A dream within a dream within a dream?... Valoria can no longer tell reality from fantasy. Her thoughts tangle like the thorny vines that ensnare her arms.

  "Aw grandpa, can't she stay just a little longer?" The girl's voice comes through, delicate as can be.

  A young boy, his eyes alight with curiosity, retorts, "How do you know it's a girl!"

  The girl rolled her eyes, her chestnut hair swaying gently. "Uh, it? have you seen her? Look! She moves around just like a dancer. Look at how graceful she is!"

  As if summoned by the girl's words, a small pair of vines cautiously creep out from behind a corner, followed by a dryad who seems to pull its body through the door frame with tender deliberation. As the woodland critter comes into view, it stretches, letting out a yawn reminiscent of rustling leaves.

  The grandfather, his brow creased with worry, holds the door open for the dryad as he speaks. "Come now, children. Valor is very busy, you know." His voice is like a weathered lullaby, both soothing and burdened with time.

  The little girl's eyes shine with excitement as she asks, "But grandpa, can't we go with her today?"

  Her brother mirrors her excitement, alongside the dryad's own flicker of anticipation.

  "Well... I suppose you're old enough now," the grandfather concedes, his voice heavy with unspoken concern. "But you have to be careful, and stay close. The forest stretches on for quite a ways, so it's easy to get lost..."

  "It's okay, we'll stick extra close! C'mon Jack!" The young girl grabs her brother's hand, pulling him along as they run from the house, their laughter echoing away into the distance.

  The dryad waddles after them, but the old man stops her, leaning in close. "Ahm... Valor, the hydrangeas out front... I planted them because they're my late wife's favorite, although they just won't grow. Could you perhaps take a look at them for me?" His voice falters, a hint of desperation seeping through the cracks.

  The dryad gives him an enthusiastic nod, heading outside. As its tendrils take root in the ground, a spout of water shoots from Valor's mouth, splattering muddy droplets to the side.

  When the dryad is finished, it raises its hands, and hydrangeas begin to bloom from the ground, their vibrant colors filling the garden with life.

  "Ah! I see, I overwatered them… Thank you, Valor."

  The dryad squeaks in response, and begins skipping off into the distance.

  The rising sun casts long shadows across the town square as Valor, approaches the gathering of villagers. Her movements are fluid and full of whimsy, like a dancer lost to the rhythm of nature.

  A man clad in silver armor, his face etched with determination, raises a hand in greeting. "There you are, Valor!"

  Valor was never able to remember this one's name. Humans with armor were normally the scariest of the bunch. This one was different from his kin though, he was gentle, pleasant even.

  Upon hearing his call, the dryad waddles towards the man.

  As she reaches him, he scoops her up effortlessly, cradling her in his arms as if she were a child . "As you're all aware, this is my friend, Valor. Valor will be helping guide us through the forest today! Everyone come and get a basket, stay close, and remember to have fun!"

  One by one, the knight hands out baskets to the eager children of the village. Their laughter rushes through the square like wind through the trees. Valor leaps from the man's gauntleted hands, her body gliding to the ground as gently as a feather caught on a breeze.

  Taking hold of a leaf that’s just a little bigger than her body, she begins to skip towards the forest, holding it high as if it were a sword of her own.

  The children follow suit, mimicking the dryads movements as they skip alongside her.

  Their youthful joy is a stark contrast to the knight, who watches them from the rear of the group, his posture rigid and eyes ever vigilant. It doesn’t take long for the group to reach the forest.

  Valor climbs high into the canopy, the winds lifting her with ease as she plucks fruits from the tree limbs above. The children below squeal in delight, their small hands reaching skyward to fill their baskets.

  Amidst the verdant foliage, the dryad seems almost to float as she descends gracefully. Her form intertwines with the fluttering leaves caught in the gentle wind.

  Soon after, the group reaches a large clearing where Valor sets about helping to grow a bush polka dotted with ripe berries for the children to pick.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Jack, his eyes wide with wonder, approaches Valor.

  "Hey, you can make anything grow, can’t you?"

  Without hesitation, she nods, tossing a walnut seed to the ground. In mere moments, it sprouts, its tiny roots piercing the earth below.

  "Whoa," Jack gasps, his imagination ignited. "What if that hit a person? You could throw a seed at someone like...really, really hard and make it grow super duper fast! I'm sure that would really hurt! Or, or! You could use your magic to shoot leaves at stuff really fast! Or you could-"

  "Jack, that's enough!" The knight's stern voice silences the boy's ramblings. His hand resting on Jack's head, he continues, "Dryads are peaceful creatures. Valor wouldn't hurt a fly."

  Valor shakes her head, attempting to dispel the scary thoughts from her mind.

  "Oh... right, I'm sorry, Valor." Jack glances between the two as his head hangs low.

  The knight sighs, patting Jack on the back. "Where is your sister? Go and find Ann, maybe she needs some help."

  With one last look at Valor and the knight, Jack scampers off into the distance.

  "Sorry about that, Valor. You know how children can be." The knight's voice carries a gentle warmth as he looks down at the dryad.

  Valor's leaves quiver under a cool wind, their verdant hue catch the sunlight. They look wet, as if she’s transpiring.

  The knight notices this, and reaches out to pat Valor on the head, his gauntleted hand surprisingly tender.

  "Don't you worry about a thing. If there's any fighting, you know I'll deal with it."

  Valor looks up at the knight, her little yellow ovals for eyes, shimmering with gratitude. She nods quickly before returning to help some other children collect berries. The serenity of the scene envelopes her; she can hear the sounds of children giggling, the rustling of the forest creatures in the trees overhead, and the soothing murmur of a stream rolling by in the distance.

  Valor pauses for a moment, gazing skyward to take in the beauty of the day. It had been a few hours already, and the sun blazes down upon them now, its rays dappling the forest floor through the canopy of leaves.

  It was then that she sees it. A pitch black figure descending from the sky. Far away, deep within the heart of the forest. It slow to fall at first, but something begins to chase after it.

  A golden ray of light seems to track it down. As it makes contact, the black dots descent quickens, plummeting ever faster towards the earth below.

  Filled with apprehension, Valor climbs the nearest tree, her lithe form navigating the branches with ease. At its top, she watches as the dark figure falls from the sky until it brushes past the top of the treetops.

  The moment that thing breaches the tree line, Valor understands in her soul that something had gone horribly wrong.

  Her heart clenches with horror as a wall of complete darkness stretches out from the forest's center. Fear courses through her, chilling her sap and causing her leaves to tremble.

  In the distance, trees instantly begin to wither, their once vibrant life snuffed out like a candle's flame. The wave of death approaches relentlessly, its pace quickening with each passing moment. Every tree succumbs, their once proud forms now twisted and decayed.

  Valor doesn’t hesitate a moment longer, and dives from the treetop, pulling out her leaf to try and glide down to safety. The blast of miasma is faster though. It reaches her in an instant, and knocks her around, hurling her through the air like a ragdoll. Her leaf rips in the process, and she too is stuck in a freefall until she hits the forest floor with a pained grunt.

  Though her light form spares her from grave injury, pain still radiates throughout her body.

  As she sits up, Valor surveys the devastation around her. The once lush forest is now a desolate wasteland. No longer does the forest sing, instead its denizens cry out in agony. The despair in the air is thick, suffocating even. The three leaves atop her head begin to wilt as she fights to stand.

  Alongside the cries of the dying forest, are the cries of children. Human children. Valor forces herself to stand as she lets out a pained squeak. Just up ahead was the nice knight. He is saying something, but she can’t quite make it out. A hollow ringing has replaced her sense of hearing.

  "Such a nice man…" Valor thought to herself.

  But why was he so wet?

  The red water is gushing from his body in thick spurts. Why was the nice man pretending to be a river at a time like this? No matter how hard Valor thinks, she just can't seem to understand it.

  It seems that a tree had fallen, and the knight used his body to protect a young boy from harm's way at his own expense.

  "Valor, take the children and get away from here!" He shouts, his voice filled with desperation. He unsheathes his sword. But he isn’t fast enough. A moment later, a black, winged beast droops down low, and the nice man's head is removed from his shoulders. His red water shoots out freely, coloring the dying grass in its shades of crimson.

  The boy he had saved a moment ago staggers backwards before letting out a nearly silent scream. That same, black, headless beast is diving towards him now.

  The wind carries Valor forward, and she intercepts the beast. Two powerful cyclones surround the creatures wings, and throw it off balance, causing it to crash into the ground with a loud thud. Its talons lash out at Valor and send her flying through the air in return.

  Valor reaches for her chest, and pulls her hand away. Thick sap coats her hand, and is quickly gushing out of the cavity in her chest. Valor isn't very smart, she knows this, but she is smart enough to understand that her sap is akin to the human's red water.

  The dryad struggles to her feet, and helps the young boy to his feet.

  Valor hated doing this, but she clears her throat, and allows the wind to carry her voice.

  "Everybody follow me!" It is enough to catch the attention of every child present, and they all gather around her. The winged beast manages to claw its way to its feet once more, but just as it takes flight, Valor hits it with another violent series of winds.

  It is knocked down again as Valor begins to run with the wind at her back, and children in tow.