‘Do all of them speak?’ Felix knocked his knuckles against a tall spruce tree. ‘Can you hear them right now?’

  They had been trudging through the woods for a good twenty minutes, carefully stepping over twisted roots and ducking under low hanging branches. They had gone around the burnt part of the woods, the silence in that area oddly grating on Vivian’s nerves. The trees rustled softly as they watched them pass by, a low whispering of voices in her head following them as they made their way down the new path made just for them.

  ‘I can hear them whispering to each other, but I can’t make anything out unless I concentrate on the conversation.’

  ‘What would trees even talk about?’ Aiden looked suspiciously at a nearby oak. ‘I can’t imagine that there’s a wide variety of conversation topics.’

  Felix shrugged. ‘Perhaps where the good soil is, or which way to grow their roots to get water?’

  Vivian tilted her head as if listening to conversation. ‘No, most of them are complaining about the upcoming shedding season… I suppose they mean winter. A few comments on a particular fir that has gained weight and a lot more comments on a teak wood that has already shed its leaves and gone bald.’

  ‘This line of conversation feels so familiar.’ Aiden frowned. ‘I feel as though I am back in the capital surrounded by the nobility once more.’

  ‘Well, if what that Loher fellow claimed was true, they might actually be nobles.’ Vivian scratched her head in thought. ‘Though how they came to be trees, I don’t know.’

  ‘It’s a little creepy, if you think about them as real people stuck as trees.’ Felix shuddered. ‘Were they cursed somehow? And more importantly, is the same going to happen to us?’

  Vivian shook head. ‘I don’t know. I asked Sith about this as well, but since I’m the first one that could talk to them, they didn’t even know they were sentient before. They assumed druscans were some sort of magic hybrid trees. And for some reason, they’re aggressive towards sentient beings like humans, beastmen, elves and dwarves.’

  ‘But they are fine with fairies,’ Aiden pointed out.

  Vivian shrugged. ‘I know as much as you do, which isn’t much.’

  ‘Perhaps we can ask this Rayne fellow for more details.’ Felix carefully ducked below a low growing branch. ‘Where is he anyway?’

  Vivian pointed ahead. ‘Just a bit further. He’s near the edge of the woods. We’re almost there.’

  ‘The edge of the woods huh?’ Felix brushed a few leaves out of his hair. ‘I remember walking for more than an hour to cross it when I first came here.’

  ‘Convenient, isn’t it?’ Vivian kicked a stray pebble to the side. ‘Took us twenty minutes to get here… Ah! There he is.’

  Vivian pointed out a tall, green spruce tree, that rustled and creaked as she rushed over, closely followed by Aiden and Felix. She placed a hand on his trunk, a feeling of warmth and serenity washing over her immediately upon contact. She smiled.

  ‘Hello Rayne.’

  The tree’s branches creaked as they lowered themselves, as if it was a person bending down closer to listen to her. Hello child. It’s good to see you again. How have you been?

  Vivian shrugged. I’m doing well. I’m still settling in. Thankfully the council allowed me to stay, though it was a close call. They agreed to let me stay since I’m the only one who can speak to druscans, so they want me to start documenting the woods.

  Looks like everything worked out well. I’m glad… who are these children with you?

  Vivian looked back at her friends. Felix was looking around at the trees around them, walking in lazy circles and knocking on random trees as if he could somehow nudge them into a conversation with him. Aiden, on the other hand, had a white knuckled grip on his sword’s hilt, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice, his eyes darting back and forth in suspicion. He caught her staring and cocked his head to the side, a silent ‘what?’ being clearly communicated.

  Vivian chuckled. The one going around poking and irritating the trees is Felix. And the one who’s raring to fight a forest is Aiden. They’ve agreed to help me with my work.

  I see you have made friends already. That’s good. Good friends are the solution to all problems.

  Vivian remembered how they had kept her cool and calm back when she had absorbed the forest fire. They had also kicked her out of a flying chariot and into a lake. They also cause just as many problems…

  A chuckle sounded in her head. Yes, that’s true. Unfortunately, that is a part of the package. You can’t get one without the other.

  Vivian smiled. I wanted to ask if they could enter the woods with me as I work. I’m floundering right now, and I could use all the help I could get.

  Rayne was quiet for moment, deep in thought, or so it seemed. It was hard to tell without a face. Shapers are usually not allowed within the woods… but as long as they are with you, I suppose we can make an exception.

  Vivian tilted her head. Shapers?

  That’s how we refer to humans, beastmen, elves and dwarves. Creatures that reshape the natural world rather than live in accordance with its laws.

  Vivian remembered the fairies, the bookshop with its trees towering over them. Is that why the fairies are allowed in the woods?

  Yes, even though a few have joined your civilization, most remain secluded in forests and woods… and even the ones that have entered your city, bring nature with them.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Vivian nodded. Yes, I’ve seen their shop. It’s like they plucked out a portion of the forest and planted it there.

  A throat cleared behind her. Vivian turned to see Aiden looking impatient as he suspiciously edged away from a shifting root. ‘Are you done yet?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Sorry, I forgot you were waiting.’

  ‘You forgot-’ Aiden sighed a heavy sigh. ‘Never mind. What did he say?’ A hopeful look gleamed in his eyes. ‘He said no, yes?’

  ‘Actually, he said yes.’ And the hope disappeared.

  Felix guffawed and slung an arm around Aiden’s shoulders. ‘You hear that. He said yes. There is no escape now.’

  Aiden rubbed his face with his hands, as if that would somehow make this entire situation disappear. He glared at Vivian when it didn’t and she smiled back as sweetly as she could.

  ‘Gods help me…’ Aiden shoved off Felix and took a deep breath. ‘Fine, I’ll help you. But be assured that I do so very grudgingly.’

  Vivian raised an eyebrow. ‘I haven’t known you long, but I have a feeling you do everything grudgingly. I bet you brush your teeth in the morning very reluctantly.’

  Felix snorted. ‘I bet glares at his pants as he puts them on.’

  ‘I bet he-’

  ‘I bet I will murder the two of you in time.’ Aiden grip on his sword hilt tightened. ‘And enjoy it.’

  Both Vivian and Felix raised their hands and stepped back. No need to poke the bear… at least not any more than they already had. Aiden huffed and folded his arms across his chest. “If we are done talking to the trees, could we please leave.’

  ‘Alright, alright, calm down.’ Vivian turned back towards Rayne. ‘I’ll just say goodbye and we can leave.’

  ‘Oh, wait! Before you do that.’ Felix gestured her closer so he could whisper to her. ‘Ask him about the fire. Perhaps he saw something.’

  ‘Why?’ Vivian was confused. ‘Wasn’t it an accidental forest fire?’

  Felix shook his head. ‘If it was an accident, the council would have been able to confirm that immediately. Yet they came after you, blaming you for the fire. Which means they are sure that magic was involved somehow.’

  ‘Magic always leaves traces,’ Aiden added. ‘Ones that can be picked up by a resonator.’

  ‘Alright, I’ll ask him.’ Vivian turned towards Rayne. ‘Rayne, do you know anything about the fire that happened three days ago?’

  Hmm, well now that you mention it, some of the druscans at the border of the woods said that they sensed the presence of a mage nearby, just before the fire started…

  But this is a city of mages, so that’s not really suspicious, is it?

  Oh, but it is. Most mages stay away from the woods since they know we are hostile. Honestly, only a handful approach us, such as you as well as that beastman, I believe her name is Sith. Most steer clear of us, so it is strange that a mage came so close to the woods.

  ‘So, you’re saying that a mage from the city set fire to the woods on purpose? Why would they do that?’

  I’m not sure… It could’ve been an accidental bout of magic, but something about this doesn’t sit right with me… It’s not just the fire. There’s something different in these woods, something hidden… and it’s making suspicious moves but we are unable to track them for some reason…

  Well, that’s worrisome… perhaps I should tell Sith about this. She might be able to make sense of it.

  I hope that this amounts to nothing, but its best to be cautious… especially you and your friends, since you’ll be exploring these woods from now on. Be careful.

  I will… I should go before Aiden blows a vein. I’ll come talk to you again soon.

  See you later, Vivian. And good luck.

  Vivian nodded in answer and stepped away from Rayne, turning around to face Aiden and Felix.

  ‘So, what did he say?’ Felix leaned in curiously. ‘Did he know something?’

  ‘I’ll explain on the way back.’ She looked up to catch a glimpse of the darkening sky though the thick foliage. ‘It’s getting late. We should head back.’

  On the way back, Vivian recounted her conversation with Rayne, the two boys listening with rapt attention as she spoke. It was only when she mentioned a mage setting the fire, that Aiden interrupted.

  ‘A mage set the fire?’ he asked, suspicion evident in his voice.

  Vivian shrugged. ‘Rayne said could’ve been accidental magic.’

  Aiden snorted. ‘And where was this accident-prone mage when we arrived? I didn’t see him, did you?’

  ‘The more concerning part is that it was on the inner border of the woods.’ Felix frowned. ‘It was a mage on the inside that did it. If someone is trying to destroy the woods…’

  A haunting silence followed as they understood the weight of those words.

  ‘We should tell Sith and Peri about this.’ Vivian picked up her pace, the edge of the woods getting closer and closer. ‘They’ll know what to do.’

  The three of them half ran back to the cottage, trying to squeeze through the front door at the same time in their hurry. They heard the sound of footsteps on the floor above and scrambled up the stairs to find Peri just settling himself down on the couch in front of the large glass windows in the drawing room, a glass of whiskey clutched in his hand. He raised as eyebrow in question as the three of them rushed over to him and immediately started talking over each other.

  ‘We have a problem, and its-’

  ‘The fire wasn’t an accident, it was-’

  ‘Rayne said that there’s something-’

  Peri raised a hand and silence fell. He set down his glass and rubbed his forehead. ‘Will just one of you speak?’ Felix opened his mouth to answer, but the scar on Peri’s face scrunched as he glowered at him. ‘Not you, Felix.’

  Felix pouted a bit but stepped back. Vivian spoke up instead.

  ‘We spoke to Rayne. He said the fire might not have been an accident. He said some of the druscans sensed a mage near the area just before the fire began.’

  Peri leaned forward. ‘Rayne said this.’ It wasn’t a question. He looked deep in thought as he mulled over the information. ‘If he is suspicious of foul play, then it must be true.’

  Once again, Vivian noted the tone of familiarity in his voice as he talked about Rayne. First Cyrus, then Sith and now him. She was tempted to ask how they knew him, but the last two times she had tried she had been promptly ignored. She glanced at Aiden and Felix, who were also thinking what she was thinking, and shook her head.

  There’s no point in asking… he won’t answer.

  Peri looked up at them, drawing himself out of his thoughts. ‘Have you told anyone else about this?’

  Aiden shook his head. ‘No, we thought it best if you knew first.’

  ‘Glad to know you have at least a little bit of sense.’ Peri picked up his glass again. ‘Listen, this stays between us. I’ll talk this over with Sith and Cyrus later, but you children need to keep your mouths shut.’ He glanced at Felix. ‘Actually, you two need to keep his mouth shut as well.’

  Felix gasped. ‘I have never been so insulted!’

  Peri smirked and took a sip of his whiskey. ‘Looks like I’m doing something right, then.’

  ‘I can keep a secret,’ Felix defended himself.

  ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Peri waved them off. ‘Go on now, there’s food down in the kitchen if you’re hungry.’ He pointed and Aiden and Felix. ‘And you two need to get home.’

  Vivian glanced out of the window. ‘He’s right. It’s getting dark.’

  Felix nodded. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow? We need to start planning how exactly we’re going to do this forest documentation.’

  Peri’s head snapped towards Felix. ‘He’s coming back?!’

  Felix grinned deviously. ‘Oh yes, we have permission to enter the woods with Vivian. So, we’ll be here. Every. Single. Day.’ Felix rubbed his hands together in glee. ‘This will be fun.’

  Peri looked at his empty glass longingly. ‘One’s not enough.’ He grabbed the bottle on the table and poured himself another glass, which he chugged down like water, before pouring a third.

  Aiden looked at Peri with concern. ‘I know the effect that human pustule can have on people better that anyone. But still, you should slow down.’ He tried to move the bottle of whiskey away from Peri but the older man snatched it up and hugged it to his chest. He growled at Aiden like a feral dog and the boy backed away a few steps, his hands raised in surrender.

  Felix laughed loudly. ‘Ah, just when things were starting to get boring around here.’ He slung an arm around Vivian’s shoulders. ‘I knew it. I knew you would be interesting.’

  Vivian wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. She was still a bit worried about the fire and the rogue mage that had set it. Not to mention the council lords that seemed hellbent on blaming her. But at least now, whatever it was, she wouldn’t have to face it alone.