As Will, Paratha, and Genduri trudged through the woods, they all felt the presence of natural magic increasing steadily. Paratha was the first to say anything, "Will, I don't like this, it seems... Strange."
A voice that none of them recognized responded. "I have been called strange before, but never by anyone other than the than that filthy man Viltar."
Will turned to look at the massive Creature curled up in the clearing. He smiled and bowed his head. "My apologies, great one. It was not meant to offend."
The Creature looked like a dragon composed of vines and roots. It chuckled. "Great one, you call me. Yet I can feel waves of power coming off of you that rival even the divine. Shall we agree to simply be blunt with one another? Or do you want to play the games that mortals and elementals usually play?"
Genduri and Paratha looked like they had just walked into combat. The combined magical pressure from Will and this Greater Earth elemental was oppressive.
Will locked eyes with the Creature. "I will be blunt then. I seek the nearest elf stones. I had hoped to find a lesser spirit or a lesser elemental that I could bargain with to have them lead us. I am willing to barter with you as well, but I wonder what I could have that you might want."
"You came from that new settlement that has been chopping trees, didn't you?" The elemental asked.
"I did. The Princess of the Kolt kingdom was tasked by her father to establish a port town..." Will trailed off as he felt a wave of annoyance from the elemental.
"You mortals are always destroying things and brutalizing nature. It makes me sick. If I am to lead you to the elf stones, I ask that you stop defiling nature with your incessant destruction."
Will thought for a moment. "I can not promise that, but I can offer you something else that hopefully achieves an alleviation of your concerns if you are open to it."
The elemental raised a root eyebrow, looking down his long snout at Will. Will smiled and continued speaking. "Instead of just cutting as we have been. Once per month, you can come and lead us to the trees that you are open to us taking down. Also, if you are willing to help us grow two small groves in the town, one can be a lumber grove, and the other can become a focus for you. That way, you can ensure that you have a natural anchor in the area."
Paratha, who knew more of elementals than Genduri did, shot her eyebrows to the top of her head. The elemental thought for a moment. "This is something that I would be willing to discuss with you. But I can sense that you grow somewhat impatient. So I will offer this for now. I, Jennden of the Arganthor Wood, offer to lead you three to the nearest elf stones. In exchange, I ask that you make your best efforts to reduce the damage to the woods around your new port town and come to me again at a later date to discuss the other things you mentioned. What say you?"\
"I, Will Garrow, son of Brock Garrow and representative of Princess Illicia Ter Koltshelg, agree to your terms and swear by name to uphold them," Will spoke, and the whole clearing pulsed with magic as the inherent nature of the Greater Elemental sealed the deal with magic.
Jennden nodded, rising to his full, nearly twenty-foot height. "Very well, follow me, mortals. If you can not keep up, well, that is not my problem."
They began running, and the elemental began moving at speeds that were only possible because the very forest around them seemed to aid him in pushing forward. Will began channeling magic into the air, pushing himself, Genduri, and Paratha forward on a cushion of air. Jennden led them nearly a hundred miles away in only two hours. They entered a clearing that pulsed with magic, and Will laid eyes on the familiar ring of strange stones.
"Thank you, Jennden." Will said, walking towards the Elf Stones.
"You are welcome, Will Garrow. May your enemies wilt and wither." The elemental faded into the dirt beneath him.
Genduri and Paratha walked into the sand and waited for Will to join them. Will stepped into the sand, and the stones seemed to shake. His power, formerly suppressed, made the stone hum with the sheer amount of mana he was providing them.
They began to sink into the sand, and Will had only one thought as black filled his sight.
"I am coming Illicia"
