Spellheart 9: Chapter 31 (Patreon)

“Alright, let’s see what this Sacred Grove magic can do,” I said to my lovely companions, a few of whom had joined me on a hunting excursion into the forest. Sava, Eltiana, and Nela accompanied me, each ready for action.

The raw power we were bringing to bear in the name of the Hearthwood was serious overkill for the type of monster we were bringing to bear.

Today we were hunting Stone-Tusked Boar. I hadn’t fought these things in a long time, but that was back when I was just a weak spirit or body cultivator.

Now, I was a Sacred Grove cultivator, and it felt damn good.

Power churning through me from my connection to the Sacred Grove. It was nothing more than a trickle, but it was there. And I hadn’t done a damn thing to get it. I felt like an aspiring self-help internet guru learning about passive income for the first time. Who works for their limitless cosmic power these days?

“Let’s see this magic garden of yours in action,” Nela crossed her arms and scanned our surroundings. “If it’s a flop, I’m sure Sava can harvest the plants as alchemy ingredients.”

“It won’t be too powerful yet. We’re just looking for potential,” Sava said.

“Sava’s right. We’re just going to take down a weak heart-wielder level monster,” I shot back in reply.

As if on cue, a snarling beast emerged from the underbrush. It was a Stone-Tusked Boar, toothy and angry.

Stone-Tusked Boar (Level 9)

Or rather, it was angry until it sensed the power of my companions. Then it turned tail to flee.

“Perfect,” I declared, raising my hand toward the monster. I channeled the magic of the Sacred Grove through me, feeling the power surge effortlessly within. The energy crackled around my fingers, eager to be unleashed. There were quite a few aspects at my disposal, though not nearly to the degree they would be with Spirit Cultivation.

The Sacred Grove seemed to be more in line with general empowerment. At least, that was what it was when you weren’t sacrificing Elven wisps to fuel unique spells. My muscles flexed, and they probably would have bulged if not because I already had so much power in from my World Titan Fiendbody.

The Stone-Tusked Boar didn’t know what hit him. One second he was running; the next second, I grabbed him by the legs and threw him into a tree.

I was careful to only use the power granted to me by the Sacred Grove. That was harder than it should have been. My body cultivation, in,particular had been so tightly intertwined with my instincts that it was hard to consciously attempt not to use it. But I managed it.

“Ha! Take that!” I said.

“Normally, you could have thrown that boar all the way out of the Hearthwood…” Nela said, still looking skeptical. “How do we know the Sacred Grove actually did anything.”

“It did something. I feel it…” I clenched my fist. This was the start of something grand. “Come on! Let’s find another monster!”

“Be careful not to become too reliant on this power,” Sava cautioned me. “The Satyr King may have laid traps for us.”

“True, but I’ve got all of you by my side,” I said confidently, looking at each of my loyal companions. “Besides, Ethan promised an advisor from the Cult of the Unblinking Eye to help keep an eye out for any tricks. I won’t be using this in battle. More like a scientific experiment.”

“Still, we must remain vigilant,” Nela advised.

“Of course,” I agreed, although I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything would be just fine. I had a good head on my shoulders and the support of my lovely ladies. What could possibly go wrong?

***

I settled into a new routine. Dual cultivation every night into the morning the following day. Then I walked the Hearthwood’s grounds for some fresh air and to check in on my Sacred Grove.

The flowers were blooming, mostly thanks to the constant efforts of the nature cultivators working the grove. We’d already expended a few fate zeal crystals to speed up time for a select few plants.

I was on a rare break from the two things I did most often to check in with Argona. Mac wanted another cleaning drone, and while he trusted my daughter’s enchantment more than mine, I was still the master of wire harnesses and electricity.

“Will these copper strings really do something?” Argona asked skeptically.

“Insulated wires, and they will,” I promised. “They will carry electricity and signals through a means that can neither be detected nor disabled by ordinary cultivators.”

[Yes. The last thing I want is Satyrs being able to knock my latest model of cleaning drone offline!] Mac butted in.

“Combat-capable cleaning drone,” I reminded him. I could only justify spending so many resources on a cleaning drone by making them True Mage-level combatants and peacekeepers for the city.

[What is a crime but another type of trash that needs cleaning up?]

We might have been at that all day until it was time for me to check in with my matriarchs for another long night of dual cultivation when I received word a messenger had arrived.

Mac must have been truly excited about his new cleaning drone because it was rare for the sentries to spot someone on their way before he saw them coming.

Illiel delivered the message herself. “Dear, it looks like someone has arrived for you. They carry the symbols of the Cult of the Unblinking Eye. Among those that have been in the Hearthwood since the beginning, it’s caused quite a stir. It would be worse than the Satyr attack if not for the fact that only a tiny fraction of the city remembers Tim’s attack. I’ve tried to calm everyone down, though. Weren’t you expecting them?”

I set down the bundle of wires I was wrapping up. “Yes, I was. Apologies, Argona, Mac. We’ll have to finish this tomorrow.”

I excused myself, though Mac groaned and asked if I couldn’t just leave the Cult of the Unblinking Eye waiting while I worked on his new cleaning drone.

I was surprised to hear the librarian from the Cult of the Unblinking Eye had arrived so soon. I hadn’t expected the Sacred Grove to arrive by now, let alone the promised help. Powerful cultivators moved on a longer timescale thanks to their immeasurably lengthened lives. Still, it seemed they could move fast when they wanted to.

I saw her hovering in the air on a floating platform, much like Tim had used. That probably gives survivors from the last war a few uncomfortable flashbacks. Best to get her down soon.

She was a brown-haired, bespectacled elf who looked very much like the librarian she was supposed to be. The glasses were odd since I sensed Wizard realm cultivation from her. There was little chance of her being shortsighted.

But if Illiel could wear glasses for fashion, so could this elf librarian.

I waved the platform down, and it started descending. Only then did I realize the librarian wasn’t the one flying the platform? There was another figure accompanying her, and this one I recognized.

“Ethan?” I asked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Ethan waved to me as the platform touched down. “I hope my presence isn’t unwelcome. The Cult of the Unblinking Eye thought it would be nice to have an envoy in the Hearthwood for a little while. Someone to ensure that no more, unfortunately... misunderstandings between you and us happen again.”

“Mhm...” I muttered, struggling not to show the tension on my lips. It was one thing to run into Ethan in the halls of the Cult, but inviting him into my home?

Then again, I couldn’t exactly reject him either. Not when the Cult was in the middle of doing me a favor. After all, I did really want access to their records on Sacred Groves. It would be the surest way to avoid falling for a trap left by the Satyr King. After a few moments of pensive thought, I came to my decision.

“Happy to have you, Ethan,” I smiled and held out a hand. We shook and smiled like two heads of state, doing their best to look as friendly as possible.

“I hope you don’t mind the imposition.”

I shook my head. “Not at all. In fact, I’ll call a feast in your honor tonight!”

In all honestly, I would have preferred to spend the night dual cultivating again. But if Ethan was going to be staying in the Hearthwood, I had a lot to do and little time to waste.

***

The librarian Ethan had brought with him had a lot of books to unpack and have at the ready before she could do her job. I gave her and Ethan a quiet cottage on the city’s outskirts.

In theory, it gave them more privacy than having a guest room in the castle. In practice, I wasn’t sure I wanted Ethan inside the defenses of Castle Mac with my family. As forthright as he had been until now, I couldn’t forget my previous experiences with members of the Cult of the Unblinking Eye. Not to mention that he was a Demigod Realm Mind Mage. The only people in the Hearthwood who could truly resist his influence if he tried were me, Illiel, and perhaps Mac.

I needed backup just in case things went downhill. As soon as I was free of our new guests, I first found Comela and sent her through the Teleportation Array to the capital of Deania.

“Ask Sam and Dean to do me a favor and stay in the Hearthwood for a week or two. However long either of them can spare,” I instructed my daughter.

I would have preferred both, but keeping a Demigod on guard duty was quite a big ask, even from a friend. The two of them were busy preparing for the end of the Seventh Golden Age, just as I was, so taking them away from their current tasks meant sentencing the minor clans they would have built bunkers for to their deaths.

But this was important to me, and hopefully, the two of them would see that.

***

I finally met the bespectacled elf librarian Ethan brought with him at dinner the following night. During our earlier conversations, Ethan had spoken on her behalf, and the two of us had walked and spoken like she wasn’t even there.

“I hope there are enough shelves in the cottage for your library. I didn’t get your name, by the way.”

“Thank you, Patriarch,” the elf woman replied softly. “I am the Librarian of Sacred Groves.” She bowed her head slightly, her hands clasped in front of her.

“But what are you called?” I asked.

“Just that. Librarian of Sacred Groves,” the brown-haired elf said again.

I frowned. Ethan explained.

“The elves within the Cult of the Unblinking Eye who serve specific functions give up their old names and take on the name of their task. This one was meant to read, catalog, and understand all of the information we know about Sacred Groves. After she mastered the knowledge needed for the job, her name became ‘Librarian of Sacred Groves,’” Ethan explained.

“How... different...” I muttered.

As I studied her, an unsettling feeling crept over me. This woman was like a living database, her entire existence devoted to the accumulation and organization of knowledge. It seemed a sad fate to be so single-mindedly focused on one purpose. But then again, perhaps it was preferable to the alternatives I’d heard about for her sisters.

“Librarian, if I may call you that, I’m pleased to welcome you to the Hearthwood,” I said, trying to sound gracious. “And Ethan, I trust the accommodations are sufficient? Certainly not as spacious as what you have back home, but good enough for a brief stay?”

“Or a long one, if need be.” Ethan gave me an easy smile, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth.

“Your help is greatly appreciated,” I replied, though internally, I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy welcoming a potentially hostile demigod into the Hearthwood. I kept those thoughts private, however, as sharing them now would serve no purpose.

The feast was grand, far larger than anything the Hearthwood had put on before. Ethan took it all in stride, though, seeming neither offended nor impressed. Eventually, I broached the subject I’d spent the whole dinner worrying about.

“Your presence here is quite a surprise, Ethan,” I began, trying to keep my tone light as I picked up my goblet. “I must admit, I’m still not entirely certain why you’re here.”

Ethan’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he sipped his wine. “Ah, yes, I suppose I haven’t been completely forthcoming about that. You see, Patriarch Theo, our Cult has been closely monitoring your clan’s remarkable growth and accomplishments. It is only natural that we would want to maintain a presence here and perhaps even recruit someone of your stature into our ranks.”

I raised an eyebrow in response. “Recruit me? Interesting. And what if I were to decline?”

“Of course, that is your prerogative,” Ethan replied smoothly. “However, I believe that you’ll find our collaboration most beneficial.”

As the feast continued, I decided to put Ethan’s offer on the back burner, focusing instead on enjoying the company of my loved ones. However, my mind was already racing with plans to keep tabs on this mysterious demigod.

“Mac,” I whispered silently, knowing my AI companion could hear me.

[Yes, Theo?]

“Keep a close eye on Ethan and the Librarian while they’re here. I want to know everything they do. Also, tell my companions they have an extra night to memorize the new dual cultivation techniques. I’m going to be busy.”

[Understood.]

After the feast was over, I slinked off into the night. Eltiana’s clan had once been famous for their ability to conduct work. Most others would have considered invasive.

Essentially, they were spies and assassins. Even Eltiana was not at a level where she could hope to assassinate a Demigod, but some of her kin were probably skilled enough to spy on one.

“I’m going to wipe your memories of this meeting. It’s the only way to avoid detection from someone like Ethan. But your task is simple. You’re going to become his staff. You will clean his sheets, do his laundry, cook his food, and generally do all he asks of you, within reason. While you’re there, keep your ears and eyes open. Scan for any suspicious behavior and report it to me. Do this well, and you’ll be paid handsomely when I return your memories. Understood?” I asked the group of Hidden Serpent Tribe elves.

I’d intentionally chosen elves I’d never interacted with before. Nevertheless, they were all longtime members of the Hearthwood Clan and had proven their loyalty. I wasn’t sure if my mind manipulation would hold up to whatever Ethan could do, but I had the help of willing subjects while he would not.

I wiped the memories of every elf of our meeting, though I left them with their lingering desire to follow my orders. They’d do as agreed but not know why they were spying on him until I returned their memories to them.

“Understood, Patriarch!” the leader among the Hidden Serpent tribe elves said. “We’ll ingratiate ourselves to this Demigod in order to gather information on his actions and intentions!”

“Good. I’ll be counting on you.”

Only time would tell what Ethan and the Cult of the Unblinking Eye had planned for me.