Ch.110 Well, that Escted Quickly


    <span ss="editText">"Dammit! It''s been years and this stupid seed won''t grow! Haah... I don''t know what to do, brother!" Yuliana said to herself as she paced around the inside of her house.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana had beautiful long emerald green hair and green eyes. She had a curvy body with big breasts andrge hips. Her most prominent feature was her ass. She had a strong-willed personality that sometimes got on her brother''s nerves. She used to be slimmer frame and had smaller breasts before she got pregnant with Nieren.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana would wear a light skin-tight yellow dress that had a light green corset with yellow strings which made her cleavage stand out. She also wore ck thigh-high stockings and boots that had white roses on them. She had what looked to be two tattoos of vines growing up her left arm and down her right leg.


    <span ss="editText">"And where is Nieren!? She''s been gone for almost two weeks now!" Yuliana yelled out as she walked past her bedroom door.


    <span ss="editText">Her room was filled with shelves of books and scrolls along the walls. There was a desk next to a window that had a full set of magical tools. The floor was covered in a thick carpet of reds and blues.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana''s bed was made from polished redwood with silk sheets that were spread across it. A wooden chandelier hung above the bed with various leaves hanging from it.


    <span ss="editText">She closed her bedroom door and sighed heavily. "I''m tired... I think I need some tea," Yuliana said as she walked towards the kitchen.


    <span ss="editText">As she walked through the door to the kitchen Yuliana heard Nieren''s special knock on the door. "Huh? Nieren!?" She called out.She heard the door open and there was her daughter standing in the doorway.


    <span ss="userText">"Mom!? I''m<span ss="aiText"> back home!<span ss="editText">" Nieren said out loud as she motioned to Rya and Dalia to wait outside the front door as she walked in.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana turned around to see a <span ss="editText">Nieren<span ss="aiText"> with her bright green eyes, <span ss="editText">golden blonde hair, and wearing leather adventurer''s gear with her cloak standing in front of her.


    <span ss="editText">"Nieren!" Yuliana yelled as she ran over to<span ss="aiText"> hug her daughter.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Thank the Gods and Spirits! You''re safe<span ss="aiText">!" Yuliana said as she hugged her tightly.


    <span ss="editText">''Oh thank the Gods, she isn''t mad!'' Nieren<span ss="aiText"> thought.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana then stepped back to ge<span ss="aiText">t a look at her daughter.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">By the Gods and Spirits! Do you know how angry <span ss="editText">I<span ss="aiText"> was when <span ss="editText">you disobeyed me!?... Do you know what would have happened if you were caught by those goblins!? Or worse. The ck Roses! The same people that killed your uncle, and ruined the Wood Elf Kingdom!... No of course you didn''t! You ran off, so you could go on a Quest! Doing whatever you were doing before the Mercenaries showed up in the city! When they left, I thought you were caught! I thought the final heir was in very or dead. Destroying any hope for our people! So, I''m done with your excuses! You''re going to quit the adventuring lifestyle and stay here helping me with the nts, Nieren!"<span ss="aiText"> Yuliana yelled at her daughter until she was blue in the face.


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren was stunned, she had never seen her mother this mad before. ''<span ss="editText">No! I was mistaken, Mom''s furious! I think I see some veins bulging<span ss="aiText"> out of her forehead.'' Nieren thought<span ss="editText">in a panic.


    <span ss="editText">"So tell me, Nieren! Was it worth it? Was it worth<span ss="aiText"> it to go against the word of your mother?" Yuliana asked in a stern tone as she stared intently at her daughter.


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren looked down. "Yes, it was worth it, Mother," Nieren mumbled as her usual confident self was in hiding.


    <span ss="userText">"YOU!!!" Yuliana stopped herself from screaming more at her daughter''s response, "You keep ying stupid games, Nieren. You''ll win stupid prizes. And you won BIG time, my daughter. Now give me your bow and des."


    <span ss="userText">Nieren<span ss="aiText"> kept her head low<span ss="editText"> and tightened her fists. She didn''t want to<span ss="userText"> hand over her weapons. All she wanted to do was help her and her mother<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> But Yuliana won''t listen to her. She kept treating her like a child. Nieren was a few decades away from being an adult and it wasn''t that far away. She just wished her mother would trust her.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren understood not to<span ss="userText">take any unnecessary risks when she went on her quests. And if she felt that she was in over her head she knew to back out<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"I am not giving up these items. I earned them," Nieren said as she shook her head.


    <span ss="aiText">"You disobedient little—<span ss="editText">Where did I go wrong!<span ss="aiText">" Yuliana screamed as she stormed t<span ss="editText">owards Nieren.


    <span ss="editText">


    <span ss="editText">***


    <span ss="editText">


    <span ss="editText">Rya and Dalia were outside when they heard Nieren''s mother shouting<span ss="aiText"> at her.


    <span ss="aiText">"What should we do?" Dalia asked looking concerned about the situation.


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t know," Rya sighed in exasperation, "But something needs to be done."


    <span ss="userText">So, Rya walked into the house with her head held high.


    <span ss="userText">''I don''t know what I''m doing. Please, don''t let this get worse than it is,''<span ss="aiText"> Rya thought as she walked straight towards the angry wood elf.


    <span ss="aiText">"Nieren! What did I tell you about leaving the city!" Yuliana shouted at her daughter<span ss="editText"> as she held one of her daughter''s arms.Yuliana was about to discipline her daughter when she noticed a shadowing from the door.


    <span ss="userText">''By the Gods! I must be yelling so loud that the neighbo—'' Yuliana''s thoughts stopped when she saw who was standing at the doorway.<span ss="editText"> She noticed that she was wearing pink 5-inch heels with an elegant blue dress that showed off her right leg and cleavage from breasts that rivaled her own. Her white hair which seemed to glow was in aplex and stylish braid. It made her look noble. Andstly, she noticed her skin tone and her ears.


    <span ss="editText">''A D-D-Dark Elf!?! NO! THEY FOUND US!'' Yuliana thought in a panic as the color in her face turned pale. She moved in front of her daughter to shield her from the intruder.


    <span ss="editText">"Nieren! Run!"


    <span ss="aiText">Rya stood there puzzled for a moment before she realized that her mother was trying to protect her daughter from her.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mother!<span ss="editText">?" Nieren said as she was perplexed<span ss="aiText">by her mother''s actions. Why would she try to shield her? But Nieren saw Rya and she started to panic.


    <span ss="editText">"We''ve been found out! Grab your things and run! I''ll head her off! NOW GO!" Yuliana order<span ss="aiText">ed.


    <span ss="aiText">"But, Mother-"


    <span ss="aiText">"Now!" Yuliana shouted in a panic.


    <span ss="editText">Rya wasn''t expecting things to turn out like this as she noticed Nieren''s mother channeling her mana.


    <span ss="editText">''Well, this escted! I need to try and defuse this! But how?'' Rya thought as her sixth sense was telling her that Yuliana had traps set under the floor boards and up in the ceiling.


    <span ss="editText">"MOM! WAIT—"


    <span ss="editText">"Take this, you FIEND! HAYAH!" Yuliana said as she sent out her mana into her vine nt traps<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren<span ss="aiText"> didn''t have time to <span ss="editText">stop<span ss="aiText"> her mother <span ss="editText">from attacking Rya as the green vines came flying through the floorboards and out of the ceiling going straight towards her friend.


    <span ss="editText">''Rya!''<span ss="aiText"> Nieren thought in horror as she<span ss="editText">watched the vines flying out at her and were closing in fast on Rya.


    <span ss="editText">Rya on t<span ss="aiText">he <span ss="editText">o<span ss="aiText">the<span ss="editText">r hand was surprised by how calm she felt while being attacked. She didn''t know why but she felt a connection to the ntsing straight towards her. So she<span ss="userText">raised her hand slightly while channeling her mana into the air in front of her.


    <span ss="userText">Just as the vines were about the strike her with their thorns. They started slowing down until they came to a stop after Rya''s mana interacted<span ss="aiText"> with them.


    <span ss="aiText">"Why… Why aren''t my vines moving anymore?" Yuliana said with bewilderment.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mom, please! Stop it!" Nieren begged, but Yuliana wouldn''t listen as she was trying toe up with another n.


    <span ss="userText">It was then that one of the vines started rubbing up against Rya''s hand like how a cat would rub their cheeks<span ss="aiText"> against <span ss="editText">a person''s hand.


    <span ss="editText">''Aw! I didn''t know nts could be so cute... Wait? Did I just think a nt was cute? I mean it kinda reminds me of my childhood cat. Haah... I miss that cat.'' Rya thought as she enjoyed the feel<span ss="aiText"> of the vines.


    <span ss="editText">Dalia walked up next to Rya to see what was going on and saw the tamed vines.Rya then looked up to see Yuliana looking terrified at what she was witnessing.


    <span ss="editText">''She can connect with<span ss="aiText"> the <span ss="editText">for<span ss="aiText">es<span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText"> s<span ss="editText">pirits!<span ss="aiText"> That means she can control them<span ss="editText">. We''re doomed!'' Yuliana<span ss="aiText"> thought as she <span ss="editText">didn''t know what to do to stop this Dark Elf.


    <span ss="editText">"MOM! Are you listening to me!? She''s my friend! Her name is Rya," Nieren<span ss="aiText"> said angrily while trying to reason with her mother.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana finally s<span ss="editText">napped out of her stupor and looked at her daughter with a<span ss="aiText"> shocked expression.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-You''re<span ss="editText">friend!? But she''s a fiend, a demon<span ss="aiText">!? She''ll conquer us!" Yuliana shouted.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mother<span ss="editText">! Stop saying that!<span ss="aiText">" Nieren pleaded with her mother to stop talking badly about Rya.


    <span ss="aiText">"B-But she''s a monster! You can see the bloodlust in her eyes!" Yuliana shouted back while pointing at the Dark Elf who was just standing there doing nothing butListening to everything that was going on. Her right eye was twitching with irritation but she kept quiet.


    <span ss="userText">''Bloodlust in my eyes? Really<span ss="editText">? N<span ss="userText">ow<span ss="aiText"> that''s <span ss="editText">riching from a woman who attacked me on sight. Haah... Is it because of all these<span ss="aiText"><span ss="editText">stories about Dark Elves? It must have <span ss="editText">clouded her mind<span ss="aiText">.'' Rya thought as she calmed herself before looking at Yuliana with a wry smile.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana noticed Rya smile and yelled, "What fiendish spell have you put on my daughter!<span ss="aiText"> Tell me now<span ss="editText">!"


    <span ss="editText">Nieren<span ss="aiText">''s eyes widened as she got furious.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mother! <span ss="editText">STOP! YOU''RE NOT LISTENING! THOSE STORIES THAT YOU AND THE ELDERS TOLD ME ABOUT ARE ALL WRONG!"<span ss="aiText"> Nieren shouted in outrage.


    <span ss="editText">''NO! It''s worse than I thought! She''s brainwashed my child<span ss="aiText"> into thinking that Dark Elves are<span ss="aiText">creatures of good!'' Yuliana thought. She needed to save her daughter, no matter how.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Nieren! Listen to me!... That''s what she wants you to think! She''s using you because she knows we are of royal blood!<span ss="aiText"> If she doesn''t get her way, then she''ll kill us both! Do you understand!?" Yuliana demanded while grabbing her daughter''s shoulders and shook her.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Are you even hearing yourself right now!?... Mother! Stop for one second and listen<span ss="aiText">!<span ss="editText"> She''s not evil!<span ss="aiText">" Nieren shouted back.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana was having none of it and continued to argue with her daughter as shepletely forgot that Rya, who was standing there by the door petting the vines.


    <span ss="userText">


    <span ss="userText">***


    <span ss="userText">


    <span ss="userText">Dalia came in closer to Rya and whispered, "Why is Woody''s mom so weird? It<span ss="editText">''s<span ss="userText"> like she''s in her own<span ss="aiText"> world!"


    <span ss="aiText">Rya just shrugged.


    <span ss="editText">"Some people like to only see what they want to see, regardless of facts. Sadly, Nieren''s mother wants to pa<span ss="aiText">in<span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText"> m<span ss="editText">e as evil." Rya<span ss="aiText"> said <span ss="editText">to Dalia as they watched Nieren try to reason<span ss="aiText"> with her mother.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Yeah, your race is j<span ss="aiText">ust misunderstood," Dalia said with a gentle tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s very kind of you to say, <span ss="editText">Dalia. I just wish there was some way to help Nieren— Huh?," Rya noticed something strange on the table in the middle of the room.


    <span ss="editText">There were <span ss="userText">three potted nts with each of them having a giant seed in them. The seeds were the size of a peach. And the thing that was odd about them was these sickly purple particles flowing inside them. Rya was the only one who could see them.


    <span ss="userText">It was almost like seeing the red particles in Dalia''s body when she had her injuries as well as everyone else who was injured.


    <span ss="userText">''What''s the deal with these things? Were they poisoned or something?'' Thought Rya as shemanded the vines to return before she started walking<span ss="aiText"> towards the table.


    <span ss="editText">Dalia followed behind her, "Is something wrong, Alpha?"


    <span ss="editText">"Those things over on the table seem to be poisoned? I think I can heal them," Rya answered as they walked passed the arguing mother and daughter who were too distracted to notice Rya approaching the Elder Tre<span ss="aiText">e seed<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">


    <span ss="editText">"I''m tired of arguing with you Nieren! She can''t be trusted! You should know bette— Huh!? NO! STAY AWAY FROM THERE!" Yuliana stopped arguing with her daughter when she noticed Rya approaching<span ss="aiText"> the table.


    <span ss="aiText">She quickly grabbed hold of her daughter and pulled her back.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-You''re going to die if you touch those! Y-Yeah!... Nieren! Don''t listen to that crazy woman! She''s lying to you!<span ss="userText">" Said Yuliana, sounding like a crazy person.


    <span ss="userText">Rya paid no attention as she touched the first seed and removed whatever was affecting <span ss="editText">it. It took about fifteen seconds before she could see the purple particles fading away.


    <span ss="editText">''Damn! Whatever this stuff is, is taking a crap load of my mana to remove. Gah! Almost done<span ss="aiText">!'' Rya thought to herself<span ss="editText"> as she healed the first seed.


    <span ss="editText">It t<span ss="aiText">oo<span ss="editText">k<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="editText"> few more seconds before the seed started <span ss="userText">sprouting<span ss="editText"> a new sapling from it.<span ss="editText">Yuliana''s eyes widened in shock as she saw<span ss="aiText"> the <span ss="editText">Elder Tree seed<span ss="aiText"> start to grow.


    <span ss="editText">''The Elder Tree? It is alive? I thought it was impossible...'' Yuliana ran over<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText"> table next to Rya so she could get a closer look. So, she could make sure her eyes weren''t deceiving her<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana''s hand was shaking as she reached out and touched the nt. She channeled her mana into the Elder Tree sapling to see if she could connect with it.


    <span ss="editText">''By the Gods and Spirits! The Elder Tree lives! I-I never thought I see the day<span ss="aiText">. It''s a miracle!'' Yuliana was shocked at what she saw as she was able to connect with the nt.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren came running over to her mother and saw the sapling.


    <span ss="editText">"Rya! You got the Elder Tree to grow!?<span ss="aiText"> I didn''t know that was possible!" Nieren said with excitement<span ss="editText">before she continued to talk, "See Mom! How can she be evil if she can grow our sacred tree?! Wasn''t that supposed to be something only a wood elf can grow!<span ss="aiText">?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Ugh! I-I don''t know!" Yuliana said as she looked at the sapling. Then her face turned bright red with embarrassment.


    <span ss="editText">''But she''s a Dark Elf?<span ss="aiText">It should be impossible... Why is she doing this for us?...<span ss="editText"> I thought they wished for the destruction of all the other elves?<span ss="aiText">'' Yuliana thought to herself.


    <span ss="aiText">"Who are you?" Yuliana asked as she stood up straight and looked at Rya.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I''m Nieren''s<span ss="aiText"> friend," Rya said with a smile.


    <span ss="userText">Yuliana stared into Rya''s glowing azure eyes to see if she could see if there was any lie or<span ss="aiText"> deception behind the words. After a moment s<span ss="aiText">he couldn''t sense any ill intent towards her. Which made her feel <span ss="editText">a bit of relief but she kept her guard up.


    <span ss="editText">"I have been trying to grow the Elder Tree seeds for decades. What did you do? How is it possible you were able to grow one? Where I, a princess of the Wood Kingdom could not?" Asked<span ss="aiText"> Yuliana as she <span ss="editText">looke<span ss="aiText">d at <span ss="editText">Rya wondering if she''d answer her or not.


    <span ss="userText">Rya nced at her with a perplexed look before she said, "Yeah, I don''t know why, but these seeds were giving off a sickly aura of purple particles. And I was able to cure the first one but it took a lot of mana<span ss="aiText"> out of me."


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana raised an eyebrow, "Y-You said they all had a sickly aura?"


    <span ss="editText">"Yeah, it seems to be preventing them from growing... Here. I''ll show you." Rya said as she cured the next s<span ss="aiText">ee<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText"> t<span ss="editText">hat had fewer purple particles in it.


    <span ss="editText">It took a few seconds before the next seed<span ss="aiText"> started to g<span ss="editText">r<span ss="aiText">ow<span ss="editText"> another sapling right before their very eyes.


    <span ss="editText">''She got another one to grow!<span ss="aiText"> I don''t understand how she''s doing it!'' Yuliana thought to herself<span ss="editText"> as she checked that sapling to make sure Rya wasn''t using some type of trick or illusion on her. And again, it was the real thing<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">''Could she have some sort of power that allows her to do this?''<span ss="editText"> Yuliana thought<span ss="aiText">as s<span ss="editText">he looked at Rya in awe<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Hmm? Thisst seed seems to have a higher concentration of whatever is infecting it. I think I can iste it and push it out?" Rya said as she picked up thest <span ss="userText">seed in her hand and then examined it.


    <span ss="userText">"Hmm? What do you need, Lady Rya?" Nieren asked<span ss="aiText"> as she walked over to Rya.


    <span ss="aiText">"Can you get<span ss="editText">a cup or an empty vial while I iste the infection? I think it''s liquid-based but I''m not sure," Rya asked while examining thest seed.


    <span ss="editText">Nieren nodded her head and ran over to a cupboard at<span ss="aiText"> the end of the room. She pulled out a small ss v<span ss="editText">ial that would be used for potions.


    <span ss="editText">"Will this work?" Nieren called<span ss="aiText"> back to Rya.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya nods her head and says, "Yes, it will. It<span ss="editText"> might be too big, but it will work<span ss="aiText"> for isting the liquid."


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren walks back over and <span ss="editText">tries to hand the vial over to Rya.


    <span ss="editText">"Nieren, can you hold it under the seed for me, please? I''m going to need all my concentration for this one,<span ss="aiText">" Rya requested.


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren nods and takes the vial in her hands as she holds it underneath the seed.


    <span ss="editText">Rya then closes her eyes as she uses her healing magic to move whatever the liquid is out of the seed.


    <span ss="editText">''Come on, Rya! Just focus and breathe. That''s it... I can feel it moving to the bottom of the seed,'' Rya<span ss="aiText"> thought to herself<span ss="editText"> as she isted the liquid.


    <span ss="editText">What took seconds to cure the first two seeds took a minute with thest seed. Rya was breaking into a sweat as she continued to heal the seed.


    <span ss="editText">"Nieren... It''s almost out! Get ready!" Rya said as she focused and kept her eyes closed.


    <span ss="editText">"I''m ready,<span ss="aiText">" said Nieren as she held onto the vial and waited patiently.


    <span ss="editText">Dalia was staring silently at the seed waiting to see what will happen. While Yuliana skeptically watched Rya. She wasn''t sure if she was ying up whatever she was doing to try to trick her.


    <span ss="editText">Just then Rya felt the liquid was ready toe out at the bottom of the seed.


    <span ss="editText">"Now!" Rya yelled out.


    <span ss="editText">That''s when a small droplet of dark purple liquid came out of the seed and fell into the ss vial. They had to look closely to see if there was anything at all.


    <span ss="editText">Rya breathed out a silent relief and ced the seed back in its pot. Which sprouted the third Elder Tree before Yuliana''s eyes<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">W<span ss="aiText">ow!<span ss="editText"> What is this purple stuff?" Nieren said as she looked at the tiny droplet in the vial.


    <span ss="editText">"Hey, let me have a look at it<span ss="userText">," Dalia said as she took the vial and sniffed the opening.


    <span ss="userText">"D-Dalia!? Don''t sniff it! You might identally inhale it!" Rya said as she snatched it away from her.


    <span ss="userText">"Pff! Like I let that happen. Anyway, it smells like monster blood. I don''t know what type of monster<span ss="aiText"> though. It''s not <span ss="editText">anything I smelled before. I don''t know if it''s a monster from this continent?" Dalia pondered as she tilted her head. She was trying to recall if she''d ever smelled a simr scent<span ss="aiText"> before.<span ss="editText"> But she wasing up empty.


    <span ss="editText">"Well, that''s something that le<span ss="aiText">as<span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText">," Rya said as she <span ss="editText">loo<span ss="aiText">ked <span ss="editText">at<span ss="aiText"> the <span ss="editText">small droplet through the ss vial.


    <span ss="editText">''Damn! Even with my elven eye, I can''t tell what this stuff might be. Haah... Well, Dalia thinks it smells like monster''s blood. I wonder what type of monster has poisonous blood that <span ss="userText">can affect a nt?<span ss="editText"> Hmm? I wonder if anyone invented microscopes on Tertius? I mean, I wouldn''t be able to make heads or tails of what I was looking at, but maybe someone else would?'' Rya thought as she continued looking at the vial.


    <span ss="editText">Yuliana on the other hand had a troubled look on her face. She seemed to know what that<span ss="userText"> droplet was.


    <span ss="userText">"Your name was Rya, right? M-May I see the vial, please?<span ss="aiText"> I want to take a closer look," Yuliana asked nervously.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, uhm sure... Here you go," Rya said as she handed her the vial.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana grabbed the vial and brought it up to her eye. Andon closer inspection, she knew what it was.