After a long bath, Osvald stepped into the cool corridors of the mansion, his stride steady, yet his mind far from calm. He was heading toward the yard, but his thoughts lingered stubbornly on what he had learned an hour earlier.
The Creator.
The name echoed in his skull like a riddle he couldn't unravel. Who was this being? He had never heard of him, not in his travels, not in any archive, not even in the dream world, which held secrets older than nations. Could such a being truly exist beyond even the dream's reach? Older than time itself?
Leo had claimed the Creator was here to stop the destruction.
Osvald's brow furrowed as a realization sparked. What if 'destruction' doesn't mean war or collapse? What if it means...the Destroyer?
He knew little of the Destroyer, but what little he knew was enough. The being was said to be the most powerful of all gods, an existence even Bahamut could not hold back forever. If the Creator sought to stand against that, then once his power was fully restored... would he become even greater than the Destroyer Himself?
The thought both unsettled and fascinated him.
After the meeting, he heard more from his uncle, that the Creator had acted through another name, Mr. Clone, to save Arthur's life during the secret meeting. And not just anywhere, within Mr. Sage's domain.
Osvald's jaw tightened. Too many unknowns, too many shadows moving in places he couldn't reach. He would need to learn more about this Creator, no matter the cost.
...
Briva paced across the flagstones of the yard, her boots tapping a restless rhythm. Excitement thrummed through her chest, too fierce to let her stand still. Every few steps she clenched and unclenched her fists, her eyes darting toward the garden path as if she could summon Osvald faster by sheer will.
"If you keep walking like that, you'll walk yourself thin," Elna called from a few meters away. She leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, her calm gaze in sharp contrast to Briva's nervous energy.
Briva looked over at her, too restless to respond, and kept moving.
On the far side of the yard, Leo and Arthur stood close together, their voices low as they discussed plans for their departure the next morning. From the occasional nods and furrowed brows, it was clear their talk carried more weight than travel routes. And Luciana was nowhere to be found.
Before Briva could retort to Elna, or give in to the urge to pace faster, the broad silhouette of Osvald appeared in the doorway. His muscular frame filled the entrance, the fading light behind him outlining his presence like a wall of iron.
Osvald raised a hand in greeting, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Briva's face lit up, and she hurried toward him without hesitation. "Mr. Hemingsson, please teach me how to improve myself."
Osvald's smile deepened. 'Such an eager girl.' He gave a slow nod. "As you likely already know, a druid must first form a bond with nature. That bond is the root of everything."
Briva bobbed her head quickly. "Yes, I've already done that."
"Good," Osvald said. "The stronger and deeper that bond becomes, the stronger you will grow as a druid."
Briva leaned forward slightly, her eyes wide. "But how can I deepen my connection?"
"The first steps are simple," he explained, his voice calm but firm. "Show respect to nature. Serve it in every way you can. Never harm it, even in small things. Every action you take, every choice, should strengthen that bond."
As his words hung in the air, the others began drifting closer, drawn by the conversation.
"You can spend your time speaking with trees or animals," Osvald explained patiently, "or you can choose something greater and that's to gain a familiar."
"Familiar?" Briva tilted her head, puzzled.
"An animal companion bound to your soul. You befriend it, then seal a pact. But remember this is no small vow. A druid may only form one in their entire life, and once the bond is forged, your soul is tied to theirs forever."
Briva's eyes sparkled. "Do you have one? Can I see it?"
Osvald chuckled softly. "Yes, but… she isn't exactly fond of strangers. Don't be offended if she has something sharp to say."
"If she says anything?" Briva echoed, confusion mirrored on the others' faces.
Osvald didn't answer. Instead, he whistled a low, piercing note that seemed to stir the air itself. Moments later, the flap of wings broke the silence, and a crow, black as midnight, descended to perch neatly on his shoulder. Its beady eyes scanned the group with unsettling sharpness.
"What are you fools staring at?" the crow snapped, voice sharp and strangely human.
Briva and the others froze, their mouths half-open in shock.
"Language, Kaia," Osvald said gently, warmth rather than scolding in his tone.
The crow huffed, pretended to ignore them, and nuzzled her beak against his chin in an oddly tender gesture. Then, with a flick of her wings, she lifted off and vanished into the sky.
Osvald followed her flight for a few heartbeats before turning back to Briva.
"After the pact, your familiar begins sharing your strength and unlocking powers of their own. And the same happens for you."
"That's why she could speak?" Briva asked, wide-eyed.
He nodded. "Yes. And Kaia has saved my life more times than I can count."
Briva's excitement bubbled over. "How can I make such a pact?"
"I'll give you a book and instructions. Study it well. Once you're ready, the next step will be finding your way into the Dream World."
Leo, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. "You've mentioned this place before. What exactly is the Dream World?"
Osvald's expression grew more solemn. "Some claim it is the last remnant of the Goddess of Nature's domain. Others whisper of it being a hidden realm, like Ethereon or even the Underworld. None truly know. What I do know is this, only those with deep ties to nature may enter. There, you can walk through the dreams of every living creature. But it is dangerous. Lose yourself, and you may never return."
He paused, voice lowering as though quoting from memory.
"In an old druidic scripture, words said to be from the Goddess herself there is a warning, do not wander in dreams for too long… or you shall stay there forever."
Leo sank into deep thought. There was so much more to this world than he had ever imagined. Guardians, corrupted gods and now the Dream World, how many hidden realms still waited out there, just beyond reach? Was the Dream World something entirely different or maybe a part of Ethereon? The thought made his lips curl into a faint smile. It was dangerous, yes, but also thrilling. The unknown was both a blade and a promise.
"If I do all of this," Briva broke the silence, her voice trembling with excitement, "just how powerful can I become?"
Osvald's eyes softened. Instead of answering directly, he gestured toward the far edge of the yard, where the iron railing opened onto the sprawling mountainside. "Come. I'll show you."
The group followed him. From there, the snow-dusted peaks stretched endlessly, white and lifeless under the morning sun. Osvald took a slow breath, then closed his eyes.
The ground quivered. A subtle tremor ran beneath their feet, then grew into a steady pulse, like a great heart beating beneath the earth. The air thickened, carrying the scent of soil and sap.
"A druid is never apart from nature, they are one and the same." Osvald murmured, his voice resonating oddly, as if carried by the wind itself. "If your intentions are pure, the world will answer."
Before their eyes, the barren mountainside shifted. Green tendrils burst through the snow, twisting skyward. Shrubs unfurled into towering oaks, flowers of every hue erupted from the ground, vines raced over stone. In mere moments, what had been cold and lifeless became a living forest, stretching as far as their eyes could see.
Gasps and murmurs broke from everyone. Briva covered her mouth, her eyes glistening as if she might cry. Even Leo found himself frozen, the enormity of it pressing into him, this wasn't just magic, it was creation.
Then, before they could catch their breath, Osvald leapt skyward. His form twisted midair, feathers bursting from his arms, his body reshaping in a flash of motion until a vast golden eagle soared above them. His wings spread wide, and each beat churned the air into a gale, forcing Briva and Elna to shield their faces from the rushing wind.
The eagle wheeled through the sky, dived into the newborn forest, then rose again with a triumphant cry that echoed off the peaks. When he landed before them once more, he was Osvald again, calm and grounded, his boots pressing softly into the grass that had not been there minutes ago.
"A druid can become anything they can imagine," he said, his tone even, though his eyes gleamed with quiet pride. "As long as that form is pure, born of nature, it will answer to you. In war, you may take on more aggressive forms, such as beasts of fang and claw, or even storms themselves."
Briva's hands trembled with joy. Her expression broke into a radiant smile before she began bouncing on her heels like a child. "It was fantastic!" she exclaimed, unable to contain herself.
Arthur crossed his arms, though his lips twitched in the hint of a smirk. "Impressive… but I can see why druids are feared."
Elna, leaning lightly against the railing, gave a smile of her own. "No wonder you're so calm, Mr. Osvald. With power like that, even mountains bow to you."
Leo, however, said nothing. His mind wasn't on the display itself but on Osvald's words. As long as the form is pure. What counted as pure? Could corruption twist a druid's transformation the way Bahamut had been twisted? His thoughts drifted back to the void, to gods falling, to creatures born of darkness.
Osvald glanced at Briva again. "Remember this feeling," he said gently. "The joy, the awe. That is the heart of a druid's strength. If you chase only power, nature will turn away from you. But if you honor it, protect it, and give yourself to it fully… then even the stars might answer your call."
For once, Briva was speechless. She tilted her head back, eyes wandering toward the sky. It wasn't night, yet in her mind she could almost see the distant stars, steady, eternal. To have their light at her side… it meant she could finally protect the people she loved.
She lowered her gaze to Osvald and gave him a calm, steady smile before nodding. "Thank you. I'll do my best."
Osvald's expression softened. "If you wish, we can train a little now."
Briva's eyes brightened. "That would be fantastic."
Without hesitation, she followed him to the open center of the yard. The grass whispered beneath their steps, and the air grew heavy with anticipation. There, beneath the vast sky, they faced each other and their training began.
...
As night settled over the mansion, Arthur and Leo returned to their rooms to prepare for the gathering. After lying on his bed, Leo exhaled slowly and with just a blink, the chamber around him dissolved into mist.
He sat upon the throne of his domain. The vast hall stretched out before him, its white floor veined with obsidian light.
Rising from the throne, he descended the steps. With a single thought, echoes stirred through the domain and one by one, silhouettes solidified into the forms of his companions. Each figure took shape as though drawn out of mist, until the gathering hall was alive with their presence.
"Welcome, my friends," Leo said, his voice carrying through the chamber like rolling thunder.
The members bowed toward the shrouded upper hall, the fog hiding his throne from sight. Then, in silence and reverence, each moved to their appointed seats along the great table.
Leo's gaze swept over them before settling on one figure in particular. "Alina," he said evenly. "We'll be heading into the Shadowland. We shall meet soon."