Chapter 61: Worldroot Conduit
I watched with a smile as Elder Molric's latest experiment, number 210, began etching a rune into its own leaves. The vine around my neck tensed slightly, clearly not trusting this new development.
The plant's rune was surprisingly intricate for something that had basically just achieved sentience - a series of overlapping flame patterns that formed a perfect circle, with smaller fire symbols spiraling toward the center. The whole thing pulsed with an angry red glow that made me instinctively want to step back.
"Fascinating!" Elder Molric exclaimed, leaning closer. "The symmetry is nearly perfect! And look at how it's incorporated the thermal regulation symbols!"
The plant's response was to activate its newly created rune and breathe a massive stream of fire directly at the elder's face.
My vine immediately moved to shield me, but I wasn't particularly worried. If there's one thing I've learned about fantasy worlds, it's that elders don't survive to become elders by being careless.
Sure enough, the flames simply dissipated as they reached Elder Molric, like water hitting an invisible wall. He just laughed, actually looking pleased. "Excellent power output! Though we'll need to work on your targeting accuracy."
The plant seemed to take this criticism personally. Its leaves began glowing again as it started drawing another, more complex rune.
"Now, now," Elder Molric wagged his finger. "Let's not be hasty."
He casually drew several symbols in the air with his finger, leaving trails of crimson light. The runes hung there for a moment before rapidly expanding and solidifying into a crystalline cage that completely enclosed the angry plant. A smaller formation materialized around its head, effectively muzzling it.