Nature Chose Me

An Empty Vessel

". . ."

Gytha found herself awake with her head lying to a solid bed at the center tree of the Spirit Grove. Before her, he saw Nymfrik's body lying down motionless above it, falling in his deep slumber.

"Ah... of course." The girl let out a weak smile filled with sadness.

"Oh All-father, I just had the sweetest dream a girl could ask." She stood with her arms raised high, going all excited. "It felt so real! you were awake and we spend so much time together! learning... playing..."

"I should've known better..." She sat next to him on his bed, glumly looking at his face.

"I wish... we could meet soon..." Tears started dripping down. "I miss you... I wanna play with you just like how we did in my dream!" She can contain herself no longer, her face was wetter than rainy days.

Then in her sobs, a warm hand suddenly wiped the tear away from her eyes. "Huh...!?" He saw Nymfrik warmly smile at her while gently caressing her red cheek.

"Then all you need to do is to wake up, Gytha. Come on, I'll be waiting for you on the other side."

*

“Gytha? Gytha!” Staas called the girl’s name loudly as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Staas...?” Gytha weakly replied, woken up on a solid bed under the roof made out of tree bark inside of the biggest tree in the Garden of Time. Above her is a giant flower, facing its crown toward her with a trace of sap just dropped down onto her body.

She leisurely looked around and she found Staas right beside her, glaring at her with a worried face. Behind him, the three elders stood with a welcoming smile.

“Thank the Stars…” Staas let out a deep sigh of relief.

“I’ve told you, My King, she’s going to be just fine… although your wound is kind of worrying Gytha, I never thought I’ll ever see blood coming out of a nymph.” Said Isergia to both of them.

“Blood!?” Gytha raised her body from her bed, looking at the four of them with a confused face. “What happened?”

“Your back got shredded by a human knight because you did something stupid like trying to protect me.” Answered Staas.

“Wha—Why is that stupid!?” She purse her lips angrily, clearly offended by the boy’s statement.

“I later found out that my skin is strong enough to not get scratched by their weapon.” Staas flatly replied.

“Oh…” Gytha came to her sense, she forgot how physically strong Staas is. “But… I mean… how would I know that you’ll be immune to blades!? And besides I—”

“Cannot die?” Staas completed her sentences.

“Yeah… wait, how do you know!?” Gytha was struck shock by his words. It’s only been 2 years since he woke up with almost no knowledge about anything, and her ability to keep on living is not something she ever told him nor did he ever witness.

“Come to the throne room, you two, let’s discuss more of this there.” The first elder then led them out of the Room of Beginning.

Gytha looked at Staas as confused as she could ever be, but all he did is just give her a sign to follow Isergia. In the throne room, all the three elders went back to their thrones, while the two of them remain standing in front of the staircases.

“So… Gytha, notice anything different from Staas?” Asked Isergia to the girl.

“Anything different…?” She proceeded to look carefully at each side of Staas’ body, from top to toe. “Oh! Some of his hair turned green!”

As soon as she realizes that, she quickly went steps closer to Staas and reached for his hair to get a better look and better feeling. Meanwhile, the boy just stood there in silence while she was busy examining his hair.

“Do you know why that happened, Gytha?” Isergia once again asked her.

“Uhm… is it related to why my body felt a lot… lighter?” She guessed.

“Uh… yeah…” The elders glimpsed at Staas to see his reaction, whether that girl's statement affects him or not. But to their relief, Staas didn't seem to be bothered by it.

“You see, Gytha… your duty as the vessel of [Nature Essence]… finally ended today.” Awkwardly said the third elder.

“Eh!? What!? Why!? Are you saying…?” Gytha turned her gaze slowly to Staas with a face painted by pure dread.

“Yes, Gytha, the [Nature Essence] that once inside of you, is now safely back to my core.” Said Staas to that girl.

“I—I see…”  Gytha looked extremely saddened by it. “So now what? Am I going to wither away?”

“Oh Goddess… what made you say that, Gytha?” Isergia gasped. Everyone in there was surprised to hear the girl's reaction.

“Isn’t that my sole purpose being born? To contain [Nature Essence] since you refuse to take it?” The girl replied.

“Well… that’s true… but that doesn’t mean your life ends when you finish the task you were given.” Isergia let out a deep sigh. “Huft… why does it’s so hard to breathe today…”

“Gytha, you’re a nymph with a very rare case, your whole life is bound to a single person, the only one who can sentence you to your end is that very person.” Continued the first elder.

“That’s right Gytha, you can only die when I give you permission to die.” Said Staas firmly to assert his authority over that girl, as a joke from one friend to another.

But the reaction he got was not what he expected. As tears began streaming down Gytha’s face. “Really...?” She weakly said with a soaking wet face.

“Yeah… really.”

Gytha suddenly jumped him, tightly hugging him, crying her eyes out till the whole room filled only with her scream.

The boy can’t help but smile at his friend. He didn’t realize how much those words meant to her.

It took quite a while until Gytha finally calm down. And when the time is right, Isergia started to explain the next step they needed to take.

“So… My King—”

“Just call me Staas until I finally retrieve them all.” Staas immediately corrected her.

“As you wish…” Isergia nodded understandingly. “Then Staas, let’s talk about the step you need to take next.”

“Gathering all the eight remaining essences, right? Where do I need to go?” Staas asked.

“Each essence is guarded by the leader of each nation, some of them are gonna be welcoming, and some of them will be hostile towards you.” Explained Isergia.

“Huh? Isn’t the reason they’re guarding it is for me to retrieve it back?” Said the boy confused.

“Originally yes, but… it’s been more than a thousand years since you left for your deep slumber, only two original guardians were left among the eight of them.” Isergia replied.

“So not all of them have the same mindset as their predecessors?” Guessed Staas.

“Correct.”

“I see…” To be honest, Staas doesn’t really care whether the guardians will be cooperative with him or not. Nothing going to stop him from freeing the dryads from their ice prison.

“Then? Where should I go first?” Staas asked.

“To the northwest from here, inside the Siren Marsh province, there’s a city covered by swamps, lakes, and rivers under the name of Songmire. It’s ruled by a Naiad named Riviera.” Explained the first elder.

“She’s one of the two original guardians left, so asking her for your essence won’t be hard.” Isergia went on. “She’s older and smarter than me, hence soaking her for wisdom for your journey sounds like a decent idea.”

“Will she recognize me?” Staas was curious.

“Of course, she’s a nymph after all. Every nymph knows their king when they see him (your aura is hard to ignore after all).” Answered Isergia.

“Alright.” Staas looked somewhat happy hearing it.

“Are you going to go there alone, Staas?” Gytha was still a bit confused with everything that happened.

“What are you saying? You’re coming with me.” Staas was quite agitated hearing her dumb question.

“Eh!? But I can’t go anywhere outside the forest.” She didn’t get what Staas is on about.

“Gytha… don’t you remember you’re bound to me? Your place is anywhere I’m present. If I go to one place, it’s a given that you’re going to be in that place too!” The boy was a little annoyed that she didn’t understand her own rule.

“Praise All-Father, you’re right!” She almost screamed at the realization.

“…” He was lost for words looking at his friend's behavior.

“Speaking of which Staas, you can’t go outside the forest with only your nightgown.” Isergia pointed out his attire.

“Is that so…?” Staas couldn't see what was wrong with it since everyone around him is full-blown naked from the time he woke up.

“Here… I’ve prepared an outfit for you in case the day you finally venture outside the forest came. Oh, and I also had one for you, Gytha.”

Two giant tree branches then went inside the throne room, with each bringing a set of clothes for Gytha and Staas. Both were heavily inspired by the human adventurer, only the color scheme is light green as it is the signature color of nature element.

“Whoa… these looks… cool! Where did you get these?” Staas asked with excitement. His current form still somewhat has a heart of a child who’s always amazed by new things.

“A secret… now, Staas, since you’ll be going places and meet a lot of people, you’ll need a title to come after your name.” Isergia also seemed pretty excited about all this, as if she’s been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years.

“A title? What’s that? Does Gytha need one too?” He couldn’t help it. There’s still a lot about this world that Staas needs to learn.

“She can just be your aide. But as the leader of the group, you need a title, a name that describes your status. Now kneel before me, let me bestow you a title as the Head Elder of the Nymph,” The first elder let out her long stick, a wand beautifully crafted as a give for her reign here in Fatherwood.

“Kneel...? Didn’t you say I’m your king? Am I not in the higher hierarchy?” Staas was seriously bewildered with all this.

“That’s a different case of kneeling, Staas… now come.”

“Alright then…”

He's so lost at what's going on, so Staas just followed what the first elder asked him to do. He kneeled right in front of her, which is somewhat awkward since just like every other nymph the elder is butt naked.

“Staas, with my authority as the Head Elder of the Nymph, hereby I declare you as the Druid of Spirit Grove, the protector of the Fatherwood Forest.” Isergia then tapped her stick at both of Staas’ shoulders.

“Now rise!”

As she demanded, the boy then stood back on his feet. “Is that it?” He said after. "I like the word protector, though..."

“Mmhmm… now if anyone asks you your name, you’ll reply to them by saying… ‘I’m Staas, the Druid of Spirit Grove.’ Then they’ll know where you came from and your status among everyone here in Fatherwood.” Retorted Isergia.

“I see…” He didn't quite catch the purpose, but at least it sounded cool. “Come on, Gytha! I’m curious about this swampy city Elder Isergia mentioned.” Staas quickly rushed himself to the tree’s door.

“Let’s go!” Gytha then followed Staas who already started running. Her face was as bright as the high noon, excited for the adventures that awaits them.

“Oh one more thing, Staas,” Isergia said, immediately stopping the boy with her words.

“Hm?” He reacted.

“There’s no need to rush on your adventure, okay? Go explore every part this world had to offer. You created them after all, maybe some of the places would spark your memories.” She said with a calming tone in her voice.

“Huh? Every single dryad in the Spirit Grove is now frozen, and now you asked me to not rush?” Staas wasn’t angry. He’s just confused.

“Don’t worry, they’re used to just being frozen while idling without any activities (they're nymphs after all). Besides, the Ice Queen won’t be taking them outside anytime soon, maybe not even before she met her death.” Isergia replied.

“What made you so sure?” Asked Staas curious.

“Cause I know what she needed to do, and even if I tell her how, she won’t be capable of doing so.” The first elder answered with a sinister smile.

“Well if anything were to happen to them, I’ll be putting all the blame on you, Elder Isergia!” Staas then continued his step to the outside of the tree, and Gytha tailed after him.

“Bye Staas! Bye Gytha!” The three elders waved goodbye at them.

“Ah, Goddess… I’m so jealous… if only I also bounded to him instead of this forest.” Said the first elder as soon as they leave.

“Speaking of which, Gia. I saw you also prepared dresses for yourself in your so-called wardrobe. Do you perhaps plan on going outside the forest too?” Asked the second elder.

“Ahahaha Rui… that’s a bit…” Isergia awkwardly laughed.

“Oh wait… you’re the first nymph on this forest right? That means you also know WHY all of US nymphs are bound to something, especially this forest.” The third elder then confronted her.

“Of course, and all of you can blame me and Riviera on that one. It was a rather… embarrassing past.”