Vinifer and Elira were strolling through one of the city's many gardens, admiring the plants that were so rare nowadays.
"Tell me Elira, what do you think about traditions? Do you think they should be upheld?"
"Um, I think it depends on the tradition, Lord Elder. If it doesn't harm anyone, there's no reason to not honor it."
The Archdruid stopped and looked at Elira.
"What about those that require sacrifices for the greater good?"
She thought for a bit, and then gave her answer:
"I believe that in cases like that we should do everything in our power to find an alternative way, so that we don't hurt anyone."
"I see. I admire your optimism, but I'm afraid some things can't be changed."
This time it was Elira to looked at Vinifer
"With all due respect Lord Elder, I think that your point of view is flawed - you can't win if you decide that you've lost before you even tried."
The Archdruid offered no rebuttal, but simply gazed into the distance.
"No matter, come, I know a great place to train in peace."
They left the garden and went towards one of the large structures carved into the great tree itself.
The training facility comprised of three separate levels, each of them a great wooden disk covered in dirt and various plants.
"The top level is accessible only to elders, so we will not be disturbed there." Vinifer informed Elita.
They ascended the spiral staircase to reach the artificial meadow, leaving the city far below.
"We'll start with the basics. See that vine over there?" Vinifer pointed to a nearby plant "Make it raise from the ground."
Elira nodded.
She kneeled and touched the dirt, mentally ordering the plant to move.
With slow and uneven motion, a single green tendril raised in to the air. It wiggled a few times, and fell to the ground.
Elira looked visibly strained and was breathing heavily.
"Are you an alchemist?" Asked the Archdruid, still looking at the now motionless plant.
"Uh... Yes... but does it... matter?"
Elira didn't remember it being this difficult or tiring.
"In theory no, the nature does not repel those who practice alchemy. The issue lies in the difference of mindsets between these arts."
Seeing Elira's confused expression he continued:
"In alchemy you have absolute control over matter, it is an art of perfect creation where your word is law."
As Vinifer continued his speech countless vines and roots slithered towards him and wrapped around his body.
"Druids however do not control the plants, they do not order, they show the way - we are only humble guides for the terrifying power of nature. The better you become at convincing the wild to do your bidding, the more powerful you become."
Elira was stumped, she was supposed to... ask the plants for help?
"How am I suppose to guide them? Am I supposed to... talk to them?"
Vinifer let out a low chuckle.
"Not quite. When you reach out to the power of Nature instead of sending an order, think of something between a prayer and an invitation - you're asking for help, but also saying why it should help you."
"And why it should help me, exactly?"
Elira had no idea how she should entice a divine domain without a god into helping her, what did she had to offer that the literal force of nature would want?
"Because you will promise that the plants will flourish under your guidance. You can also recall all the times you helped nature as a bargaining chip. Later on you can even use instances where the wild has helped you before as a precedent for helping now."
"...that sounds like I'm trying to swindle nature into doing what I want."
The Archdruid shrugged.
"I suppose it can look that way, but that's the reason a lot of druids dedicate their lives to preserving nature."
Vinifer gestured for her to try again.
Elira assumed the same position as before and grasped the divine power.
'Um, hello nature, could you please help me move those vines over there? I'll make sure they grow well.'
To her complete surprise, the domain responded. Multiple green tendrils stirred and raised into the air, dancing in the wind like hypnotized snakes.
"Very good Elira, it seems the divine power is quite fond of you."
Vinifer reached into a small pouch tied to his belt, and took out a handful of brown dust.
"Take it and sprinkle it on the vines, it's a very good fertilizer."
She took the powder and spread it evenly on the plants.
"How did you know what I promised, anyway?" Asked Elira
*I didn't, it was a guess. Let's take a break, that first try couldn't have been pleasant."
The plants around the druid moved again to form a simple bench, and he gestured for Elira to seat. He handed her a canteen filled with water and sat next to her.
"Your stance in our previous discussion got me a bit curious about your point of view - would you care to engage in a thought experiment with me?" Asked Vinifer.
Elira nodded - she already figured out that the Archdruid questions weren't completely hypothetical, and this 'thought experiment' could give her more insight as to what it was all actually about.
"Let's say you have an enchantment using a power source that's on the cusp of running out, but you have to keep it running at all costs."
He held up his left hand.
"You can either risk changing the power source for a different one, but such an operation has a good chance of going wrong and destroying the enchantment permanently. Alternatively..."
He showed his second hand.
"You can let someone else recharge the power source, but you will very likely lose control over it, and won't be able to make sure it runs correctly."
Vinifer looked Elira in the eye
"There's also an option to try to fix it yourself. What do you choose?"
The young alchemist took a sip of the water and pondered for a bit.
"How likely am I to fix it myself in this scenario?"
Vinifer looked away and quietly said:
"...rather unlikely."
Elira nodded silently.
"I think I would let someone else recharge it then. It ensures the enchantment stays active, and you can just teach the other person how to take care of it."
Vinifer sighed and looked at his feet.
"But what if that person hates you? Once you're of no use anymore why wouldn't they dispose of you?"
Elira finally understood the metaphor.
"Why didn't you get rid of them in the first place?" She asked.
"Because she isn't a bad person, and she has every right to hate me. I'm at fault for everything that happened, my pride blinded me, and now I'm in a place with no way out."
Vinifer seemingly didn't notice that they stopped talking in hypotheticals.
"If she really is a good person, she won't harm you."
Elita stood up and moved away from the bench.
"I don't know who is 'she' or the actual nature of the conflict, and I suspect there are more people involved, but if I were you I would start by talking to her."
She bowed a little.
"Thank you for the lesson Lord Elder, and please consider my words."
Eliea descended from the training grounds, leaving the Archdruid alone with his thoughts.
***
The entire party was gathered in Calen's room - He and Cassian sat shirtless on the couch as the girls treated the wounds and bruises they couldn't reach themselves, as they all discussed what they've learned today.
"...so basically we have two fractions which are fighting over control, while the only reason they're still alive is slowly dying in the background." Summarised Calen.
He reached to scratch a particularly itchy wound covered in antiseptic herbal paste.
"Don't touch that." Isara slapped his hand away, and continued cleaning his wounds "I think Ellie was onto something with more people being involved."
"It would certainly explain why stories from Vinifer and Lydia don't match up perfectly - I think that if the Archdruid was free to express his guilt, he would have done so long ago." Agreed Calen.
Cassian, who was only listening so far, spoke up:
"I'm fairly certain it has to do with the fifth Elder, the one none of us interacted with. From what Baor told me during our training, he's not particularly nice."
"How much did he tell you about him?" Asked Isara.
"Quite a bit, his name is Trent and he's supposedly much older than he lets on to the other Elders. He's very strict about rules and traditions, and he supposedly tried to get both Lydia and Alara removed from the council."
Everyone looked at him.
"I was just as surprised as you are at how knowledgeable he was" Cassian shrugged. "Apparently everyone thinks he's stupid so they don't bother hiding things around him."
"It seems we have a mostly clear picture of what's going on now - everything is hinged on Trent having some sort of hold over Vinifer. I'll ask Lydia if he has some special powers tomorrow." Declared Calen.
"And I will try to get more information out of the Archdruid." Said Elira with a serious expression.
Their investigation has only just begun.