Tale of Four

Up in the tree branches, Alice sat dangling her feet off the edge, with a small grin as the blue orbs frantically flew around, each saying words along the lines of ’not here’. Although she didn’t care if she played with them, the creature sitting next to the tree roots had practically begged her to indulge the orbs, with the promise that they would talk afterwards. With that, she decided on hide-and-seek, as it meant she didn’t have to do much.

After the ninth round, it was the last one before her end of the deal was over, and finally she saw the blue orbs circle the bottom of the tree, flying up. When one found her, it zipped around madly, a childish laugh coming from it, copied by the rest of the orbs that soon flew in the air, seemingly greeting Alice, happy they won the game.

With a sigh, Alice jumped down from the tree, taking a seat on the tree root. The woman sweetly smiled and clapped her hands, making every blue orb stop. "Children, please rest now. You have played far too much."

’Not fair.’

’More.’

’Please.’

’More.’

’Another round.’

All of them cried out, circling the woman, but with another clap of the hands they backed up, sulking before returning to the purple flowers, sitting in the centre of them, the black anthers, glowing blue when they did, the hundreds of childish voices coming to a silence. With a smile, Alice stared at the woman and tilted her head.

"You’re not a human, are you?" The woman lowered her head in deep sadness and moved, inching closer towards Alice. Taking a place beside her, she rested her hand atop her head. It was like tree bark, the rough touch lacking any warmth, but it was incredibly gentle. Alongside the touch, the smell of nature followed.

The woman didn’t speak for a moment; instead, she rubbed Alice’s head, staring into the distance. "I am not." Finally, she spoke, her rough voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "I was once what your kind called a Tree Spirit. We spread far across this land, and yet." The tree spirit paused, her hand stopping as well. "I am the last... no, I sense others much like me. They carry what I was, but are changed. Where I am changed by the land I reside in, they carry the blood of man."

Alice’s eyes widened in amazement. "Amazing." A light chuckle escaped the tree spirit’s lips as she continued to rub Alice’s head again.

"Thank you, child." With a deep sigh, the forest seemed to respond, a cold breeze washing over the two. "But why have you come?" The tree spirit turned to the distance, in the direction Alice had arrived from. Around the trees, the wind began to blow with great ferocity as her petting got harder. "Did they send you to me?" Her rough voice carried a hint of anger, and when Alice followed the tree spirit’s gaze, she couldn’t help but be confused.

"Who?"

"The two who are beyond my forest."

"Oh, no, I saw your trees, and I wanted to explore. I’ve never seen anything like them before, and wondered what I would find." Her petting became soft again, and the winds calmed down. With a gentle smile, she held her other hand out, and a purple flower bloomed on it. Closing her hand around it, she pushed it into Alice’s hair, behind her ear, so it wouldn’t fall.

"I am glad then." Alice smiled and looked around at the flowers, focusing on the sleeping orbs.

"Are they tree spirits as well then?" There was silence once more as the tree spirit moved her hand off Alice’s head, stopping her petting. Looking out at the circle of flowers, her smile sweetened as she shook her head.

"They are pure souls, lost, abandoned or scared. Some wandered into here, unsure of what to do, called by the friends that await them, or knowing that they would be safe. Others on this cruel land know they cannot bear to let their child suffer the same hardship as they did and offer them to me, knowing I will protect them, allowing them to remain pure forever." Alice narrowed her eyes and looked around at the flowers, instantly realising what she meant.

"They were people?" The tree spirit smiled, asking.

"Children at heart. Pure and untainted. Free to be young forever, never needing to worry, eternally playing. They are sweet souls."

"So children?" Alice asked, making the woman shake her head.

"Are you a child, my sweetness?" Tapping Alice’s nose, she let out a light chuckle.

"NO!" Vehemently denying it, Alice caused the woman to laugh a little louder, the trees gently blowing in response to it.

"You are not a child in body, but at heart you are pure and innocent, even if you carry a deep sin." Alice stared at the tree spirit with a strange look.

"I have never done anything bad." With a shake of the head, the tree spirit leaned backwards, and a root shot up, catching her head to rest on it.

"I am part of the world itself, my child, and exist on the boundary between the material and immaterial. My eyes see more than you can ever know. I do not see your physical body but your soul itself." Looking at the flowers she carried on, "You likely see all these children as orbs, but to me, I see a blanket of young boys and girls happily sleeping next to each other, snuggling close to those they like more than others."

Looking back at Alice, her expression turned pitiful. "To me, you are not what you look like, but a young girl with red hair wearing a small black and purple crown. With a happy smile, you wave a wand around." Although she had no eyes, Alice could tell the way she looked at her had changed. "You carry the chains of a curse, only inflicted on those who have sinned deeply, my sweetness. But you did not do it out of malice; you do not even know you did it."

"You’re lying. How can a crime be placed on the soul?" Alice asked, deeply interested. The tree spirit chuckled and looked up into the sky.

"There was a being, a deeply arrogant but brilliant being, who became a God long ago. Its old name has been lost to history, and now millions worship it across the land as the Lord Creator." Alice’s eyes widened, hearing the name. Unconsciously, she leaned closer, the tree spirit wrapping an arm around her like a child being read a story before bed. "When this being became God, it created many more like it, but there was one that it created that it knew was a mistake. For all its brilliance, it couldn’t see past its arrogance. Its own child, yet it was a danger to all. So the God slew his child, and in its grief cursed all who would commit the same sins, hoping none should carry the same burden as it."

"I never had a child." Alice quickly corrected, smugly raising her nose at having proven the tree spirit wrong. Without offence, it smiled and shook its head.

"Not only their child, but their kin. Those who share their blood. Sons and fathers, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts. To take the life of those who are your kin brings about tragedy in your life." Alice stared at the woman and lowered her head, trying to think. After a few minutes, she shook her head.

"I never did that."

"You do not remember. Or you do not understand what you did." The tree spirit sighed, "I fear for you, sweetness. Those cursed will always be fated to suffer tragedy at their end. But if you wish, you do not need to suffer what awaits. Stay, and you can remain as you are. Free of pain, of all that awaits. All those pure are welcome, and you will have many friends."

Standing up, Alice took a deep breath and shook her head. With a proud smile, she slammed a hand on her chest and chuckled. "No. My adventure isn’t over." Turning around, Alice sighed, "I do not believe that I am cursed, because I was chosen." Spinning around, Alice waved towards the tree spirit. "Goodbye."

For a moment, the tree spirit stared before sighing and nodding. Lowering her head, she waved towards Alice before leaning back against the root and watching her leave.

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In the distance, Randolf heard the serene melody of the whistle. Elva instantly shot up and looked around with a vigilant look, calming down upon seeing Randolf’s relaxed attitude as he pulled out his own whistle and blew. Taking a breath, Elva quickly noticed Alice was missing.

"Where did she go?"

"The Children’s Forest." Saying this in a relaxed tone, he saw a figure step out in the distance before running and jumping high into the air, far higher than possible for a person.

"You let her go somewhere so dangerous."

"It only hurts those not considered children, Elva. It was a risk, but I felt she would be fine." Elva couldn’t help but sigh deeply and shot him an annoyed look.

"We have orders, Randolf. Take her to Lord Raven. What if she never came out? How do we explain that to Lord Raven?"

"Elva, she was going with or without my approval. What do you want me to do? Tie her up in chains? We risk her trying to turn off if we do that. All we can do is warn and allow her to go where it may be safe for her." Not convinced, Elva couldn’t help but click her tongue and turn away, looking at Alice as she entered the camp, spotting the purple flower on her ear. Almost on instinct, she backed away from it, but calmed down, realising it wasn’t like the usual ones.