hurt the humans. These aren't the same humans as back then. You and your compatriots could learn how to live alongside them once more." She reasoned. Thorn stood, having let go of the plant. His fist slowly unclenched, but something flickered in his eyes, a hint of the rage that still burned within.

"If it is as the Tree Spirits say, then who am I to argue." Was his answer. His eyes met Basil's, a silent challenge in his gaze. Basil's jaw tightened. He glanced at the tree spirits, a flicker of worry in his eyes.

"Then you'll have a way for the humans to atone for their greed. My people's deaths, and my comrade's, can't be for nothing. Give us the ones who ended Acnologia and perhaps I can present Lord Wyrnxoth with an alternative." Thorn requested.

"Thorn, I understand your desire for justice, but true peace cannot be built on more bloodshed. Handing over fellow mages, even Dragon Slayers, will not bring back those you have lost. There must be another way, one that does not perpetuate the cycle of violence."

Thorn's eyes narrowed, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists again. "You speak of peace, mage, but offer no solutions! Your kind stole everything from us, and the tree spirits, ever wise, cowered with you when danger arrived. Where is your honor? Our king died saving us, and you offer empty words in return. If you will not give me what I seek, then we shall take it by force!" Thorn seethes, his body trembling with pent-up rage. "You leave me no choice!" he roars, the ground trembling beneath his feet.

A burst of green energy surrounds him, a whirlwind of leaves and thorns. His features twist, bones reshaping with agonizing cracks. Scales erupt from his skin, pushing through his clothes. In mere moments, the Wyvern transformation is complete.

Thorn unfurls his leathery wings, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. He towers over the group, his leafy-green eyes now blazing with fury. With a deafening screech, he launches himself into the air, his massive claws aimed at Basil.

Instinctively, Oakwise and Reldrin step forward, their ancient wood creaking as they morph into combat stances. Sylvara launches a barrage of hardened star projectiles, but Thorn nimbly dodges a shower of leaves cascading down.

Basil watches in horror as the fight erupts. His heart aches for Thorn, but a wave of nausea hits him as he thinks of sacrificing lives to appease the Wyvern's fury. He steadies himself, raising his hands. "Oakwise! Leave him to me! We can't risk all of you..."

But his plea is lost amidst the roar of battle. Thorny vines lash towards Oakwise, the ancient tree spirit straining to block the onslaught. Reldrin bellows a challenge, roots surging forth from the earth to restrain Thorn's flight, but the Wyvern bursts free with a powerful flap of his wings.

Seeing his friends struggle fuels Basil's resolve. A wave of determination washes over him. "Forgive me, Thorn," he whispers, his features changing into one of determination. With a flick of his wrist, he summons a circle of towering sunflowers, their vibrant heads tracking Thorn's every move.

Channeling his magic, Basil infuses the sunflowers with a surge of solar energy. Their faces glow an intense white. "Morning's Sunrise!" he cries out, throwing his hands forward. Blinding bursts of light erupt from the flowers, momentarily disorienting Thorn.

Blinded by the radiant assault, Thorn lets out a screech of frustration and pain. Instinct guides him as he dives away towards some buildings trying to gain a tactical distance. His leafy wings beat furiously, propelling him through the air with impressive speed. He swerves between structures, using the stone and wood to block Basil's line of sight Basil curses as he loses sight of Thorn. He quickly focuses on rerouting the thick roots he had summoned, transforming them into a makeshift bridge that lifts him above the rooftops.

With a running start, he leaps from his elevated platform, trusting his magic to soften his landing. A flowering vine wraps around his waist, lowering him gently into a deserted alleyway.

Oakwise lumbers along the street below, smashing aside smaller tendrils and serving as a distraction for Thorn.

"He thinks to hide from us!" the tree spirit bellows, hoping to goad the Wyvern into exposing himself.

Thorn weaves through the urban landscape, his keen eyes scanning for an opportunity. He spots a cluster of water barrels tucked beneath a balcony. A wicked grin spreads across his face.

With a surge of magic, spiny vines burst from his palms, ripping open the barrels and sending a torrent of water spilling out. Basil, rounding a corner, is caught off guard by the sudden flood.

He slips, landing hard on the cobblestones. Thorn sees his chance, diving down from the rooftops with a piercing screech. He aims for Basil's exposed back, his claws outstretched like razor-sharp daggers. Anticipation burns in his eyes – this is his moment for payback. Basil senses the attack at the last moment. He whirls around, a shield of thick flowering vines erupting from the ground just in time. Thorn's claws strike the shield, sending a jolt through Basil's arms and showering leaves and petals into the air.

The impact cracks several of the vines, but Basil manages to hold his ground. His breath comes in ragged gasps, the exertion of summoning such a powerful defense taking its toll. Thorn doesn't let up. He circles Basil, lashing out with claws and tail, testing the shield's strength. Basil parries desperately, dodging and weaving, but Thorn's attacks grow increasingly relentless.

A swipe from Thorn's tail shatters a section of the shield. Basil stumbles back, a gash opening across his arm from a glancing blow. He grits his teeth, pain fueling his determination. With each blocked attack, Basil feels his magic waning. He hasn't faced an opponent like this before. Thorn's relentless assault and sheer power are overwhelming his defenses. A flicker of doubt crosses Basil's eyes. His usual calm demeanor is replaced by an edge of desperation. He realizes he cannot simply withstand Thorn's onslaught; he must find a way to strike back. Driven by necessity, Basil risks a counterattack. As Thorn lunges forward, Basil drops his shield, dodging to the side. His hand snakes out, and vines shoot forth, aiming to ensnare Thorn's leg.

Thorn is taken by surprise. The vines tighten around his ankle, throwing him off balance for just a moment. Basil flung his arm around, the vines following the motion and pulling the Wyvern across and straight into a building.

The wall crumbled from the force of the collision.

Thorn crashes to the ground, shaking loose some debris. A low growl rumbles in his throat, anger and embarrassment flashing in his eyes. Basil takes advantage of the momentary reprieve, conjuring a fresh batch of vines. This time, he binds Thorn's wings, trapping them against his sides.

"Thorn, it's not too late to rethink this. I cannot offer you the mages you want." He shouts to the Wyvern. "You have already lost so much, can you bear to lose more?"

"Our loss is of no consequence! I will sacrifice myself to achieve the goals of this quest!" Thorn shot back.

"A goal that is unnecessary, Wyrnxoth plans on destroying this world to rebuild it as he wants it. Are you ok with this? You saw the world, the beautiful world that nature has created, the world that the Dragons and Wyverns lived in harmony. Now Wyrnxoth is saying to destroy that in order to create a new one." Basil pleaded.

"If you believed in justice and fairness, then you'd give us the Dragon Slayers! Even if this world is destroyed, at least the Wyverns will have the justice of killing the ones who killed Acnologia!" Thorn snapped. His magic was growing and growing, way beyond what Basil was expecting.

"I've had enough. I will hold back no longer, consider everything erased." Thorn cast his magic, the invasive vines spreading all over. Soon, it encased the Wyvern and Basil. It was dark, save for the glow of the Wyvern's magic.

"There's something else that makes this plant special. Once encased, no one from the outside can sense you. You're basically erased. The vines will devour the magic you spill out. Then after, it'll devour you whole." Thorn explained. "You should have accepted my offer, Basil. Now, I will end this, once and for all."

Basil growled, knowing that he needed to escape. His magic was slowly being eaten away, but there had to be a weakness in this plant. He sighed, knowing there was a way. The one way he refused to use.

"Are you certain you want to go through with this, Thorn?" He asked. "No changing your mind?"

"Enough talk, this ends here." Thorn retorted.

The vines grew around them, pressing in tighter and tighter.

"You say that our presence is erased in here. No one can sense us, right?" Basil asked.

"Accepting your death? You'll be devoured and no one will know what happened to you. Your existence will be erased, just like my kind."

"Good." Basil stated. "I didn't want my guild or my tree spirits to know what I'm about to do." Basil reached for his glasses and took them off. He then ran a hand through his hair, making it slick back.

"What is this? What are you doing?" Thorn went low, ready to pounce.

"Before the Emerald Oasis, before I even came to Magnolia, there was something I tried to avoid." Basil started. "It was when I left Shadowvein Covenant, a guild I shouldn't have joined in the first place."

"So, what's the point of all this?" Thorn demanded.

"You and your kind have a dark history, just like me. There was a side of me that didn't care about anything other than learning about plants, no matter the cost. You see, every magic that is common has a dark side to it, plants included. One of the darkest, and it's actually something that's true, is that plants have no conscience, nothing that can guide it. Plants don't feel mercy, they don't care if the enemy is dying or suffering. They don't care if an ally is down. All they care about is sustaining themselves. A plant will grow on the corpse of another plant, or a dead animal. In their perspective, they have done nothing wrong. They have done what was needed to survive." Basil put away his glasses. "I gave you a chance Wyvern. I'm sorry."

A vine wrapped around Thorn's body, a flower blooming on the top of his head. "What is this?" Thorn demanded. "Release me!"

"It's too late for that. Are you familiar with this plant? It's called Devil's Ivy. A plant that grows on a decaying corpse, feeding on the nutrients. It also feeds on magic. If there isn't any, it'll feed on the life force of whoever is inside it. It has a rather unique trait, it can't be destroyed by magic. It'll regenerate. It's immune to whatever magic you cast on it. It's not exactly a plant that should be in anyone's arsenal. You feed it magic and it grows stronger and stronger." He explained. Thorn tried to free himself, but found he couldn't. He looked down, hoping to find the source of this plant, only to find it coming from Basil himself.

"What's going on? How are you doing this?" Thorn asked.

"Plant Magic, of course. Only it's not the Plant Magic you know. It's not the one that everyone knows. It's forbidden. Knowledge that isn't meant for consumption. Magic that was created, but never should have exist in the first place. It's a magic that exists between life and death, darkness and light, life and decay."

Thorn's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. "Plant Magic, Dark Nature Magic. You're insane. You'll be consumed by this magic and die. Why are you doing this? This isn't necessary." Thorn exclaimed.

"Of course, it's not. But it's my duty as a member of the Emerald Oasis to make sure the ones that threaten it, and the world, are brought to justice. Had you never cast this spell around us, you may have won. But now, you are no match for me. When the Devil's Ivy finishes growing, it'll take a few minutes. Do yourself a favor and prepare yourself to be eaten alive. Maybe a sliver of your consciousness will remain in the Devil's Ivy. They say the screams of those who are devoured are etched into the petals. Maybe you'll live forever as a scream in a flower. Only one way to find out." Basil turned, walking away.

Thorn thrashed, unable to break free. He could hear the sound of the vines and flowers growing, feel his magic being sucked away. He continued to struggle, his Wyvern body hope to break free. His breathing became erratic as his magic was being ripped from him.

Basil approached the vine barrier around them. He waited. He didn't dare turn back around. He knew what would occur. He's done it before. A past of regret. Basil cleared his throat and tousled his hair and replaced his glasses. This was the part of him he hated. He forced his body to return to normal.

The vines suddenly dissipated. Thorn collapsed to the ground, the flower on his head gone. He gasped for air, clutching his chest. The vines had constricted so tightly around him, it hurt to breathe. Basil took a moment to breathe deeply. He hoped he'd never had to do that ever again. He made an exception for Ewan, who needed to train and understand Wyvern Slaying Magic. But this...

"Boy... are you alright?" Oakwise approached the guild master.

Basil shook his head. "No. I don't think I will be for a while. Let the plants heal him, he'll be extremely weakened." Basil shared. Oakwise's golem eyes widened. That face and that demeanor, he knew what happened.

"You... did what had to be done. He forced your hand." Oakwise comforted.

"There's no need to try and make light of this. I bear this weight and will continue to do so. Please, you and the others find everyone and make sure they are coming back. Fiora and Ewan are heading over to the Crocus. It seems Wyrnxoth made his way there. For what, I don't know."

"I see. I'll tell Sylvara and Reldrin." Oakwise turned to leave but paused. "Please, Basil, don't let this weigh you down." Oakwise then made his way to the others.

Basil watched him leave. He felt someone watching him, so he turned. It was Lyra, looking at him with concern.

"How much of that did you hear?" He asked. His tone was accusatory and upset, something Lyra had never seen before.

"Luna and I saw the vines... What did Oakwise mean about letting it weigh you down?" Lyra asked.

Basil shrugged. "Lyra, Luna, you are part of the guild now. If you wish to ask questions, please wait until later. My heart can't handle it." Lyra nodded. She understood. She was curious, yes, but she could tell that this was something her guild master couldn't talk about now.

Basil headed off, hoping to assist his Fiora and Ewan in the decisive final battle.