Master Of None

”What is a guardian dryad? And do we need to be ready to fight it?” Gil was already pulling out fire arrows that would be able to make the biggest and flashiest effects on any monster that they approached once they were within the dungeon.

It seemed that he was also preparing his dagger so he would fire the arrows and then dash in to battle more easily.

With his reaction, Su also equipped her stronger earth armor to be in a defensive stance. The shields she wielded were made using the shed scaled from Terron himself. He had gifted them to her so that she could remain a pillar of defense for Genesis and so that she would also assist him in training the dragonkin he was ordering.

The one who didn’t seem to react at all was Remey who was normally ready to fight. ”What? You are just going to look at me all weird instead of telling us what we need to do?” She had a bit of a point.

”He doesn’t seem unsettled so we probably have to go in and chat first.” Alice leaned on Walker and started to hum while Mela just looked at everyone like they were some strange mix of crazy. She had seen the guardian dryad appear and knew that it could have crushed her puppets without a second thought.

Strength like that was intimidating, especially to a lower leveled and less experienced person like Mela. She had been brought along and told that she would be protected. That was all well and good, but fear in facing the powerful was not something easily erased.

”We will be fine, brother is prepared, so rest here while we handle the hard parts.” Onyx melted in to Walker’s shadows while Midnight took a stance to protect Alice. Gil and Remey formed up behind and to the side while Su took the lead. The formation the same as they had used before, but radiating a confidence that burned itself in to Mela’s mind.

The mana Walker had felt was no different from the manas he knew. It was familiar because it was the same if not exactly the same as the balanced manas around where he had found the echidna race on their island. Natural mana and the natural flow and form of other manas. Kept peaceful in the balance because they respected nature for what it was and what it was going to be.

A deep breath later, the party moved inside the dungeon to fully see the awe inspiring sight. The stars Walker had seen were brighter across a dimmed sky, yet, they could see light from different corners proving that the dungeon did not move through time like the cycle of a day. It was like a pie cut in to sections, each with different concentrations of light mana that lit them or dulled the darkness of the forest.

There were also significantly more fireflies moving around.

’Glow fly

This is a sub species of firefly. After being eradicated by the towering behemoth of volcanic might, they were rescued and allowed to live within this haven.

They possess the unique light of the moon allowing them to utilize a strange peaceful form of light healing magic. They work incredibly well with the natural flow of manas which leads to the balance and overall calming of nature. They prefer to live in places with peace and stability.

They are often hunted by other species of insect monsters but they are able to fly faster using their mana to escape most of the time. They consume the light mana of the moon and the dew on the grass in the morning. They are not threatening to any other species of monster or intelligent race making them a valuable tool for some intelligent races…’

Walker kept using the all around appraisal as he realized that the mushrooms and small sprouts he saw were more numerous than what he had been able to see through the doll’s vision. He also grasped that all of them were valuable and nearly extinct to the world.

Everything here had been left behind but the mage who had the strength to manipulate a dungeon and create this haven. They had saved so much that it put the efforts of Genesis to shame.

Whether or not the elves who had struggled to return certain, thought to be extinct, plants to their forests would feel the same was up to them. But this, this was something amazing to even witness let alone know that it could be used to bring these species of plants, monsters, and potential back to the world properly and safely.

”You are not one of danger. You are one spoken about who may take the path to returning what once was and should be. You are of the origin yet born of the world. A true god…” The words flowed like whispers of leaves as small pieces of bark merged together from the ground with leaves and dried flower petals.

”I saw you for a moment as we scouted this haven, forgive us for worrying about the safety of one another and any other who came here first, but the people I protect are my priority.” Su was standing steadfast in front of Walker despite the peaceful atmosphere. She did not trust this unknown being just yet.

”You are the first potential keeper that has arrived here in many years. You may be able to bring forth those who have slumbered.” The dryad seemed to be struggling to hold its form. As Walker focused more, he managed to get an appraisal and saw through a large bit of what and who this was.

’Guardian dryad

One of the last remaining true dryads left from ancient times. Nowadays, dryads and species like them are considered monsters. However, a true dryad is one with aspects of nature and embodies those aspects. Some live to be guardians of certain species of plants, others live to change and become guardians of different aspects of water within nature.

This guardian dryad had lived and given up much of what they truly are to defend the remainder of species lost due to the endless fighting of ancient monsters known to erase entire species in singular attacks or tantrums.

With a blessing from an ancient mage long since deceased, they were able to assist multiple species of monster to slumber within this haven. They are the sole key to this haven remaining and not becoming part of the dungeon as a whole. Once they perish, this dungeon will rebalance to make this space a hidden haven for resting as it used to be before the interference of the mage in question.

This dryad is close to the end of its life, as all dryads do, when it perishes, seeds of the next generation are left behind. This guardian dryad has channeled all mana and life in to these seeds to allow the next generation of true dryads to blossom in to beings that may awaken the proper flow of mana and reconnect with the will of the world as their race had done in the ancient era.

While dryads prefer not to speak out or show themselves, they are extremely sensitive to certain beings capable of resonating with the will of the world or even the will of existence at times…’

”You have seen me, please, take upon the mantle of guardian and protector. Allow the future to flourish and return to the way of nature.” Walker felt mana shifting and saved for everyone to back away. As they watched in stunned awe, the body of the dryad and several trees began to wilt and dry. They fell to dusty pieces leaving several pearl like seeds resting where the dryad had once been.

There was also a growth in the starlight above as rune formations seemed activate around them. Remanence of the mage who manipulated all of this dungeon. The ground shifted, presenting small stone pedestals with small eggs on them, a few bodies were also resting there, slightly moving as if in a slumber.

’Sparking Fairy dragon

This fairy dragon is of the fire element. It can absorb and consume fire related materials especially stones dense in sulfur. It has slumbers for many years after being given a protein and forced in to slumber. It is one of few remaining fair dragon species and will only awaken once in a suitable environment…

The fairy dragons are a race of semi-intelligent dragons. They are not monsters but they represent the more playful and calm aspects of nature in their affinity. Once upon a time they represented these things to balance the world….

As the elemental spirits they played with disappeared, the mana necessary to ensure they survived began to fade and larger monsters began to prey on them…

Several grand mages sacrificed their lives to create a haven for them and forced them in to slumber saving their species for a vision from the last remaining time mage, seer of the towers, to come true…’

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