The Sacred Forest of Ursi Viridis Circulus
Varric stood at the emerald green pond, lilac grasses brushing his hands as he moved to the tranquil pool – Ardyn heavy on his mind. He felt her power flow over their soul connection as she practiced and grew.
He could not help being proud of her, but he also missed her beyond anything he could imagine. It was an irrational pain that twisted in his heart like a knife. He picked some of the lilac cattail-like plants. They had small deep purple buds on top of each. He took these buds and shook out small purple and white beads that looked like pearls.
He had decided that he would create something everyday for Ardyn. Again, these semi precious gems began to hum, and thin black braided threads grew from the air, weaving themselves between the gems with the deliberate precision of his magic. The threads formed a necklace of soft purple and creamy pearl-like beads.
He smiled and placed it on a small growing pile. He looked back out over the emerald green pond and thought about his Ardyn.
He knew she was safe but he wanted her with him – his heart ached even as he smothered his selfishness. He knew he had to allow her this to make sure that she was always his, always safe, and happy.
Back in Ursi Viridis Circulus, Ardyn moved in smooth flowing circles. Magic flowed from her out into the forest around her. Even as her magic flowed out, the forest responded.
Her inner song split into five bands of sound waves. They flowed out into the forest, and the magic of the forest met all five. Her music reverberated throughout the forest. The trees moved, the ground trembled, and a gale of a wind roared – all in direct response to Ardyn's song.
Where she had once struggled, Ardyn now moved with great-calmed ease. Her song – her magic – flowed forth like a mighty deluge and it subdued all around her.
Her eyes were completely white, orbs of flowing smoke, like storming, rumbling clouds. Her mouth began to move, and ancient words—from a long-forgotten human language—poured forth from her lips, sounding less like speech and more like the first sound made at the dawn of the world. Her hair rose up into the windless air, the blond strands turning a vibrant royal purple and the lilac highlights transformed into sparkling, diamond-sharp strands of crystal that lengthened and became razor sharp.
Her skin shone a faint lilac hue and her inner song flowed over her like a dense heavy cloak. Then it flowed into the air, the ground, and throughout her surroundings.
The forest responded, and a tunnel opened before her. This one was vastly different from the others Ardyn had gone through. It spiraled before her like a Kaleidoscope of color and motion. She glided forward and was instantly in the heart of Ursi Viridis Circulus.
Everything calmed around her. Trees rose from the ground and walked towards her, their roots flowing over the dense soil like odd water currents. Ardyn hovered over the ground – waiting – her hair still flowing out wildly, her song still cloaking her.
And the sacred forest spoke to her. Its voice was a chorus, a harmony of many unique and distinct voices.
"You come here seeking, but you do not want, how can I help you little one?"
Ardyn frowned inwardly – what did she want? Varric? Inner fortitude? Peace?
"I want to be stronger. I want to be worthy of him." Her voice was ethereal but had a tone of question to it.
There was silence for a long while.
"What you want. You must take."
Roots, branches, and razor sharp leaves flew towards her. Her songs wove together and formed a strong wall of vibrating sound around her. Several leaves made it through her shield, two slashed her face and one slashed her leg.
Her blood splashed the ground and added to the magical weave of Ursi Viridis Circulus.
Branches struck out at her and her song weave caught them – they stayed suspended in the air for many moments then burst into bright sparks of magic.
Ardyn moved back, her feet digging trenches into the dense ground. She suddenly moved to the side and roots shot up where she had just been. The jewel crystal highlights in her hair shot forth and cut them to shreds.
She flipped further back and looked at her side – a small cut bled where a branch had snagged her – she blinked and her [Song of Wrath] flowed out wide and shattered a line of branches.
Then her amethyst crystal highlights shot forward and dove into a soft patch of ground. It was an area of dense magic, and she sought what was deep within it.
The trees froze as she reached it. Branches and leaves frozen in mid-air – all poised to strike her.
Her amethyst crystal highlights rose from the dirt holding a black pulsating mound. It smelled of sunshine and tranquility, and as it rose into the air before her, the trees bowed and silence filled the sacred forest of Ursi Viridis Circulus.
The Sacred forest spoke to her again.
"Just as you are part of Sidus Serpens, you are now part of me. Take what you have found. It is part of my essence – it will both guide and protect."
The black pulsating mound liquefied and ran down her strands of amethyst crystals and down her neck. It formed a runic lattice on the right side of her neck and her right shoulder.
The runic lattice pulsed seven times and then laid quiet, like an old fading tattoo. As it settled, Ardyn felt the dense, quiet power of the Bear Clan and the forest itself become a tangible part of her being.
Ardyn's soul stretched and swirled, and she felt a new song form – [Song of Nature], a deep, resonant hum that mirrored the vibration of the trees.
Before she could understand any of it, the sacred forest spoke.
"Go, find what you seek, become who you truly are, I will always be with you."
The sacred forest disappeared, and Ardyn stood in the center of a wide circle of Bear beastkin.
Elsa stepped forward with a broad smile.
"I think she is ready for your ritual, Bess."
The bear clan leader stepped forward as well, her eyes assessing Ardyn. She nodded, raised her voice and spoke loudly.
"We will have the Bear Earth Clan Ritual now!"