"So you managed to kill the leader," Bai said quietly. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Myrren snapped immediately. "You should be sorry for your loss too. Our captain died within the five-day window." Her glowing eyes hardened. "She's coming back with the reset. And she'll return alongside the boss."
The situation was worse than he expected. Could he actually do anything here?
Ilyth noticed his discomfort. "You don't need to feel pressured. We'll handle the fighting. You just need to be as resourceful as you claimed."
---
Bai sat in silence.
One hour passed. Then another.
At first Myrren mocked him repeatedly, but he ignored her completely. Eventually the Sylvans stopped paying attention and began discussing something among themselves.
Two feminine figures stood a short distance away, speaking quietly.
Bai tried to lean closer to hear them.
Bad idea.
He lost his balance. The ropes binding him had already been removed, so nothing stopped him from tipping over the edge of the raised root platform.
"Help!" he shouted.
Two branches shot toward him. One stopped halfway. The other almost reached him… then withdrew.
Bai hit the ground head first.
Thud.
"Myrren," Ilyth said sharply. "Stop being petty."
Myrren shrugged. "I was testing his endurance. If he can't fight, he should at least be able to survive."
Bai slowly pushed himself up. A small smile formed on his face. He was learning. This was the first time he had been the direct target of hostility.
"Endurance?" Bai muttered. "You could come up with something better. And what makes you think I'm weak?" He brushed dust from his clothes. "You two are just ridiculously strong."
Myrren snorted.
But Bai suddenly realized something was different. Instead of the towering tree form from before, Myrren now stood at his height. Her body resembled a human woman sculpted from living wood. Green hair made from vines flowed down her shoulders. Small flowers occasionally bloomed among the leaves. Her skin was deep green, and faint glowing veins pulsed beneath it. Her heavy voice had softened into something sharper and more feminine.
"You're staring again," Myrren said.
"Uh… sorry," Bai replied. "You just look… different. And beautiful."
Myrren narrowed her eyes. "So my original form wasn't beautiful?"
Bai froze. "No, it was! I just mean—" He struggled. "How do I explain this…"
Ilyth stepped forward from another chamber. She had also taken humanoid form. Unlike Myrren, her skin leaned closer to human tones, though faint green patterns still shimmered beneath it. Her presence felt calmer, lighter.
"Leave him alone, Myrren."
"Thank you," Bai said quickly.
Ilyth simply nodded. "Have you figured out how you can be useful yet?"
Bai nodded.
"Good," she said. "We'll discuss it over dinner."
Bai blinked. Dinner? He had expected tension, urgency, panic. Not hospitality. They might all die within two days. Yet they were preparing a meal.
Still, he wasn't foolish enough to refuse food.
"Alright," he said.
---
The chamber began to rearrange itself. Roots twisted and reshaped. The massive tree structures deconstructed and rebuilt themselves into a table and chairs sized for humans. Branches moved through the room carrying dishes.
Soon the three of them sat around a wooden table.
Ilyth gestured to a bowl placed in front of Bai. "That's heartsap. It's sweet and contains healing properties. I prepared it specifically for you."
Myrren snorted loudly.
Bai tasted it carefully. The texture was smooth and slightly slippery. The flavor was sweet and refreshing. Surprisingly good.
"It's really good," he said sincerely.
Myrren leaned forward. "So. What do you have for us?"
Bai glanced at Ilyth. She was also watching him expectantly.
Really? Couldn't they at least let him eat half the meal first?
"I have a few questions first," Bai said.
"Go on," Ilyth replied.
Bai looked around the chamber. "All these trees… are they you? Or your abilities?"
Ilyth tilted her head. "We Sylvans are what many lesser worlds call World Trees. Specifically worlds colonized by our species."
Myrren waved a hand. "That explanation is too much for him." She leaned back. "We are both individual and collective. I am the consciousness of my tree. But I can merge with every tree of my species nearby. They become extensions of me."
Bai stared for a moment. Then decided not to ask further questions. The explanation already made his brain hurt.
He had plenty of other questions. How did they eat? Did they rely on sunlight? Water? Soil? But asking something stupid might offend them. He would figure it out later.
Bai took another bite before continuing. "When I first entered the Mist Canyon… I encountered some insects."
"The one on your back?" Ilyth asked.
Myrren raised an eyebrow. "Are you some kind of Ant King or something?"
Bai's face turned red. "No! It's not like that!" He cleared his throat. "My ability lets me read the memories of others."
Myrren's eyes hardened. Ilyth went still. Bai kept his face neutral, pretending not to notice.
"I need sufficient energy to activate it," he continued. "So I haven't used it recently." He looked at them. "The stronger the target, the harder it becomes. But if the creature outside really is the leader's child… I might be able to read its memories. And if I do… we could find its weakness."
Myrren leaned forward. "How exactly do you do it? Do you need hair? Blood? A body part?"
"No," Bai replied. "I need direct contact. And I must maintain that contact while reading the memories."
Ilyth frowned. "That's a weak combat ability. Do you think the creature will politely stand still while you do that?"
"I know," Bai admitted. "I'm still figuring out the limits of my ability. But at least I understand the mechanics of reading memories."
Myrren crossed her arms. "That won't help much. You need to maximize efficiency and output."
"I know," Bai said. "But that won't happen today." He looked between them. "So… could you two hold it down while I read its memories?"
Myrren scoffed. "You want us to restrain that monster so you can read its memories?" She leaned closer. "And then the entire situation depends on you. That means we'd be putting our lives in your hands."
Bai went silent.
He hadn't considered that angle. If the plan worked, he would become the only one who knew the creature's weakness. The power balance would shift.
And they clearly didn't trust him enough for that.
Bai stared down at the table.
What should I do?