Tree of Aeons Reunion at a Tea Party

Reunion at a Tea Party

Year 189

It was a little bit more annoying to expand my trees to the cities in the North. Unlike the Central Continent where trees are plentiful and common, in the Northern Islands, the cities were not tree friendly at all. That said, there was still room for shrubs and less 'obvious' trees like wall crawling plants. But this was inherently slower, and I felt a sense of repulsion for the treeless cities. Even in the cold weather there were ways to integrate plants into the terrain, and I would have used my root-network to use my roots as a form of heat distribution system. That would create a warr environnt that could support more verdant cities.

The lack of parks within the city area itself was also absolutely disgusting, only certain cities have them.

It seed though, there were at least two agencies at work.

One, led by the Rosewoods. Their agents were generally well equipped and trained, and they were the counter-hero-hunters. But even they had not-so-loyal operatives. Then, theres the hero hunters. Those that wanted to kill the heroes and gain so special class, though there was no data on what that special class was.

Also, its a little pointless for to kill a hero if I cant gain classes. So, if anything, it should be a humanoid thing.

Would you kill heroes? I asked, he was motionless, as he rested in a giant tree. His body was linked to the giant tree, and through him, I controlled the rest of the trees.

If you ask to, yes. Lumoof answered. There are days where I still feel uncomfortable to be at the receiving end of such devotion and loyalty.

One day I will. I said. It is inevitable.

We will be ready, even if we have to die to do it. Edna responded too, at the sa question.

As my surveillance expanded, I was able to support the other Valthorn operatives. I provided cover fire and protected them in the event of any conflict with the other forces. Here, in the North, I decided against using my beetles, since we are supposed to operate without being detected.

I also did not want to reveal that I had sohow stretched my trees to the North. At least, not yet. I would use beetles if I had a more secure root-link to the North. My operatives, with my support and intel, were able to thus confront and attempt more high-risk infiltrations.

This was when I encountered one of the Rosewood Hotels. A large wooden structure six stories, and a large subterranean presence. There was a magical quality to it, a very faint but strangely familiar one.

It was when my roots touched the hotels that I felt and then knew who it was.

[Domain blocking ntal attack]

"What was that?" I imdiately put the na to the sensation. "...ela?"

Its been so long. Has it already been a century? Yes. It has been a century since they left. The sensation imdiately made wonder and think about how theyve been after all this ti. Their soul contract would have maybe... 900 years left?

I thought about Alexis, and her constant plots. Was she still angry, or has ti llowed her thoughts?

No, I had to talk to them face to face, and then called Edna, Roon, Johann and a few other of the high levelled Valthorns together. For old-tis sake, I asked Lausanne to co along too. She and her mom was probably the only one left who rembered them.

A group of 12, I briefed them about Alexis and ela, and then Stella opened a portal, again, and sent them through to the other continent.

Lumoof transford back to his normal state, the giant tree opened up to let him out. Were going to et an old friend of Aeon. He said to the group.

-

The Rosewood Hotel in Roshendam stood. To anyone who does not know, it is just a luxury inn, one of many throughout the Northern Islands. Those that do know, understand that it is also the base of an influential espionage and assassins group, also nad the Rosewoods.

Lumoof, fully geared for war, walked through the door, and instantly I sensed it. The entire hotel is her. ela was here, sowhat, and already the employees in the hotel all stared. The receptionist, a half-dwarf, rely glanced and quickly bowed. Greetings, esteed guests, and welco to the Rosewood Hotel, do you have a reservation?

Lumoof walked close to the receptionist, No, I dont. The smartly-dressed receptionist glanced at the other mbers of the group, mainly Edna and Lausanne. Lausanne looked around and rely smiled. Im actually here for a eting, and I would like to have a discussion with Lady Mika.

The dwarf receptionist nodded. Lady Mika has been expecting your group for so ti.

Oh?

The other staff mbers and guests of the hotel quickly walked away. They behaved as if sothing was going to happen, and perhaps, there was. Already, I spread my roots and trees and attempted to surround the hotel. The half-dwarf smiled, Well, for such high-ranking guests such as yourself, please give a mont and let prepare.

But the place was built with enchanted stone and skill-infused roads. My roots couldnt penetrate them so easily. The walls of the hotel were sturdy, easily made to be a fortress, even if it appeared like a luxury hotel. Lumoof smiled back at the half-dwarf. That would be most appreciated. Please assist us to arrange a eting room, I believe we have a shared history, and will have much to discuss.

The dwarf smiled, and picked up a magical crystal. Call the Board. There was so inaudible noise from the magical crystal. The dwarf nodded in response, and then placed the crystal back on the table. Alright, right this way.

The dwarf hopped off a stool at the back of the reception counter and then led the way. A magical wooden staircase descended from above, and at the end of it, a door that was previously closed by wood.

Will everyone be coming, or just the few of you? The dwarven receptionist asked. The boardroom is large.

Lumoof looked at Edna, and Edna nodded. Just five. Edna, Lausanne, Roon and Johann joined the walk upstairs. The rest waited at the lobby. The dwarf signalled to a bunch of other employees, who promptly led them to an area with comfortable sofas. They went there as told, but so insisted on standing up.

Upstairs was a straight walkway. I sensed that the walls were probably moving, and there are hidden rooms around us. Still, nothing that we could not handle.

We were led to a large boardroom with a long oval shaped table. There was enough place for at least fifty, and it had high ceilings, magical lighting and all the anities one could expect of a boardroom. A few pots of tea were also prepared, with matching cups.

A eting with tea. Thats nice. Fragrant too. It seed that ela had been waiting, but I sensed this wasnt really her. No, thats not right either. It is her, but this was like just a part of her. I suspected then, that ela probably had a way of splitting herself to all of her branch hotels.

Its been a while since Ive t soone that works for Aeon, and its been a while since weve t, Lausanne. Oh! She probably doesnt know Lumoof is my avatar and that I could see through him.

Lausanne smiled. Its been a while too, Lady Mika. You look a lot better than Ive last rembered.

elas wooden form sat on the chair, and she gestured for the rest of us to sit. You too, Lausanne. Co, theres really no need for hostilities today, it must have been a long journey and we have so much common history that we should at least give diplomacy a chance. Please, sit.

I smirked at elas opening line. Lumoof gladly took the seat, and so did the others. Lausanne was first to ask. So, uh... only you?

Alexis? ela smiled. Shes out hunting. Its a busy ti for us, with the hero-hunters about. What brings you here, really?

Lumoof took the lead. Were here to et the power brokers of the region, of course. Well, that wasnt exactly a lie, but it dodged the point of revealing our own clandestine activities.

Well, Im sure you would be very busy then. It seems your agents have been doing a lot more than just eting people. ela smiled, her voice was strangely firm. But I suppose I shall lead in establishing friendly relations, I owe that much to Aeon. So, what do you want to know?

Lumoof just smiled and lied through his teeth, a gift of the priestly class.. We are genuinely looking to et those who hold sway over the Northern Islands. There has been incredibly concerning news of attempted assassinations on the heroes, and even more blasphemous tales of a supposed tenth hero.

ela grinned. Patriach Lumoof, certainly Aeon can tell you with high reliability on whether there is a tenth hero, so there is no need to pull that trick with . I may take the appearance of a young lady, but I have lived decades in the North. Yes, there is a tenth hero, and we are also looking for him. The hero-hunters want to get to him first, of course, for the rumored gift.

A gift? Lumoof feigned ignorance. Well, I know nothing of a gift.

Yes, the Gift. Which we still dont know anything about, because nobody has killed a hero. Not that we know of. ela said. We actually thought you guys would be the first to earn it.

We?

ela pointed at Edna. Its a pleasure to finally et the famous Vanguard of the central continent. Thank you for not killing Alvin or my partner.

Edna didnt reply, but she had a look of annoyance on her face.

Anyway, we are bound by [soul contract] to Aeon. ela finally got to the point. So I really dont see a need for us to be hostile with each other. Our goals may differ, but Im sure we can find common ground. Tell , what exactly are you here for? If youre looking for the hero, we dont have him.

No. Were here to make friends. Lumoof deadpanned.

ela paused. Aeon sent you to make friends? After a while, she laughed. Ah, Ive forgotten Aeons dry sense of humor. Surely, that cant be true?

Well, he also asked us to check on you, whether you are alright.

She smiled and played along. Im fine, thank you.

Lumoof nodded. Thats good. How is Miss Alexis? Does she still hate Aeon?

ela stared, Wait. Aeon really sent you just to check on us?

Yes. He sensed you recently, and wanted to talk to you. I think he thinks of you two every now and then. Lumoof said. He felt your presence here.

There was a mont of silence. ela didnt say a word as she seed like she was processing the statent. Lumoof, being the trained priest that he is, gave ela the space to process her thoughts. He could tell when soone was going through so complicated emotions.

I felt, maybe I too was a party that contributed to that. I thought about them occasionally, and I sotis missed elas rather cheerful presence. Now that Ive said the truth of my origins to Aria, and my senior Valthorns, I wonder whether things would have been different if I had revealed the truth then.

But I consoled myself that circumstances were different, and I didnt have the power or security that I have now. No, more important, I had a slightly different mindset. Back then, I hadnt experienced the destruction of New Freeka, nor had I resolved that this cycle had to end, even if I did contemplate it.

In truth, it was all the little deviations that led to that branch of the story.

...this is weird. ela responded after that mont of thought. We struggled, but I like to think we are fine now.

Lumoof smiled and gently nodded. He allowed her words so space, and then finally answered Thats good. Aeon said to , that he still wished to respect the agreent back then, that the two parties do not bother each other and will continue their separate ways. But with his recent growth and scope, an interaction between the two parties is inevitable, so he hoped to co to so kind of arrangent. There are also so things that he wished for your input.

ela nodded with a smile. It actually seed genuine, rather than a practiced one. Even after a century, the agreent holds. In this world, only the spirits of nature can uphold and comply with such long agreents.

Lumoof didnt need to respond to that statent, as ela soon continued.

Yes, I understand his concerns. It is sothing we have been thinking about since we heard of his resurgence in the Central Continent. What does Aeon have in mind?

He paused, and glanced around. Everyone had heard of it, Lausanne too, even though she was no longer in the higher ranks of the Valthorns. Is this room secure?

ela snapped a finger, and the walls had an additional layer. These were anti-magical sheets. Mostly secure. A hero could still listen in.

Good enough. He intends that we cooperate, on matters involving the demons, the gods and the heroes.

Lumoof placed his hands on the table, his eyes locked on ela. A gaze that ela returned.

Ill explain what Aeons goal is, and it is only known to the inner circle of the Valthorns, and Aeon has said that he wished that these words are not shared to anyone else, other than Miss Alexis. Will you accept these terms?

ela leaned in. Well, yes.

Aeons grand overarching goal is to end the cycle of demons and heroes. The world has suffered too much, the earth weakened by the centuries of constant warfare. Ruins scattered all over the world, buried and destroyed. He is tired of this entire sche, he is tired that this world has to serve as a battlefield of the gods and the demons. So, he wants to break the world free of this seasonal disaster. Will you help us?

elas eyes widened and she processed it. She leaned back on her chair and she spun around for a while. Her eyes darted back to Lumoof again. She stared and scanned the eyes of every other person present, and then locked on Lausanne. Lausanne, do you know of this?

Only fairly recently. Lausanne said. She was thankful that she didnt accept the soul-strengthening seed then. A pawn in the war of gods and demons? That was too much for her.

Doesnt this an he will go against the gods, and also the demons? Is he prepared for that? It explains a lot, no, it explains his secrecy, and the things he has been collecting and gathering. No, this explains all his behavior since those days too. The perpetual paranoia. ela seed to have a huge trove of data and information that she had collected, and I felt a little slighted at the term. I was always paranoid. Its partly why I like to work alone.

But I cant. Not anymore.

Edna chid in. Aeon believed that yourself and Lady Alexis, as forr heroes, can add so insights and provide so perspective to how such a plan can be accomplished. Together with other forr heroes and accidental summons, he wished to form a team capable of sothing more daring.

ela looked at Edna. This revelation must be discussed with my partner. I will say it frankly that I am willing to assist where I can, but the Rosewoods are a partnership.

Lumoof smiled. We understand, this is quite a bombshell to receive during an unexpected reunion.

It is. ela said. I must call my partner now.

Everyone stood and they gave a gentle nod. Thank you for the eting. May we receive favorable news.

ela nodded, and ushers ca to escort the group out of the hotel. They offered refreshnts, of course, but no one took any.

-

About a week after the eting, the demonic rifts opened. There were two more years left on the clock for the next demon king. This ti, it was on the far Western Continent.

I summoned my Valthorns, for a brief strategy eting. Its ti for us to go on the offense, and start chasing demon kings and get a bit more of that sweet demon king experience. Fighting champions is a contentious point. In terms of challenge, the higher level dungeons and their bosses provide an equal if not superior challenge. Yet, dungeons at that level have long cooling periods, and fighting demons will be a large part of my Valthorns future combat career.

Our plan is simple. When the heroes fight the demon king, we want to be there. I want those with the Court of the Deitrees to fight and support the heroes, so that all of you can get stronger. If any of you are at risk of death, I will warp all of you back. Its possible that I couldnt react in ti, or if any of you feel too weak, let know. Those level 100 and above will be deployed to chase down champions, and destroy them.