Saving the World One Mother Tree, and One Baby, at a Time!

After a few days, Liri could feel the presence of a Mother Tree nearby.

[Ah, I need to find more food soon… I'm starving. I'll do it once I find this thing.]

As she walked toward it, the forest she walked through felt like it was responding to her presence.

The wind picked up. The leaves and branches on each nearby tree swung, pushing and pulling as Liri stepped through it. She could feel the earth's will calling to her.

[Everything around me is so… dense? I feel like invisible hands are tugging me along the path to the Mother Tree.]

The closer she got, however, the better she felt.

Energy bubbled up inside of her with every step. The connection she had to nature strengthened the closer she got to her objective. A type of heat within her intensified, until, finally, serenity filled her body when she finally laid eyes on it.

[… There it is,] Liri thought, smiling. [Ahhh, it's been a while since I last saw one.]

This was an experience unique to this world. Something that Liri never felt in her past life. A sense of spiritual peace and calmness that cradled her very soul, almost telling her that everything would be okay.

And, then, Liri passed out.

Liri's eyes opened and she found herself in a black void. It was a familiar one, however, and that made Liri gasp as she looked around.

[Alteria!?]

"Indeed," Liri heard, though she did not see the goddess who had reincarnated her.

[Uh… Where are you?]

"I… I do not have the power to manifest a physical form anymore. Letting you hear me is the best I can do."

Liri felt chills go up her spine.

[Has the world gotten that sick?]

"Yes," Alteria answered. "Over the course of the 18 years you've spent growing, the injustice I brought you to fight has gotten worse and worse. Finally, it is culminating with what is happening now. The ven, the people to which I assigned the responsibility of nurturing the world, have been nearly wiped out."

[…]

Liri could remember that day all too vividly. The tanks and soldiers who had surrounded Elmira and destroyed it, along with the lifeless eyes of her mother Alma.

[I… I want to do something about it,] Liri thought. [I don't know how, though.]

"I can sense that, which is why I am using what little power I have left to do this. There is a way, Liri, but taking this path will place quite a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Are you prepared?"

[I think so,] Liri replied. [At the very least, I want to try.]

"Good… Well," Alteria said, "first things first, you need to eat more."

[What?]

"You're getting too thin," Alteria scolded her. "Your appearance is taking a slight hit as a result."

[What does that have to do with…?]

"Oh? Do you not remember? Liri, I need you to reproduce!" Alteria borderline yelled. "The ven have been nearly wiped out. There are other survivors, as you know, but you need to play your part in making more ven, understand?"

[… Right, that whole thing,] Liri thought, sighing voicelessly. [I know, I know, but can't that wait? I mean, people are dying!]

"Sure, sure, I suppose you can put it off… But, don't forget, you have 3 years left before your time's up on that matter."

[I'm aware.]

"Fine. Then, setting that aside, I will tell you the other way you can help."

[Okay, what do I need to do?]

Alteria's answer was quick.

"You must reactivate the Mother Trees."

Admittedly, it wasn't like this idea was too outlandish. Liri figured something of the sort would need to be done, but she didn't think she would be the one to do it. Or, that Alteria would command her to like this.

[How?]

"I will give you the power," Alteria replied. "That is my final act before my power fully runs out. I will grant you the ability to reactivate them."

[… Your final act? But, what will happen? Will you disappear?]

"For a time," she answered. "Until you reactivate enough Mother Trees to supply me with consistent energy. Once that is done, I will return, and, I can assist you more directly."

Liri felt excited all of a sudden.

[I see! So, if I turn on enough of these things, you can… I don't know, do godly stuff?]

"… Yes," Alteria replied, slightly annoyed. "I will be able to do 'godly stuff'. Anyway, here, the power you need is in this book."

Suddenly, a brown book appeared in front of Liri. In green letters, the front cover spelled out:

{Druidic Arts I}

[What is this?]

"In this text, you will find blessed nature-based Mantras. These Mantras are unique, Liri. You will not be able to find them anywhere else in the world. I have tailored these for you specifically."

[… Holy shit.]

"I find that expression disagreeable."

[Sorry.]

"Anyway, open the book and look through the pages."

Liri did as she asked and found that only the first few pages had text on them. The rest were blank.

"Here's how this works. In this book, there are 3 Mantras and some fighting forms to help you develop your combative prowess. Only those three Mantras will be available for you to learn right now. Once you've mastered them, and the fighting forms, more will be unlocked and the book will transform into the Druidic Arts II. Understand?"

[So… this thing will sorta "update"?]

"Exactly. The first three Mantras consist of the following: the one you will need to find and reactivate the Mother Trees, one that will grant you a special armor that you can use to fight, and, finally, one that will allow you to detect enemies nearby."

[Holy… crap?]

"Still disagreeable."

[Sorry.]

Naturally, Liri immediately thought to ask:

[… What does this thing define as an enemy?]

"Good question," Alteria replied. "Anything that conveys murderous intent toward you. In other words, if it is something that actively wishes for you to die, or would wish for you to die if it learned of your existence, the Mantra will inform you of its location. The one condition is that it needs to be nearby, of course. It will not work on people halfway across the world. This is, however, a good way to determine who is and who is not your enemy."

[That's… that's useful!]

"I know," Alteria replied proudly. "Unfortunately, my power has just about run dry. Liri, when you wake up, you will find this book laying on the ground in front of you. Learn the Mantras and immediately attempt to reactivate the Mother Tree you have arrived at. Then, you will know what it is you must do."

[I understand.]

There was a pause as Liri got ready to be sent back to her "real" body. However, before that happened, Alteria yelled:

"Oh, and don't forget to make some babies!"

[I-I KNOW!]

Just like that, she was back in her body.

"God, she's so pushy," Liri muttered.

As she got up off the ground, she dusted herself off and looked up. Her eyes fell on a brown book laying on the ground.

"The Druidic Arts I… So, this is going to help me fight?" Liri muttered to herself as she picked it up. "Okay… Let's try it!"