A few months have gone by since the incident at the Adventurers' Guild. Melody, Violet, and Annabelle completed a large number of missions. The three Iron ranked ladies were riding atop Aroo with Bell and Maple to the Grove. Melody had been so busy with the new guild work that she had not visited the Grove during that time.

"I'm kind of nervous, Melody. Will your mother be fine with us?" Annabelle asked.

"It will be fine! I can't wait to see her and the others. I hope my aunt will also be there." Melody had a broad smile on her face as she was excited about sharing her stories with everyone at the Grove.

Aroo was happily mooing as she marched through the forest at a good pace, gaining Bell's praise.

"Go! GO! Yay, Aroo!" Bell giggled as Aroo mooed in response.

"Aroo seems really excited," Violet observed.

"Well… She tends to get spoiled by the giants at the Grove. She is just looking forward to snacks." Melody commented, shaking her head.

"I see something ahead…." Annabelle squinted at the distance.

"Oh! We're there!" Maple said, taking to the air and zipping to the Grove entrance.

I can't wait to see mother!

Melody sat in Gaia's home, looking like a child who got caught doing something terrible. Gaia sat at the table with a pleasant smile on her face.

"Um, moth-."

"I am so glad you found time to come see me after all this time. Did you have a fun time?" Gaia asked, her face locked in place with a pleasant smile.

"Well… I, uh…" She is super mad!

Maple saved Violet and Annabelle from participating in the scolding by taking them to meet Elder Elva, the other giants, and Bell wanted to introduce them to her friends.

"Things have been quiet here in the Grove. Oh yes, your grandfather asked how you were. He has been worried about you since you have not visited him either in so long."

"Please! I am sorry! Don't be mad!" Melody dropped to her knees, tears in her eyes, begging Gaia.

Gaia's face relaxed to a more natural smile. "Well, just be sure to at least contact us every so often."

"I promise I will contact you more, visit more, and after our visit here, I plan on visiting grandpa.

Then we will come back here. I was planning on heading off to visit Aunt Autumn next, but I feel awful about grandpa…." Melody seemed to shrink in regret.

Gaia caressed Melody's cheek. "I forgive you. Now, I understand you brought some new friends?"

Melody's expression brightened, and she hugged her mother. "Thank you! I promise I will do better!"

Gaia's usual, motherly smile returned to her face as she returned her beloved daughter's hug.

In the southwest corner of the Grove, three giant ladies fawned over a very happy Aroo. They were taking turns combing, petting, or feeding the Mammoth Bison.

"Is that tasty, Aroo?" "Your fur is always so soft!" "This is a new brush. We are glad you like it!"

Annabelle was surrounded by several child brownies while Violet spoke with Elder Elva.

"Ah… I just don't get the whole Nature magic thing. It doesn't sound logical at all!" Violet commented in frustration.

"Hehe. I guess you could say it is more spiritual than logical. Connecting oneself to the natural order is no easy feat. It took me months before I got it." Elder Elva laughed.

Melody and Gaia walked up to them. "It took Melody several hours, but that is because she was blessed by nature." Gaia proudly said.

Annabelle and Violet stood before Gaia, performing a simple curtsy and bowing their heads. "Greetings, your Majesty. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." They said in unison.

"An excellent greeting. But no need to address me as such. Just call me Gaia or Lady Gaia if you prefer." The Daughter of Lyuten warmly smiled at the two girls.

"Thank you, Lady Gaia. My name is Violet Cambel." Violet replied.

"I am Annabelle, a priestess of the Dyluran and adventurer," Annabelle replied.

"Dyluran?" Melody asked. She had forgotten to ask Annabelle about the world religion before.

"Dyluran is a god, said to have created this world. He is benevolent to the innocent and wrathful to the wicked." Gaia answered.

"Ah, you know of the god Dyluran?" Annabelle asked.

"Only a little. But please, continue. I will fill in anything I may know." Gaia replied.

"Thank you, Lady Gaia." Annabelle bowed her head. "Now to begin, the Church of the Five is the primary religion of our world, Simfael…." Annabelle continued her explanation.

The Church of the Five was made up of five gods who were siblings.

Dyluran is the eldest of the gods and most powerful. He was depicted as a tall, thin man with a long white beard and hair. Dyluran would be wearing a set of flowing robes while wielding a golden staff. Dyluran, as Annabelle had said, was the god who created the world and shone down upon it with his light. But the world was lifeless, made up of nothing but rock and dirt. It was then that the next eldest god stepped in, Lyuten.

Lyuten was the goddess of nature and life. She worked closely with her twin, Ryten, the goddess of the elements, to add mountains, the oceans and rivers, plants, animals, and various simple life forms. Depictions of Lyuten was a dark-skinned woman with long hair made up of diverse plant life. She wore a beautiful yet straightforward brown gown. Annabelle made a comment that Gaia and Lyuten shared many similarities.

Ryten was the goddess of various elements other than nature and light. Fire, water, earth, and wind fell within her domain. Violet was a follower of Ryten since many who specialized in magic benefitted from her blessings. The goddess was shown as a fair-skinned woman with raven hair and golden eyes. She would be wearing a short robe with pants and boots, wielding a scepter.

The fourth god was Maloras, the god of souls and reincarnation. He stands a constant watch over all intelligent life, noting down their crimes and actions. The more suffering one causes to others would lead to a worse reincarnation. His depictions were of a man in his forties with sharp eyes and a stern look. Maloras would be dressed like a noble.

"Wait! Hold on! Is he the one responsible for my reincarnation?!" Melody exclaimed.

"I am not sure, Melody. Yes, he is responsible for that, but it could also be the fifth god, Kodela, the god of Trials. He tests humans to help them grow as a people. Monsters fall under his jurisdiction. So either Kodela or Maloras may be responsible." Annabelle answered.

Kodela's, the God of Trials, purpose in the world was both welcomed and shunned in the same. People would curse his name when people died, while others would thank him for their bounty. Kodela was a beastly looking man in furs and bones, his wild charcoal hair reaching his feet.

"So who created humans, dwarves, and elves?" Melody asked.

"It was a combined effort of all the gods to make the intelligent races," Annabelle answered with a smile.

"Then why don't humans' use nature magic too?" Maple asked.

It was Gaia who answered, "It is because humans distanced themselves from nature. Elves still maintain a minor connection but have difficulty using it. The more one embraces nature, the stronger one's power becomes. Take Haelga, for example. She is a human who can use a bit of natural magic."

Haelga laughed, "Yes, but I am nowhere near the level of you spirits or giants. Gyahahaha!"

"Hmm… Now I'm curious about the history of Simfael." Melody held her chin, wondering how she could learn more. She would have difficulty using a library in the city with how small the text was, and she was still learning their writing system from Annabelle and Violet.

"Then visit your grandfather. He has been around for thousands of years. He may also be able to help you find some more answers about the gods." Gaia offered with a pleasant smile.

Melody returned the smile and thanked her mother. Their group planned on spending time at the Grove, playing and meeting the various residents. Tomorrow they would head to Okan for a history lesson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arthur Cambel was led down an extravagantly decorated hall by a butler. They arrived at a set of double doors where the butler knocked.

"Your grace, Lord Cambel has arrived." The butler spoke to the door.

"Enter!" A male voice replied through the door.

The butler opened the door and allowed the guild master to enter the room. The room was large, with several fancy decorations, shelves, and furniture about the office. Documents, ledgers, files, and books filled many of the shelves in the room. Near the back was a large desk where Duke Caldwell sat, finishing up some paperwork.

"You may go, Steven. Come in, Arthur." The Duke said, motioning the man inside.

The butler closed the door behind the guild master as he walked in.

"So, how are things going with the Princess?" The Duke asked with a smirk.

"Other than the incident at the hall, things are excellent. After they completed a goblin subjugation, a blood lion slaying, helping my household, and several other missions, I had to assign a person to screen requests for Melody." Arthur laughed.

"Why would you need to screen them?" The Duke asked, confused.

"Some of them are pervert merchants with too much money." He replied while sitting down.

The two shared a laugh before the Duke's expression changed to a serious one.

"I need to apologize, Arthur." He said solemnly.

"For what?"

Before answering, he turned his attention to a drinking cabinet. "Why don't you get us a couple of drinks. I got some Imperial Reserve."

"Must be something serious for you to offer something so rare." The guild master stood and retrieved a couple of glasses of alcohol.

Handing one to the Duke, he sat back down.

The Duke took a couple of sips, preparing himself. "The reason I called you here today was that my investigation turned up some unsettling news. I looked into Baron Ludril's eldest son, but he left the city. My people believe he is hiding out in the capital."

"That doesn't sound like something to apologize for, David," Arthur commented, enjoying his drink.

"It is only the tip. The main is Count Retila." The Duke said with a heavy sigh.

The guild master sat forward in his seat, giving his full attention to the Duke.

"The count is one of Duke Talane's men."

Arthur grimaced. "The Aristocratic faction…."

The Duke nodded. "Talane is a very controlling man. There is no way the count would have targeted your family like that without his order."

"They targeted us to weaken you, the head of the Imperial Faction. Here I thought that garbage was being too quiet." Arthur downed his glass and retrieved the Imperial Reserve bottle. After filling the Duke's and his own glass, he sat down, setting the bottle on the desk.

"I feel like Victoria should be here for this," Arthur commented.

"I already prepared a package for the countess," The Duke said, patting a thick envelope, "I doubt she would have much fun drinking with a couple of old men like us." He chuckled.

"Speak for yourself! I am still spry!" The guild master joked.

The Duke continued, his shoulders heavy, "Your family brings in the most amount of wealth out of all the Imperial Faction members. Victoria's businesses and you being a guild master, of course, they would target you."

A thought then came to Arthur's mind. "Team Red Scales…"

"They were the ones who almost got Violet killed, right?" The Duke asked.

"Yes. I will speak to the guard captain to talk to them. So many things are beginning to link together. I am beginning to think that maybe that giant attack might have been planned out."

"I doubt he would work with giants." The Duke refused.

"Think about the circumstances. Any merchant told about the possibility of a giant attack would always think twice, yet that one pushed through? Not even the greenest merchant would do that. They might have been trying to wipe out some of my best people. We still haven't found that merchant after he escaped the attack." Arthur explained.

The Duke fell into deep thought, tapping his desk with his finger. He felt that Arthur had a point.

"If that is true, it would be best to call off the search for the merchant. Talane would have cleaned up that loose end."

Arthur agreed. "I think we should get in contact with The Grove." He said.

"Why? I doubt Talane would target such a powerful group." The Duke commented.

"I don't. Not to mention, Melody was involved in thwarting several of those plans. Thanks to her, my best people are still alive, the Cambel business is booming, Violet is alive, and our territory is more prosperous than it has ever been. She is a giant target, no pun intended." The guild master explained.

The Duke nodded. "Alright. I will send someone to the forest to warn The Grove about this."