Moss carpeted the ground beneath the boughs and in a small, perfect circle beyond them. The vegetation was so dense that not a single speck of the black dirt beneath was visible. Taking a tentative step forward, Derzina found the moss both soft and yet resilient beneath her foot.

She walked as carefully as she could manage, so as not to disturb or damage anything, and laid her palm against the nearest tree’s trunk. The bark was firm and unyielding, yet she could feel warmth beneath the hard exterior. If it was an illusion then it was an awfully convincing one.

Marvelling at the heat, quite unlike that of any plant she’d encountered, it occurred to Derzina that they may be far more than they appeared. That there was something unnatural at work behind the grove’s existence went without saying, but she had assumed the trees were ordinary enough.

“Is there any magic present within these trees?” Derzina asked.

“I detected the faintest hint when you touched it, but beyond that I can sense nothing of them or the rest of the grove.”

Derzina frowned, how could that be? If there was no magic, why hadn’t the plants withered and died? Even without the demons’ corruption, from which it seemingly had no protection, there was no water to be found in these lands. At least, not on the surface.

She looked down at the mossy ground at her feet. Could there be a hidden spring nurturing the grove from below?

It seemed the most plausible explanation, though she could see no way of confirming it short of digging for it. Deciding that the source of the grove’s vitality was of little consequence, Derzina walked deeper.

She passed more than a dozen trees and was approaching the grove’s centre, yet she could still find no sign of the light that led her here or any like it. Despite her lack of success, she felt sure it must be concealed within the leaves or behind one of the trees. If she just kept looking, she was bound to discover it eventually.

After staring at the trees, which she noted were almost identical, until she grew frustrated with her search, Derzina sat down upon the grove’s mossy floor. Though the grove was too alien for her to feel comfortable sleeping here, it made for a nicer place to rest her legs than the barren landscape beyond it.

Running her hand through the ubiquitous moss, she was appreciating its softness when she felt a slight tremor in the earth and the tree before her split open. The wood and bark peeled back as if of their own accord, disgorging a tide of white grubs.

With a startled cry, Derzina scuttled back as the insects poured forth. They continued until there was a mound of squirming insects that would have come up to her ankle, had she not moved, and the flow ceased. Recovering from her initial surprise, Derzina simply stood and watched.

As unexpected as their arrival had been, she had little to fear from such tiny and helpless creatures. Numerous as they were, nothing about them seemed dangerous. Though she still had no desire for them to touch her and kept her distance from them as they writhed on the ground.

Acting in concert, they slowly came together in the shape of a head. It was difficult to tell, as grubs were far from a precise medium to work with, but it vaguely resembled a human’s. The mouth opened, revealing a tongue composed of the soft, pale insects and spoke in a voice formed from the sound of the creatures rubbing together.

“Interloper in the domain of the great Soarister, identify yourself.”

After taking a moment to process that she was being addressed by a collection of grubs, Derzina introduced herself. “My name is Derzina, I’ve travelled here from the city of Ortesia.”

“And for what reason do you intrude upon this scared land?”

“I am bound for the Great Rift, passing through your lands by chance. I did not realize they were sacrosanct.”

“A feeble excuse,” the voice boomed in its alien tone, “all know Soarister.”

“My apologies,” Derzina said, bowing her head, “I have spent my entire life within the city walls and know little of the outside world. This is the first time I’ve heard the name Soarister, and I am wholly ignorant of his will.”

The bugs that made up the face confronting her seethed with activity, losing cohesion for a few moments before resolving back into the strange visage they were portraying. “If you speak the truth, then listen well. No creature, barring his subjects, are allowed within the bounds of Soarister’s realm without his express permission.”

“And how would I obtain such permission? Does he live around here?” It was unlikely that such permission would matter in their quest, but Derzina was curious about this unknown ruler claiming dominion so close to her former home.

“He dwells in his native realm; this blighted world is still too corrupted to be worthy of his presence. If you seek a boon, then you must request it through his servants; only his favoured may commune with him directly.”

“If I were to ask you for the boon of free passage through your lands, would you grant it?”

“To an unknown interloper?” The grubs generating the voice shook to produce a tone of outrage, several of them falling out of place and crawling back. “Perhaps other servants of Soarister would display such imprudence, but I have wisdom enough not to commit such an error.”

“If you are unwilling to grant it freely,” Derzina said, “then is there anything I could offer in exchange for this boon?”

“I would accept the service of you or others, or an offering of food. Though I doubt that has any relevance to a lone traveller. Unless I am mistaken, you have little of either to offer.”

“You have the right of it, it appears I have nothing to offer. I assume that means I need to leave?”

“Indeed, though you may stay for a time under my supervision if you so desire.”

Deriza blinked. “I apologize for my rudeness, but why? I thought you didn’t want me here.”

“Your presence is of no concern to me; I am merely an instrument of Soarister’s will. So long as you are properly supervised, and cause no disruption within his realm, he would be willing to tolerate your presence for a time.”

“As much as I would like to continue our conversation,” Derzina said, “I should probably be going, I have pressing business at the Great Rift.”

“Wait,” Atasimon interjected, speaking within Derzina’s mind. “I agree that we shouldn’t linger over long, but before you depart, ask him about the intentions of this Soarister he serves. I would like to know more of this new force encroaching upon our world. Though he may appear benign, I think it wise to mistrust any creatures who would make their home out here. Especially those supposedly from another world of which I know nothing.”

“Very well.” Derzina held similar suspicions. She had thought it best not to pursue them now, to avoid wasting time or angering their host.

“Before I go,” Derzina said, speaking aloud, “may I ask that you enlighten me further about the one you serve? What does he wish of this world? Beyond that his lands are left undisturbed by its inhabitants.”

“A fine question,” the voice said, sounding pleased for the first time. “Soarister’s greatest desire is to rejuvenate the land, that simple plants and animals might find homes here; as they have within the humble sanctuary I have the honour of overseeing.”

“I don’t understand,” Derzina said, “how can they grow here? From what I can understand there appears to be little magic here, how could the land possibly be restored without a great deal of magic?”

If his servant was telling the truth, Soarister had done the impossible. Derzina doubted even a god’s intervention would be enough to restore the land that ordinary things might grow their again. What manner of being was this mysterious Soarister then?

“If you seek insight into how Soarister performs his miracles, then I have little to offer. He brings life where nothing could otherwise live. Though even for the great Soarister, it is a monumental task and he requires the assistance of all who will give it.”

“It is certainly a noble aim and were I not otherwise occupied with my own task of great importance; I would be delighted to assist in whatever small way I can.” She spoke primarily of out of politeness, though Soarister’s cause did sound admirable.

“If you speak truly, there may indeed be a way you can aid Soarister that does not ask much of you in time or resources. You are no clearly no demon, yet you said that you were travelling through these lands. Thus, you must be able to go where Soarister’s servants, who cannot survive beyond the reach of his influence, cannot reach.”

“That’s right.” Derzina said. “Do you wish me to convey something beyond the bounds of your grove? Perhaps a message?”

“We have little need of messengers, all servants of Soarister know his will. I wish you to carry something of another nature entirely, if you are so willing.”

A lone grub separated from the head and moved toward Derzina. It opened its mouth and deposited a tiny brown seed at her feet.

“What’s this?” Derzina asked, picking up the seed. From what she could tell, it seemed perfectly ordinary.

“A seed, as I’m sure you’re aware. Though one quite unlike those the trees around us sprung from. While most plants thrive off the bounty of the natural world, the one which I hope to entrust to you needs a powerful source of magic to flourish. You shall find a multitude of such locations within the Great Rift. So, what say you? Will you carry it?”

“What will this plant do once it’s grown?” The thought of something feeding off magic to some unknown end was unsettling.

“If allowed to grow, it shall bring forth a portion Soarister’s power so that he might continue his grand work of allowing life to return to this world.”

“Allow me a moment to consider your proposal, it would not do for me to take on a task of such import without proper consideration.”

“As you wish, take all the time that you need.”

Derzina turned inward once more, addressing the god dwelling within. “What do you think? Should we bear this seed as he asks?”

“I still have little trust for this Soarister,” Atasimon said, “but I doubt his servant’s request will do any harm. It’s not as if this land could get much worse, and there is some chance that planting this seed may lead to much good.”

Nodding to herself, Derzina refocused on reality and spoke to the head formed of grubs. “I have considered your request, and can see little reason to refuse.” She drew herself up and tucked the seed into her pocket. “I can offer no guarantee of success as I proceed into these lands that are both unfamiliar and hostile, but if it is within my power, I shall carry this seed to a suitable location. Is there anything I should know about planting it?”

“Only that you should bury it in the earth as close to a source of powerful magic as you can manage. If you can do that much, it will be able to survive on its own from there.”

“I shall remember that, thank you for putting your trust in me. Glad as I am to have found your grove and met you, I should probably be on my way.”

“Before you depart,” the head said, the insects that composed it moving slowly toward her, “I would bestow upon you a token of Soarister’s favour, that his servants might recognise your service.”

“What manner of token?” Derzina asked, standing her ground before the approaching swarm of grubs.

“A simple mark upon your forehead.”

Derzina blanched. “Made with bugs?”

“If that is not agreeable to you, then I can provide you with a more tangible token for you to carry along with the seed.”

“Yes, I think that would be preferable.”

“Then place your hand against the tree,” Soarister’s servant said, the grubs that made up its eyes fixed on a tree behind Derzina.

She did as instructed, setting her hand against the bark.

“Now what?” she asked.

“Good, now keep it there for a few moments while I work.”

A thin strip of the tree’s rough exterior peeled free and wound itself around her wrist until it formed a bracelet.

“Will they truly recognise such a simple token?” It was little more than band of bark, free of any ornamentation or marking.

“It may appear simple to your eyes, but to the servants of Soarister it contains a wealth of information. If you should happen across any of them, show them this token and they will know of your service.”

She withdrew her hand, and the head continued, “We are done here, you may go now. I wish you a safe journey.”

With a dip of her head, Derzina echoed his farewell and went on her way.