BXBX NOVEL Chapter 1941 Trial of the Fae V
Chapter 1941 Trial of the Fae V
She was a dryad that was cursed by the Mother Tree to wander and not return to nature due to her betrayal of the forest. She was the reason why some worlds lost their trees of life as she intercepted the seeds of the world tree in order to gain power from them. Not even the current dryads know of her name because the World Tree itself erased her very records from the world using a powerful curse.
She was supposed to be forever in a state of something like an undead but not truly dying as death to the Fae is becoming one with nature. In the end, she slowly deteriorated as her very essence is rejected by the natural world itself. She even forgot her own name as a result, but she managed to will some of her remaining strength to absorb the energies of the fae that visit the forest.
Even the mother tree does not know that she still lives on as her own tree has already wilted and died. She only kept clinging onto the trees of the Forest of No Return as they have lots of life energy to give. She was now a parasite to the forest itself rather than a caretaker. She has collected lots of death and life energy from the other faekin in hopes of reconstructing her body.
"Oh! A soul formed due to the rejection of the natural world. Interesting… I think one of the gods residing in the death realms would like you to be a test subject. She knows how to treat plants especially plants that have souls. A lost dryad soul would be the same… I think." Adrian stated as he suddenly put maximum usage of his nether energy.
The ghostly dryad maiden tried to scream but no words no sound came out of her body. She was swallowed by the torrent of nether energy until Adrian took out a gem. It was a clear gem that has no mana nor attribute. He directed the energy that swallowed the ghostly dryad maiden into the gem. With a wail of numerous souls, the ghostly dryad maiden was sealed inside the gem that Adrian had.
[You have managed to create a Soul Gem.]
[You have trapped an Unknown Distorted Fae Soul in the gem.]
[You have cleared the hidden quest of the Forest of No Return, \'Scare Away the Evil Maiden\'.]
[You have gained a level and +1 to all stats.]
[The Goddess of Life Persephone would like to have the Soul Gem that you have created.]
[Will you trade her the Soul Gem in exchange for a way out of the Forest of No Return?]
"Huh?! I never thought that I can also clear the quest like this." Adrian thought as he knows of the Goddess of Life Persephone as she is the only pure goddess of life that resides in the underworld for a period of time.
She often leaves to visit her mother, the Goddess of Life Demeter, as the latter would turn the world barren if she does not meet her beloved daughter. All the gods and goddesses of life are incredibly attached to their own children to the point that they will let the world rot if something bad happens to them. It is also the reason why some of the gods do not want any trouble from the gods and goddesses of life.
"I accept the offer for a way out of the Forest of No Return." Adrian stated as he accepted the deal with the Goddess of Life Persephone.
Adrian thought that he would have to at least be outside the forest to trade with the goddess but to think that a solution was presented to him just like that. He did not know if it was his luck or a cheat in the story, but he is glad that he managed to get a way out. A large bud suddenly bloomed below Adrian\'s feet and grew to a height of three feet.
[Place the Soul Gem on the Corpse Flower.]
Adrian placed the Soul Gem on the mouth of the Corpse Flower that looks like a gigantic black rose. Once the Soul Gem was placed on the mouth, the Corpse Flower proceeded to swallow it like food and Adrian can even see how it travelled down its stem. The circular bulge that appeared to be going down until it came down to the roots to vanish.
[The Soul Gem was safely delivered to the Goddess of Life Persephone.]
[The Goddess of Life Persephone likes what she has gotten and is satisfied.]
"You very much welcome, Goddess of Life Persephone, but please hold up your end of the deal. Thank you." Adrian stated as he can now freely talk to the gods of life and death as he is now the mediator. Still, it does not mean that all gods of life and death would reply to him even if he calls upon them.
[The Goddess of Life Persephone tells you that she has already sent your guide.]
"My guide?" Adrian stated as he looked down to see the Corpse Flower waving at him with its own petals.
The Corpse Flower waved at Adrian while swinging its stem as if it is dancing. It then used its own leaves to pull up its own roots until it could stand on its own. The process took about ten minutes and Adrian just observed it. To him, the Corpse Flower looked like a cute monster that is learning to walk on its own. The Corpse Flower then tugged on his clothes to gain his attention.
"You want me to follow you?" Adrian asked and the Corpse Flower nodded its large rose head until it became out of balance from the heaviness.
"Okay then. Please lead the way." Adrian stated as the Corpse Flower did a little dance before proceeding to walk right.
Adrian suddenly saw the familiar scenery once again as if he was transported back to the area where he first started. Still, he believed that the Corpse Flower sent by a literal goddess will not make him go lost. Adrian diligently followed the swaying Corpse Flower for about one hour.
Every ten minutes that Adrian followed the Corpse Flower, the scenery changed dramatically as if he was travelling at an incredibly fast pace even though they were just walking leisurely. It did not take long for the scenery to completely change as a gate covered in vines could be seen in front of him. The Corpse Flower then did a little dance as if it was celebrating that it had reached its goal.
"Thank you for leading me here." Adrian stated.
The Corpse Flower did a bow before it rooted itself back into the ground. A few seconds later, all of its body has wilted as the soul occupying it has returned to the underworld. The Corpse Flower got its name because of the special way they are created. They are created from the souls of the death that died forgotten while being buried on the ground.
Souls that did not have its last rites would often wander the underworld for a long time until some ultimately vanish. The Goddess of Life Persephone took pity on the souls that bloomed such beautiful flowers. She then accepted the duty to create Corpse Flowers where the forgotten dead could regain purpose to enter the cycle of reincarnation.
The Corpse Flowers would then gain merit by helping the Goddess of Life Persephone with her tasks. In return, they become full souls that gain the same energy as souls that were given their last rites. Adrian smiled as he knew that the soul within the Corpse Flower that helped him has finally entered the cycle of reincarnation.
"It might have been short, but I pray that your new family would cherish and love you." Adrian stated thinking that it was just a passing statement, but he is now the mediator of the Gods of Death.
A simple statement from Adrian changed the karma of the soul and filled it with energy. The normal life that the soul occupying the corpse flower should have has changed. The reincarnated soul would be blessed and loved by those around him while minimizing the misfortune of the area that it will be reincarnated in.