Gladesbale Grove Book 2 - Chapters 52,53,54 (Patreon)

Chapter 52 An Army, A Tea House The forest whipped by in a rush as Rud rode on Dean. While the cheese cooled and was pressed by Taz back in

Chapter 52 An Army, A Tea House The forest whipped by in a rush as Rud rode on Dean. While the cheese cooled and was pressed by Taz back in

Chapter 52

An Army, A Tea House

The forest whipped by in a rush as Rud rode on Dean. While the cheese cooled and was pressed by Taz back in the Grove, the druid wanted to head into town to get more cultures. Perhaps they didn't have different varieties there, but the new upgrade on his creamery allowed him to sense that there were subtle variations. With the bacteria he had purchased, perhaps he could make different cheeses through this one quirk.

"The mortals are doing better with the island," Dean said as they raced along the southern edge of the once-frozen lake.

"Yeah, that's why Elm left to do the labyrinth some more," Rud said. "Do you remember where that baker was?"

The only response the wolf gave was a surge in speed. They angled through the town, darting around street vendors and pedestrians alike, quickly finding their way to the bakery nestled in a neighborhood of similar shops and homes. The baker inside was excited to see the forest spirit again and more than happy to barter for some cheese cultures. When asked if they knew the difference between various types of cheese starters, the baker revealed what they knew.

"The problem is getting things out here," the baker said. "I can put in an order for something, but it could take weeks, if not months, to arrive. So instead, I have my own bateria that I reproduce. You could try your hand at changing it, but I'm not very knowledgeable about that."

"I have a backup plan if I can't get different cheese cultures." Rud said. He withdrew one sample of the cheese he had created and split it down the middle before sliding it across the counter. "What do you think about this stuff?"

At first, the baker raised an eyebrow and then leaned in to sniff the cheese. He pulled off one small section and placed it in his mouth before nodding with approval. "I'm not surprised," he said with an encouraging smile on his face. "Of course, a forest spirit would have created enchanted cheese."

"The enchantments are all well and good, but what do you think about the flavor?" Rud asked.

"It's not as salty as I like it, but that can change the composition of the cheese," the baker said. "You followed my instructions, I see. But if you let this age for a while longer, you will get a completely different texture and possibly a different kind of cheese altogether."

Rud had quite a few more questions to ask. He realized that the reason he had come here was to acquire more materials to create more cheese. Instead, he received an incredibly valuable lesson on cheese making. The baker only dabbled in cheese making, but he had a wealth of knowledge that the druid would not decline access to. Rud asked questions mainly about aging the cheese, what temperatures he should use, and when the appropriate time to add additional ingredients was.

"Keep that as payment for the information," Rud said with a wink as he gestured to the small wheel of cheese.

Of course, the baker wasn't as appreciative of a piece of cheese as Rud would have liked, but he still smiled and performed the sign of reverence to the forest spirits. Dean and Rud then headed out from the town. They had nothing else to do there, and Taz would get antsy if he didn't return to help with the cheese soon enough.

When they returned to the Creamery, they found the dwarf standing at a table, forming the finished cheese into enormous wheels. These wheels were at least twice as big as the ones they had created before, which was incredibly exciting. The texture of each one looked slightly different, although the druid didn't recall doing anything new during the process. Perhaps those subtle differences in the cheese-making process had large consequences once the product was finished.

"These will make fine wheels of cheese," Taz proclaimed, slapping one wheel to make a squelching wet sound. "I just need you to wrap them up, and we can age them."

Rud was happy to encase each wheel of cheese in a fungus cocoon. He formed each one. Talking about the new techniques he had learned from the baker in town, Taz stood like a studious student, making physical notes of each nugget of information that the baker had shared.

"So this is the phase where we could add nuts and fruits," Taz said, nodding along after Rud had finished speaking. "Maybe we could use those roasted hazelnuts you've been making."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Rud said. "Did we use all the cow's milk we had on hand?"

"Yep. We made it all into cheese, and not a moment too soon. You know, those cows are starting to get used to me. They don't try to bite me every time they see me now."

Following the advice of the baker in town, the cheese would not be stored in the freezer in the caves. Instead, it would be stored in the underground area of the creamery itself. This would ensure that the cheese remained at a cool temperature, but not too warm or cold. It would provide the perfect environment for the cheese to age, turning it into the best cheese possible.

A flash of recognition rushed through the Druid's mind as he sensed mortals approaching from the east. It would take them forever to move through the groves, so he didn't rush himself. Instead, he helped Taz carry all the sealed wheels of cheese into the storage area below. Once they were done with that, they cleaned up the pots and extinguished the wood-burning furnaces. There was enough Fairy Peat in them that they could easily do another batch of cheese. But for now, those stoves would go cold as the cheese aged.

“Do you feel that,” Ban asked, speaking directly to Rud. “Figured I’d wait until you were done with your cheese before bringing it up.”

“Yeah, feels like a few mortals,” Rud mumbled to himself as he left the Creamery.

“A couple more than a few,” Ban said.

Rud snapped his fingers. “I forgot about the army! An army of adventurers is going to move through the grove, headed west to fight the orcs.”

“Ah. Those mortals and their quibbles. Grab my attention if you need me. Otherwise I’m working on something… Secret stuff!”

Smiling to himself, Rud shifted into his squirrel form. He jumped into the nearest bush and arrived on the eastern side of the grove. It took only a moment for him to hear the movement of the people below. He sat perched on a branch, peering at the mortals moving over the road. They were adventurers. Or people who enjoyed wearing heavy armor and drawing behind them mules loaded with supplies.

Instead of engaging right away, he took a moment to observe them. Their behavior made him think they were fine folks from Sparwyn who had deep respect for the spirits. Those were the best people to work with.

Rud soared from his branch, doing tight circles until he landed on the path before them. He shifted back into his true form, holding his arms wide. With a staff in one hand, and a piece of cheese in the other he announced himself.

“Greetings, mortals!” Rud shouted. His voice didn’t quite boom as he had expected, coming out as more of a squeak than anything. After clearing his throat he tried again to better effect. “Hello, mortal peoples!”

It didn’t take Rud long to spot the leader of the twenty-some adventurers.

“Took us longer than expected to ready the scouting party,” Tuft said, sauntering to the head of the formation with a wide smile on his muzzle. “Is the road ahead clear?”

“Perfectly clear,” Rud said with a nod. “How are your supplies?”

“Extensive,” Tuft said. “We’re prepared for a month-long trip, but we can scavenge along the way if needed.”

Rud jerked his head to the side, beckoning the group along. It was a long walk. No need to delay. “Keep the grove in mind. If you get into trouble, lead whatever you find back to the grove. We can handle it.”

“I believe you,” Tuft said. “How many orcs do you think you can handle?”

Rud had to think about that one for a second. Between the different Sacred Beasts, they could destroy about 100 Rank 0 orcs. “As many as you can bring,” he answered.

Tuft slapped him on the back, throwing his head back as he laughed. “I wish I had your confidence!”

Of course, Rud would hope his people would use the magical effects of the grove to their advantage. Rather than engaging attackers directly, it would be better to simply let them get lost in the woods and starve them out. That way no one would get hurt.

“If you yell loudly enough, someone will come to help you,” Rud said. “Or they’ll find me to help you… The point is, we’ll watch as you move through the grove. But once you exit into the west, you’re on your own. So enjoy the time you have inside.”

“We thank you for the safe passage,” Tuft said. “Although we talked about circling the grove to the south, that would’ve increased the duration of our trip.”

Circles were, after all, longer than straight lines.

The lion-dude had some more stuff to chatter about, but Tuft eventually let Rud go. Those people were headed off for the adventure of a lifetime, and the grove was here to support them. They might not have had a lot of power outside of the grove, but while within it they had many advantages. To make the interaction with the gaggle of adventurers even better was the message that appeared as he left. His Custodianship skill went up from Level 5 to 6.

The crawl to get his Grove Custodian subclass up to Rank 1 was a pain. But he’d get there.

Inspired by the idea that Rud could create a building dedicated to his tea empire, he began work right away. The perfect location was right next to the Creamery, along the road, in full view of all passing mortals. It seemed like the best way for some free advertising, not that his packaged tea needed much promotion. It was still better to show off the cool things he was making rather than stowing them away in a far-off place.

As Rud wove the foundation of the new building, he thought about those structures Taz often used with a surplus of dungeon fragments. He wanted to upgrade those as well. Bringing every building in the grove to at least rank one was his goal. As long as the donations from mortals kept flowing, that wouldn't be too hard to achieve. But first, the tea building.

Just like the Creamery, Rud wanted a structure that looked half house and half tree. He wove natural elements into the walls, leaving some entire trees bare on the outside to allow them to create a canopy over the roof. Once again, he allowed branches to sprout from the roof itself, creating a canopy that would feed the trees that made up the structure. Using his new upgrades, he ensured all foundational supports were hardened to withstand as much weight as he could fit into the building. The entire process took several hours, even with his staff and upgrades, but he got it done.

For the first time since he had constructed the first buildings within the Grove, Rud was happy with the aesthetics of these two. They were a perfect blend of a mortal-oriented building and something he would expect a druid to use. The walkways leading up to the entrance were functional yet elegant, with railings made from a mixture of bare wood and branches complete with leaves. The only thing they were missing was those floating plants that would emit light, but that was something that would have to wait. Once he was satisfied with the overall structure, he partitioned it into rooms. The first floor would be his processing room, where he cut and trimmed the leaves. The basement would be the storage room, and the attic would be the drying room.

Moving the wood-burning stoves from his old drying house to the new one would have been a chore if Sarya hadn't appeared from the forest, already dragging her cart. Rud suspected she had been watching him, waiting for her to be useful again. The young wolf was incredibly helpful for moving heavy things, although his first impression of Major was that the bear would be the workhorse of the grove. Instead, it had fallen to the over-eager puppy of the group.

“Thanks for this,” Rud said, holding the furnaces steady as Sarya pulled the cart along the wooden path.

“Yes, you are weak,” Sarya said, nodding as they walked along. “It is my job to ensure you are safe.”

“Is that your only job? With the way you roll in stinky stuff, I thought that was your job.”

“No, that is a hobby. I do that during my free time.”

It was harder to get the furnaces up the stairs and into the tea building. And even harder to get them up the stairs to the third floor.

“Why did you select the upstairs area to contain the drying place?” Sarya asked, grunting as she shoved her weight against a furnace as Rud pulled.

“It was the only place…” Rud trailed off as he groaned, pulling as hard as he could to get the furnace up another step. They had ascended three steps so far. “The only place I could enclose and vent at the same time.”

“Not even through the strength of a thousand wolves could we get this up,” Sarya said, sagging and panting on the step. She looked up at him with pleading eyes as though to ask if they could give up and go roll in some poop.

“Actually, I have a better idea,” Rud said, wiping his brow and standing with his arms out. “Power of nature! Soul of the forest! Heed my call!”

Branches shot from the wall, wrapping around the furnace and hoisting it into the air with no effort. It carried it up to the second floor, depositing it on the landing. The branches vanished a moment later, sucking back into the wall as though nothing had happened.

“You could’ve done that earlier,” Sarya said, glaring at Rud.

“Indeed. I could have. Instead, I require tribulations to motivate me!” Rud said, striking a pose.

Sarya pounced, putting her butt in the air. “Tribulations!” she shouted back. “Wanna wrastle?”

“I’m good. I can toss a stick for you to fetch.”

Sarya narrowed her eyes at the druid. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter 53

Absorbing Dungeons

Rud learned the ability of an adventuring group to march throughout the night when Tuft and his gang arrived in the grove’s center the next morning. Instead of messing around and having a good time, they marched all night and had a bad time. Each member of the party looked exhausted as they stumbled into the rest stop nearest Ban.

“Make yourselves at home,” Rud said, waving at the group. Although almost everyone glared at him, Tuft smiled and waved. The druid ducked away before they threw bricks at him and found Taz working at the Blacksmith’s Workshop.

“Are the mortals here?” Taz asked, not even looking up from his work on the anvil.

“Yeah. I was thinking we could make them something for dinner, but they look exhausted,” Rud said.

“That’s what happens when you march overnight,” Taz said. “An amateur move.”

“Really? At least they got here quickly.”

“At the cost of their morale. You sure that Tuft guy knows what he’s doing?”

Rud shrugged. “Of course I don’t know if he’s competent. I spend my days growing plants and stuff. I’m too soft for the adventuring world.”

“Not for long. Once you eat a few more dungeon souls,” Taz said, pointing at the artifact staff in the druid’s hands. “Get a few more attributes from that thing and you’ll be swinging with the best of them.”

“I might even be better,” Rud said. “Seeing as I have access to infinite attribute points. Well, technically infinite. Still don’t have word from the adventurers coming to weaken the dungeons for me…”

“Nothing in the Observatory?” Taz asked.

“I spotted a party last night, but they were moving slowly. They just arrived in the area, so we’ll see what happens today.”

“So, did you come to give me an update for some unknown reason?” Taz asked. “Or do you just like my pretty face?”

“Your beard is pretty nice… No, I’d like to get some food ready for them tonight. Maybe something with cheese?”

Taz had looked back down at the anvil, but his gaze shot up again. His brows arched as he considered the invitation. “We’re cracking into the cheese already? Don’t you want to age it?”

“Not like we have a shortage of milk. We can always make more cheese, but we can’t make more adventurers.”

“I think the definition of procreation is making more mortals,” Taz said, snorting. “But I get your meaning. And I respond. Yes. We shall create something with our abundance of cheese. A dwarven dish, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m down to clown. Need anything from me?”

“Nope. I got the meat ready to go. Just need to pilfer your cheese stores.”

Although Rud had been eager to upgrade all the buildings in the grove, he had some other junk to take care of first. At the Observatory, he scanned the southwestern region and spotted the group of adventurers taking on the dungeons. They were gearing up to tackle the first one of the day, and he wondered if they would get through it. Having never run a dungeon, he didn’t know what was required to clear one.

“Do you require my aid?” Nulsa asked, appearing on the banister. “I felt your need.”

“Up for a scouting mission?” Rud asked, snapping his sight out of the Farseeing skill to spot the owl nearby.

“That’s most of what I do around here,” Nulsa said with a hoot. “What is the mission?”

Rud’s needs weren’t great. He wanted a simple report of the western lands ready for the adventurers before they left. Although he could see pretty far with his Farseeing ability, his vision could only go a few hundred feet outside of the grove in any direction. But Nulsa could fly, so the owl could go out and get information for the mortals before they left. That would give them some information, increasing their chance of survival. He explained his plan to the Sacred Beast, who nodded along as he spoke.

“I’ve scouted the west before,” Nulsa said.

“What’s it like?”

“There’s a reason no one lives there. Not willingly, anyway. The slope of the mountain makes it impossible to grow crops, and the animals are scarce. All beasts of the land use a passage to the south to move from the eastern to western side of the continent. To the northwest is nothing but death. Either from the cold or starvation.”

“Yet orcs live there,” Rud said with a shrug. “We also have a group of humans near that passage to the southwest. Haven’t seen them in a while.”

“The orcs are monsters, generated by the system. If they were unfortunate enough to gain sapience, they would die within weeks. Now they live by the grace of the system.” Nulsa took a moment to punctuate his thoughts with a gentle hoot before flapping his wings. “I’ll have a report for you soon.”

Rud watched as the owl flew off, leaving him with his thoughts. While he wasn’t in a note-taking mood, he checked on the cursed objects and logging camp to the northeast. The mortals hadn’t cut through the trees he had grown for them, which put less on his plate. The magical energy knew that the Labyrinth was swirling, but that wasn't unusual. He wouldn't include this in his external reports, but it was good to note everything he could see.

The druid was happy he lingered for a bit. He watched the southeastern region of the grove and eventually spotted several adventurers emerging from a dungeon. He watched with curiosity as they stretched and talked to each other for a few moments. Then they gestured to the east. He observed their journey as they took no breaks and entered another dungeon. Rud rubbed his hands together, grabbing his artifact staff and smiling to himself. It was time to absorb another dungeon.

Rud barely had to think about requesting aid when Major lumbered from a nearby bush at the base of the observatory. The bear yawned, smacking his lips as he looked upon the druid.

"I sensed you required some muscle," Major said, shrugging his massive shoulders. "Where are we going?"

“To absorb another dungeon,” Rud said. "Come on, follow behind me."

Arriving at the recently cleared dungeon, Rud first inspected the area. There were more adventurers around, but he couldn't see them. Only the remnants left behind by the first party were visible. There was a small camp with a properly snuffed-out fire and rocks arranged around it. Impressions where they had slept on the ground were still there, but like good travelers through the grove, they hadn't overstayed their welcome. He was concerned they were spending too much time here, but as they were under such close scrutiny, he was confident he could lead them out if they got lost.

"So you're getting the adventurers to do your dirty work," Major said, offering a toothy smile. "Smart. That way, you don't have to do anything, and you get stronger. Might as well just sip tea and watch the days roll past."

"That doesn't sound too bad," Rud said. Hoisting his staff as he approached the rocky embankment, he placed the staff on the stones and waited, watching as the weapon reacted. A shimmer of bright energy flooded across it as it siphoned the dungeon's soul away. A few moments later, a system message appeared, and a smile flashed across his face.

[Plantoid Dungeon Soul Absorbed]

Your [Custodian’s Twig] has absorbed a dungeon within Gladesbale Grove’s borders. This artifact has gained +2 Strength, +1 Vigor. 

The [Plantoid Dungeon] has been destroyed.

Rud felt the gentle rush of power flooded through his body. The stones of the dungeon folded in on themselves as they were sucked into the portal. A moment later, it collapsed with a flash and a bang. He shielded his face, but the force of the explosion was not great.

"That gave me two Strength," Rud said, flexing.

"Hmm, perhaps the next dungeon could give you two in height. You're not very imposing with how short you are."

"Oh, come on! You know physical appearance means nothing with attributes. The important thing is that the dungeon gave me three levels' worth of attributes. That's insane!"

"It is very impressive," Major agreed, nodding. However, he had the look of someone ready to contradict another. "From what I understand, the first few ranks are very easy to attain."

"Maybe, but you're not thinking about the big picture. There are at least ten dungeons in this area. If each one only gave me one attribute point at random, I would get a full rank's worth of attributes just from clearing those. And these dungeons don't seem to have a desire to stop springing up."

"Yet if each gave an average of two, you'd gain two ranks, three for three, and so on," Major said. He nodded with approval, finally seeing what Rud was talking about. "You could shoot up in power quickly. What do you intend to do with all this power?"

Rud rubbed his chin. "Well, we were trying to move some wood-burning furnaces, and they were very heavy. I could use this extra strength to lift heavy things."

Major released a laugh that thundered through the forest. He shook his head. "Such a simple man. Faced with the potential of infinite power, you consider only your duties as a custodian."

"What else am I going to do? Run off and be an adventurer?" Rud asked. "No, I'm building myself to be bound to this grove for a reason. Because this is where I can do the most good for the great spirits and for the forests. This is where I belong."

Major seemed to accept that as an answer, as he went silent. As they stood there, the sound of footsteps through the forest caught Rud's attention. He turned, spotting a small group of adventurers moving through the brush. It was a group he had detected earlier, just outside of the grove. They had apparently gathered the bravery to delve into the woods.

The person at the head of the formation was a human woman who performed the sign of reverence to the spirits. “Pardon, honorable spirit, but we’re lost. We’re looking for a rock that looks like… A butt.”

"I think I should have expected this," Rud said, grinding his teeth. Perhaps there was a way he could help these people out. It would have been impossible before taking the Grove Specialization ability, but now that he could regenerate just as much mana as he spent creating structures, he could make a bunch of temporary walkways between the dungeons in only a few hours. This would also give him some decent experience for his growth magic skill.

Rud cleared his throat and then struck a pose. There had been many times during his time in the grove when he had done such an action. It was usually met with amused applause from the mortals of the world, but for the first time since he started doing it, it served a purpose. The trees around them rumbled. Vine-like structures snaked across the ground and formed together to create a pathway. This one wasn't as ornate as the ones he created to be permanent, but any mortals standing upon it shouldn't experience the damaging effects of the grove.

"Follow me," Rud said, walking forward. With each step he took, he burned through more resources to cast his shape-plant spell. Although he walked at a brisk pace, the surrounding trees twisted, becoming a walkway before their eyes. This was met with astounded gasps and murmurs from the adventurers. Everyone gave Major space as he lumbered behind them.

The bear grunted with amusement.

Rud had performed many minor feats of druidic magic in his time. It was all met with polite appreciation from the mortals. But as he wove the surrounding forest into a pathway as fast as he could walk forward, it was the first time he could say he was actually doing something impressive. He led them to the nearest dungeon that wasn't currently occupied and stood outside the entrance with his hands on his hips.

"By the time you emerge from this dungeon, other pathways will be completed. As long as you stay on these pathways, you won't succumb to the forest's power. If you get lost, don’t worry. I’ll put markers on the road.”

“Thank you, noble spirit,” the lead lady said, bowing her head very low. “We cannot repay such kindness.”

"Well, there's a donation box in the grove’s center if you want to make a pilgrimage there. Fragments of mana gems, dungeon cores, and monster cores are always appreciated."

The adventurers had a few more things to say, but Rud hurried them along. He wanted to collect as many dungeon souls as he could, not only to empower himself but also to keep the groves safe. Just like the parasites that had plagued him before, these dungeons would fester and soon release an army of monsters that would pillage his home. He wasn't about to let that happen.

But the mortals weren't yet ready to reach the dungeon. Apparently, they had been lost in the forest for longer than he thought. He had watched them from his observatory and saw that they were only a few hundred feet within the grove. However, that was enough for them to get lost and experience the damaging effects of the grove's magic.

The druid instead took a page out of his own book and created many campsites on the side of the road near the dungeon. There was enough space for them to set up lean-tos and a fire in the center after he lacquered the entire area. They were even more appreciative of this and handed him a few Dungeon Core Fragments for his efforts. Joining with the valuable items was a level in his Custodianship skill.

Rud walked a path, creating the walkway between each dungeon. At every intersection, he placed a sign that indicated which way to go to get out. Along that path, he established similar campsites in the same vein as the first one he had made. There were small amenities that wouldn't provide the adventurers much comfort, but it was better than risking sleeping on the ground. He also removed a few diseased trees along the way, finding the act effortless with his newest ability.

“Do you like the mortals?” Major asked, watching as Rud created another camp for the adventurers.

“Do I like them?” he asked, rubbing his chin. It was an interesting question, and he wasn't sure if he knew how to answer it. “I like some of them. Others are a bit too reverent of the groves. But yeah, there are a lot of good ones out there.”

“I like them too,” Major said with a contented sigh. “Most are afraid of me, but there are a few who give me snacks.”

“Ah. Should’ve figured you were a food-driven bear.”

“Aren’t we all a food-driven bear?”

Rud patted his stomach. “I could go for a snack…”

Chapter 54

Unhand Me

Taz cooked a meal with cheese. The cheese was made in Gladesbale Grove and aged for about five hours. It was gooey, but the dwarf made it work. He had cooked venison steaks and then heated the cheese in a pot before pouring it over the meat. Rud rubbed his hands together as he looked over his plate, piled high with deer meat and cheese. There wasn’t a vegetable in sight.

Around the table sat Taz, Rud, and Elm. Near the table rested the sacred beasts of the grove. Most had already torn into their meals, abandoning any ideas of table manners in favor of scarfing the food down. They were animals, after all.

“You’re in trouble now,” Elm said, skewering a length of venison and chomping down on it. She closed her eyes and sighed. “As if the meat alone wasn’t good enough, now you guys have cheese. Grow a decent vegetable garden, and you’ll have yourself a resort grove.”

“And I haven’t even tried to enchant the meals,” Rud said, smiling to himself. Technically, as long as it was cooked within the grove, it was a crafted item, so he could enchant it.

“Wait, you can use that spell on our meals?” Taz asked, looking down at his untouched plate and then back at the druid. He grabbed his plate and thrust it forward. “Do it, druid boy.”

Rud shook his head as he held his hand over the plate. He cast his Imbue Crafted Item spell and watched as the magic shimmered over it. The power of both Ban and Mint flowed over the meal, infusing it with that complex intermingling of magics. Everyone leaned in, inspecting the item. The druid was no exception.

[Dwarf’s Delight]

Uncommon

Description:

Venison steaks lightly salted and covered in enough cheese to give your local healer a panic attack. This meal isn’t for the faint of heart. Ensure you’re sitting down for this one. It’s a doozy.

Effect:

Consuming this item nourishes you far more than it should.

Aspect Effect (Mint and Ban’Tanthein):

If this meal (or any with a similar effect) is eaten for two days in a row, you gain this effect. All skill gains increased by 25%.

Taz’s eyes went wide as he read the description over and over. “You’re telling me we could’ve been doing this the whole time… but you were too lazy to cast a simple spell!?”

“Do mine next,” Elm said, holding out her plate.

“I would like another portion,” Mint said. “Two portions, actually.”

“I don’t think the effect stacks,” Rud said.

Sarya bounced around with excitement, putting her butt in the air before bowling into Dean. “Why are we so excited!?” she shouted.

“Unhand me,” Dean grumbled.

Of course, Rud was happy to enchant everyone’s plate. Including his own. A 25% increase to skill gain was massive, even if they had to eat an enchanted meal two days in a row. This would make getting levels and ranks a lot easier, especially if the effect grew with the power of his skill. The druid now had a very good reason to get Crafting Magic to Rank 1. He knew there would be some juicy abilities to pick from at that rank. Likely something tied to the grove.

Rud finally dug into his food, finding that it exceeded his expectations. And his expectations were high. Although the plate was just a pile of hot cheese and meat, it was absolutely divine. By the time he got half-way through it, he felt his stomach bulging. But he pushed on for the sake of the buffs. When he was done, the druid sat back and felt his eyelids growing heavy. He dabbed his forehead with a length of cloth.

“I got the meat sweats,” Rud said, looking over to the beasts of the grove. They were all panting. Except Nulsa, who was perched on the back of a chair. He hadn’t eaten any of the enchanted food.

“As do I,” Elm said with a heavy sigh. She sat there for quite a few silent moments before her eyes widened. “I just remembered why I came here tonight, instead of turning in right away.”

“Not the time for business,” Rud groaned.

“It is too important to ignore,” Elm said, pushing herself up straight in her chair. She groaned, leaning forward before catching herself against the table. “If I can stay awake to deliver the news, that is.”

“Out with it before we either pass out or puke,” Rud said.

“I have detected magical energy coming from the labyrinth.”

“As have I,” Rud said. “But that energy has been there since the structure appeared.”

“But there’s more than before,” Elm said. “And the increase is coming from the area just above the structure. It should be coming from within.”

“Really? I just thought that’s how it worked.”

Elm released a heavy sigh before belching. “I thank the gods and spirits you built outhouses… Anyway, this level of growth is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I simply don’t know what it means.”

“Wait, you’re the expert and you don’t know what’s going on?” Rud asked, folding his arms. The pressure that created against his stomach was very uncomfortable, so he unfolded them and placed his palms on the table. That was marginally better.

“Don’t blame me!” Elm said. “I’m only the ‘expert’ because the next-nearest person who knows anything about this is on the mainland. I’m doing my best.”

“We appreciate all you do for us,” Taz said. He wasn’t as affected by the meal. “Rud understands you’re trying everything you can, but he expects too much for us. Seriously, send help.”

That got a light chuckle from the elf.

“In my defense, we got some weird crap going on with the labyrinth,” Rud said. “I’m frightened. Someone hold me.”

Sarya jumped into Rud’s lap. The weight of the large wolf was too much for the chair and it collapsed under their weight. The pair fell to the ground with a clatter, splintered wood shooting in every direction.

“Ow,” Rud grumbled. “Anyway, we love you Elm.”

“As friends, of course,” Taz added, a little too quickly.

Elm went into a rant about magical energy. It was far too complicated for Rud to understand, but he listened. She said something about magic gathering in a singular spot and condensing to create structures. He understood that much, but when she got into the details he got lost. Fortunately, Elm was used to dealing with people from non-magical backgrounds.

“Which means the magical energy in the area is out of control,” Elm said. “Does the Sacred Tree know anything about that?”

“I know nothing,” Ban said, speaking into Rud’s mind. If she spoke aloud, Elm would have her brain melted. “But once I get the labyrinth’s energy under control, this should stop.”

Rud relayed the message, to which Elm nodded.

“That’s good. If the Sacred Tree can absorb that energy and process it, she could grow in power while preventing more random system structures from popping up.”

“Is this related to those dungeons I found in the south?” Rud asked.

“Depends on how many.”

“At least ten. Likely a lot more than that,” Rud said.

“Then, yes. That’s not a normal number of dungeons to just spring up. I have many concerns about this newest development,” Elm said.

“Are you gonna run off to consult a member of your order?” Rud asked. “Maybe one that lives in a tower? White hair and all that.”

“Why is it that most older wizards have long white hair?” Elm asked, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the ceiling. “Almost as though they all gather and decide what kind of flowing robes and equally flowing hair they’ll have.”

“Wizard uniform,” Taz said, nodding. “Like organized military garb. Helps them know friend from foe.”

“I really don’t think that’s the case…” Rud trailed off. For all he knew, that could be the exact reason why.

“But, no. I’ll stay here and study. The way the magic is developing is happening too fast. I’d miss something if I left.”

Conversation faded out after that. Rud got more tired by the moment, and only five minutes later he couldn’t stand it. As he left the longhouse, he entered the chilled breeze of the night. The sky was alight with both the glittering stars and the fragments of the moons. He wasn’t sure how the night had gotten away from him, but his mushroom house certainly was inviting. Once he got the furnace going, he crawled into bed and passed out.

###

“We’re experiencing something similar… I think,” Jim said.

Rud sat in the Observatory, his radio hissing at him as he sipped his tea. His morning notes had shown more of the same. Power was expanding within the grove… Every grove, if these early reports were anything to go by. And not every grove was prepared to confront the reality of war within their borders.

“We need to get the other groves on the horn,” Rud said. “Let’s get the word out, okay?”

“Yeah. Agreed,” Jim said. “How are those portals coming along?”

Rud bit the inside of his cheek, trying to find the best way to phrase it. “My tree isn’t being forthcoming with that. Which usually means she’s close to a breakthrough. She’s going to harness the power of the labyrinth, then we’ll have one-way portals to deliver items.”

“Yet items won’t solve the energy problem.”

Rud rolled the information over in his head. There had to be another way to suck this energy up or otherwise redirect it. Even if Gladesbale Grove could deliver equipment for adventurers afar, that might be good enough to keep everything under control.

“That’s up to each grove,” Rud said. “Maybe this will be a case-by-case basis. Too bad Maria couldn’t be here.”

“Those dwarven adventurers are working well for her. But they need a lot of direction. Basil has gathered enough energy to make a two-way portal once… Just as an emergency measure.”

That was the problem with the portals the groves currently had. None could sustain portals for any amount of time. Instead, it was a brief window where one person could travel for a few seconds. And what about Bent? That guy could travel where he wanted when he wanted. Yet Rud got the impression he was more like a thing out of nightmares rather than a friendly little forest critter. Perhaps he just didn’t understand enough how the Stag Spirit worked.

“Basil was always my favorite,” Rud said. “He’d be proud of what I’ve built here!”

“I’m sure he would,” Jim said.

There were a few more things for them to discuss, but the meeting ended in time for Rud to make his morning report. More dungeons and more energy. Yet he forecasted clear skies for the day and a chilled wind blowing from the north. After taking the weather, he summoned Dean to the tower and handed off his report.

“I have a few more dungeons to eat,” Rud said, patting Dean on the head. “Thanks for running this over.”

“No problem,” Dean said, turning and swishing his tail. “They give me snacks when I come through.”

“Do they give you snacks, or do you steal them?”

Dean gave him a knowing look before dashing off to the nearest bush. Rud could only shake his head. The druid followed suit, heading through the nearest bush and arriving at Ban’s clearing. He pressed his back against the Sacred Tree and lowered himself to the ground, looking up at the flowers scattered through her branches.

“You there, Ban?”

“I’m here,” she said, her soothing voice rolling through the clearing like a comforting breeze. It brought a sensation that rushed through his chest—like always—bringing deep comfort to his mind.

“Checklist time.” Rud clapped his hands together. “So starts our meeting. Can you take minutes?”

“I’ve got a notepad ready,” Ban said, giggling.

“The roads and rest stops throughout the grove need some improvements. Structurally, they’re fine. But as my power expands, so does my ability to create a better form for them.”

“Noted. The road project shall continue, this time with more roadness.”

“We might want to check out using my Imbue Crafted Item spell on the roads… Or another spell provided by Basil. Wink wink.”

“Wink wink.”

“Next is the underground city. Any progress on that front?”

“Almost none. I’ve extended my influence into the area completely, but I’m waiting for the latent magic to dissipate.”

“As expected,” Rud said, miming as though he were checking an item off a list. “The ice island is mostly taken care of, which gives way to another problem. The dungeons. I’ve got that one under control for now, so long as my temporary roads work for the adventurers coming to help me out.”

“Dungeons sorted. And our little druid gets more powerful with each soul consumed.”

“We’re working through the diseased tree problem, and we still have a ton of cursed objects to take care of, but that’s a work in progress.” Rud paused for a moment, going through his mental checklist. “Tea and cheese production is going well, and I think we’re going to get some interesting types of cheese soon. No new blends of tea, though.”

“I’m just waiting for the last item. The one I know you’re most excited about.”

Rud smiled to himself. He had been saving this last item, because both he and Ban knew what it meant. “The labyrinth,” he said, nodding a few times. “Have you tamed the cursed thing?”

“I’m almost there. My root system isn’t intended to do this, but I’m almost ready to tap into the core itself. When that happens, we’ll unlock a lot of options. I may even ascend to Rank 2 instantly.”

That was something to think about. To jump an entire rank thanks to the amount of energy was frightening. Could Ban handle all that energy at once, or would she burst into flames? Rud could only guess, but he trusted the tree’s assessment of the situation. This would unlock a lot of expansions and new buildings for her to support. Between that and the diseased trees getting taken care of, she would have a massive rush of energy.

“So we can talk about portals soon, right?” Rud asked.

“Your idea to send items to the other groves is an excellent one,” Ban said. “The other Sacred Trees have been talking. Well, their form of communication is more like ideas, but they’re worried about the system structures in their groves. A few aren’t doing so well. They’re already under attack.”

“Good thing we’re close to making it happen, then,” Rud said. “Between the two of us, I know we’re close. We got this!”

“We do!” Ban shouted back. “Team Druid-Tree!”

“Huzzah!”

After laughing about their idiocy for quite a while, Rud felt confident about moving along. He felt the tree’s attention drifting away from the grove’s center and back to the magical underground complex.

“Right. Back to work with me.”