The meeting of the demigod brought a rapid change both to themselves and their people, ideas were exchanged bringing out the best for each group.
The water spell served as a good research object for Ikem and his people as they made further discoveries in the workings of the spell until they developed their own which was the mirror he and Ursula used to speak.
The meeting also led to Ikem sharing his knowledge on runes, the other demigods were surprised on how he got the knowledge but after Ikem explained how he got it, it gave them ideas in trying out the same thing with the possible demon on their side.
Ursula also had a private talk with Ikem about the demon in her place. She explained how the demon was able to somehow change the surroundings to a level where it even affects her when she gets into the contaminated area.
She brought up the issue to Ikem because she heard about the two treants’ work, she thought they might be able to help her repair the contaminated land and reverse the demon effect on the surrounding.
Ikem happily agreed at the time and Informed Bix and Aqua who happily took in the job as they felt that this would be something challenging and they may be able to get a glimpse at the intruder in their home.
Years went by before Brix and Aqua was able to get to the western continent, it took a while but they met up with Ursula who led them to the ever expanding fog land.
Ursula had with her a small mirror at the time where Ikem was able to view everything that was happening and could talk with the two treants too.
Brix and Aqua finally got to the foggy land filled with purple mist, they could immediately see the effect of the fog on the surrounding as the soil turned black, trees looked dead but strangely alive.
Ikem remembered watching Aqua squat to the ground as they picked up a handful of dark soil, bringing it to their nose and smelling it.
Ikem also remembered how the soil grabbed tried to infuse themselves into the two treants’ hands but a green glow bloomed in their hand stopping the process.
It took a while before Aqua and Brix stood up and said to Ursula "Sorry we won’t help you with this"
Ikem and Ursula could quickly pick up on their word, before Ikem could speak Ursula spoke up "You can’t or you won’t"
Aqua and Brix looked at each other before sighing "We can but we won’t as it goes against what we stand for"
Ikem spoke through the mirror " Could you explain why it is against what you stand for"
Brix and Aqua said nothing but gestured for Ursula to follow them into the twisted forest which seems to be a different world once you look back to the blooming land you came from.
Walking Into the forest, Brix and Aqua saw things that made them feel better about their decisions on not helping.
Meanwhile Ursula and Ikem was frowning the whole time they walked into the forest, the sight they were seeing was something they didn’t like, like how some plants and animals look was something they felt was not acceptable.
Having had enough of the sight, Ikem spoke once again from the mirror " What is it that you are trying to show us"
"It was for you Ikem, maybe getting a better view of the happenings in this forest will make you understand our decision" Brix said.
Ikem frowned hearing that as he once again seriously looked around the forest through the mirror but he saw nothing significant.
Shaking his head to show he understood nothing, Aqua spoke to Brix "It seems that those who understand and see it our way has to be under contract by the creator, if even his son can’t see things that way"
Ikem heard them talking about his Father, perked up even Ursula looked more serious so she asked " What does the gods have to do with this land"
Brix shook his head "Your misunderstand your highness, the creator has nothing to do with this land but rather on why we can’t help you"
Ikem’s expression inside the mirror spoke up "You can talk with father?"
Brix once again shook his head "We can’t talk with him but now you mention it I can feel his presence even more, it seems the creator will be waking up soon" Brix said with happiness in his voice.
A smile flashed across Ikem’s face but he saw the distressed Ursula so he reigned back in his smile "can you explain to her what father had to do with this"
Aqua spoke up this time "Let’s move out of the forest first, we aren’t exactly welcomed and attuned to stay here much longer"
Saying that Aqua proceeded to make his way out of the forest first before the Brix and Ursula followed behind.
Once they got out of the forest, Aqua sent away their other companions to explore the continent.
"It might be hard to put into words what the creator has to do with this but I will try my best" Aqua said as a water bubble appeared under his which he sat on.
"First thing to understand in this situation is that the creator is a god of nature, in a way he is manifestation of the nature given form and this dark twisted forest behind us is also part of nature"
"Before we started our journey of bringing life back to the destroyed land, we made a contract with the nature which in a way is your father, which is why we can perform a ritual to welcome a foreign life form existence into our world"
"If before we could help you with the forest then after the contract, we now perceive nature in a whole new way so what you see as a twisted and contaminated is just another variation of nature itself, we are to protect and safeguard nature so this forest in our eyes is a child that will keep growing"
Aqua stopped to see if they are with him, receiving a bid he continued "I asked for the young master and your highness to walk with us to see if you could see things differently like flourishing plants life forms and creatures in this forest"
Looking deep into the forest, Brix spoke up "I don’t know how the demon did it but it was able to change the land without out really affecting the natural way of things"
Hearing the words from both Aqua and Brix was a little hard for them to understand, so Ikem spoke up "How can you say that when you see that it affects other people negatively"
Aqua looked at Ikem before closing his eyes connecting with the nature around as he opened his eyes to regard him and Ursula who was taken back by the change.
"You are a child of the creator but we are connected to the creator on a level you cannot yet comprehend, in our eyes nothing is negative or positive". Closing his eyes, Aqua eyes changed to normal as he stood up planning on walking away and continuing their goal.
"Umm excuse me" Ursula may not have noticed but her voice got softer as she regarded Aqua seriously "Do we just leave the forest this way till it erodes the whole continent"
Brix spoke up this "We are bound by duty to not help but your highness and other demigod aren’t, you can find the source of the change and stop it, when you do remember to seek us out"
Ikem remembered being embarrassed once Brix and Aqua left, he had promised Ursula on being able to help but instead the two people he asked for help just declined the request.
Ursula understood Ikem’s feelings so she made more to assure him that she wasn’t disappointed, instead happy as at least she now knows that all she had to do was find the source.
Ikem in his throne room, reminisced about the past. " Father should be awake soon, I don’t know why but his awakening should be near, I can’t wait to show you all that I have accomplished all this while"
Meanwhile at the Center of the world of Nana, in an ethereal space where Nana consciousness stays. In the huge space stood a tall corporal form of Nana who was looking off into the distance with a frown on her face.
Through her eyes she could see her sleeping children stirring showing that they would be awake soon but soon her eyes diverted as she looked at the golden stream flowing and surrounding her children at the same time dark ash like particles that fell off from the golden particles before moving away like it was attracted to something.
Seeing that all Nana could say what "I did my best"