16 Ialantha Pherlorna

A long time ago, dryads and elves lived peacefully in the forests of the Central Continent. The dryads, being the spirits who dwelled within trees, were worshipped by the elves. Both races were created from the Goddess Celeste, the goddess of magic, space, and time. Offerings were gifted to the dryads and the elves were given the protection of the forest in return.

It was impossible for Ialantha Pherlorna to simply be a mere chief of the small Pherlorna tribe. With her unusual magic eyes and her powerful magic, she would have risen to prominence centuries ago. Furthermore, if it wasn't for the fact Ialantha could not read the future of otherworlders and she was extremely weakened and senile from age, the children could never hope to defeat the ancient elf.

Yet, why had such an elf have fallen so far to the point she was awaiting her death in a remote village?

Centuries ago, Ialantha Pherlorna, no, Ialantha Mirathyra had ascended the throne as the next queen of the elven kingdom, the Mirathya Kingdom. By a stroke of luck, she had made a contract with the Goddess Letum, the goddess of fate and death. This bestowed her eyes that can see the past, present, and sometimes the future of living things. Using those eyes, she quickly rose to prominence and fought in the front lines against the demon lord of that era.

Unfortunately, her powers weren't enough as she lost the one most important to her--Dahlia.

Instead of listening to the leaders of her kingdom, she strove to obtain the heart of the forest, a power that could grant her control over all plants. At the same time, she would have eyes everywhere and protection throughout the continents. She could even manipulate the life of death of plant-related species, including dryads.

Although the heart was a myth, Ialantha had thought otherwise in her desperation to fulfill her ambitions.

Ialantha's wish was to find that horrid man who Dahlia chose to follow over her and demand for Dahlia's remains, which he stole from her. Perhaps, she could somehow revive her.

Furthermore, she desired to slay the demon lord who claimed Dahlia's life. Even if it meant eliminating the entire dryad race.

While her eyes did predict Dahlia's death, her warnings to the dryad went through one ear and out the other. Dahlia knew that out of Ialantha's three sights, her future vision was the most unreliable. As a result, the foolish dryad ignored the elf's pleas and pushed forward.

For years, Ialantha regretted not forcing Dahlia to trust her eyes.

And because of that, she murdered all of the dryads in the forest for their deaths would be the catalyst for the heart to appear. She foresaw that the heart could revive the dryads.

But, as Ialantha was about to seize the heart, a rebellion commenced within her neglected kingdom.

Ialantha's citizens were stressed by the ongoing wars, her lack of attention to the kingdom's declining condition, and Ialantha's unreasonable demands. Despite this, the elves could not do anything against Ialantha. They feared Ialantha's eyes and her royal bloodline, which gifted her a substantial magic capacity rivaling those of spirits. However, the breaking point for the civilians' tolerance was the extinction of the dryads.

Ialantha never spoke to anyone of her goals nor did any other know whether or not that the heart of the forest was real. Ialantha only believed in her powers and nothing else. After all, her eyes helped her achieve everything she ever wanted except Dahlia's survival.

Prior to the moment of her citizens' betrayal, she full-heartedly thought that her subjects would understand her objectives. She was their all-knowing leader who led them to greatness. She was supposed to their most valuable queen!

However, her powerful sight ironically blinded her from noticing her people's treachery. If she had simply looked at her citizens just once and activated her eyes, she wouldn't have been usurped and imprisoned for hundreds of years with her magic sealed.

By the time she was released from prison out of the new king's sympathy, she was far too past her prime. With her aged constitution, her magic power was significantly lower than her younger self.

Although she was exiled from the kingdom, the young king granted her an insignificant position in the remote Pherlorna tribe's village. He couldn't bear to execute his dear greataunt as he hoped for her to pass away peacefully.

Fifty years had gone by since then and Ialantha was one step into her grave. Nonetheless, she never relinquished her ambition.

And, by a stroke of luck or misfortune, a young dryad entered her territory.

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"I need to harvest her heart to revive the dryads!" A baby hanged upside down in a demon girl's iron grip as she cried, "Through her death, the heart of the forest will be summoned and all the dryads can be resurrected!"

"No," Jade Hargraves promptly responded while strengthening her grip.

"Ow. Ow. Ow! Stop!" Ialantha Pherlorna shouted in distress, yet no one halted the demoness at this moment.

"Even if the Dryad race revives, would they be the same as the dryads who perished or different newborns? How do you know if it will actually happen? Either way, if Iris dies, we will be forced to join her. Why would we ever agree to you?" Jae questioned.

"Plus, we don't want Iris to die!" At some point in time, Scarlett had awoken and joined the conversation.

"So, what should we do with her? Silence her?" Nora did a throat-slitting motion even though it's unknown if she has a throat.

Jade moved her hand onto Ialantha's neck. Ialantha's gaze dimmed as she sighed, "Just end me already, I have failed and now my life is at the hands of children no older than ten. This is pathetic of someone of my stature to fall this far, not to mention I only have a couple of days left to live."

The baby's magic power diminished while her voice returned to a child's, "Ay onwy wish fow you to wevive the dwyads if you evew happen to come acwoss a way."

Her eyes shut as the nail dug deeper.

"Wait."

Jade's hand stopped as the children turned to the owner of that voice.

Iris smiled, "You know, I don't mind if you take my heart once I die. Who knows whether or not you'll live that long? You can ask someone of this tribe to watch over us until I, or someone else, meets an accident. Although I'm not sure how long dryads live, I doubt they are immortal."

Jae glanced at Iris but remained silent.

"What are you talking about? She wanted to kill us all and you're saying we should spare her?" Melody glared at Iris, "I know you're nice to everyone, even though you fool with us occasionally, but she might be lying about the number of days she has left and come after us later."

"Her guards may wake up any moment now and hunt us down. I suggest we make a deal with her," Iris continued to smile, "She can keep someone near us till we find a different way to revive the dryads and if I die, that person can retrieve my heart and call upon the heart of the forest."

"No, there is a high chance that they will betray us. Why should we risk our lives when we can end it now? We have to finish off Ialantha and her fallen guards," Jade's expression was colder than usual. Her tattoos slithered eerily.

"Seriously, what's wrong Jade? You're acting strangely bloodthirsty," Nora entended a tentacle from her body. While attempting to poke Jade's cheek, Nora's tentacle accidentally touched Jade's horns.

And, both horns detached simultaneously and plopped on the ground.

With some of Jade's hair.

"Sorry!" Nora hurriedly picked up the horns and tried inserting them back into Jade's head. However, when the horns slightly grazed her, she plunged straight down.

"O-oh my g-gosh! Jade!" Natalie rushed to Jade's side and checked her pulse, "S-she just f-fainted..."

"That's a relief. Let me check if she's injured," Bridget moved to the fallen demoness with the bag of medical herbs they had collected before.

"Her horns are detachable? That's cool! I wish I can remove my tail," Scarlett exclaimed, shocked.

"Scarlett now is not the time!" Melody retorted.

"Oh no, you don't." In Jade's stead, Clara caught Ialantha who was using the distraction to crawl away.

"Dwat," Ialantha bit her lips and looked down.

Jae crouched so his eye level matched Ialantha's. He set his hand under Ialantha's chin and forced her to look at him, "Ialantha Pherlorna. I don't think that the deal is that bad. We will find a different way to resurrect the dryads without dying and in return, let us go. We will even let one of your elves follow us."

She gritted her teeth in frustration and glared at the boy. "I lied once back when you first came. Unlike the others, it's only you that I can't see what you are nor can I tell what Sazroth had done to you," she grinned ominously, speaking with a contralto voice, "But, I can see what will happen next."

Suddenly two blades of wind shot from the pile of bark and sliced Jae's arm that was outstretched toward Ialantha and through his neck. The severed parts dropped onto the floor. His head rolled as its expression hidden by its long hair.

A crazed elven girl unsteadily walked toward the group. Pointing at Jae with a trembling finger, she laughed maniacally.

"Ahahaha! Did you see that h-high chief? I-I didn't betray you! Ahahaha!"