Their new shelter in Ziemrot stood like an ancient sentinel, its thick trunk etched with deep grooves and weathered scars left by centuries of wind and rain. Unlike the younger treehouses of Wentouk, this one had roots that had seen generations of enlightened move by. The bark, rough and gnarled, carried the scent of damp earth and old wood, a living relic of time itself. But then, it seemed only logical to embrace something larger to accommodate the three of them comfortably.

  Stepping inside felt like slipping into a memory Aira had never lived. The scent of aged timber wrapped around her, warm and earthy yet laced with something unfamiliar—a whisper of ancient growth, a presence that had existed long before she set foot here. Subtle differences caught her eyes—the branches had a bit different shade, and sunlight filtered through in different patterns, casting shadows that danced unpredictably across the floor. It was like meeting a relative after a long absence; familiar laughter lines were now etched deeper, and new stories were nestled in their smile, waiting patiently to be shared.

  "Do they keep growing forever?" Lila asked, running her fingers along the rough grooves of the inner branch. "Feels like it's got more years in it than a mountain's shadow."

  "It's beyond my scope," said Alliot. "But I heard some discussions. A few of these houses were planted in the first years of the cities. Centuries ago. And they rarely die if cared properly."

  "They look so similar to what you have in Wentouk," said Aira, hesitating a bit before addressing Alliot. "More mature. But… Are they related?"

  "Of course," Alliot said, his shoulders loosening as he latched onto the new topic. "Ziemrot is the root, the beginning. They cultivate the saplings before sending them off to other cities. In Wentouk, we shape the wind. In Ziemrot, they shape the land. Their trees, their roots—those are their legacy."

  "But how do you move something this big?" Lila asked, brows furrowing. "Even with all your fancy travel tricks, seems harder to hide than a fox in fresh snow."

  "They are not delivered in their grown size," Alliot said. "Like all other trees, they start as small saplings. It takes a few years before they can be used by a single person."

  "Alright, all of this is great," said Aira, starting to pace from one side of the open space of the treehouse to the other. "But I really didn't like that feeling of being excluded during this previous talk."

  "Oh, I hear you," Lila said, shifting her weight. "But what can we do? Chasing shadows won't get us anywhere."

  "That's a great question," said Aira, looking intently at Alliot. The enlightened defender wasn't getting the clue, though.

  "Anything you'd like to share with us, Alliot?" Aira asked pointedly. "Any advice?"

  "Me? Why?" asked Alliot. "I'm not an expert on communication."

  "Well, obviously," said Aira. "So, nothing. Alright. Any ideas, Lila?"

  "I really don't know what to tell you, sorry!" said Lila, a bit defensive. "Elder's… Oh, damn it…! It's not like any of my skills could do the trick. I can influence people. But I'm not a transmitter… or whatever. Maybe it's your skill that needs digging into? Feels like this is more your kind of root to pull up."

  Aira reached out through her wristband, commanding the System to give her the description of her Two is a Crowd skill. Just to be sure she wasn't missing anything.

  Two is a Crowd (Level 4 / 375 SP to upgrade to Level 5)

  - Invite 4 members to the party

  - Maximum distance of the party chat: [400 m x Level] = 40 km

  - Party members can share quests

  - Party members get XP for fulfilled quests (depending on their participation)

  - Party members can see each other's stats

  She read the description aloud, even while all members of the party were able to see the description.

  "Not really helpful."

  "You mentioned you'd get something new every five levels, didn't you?" asked Lila. "Like a new aspect of the skill, or a new function?"

  "That's how it usually works," said Aira. "Every level I get the skill a bit improved. But every five levels something qualitative changes."

  "So…?"

  "So, what?" asked Aira. "I risked upgrading a skill once, when… when I had to do the ritual for you. But I was… not in the right mind then. You don't usually just gamble your skill points on the opportunity you get from the System exactly what you want!"

  "Yeah… that moment when you turned me…" Lila exhaled, tracing the wood beside her. "Cold as the cliffs, I don't remember much of it."

  "I guess… We'd have to talk about this at some point… When you are comfortable," said Aira.

  "Not now," Lila said, her voice quieter, steadier. "But I wouldn't mind seeing you take a leap for me."

  "What are you saying?" asked Aira.

  "Just do it!" exclaimed Lila. "Seems like the System's got a way of nudging you where you need to go."

  "Yeah," growled Aira. "Especially when it sent me to a new world and blocked all my skills and magic!"

  "You don't know if it was the System, or something else," said Lila. "That's sort of the meaning of you journey, isn't it? To figure it out?"

  "Well, maybe… I don't know."

  "Do it," Lila said, her tone measured but insistent. "What's the worst that happens? A few lost skill points and a bigger party? Doesn't sound like much of a storm to weather."

  "Alliot, Al, do you have any opinions?" asked Aira. "Should I do it?"

  Alliot just mumbled something indistinguishable. Suddenly, however, Al's demeanor shifted dramatically. His small eyes widened, and his tiny body seemed to vibrate with tension. He scurried up to Aira's right shoulder, his claws barely making a sound on her shirt, and leaned in to nudge her ear with his twitching whiskered nose.

  "So, that's it then," Lila murmured, a slight smirk creeping onto her face. "The rat's calling the shots now. Guess we're in good paws."

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  The prompt still lingered in front of Aira's eyes:

  Upgrade further [Y/N]?

  She agreed. In one day, she had lost 567 skill points—almost half of what she had accumulated since that fateful night in Mountain View. First, she boosted the same skill to the fourth level to have an opportunity to invite locals. Useless, as she now knew. And then this blind attempt to get something, some improvement of the skill that would help them.

  "Let's see what you have there now!" exclaimed Lila as all three of them accessed the System information—or maybe even four of them.

  Two is a Crowd (Level 5 / 648 SP to upgrade to Level 6)

  - Invite 10 members to a party

  - Maximum distance of the party chat: [500 m x Level] = 50 km

  - Party members can share quests

  - Party members get XP for fulfilled quests (depending on their participation)

  - Party members can see each other's stats

  - Build a bond with selected party members

  "Well, roots and rivers, it actually worked," said Lila. "But, what's a bond?"

  "Exactly… That… I don't yet know," answered Aira. "Want to try?"

  ***

  The trio wandered through the winding paths of Ziemrot in search of the ideal spot to meditate. The evening sky darkened with every minute as the sun dipped lower. The jagged cliffs encircling the valley cast long shadows, adding to the play of light in the city proper. Yet, the persistent hum of activity lingered in the air. Like any enlightened city, though none of the three travelers had ever ventured beyond Wentouk and Ziemrot, residents bustled about, engaged in various tasks and pursuits, whether it was day or night.

  Eventually, they found a secluded grove nestled between the ancient buildings and towering roots of majestic trees. The ground beneath their feet felt soft yet stable, layered with moss and fallen leaves that carried the scent of earth and time itself. The presence of the elemental source deepened here, a steady pulse that resonated beneath the ground, like a heartbeat hidden beneath layers of stone. It wasn't just a hum—a rhythm, a force threading itself through the roots and rocks and leading them and directing them somewhere out of the city, under the mountains.

  "This spot should work," Aira said, scanning the quiet clearing. The shadows cast by the enormous trees formed a protective dome, cloaking them in peaceful isolation. It seemed that even locals didn't visit the place too often. Or maybe they were avoiding the place where three outsiders decided to spend some time.

  Alliot lingered near the edge, his gaze heavy with hesitation. Aira met his eyes and gave a slight shake of her head. "You'll sit this one out. We're trying something new… Without you. But we'd like to have you nearby. It's important we see if Lila can act as a conduit."

  "I understand," Alliot said, but his voice was edged with quiet frustration. It was hard to deny that their group wasn't cohesive. And the reception they got from Khanorrh didn't help to normalize the tensions between an enlightened, a human that was only recently turned, and an undead outworlder.

  But besides that, there were more reasons for Alliot to feel unsettled. The foreign elemental power, the Earth element, was unnerving him. And they were getting closer and closer to the source.

  Alliot stepped back, finding a moss-covered stone to perch on. He folded his arms, eyes flicking between the two women, his expression unreadable—a still shadow beneath the towering roots.

  Aira and Lila settled into position, sitting cross-legged on the ground, facing each other. The air was thick with the mingling scents of moss, damp earth, and the faint sweetness of Ziemrot's native blossoms. There was plenty of material to work with. To fill their senses. Moreover, the connection to the Earth element here was tangible, almost like an unseen pulse echoing through every breath they took.

  "Alright," Aira whispered, closing her eyes. "We'll start like always. Follow my breathing—slow, steady. Inhale through your nose… and out through your mouth. Exclude you senses one after another. Feel the elements."

  Lila mirrored her movements, her breath shaky at first, but soon it settled into a rhythm matching Aira's. The world seemed to shrink around them. No rustling leaves, no distant city sounds. Just the steady rise and fall of breath.

  The connection came softly at first. Aira reached through their meditation practice, seeking out the familiar flicker of Lila's presence. Like a flame trying to catch on a damp tinder. It was there, warm and pulsing faintly in the dark space of her mind.

  But then something unexpected happened.

  Aira's awareness expanded further than she intended. She could sense more than just Lila's presence. Tiny and jittering at the edge of her consciousness was Al, his energy signature small but determined. And beyond that… others. Faint echoes of the enlightened within Ziemrot, like distant stars barely twinkling on the horizon of her senses. And beneath it all, a deep, constant hum—the elemental source of Ziemrot itself—a steady pulse like a heart under the mountain.

  "Lila," Aira's voice came through the party chat. Calm but focused, though her eyes remained shut. "I need you to let me in… feel the bond. I'm going to extend it to you through Two is a Crowd."

  "Alright," Lila said, her voice low and steady now. "Show me how. Guide me."

  Unsure of the exact process, Aira carefully made the first nervous motions with her arcane powers. She reached out with the bond the skill had granted her. The connection felt like weaving threads of energy together. Carefully, delicately, making sure not to pull too hard.

  Lila's presence responded hesitantly at first, like testing cold water before stepping in.

  And then… contact.

  Something shifted. A thread, barely sensible yet undeniably there, stretched between them. Aira could feel it; it wasn't overwhelming, not invasive, but flickering at the edges of her awareness, like distant firelight through a thick forest. Not words or clear images. Just emotions, sensations, a flicker of curiosity, and that stubborn determination that had always defined her.

  "Can you feel it?" Aira asked.

  "Yeah," Lila's voice was soft, awed. "Feels like standing in the wind without letting it pull you away. Like… the roots are still holding strong."

  They held that bond silently for a few heartbeats, letting it stabilize.

  "Now let's try something else," Aira suggested. "Let's explore. We have to figure out how it works."

  Lila hesitated but reached for the bond cautiously, like brushing her fingers across the surface of a pond. Aira felt a slight pull. It wasn't enough to influence her in any way. But that was just something that allowed Lila to sense the potential and feel the depth under the surface of the water.

  And it was deep.

  "I can… feel something," Lila whispered, brows knitting together. "It's like reaching toward my own skills, but they're… distant. Like pressing a hand against the bark of a tree and feeling something shift underneath."

  "That's impressive," Aira said, opening her eyes slightly to glance at Lila. "Now, let's see if you can do something with that."

  Lila focused, drawing on the bond's connection. But nothing happened. The connection stalled, like a door half-opened but never fully ajar. The link didn't extend far enough to give Lila anything she could use. It stopped somewhere between her and Aira.

  "Nothing," Lila sighed, frustration creeping in. "Like trying to catch a howl and only hearing the wind."

  "Don't worry," Aira said. "We'll try more later. You can even do it during the day. Meditation helps us to focus, to remove everything that distracts us. But the bond will remain."

  "What would happen?" asked Lila. "Do you have any guesses?"

  "I wanted you to try it first," said Aira. "It may seem counterproductive. But you are like a blank slate. Your sensations are clearer. You may find something here that I could miss. So, I don't want to limit you by telling you about my guesses."

  Lila looked directly into Aira's eyes, focusing intently. "Are you sure I'm enough for this? I'm trailing so many levels behind you…!"

  "Oh… You'll catch up in no time!" said Aira, laughing. "And… I'm sure you'll see something there. But I also want to try approaching from my side. However, we'll keep that for our next meditation."

  "So, I was absolutely useless today, right?" asked Alliot. "Is that how you see my input from now on?"

  "Look, Alliot," said Aira. "First, we didn't know what would happen today. But also, I can sincerely tell you that we need allies. It seems that we need them even more after our talk with Khanorrh."

  "I agree with you," said Alliot. "You need me."

  "But are you an ally?" asked Aira.

  At that moment, Al squeaked and began running between Aira's left and right shoulders, stopping on either side and making agitated noises.

  get one additional chapter!

  The Dark Lady's Guide to Villainy :)