Okan sensed Melody heading off to the east. “Hmm…” He reached out through nature. “Brother Kao.”

  “Hmm? Brother Okan?”

  “Ho, ho. How are you, my brother?”

  “Hmph. I am well. Why are you contacting me?” Though Kao’s voice sounded cold, he exuded emotions of relief and happiness.

  “Heh. Same old Kao.” Okan chuckled.

  “G-Get to your point!” Kao complained.

  “Fine, fine. My granddaughter is heading in your direction.”

  “Oh? The one we have all been hearing about. Melody, was it?” Kao asked.

  Okan laughed. “I can tell you are excited to hear about this.”

  Kao’s bashfulness radiated through nature. “Do you have to point that out…?”

  Okan apologized. “Anyway, could you give her some assistance?”

  “I would have done it even if you didn’t mention it….” Kao grumbled.

  “I know you would have. I am curious as to what caused the Monster Rush.” Okan commented.

  “Ah, that. It seems like it hasn’t reached your area yet, but it has been rampaging about several forests. It has been breaking the balance of nature all over the place.” Kao stated.

  “Why have I not heard of this?” Okan asked.

  “The damn thing is difficult to track and even harder to kill. I think the number of times it was ‘killed’ is now up to seventeen.” Kao complained.

  “Alright. So, what is it? A demon?” Okan asked.

  Kao seemed hesitant to answer.

  “Could it be a forest spirit?” Okan asked in a panic.

  It was extremely rare for a forest spirit to turn into a demon, but in such cases, the Elder Brothers of Lyuten would move to deal with it.

  Kao sighed. “It is not a forest spirit.”

  “Then why were you hesitant?” Okan commented, annoyed.

  “It’s a giant.”

  Okan started. “A giant?”

  “Yes. The reason why I was hesitant was because this would hurt Melody’s reputation. Though she isn’t involved, some in the world would associate the destruction with giants in general.” Kao explained.

  Okan sighed heavily. “I see… This is problematic. I will speak with the Duke of Hallfen soon.”

  “Must we inform the humans?”

  “It would be better to get ahead of this.”

  “Um, should I tell Melody?” Kao asked.

  Okan thought for a bit. “Let’s hold off for now. I would like it if we could deal with this quietly. She already has enough trauma due to Giants as is. I know she may become upset with us later, but I much prefer her to smile.”

  Kao sighed. “Very well. But I won’t lie to my Grand Niece!”

  Okan burst out laughing before Kao cut off their connection in annoyance.

  The Elder Son of Lyuten sighed. “Sylvanus, are you there?”

  Sylvanus approached. “Yes, Lord Okan?”

  “I want monitoring of our forest at all times. I will notify Autumn in a bit.” He ordered.

  “Very well. Anything, in particular, we should be watching for?” She asked.

  “A foreign giant.”

  Elder Elva was close enough to hear what was being said. “What do you mean?”

  Okan took a few minutes to explain the situation.

  “Melody should know of this!” Elder Elva exclaimed.

  Okan looked conflicted. “I understand your point, but I don’t want to unnecessarily worry her. Let us try to deal with it first.”

  Elder Elva looked annoyed over Okan’s request. “Fine. I’ll go along with it… for now.” She walked away with an angry look.

  “Grandpa?” Rui poked her head around a bush.

  “Ah, Rui. Did you just get back?” Okan kindly smiled.

  “Um, I think we should also tell Melody,” Rui stated as Okan sat her on his lap.

  “Hmm. Rui, has Melody told you about her past?” Okan asked.

  Rui nodded. “Only a little. She said she was born to an evil and cruel giant clan. She wouldn’t tell me more than that, though….”

  “I see. Well, what Melody said was true. They were cruel and evil.” He pointed over to where Gaia’s tree stood. “Beneath Gaia is Melody’s biological mother, Alui.”

  “Alui? That sounds like my name.”

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  Okan chuckled. “That is a part of why she chose your name. You were also born, thanks to Gaia and Alui. So, in a sense, Alui is your mother, too.”

  “Really? What did she look like?” Rui asked.

  “Much like your sister. Fiery red hair, blue eyes, and tan skin.”

  Rui looked over her own skin color and smiled. “I wish I could have met her. Did Melody ever talk about her?”

  Okan chuckled and nodded. “She has. Melody had mentioned that Alui was kind, gentle, and smarter than your average giant.”

  “Are giants not smart?” Rui asked.

  “Nope. Most giants would speak like this.” Okan made an act of being big and dumb. “Me big giant! Me smash puny humans!”

  Rui laughed while Okan stomped his feet, bouncing her on his lap.

  After calming down, Rui asked a question. “Um, who is Rul?”

  “Where have you heard that name?” Okan asked.

  “I sometimes hear the giants mention the name. They sounded like they hated him.”

  Okan grimaced. “Rul… He was the cruel leader of the giant clan. The clan’s females were… treated very badly by the males.”

  “Oh….” Rui saddened. “Melody had to go through that?”

  “She did. But thanks to Alui and Melody’s own capabilities, she was able to escape that hellish place. Melody ran from the South Gaian Forest to the north, where Gaia looked after her.”

  Rui looked over to Gaia’s tree. “How long until mom wakes up?”

  “Let’s find out.” Okan stood while carrying her.

  After arriving at Gaia’s tree, Okan placed his hand on her trunk and flowed his nature magic into her. “Hmm…” He contemplated. “Well, maybe a year? Everyone has been donating their magic to her all this time, Melody doing the most.”

  “A year!? I’m so excited!” Rui became too excited, and Okan put her down with a chuckle.

  Rui stepped up to Gaia’s tree and charged her magic into her.

  Okan got a warm grin on his face. “Don’t do too much. You still have your afternoon training.”

  “I won’t!” Rui cheerfully replied.

  It was a good day in the Grove.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Duke Caldwell sighed as he finished up his paperwork for the day. Too much news has been rolling in over issues in the empire. The city to the west had indeed had a plague break out. The messengers that they had sent to the town came back and were isolated until it was known they were not sick.

  The investigation into the source of the plague was still ongoing, and the Count of the Domain requested assistance.

  A servant came into the duke’s office. “Your grace?”

  “Ah, Matthew, come in.”

  Matthew stepped up to the duke’s desk and received a letter.

  “Please take that to the Gaian Trading Post and deliver it to the Grove. We will need a substantial amount of help with dealing with a plague in Wesori.”

  “Understood, your grace. I will get it done.” Matthew quickly left the room as Arthur Cambel entered.

  “You called for me?” The guild master sat down.

  “How long will it take to deal with the Monster Rush?” The duke asked.

  He thought for a moment. “Without Melody, they could take upwards of a couple of weeks. I would estimate a few days with the Crimson Goddess present.”

  Duke Caldwell sighed in relief. “That is good to know. I feel guilty taking her from her duties at the Grove, but we need her help.”

  The guild master laughed. “Melody will likely be raring to go.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Melody’s grandfather is covering for her at the Grove. So, she is back into the field.” The guild master stated.

  Duke Caldwell’s eyes brightened. “Thank the gods! Everything gets wrapped up nicely and quickly every time she gets involved.”

  A knock came on the door.

  “What is it?” The duke asked.

  “The high priest of the temple is here.” A servant called from the other side of the door.

  “Ah, send him in.”

  The elderly high priest and Annabelle’s grandfather entered the office.

  “Good afternoon, Duke Caldwell.” The high priest stated with a smile.

  “Good to see you.” The duke stood and respectfully directed the priest to a seat.

  The high priest sighed as he sat. “Ah, I can never get over how comfortable your chairs are.”

  The duke laughed. “Well, perhaps we should cushion all the pews?”

  The high priest was well known for sitting in the pews with the faithful. He liked to take a more personal role in helping to guide each of his flock. Rumor was that there were only a few people in Hallfen for whom he needed to learn the name.

  The old man chuckled. “Oh, that would be comfortable but difficult to clean.”

  “What about selling cushions parishioners can bring with them?” The guild master asked.

  “Oh!” The high priest brightened. “That would be fun! I should make it into an event where every person makes their own. We could provide the stuffing for the pillows.”

  The duke chuckled. “I am more than willing to donate bolts of cloth.”

  “Thank you.” The high priest bowed his head in thanks.

  “Now, I am guessing you came to inform me of your preparations?” The duke asked.

  The old man smiled. “Yes, we have plenty of medicine ready. We are working to make some extra, just in case.”

  “Excellent! Once Melody returns, we will move to assist Wesori.” The duke stood and poured a couple glasses of brandy for him and the guild master. “Well?” He asked the high priest.

  The old man chuckled. “Come now. Surely you have something stronger than that.”

  The three men shared a laugh and a drink, working out the last bits of their aid to their ally to the west.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  A few days passed since Melody left to deal with the Monster Rush. Okan appeared in a heavily forested area where Shani, Autumn, and several unicorns waited for him.

  “Autumn, are you alright?” Okan knelt beside his daughter.

  Her bark was slightly cracked, and some of her golden leaf hair was disheveled.

  “I am fine, father.” She stated as she recovered from her injuries.

  “What happened?” Okan gently asked as he assisted in healing her.

  “It was the giant you warned about,” Autumn stated.

  “What did it look like?”

  “Silver hair, pale skin, and fur on his arms and legs,” Shani, who had just returned, answered.

  “A mountain giant,” Okan stated.

  “That was a mountain giant?” Autumn asked as Okan helped her to her feet.

  He nodded. “There are two types of giants: Mountain and Plains. Well, three if you count Melody as a Forest Giant.” He chuckled.

  “Mountain giants look like that?” Autumn fixed her hair and battle outfit made from plants and bark.

  “Yes. I will contact a brother of mine. He was looking into them and may have some more details. But how could it have defeated you?” Okan asked.

  Autumn grimaced. “It was strong. Far stronger than normal. Not to mention that any injuries I caused they healed instantly.”

  “I tore off an arm, only to be punched by the new one,” Shani complained.

  “I tried burning him with a Solar Crash, but it was to no avail. Even with the power of my best attack, I could not reduce him to bones.” Autumn finished fixing herself.

  “Shani, do you have its scent?” Okan asked.

  “Yes. I will be able to track it now.”

  “You tracked it for thirty minutes. Where was it heading?” Autumn asked.

  “West and then far south. It seemed to be avoiding the forest.” Shani answered while licking her bloody chops.

  Okan closed his eyes and expanded his senses. “Hmm…”

  He could barely see the running giant as it fled, maintaining a significant berth away from the forest.

  “It seems like it won’t return anytime soon, but let us keep vigil. I will contact my brothers and inform them of its direction.” He placed a loving hand on Autumn’s shoulder. “You did well, Autumn, but please be more careful. I nearly lost your sister. I could not bear to risk you, too.”

  Autumn gave a bashful but happy smile. “Yes… father.”

  “Now, let’s return. Rui wanted to have dinner with us.”

  Autumn groaned. “She is just as bad as Melody regarding hugs.”

  Okan laughed. “But I remember you starting to initiate hugs with Melody.”

  “It is because I can control them better! If I don’t, she hangs onto me for too long….” Autumn pouted.

  “You need to stop being such a tsundere and accept that you love getting hugs.” Shani laughed.

  “What is a ‘tsundere?’” Okan asked as he prepared to take them to the Grove.

  “Melody said it was someone who hides their real emotions behind brash or negative statements.”

  Okan laughed, Autumn hid her face in embarrassment, and the old tree teleported them to the Grove.