I focused on the small floating figure and the gleam of her pearly white fangs as she smiled.

[Fertilizer?] I asked, doubtful.

[Fertilizer.] The dark fae echoed with an enthusiastic nod that made her bob up and down in the air as her almond eyes twinkled.

So even teeny tiny monsters could say terrifying things so casually.

I unfurled my wings slightly to check the damages and I was glad to see most of the holes had closed. I could fly out of this trap at any time. However, the roots were a problem.

So, I continued to talk, luring the dark fae to come a bit closer.

[Shouldn't you explain yourself a bit more first?] I grumbled. [I already released the creature I took, and it's alive. As for the damage to the trees, my wings are also damaged because of them, I don't think I will ever fly again. Shouldn't you be repaying me for what they did?]

The dark fae grabbed her chin thoughtfully.

Oh… that worked! It seems her awareness was a bit lacking. But that's good for me.

If I could convince her I'd suffered enough already perhaps the forest would let me go. In addition, even as their representative she was very much a kid that could be easily distracted. And I'd handled plenty of those kinds before.

She tilted her head. [Hmm…I agree, you do look terrible.]

This brat.

[But you came here uninvited. And took a creature from its place without permission. For that you deserve to be punished.]

The whispering all around me picked up in agreement. The roots extended their tendrils once again to grab me. Were the bat creatures and the sword insects also under their protection?

I prepared my poison blades and glared at each of the roots in turn. Really, I didn't want to attack them, doing so would only count as more damages – but they didn't know that. I fired my poison blades, and they opened long gashes in the ground.

I'd purposely missed, but the threat of them was enough. I grinned in satisfaction as the extended roots began to retreat. On the scale of one to a horrible death, getting stabbed by multiple objects was probably the peak and I absolutely hated getting stabbed, for obvious reasons.

But, what I really wanted was for the tiny girl to come closer so I could grab her instead. With one of their own down here with me, it would be difficult for them to bury me so easily. Unfortunately, the dark fae remained out of reach, behind the safety of the roots that formed my prison bars.

[Tell the spirits I want to talk to them directly.]

[There is nothing to talk about.] The dark fae replied.

[Why? Are they so afraid to face me?] I scoffed.

The dark fae twitched and I tried to suppress my grin. Was it this easy to get a reaction?

[Afraid?] The dark fae muttered angrily.

The roots seemed to be responding according to her emotions so perhaps she was controlling them. But still, I had the feeling she wasn't alone in this decision.

[You are truly honourable for defending and protecting the creatures around you, yet you are treating me unfairly like this. It's because I'm an outsider and not because I stole, isn't it?]

The hovering fae crossed her arms. [What are you trying to say? We are not unfair.]

[I only wandered in here, yet I was injured so badly, and now you want to kill me. How is that not unfair?]

[You hurt the trees!] The dark fae's bobbing intensified as she zipped back and forth.

I followed her with my eyes, willing my shadows to spread up from the ground to reach her. Just a little closer and I could use them to blind her.

[It was an accident – and I was being chased!] replied in exasperation while keeping her distracted.

[You took one of ours!] she rebutted immediately.

[And I let it go, even after they badly injured me.] I calmly responded. [If you ask me, I've already paid the price.]

[Hah! The price is your life, and you still have it!] The dark fae twitched, her high pitched voice raising an octave as she argued back.

[That's extreme.] I waved my wings to hide my smiling face. [But even if that's the case, I've already exchanged a life for mine.]

The dark fae trembled as she struggled to maintain her calm. [You can't expect us to let you off just like that, after everything you've done.]

[Why not? I've suffered a lot of injuries and I already released your insect too.]

I peered out over my wings to see her reaction, and it was priceless. The dark fae was trembling as she struggled to find her words. Although she hovered far away, it seemed she wanted to come down to confront me to my face but was stopping herself.

I eagerly waited for her to come, a little closer and I could catch her.

I spoke pitifully, hiding a smile behind my wings. [As for the damage, I can't repair them, but I am kind and honest so I will try to help you in any way I can.]

[Hah!] The dark fae stuck out her trembling arms to point. [Who do you think you are! You can't change the rules!]

My shadows spread further along the walls, slowly reaching up to close the gap. They just needed a little more to reach her, and so far the dark fae hadn't noticed.

[What I'm suggesting is fair and reasonable. You should at least discuss this with your tree friends, before condemning me.]

[No. You are guilty!] The dark fae argued. [Also you can't tell me what to do!]

I sighed. [If it was up to you, wouldn't I be dead already? Your friends are waiting for you to report to them, aren't they?]

The dark fae looked aghast. [How did you – ] But as she noticed my eager stare, she coughed lightly and straightened herself to regain her composure. [We don't show ourselves to outsiders, but…like you said, I should mention this to them.]

With that, she rose higher and out of my shadow's range, before taking off out of the opening. In her absence, the branches around the opening began to slither, shrinking the opening of the hole to a tiny gap that barely let any light in.

[Woah! Woah hold on!] I called after her. Was I about to be buried?

[Stay put. I'll be back.] The dark fae turned back sinisterly to grin. [But...it's not like you can go anywhere.]

This damn brat!

[Who says I can't go anywhere? Do you think mere tree roots can hold me down?]

I yelled out loud, but she had gone away, and the telepathic connection was cut off.

The opening soon sealed completely, leaving me alone.

Thankfully, this time there were no branches around me.

In the darkness, the air seemed to have become thin. I could see in the dark, but it still felt very uncomfortable, like at any minute the ground would swallow me whole.

Ah…is this what they call claustrophobia?

"Ahh!! I should just blast open the hole, who cares about damage!" I grumbled.

«Was that a good idea?» Sensei said. «You don't know what they will ask of you.»

"Who cares! It's not like I'm really going to do anything they say. I just said all that to get out of here."

But I was still worried. What if she didn't come back?

I still had air, but for how long? I opened the atlas to plan my next steps.

If she didn't come back, I could just dig my way out with my [Dimensional box]. But first I had to see how far the forest extended.

Did it include trees everywhere, or just those in this area?

«If they don't agree, you'll likely never get out of here.» Sensei said, adding to my anxiety «And even if they do, I don't think they will let you leave the forest until you do what they ask. Which is why once the hole reopens, you should prepare to fight your way out.»

"Why are you so anxious?" I laughed to calm down. "The worst they could ask is for me to plant a few trees for them."

«If you really thought that, you wouldn't be searching to see where the forest ends.»

"She'll come back." I insisted, returning to look at the atlas. There was no way every tree would be out to get me if I left, right?

The border of the pink leafed forest wasn't too far. At most it would take me some hours to tunnel out, if I didn't encounter any roots in the way.

However, when I attempted to dig, what I saw made me begin preparing for the worst.

There were thick roots spread out behind the soil, forming a cage around the hole so there was no way I could dig my way out without alerting them.

It seemed they were expecting this. How thorough!

I had no choice but to curl up and wait. But after a few hours passed, my worries intensified.

And then the system dinged.

[Quest: Train Nest Mates. [Time Remaining: 0 Hours]]

[Status: 28/30. Failed.]

[You are now entering the penalty stage.]

And I was so close too. What were those brats doing?

"Is this the best time for this, Sensei?" I grumbled and I heard him chuckle.

«Agreed. I'll delay the penalty until you get out of here. But you still failed, so you have to face the penalty.»

Ah hell. Like things couldn't get any worse! I could already tell I was going to regret this.