Balance of Death Read online

  “Keyris, wake your fellows up, and let them know that they will forage the area during the day without me. I will secure the surroundings every morning. I will also have you search for a more permanent campsite for the next 15 days.” Setgaith shares his plans with Keyris a Vikaman who has been to the outskirts of this forest many times to collect precious crystals.

  “Very well” Keyris’ voice cracks as he replies. He does not speak English often and their vocal cords are not meant for such sounds. Keyris goes to each group member and lightly shakes them awake. As Keyris does this Setgaith heads towards the forest. Once he closes in on one of the large trees he leaps atop a branch and before long disappears into the forest.

  Setgaith leaps from the side of one of the behemoth trees soaring through the air before smashing his foot into the thick bark of another tree. As he bounds through the forest he sees trees with blank towering trunks. Others that have ecosystems growing form their sides like a whole new forest on top some of these gigantic branches. With grass-like moss, and even -what look like- smaller trees growing.

  He lands atop one of the large branches. Crashing into the branch leaping and hopping until his momentum is reduced and can stop. The branch is so large he cannot see its end; the trees and foliage block view outside of this miniature forest.

  As he walks over the branch he becomes taken back. One could forget this branch isn’t the forest itself. He walks through foliage and his foot sinks into a swampy pond that has collected in a lower area. He wades through the knee-high waters. Every step forward that doesn’t meet the width of the branch baffles him. He starts moving through thick stalk like bushes and thin trees that only offer a view of a few feet ahead. The ground is a mixture of foliage dirt and some veins of the branch that look like roots. As he swipes through the thick bush faster and faster; eventually a final swipe reveals the edge of. Setgaith slips and begins falling off the edge.

  Setgaith jams his hand through the dirt and moss stabbing into the thick bark halting his fall. He hangs there for an extra moment appreciating the wonders of this forest. The sun peeking through the trees suddenly reminds him of his duties and the group. He pulls himself back up planting his feet on the side of the branch before launching himself outward.

  The wind violently catching his robes as he descends. He begins composing an Ekten as he falls before reaching his arm out at a nearby tree. Blue chakra emerges from his body and extends his reach jamming a sharp arm of chakra into the tree next to him slowing his descent until he is just hovering next to the tree with his chakra arm holding his body up. After a moment of assessing the surroundings he releases his flow of chakra and the construct dissipates, dropping Setgaith onto a root not far below. He recognizes the area: he knows he has checked the entire perimeter. He bounds through the forest again heading back towards the group.

  As he arrives they are packing up their sleeping gear and loading it back onto their Boems. Setgaith lands not far from them; his increased weight exploding the earth below letting out a loud thud that startles the Boems. Setgaith ignoring the Boem’s reaction walks over to Alruil the most experienced member of the group. “You have around four miles. Meet back here at dusk and we can move to a location you find.” Setgaith says ready to begin his research.

  “Very well, given the reduced group size though I don’t suspect we will need the full 15 days. Do you have further plans?” Alruil confused by the message from Keyris. They each only have one Boem, and with a group of 10 there are only so many crystals they can carry.

  “We shall take it day by day old friend.” Setgaith equivocates as he had not considered the reduction fully and overestimated his timeline. He desperately wants to make this trip worthwhile, as he has had little to show for his previous journeys. “I wish you luck, and I will see you this eve.” Setgaith finishes before leaping back off into the forest. Abruptly ending their conversation.

  This time leaping from root to trunk staying low to the forest floor. A difficult task as the earth slopes and raises, and the deeper he goes the thicker the layers of the forest get which could easily be mistaken for the ground. He feels the mist as he speeds through the air from tree to tree. As the forest turns to jungle and gets more dense he has to navigate increased foliage. He lands on a branch with viscous fluid sopped up in the moss. His foot fails to gain traction and he slips off.

  He falls backward and attempts to catch himself, but the moss is too thick and slick. He is unable to stop his momentum before he reaches the end of the root. He falls rolling through the air towards the ground. He swiftly composes his Ekten and blue chakra talons form around his hand as before. He violently digs his talons into the tree next to him. His body slams into the tree violently as his momentum is halted. Once he stops his descent he manages to position his feet. Setgaith is perched vertically; his chakra talons penetrating the tree holding him up with his feet on the tree.

  Setgaith catches his breath and evaluates his wounds; small scrapes and scratches nothing that concerns him much. A bright light shining through some roots and bushes catches his eye. He jumps down swings off a branch landing on a root before leaping onto the ground. Upon landing he sinks to his chest in the mud.

  He releases his weight Soten and climbs out walking towards the shimmer. Could this be the lucent branch he has come here to find? He has heard about a branch as smooth as marble that glows with a warm white light; from many travelers who have ventured into Hreif forest. Setgaith believes this is a natural vein of chakra, and it may help him better understand the connection between the consciousness and chakra.

  He steps forward and a large dome of intertwined roots cloud the light. He climbs onto the roots and composes his weight Soten. Then another Ekten to build up chakra around his hands. Then he begins breaking away the roots. Shifting the chakra around his hand between a large bludgeon with added weight, and sharp talons cutting.

  After creating a hole in the intertwined branches he releases the chakra around his fist. Setgaith peers into the doom. He stumbles from the shock of what he sees. An Ent the first time he has ever seen one.

  An Ent is a creature that is a semi sentient collection of fragmented consciousness. After a creature dies-if its consciousness isn’t committed anywhere-it will fragment and find its true peace in various corporeal forms. Generally, it is fragmented so much that it will fuse with things like air particles or some plant, and not have any level of sentiency. However, in rare cases if enough fragments of one or several consciousnesses are drawn strongly enough to a specific idea of peace; it will inhabit a corporeal form with enough conscious energy to maintain a small level of sentiency. In the case of the Ent nature, plants, or some idea around those are so attractive to the consciousness/es’ peace that it becomes a semi-sentient tree creature: or Ent.

  The Ent is poking the lucent branch with the tip of its pointed tree finger. Every time the Ent makes contact sparks shoot out at the point of contact. Setgaith is overwhelmed with anticipation so much so that he lowers himself down into the dome without regard for protection. He gets low as to not seem threatening; “uhh.” Setgaith clears his throat. “excuse me.” Setgaith calmly says.

  The Ent slowly turns its attention towards Setgaith. The Ent lumbers to its feet; its body is made of thick twisted vines of wood. Moss grows sporadically around its body; the life growing on and around the creature doesn’t seem to faze it. There is even a small flower sprouting from the moss on its shoulder. Its face is just a thick plate of wood with two very human looking eyes contrasting the very tree like mouth, and two holes where its nose would be. After it gets to its feet, two large stumps, it stands taller than even a Vikaman. The Ent is bent over too large for the root dome they are in. “Welcome, hi.” The Ent utters the greeting feels more like a reaction than a recognition of Setgaith’s presence.

  Setgaith still in shock from the encounter isn’t fully present to give a proper reply. “Yes, hi how are you.” Setgaith stumbles.

  “Welcome… hi.”
The Ent repeats.

  “Do you know what that light is from?” Setgaith asks about the lucent branch. Hoping but not expecting answers from the Ent.

  The Ent slowly turns and points towards the lucent branch. “These.” The Ent replies.

  “Yes, that do you know what it is?” Setgaith pushes. He cannot believe that not only did he find the lucent branch he was looking for, but also an Ent!

  “Lost. But, progress.” The Ent say’s. Setgaith doesn’t understand. The Ent probably doesn’t know it is after all a very simple creature.

  “Did you find it?” Setgaith asks. Curious if the Ent was drawn to the lucent branch.

  “Dug.” Replies the Ent. Setgaith concludes that the Ent must have been attracted to the lucent branch and dug through the roots to get to it. He looks around, but cannot see any way the Ent could have entered. He realizes it is getting late and will have to journey back, but doesn’t want to lose these discoveries.

  Setgaith looks at the lucent branch. A smooth perfectly cylindrical branch evenly lit. The light does have a warmth to it, but not a physical heat. Almost as if it is comforting him. He steps over to the branch to further analyze it.

  Wanting to see if it is chakra coming from the branch or something else he decides to use his Ekten. Chakra forms around his open hand in what looks like a spearhead of light. He attempts to cut the lucent branch with his chakra. A cold shock runs through his body before launching him backward slamming into the roots.

  The Boems are packed with crystals they’ve collected, and supplies for their new camp. In contrast to them the Boems seem relaxed and calm. The previous days of travel were much more arduous on them, where as, this portion of the journey sees the travelers working harder. As their destination is in eyeshot Alruil is surprised to not see Setgaith waiting for them.

  He looks towards the sky and figures there isn’t more than an hour or so until dark. He must turn his thoughts to what the group will do if Setgaith doesn’t show. Should they try and go search for him? Or just make their way back to alert the Qilong clan? He breaks his train of thought with memories of previous travels: guides have been late before. So, even though Setgaith has always been by the book when it comes to safety. A delay isn’t altogether unprecedented.

  As they arrive at their location Alruil feels the need to distract from any worry Setgaith’s absence might cause. “Go over your materials and food. I want to know our counts.” Alruil instructs. He knows from experience that when they are this far from a village one must take nothing for granted, and survival will make an excellent distraction from the sage’s absence.

  As time passes lively discussion turns to occasional comment as they sit slouched over hoping that the next moment Setgaith will arrive. “Should we start setting up a temporary camp?” Keyris questions primarily directed at Alruil.

  Alruil has been dreading when one of them would ask something like this. There is no good choice here, and the priority is the group’s safety. “Start setting up a fire.” Alruil knows that the group will want an answer as to what they will do if Setgaith doesn’t come. Are they supposed to sit there all night? “If Setgaith isn’t here in an hour we will set up a temporary camp and have five sleep while the rest guard and switch off half way through the night. This is the center of the area that was last cleared for us, so it should be the safest.” Alruil decides not completely sure of his decision.

  Keyris taps Riis on the shoulder as he gets up and begins to set up the fire with him. Alruil stands up and stretches as he looks out towards the Hreif forest. His mind wonders as he stares into the mysterious maze of roots and trees. What would happen to such a place if Amneka took the center lands as they did the rest of Pródesi? There is much that lives in these untamed lands far from the eyes of civilization. Look what happened when Amenka stumbled upon Krishunder - in Phalyados north of Thoraza. It took them decades to fully culminate because of it.

  A figure leaping from tree to tree catches his eye. Hopeful it is Setgaith he cheers up a bit, but suddenly his mind goes to what dangers it could be. Alruil squints his eyes making out Setgaith’s robes he is relieved taking a deep breath. It feels like the first breath he has taken since they got to the rendezvous point.

  Soon one of the Vikamen sitting notices Alruil’s attention directed toward the forest. He looks over and sees what he can only imagine is Setgaith and stands up pointing towards the figure; “He’s here.” Ingis says in excitement hoping to share his glee with the others in his group. They all take notice and the mood seems to shift to a more positive note.

  Setgaith kicks off the last tree before gracefully landing near the group a cloud of dust and dirt kick up around his landing. He walks directly towards them. “I trust you found a camp.” Setgaith expecting to have a location, and get them there as soon as possible.

  “Yes, we have. What kept you?” Alruil asks. Trying his best to hide his slight irritation that Setgaith kept them waiting. Although he has known Setgaith for awhile and is sure whatever kept him was important, and highly respects his knowledge and skill.

  “How far is it?” Setgaith ignores Alruil’s question partially because he wants to get moving, and also he is riled by the probing of his decisions. Generally, such things don’t phase Setgaith, but lately with some clansmen and specifically Thromb doubting him they cut deeper.

  Alruil reads his reaction and decides to let it go. “About a half hour from here. Do you want to make camp for the night, or get there?” Alruil says

  “We should move out.” Setgaith responds loudly enough for the entire group to hear. They all begin packing up their things, and preparing to head to the new camp.

  Alruil wakes underneath the tangled roots of a giant tree. Their roof padded with moss and various foliage to provide shelter from the outside. The only hole right above a fire inside to ward off any bugs, and keep them warm throughout the night. They are sleeping on a suspended platform of vines and logs they constructed to elevate themselves above the swampy ground. Alruil steps down onto some logs they laid out as a path outside their shelter to walk above the swamp. He stands on their makeshift bridge and peers out into the morning fog.

  Alruil knows from previous conversations that Setgaith did his perimeter check early before heading out to continue his research. Alruil looks to the Boems in the shelter the group made for them on a nearby dry patch of land. As he does he notices this cool morning air feels different; but still there is a familiarity to it. Alruil takes it in stride and continues his normal morning expedition routine. Alruil makes his way to the fire. He grabs a stick with an ember on it as he pulls a straight neck pipe from the pack on his waist. He bites down on the pipe packing some herbs into it with his thumb before bringing the coal to it and inhaling. Small pops from the coals and herbs igniting as the smoke flows through the neck of the pipe.

  He stands carrying out his normal morning routine apathetic to all the threats and questions ahead. Including not only his search of materials, but the groups safety. It would seem like odd behavior to anyone inexperienced on trips to areas unknown, but change and foreign environments have become ingrained in him from his years of it that it is just a part of his routine.

  Setgaith arrives at the cage of roots he left the Ent and lucent branch. As he arrives he lands just before the dome of roots. Setgaith performs a Soten and holds his palms out before him. His chakra connects with the vines and vitalizes the organism. It extends his form to the vines and they become an extension of his physical form. Moving the vines would be like moving his own arm. Setgaith draws them back into the earth exposing an entrance.

  He steps through the watery ground and walks into the dome to find the Ent standing as if no time had passed at all. The lucent branch has disappeared; his intrigue with the Ent quells his disappointment at the loss of the lucent branch.

  “Do you know where you are.” Setgaith figures the only things he will learn from the Ent will be from observation.

  “Where are we?” The Ent rep
lies.

  “We are in the Hreif forest.” Setgaith answers. “Where did you come from?” Setgaith continues.

  “We are under a tree” The Ent counters.

  “Yes, in the Hreif forest.” Setgaith corrects him.

  “In Pródesi.” The Ent concludes with no argumentative tone present. Setgaith confused at first by the reply not expecting a coherent argument or even conversation for that matter from the Ent.

  “I suppose so. Are you able to comprehend where you are?” Setgaith asks.

  “I don’t understand.” The Ent winces. “I’m cloudy, lost, broken into parts.” The Ent looks down before returning to meet Setgaith’s gaze. “But whole again. Dreaming.” The Ent finishes.

  Setgaith is confused by the answer but is determined to do his best to interpret. His cynicism gnaws at him; warning that nothing of use can be learned from the words of such a creature. More than anything Setgaith wants to understand what the Ent is. “What is your first memory?” Setgaith sure this would help clear things up.

  The Ent begins walking away as he answers. “I have many first memories.” The Ent responds, as he lumbers past Setgaith and crouches to fit under the exit. Setgaith follows.