Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Origin (II)

The arrival of corruption had isolated Moslina from her sisters. With her power and the help of the Origin itself, she had hidden all traces of her home. As was usual for her race, the concepts of her home and the Origin superimposed.

She had only left a faint trace, which only her sisters could recognize. However, it was impossible for a dryad to get there through the corruption. Nonetheless, a half-dryad had done so, supported by her elven half and her companions.

Perhaps, because of this, the dryad had hugged her effusively, and didn't want to let her go. Although the drelf had been moved at first, it was beginning to become a bit suffocating.

"Goldmi! Help me!" she asked her friend.

"How?" she felt helpless.

She didn't see herself capable of separating them. The dryad had undoubtedly felt very lonely for so many years.

"Get some food! Anything!" Maldoa pleaded.

"You mean...? Well, let's see..."

Upon sensing the aroma, Moslina released the drelf and approached the elf so quickly that she startled her. Her eyes stared at the freshly made forest fruit cake that gave off a most tempting aroma. Her mouth, half open, was beginning to drool.

"Do... Do you want some?" she offered.

The dryad nodded several times, while staring intently at the cake. Although she could have snatched it away, she didn't even intend to. A dryad would never steal another's property, no matter how much she wanted to.

Goldmi smiled, cut a generous piece, and placed it on a plate in front of the dryad. Along with the cake, she served her a juice from a yellow-green fruit.

"It's amazing! Guslia would love it!" the dryad exclaimed between bites.

"You know her well. It's her favorite," the elf smiled.

"Ah... Wow... How're they? You... You're Maldoa, right?" she said to the drelf.

"Yes," she nodded. She felt happy to have been recognized.

"Can you explain to me everything that's happened? Why're you here?" she asked.

She did so very seriously, although the crumbs on her cheeks took away quite a bit of solemnity. Not to mention her lips, which were stained with the yellow-green of the juice.

"Of course," the drelf approached.

She sat on the ground in front of the dryad, and spread her roots. She found it really pleasant and relaxing to do so in a clean land, without corruption, full of life.

Her roots met Moslina's, intertwining. Physical contact wasn't necessary, but it was much faster in order to convey so much information.

They were silent for a while, with their eyes closed. The others observed them, also in silence. Except for one girl who soon grew tired, and began to wander around the lush but rather small place.

After a while, they opened their eyes.

"I see, all that has happened... So many dead plants..." the dryad muttered, as she turned to the others.

Her tone was sad. Having been isolated, it had been impossible for her to find out the extent of the corruption. Finding out about it had been a great sorrow for her.

"I appreciate your efforts. I'll do everything possible to help you. I don't know if my other sisters survived, but if they did, I'll contact them. Perhaps, now we can even contact the others," she explained.

"Is there anything we can do?" Goldmi asked.

"Continue with your mission. If you find others, wake them up and... Do you have more cake?" she asked.

"Sure. I also have more dishes. Look..."

All the losts which had converged on them when the rift had opened had stopped as soon as the dryad had let them through and closed it. Therefore, when she let them out again, most of them were still far away. Those which weren't, weren't enough to endanger them.

So, they simply continued on their way, while killing as many as they came across. There was no point in trying to attract and destroy them. It wasn't their mission, and they didn't want to waste more time than strictly necessary. Besides, Moslina had assured them that she would take care of it.

They had made a long detour to kill the generals, and wake up the dryad. So, it was time to hurry.

The dryad watched them go, feeling lonely again. During all these years, she had woken up occasionally, and checked that nothing had changed. Immediately, she had gone back to sleep.

For a dryad, loneliness was unbearable. That was one of the reasons she had hibernated, though not the only one. However, the dryad had a purpose now. She had to be ready when the time came, and she had to get help.

"I hope they're fine," she wished.

Back then, desperate, she had tried to contact her sisters. However, the miasma was extremely aggressive, and had attacked all her attempts. Over the years, it could be said that it had calmed down, even diluted.

However, every time she had woken up, she had been too lethargic to try again. In addition, the power consumption was significant, and there was the danger of compromising her position or her sisters'. After all, she had no idea what the situation was.

The newcomers hadn't only given her that information, but a purpose, a plan. Therefore, discreetly, her roots extended beyond the Origin where her home was, if they weren't the same thing.

As soon as they left, the corruption began to attack them. Of course, it was a static attack, which progressively lost strength as the corrupted power was depleted. The miasma moved slowly through the subsoil, so it was slow to replenish what had been consumed each time it attacked. It wasn't like in the first moments of its invasion. Now, although part of the dryad's power was consumed, she could defend herself easily.

She extended her roots in all directions. Partly, it was to distract her enemies, if there was any conscious being watching. If that was the case, they wouldn't know what her main objective was.

The other reason was to find the thousands of corrupted beings, to have them under control. If they didn't move, it was more than feasible. When the time came, it could be quite useful.

Little by little, as the minutes, hours, days passed, the roots spread, until they finally reached the first of her targets.

A root easily crossed the dimensional barrier that separated that Origin. When it arrived, she found an extensive network of roots that contrasted with the desolation she had found until now.

"Sister?" she asked, as the question spread through all the plants.

"Moslina?" the voice of another dryad answered half asleep. "Moslina!"

"Good morning. Fully wake up. There's much to do," she replied.

Moslina's enormous joy was transmitted to the sleepy dryad, as well as a host of feelings, some of them contradictory. That made the new dryad, despite being lethargic, extend her own roots towards her sister's.

"Tell me."