“For these two items I am more than willing to trade the two spirits of Blight. Since it's slightly in my favor why not take a few Grade one spirits. Your Blight Queen can’t fight without an army now can she?”

  Green light spilled out over the counter as the Tyrant concluded the deal. Wendy had already prepared the two blight spirits. The Vassal was staring intently at Nate which seemed to be its way of showing excitement. The Queen kept a composed manner, though the flicking of her skirt seemed to give away that she too found the situation favorable.

  Three jars now cluttered the counter and without prompting Wendy shuffled another four into a box. She gave him a small friendly wink. Wayne stood without a word behind him. Nate was unsure about what, but it was clear something had happened to render his teacher into a state of shock. He didn’t even try to negotiate the sale.

  “I truly appreciate the help today.” Nate gave them a low bow.

  “Now, now we’re practically family. Feel free to drop in whenever you're in the area, or near an entrance. You will always be welcome and protected within our store.” Wendy said with a sly smile.

  Nate was unsure over the subtext there but it must have been about what happened with his teacher. It didn’t really matter to him, another powerful connection couldn’t hurt. Once he defeated the Necro and that Paladin he still had to make ends meet. This place would accept trades for money, convenient for his future plans.

  “Don’t treat him too well. The boy is still growing.” Wayne’s half lucid voice drifted in the air.

  “That doesn’t seem possible dear customer.”

  The Tyrant responded while looking at the overgrown “Boy” as his soon to be son-in-law put it. He summed it up to Wendy’s confession being more effective then he believed it would be. If he had lips he’d be smiling ear to ear over her finally getting her man.

  When the two had finally left the building it was heading into the afternoon. The car was warm to the touch and Nate felt a nap would be in good order. To his surprise his master took the back seat laying out to take a nap of his own.

  “You know how to drive, take us back so I can process everything.”

  He in fact could drive but had no license. They had stolen a few cars back in the day and gone for joyrides. Not that the owners could ever really tell. By the morning they would be back in place full tank of gas and cleaned up. Nate had put a strict order to reduce harm on the community. Just because the world was against them didn’t mean they had to be bad people.

  In the front seat he set the bag of spirits in the chair next to him. He had planned on making contracts all the way back to the hospital but he would at least do one before he left. Taking out the dryad its body was still weak and fragile. The top of the bottle was corked, he took the needle from the side and placed it into the cork. Pricking his finger the blood ran down into the bottle activating the contract spell at the bottom of the bottle.

  The humming of the car's engine faded as he appeared on the front porch. The basement souls were currently wandering around the yard, their absent minded faces masks of unawareness. Contract circles were separated into forced service and agreements. At the bottom of the dryads was only an agreement circle.

  Slowly from the earth in the yard its body dug itself up and out to come wearily in front of Nate. Lupita knowing he was out front had come to the door and was standing there inspecting their new spirit. It nervously rubbed at its arm shavings disintegrating into the air with each pass. As it attempted to speak the sound of branches being rubbed together came out along with its words.

  “I do not want a contract.”

  “Then you know you will die? Why would you make that choice?”

  “All of my kin. The land god told us he would keep us safe. Yet, I am the last. We deserve to perish for our foolishness.”

  “So you would give up, die, not because someone betrayed you, but because you think you deserve the punishment?”

  “It is just so. I apologize if I cost you time and money. If there is time left you may sell me off or dispose of me.”

  Nate’s face twitched. He’d kept all his anger down throughout the day. His calm was tested but never as it was here. This was unacceptable. The way that it had looked at him from the bottle wasn’t one that wanted to die. A pleading desire had been there and now it was given the chance it was going to throw it all away.

  “Are you truly a damn fool?” Nate shouted.

  Lupita at the door jumped at his pronouncement. Her eyes went wide as she found it so familiar. As Nate stood she stepped down to place a hand at his back. That rage within him might be useful in a fight, but he needed to cool his head. Small tremors rolled over the ground outside the yard.

  “Nate, I don't think this is going to help.” Lupita said.

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  “I don’t care if it helps. This thing would just give up on its family. You would just leave them behind? You say you're the last but how would you know? Did you see them all die? I know what it looks like to lose your family, but I’m going to take them back. Here, you stand shriveled, broken, what would your family say? Thank you for letting yourself die.”

  “No, that's not what I.”

  “Oh you're speaking up for yourself now? Look at the high and mighty Dryad.”

  “Nate, please, you are making it cry.” Lupita said.

  “Lupita, you should know better. Your wish is for a family, would you give up on them. If I was to go missing or any of us was to die. Would you give up? I for one won’t. If it's a spirit that is your enemy you kill the spirit, and if it's a god, you kill the god.”

  “You had to help me find that part of myself.” Lupita responded weakly.

  Nate stared down at the dryad that shrunk down to its knees. Still it did not change nor did it challenge him. It sat there on its knees, tears running down its face. The scant amount of moisture within its body slowly slipped away. He turned away from the creature and stepped toward the door.

  “A spirit can kill itself. Yet, here you are still alive, still resisting the pull of the grim reaper.”

  Hinges squeaked as he pulled the door wide open. Stepping through would cut the connection. Lupita worriedly looked between Nate’s back and the Dryad. With a bit of reluctance and pity she stepped down laying a hand on the dryad's shoulder. It looked up into her eyes.

  “You could ask for it. To have a new family, it's what I wanted. Or you could wish for revenge on the god. But all that doesn’t really matter. Didn’t someone do this to you? The god failed but who was it that killed your family? They deserve to pay.”

  “There were two men, one killed at the order of the other. We burned, the fire devoured us greedily. Hundreds of flaming hands washed over our bodies. Mother, she protected me and wrapped me in her arms.”

  Nate didn’t move from his spot as he waited. The dryad’s eyes locked onto his back. Trembling hands formed of thick roots pawed at the ground. Weakly she raised the dirt up behind him, in offering.

  “Another Necromancer did this. Returned all of them to the dirt. All I wanted was to be returned to the soil that we once thrived within. Can that be my wish, I want the Thorn Wood Dryads to once more claim the land. Return us to the soil of our forefathers. In return I shall serve till you complete the contract.”

  The door swung close as Nate returned to the top of the steps. His eyes peered down at her. It wasn’t the kind of request he wanted to hear. Such a request also meant a loss in the long term for him. This was only a temporary boost to his numbers that would go a long way for their fight ahead.

  “That is not outside of what I could do but your service ending would weaken me.”

  “Isn't it good enough if she helps until you get rid of the Necro?” Lupita asked.

  “No, he is right. I ask for the reformation of my people, the chance to do as he said. To reignite my line. My offer is shallow. I am the last of the Thorn Wood Dryad, I can feel it in my soul, in the connections that bind magic to this world. I swear that if you do this all my kin shall henceforth be yours. Return me and my offering is my very kin. Take whomever you need and call upon us when need be.”

  “You have a deal.”

  The yard swirled, ejecting the low grade spirits back into the house as Lupita was carried up and placed into Nate’s arms. Her blush was evident even through her fur. The dryad's body mixed with the yard's soil. Waves of spiritual energy washed over the area before finally the sound of hundreds of pieces of wood bursting from the ground filled the air.

  The dryad’s body soaked in the spiritual power and the Thorn Wood bloomed. Hundreds of small trees popped into existence across the yard. Twisted thick razor like thorns daring any to enter at their own peril. They were still withered but as they drank of the spirit energy power returned to its body.

  “We’ll leave it here for now. Let me know once it has recovered.”

  “I will do so.”

  The long drive was monotonous. Marveling at the sights in the city had faded into being mundane. Much swirled around Nate's mind as it was not lost on him who the culprit might be for the attack on the Thorn Woods. It lined up too well with the first sighting that Karah bore witness too.

  A fire spirit or spell had been employed. It was intel to be prepared with. Though he lacked a counter, maybe a spell amongst what he’d received or his master's belongings could work. What of the god that was to be looking after the Dryads? How did that play into the Necro’s plans?

  Once his master woke up he’d have to question him on the topic. This god may be friend or foe depending on how they proceed forward. At the hospital the preparations would go into full swing. Training the powers and spirits would be key over the remainder of the week.

  ***

  “So the plan is as follows. My father will be away from his office in the meeting room for at least thirty minutes. It's the only time that we’ll have where the office is unlocked and the guards are away. I spoke to one of them and they seemed to indicate that his guests scare him enough to keep his head of security glued to his hip.”

  Mandy was dressed in a black outfit that was form fitting and to the children in front of her said stealth. Teddy and Renee wore equally dark outfits. A small collection of tools lay at the ready tucked into a bag on the floor.

  “Once inside I’ll check the bookshelves.” Teddy said.

  “I’ll scan the room for residual magic and then stand watch if there is nothing to find.”

  Renee was still practically fused to Teddy’s arm as she spoke. The fact that her beloved may die from her own uncle wasn’t something in her calculations. The man was clearly guarded from her powers of perception manipulation. It wouldn’t be of much help while they search the room.

  “And I’ll take the desk. Let's try to put everything back where it was. We don’t want him to know that we know what he did. Until we get the authorities involved.”

  Renee scoffed inwardly at the woman. She may not have all of her past lives experience but she knew full well that no authority was going to help. They needed this information so they could escape, save Teddy’s brother, and hightail it out of here. Any other plan to avenge her aunt was out of the question. Though Mandy didn’t need to know that.

  The sound of a truck coming up the driveway and lights bouncing in from the window put them on high alert. It wouldn’t be long until the Mayor made his way to the meeting room. Then they would strike.

  Dreamlike LitRPG Psychological Thriller

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  Alex Dawson's quiet life of classes and gaming shatters when he dreams of a crimson sky, a fallen moon, and a stranger on a mirror-like sea.

  The dream doesn't fade. An ancient system awakens, and Alex is dragged into the hidden realms of dreams where some want him to awaken, others want him to break, and one wants him back.

  Free to read on Royal Road