Gladesbale Grove Book 2 - Chapters 1,2,3 (Patreon)

Chapter 1

Golly Gosh!

A bonfire burned the chill of the night away, casting Ban’s clearing in a flicker of orange. Smoke hung heavy in the air, mingling with the scent of roasted meat to sting Rud’s nose. He reclined, leaning back with his hands behind him for support as he looked over the resting figures nearby. The longhouse was more comfortable by far, but there was nothing quite like an open fire on a chilly night. The dwarf on the far side of the fire, licked his lips.

“When the giant wolf promises you meat, she delivers,” Taz said, rubbing his hands together. “Feels like we could have done this indoors, though.”

“It wouldn’t be the same,” Rud said.

The massive wolf nearest Rud raised her head, sniffing at the air. She was larger than the other two wolves, emanating a sense of both authority and power. “You’re covered in enough hair, Taz. You should be comfortable.”

Another wolf raised her head, jabbing her nose at Rud. “Even Rud is too cold!” Sarya said.

“You may snuggle against me, if you wish,” Dean said, raising his head to join the other wolves. “I am warm.”

Rud shuffled over, using his staff to help himself to his feet. He fell onto the Dire Wolf’s belly, wiggling until he found the warmest spot. “How about you, Ban? Nice and warm.”

“I am content,” Ban said, her ethereal voice echoing through the clearing. It fell on Rud’s ears like a pleasant chime, washing away any worry.

The group fell into silence until the roasting meat was done. Rud had grown used to the idea of waiting for Mint to find some enormous creature pushing too far into the grove, or a wayward deer needing culling. He had grown accustomed to the idea of balancing nature that way, and left it all to Mint and the wolves. Snacking on a strip of deliciously salted meat, Rud felt the tree’s attention turn to him.

“Any plans for the future, Rud?” Ban asked.

“Aside from meeting his girlfriend?” Taz teased.

“Rud had a girlfriend?” Dean asked. “Congratulations, Sarya.”

“Not me!”

Rud clicked his tongue after swallowing another mouthful of roasted venison. “Maria and I are platonic, long-distance friends. She’s just nice.”

“She sounds mean,” Mint corrected.

Rud cleared his throat. He placed his uneaten meat on a plate and stood, thrusting his hands into the air. “The hospitality industry!”

“The what?” Dean asked, his voice muffled. He had a bone in his mouth he refused to share with Sarya.

“We’re expecting more mortals, right? I already have a few campsites for them. Our donation bin for crystals and other fun stuff got pretty heavy after the mortals came walking through.” Rud brought those thoughts he had over the past few weeks to the front. “We’re gonna offer some luxurious lodgings for everyone passing through. And we’re gonna sell them tea. Or… give them tea and ask for donations. That’s just selling with extra steps.”

The grove had expected an increase in mortal travel. A mortal could enter the grove if they wanted, but they were unlikely to get far. The magic within guaranteed they would get lost within the first few hundred feet. Unless they traveled on the road Rud had created, they would get lost. Staying in the buildings he made with his Construction Magic made sure they kept their minds. But the roads and rest stops could be so much more! Instead of a way through the grove, it could become an experience.

Since the people from Sparwyn had a reverence for the groves, they would love it. They were already loving it, especially the longhouse with the giant fire pit. There was much more the grove had. Rud had a few things to get together before that could happen. He hoped there was enough time before the bulk of the adventurers came through, heading west. The local mortals had dealt with most of their problems, so he expected it to happen soon.

The conversation around the fire was light. Everyone was glad, especially considering they expected to add a new member to their pact soon enough. The dormant bear would wake up soon enough. Then it wouldn’t be such a wolf party. There was also the owl, Nulsa, who was excellent at watching over the grove at night. Rud would be lying if he said he wasn’t jealous of the flying power the creature had. His Flying Squirrel form allowed him to glide, but that wasn’t flying.

Taz left to go hang out in his mine as the wolves slumbered near the fire. Rud wandered away, passing through some shrubs to use Thicket Travel. He arrived near the Observatory, ascending those stairs and setting his sights on the radio. His eyes lit with the power of the spirit aspect, activating his Farseeing ability. The dim forest outside of the tower lit in his vision, lighting with the glow of magic. He clicked the radio on as he scanned the forest, too restless to turn in for the night. Static hummed over the channel he shared with Maria, his hails coming back with nothing.

Instead, he considered how he would turn the grove into a vacation paradise for traveling mortals.

Four roads ran through Gladesbale, all leading to the center. Mortals normally came from the town of Barlgore to the east. Most often, they headed west to a series of mountains Rud knew almost nothing about. Sometimes they went south to attack monsters, but there was another trail they favored for that. While he could move through the entire grove in a blink, they were forced to walk or ride. The thing they wanted most of all when arriving at the rest areas was hot food and a warm bed for the night.

Rud had accomplished that already, but some tweaks were required for his new vision. He had created a half-circle of houses in one rest area where mortals could rest for the night. They always left them in pristine condition, taking advantage of the communal area out front. To entice people to use his future store, he wanted to expand this section and add signs to inform travelers.

Like any good tea shop, Rud could have samples of the tea he offered. Currently, he could blend sweet, earthy, and citrus to create unique blends. Each blend had a unique effect, especially when infused with the grove’s power.

Rud pressed the button on his radio again. “You there, Hagsbane?” he asked, releasing the button and waiting. He made a note as he watched the monsters to the south. It was only a small pack, but the mortals would want to know. “Guess not.”

“A rat for your thoughts?”

Rud looked up, spotting the looming form of Nulsa on a branch outside the tower. He smiled into the darkness, the magic around the beast swirling like a vortex. “I’ll pass on the rat, but thanks for the offer. I’m looking at expanding our capacity for mortals.”

“Yes, I’ve seen the elongated house with the fire.” Nulsa turned his head, looking off into the night.

“Any new adventurers coming into the grove?” Rud asked.

“There is a lot of excitement within the mortal town. I would expect more mortals soon.”

Rud rubbed his hands together. This was exciting. Not only would new people come into the grove to enjoy his tea and hospitality, but he might even mess around and earn Rank 1. That came with a boost in power. Not that the druid had much need for power. But he needed the mana that came with an upgrade, along with the influence it would have on his spells.

“Things are looking up!”

“Have they ever looked down?”

“No. Not really…”

“I thought we weren’t using our groves as codenames,” Maria’s voice crackled over the radio. “Gladesbale… Still there?”

Rud spun, snatching the microphone and clicking the button. “I’m here! You’re up late tonight.”

“I’ve tanned enough dwarven hide for the day. Dealing with monsters, rotting mushrooms… Wait, why are you awake?”

“I’m restless,” Rud admitted, thumbing the button on the radio. He sighed dramatically. “Talking with my buddy, Nulsa.”

Rud held the microphone out. “Hello.”

“All I hear is hooting.”

Rud released the button. “She doesn’t have Animal Communication. Shame.” He thumbed the button again. “He said ‘hi.’”

“How are things on the surface?”

“Excellent, actually. I’ve got some fun projects to work on. It’s gonna take me some time, but I’m gonna link all the groves together.”

“All of them?”

“Yeah. Then we can share resources and help when we need.”

“Do you understand how complex that problem is?” Maria’s voice came after a long pause.

“Nope. Don’t care. We’ll make it happen!”

“Somehow, I believe you. Tell Nulsa I said goodnight. I’m heading in for now… I suspect there are a few more barrels of beer to smash.”

“Good luck with your prohibition!”

The radio crackled, making a popping noise as Maria tuned out for the night. Rud was left with the owl and a plan. Tomorrow morning, it would be time to get to work. The druid shifted into his Flying Squirrel form, chittering up at Nulsa.

“Time for bed! Outta my way!”

Nulsa hooted, hopping to one side of the branch. Rud flew into the boughs, appearing above Ban as he glided. He angled himself to his mushroom house, shivering as he thought about how cold it would be. After starting a fire, he settled into bed. All the skills he had developed since coming to this world would be put to the test. Cozy under his covers, his wood stove crackled away. He couldn’t wait to start the next leg of his project.

###

A decent night’s rest did a lot to help Rud focus his mind. The fire had burned out in his wood-burning stove, leading him to prance over to the longhouse for some breakfast. Taz’s perpetual stew was perfect for when no one wanted to cook. The wide doors to the building swung open, revealing the dwarf himself dishing out food to passing adventurers. Setting a kettle above the coals, the druid got to work on some Sunshine Tea.

Sunshine Tea was a blend of the pure sweet tea, infused with Rud’s Imbue Crafted Item spell. The result was a tea so sweet, it was like southern sweet tea back on Earth. No sugar needed. He poured a cup for everyone gathered, listening to the timid conversation spreading between the mortals and Taz. People gravitated to that dwarf for some reason. Perhaps it was his winning personality, or the fact that he wasn’t a sacred beast.

“Not sure why you folk keep going west,” Taz said, filling his bowl up for the third time. “Head north to see the mountains.

Rud sipped his Grove Breakfast tea, feeling the energy spread from his stomach to the tips of his toes and fingers. Not only did it provide him with an energy boost that lasted all day, his mana would regenerate 20% faster. It was also delicious, but didn’t really pair well with the stew. Oh well.

A human man with a mop of messy brown hair chuckled politely. “I think we’re all used to rushing to the newest thing. Dungeons in the west and orcs in the west means money for us.”

“And some of us desperately need that money,” a human woman said.

“Just make sure to stop by the grove before you head home!” Rud said, rubbing his hands together. “I can’t give you money, but I’ll trade tea for crystals and cores.”

The first guy offered a kind smile. “Thank you, spirit.”

“I’ll have a shop ready for you the next time you pass through. Probably. Honor system, of course.”

All members of the party inclined their heads, performing the gesture of reverence to the grove.

Riding on the idea that no one would be dumb enough to be a dingus in the grove, Rud planned not to man the shop all the time. He would have an honor box where people could make their donations. Perhaps it was a good idea to see if he could set minimum prices, but that might violate the pact the grove had. Tackling a tea industry did more than add crystals to their stock. Plant Care, and Growth Magic were skills that were pretty easy to level. As the conversation rolled on, Rud inspected his main class.

[Druid]

Rank 0 Level 7 Class

Description:

Druids commune with nature to command spells and shapeshifting effects. The closer a druid is with nature, the stronger their abilities.

Skills:

[Animal Communication] R0 L5

[Growth Magic] R0 L5

[Detection Magic] R0 L1

[Construction Magic] R0 L8

[Healing Magic] R0 L3

[Crafting Magic] R0 L5

[Shapeshifting Magic] R0 L5

[Plant Care] R0 L8

Abilities:

[Druidic Spellcasting]

[Druidic Attunement]

The spirits had gifted him with more skills than he knew what to do with. Each was leveling slowly, but if he focused on getting something like Growth Magic up, it might help him push closer to Rank 1. He hadn’t used that skill as much as Construction Magic, which was vital to getting everything built in the grove. Rud blinked a few times, realizing that he had fallen into his own thoughts as the others talked. Thankfully, the mortals treated him more like a wandering spirit than a person they could carry a mundane conversation with.

“Gotta go heal a bear,” Rud said, shaking his head. “You know how bears are.”

Making his way through the nearest cluster of foliage, Rud found his way to the bear and gave some serious healing. Whatever poison pumped through the beast’s veins was almost gone. A few more applications of Nature’s Cleanse would do the job. Unfortunately, that meant the bear was in a permanent slumber. He patted the future member of the grove on the head and left.

Rud inspected his subclass on the way to assess his tea situation.

[Grove Custodian]

Rank 0 Level 5 Subclass

Description:

Grove Custodians dedicate their lives to tending to Sacred Trees. They gain adaptive abilities, depending on which form their bound tree takes.

Skills:

(LOCKED) [Mining] R0 L6

(LOCKED) [Smelting] R0 L6

(LOCKED) [Farseeing] R0 L5

Abilities:

[Efficient Custodian]

Aspect:

NONE

If Tea-Making was a skill, Rud would have been at a much higher level. Leveling Grove Custodian had been challenging at first. He didn’t need to export as many ingots as they had expected, and even then it was only a matter of creating a few. Imbued ingots were rare, but that didn’t mean demand was high. But the Farseeing skill was different. Rud used that one as often as he could, scanning the forest for danger and keeping his eye on the weird magical stuff that happened in this world. It was his dream fire watch job, just with a fantasy twist.

“What are you doing?” Mint asked, appearing from the bushes.

Near Rud’s mushroom house, just off from the center of the grove in Ban’s clearing, he had planted an assortment of tea plants. He even had a building dedicated to drying the leaves quicker, allowing him to defy the cold to produce delicious teas. His plan was to expand it, despite the difficult landscape.

“Wanna help me level this place out?” Rud asked.

Mint pulled her lips back, baring her teeth. “For what purpose?”

“More tea!”

Mint hummed, looking out over the forest. She didn’t have a problem with him clearing areas of trees. Rud always replanted what he took. But he could tell something else had barred his way forward.

“You’ll need to move the badgers.”

“Badgers?” Rud asked, looking out over the forest. He saw nothing. “Ain’t no badgers here.”

“There’s an entire family of badgers here.”

Rud cast his Detect Animals spell, a spell he didn’t cast often enough. Sure enough, he saw the shapes of little badgers resting in holes. This might be a problem. Did badgers hibernate? Were they hunkered down against the cold, prepared to stay here and never move until warmer weather came? He hoped not.

“Well, guess who speaks badger?” Rud asked, jabbing a thumb at himself. “This guy.”

Something of a smile played on the wolf’s face. Rud sauntered over to the first hole, sticking his head in to watch the badger through his spell. He cleared his throat, focusing on Animal Communication skill and toggling his Clear Communication skill.

“Dear badgers, please move,” Rud said.

He saw the shape of something shift within the hole. Eyes that gleamed in the dim light looked up at him. The badger attached to the eyes huffed.

“My hole!” the badger shot back.

“I need you to move your hole, please.”

“Absolutely not! You want to steal my worms.”

“I don’t want to steal your worms, mister badger.”

“Missus badger!”

Rud cleared his throat. Perhaps badgers were harder to deal with than squirrels… While he could talk to them, they were still beasts. They didn’t understand complex instructions unless they were ascending like Sarya had. Getting them to move would require tact. A keen mind that could outmaneuver the mind of a determined badger. Only the quickest of wit would do.

“Golly gosh, guess you guys don’t wanna go live in Worm Hole Hollow. That place is just full of worms.”

“WHERE!?” the badger shouted, rushing forward from her den.

The badger was adorable, with stripes of black running down the length of her face. Her body fur was mottled gray, white, and black and she was low to the ground. Rud felt an amount of kinship to the creature.

“That’s an excellent question! Allow me to prepare the area for you. Could you get the others to move with you?”

“For enough worms,” she said, her eyes glistening.

The group of adventurers who had just enjoyed the hospitality of the grove walked along the main path, circling near the northern section of the clearing. They watched as a man knelt near a hole, growling at a badger who growled back with just as much vigor.

Chapter 2

March of the Badgers

Rud clung to Dean’s fur, having shifted into his squirrel form. The wolf padded through the forest, confused but willing to help whenever the druid asked. He had already run the latest report about the dungeons to the mortal town, returning to eat a hearty breakfast and perform the duties given to him.

“What is it we’re doing?” Dean asked, not even slightly short of breath despite his speed.

“We’re looking for the perfect home for some badgers,” Rud said. “They’re in the way of my tea farm. Also, stop if you see anywhere that needs some more trees.”

“The entire grove is trees.”

Rud blew raspberries, an action that was harder in his squirrel form. “You need to focus your mind. Think like a tree. See that spot over there? Yep. Not enough trees.”

Dean changed his direction, angling for the spot Rud had mentioned. When they stopped the druid shifted back into his true form, withdrawing a pinecone from his bag. He stomped it into the ground and cast his Plant Growth spell before watering it. The tree shot up, skipping several stages thanks to his Spiritual Infusion upgrade for Growth Magic. It went from a sprout to a young tree in an instant, draining away the druid’s mana.

“Let’s plant a few more,” Rud said, looking at the area. Mossy rocks and a nasty slope marked the area, angling southward in this section. “Why don’t you look for the badger home while I plant?”

Dean nodded, dashing off into the forest.

Rud would need to clear about twenty trees for his new tea farm. Instead of planting only the ones he took, he planned to catch up on some planting. He could only cast the spell twice before he needed to rest, but the power of the grove and his tea helped him along. This area of the grove was southwest of the center. Most of the grove had a mix of pine and oak trees, all clinging to rocky soil. Only the areas closest to the center had a lighter mix of stone. This section seemed wet all the time, the blanket of moss providing a catch for the rain.

“I have located an area,” Dean declared, emerging from a bush. “To the north.”

With about half of the original twenty trees planted, Rud figured that was good enough for now. He jumped on Dean’s back, not having the mana to shift into his squirrel form. They dashed off, passing through a bush and arriving in a vast clearing. The sun shone from overhead, breaking through the sparse boughs to paint the forest floor below. The ground here was soft, giving plenty of room for the badgers to dig their holes.

“Gotta make sure this place has worms,” Rud said, using his fingers to dig into the soil. The dirt was a rich brown color, dotted with bits of black. It only took him a few scoops to pull a wriggling worm from the soil. “Wow. I think we found Worm Hole Hollow…”

“The soil here is rich,” Dean said, gesturing with his nose to the north. “There is a stream that runs from the mountains. Perhaps that has something to do with it.”

Rud made a mental note of the area’s location within the grove. It was easy to do, thanks to his connection to Ban.

“Hey, Ban. Is this a good badger spot?” Rud asked.

The tree’s senses swept across the grove. Rud felt his hair stand on end as her focus shifted to him. He could feel her giggling from afar.

“And why not?” she asked. “You’re the custodian.”

“Well, I wanted to ask… You know. Just in case this was some sacred site owned by the frog people.”

“The frog people haven’t been in this region for years.”

Rud blinked a few times, narrowing his eyes. “The frog people don’t exist, do they?”

“Nope.”

“Do the badgers require us to dig their holes?” Dean asked.

Rud tapped his foot. Was this his first time relocating animals? It was. He had tried to do something with the bats, but they were jerks. No offense to bat-kind, but they were worse than the squirrels. He looked up to the boughs above, spotting something that looked like a robin. Perhaps some other red-brown bird that lived in the area. “I don’t think so. We’re going to destroy their dens, so I want to make sure this works. We’ll escort them here if that’s okay with you.”

“A badger’s den is called a sett.”

“Does it matter?” Rud asked. “We’re not even speaking English!”

“Correct word usage is important.”

“Okay. Operation Badger Move is a go.” Rud struck a pose. Dean watched him with interest, knowing he couldn’t perform such an action. “When you get your human form, you can pose all you want.”

Rud jumped onto Dean’s back, and they were off to the nearest bush.

“I won’t gain my human form for quite a while. I’m not certain you understand how powerful Mint is.”

“Well, that’s the question. You were a monster, right?”

“Something like that.”

“Does that mean Mint was a monster?” Rud asked.

“I can’t say. Sacred Beasts like her are more than monsters, though. Most have been gathering power for thousands of years, if not longer. An upstart like me cannot compare to her. Not in power or experience.”

“What about souls like Ban?” Rud asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Taking an interest in me?” Ban asked, speaking into Rud’s mind.

“No, I was just thinking about where everyone comes from. I had a theory. Perhaps we’re all aliens!”

“You see yourself as an alien?”

“I’m not from this world, am I?” Rud asked. He spotted a badger coming out from a hole ahead. It was asking about worms. “That makes me an alien.”

“I think you’re an old soul destined to join Asevar and the grove.”

“I’m all warm and fuzzy,” Rud said, dismounting from Dean. “And not because I’m covered in Dean’s fur.”

Rud cleared his throat, thrusting his hands into the air. “Beasts of Badger Den Zero-Zero-One!” he shouted, gaining the attention of all badgers in the area. “You are invited to follow the Sacred Beast Dean and me to your new home, Worm Hole Hollow! There you will find more worms than you can eat, attractive ground to dig in, and a view that will skyrocket your property value!”

A murmur spread through the badgers. What words Rud caught seemed positive. The creatures in the forest didn’t trust Rud just because he was the custodian of the grove. But he was getting better at understanding the basics of Animal Communication. He had to offer them something they wanted if he would get what he wanted.

“We shall follow you, tall, hairless badger,” a badger said. “Lead on.”

Rud held his pose for a few more seconds before turning on the spot and marching off. Badgers of all ages followed behind him, forming a line as they went. “How far is this place?”

Dean padded alongside him, keeping an eye out for any danger. There wouldn’t be any danger, but it made the wolf feel better to do something as they walked. Ever-vigilant. “Several hours on foot. It isn’t far from the grove’s center.”

“If only our badger friends could use Thicket Travel.”

“If only.”

An interesting thing to note about the badgers was their intelligence. Rud suspected the smarter an animal in nature, the smarter it would be when he used his skill to talk to them. Conversing with squirrels was like talking to a toddler who just slammed an energy drink. The bats were no better, closer to paranoid fiends than anything else. But the badgers spoke with eloquence, especially compared to the others. It was comforting to know he could have a conversation with some woodland creatures. Birds were a lost cause, though. Those creatures couldn’t string together two words without interjecting with defiant squawks.

Rud considered shifting into his squirrel form, but decided against it. He had the trust of the badgers for now, but that might be too much. But to his surprise, they marched right behind him without a complaint. They maintained that straight line the entire way, shuffling around rocks and tumbling over logs as though this was something badgers did daily. Part-way through the expedition, Rud watched as Nulsa alighted on a nearby branch.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Rud asked. He turned, watching to make sure the badgers didn’t flee from the woodland predator. As expected, they didn’t. No fighting allowed inside the grove.

“I don’t sleep all day,” Nulsa responded. “I’m here to report a buildup of magical energy in the east. It seems potent.”

“The east?” Rud asked, clicking his tongue. “That place is about as boring as my hobbies back on Earth.”

“My guess is an interaction with an unknown element after the grove expanded.”

“Thanks for the tip, Nulsa,” Rud said, giving him the thumbs-up.

“I was certain you would see it after you talked to Hagsbane. But you didn’t arrive for your check-in.”

Rud clicked his tongue. Everyone thought there was some romantic intent between him and Maria, but they were wrong. He had been hopeless in romance back on Earth, and he wasn’t ready to break that streak. Perhaps the truth was too much for the Sacred Beasts to understand, but he loved talking to someone from his homeland. If that was a woman, man, or a parrot with a convincing vocabulary, he didn’t care. It was a connection he could hold onto, bringing him comfort during the rare times of doubt.

“I do miss her dearly,” Rud said, sighing dramatically. “But someone has to move these badgers.”

“Quite the gaggle of badgers,” Nulsa responded.

“A group of badgers is called a clan,” Dean corrected.

“Do you have Google at the ready or something?” Rud asked. “Is your class called ‘actually…’ or something?”

“Actually…. Maybe,” Dean said, producing a hiss-like giggle. “I learned how to read recently and found some books.”

“Well, when you have a chance, you can teach me everything you know from the fantasy version of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Perhaps I’ll use words good after that.”

“That’s not… Ah, you’re speaking incorrectly on purpose. I like it.”

Nulsa didn’t stick around for the badger march. He headed off to investigate the disturbance in the east. Something about the way he brought the problem to Rud’s attention had him slightly worried. He couldn’t remember a time the owl had willingly stayed up during the day. While he might have pretended like this was normal, Rud could tell he was worried about something.

“Are we there yet?” a badger asked.

Rud looked back at the clan of badgers. “Unless you want to live on a pile of rocks, no. We’ve got a ways to go.”

But the badgers were about as silent as a child on a road trip who had just downed an entire bottle of chocolate milk. They asked for an update every few steps, and Rud got into the habit of answering as simply as he could. But their faith in Worm Hole Hollow never wavered. Especially not after Dean embellished the size of the worms they had discovered there.

“Worms as big as your snout,” Dean claimed.

The badgers got excited at that, but Rud didn’t know how much of the claim they could understand. Some Sacred Beasts could communicate with other animals on an intelligent level. Rud’s understanding was they spoke to each other more with feelings than words. The last leg of the journey was easy enough, with only 58 instances of “are we there yet?” Rud counted.

Dean passed through the thick brush first, followed by Rud and the badgers. The druid did some jazz-hands, giving a hearty “tada!”

“Worm Hole Hollow,” one badger whispered. The group broke off, digging in the ground and removing worms to eat. Rud doubted the worms here were much better than the ones near the tree, but he had hyped it up enough to convince them. Worms didn’t count as animals, since they said nothing.

“You have done well by us, forest spirit,” one badger shouted, stamping the ground with its clawed paws. “We shall dig a mighty sett!”

“See? Told you it was called a sett,” Dean said.

“Savor your victory,” Rud said, narrowing his eyes at Dean. “We’re gonna have a trivia night. And I’m gonna crush you… once I get my hands on those books.”

“You may borrow them. But you shall not win.”

The duo stuck around long enough to make sure the soil was good for badger homes. Rud had a fear about the water soaking into the ground from the stream, but it was fine. The badgers had a bunch of tunnels built within the hour, and were extremely happy with their new home. Digging near the tree was a pain, thanks to Ban’s roots. But they had no problem chewing through the roots of the trees nearby in their new home.

Once Rud was satisfied with the badgers, he sent Dean off to help Nulsa and teleported over to the tower. He rushed up the stairs, accepted the tower’s aspect, and clicked on the radio.

“Maria,” Rud said, forcing himself away from calling her Hagsbane. “This is Rud, checking in.”

The radio crackled as Rud turned his sights to the northeast. From this distance, the energy Nulsa talked about was a faint wisp. But thanks to the Farseeing skill, he zoomed in for inspection. There were some interesting interactions between magical energies over there. The grove’s magic clashed against something near the old logging camp. The druid saw both Nulsa and Dean investigating the area, but they were looking in the wrong spot. Just off from the stone road built by the mortals, something was buried underground. It put off a pale purple energy that stained the air.

“Maria here,” the radio crackled. “Didn’t want to have coffee with me this morning?”

“I got wrapped up in badger affairs,” Rud said, shaking his head. “Also, I still don’t have coffee. The tea I make is far more potent, though.”

“I could go for some tea,” Maria said with a sigh. “I’ve got my monster problem mostly under control. Now that my dwarves are sober, they make a decent fighting force. Gug is helpful, too.”

Rud bit his lip, trying to stop from saying something stupid. He knew he couldn’t promise to fix everyone’s problems, but he wanted to help. Even if he just sent her a crate of his delicious tea, it would make him feel better. But that project would take some serious time, and he knew Ban was nowhere near ready to make portals.

“You should take a trip to Basil’s grove, Cliffs of Mog,” Rud said, leaning in over the table. “Take a break from the underground.”

“That’s not a bad idea… if Jim would turn on his radio. I swear, we’re the only ones who use this thing.”

“We’ll get the other custodians on board. That’s what Bent would have wanted… Right?”

“I think so. Everyone has been circling the drain for a while now. But if Bent is making new groves, we all have something to be excited about.”

Yeah, like a massive party with all the custodians. That’s the idea Rud held onto, anyway. Excitement for something new meant the others could help, though. The druid wasn’t alone in this. They might have been distant, but he had the help of the other groves, spirits, and trees. Trees and mushrooms. Maybe there was a Sacred Topiary everyone worshiped in some far-off land…

“While I have you on the line, I’ve got a question.”

“Shoot.”

“I figure you might know since you’re always in the tower. I’ve got a strange energy signature in the distance. My grove just expanded to Rank 1, and when it did we spotted some… purple—maybe lilac—energy springing up from the ground.”

“What does it smell like?”

“I haven’t smelled it. Yet.”

“If it smells like rubbing alcohol, it's a cursed object. But if it smells like pine nettles, you’re dealing with the bones of an dead Sacred Beast.”

“Wow. That’s specific,” Rud said. “What do I do about both situations?”

“Same solution for both. You need to purify it somehow. Since you have the Druid class, I don’t think that’ll be too hard. But be cautious, Rud. Cursed objects can do just about anything, and it often isn’t good.”

“Beware of cursed objects… Gotcha.” Rud paused after thumbing the button, maintaining control of the channel. “I appreciate the help, Maria. I might need some more help with a future project.”

“Things have calmed down over here. I’m happy to lend as much help as you need.”

Rud was eager to check out the disturbance. But he chatted with Maria about whatever for a while. It always felt good to talk to a fellow Earthling. But the time came when Dean and Nulsa both sent him messages into his mind, using the grove’s communication system. With a sigh, he signed off from the radio. At least he was getting close to earning a level for his Farseeing skill.

“I’ll be right there, dads,” Rud said, shifting into a flying squirrel and jumping from the tower. He passed through the leaves, arriving on the grove’s eastern edge in an instant. The aspect granting him the Farseeing skill lingered, allowing him to pinpoint the location of the energy. He smelled rubbing alcohol in the air. “Someone grab me a shovel. We don’t wanna touch this.”

Chapter 3

Purification Ritual

A rusted shovel struck the ground, Rud putting his entire body into the motion. He fell over, sprawling on the ground. Perhaps he should have placed more points into Strength and Vigor. He sent a feeble cry of help to Taz as he inspected his attribute sheet.

[Rud]

Main Class:

Rank 0 Level 7 Druid

Subclass:

Rank 0 Level 5 Grove Custodian

Attributes:

Health: 56

Mana: 100

Strength: 2

Agility: 3

Vigor: 5

Mind: 10

Affinity: 10

Titles:

[Keeper of the Gladesbale Grove]

“Two strength,” Rud said, heaving breaths. “Not enough strength.”

The hero of the day, a strong dwarf with a knack for both mining and digging holes, emerged from the forest. He had a wide smile under his beard, his mustache twitching as he approached.

“Looks like the strength of the dwarves shines once again!” Taz shouted, scooping up the shovel. “What am I digging for?”

“A cursed object,” Rud said.

Taz went rigid, pressing the shovel against his chest. “A what?”

“A what?” Nulsa asked from a nearby tree. “What kind of cursed object?”

Rud propped himself up, finally catching his breath. “I dunno, I just saw the energy from my tower.”

Nulsa’s head swiveled, his eyes locking on the pathetic hole Rud had dug. “Objects of power are not to be taken lightly.”

“That’s why I was using a shovel. So I wouldn’t touch it.”

Nulsa grumbled. “I must confer with the Sacred Tree. Do not dig the hole until I’m back.”

The group watched as Nulsa flew off, vanishing into the forest.

“He knows he can just talk to her from here, right?” Dean asked.

“Maria said it wasn’t that big of a deal,” Rud said. “Just a little cursed object, what’s the problem?”

Taz shivered. “We’ve found cursed objects in the mines. What an absolute mess. One filled the tunnel with jelly. Not fun jelly, either. Enough jelly to drown a dwarf. Another was electrified, shocking anyone that touched it. That’s the point of cursed objects. You never know what they’re going to do.”

Rud considered their options. He guessed the object was revealed or activated when the grove expanded. If there were other hidden objects around the area, they would also gain power. The problem with that was he couldn’t know where they were or how they worked. The only thing he could do was find them and purify them.

Nulsa returned a short while later, landing on a branch and nodding at the group. “Ban’tanthein has spoken to another tree. A spirit will grant Rud the power to purify whatever it is we find.”

“That’s a relief… right?” Dean asked.

Taz shook his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” His shovel struck the earth and he removed twice as much dirt in one scoop as Rud had done in five. “Cause I don’t enjoy being covered in jelly.”

Sarya appeared from the bushes, joining with the others to witness the digging. Taz took his time, scooping dirt from the hole and depositing it to the side. He was careful not to hit the buried object. But before long the shovel reverberated, smacking into something metallic in the hole. Everyone winced. Dean scampered away, getting out of range. But nothing happened, despite the tension in the air.

“Is anyone covered in jam?” Rud asked.

“Jelly,” Dean corrected.

No one was covered in jam or jelly, but the object had released a minor wave of energy after being smacked. Rud felt the grove itself batter that energy down, suppressing it until it was packed into a tight ball around the object. After some tense moments, Taz got back to digging. He soon lifted it from the hole. The object was a cube the size of Rud’s head, covered in ornate symbols and pulsing with waves of blue light that washed over the surface.

“Purify it,” Taz said, shaking as he stood above the hole. He held the shovel out as far as he could. “Please.”

Rud looked around, shrugging. “I don’t have the spell. Oh, nevermind. There it is.”

[Spell Obtained!]

The Cleansing Spirit River has taken notice of you. He has gifted you with the Purification Ritual spell.

“Does it have any components?” Dean asked.

Rud inspected the spell.

[Purification Ritual]

Rank 0 Druid Spell

Healing Magic

Component:

Imbued Leaf

Enchanted Jug of River Water

12 acorns or beans

Mana Cost:

100

Description:

Cast negative energy out of any person, object, or animal.

Effect:

After forming the ritual circle, your target will be sealed away for an amount of time.

During this time, the target will be purged of all negative effects or magic.

“Aw, man… I’m stinky at ritual magic,” Rud said. “By that I mean, I can do it. But I need some river water and twelve acorns… or beans.”

“I’ll get the water,” Nulsa said, flying off.

“I’ve got the acorns!” Sarya shouted, dashing off into the woods.

Rud was left there to look at the object on the shovel. He cleared his throat. “Just toss that on the ground for now.”

“Yeah, good idea,” Taz said, lowering the shovel gingerly.

“Ban… can you help me do some ritual magic?” Rud asked, looking back at the forest.

“Sure. I know a bit. Enough for a Rank 0 spell, anyway.”

Ban gave a breakdown of how ritual magic worked. It was actually close enough to the magic he already did that it didn’t seem too difficult. It started with a magic circle and a shape inside. If this were arcane magic, he would need to draw fancy symbols and do some chanting or whatever. But this was druid magic. At the edges of the circle—in specific increments—he would place the components for the spell. Then he could do whatever was, and this was a quote from Ban, “in his heart” to make the spell work.

“I don’t want that thing in the grove,” Rud said, looking around. The woodcutters had been busy, but there was one tree nearby that would be good enough for him to reshape as a cube prison. “I’m going to reshape that tree to hold onto the cube for now. Make sure no one touches the cube, okay?”

Rud pulled his hood up as the cold seeped into his bones. His magical cloak was great for keeping him warm or cool, but it could only do so much. The description said it would prevent him from being too hot or cold. It was half-right, often only affecting the areas it covered. He approached the tree, prepared to use his Construction Magic.

“Is this a good idea, Ban?” Rud asked, reaching out with his Shape Plant spell. He got to work reforming the tree, intending to only create an area big enough for him to place the cube and seal it away. That way, no one else would stumble on it by accident.

“This is a fantastic idea. Keeping it on the edge of the grove means I can suppress it while the heart of our little area doesn’t get corrupted.”

“Corruption?” Rud asked. “Is that a thing?”

“I wouldn’t worry too much. I’d rather never discover what this thing does.”

“Oh, yeah. Agreed,” Rud said, pulling his hands through the air as he shaped the tree. Once he had hollowed out a section large enough for a circle and the cube itself, he got to work on a sign. “If you cut down this tree, you will be killed by wolves. Please don’t touch this tree unless you want to be eaten by wolves. There. Good enough.”

“Bring me the cube!” Rud shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Taz. The dwarf jumped with a start.

The others returned with the materials shortly after. Rud imbued all the items he needed to imbue, placing the leaf on his head. He pressed the butt of his staff into the ground, drawing a shape as he was coached by Ban. Mana left his body, leaving behind a train of glittering blue mana to form the shape of the circle. He placed a clay jug of water in one of the outer circles, acorns in another, and the leaf in the last.

“This is a sacred ritual,” Rud said, cracking his knuckles. He danced around the circle. If he had a dancing skill unlocked, it would be in the negatives. But the circle began pulsing with each motion, empowered by his offering. The river water bubbled and the acorns caught fire. The leaf flashed. He got slightly nervous when the cube glowed, as though it intended to defy the will of the circle. The druid focused on his spell, feeling more of his mana flood from his body. A gentle chime issued from the cube.

The lights on the cursed object were frozen in place. Almost as though the cube had been removed from time. Tendrils of blue spread from the outer circle, snaking to infuse the tree with something.

“Not an infusion,” Ban said, seeming to assume the same conclusion. “The circle has been empowered by the tree. It gives itself willingly to hold the cursed object where it is.”

“Awww. Thanks, tree,” Rud said, exiting the structure he had made. With his Shape Plant spell—and barely any mana—he sealed the tree. “I’ll plant ten in your honor.”

“Your debt of trees grows by the moment,” Dean said, coming up alongside Rud. “Are you sure the mortals won’t try to get inside?”

“They usually listen to my signs. I drew a skull and crossbones on the sign.”

“What if they interpret the bones to mean something fun is inside?” Dean asked.

“Like what? A party-going skeleton?” Rud asked. “The written message and symbol should be good enough. We can’t help them after that.”

“I’m going back to my cave,” Taz said, his voice cracking. “I need a new change of pants.”

Rud waved as the dwarf left. Today had shaped up to be more exciting than he could have expected. A strange mystery had been introduced to the grove. He almost forgot about his tea farm, and the badgers he displaced. The druid turned to Nulsa, who still rested in the tree.

“You know what to do, right?” Rud asked.

Nulsa nodded. “Search for more. I have a feeling the energy signature on some may have eluded us both.”

Rud pointed to Sarya. “You just do your normal thing.”

“Got it!”

“Dean, could you help Nulsa?”

“I’ll search for anything strange. We won’t limit ourselves to the grove.”

“Perfect! We make a great team, guys. Break!”

Rud stayed around for a while until he was satisfied the tree wouldn’t burst into flames, jelly, or some other unpleasant state of being. Once he was satisfied, he headed into the nearest bush and teleported himself to the tea area near Ban. To his surprise, Mint was in her human form. She wore the same samurai-style armor, this time with a shovel in her hand. With a solid kick, she sent a rock flying into the distance.

“You sorted your problem out?” she asked, jabbing her shovel into the ground and leaning on it. “Good. I got a shovel for you.”

Rud looked over the progress she had already made. The landscape sloped slightly, but it was the random drops and washed out sections he was most worried about. Finding level ground within the grove was almost impossible unless a person were directly on top of Ban’s roots. This wasn’t a problem most of the time, since the druid made all his structures out of living material that clung to whatever terrain. But he needed to plant more tea plants, not make more buildings.

Reluctantly, Rud snatched up a shovel and nodded. “I’ll do my best. Pray for me.”

Mint closed her eyes, muttering something under her breath.

“We don’t need the ground to be completely level,” Rud said, gesturing with his shovel. “We only need to flatten it out, even if we’re dealing with a slope.”

“I thought as much,” Mint said. She reached down, hoisting a stone from the ground. “I figured removing the rocks was more important, so… I’ve been tossing them.”

The force Mint put into the throw was powerful enough to send a gust of wind blowing outward. Rud squinted as dirt kicked up, bits of vegetation smacking against his face. “I guess it pays to have a super-strong spirit to help you do manual labor.”

Mint nodded, getting back to work. Rud planned to slack off, but quickly found how important his participation was needed. Not because he was good at digging, or anything logical. No, Mint wanted him to look busy, so she wouldn’t be the only one working. He put on his biggest smile, shoveling the smallest amount of dirt and leveling it out with no enthusiasm.

“I would request a new blend of tea,” Mint declared. “Something more bracing than what you’ve produced so far.”

The wolf sent another stone skyward. With how hard she threw them, he would be shocked if it didn’t enter the planet’s orbit.

“If you can find me more plants, I can produce more tea,” Rud said. “Let’s see… Right now we have the sweet citrus, Mint’s Blend. Sweet and earth is Squirrel Gray. Citrus and earthy makes Sucker Punch—I love that one. Grove Breakfast comes from all sweet leaves. And Sunshine comes from citrus. I guess I could blend the three together to see what we get.”

“I have found a new plant,” Mint said, withdrawing a tea plant from nowhere.

Rud rubbed his hands together, throwing his shovel to the side as he hastened over. He pressed a tea leaf between his fingers, pinching it to express the scent. When he inhaled, he reeled back. It felt like he had just been sprayed in the face with some mace. “Spicy!”

“Yes. We add spicy to the mix,” Mint said, rubbing her hands together. “This will wake you up, I’m certain of it.”

“I’m awake,” Rud said, his eyes watering. “Really awake. I bet this tea could wake the dead. That has me thinking, though. We could make something like chai if we had some milk.”

“What is chai?” Mint asked.

“Spicy tea,” Rud said with a shrug. “People on Earth often put milk in their tea. But I’m pretty sure chai has a lot of milk. I dunno, I only had it a few times.”

“I shall find milk. And something to store it in,” Mint said, her grip tightening on the shovel. “Would goat’s milk work?”

“I have no idea.”

Mint attacked the slope with a renewed fervor. Rud watched her work, cheering her on as he did his best. Which wasn’t very good. It took quite a few hours, but they expanded the space he could use to produce his tea by a factor of four. Seeding the area with new tea plants wouldn’t be easy, but he could do it. The wolf spirit dashed off and Rud had a feeling he knew what would happen next. He clapped his hands together, slapping his fuzzy cheeks for motivation.

“There you go little guy,” Rud said, patting the ground after watering his new tea plant. Dusting his knees off, he passed through the nearest bush.

It took a while for Rud to find the perfect field. Most of the cleared areas in the grove were mossy, but to the south he found a section of open meadows. They had tall grasses, bushes, and vines that crept along the ground. The clearing was the perfect place for his plan, and he used his Shape Plant spell to stretch the bordering streets out. He wove them together, creating a fence about three feet tall. Then he made it a little taller, knowing what might happen if the fence failed.

Rud thanks Basil for his inspiration, creating a gate to the enclosure in all four cardinal directions. He pulled more material from a nearby tree, creating an assortment of buckets before using the Lacquer spell on them. Dusting his hands off, he leaned against the tree and waited. His tummy grumbled. About an hour later, Mint appeared from the bushes, two bleating creatures under her arms.

“What?” Mint asked, looking at the pen in disbelief. “How did you know?”

Rud opened the gate, allowing her to place the bleating beasts on the ground. Two black and white goats bounded forward, going to work on the grass in the area. “You’re more transparent than you think, Mint. I suspect you want me to milk these creatures?”

“I mean. If you don’t mind… Looks like they have milk.”

Rud winced. But she was right, they looked as though they would make some goat milk. Well, perhaps they could make cheese… Grove cheese. But two goats did not a goat farm make. And there was no way Rud would commit himself to this. Not when it wasn’t even his idea.

“You gotta help me take care of them. And you need to name them both.”

“Goat-one, and Goat-two,” Mint said, nodding with pride. “I’m bringing more. Don’t bother naming them.”

“The only question I have is where did you steal these goats from?”

“They were feral.”

“They don’t look very feral…”

“Perhaps they were once domesticated. I cannot say.” Mint placed her hands on her hips, laughing. “They’re our goats now! I shall milk them!”

Rud watched as Mint did the worst job of milking a goat. He didn’t correct her, only watching as she stumbled through the process. But to his surprise, with some practice, she worked out how to get milk from a goat. The goats didn’t seem to mind, bounding off into the fields when she was done.

“We have milk! Make me some chai!”

“We still need to dry the leaves.”

“Make me some chai when the leaves dry!”