A Song For The Ages

The dawn cast a golden hue over the forest as Feiyin, Ruan, Qingling, and Thalanil emerged from the now-quiet hive mound. The air smelled cleaner. Fresher. The unnatural stillness that had choked the woods was gone, replaced by the trill of insects and the gentle rustling of leaves.

For the first time in days, they moved without the weight of secrecy. Their footsteps were lighter, unburdened by the need to conceal. With the empress defeated and the killer bears dispersed, they no longer needed to sneak. They set a swift pace, aiming to return to the capital without delay.

Ruan walked quietly beside Feiyin, her gaze distant but lingering occasionally on him. Her twin blades were sheathed, cleaned of blood, but faint red essence still pulsed along their edges. After a long pause, her voice came soft, almost hesitant. "That strike... it was impressive."

Feiyin gave a small smile, glancing over. "She was nearly tier six. That exoskeleton looked like it could stop a sky ship' cannon. I didn't want to find out if I was wrong."

Qingling, riding ahead on Fenlan, turned her head with a grin. "I'm just glad we didn't have to fight that whole swarm. When they flew out like a storm cloud, I thought we were done for, but they didn't even glance at us. That music trick of yours saved all our hides."

Thalanil laughed lightly from behind, brushing a stray branch from his shoulder. "You folks fight like those warriors in tales. Never thought I'd watch someone compose a lullaby for killer bears."

"Well," Feiyin shrugged with a grin, "I figured it was better than having them turn into a berserk swarm."

The forest around them seemed to breathe again. Birds sang overhead. Squirrels darted through the canopy. The oppressive, drained aura had lifted. Feiyin's senses felt it keenly: the life, the sound, the oscillation of creatures now free from fear. Everything was louder, clearer. He could hear the wind rustling far above and smell the fresh sap oozing from the newly healed trees.

"The forest feels... alive again," Ruan said, voice soft.

Thalanil nodded, gazing up. "It is. That kind of domination from the Empress suppresses the flow of essence through the trees. Without her, it's like removing a choke from the throat."

They pressed forward, and within less than two days, thanks to their speed, they emerged from the forest's southern edge. The gleaming spires of the Elven Capital rose ahead, their silver bark and leafsteel peaks catching the morning sun.

Entering the city was swift. Guards recognized them immediately and ushered them through the outer walls without question. The change in atmosphere was immediate: from wild nature to refined elegance. Elven citizens paused as they passed, bowing slightly in greeting and admiration as they recognized Thalanil.

Soon, they were escorted to the palace, guided through vine-lined corridors and crystal-lit halls until they reached a tall, ivy-wrapped door. A royal attendant bowed.

"The Queen is in her study. She would prefer to speak with you informally, as honored guests."

The study was warm and fragrant with old parchment and floral incense. A wide circular window let the light in, casting a soft golden sheen across the wooden floor and carved bookshelves.

Queen Alariel waited behind a low desk of living wood, her crown modest, her presence radiant. She wore a robe of pale green silk, and her long hair shimmered with faint essence. She stood as they entered.

"You return unharmed," she said, voice gentle but strong. "And successful, I trust."

Feiyin bowed respectfully. "The Empress is dead, and their nest is no more."

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The Queen's eyes sharpened slightly. "And the killer bears?"

"Scattered," he replied. "I used music to calm and redirect them. They're no longer bound to the Empress' control, and will go back to their natural state."

The Queen gestured for them to sit. "That is beyond what we hoped. We feared scorched roots and a long winter of hunting strays. But you've saved us from that."

Thalanil gave a humble smile. "The young ones did most of the work, Your Majesty. I just helped them not get eaten."

Queen Alariel's gaze lingered on Feiyin. "There is more to you than what you revealed before. Your control of essence, your saber, your music... They speak of many lifetimes of skill."

Feiyin didn't flinch, only smiling in response. "Just one lifetime. But one where I've had to grow quickly."

She studied him for a moment longer, then smiled. "You're the type who changes the shape of forests. I'm glad you were on our side."

As their conversation deepened, they spoke more about the hive's structure, the Empress' control, and the strange parasite Feiyin discovered. When he described the egg embedded in the Empress' body and the insectoid creature within it, Queen Alariel stiffened.

"That... is no forest-born corruption," she said, her voice low. "That bears the taint of something far older. Far darker."

Feiyin gave a slow nod. "I suspect it may be related to a group known as the Hive. Insectoid creatures that travel between worlds, spreading and devouring everything on their path. The Empress might not have been acting on her own will at all."

The Queen's eyes widened with alarm. "We have no records of such beings. If what you say is true, then the threat reaches far beyond our borders."

"That's why I kept the remains," Feiyin said. "To study it. To prepare. And while we're at it... I'd also like to help the Greenwood Kingdom recover. I believe my alchemy might assist the Elder Tree in healing."

Queen Alariel's brows lifted slightly. "A generous offer. But I must ask- why go so far? Your mission is complete. You owe us nothing."

Feiyin met her gaze with quiet resolve. "Because I want more than a finished mission. I want a lasting bond, an alliance between us."

She nodded slowly. "I had hoped you might say that."

Feiyin raised a hand gently. "But before you agree, there's something I must reveal. I will not build alliances on falsehoods. If we are to trust one another, we must speak plainly. Preferably in private."

She cast a glance at Thalanil. "He is one of my most trusted."

Feiyin gave a small nod. "Then he may stay. But what I say now must remain within these walls."

He took a breath, then began. "The Saint Spirit Sect, under whose name the Red Lotus Mercenaries were formed, is a facade. The true power behind it is an old devil in the Ninth Phase who has founded the sect by implanting parasitic seeds into all of its members. I was one of them. But I've broken free. And while he is still recovering, with his strength comparable to a cultivator in the Eighth Phase, I am gathering allies to strike before his power returns in full."

The Queen sat back, the color in her cheeks fading slightly. Her fingers curled atop the desk. "That... is a staggering truth. And a grave danger. You've survived horrors many never face."

Feiyin's voice softened, firm with conviction. "I don't seek pity. Just unity. The Old Devil's goal is to refine all the nearby regions, to strip them of blood, life, and essence to fuel his ascension. He won't stop at human lands. Even the elves are within his reach. Two of my companions, Lirael and Auren, hail from this very forest. They're still trapped in that sect."

A hush fell over the room, the weight of his words lingering like smoke. The Queen's jaw tightened, and her voice, when it returned, was steady. "Then for the sake of my people, and our future, I will stand with you."

She paused, then looked at him with newfound gravity. "How and when do you plan to act against this... Old Devil?"

Feiyin took a measured breath. "I am gathering allies, both within the sect and beyond. I've started developing methods to remove the parasites safely, because the Sect Master still holds sway over them. Until then, we must remain hidden, preparing. While he remains in the Eighth Phase, injured and vulnerable, it is our best chance."

The Queen's expression darkened thoughtfully. "So our role for now is to recover and remain vigilant."

"Exactly," Feiyin nodded. "The Greenwood Kingdom must heal and be ready; not just for him, but for any outside threats, like the Hive. That's why I wish to help restore the Elder Tree. It would aid the forest, and bolster your kingdom's vitality."

She regarded him for a moment longer, and then, with a firm nod, offered her hand. "Then let us move forward as allies."

Feiyin met her gaze, then reached out and grasped her hand firmly.