‘...Wraps of sorrow and despair.’

“The hell kind of name is that?”

‘My name.’

“Trerth? What do you think?”

‘A fine name.’

“That’s a fine name? Wraps of whatever? Those are song lyrics at best.

A bad poem at worst.”

‘Hmph.’

“What? Don’t get mad at me, I didn’t name you.”

“Wraps of sorrow and despair has taken our hero’s word as a slight. It would appear that Wraps of sorrow and despair feels our hero to be rude.

One can’t help but to pity miss Wraps of sorrow and despair.”

“Stop it!”

‘I’m going.’

‘Wait, miss Wraps of sorrow and despair.’

“You can’t be thinking of using that name. I’m calling her Wraps.”

‘That’s not my name!’

“Calm down, Wraps. You and trenturh need to take a long hard look at your names.

This is no way to live.”

‘Tréjörð is my grandfather's name, do you dare insult it?’

“No. no. It’s a wonderful name. Just like wraps of sorrow and despair. Perfectly reasonable names.”

“Before long our trio has left their victims in their wake. The trail of death like an arrow, leading to them.

Most battlefields left behind turned to fields of ploughed dirt, wet and soggy. An odd spectacle to be sure. Plantlife seems to be sprouting with great vigor.”

Once in awhile our team is ambushed or in act of brutal aggression and bloodlust attacks the free roaming creatures of the wildlands. They are now only a few steps away from their destination.”

‘Ji.’

“What is it Treerth?”

‘I’ve been meaning to ask, what are those balls? Secret art of your clan?’

“No. Nothing like that.

These are just concentrated mana. I’m practising.”

‘Are all these balls different from the ones you used to attack with?’

“Not really, they’re just smaller, less energy and split into pieces.

I guess they are a kind of formation. I can’t get passed sixteen..”

‘You should have a some art to practice control, Tréjörð.’

“Wraps, what do you do to practice control?”

‘I’m always practicing my control. You just can’t see it.’

“Ohhh. Wraps of sorrow and despair, continues being mysterious.

What about you Trerth? How do you practice control?”

‘My people control the energy within us. I am also always controlling.’

“Oh”

‘But not like you. What you are doing is impossible.’

‘It really is a bit odd. It must drain you dry of mana.’

“Not that much. Most of it is ambient.”

‘You’re even using ambient mana to support it? What kind of freak are you?’

“It would seem his companions have realized the absurdity and the wanton waste of mana our hero is squandering.

There are thousand and one way to practice energy control more efficiently. Luxury granted to the mana-fiend. Saturated in worldly warmth. A mana-cooked human.”

“According to the voice in my head, we are getting really close.”

‘This voice. Is it a secret art of your clan?’

“I don’t think so. Maybe?”

‘Are your parents also insane?’

“Definitely!

Or that’s what most people would say.”

‘It must be an inherited illness.’

“I’d call it a gift. It’s like being a prophet.”

‘We used to have a prophet in our clan.’

“Oh?”

‘It was great grandfather's brother. His prediction rarely strayed far from truth.

Sadly his seed was not passed.’

“It could be said that the Aleksy family was well beyond the boundaries of normal human behaviour.”

“My dad used to say ‘Why would a bird be afraid to fly?’”

‘What does that mean?’

“I’ll explain it the way my mom used to, tritarth. She’d show me an old, no, ancient tree that grew alongside one of our mansions.”

‘A tree? I’m sure it was a fine tree.’

“Don’t interrupt. And yes, it was a great tree. Big and strong.

Anyway. It grew in such a way that no matter what was raised around it, whatever obstacles put in its way. They were all devoured, broken or simply, pushed out of the way.

She said that tree was like my paternal grandfather. Carefree, stubborn and mighty.“

‘Powerful tree!’

“Grandfather really was a different kind of person. Dad used to tell me stories of his miscellaneous adventures.

The way he created mountains from hills. Raging rivers from trickling streams.”

‘Is this true?’

‘Mountains from hills? Even my elders can’t do that.’

“I’m sure you are misunderstanding, it’s only a metaphor.”

“It can’t be denied. The carefree and willful nature of the Aleksy family can’t be deemed ordinary. It is hard to say whether the Aleksy ways are born or nurtured.

I certainly leaves one baffled. Even venerable beings such as us would find it hard to cultivate such an attitude.

To this day the family continues to thrive. Even as a shadow of its former empire, they rose above and carved a place for themselves. In this ever changing world.”

“Right? Grampa was never without a smile. I think the only time i saw him raise an eyebrow is when he heard dad describe his intuition as a ‘thousand year old womans.”

‘Indeed. The wisest elders are often women.’

‘That’s because the men of your tribe are all battle crazed. You have no idea how annoying you all are.’

“Wait. Are you two neighbors or something?”

‘Miss wraps is the little scion of- Owh!’

‘Don’t go sharing my secrets!’

‘Of course. If the miss doesn’t want to. I won’t disagree.’

‘At least you know how to behave.’

“I’ve also been wondering about that. Why does he listen to what you say?”

‘Because I beat him in a duel. Multiple times. I’m stronger.’

‘Demon cloth. In a true warriors fight, I’d win in an instant.’

‘Whatever means you have, bring them.’

“I see. Less interesting than I thought. I thought he had fallen for your your womanly ways.”

‘This witch? Look at her. Skinny arms. Skinny legs. What’s attractive?’

“The mana stirs violently. And it would appear that even our hero is aware. He quickly but lightly steps backwards.

Eerily smooth movements, practised even. Sadly our tree-hybrid friend has been caught unaware.”

‘Whose skinny!? Whose flat?’

“I don’t think anyone mentioned fla-”

‘Want to join him!?’’

“He’s indeed a sinner. I’ll scout ahead. I’m sure we’re almost at there.”

“Reluctant groaning and shrill shouting aside. Our hero quickly relieves himself of any responsibility. As he carefully inspects a nearby rock formations.”

“It’s really surprising how stonelike those things are. These seem to be normal stone though.

Let’s get a better view of the area. I should be able to see our destination from here, right?”

“The subtle sound of wind travel through the plain landscape. Without the pillars of stones, it would seem barren and even more desolate.

Little ji towers above, standing on the highest rock formation he could see. A few short kilometers ahead he’ll begin to encounter more aggressive creatures.”

“Really?”

“The creatures ahead will begin to yield resources that our team is after. Depending on their vigour, a week or two might be enough to collect all they need.”

“A week? What? That seems long. I’m not in a hurry but two weeks feels too long.”

‘Who are y-. Are you talking to yourself again, Ji?

“Ji. See. Normal name. Short, concise and to the point.”

‘I did not want to say this, but you seem confused, Ji. Ji is a very strange name.’

“What?”

‘In the clan, only the weakest families name their children in such a way.’

“Such a way. Normal way? I don’t want to take a week off every time i mention a person.

Oh hello, this is my friend, trenth and wraps of sorrow and kill me.”

‘Tréjörð.’

‘Wraps of sorrow and despair.’

“Who has ‘and’ in their damn name!

Alright, before we get into that stupid stuff again, let’s get ready”

“Finally our party of three has arrived at their destination.”

“If you look over there, You’ll see a foggy hill. That should be where our quest area is.”

‘Good. I am ready to spread my roots.’

‘I hope you both die honorably in combat.’

“You to?”

‘Thank you.’

“Excited by the notion of death, our hero’s two companions stride forward with a smile.”

“I’m not really going to rush into a losing fight. Not sure why it’s this dramatic.”

‘Only a coward runs from combat.’

“And idiots fight a losing battle.”

‘It is up to the sages to predict, while the fighters fight.’

“Where do I sign up to be a sage?”

‘Your simple mind would not comprehend the sages way.’

“Are you calling me stupid?”

‘One hears what one want to hear.’

“I can’t believe that tree is calling me stupid.”

“At last our hero faces his true death, the death of his ego.”

“No, no. I’m not stupid.”

‘Denial ruins fertile soil.’

“You are too much into nature phrases.”

‘I want to finish this. If you are done talking, can we go do our quests?’

“You never told me what your quest was. Neither of you.”

‘I am here to gather stone. And other resources for sharpstone.’

‘...’

“Me to. But why does she looks so sad?’

‘Perhaps her quest is more difficult.’

“I think she has the same quest. Ah! Look at that reaction.”

‘It is suspicious.’

‘Since when did you two become allies!?’

“It’s confirmed then, we are all here to get stones.”

‘It is beneath me to do such a quest.’

“It should come as no surprise that all quests given by the camp sharpstone are related to it’s expansion. Within a few months it should become a thriving place. A bustling city in a years turn.”

“Awesome. That sounds pretty cool. I wonder if I get to be a mayor or something.”

“Let us not curse the city before it is built.”

‘I’m going to cast a wide range spell over the area. Any hostile creature should be provoked.’

“Need anything from me?”

‘No. I need Tréjörð to prepare his defences.’

‘It will be done. My roots have already begun to sprout.’

“Is that another of your tree phrases or are y-. Oh, no you are actually sprouting roots.”

“The vigorous roots bore into the earth. Our friend becomes still, his eyes closed. Moments pass and Tréjörð slowly begins to rise up, sturdy bark engulfs his lower legs.”

“Is this safe?”

‘It’s what they do. Stupid trees. If they gather together nothing will move them.’

“I can’t imagine a whole family of trees.”

‘They are inexhaustible pests.’

“What exactly is your relationship with him and his clan?”

‘They are on our land.’

‘Do not listen to her lies.’

“What the hell. Where is your voice coming from? Also speak up. It’s like you’re behind a wall.”

‘Our family settled down and create a home. A magnificent forest. Filled with boundless mana.’

‘Stealing mana, which my family summoned with our spell formations.’

‘Nonsense. It is our unity that the ambient mana was summoned by.’

“Okay. I’m not sure what you two are getting at, but forget I asked. Let’s start the quest.”

‘He will defend. I wall gather and manipulate. You attack.’

“Great.”

“Even without our hero, the duo would perhaps never fail this mission. He may only serve to accelerate their success.”