The Land: Forging (Chaos Seeds Book 2) (11 page)

Richter, Hisako, Yoshi
and Sion stood directly at the impact site. Hisako thrust her hand into the light. Richter started to reach out to stop her, but she stood there calmly with no ill effects so he stopped himself. The beam of light lasted for about thirty
seconds, and then vanished, leaving a column-shaped
afterimage in everyone’s vision. All was quiet and then a white light could be seen from the depths of the hole. That was when the rumbling began. It built in volume and was soon accompanied by vibrations in the earth. Richter felt like he was standing on the back of some huge awakening beast. It occurred to him that standing right next to this particular hole might no longer be the best idea. He picked his head up to share his sentiments with the others, but couldn’t.
Of course the only reason that he couldn’t, was because everyone else had
already
backed away. He quickly followed their example.

Before he had moved twenty yards away, a silver tendril shot up from the hole. That metallic fiber was only the tip of the spear. The growth continued moving upwards and was joined by others. They all ascended until they were each one hundred feet in the air. Then they began to interweave into a complex braid. When each tendril finished weaving, only half the length of each had been used. The remaining segments arched upward and then bent
outward. More branches sprouted from the original eight columns. Each branch gave birth to another smaller generation. Dozens at first, then hundreds,
then
even more. In the rain and darkness of night, the amount grew into an uncountable lattice of silver branches, weakly reflecting Futen’s light and the occasional flash of lightning.

It occurred to Richter that standing in the middle of a lightning storm by a tree that very well could be composed of metal could perhaps be a bad idea. It also occurred to him that he couldn’t be seen as the only person running away from what was basically a miracle. He’d look like a punk!

Apparently oblivious to the potential danger, Hisako cast a quick spell that sent a golden ball of light into the air above their heads. The shine was strong enough to illuminate the entire glade like the sun. As soon as the light fell upon the tree, she gasped in shock, “A Quickening!”

You have completed the Quest: Tree of Power I. The Seed Core has been planted within the boundaries of your domain.

Reward: 25,000 (base 20,000) experience points.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 6 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 7 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 8 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

…

Congratulations! You have advanced to level 38 in Herb Lore. Herbs are 3% more effective. Increased chance of finding higher level herbs.

You have received 2,500 (base 2,000) bonus experience for reaching level 10 in the skill: Herb Lore.

You have received 5,000 (base 4,000) bonus experience for reaching level 20 in the skill: Herb Lore.

You have received 7,500 (base 6,000) bonus experience for reaching level 30 in the skill: Herb Lore.

Congratulations! You have advanced from Novice to Initiate
in:
Herb Lore. You can detect two effects from picked herbs. Can negate one negative effect from ingested herbs.

Congratulations! You have advanced from Initiate to Apprentice
in:
Herb Lore. You can detect three effects from picked herbs. Can negate two negative effect from ingested herbs.

Bonus Reward: 20,000 experience points for all of your Companions.

Bonus Reward: 5,000 experience points for all members of your village.

Reward: A Quickening.

Know This! You have successfully grown a Quickening. This is a celestial tree normally seen only in higher planes of existence. Many scholars attribute the overall greater powers and health of higher planes denizens to this tree. It bears fruit that, when eaten, helps to unlock the hidden
potential of the imbiber. Your people will surpass their previous potential! Affinities for all skills increased by consumption of fruit of the Quickening.

Know This! Your Quickening has been built on a Place of Power. Consequently, it is infused with the Dark, Life, Water and Air magic. Consuming the fruit of the Quickening now has a specifically increased chance of increasing affinity for learning these branches of magic in addition to increasing affinities as a whole.

Know This! All present at the sprouting of a Quickening will have an increase in random affinities.

Congratulations! Your Quickening has reached level 1!

Congratulations! Your Quickening has reached level 2!

Know This! The Blessing of Growth cast by the Hearth Mother of the Wood Sprites has combined with the Life magic of your Place of Power! The strength of the Blessing has been magnified. Your Quickening has advanced to Level 2!

Know This! It is well known that the fruit of the Quickening can unlock the potential of individuals. The tree can do much
more,
however. At level 2, it will awaken the potential of your lands. All resources in surrounding area improved in yield by 25%. 25% greater chance to find rare resources!

TRING!

You have reached level 11! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

TRING!

You have reached level 12! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

TRING!

You have reached level 13! Through hard work you have moved forward along your path. As a Chaos Seed, you gain 6 points to distribute to characteristics instead of the usual 4. You also get 25% advancement to the skill of your choice! Crush your enemies, honor your allies, LIVE!

You have either characteristic points or skill percentage points to allocate from the previous level. Now that you have progressed again, you must allocate your points within the next week or they will randomly be assigned for you.

You have unlocked the Quest: Tree of Power II. The emergence of a celestial tree on this plane will not have gone unnoticed! The tree requires care to cultivate it and strength to protect it! Will you protect it and assign caretakers to your Quickening? Yes or No?

These prompts crowded his vision one after another. He was barely able to glance at each before the next came. He quickly read through each… WHAATTTT?!? He had no idea that you got experience from progressing in your skills! He made a mental note to ask Randy exactly
how that worked later. He kept going through his prompts and accepted the quest. When he cleared his vision, he looked at all of his villagers. He hadn’t expected them to receive experience from his quest, but he was sure glad of it!

From the expressions on their faces, they were stunned too. Some of them were only level one or two. Most people did not advance farther since the two main ways of receiving experience were battle, quests and apparently skill leveling. The last depended heavily on your inherent ability for a skill and how much time you could invest into practicing it. Richter took his fast leveling for granted, but he had the boon of his Fast Learner ability. He had primarily been in combat for most of his time in The Land, and as such his magic and combat skills had leveled quickly. Not too many bakers were fighting, and not too many glass blowers were pursuing large quests. There were always small quests associated here and there Richter had been told, but apparently the experience earned was modest. As such, most nonfighters did not advance their level past two or three.

The point was, the 5,000 experience points would bump his lower level villagers up one or two levels all at once. Richter just hoped the parents would guide their children to wise point allocation. He didn’t need a bunch of super strong toddlers k
nocking down walls!

Randolphus was at the front of the crowd. He looked at Richter with an unreadable expression. Wiping rain off of his face he asked, “Is this experience because of you, my Lord?”

“Yes,” Richter replied. “It is a bonus reward for planting the Seed Core.”

A chorus of ‘Thank you’ and ‘Hooray for Lord Richter’ issued from the crowd.

Your efforts have aided the development of your people! Morale increased +300. Loyalty increased by +150.

DING!

The Morale of your village has increased from Neutral to Happy. Your guidance has made the general mood of your village increase! +10% to Population Growth. +10% to Productivity. +10% to Fighting Spirit.

“Thank you,
my Lord,” Randolphus said with his head bowed. Richter just smiled at him and nodded his head. He turned back and took in the sight of the Quickening illuminated by Hisako’s golden light.

The tree truly did belong in heaven, Richter thought. The base was about fifty feet across, each of the eight tendrils about five feet in diameter. Gaps could be seen in the trunk, the tendrils forming an octuple helix. It wasn’t the width of the trunk that was remarkable, however. The tree had the shine of polished silver. Every surface was smooth without the ridges that were normally seen in
bark
. Instead, intricate tracings ran across the trunk in smooth whirls. The branches exhibited the graceful bowing limbs of a willow tree, and the tips were only five feet above the ground.

It was the forming leaves that made the tree truly breathtaking. Each was about the size of Richter’s hand and were a soft white in color. The leaves’ thick velvet appearance made them appear heavy, but they easily shifted in the
wind, showing
their silver underbellies for just a moment before again presenting the creamy white smoothness of their tops. The effect was mesmerizing. Hisako was walking under the boughs of the tree with her hands cupped to her
chest. Just before passing under the canopy she looked back, and then motioned with her head for him to follow.

Richter and the rest of the villagers walked forward to shelter under the tree. The broad leaves formed a thick canopy which effectively kept all rain off of them. Hisako cast another globe of light that made a cheery atmosphere under the protection of the trees limbs. As Richter joined her, she gave him a brilliant smile with tears flowing freely down here face. Her words were so soft they seemed like an exhale, “We did it.”

She had been holding her cupped hands to her chest. She slowly and carefully lowered them to show all
what
she had been holding. An opalescent orb was resting in her hands. As he watched it grew more and
more clear until it was gone all together
. In its place was a small figure curled up in the fetal position. The creature was wrapped in clear wings that had an iridescent shine. They unfurled and the diminutive person stood, using Hisako’s hands as a platform.

She, because despite being only six inches tall there was no doubt as to her femininity, was clad in white cloth that looked like a woman’s slip. Her skin was a pale blue that contrasted with the jet black hair. Her eyes were still closed when she tilted her head back, opened her mouth and began to sing.

There were no words. There didn’t need to be. Images came clear to the minds of all present, produced from the pure light of her voice. She sang of love and family. Of a people dedicated to
life
and the cultivation of forests. Then the song became melancholy, and
imparted a story of death and loss. The melody spoke of an entire people dying out. The music pulled sorrow out of Richter’s soul and he wept.

The tone became frantic as the survivors struggled to stay ahead of the plague that had savaged
her people. The complexity of the song had decreased as the pixie sang, and all present realized that the loss of each tone it represented the loss of a life. Suddenly there were only two
tones
left from the entire tapestry of beauty they had initially heard. The incalculable loss tore at the hearts of everyone present. It was enough to bring Richter to his knees.

Out of despair, though, came one note of hope. A hope for
a people
to one day be reborn. The light and younger tone… a
daughter,
was overjoyed by the news. The queen mother sang once again of love, and
then then
sacrifice. A life consumed by a spell to halt time. The two tones became one, and the remaining tone was once again overcome with sorrow and grief. And the then the song ended, not tapering away, but abruptly shut off, as if the remaining life was walled away from the world.

Richter continued to weep on his knees, but with the ending of the song was able to collect himself once again. He looked around and saw everyone present was weeping freely, many laying down, completely overcome. A warmth wrapped around his shoulders, his familiar drawn to comfort him in his sorrow. Even Yoshi’s gruff exterior was overcome, and tears trailed down his cheeks. Richter’s eyes ached from expressed sorrow, but he could see the prompt clearly.

HARK AND REJOICE! The pixie that emerged from the Royal Pixie Chrysalis was none other than a queen! Her mother sacrificed her life to keep her daughter in stasis until the plague had died out. The pixie race can be reborn!