After my unique performance combining elven polyphonic voice with dolphin-mermaid’s voice range and some magic, I went around one more time socializing with my guests. Their reactions could be gauged by the two full [Musician] Proficiency points I earned for it. Most of the conversation was inane but I had one concrete goal in mind.

I approached a particular group. Rania and Wyrrentis were talking with other guests of the elven persuasion. Once they saw me (or the giant fur duster trailing behind me), they bowed with an open hand over their solar plexus, an elven salute.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Rania said in Fulgen elvish.

“Matron Pres’Hania, Wyrrentis. I’m glad you could make it,” I said softly and with a smile to ease them into a more relaxed conversation.

“We wouldn’t miss it for nothing,” The Academy registrar replied.

The other elves and half-elves watched our exchange with great interest. I quickly exchanged greetings with them and returned to the two figureheads.

“Would you two join me for a walk? I have something to show you,” I pointed at the closed-off orchard area strategically facing east.

They agreed and we excused ourselves from the other elves. I opened the gate to the farm area and we waked underneath the shade of the orchard. I only had one of each plant. I really didn’t need more as I could use magic to grow fruit or nuts whenever I needed some. It was mostly decorative as I could easily summon the seed and grow the plant but it saved some time with an adult healthy one already grown with the best effect my {Green Thumb} and {infuse Plants} Perks could give. Some of the specimens in my orchard had no parallel on Yznarian. Like coffee and cocoa. The weather down there wasn’t too adequate for these tropical plants but now that they were brought over, someday they’d find their way to the ground. Nature finds a way, as the dinosaur movie said.

We reached the edge of the farm and I leaned on the railing, peeking at the mountains and Tuisto’s valley beyond. Glued to the Force barrier protecting them from falling, the two elves observed the landscape behind Windemere.

“I heard some fairies comment. There is a valley behind the mountains,” Rania gasped.

“I have something to show you on the other side of the valley,” I commented. “Can you see, to the northeast of the lake? The tall trees?”

“Taller trees? Wait, they’re too tall,” Wyrrentis asked.

I waved a hand and pointed to the side, “Let’s go there. I have a fairy circle in that copse of evergreens.”

They followed and I shifted to Alloralla’s form. It was hard to keep looking up at them or keeping my tails from brushing on the plants. At the fairy circle, I focused on the destination and opened a gate. The three of us crossed it and a yawning Nenandil came out of my soul.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I teased the water fairy.

“Sorry,” she smiled sheepishly. “Happy birthday, Haru. It’s your fault! Hammering metal all the time is too boring.”

I chuckled. “Don’t let my father hear you.”

“That’s why I sleep. Oh, the home-trees!”

The elves were too busy gawking at the impossibly giant trees to mind our exchange. The dryads came out of their trees and greeted us.

“Daughters of the Elders, greetings,” the lead dryad said. “Honored elven guests.” The other dryads greeted us but most of them were undressing Wyrrentis with their eyes.

“So,” I touched Rania and Wyrrentis’ shoulders at the same time. “Do you like it?”

“Why are home-trees here?” The registrar turned around to stare at me. His eyes showed surprise, fear, and something else I couldn’t pin.

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“Because the dryads and I planted them?”

“I heard the Queens of Fulgen denied your request for a seed or sapling,” Rania gossiped.

“Yes, they did!” Nenandil pouted.

I cackled just a bit. Once I regained my wits, I shrugged but kept a mischievous grin on my lips. “But then I figured out the seeds wasn’t theirs to give. So I asked the main tree directly, and she gave me a lot of seeds. Then these lovely ladies volunteered to help them grow.”

Rania fiddled with her necklace, “Why did you invite us here, Your Majesty?”

“The Thennean and the Lierin to a certain degree don’t have a place to call theirs. Would you want to bring them here? The trees are young but they are already big enough to provide shelter.”

Wyrrentis fell on his knees and grasped the grass at his sides. He sniffled then laughed. A daring dryad came to his side and knelt next to him, hugging his head.

“I think it’s a yes,” I said barely hiding a giggle.

Rania, on the other side, was skeptical. “I don’t sense any monsters in the valley. What is this place?”

I had already got the key stakeholders’ permission. Most Dryads (Briar notwithstanding) liked the company of elves, so no problem convicing the girls to host the sylvan folk inside their trees and show some good old’ dryad hospitality, should the elves be willing to indulge in some fairy nectar. And by nectar I mean ass. Tuisto wasn’t listed as a deity of the Pantheon (I wasn’t aware of his real nature at the time). Before the party, I contacted him the old way.

[Administrator Hotline]

CALL START

Haru: Tuisto, do you have a minute?

Tuisto: Yes.

Haru: You know the grove of giant elven trees the dryads and me planted in your valley, right?

Tuisto: Indeed. They are growing into splendid trees. Not as splendid as the one in your Divine domain, though.

Haru: Sorry? What?

Tuisto: The Divine domain gifted to you by Yznera.

(The {Tree Refuge}? Damn)

Haru: Since when that’s a divine domain?

Tuisto: Always has been.

(Plans within plans. If the {Tree Refuge} is really a divine domain, it means they were grooming me to become one of them for centuries now. Too bad I cheated by delegating the Divinity portion to Pandora)

Haru: Anyway. I know you are against people occupying and settling in the valley but I have a few Elven clans that need a home. Can they live there?

Tuisto: Elves won’t ruin the valley ecosystem. I agree to it in exchange for two services at a later date.

Haru: What kind of service?

Tuisto: Nothing you wouldn’t agree to or refuse to do. I don’t have the specifics now, but they shouldn’t be much of a bother.

Haru: Agreed, then. I’ll trust you, old man. Thanks a lot.

Tuisto: My pleasure.

CALL END

“The valley is protected by a hidden deity. A friend of mine. His power keeps even the Dungeon tunnels underneath from spawning monsters. When I first discovered this valley, I wanted to annex it to Windemere and bring people to harvest the resources. But this deity denied my request to settle here. No, don’t worry, I got his permission to let the fair folk settle instead. You won’t devastate the ecosystem as the other species would.”

Rania nodded. “Our people will be indebted to you. And the only way to reach here by land is through Windemere. We’ll be shielded from conflict.”

I shook my head. “Until danger finds you. Be careful as an idyllic life like you suggest will breed weakness.” Without monsters and conflict, people’s levels won’t grow. And when the shit hits the fan, a low-level settlement will be devastated. “That’s why you’ll send your young to live in Windemere after they come of age, growing stronger with the Dungeons there. You guys will have political independence but I expect you to support Windemere.”

The matron nodded, “That goes without saying.”

“We need to go back now. Ladies, help the good scholar back on his feet, okay? He’ll come back to get to know you later,” I said to the dryads. “And I need him presentable for my birthday party.”

Disappointed, the dryads propped Wyrrentis back on his feet and I brought the two elves back. Nenandil stayed behind to talk with the dryads.

The rest of the party went on late into the night, without further incidents. The dragon even returned, without a single scratch.

The next morning after the party, I ordained a hundred new priests and took them to the strip of land I got for not destroying Lonid, dropping three of them at each of the major population centers in the new region. They had storage rings with goods and money, to grease the engines and buy their way into the local population’s hearts. Mirina and I visited every baron and viscount in the region, telling them to choose between either fealty to Windemere or eviction with just a handful of platinum coins as pocket money. Should they chose to stay, their titles would become honorary only because Windemere had no nobility to speak of. City governors we could trust would be appointed by the crown but these were civil servants. Their executive power derived from the crown. Most decided to leave. I took their mansions and estates into my item box to relocate at a later opportunity.

Now, the planning phase. I felt like I was playing Populous, Minecraft, and Civilization at the same time. It was exhilarating. One could get drunk on this power. I kept this truth close to my heart. It was not a game.

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