Rise of Tyrus

Were an onlooker from afar to witness Tyrus walking with a cluster of walking trees, they would think that they took him captive as an offering to nature. Seeing the small boy grimace with every step would further support that notion. The fatigue was really settling into his entire body. Fortunately, he found a solution; a sorcerer could use the mana in their mana heart to replenish a portion of his stamina.

The downside was that replenishing a small amount requires a significant quantity. After using a combination of spells and augmentation against the treant, he could cast a few Lightning Bolt or one Dual Shot, having replenished his stamina. The aching pain in Tyrus's legs temporarily subsided as he straightened his posture. He’d have to rest his body wherever the treants were taking him.

Tyrus looked sideways, observing the armless treant. “Uh, sorry about your arm. You really scared me back there. Is it going to regrow or…”

The treant's bark face contorted into a frown. Just how was it moving solid wood like that? “It will regenerate in its own time. By planting ourselves back into Mevena's embrace, treants exhibit regenerative abilities.”

“Right, the goddess of nature and health,” Tyrus replied. “What are you treants exactly? A group of walking, intelligent trees that love to eat people?"

All the treants nearby shuddered, their branches whipping in unison. Tyrus felt stabbing glares all over his body.

“How dare you refer to us as mere trees? We are treants, human! We treants are bestowed with the breath of life by the divine Mevena, who imparts to us her will to protect forests from all surrounding dangers! Intruders who are not welcome must be dealt with promptly if they refuse to depart.”

“Since the founding of Wildwood, we have been present and watched for several decades. The treants that you observe here have been entrusted with the responsibility of defending the heart of Wildwood, shielded from any unauthorized intrusion. You're the first human to tread this deep in many moons.”

Ah, that makes sense, Tyrus mused. The outskirts of Wildwood were relatively fine; he spotted no treants. His jogging led to this situation, unaware of the existence of walking trees! Fiona's failure to caution him about treants suggests she didn't have any knowledge of their existence in Wildwood.

“Does that mean no one knows there are treants living here?” Tyrus asked.

“Our inclination is to avoid human contact and civilization. It is of no benefit to us to engage with nature's bane.”

Whatever that means. Clearly, they hate humans and all that.

Tyrus witnessed a bird flutter on the abundant branches of the treant. The creature moved its head in a bobbing motion and occasionally pecked at the wood. Despite the situation, the treant maintained its pace, with no signs of concern. Scanning his surroundings, he noted that the other treants had turned their gazes forward, paying no heed to his presence. He shrugged and continued walking.

The more they walked, the more apparent the differences became. The air quality shifted from a combination of floral fragrance and dung to that of aged wood and spiciness. In addition, the slender trees have disappeared, and broader, denser trees with green and reddish leaves have taken their place. More thickets and brambles made navigating through Wildwood tougher. Tyrus even spotted a few lesser hounds sniffing around.

There was a growth in both the quality and quantity of mana. His mana heart recovered at a faster rate than usual, as mana was as plentiful as air and absorbed naturally through his body. It was around twice as fast when he was in Valier Forest or in the cave.

“Is there something different about the mana quality here?” he inquired, taking in more gulps of air than usual.

“You have sharp senses,” the tree said. It surprised Tyrus that it continued to answer.

"Mountains, rivers, forests, and swamps possess distinct appearances and surroundings. One might perceive a salty taste in the air or experience varying temperatures. This also holds true for the great blessing of mana. Certain regions may possess a greater abundance of mana than others, while some may be devoid of it altogether. The more mana that circulates, the more habitable and appealing the environment will be to beasts.”

Before Tyrus could pose another question, one of the treants let out a soft wail to the armless one. Following that, they started a conversation through trembling branches and varied pitched cries. Tyrus's lips formed a narrow line as he watched the entertaining scene.

“We have arrived,” said the armless treant, pointing ahead.

Tyrus followed its line of sight and arched an eyebrow. There were no exceptional trees ahead, only regular ones. Nevertheless, when he was encouraged to proceed further, an unusual sensation overtook him. His stomach dropped, and he felt as if he stepped over a steep cliff. The feeling was short-lived as he drifted his focus to the ground. When he raised his head, he let out an audible gasp.

Before him lay a vast clearing, encircled by trees with lush leaves that shimmered in the sunlight. The grass on the ground was lush and as vibrant as the grass in Emerald Hill, and there were delicate purple flowers scattered throughout the outskirts. A flowery and sweet scent wafted through the air easily, mixing with the already plentiful mana entering Tyrus’ skin.

In the center of the clearing stood a tree that was twice as tall and more imposing than the others. A crown of star-shaped leaves adorned it, producing a swath of orange and glossy green reminiscent of summer dipping its toes into autumn. Unlike the typical treants, it lacked a jagged mouth or eyes, but instead, it had a humorously enormous nose capable of sniffing out a rat in Valis.

With every stride, Tyrus took next to the treants, an imperceptible weight pressed upon his shoulders. His pace slackened, almost dragging his feet along the perfect grass. It was comparable to the time when Selena exerted her mana on him, albeit with even greater force.

Apart from the enormous tree, there were also green wisps fluttering around its crown, similar to fireflies. As a matter of fact, there were numerous ones, causing Tyrus to squint at the sight. The moment he drew near the massive tree, all the treants present dropped to their knees and rustled their branches in synchrony.

“We greet the Elder Treant of Wildwood!”

Tyrus swiveled around perplexedly, unsure of whether he should assume a kneeling position like the others, until a voice as resonant as the ocean spoke.

“Hrm? What is this now?”

He thought the tree had no eyes, but Tyrus was sorely mistaken. It was merely hiding underneath circular grooves that served as eyelids. When he opened his eyes, he was met with piercing blue eyes that looked like the clearest of skies. Tyrus was oblivious to his own behavior and kneeled down. His fingers trembled as he hung his head low, mouth shut.

“A member of the Tiger Tribe has been brought to Mother Mevena’s Wildwood sanctuary? One that is a black tiger as well? That has not occurred in a long time…”

Another shuffle from the armless treant filled the air. “Apologies, Elder Treant. The juvenile has shown interest in aiding Wildwood in its efforts to fend off the wave of beasts that are defiling our homeland. He too is a being endowed with the power to manipulate the elements.”

The pressure on Tyrus's shoulders intensified. A sensation of needle-like prickles ran across his skin as he stared at the soft sheet of grass. Silence befell as a slight breeze swept through the treants, and the tender rustle of trees resonated throughout the atmosphere, producing a mellow harmony that could pacify a restless spirit. The Elder Treant spoke again after a seemingly endless amount of time.

“Upon closer examination, it appears that you are a hybrid. How interesting. What is your name, black tiger cub?”

Scowling to himself, Tyrus attempted to respond, but a constricted throat hindered his speech. Whatever was prohibiting him from moving on his own or speaking was way too strong for him to resist. There was no issue with his thinking, and he was attentive to his surroundings. The moment he stepped into this unusual place and communicated with the Elder Treant, his body behaved differently. Was the mana it’s radiating from its hulking body the cause?

“Do not be afraid,” said the Elder Treant. “Treants, you may return to your positions and continue protecting the sanctuary from further passersby. It is important to maintain the secrecy of your identity from humans and similar beings. Only disclose yourselves if you deem it necessary. May Mevena's grace shine upon you.”

Following another noisy rustle of their branches, they collectively rose with their creaking bodies and departed, eventually vanishing from sight. Tyrus worked to suppress the lump in his throat and bit the corners of his mouth.

“I-I,” he began, realizing he could speak now. “My name is Tyrus. The reason I came to Wildwood was to train my body and magic. I didn’t know you guys existed and were keeping this place safe...”

“Training you say? If I may say so myself, you have made an excellent choice of location. Unfortunately, I fear that you have arrived at an inopportune moment.”

Gradually, the control of his body returned to him. Tyrus raised his head, staring deep into Elder Treant’s eyes. “Is it because of the sudden rise of beasts? The armless treant mentioned that before. I was only let in because I promised to help and train here with no interruptions. It also said that you would accept my help.”

A chuckle as smooth as silk emanated from the tree. After giving it some thought, Tyrus wondered how it could speak without a mouth. The tree emitted an old man's voice, which was undoubtedly coming from its direction. It wasn't a direct entry into his brain, but a common way of speaking through the mouth. It was a very off-putting experience, but he shrugged it off and listened.

“You’ll assist us strangers so long as you can train? Your words bear the hallmarks of a true Tiger Tribe member. Although I'm enjoying our conversation, we have more urgent matters to attend to.”

Suddenly, the Elder Treant shut their eyes and remained quiet. The radiant dots revolving around his crown grew increasingly brighter, eventually becoming blinding. Tyrus covered his eyes and waited until the light show had stopped. Once it was safe to do so, he opened them and recognized a difference; their luminosity drastically reduced to half.

The tree opened its eyes and let out a profound sigh. “The barrier surrounding the Wildwood sanctuary has grown weaker. An ecological imbalance has been caused in the eastern part of Wildwood because of an increase in the population of lesser hounds and goblins. Their actions are causing disruption to the order, much like a plague spreading throughout the land. The Wildwood treants should have no trouble handling those beasts, however, a stronger creature makes the removal of the disruptors more challenging.”

Tyrus's knees went numb from kneeling, so he excused himself and sat firmly on the ground. “So lesser hounds and goblins aren’t the main problem? What's the beast that's causing the big trouble?”

Elder Treant paused. “High temperatures and fire are known to be the bane of treants. The creature is a juvenile lesser fire drake. As much as it pains me to say, we are not fit to deal with such a creature. Had it been any other creature lacking the ability to exhale flames, this would have been a non-issue. Its fiery breath and razor-sharp talons have toppled a considerable number of the treants. The earth spirits, who are in a state of disarray, have even sought refuge in the sanctuary.”

One of the green wisps descended and landed in front of Tyrus with a gentle touch. A figure as small as his fingers was panting. A flower wreath hung on their delicate, braided hair, and a pair of glowing green wings sprouted from their tanned back. It inclined its head and noticed Tyrus staring. It stood up and flew back to the Elder Treant without even nodding.

“Thanks to their aid, the barrier has held for many moons. Given the increasing number of treants and spirits that succumb to its wrath, it is only a matter of time before the barrier disperses and the drake arrives here. If it senses the dense mana in this area, I am concerned that it will become frenzied and establish this place as its abode.”

Tyrus nodded at Elder Treant’s words, scratching his chin. The beast Fiona warned him about was definitely this lesser fire drake the tree speaks of. If he missed the scarred trees, it's likely that they're mostly on the other side of Wildwood. In that case, the drake came from that direction; either that or the mountains in the north. It was reasonable that he hadn't laid eyes on the thing yet.

Actually, he had never seen a drake before. There are many creatures and beasts he isn’t aware of because of his limited knowledge, but he does know quite a few, like the popular dragon and wyverns. If he remembered correctly, drakes are reptiles that are like dragons, but way smaller and less powerful. Apart from its fire breath, its ability to fly was also problematic. Would he be able to win once he encounters it?

There were two options spread out in front of him: leave Wildwood to save his skin or help the treants. Others would probably flee if they found themselves in his situation, as they have no chance of winning against a drake. Their scales are hardy, their talons as sharp as swords or better, and they can spew fire. Considering he's a nine-year-old learning sorcery and is quite unusual, the odds are against him.

On the flip side, he uncovered a gold mine that deserves attention. The sanctuary's mana quality was the best he had ever absorbed. Despite his short stay, his mana heart was nearly full. In any other place, he would have taken only a few hours of meditation to recharge it at most. With a way to rapidly replenish his mana heart, his training would be twice as fast! All he had to do was complete his side of the deal and they’d allow him to train undisturbed. Hopefully, the treants were true to their word.

“You said the drake is young?” Tyrus asked. “Is it stronger than a rock spider?”

“Correct, but not as much. Drakes are aggressive and smart creatures. Their fire-breathing capacity and talons are their most treacherous characteristics. I recommend avoiding them to the fullest extent possible.”

Tyrus frowned as he pulled out his dagger. “Okay, so the drake is the biggest problem. If I were to beat it first, then would it be easier for the treants to handle the others?”

“It would be like planting a sapling,” Elder Treant rumbled. “Nip the bud and we will deal with the rest. The Wildwood would return to its proper form.”

“That sounds simple enough. Where is the drake?”

“One of the earth fairies will lead you to it. Meadow, if you would?”

The fairy from before descended gently from the top and landed right on Tyrus's shoulder. The tips of her wings grazed his cheek. A voice as soft as wool tickled his ears. “Nice to meet you, brave warrior. As instructed by Elder Treant, I will take you to the ferocious beast responsible for the deaths of my dear friends!”

Her face transformed into a scowl as she brought up a shaking fist. Tyrus nodded and turned to Elder Treant. "Don’t forget about our agreement. Once I defeat the drake, I’ll come back here with one of its talons as proof."

“I await your safe return. Meadow, guide him to the lesser fire drake.”

Meadow's small arm pointed to the east, just like Tyrus had expected. He nodded in that direction and removed his hat, storing it inside the ring. There being nothing else to do, he took off running.