17 Chapter 17

The four seasons tree was actually real! Clara couldn't believe it. "I wanted to take you there since you liked that artwork so much," Emmett smiled as he saw the excitement on her face grow.

"Really? That would be awesome!" she blurted out and smiled too. She never really thought any of this stuff was real, a four seasons tree is just incredible. If what she's read is true it will show all four seasons no matter the season it is in. Clara had been reading a lot since fifth grade because she could read easily then.

"We'll go after lunch okay? It's around the council members homes but not too close so don't worry. I know you aren't very comfortable around them plus I'll be there so it'll be okay, " he was so hopeful that it would calm her but the thought of being near the council was never going to be easy to calm. Not after that ring.

Nothing was going to stop her from seeing the tree though. She's always imagined it's beauty and even the amazing painting couldn't do seeing it in person. Even then she still wasn't the happiest, laying at night her dreams still haunted by the past and even now mixing in some of what she saw with Brento. Maybe going and seeing Brento again to work on memory searches could easy her mind and give her more answers.

"I am alright with that but I'll stay a little longer. I would like to talk to Councilman Brento for a bit about my inflicting and hoping to work on it more. Actually maybe even working on getting him to inflict positive emotions," obviously not the real reason but she couldn't exactly give that without him wanting to help.

Emmett didn't seem to like the sound of me going to Brento alone but he didn't argue with me either. "Okay but I'll check on you after dinner just to make sure," he had a serious look but only from worry.

After everything between the council, the rebel group and the ring it was a whole issue with trusting them but I do trust Brento. He has shown me so much and helped me. Maybe that was the whole point was for me to trust him, either way it wouldn't stop me from wanting to learn more.

So after lunch, Sachell, Emmett and Clara headed over to the four seasons tree. It was so much better then Clara thought. "The tree itself can represent the seasons but some worked together to make it actually like the weather within the barrier of each season on the tree," Emmett explained while looking at the tree.

"Is it an illusion or a fancy skill?"

"Nothing as fancy as yours Clara but yes, several powerful people worked together to make this amazing. It was made to help relax people who were feeling stressed and find those who had lost their way. It has a lot of fascinating stories to go long with it since it dates back about nine hundred years, just a little younger than Brento I believe," Emmett had spent a lot of time studying the tree. Like he said, there were many fascinating stores and interesting theories as to why it was created.

Clara realized it was created around the time that the attack from the sword would have happened, the one long since forgotten. A thought came to her, maybe the tree was the safe keep for the sword. "Younger than Brento? that's not hard to believe," Clara joked even though her mind was going crazy.

"I understand I'm old Clara but that was rather rude. There are plenty of trees in the human realm older than me," Brento had approached from behind scaring both Clara and Emmett.

"I am sorry Councilman. I meant no offense," Clara could hardly say it with a straight face and Emmett kinda glared at her.

"Emmett, I've got Clara from here if you don't mind. I would love to have a talk with her about somethings that are private," Brento was facing Emmett and well Emmett looked ready to combust thinking about leaving me alone with Brento.

"Yes of course. I will see you later Clara. Just remember if you need anything call me," he turned to leave but was very reluctant about it. Emmett did leave though.

"Sachell I don't like to take you away from your guard but this is indeed private, just between us so I can't have you overhearing too. You don't have to leave but please go to where you can't hear," he was very formal right now but Clara knew it was just a mask to make everyone think he's a scary man.

"Of course but if I see anything off my duty is to Clara councilman," she didn't move until Brento gave a nod of understanding.

"So what did you need to talk to me about?" Clara was fidgeting with her fingers and picked at the sides, such a bad habit that was hard to break.

"I noticed you looking at the tree and I overheard some of your conversation. If you are thinking what I believe you are, yes the sword does lie within the tree. It is a true tree but it is also the home to the most powerful weapon in this world. Scary when you think about it," He stepped closer to the tree and put his hand on it. "To know where so much power lies and to resist it is strength."

"How did you know I'd guessed the sword was here?"

"It close to my age, as soon as Emmett said that it started to click. It made sense, to hide the sword in such plain sight and where no one would think. Once you take over as the protector you will be connected to the tree, your life force but it's only one way. If the tree is harmed you will definitely feel it and not like a leaf being pulled but hard solid hits," he explained things easily.

"That sounds scary honestly. If the tree dies does that mean I die?" Clara was asking an honest question and from the look on Brento's face he wasn't expecting it.

"No you are tied to what it feels not if it dies. Yes your life force is connected but only in the sense you can feel what it feels and you can even use your abilities through it or at least I believe you can. I haven't seen anyone try yet but if anyone could even consider trying it, that would be you," at that last part he moved to look directly at Clara. His back was to the tree and he could see where Sachell was.

There was a loud sound and thought thinking and without knowing she was doing she created a box around the tree, Brento and herself then a separate one where Sachell was standing.

"What is this?" a voice spoke rather loudly on the other side of the tree.

"Do you think any of us would know? Just try breaking through it," another one spoke but this one more raspy and low.

"Yeah okay," and so they tried but should have been knocked back. That's what it sounded like from Clara and Brento's side.

"You need to get away from here Brento. Get help or don't but this is what I'm supposed to do. I can keep the shield on you until you get to safety. Tell Sachell to stay where she is, it might get a little dark," Clara separated her and Brento's box. It followed him as he went and she started to move around the side. Opening a spot for her voice to move out before being entirely around. "Hello? I know you are here."

"So that's the cause of this. Someone's here but I've never seen this type of power," the one with a raspy voice tried to whisper but his voice carries easy.

"No one has. No way to get through either. I am kinda stuck," Clara appears around the corner with her hands up before laughing. "I don't know why I showed my hands, it's not like you can harm me in this thing."

"You are stuck in there?" the one who was trying to take the tree down, holding an axe asked.

"Yeah it seems like it unfortunately. Why are you hurting the tree? Is there something you need?" Clara walked in between the man with the axe and the tree. She wouldn't move until they had long since leave.

"Oh just a legend we are hoping is true and well this proves it."

"How so?"

"It's protected although I don't know why it's protecting you."

"Same. Anyways I am going to ask nicely if you leave. This tree is protected for it's symbol not because of some silly legend. Please don't make me do anything rash, it is hard to do," she gave a pleasant smile but the two didn't look very pleased.

"No, we are checking for something incredible so if you'll get out of the way," the one with the axe swung it up.

"You'll what? You can't break through here really. It is impossible unless you know how to break it down which only three people truly do. I am not one of them," another lie. Obviously she knew how to break down her own walls even if she could take them down herself.

"And what are you gonna do if we don't?"

"There is a reason they send me," she shrugged and shoved a wave of anger and hatred out. Thinking about how they hurt suck a tree legend or not.

Soon they were all unconscious and Clara kneeled next to them about to search their minds when Brento returned with the full council.

"Clara let us handle that please, " again back to the formality and proper acting.

"Oh I got it. Just gotta find out where they got the idea to break the tree and then erase it," she set her hand on ones forehead and started to search their memories before anyone could stop her.

It was so dark in this one's mind, the raspy voice one. It was very very cold too. She was pulled out and Brento looked at her with such sad eyes. "What's wrong with them?"

"Clara, their minds are broken badly. You inflicted incredibly hard and focused a little too hard on them. His mind couldn't handle it as well," Brento explained really calmly and as even as possible.

"So I broke their minds. I couldn't even find light in there, it was like before Brento not with him," Clara looked back at the man and then realized what had happened. "Oh... I understand what you mean.. the other one is okay though correct?" Clara stood up and looked directly at Brento.

"Yes his mind is shattered though.. no one can get in," He was trying hard not be too sympathetic with Clara.

"I got it," she walked over to the other man and set her hand in his head. It wasn't very dark for a broken mind but still broken it was she found the light. She couldn't call to him because she didn't know him and instead pulsed happy feelings through him which fixed him after a while.

She even managed to pull forward some of the memories for the memory wipe and marked them. Everything that had to do with the sword from the start was pulled forward and it was a lot but it would be gone. Before that though she watched them, looking for what they knew about it too. The sword was a mystery to this world and hardly known about yet these two managed to figure it out.

Once she was done she got up and looked at the raspy voice one who was basically dead, there was no fix to him. He wasn't actually dead but not even Clara could do anything about it.

"Clara you are in no way at fault for this okay?" Brento had walked over to her and she hadn't even realized it.

"Of course I am at fault for this Brento. I just made him well whatever state he's in. Maybe it's like a coma," Clara looked directly at Brento. She was upset about what had happened as anyone would be but she was okay with what happened.

"Don't think like that. You can't blame yourself or it could turn worse," Brento was looking directly out her and wouldn't break the eye contact.

"It's okay to blame yourself when you know that no matter what you did the right thing Councilman. Don't worry, I'll be okay. Remember I grew up with stuff like this," she laughed for a second. "I can't light leap home yet. I haven't gotten that far. I can cause so much damage but can't do the simple things."

"It is rather amusing isn't it?" Brento smiled as well and took her arm. "Home you go and rest well. You have school tomorrow and if you have any real guilt please talk to someone alright?"

"Yes councilman don't worry about me though. I should be fine," she gave him a smile smile and they light leaped back to her home.

Once there Brento stayed and told Clara's parents what had happened at the four seasons tree. Emmett called later one but Clara didn't tell him what happened truly, just that it was a pleasant talk.