Snap

Snap. Elesia's neck twisted sideways. She blinked.

"…?"

Elesia collapsed. Her eyes stayed open. Her mouth was curved in a smile. But she didn't move.

A brief silence fell. The wind blew. A single petal drifted down from the pink tree.

"…Elesia?"

No answer. I inched closer. Reached out a hand. Gently placed my finger on her neck.

The bones were misaligned. Her spine was severed. Blood vessels torn, muscles and skin ripped apart. Everything was just… wrong.

I pulled my hand back.

"……"

I stayed still like that for a moment. Just staring at her fallen form.

"…She's dead?"

My heart thudded. Once. Then again. Breathing got hard. I looked down at my hands. They were shaking.

"…Why?"

I thought for a second. Why is it shaking…?

I'd killed a dragon. Faced off against Demon King executives. Seen the Hero Party drenched in blood. None of it had fazed me. Not once.

"This is weird…."

My hands kept shaking. My ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heart pounded out of rhythm. Breathing still wouldn't come easy.

I'd been human. For over twenty-five years. Heart racing, hands trembling, breath short, panic and confusion in unexpected situations—that was normal. It had to be.

But then,

"Why haven't I felt anything until now…?"

I'd met a dragon. And killed it. Met Demon King executives. Taken their attacks. Met the blood-soaked Hero Party.

Yet through all that, no trembling. Nothing.

My heart pounded harder. And in that instant, something writhed beneath me.

I looked down. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠My roots.

"…Huh."

The roots were burrowing into the earth. Without my control. Completely naturally, like breathing.

Deeper. Farther. Wider.

I drew in a breath. My chest felt tight. My head spun. My hands shook.

And all the while, my roots kept digging. Deep into the forest. Following water veins. Tracing tree roots. On and on and on.

The roots were spreading through the entire forest.

"…!"

Water's flow. Trees' breath. Life in the soil. The whole forest was flowing into me. As if the forest itself was connected to me.

Trees shook, some multiple times. Grass flattened. Animals fled the woods.

But I couldn't stop it. Not by will alone.

"Ah……."

The roots plunged deeper. Spread even wider.

In that flow, a thought crossed my mind—my new friend. Elesia.

I turned my head. She was still lying there. Neck snapped, unchanged.

I looked at her. And thought.

Druid. Forest fairy. She guarded the woods. The forest needed her. The forest loved her.

So couldn't the forest… save her?

I placed my hand on the ground. Beneath the damp soil, I felt the entire forest.

"…Mind if I borrow it for a sec? Sorry. I'm selfish like that."

As I murmured, the roots sank deeper. The forest's flow shifted. Trees shook violently, grass danced, streams surged—and it all converged into one current.

I sent that power to Elesia.

For a moment, nothing happened. The forest went utterly still.

"…Not gonna work?"

Then—a rustle.

Elesia's finger twitched ever so slightly. Her eyes blinked. Her neck began to right itself.

I supported her with my roots. Misaligned bones slowly realigned. Torn vessels and muscles regenerated. Nerves, spine, everything I didn't understand—it all restored itself.

In the process, I sensed something like me. Plant-like.

Seconds. Minutes. Finally, Elesia's chest rose faintly.

"…Oh!"

I gasped in awe. It was incredible. All of it. The changes. The situation.

I started stabilizing too. My heart slowed. Hands steadied. Breathing normalized.

"Cough!"

Only someone's cough broke the renewed silence of the forest. The wind blew. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Countless leaves began drifting down slowly. Utterly peaceful.

I lifted my head. Looked at the sky. It was daytime already, somehow.

"…Huh?"

Elesia touched her neck.

"I… definitely…"

She trailed off. Her hands trembled. She slowly turned to look at me.

"…I'm alive."

Her breath shook. Tears welled in Elesia's eyes.

"I… just…"

Her voice cracked.

"…died…"

The word wouldn't finish. Her hand clutched her neck—the spot that had been broken.

"Ha… ha…"

Her breathing grew ragged.

"I… died."

Tears fell.

"I really… died…"

Her shoulders shook.

"Couldn't… breathe. Body… wouldn't move…"

Her voice trembled more.

"The forest… nothing… I heard nothing…"

Tears kept falling.

"It was so scary…"

Her breath hitched.

"I didn't want to die."

Another tear.

"…I really… didn't want to die…"

Elesia closed her eyes briefly. Then opened them slowly. Looked at me. They were soaked.

"…You saved me, right?"

I thought for a second.

"Probably."

At my words, fresh tears spilled from Elesia's eyes. Then she suddenly rushed toward me. Grabbed my hand. It was shaking.

"Thank you."

Her voice quivered completely.

"Thank you."

She bowed deeply. More tears fell mid-sentence.

"The forest faded… nothing left… but suddenly, it came back. I felt the forest again."

Tears streamed.

"You saved me."

A brief silence. Then, very quietly:

"Thank you so much."

Elesia slowly raised her head. Looked at me. Eyes still wet.

"…But what are you?"

"A flower."

"…Does that make sense?"

"A strong flower?"

Elesia's eyes narrowed. I said nothing more.

"Ha…"

She wiped her face. A quiet moment passed. Wind blew. Leaves rustled softly.

Elesia looked around. Then froze.

"…Wait."

She stared at the forest. It was completely different now. Trees subtly tilted, earth upheaved in spots. Grass and vines tangled, terrain shifted even deep in the woods.

My doing.

"…This your work too?"

I thought.

"Probably."

She looked back at me. Took a breath and continued.

"Even if my death was from the contract… if the dragon did that guy's bidding…"

She pointed beyond the forest.

"Something probably went down elsewhere too."

I tilted my head.

"Where?"

"The city you came from."

Ah. I closed my eyes briefly. Felt the grass I'd made. The trees. Everything I'd left in the city.

Opened them.

"The city's fine."

Elesia blinked.

"…What?"

"The city."

I shrugged.

"I planted some flowers and trees there."

She stared blankly.

"…When?"

"On the way."

"Why?"

"To make it pretty."

Elesia was speechless for a bit. No words.

Then, softly:

"You're weird."

"What is?"

"Bellishian Drakar wouldn't just do something like this and stop."

I thought.

"You know him?"

"Contract and all."

"Ah."

Silence. Then Elesia spoke again.

"He's extremely cautious."

I recalled a few days back.

"But yeah. Does he wear a hood a lot?"

She looked at me.

"…You've met him?"

"Yeah."

She seemed flustered, lost for words.

"How?"

"Fought him."

"I mean, how?"

"Escaping Demon King's Castle with the Hero Party."

"Whoa."

Elesia's mouth hung open a bit.

"…What the hell are you?"

I didn't answer. I was a little tired. Body felt heavy.

Silence. Then I said,

"…Gonna nap for a bit."

She blinked.

"Now?"

"Yeah."

Really tired. I closed my eyes. And fell asleep just like that.

.

.

.

I opened my eyes. Sky above. Sunlight warm. I sat up. Then froze.

People. Knights. Armored, surrounding me. Hands on swords, tense.

And in front, a familiar face. The Hero.

Leon raised a hand.

"Hold."

The knights halted. He looked at me.

"You're up."

I blinked.

"Hey."

A few knights glanced at each other. Leon chuckled.

"Still chill as ever."

He eyed me.

"Explain."

"What?"

"This situation."

Perplexed, I nodded anyway. Before recounting today and yesterday, a question slipped out.

"Where's Elesia?"

Leon blinked.

"…Who?"

"The druid."

Knights exchanged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looks. Leon shook his head.

"…Haven't seen her."

I thought.

"…Okay?"

Looked around. Forest quiet. No Elesia.

I thought. Probably doesn't like crowds.

And then.

Can you hear me?

I blinked. Elesia's voice.

It's me. Elesia.

Looked around again. Still no one.

In this forest… I can hide if I want. Thanks again for saving me. Wanted to say it properly.

"So, what happened in this forest last night?"

"That pink tree wasn't here before either."

I want to help. But… the forest's a bit different now.

I glanced around. Upended soil. Tilted trees. Tangled vines.

Need to tend to it.

Her voice softened.

It was a duty before, because of the contract. Now… I want to. Sorry.

"It's fine. I get it."

Thought, then added,

"And no need to help. I prefer solo anyway."

Wind picked up. A beat later, her voice returned, woven into the breeze.

Thank you. It was fun, even if brief. And… sorry, but I can't chat long.

I blinked.

"Why?"

"…Talking to something?"

Knights and Leon stared oddly. I glanced their way, nodded, focused back.

The forest… isn't stable yet.

Wind blew.

You used its power. Flows are twisted. Animals fled in panic. Gotta fix it now.

Her voice faded farther.

Pretty busy… so…

A hesitant pause.

See you later. I'll say hi then.

Wind blew. Leaves rustled.

No more voice.

I stood there a moment. Then shrugged.

"Whatever."

Turned to the knights.

They flinched. Then I slowly explained yesterday. Meeting Elesia. The dragon encounter and its end. Elesia calling out Bellishian Drakar, her neck snapping. Me saving her.

When I finished, some knights looked dazed.

"…Hold up."

One spoke.

"You expect us to buy all that?"

I shrugged.

"Don't have to."

Glanced around again. Upended forest. Tilted trees. Tangled roots.

Knights followed my gaze. Leon sighed at us.

"…Hah."

Silence. Wind blew. A petal fell from the pink tree.

A leaf brushed a knight; he freaked, brushing it off.

I watched, smirking faintly.