Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 134. Runecrafter Mariane.

After Mariane appeared, she approached and gave Tempestria a big hug. "Why did you take so long to visit!?" The gentle and not annoying buzzing sound of her wings filled the room as she turned to look at Verdantia and Cinderielle. 

She talked to them with enthusiasm no smaller than with Tempestria. "Hello! Are you here to buy? Donate? Or to give your bodies in the name of research!? I am fine with any of those options!" 

Verdantia lifted an eyebrow at their interaction and asked. "What's your relationship with Tempestria?"

Mariane tilted her head, her antennae and wings flopping with the head movement in a cute manner. "Why'd you ask?"

Tempestria looked at Verdantia and rolled her eyes. "It's not what you think. She was captured, and I saved her in a mission, a story about a rescuer and the rescuee becoming friends."

Mariane nodded a few times, creating puffs of scales. "That's right!" Then, Mariane's eyes fell on Cinderielle, and before they knew it, the moth was in front of the fire sylvan, her black, pearly eyes glittering with excitement. "Such pretty red hair! Such pretty orange eyes! Such a tempting aura! Are you a Fire Sylvan?" 

Cinderielle blinked a few times, not used to being surrounded by the moth's scales. "I am, why?"

Mariane asked with excitement. "Create fire!" 

"What?" 

Ignoring the flabbergasted expression of the three, Mariane asked again. "Create fire!" 

Cinderielle wasn't sure of what was happening, but she extended her hand and created fire. Mariane looked at it, and then… she looked at it some more, and then…! She continued looking at it.

"Hey, Tempestria…" stunned by the current development, she asked. "What's happening?"

Verdantia commented. "Does she have an instinct like a common moth to go close to fire?" 

Tempestria laughed awkwardly. "At least she isn't approaching it to burn herself down."

Cinderielle stopped the fire, and Mariane snapped out of her daze. "That was so pretty! I think it is the best fire I've seen in my life! So pure and nice!" 

Cinderielle thought of something and asked with trepidation. "By the way, how did you get captured in the first place? I can feel that you are relatively strong, right?"

Mariane smiled widely. "Well! They had a pretty light, so I went to see and got captured!" 

The three Sylvan deadpanned. 'I see, her survival instincts are in the negative.'

Tempestria coughed. "So, Mariane, are you up to listening to our offer?"

Mariana walked and sat on a chair, looking at them with a straight back and attentive eyes. "Fire!" 

Verdantia frowned. "What?"

Mariane repeated. "Fire your offer!"

"Oh! Okay, listen then. We want you to work with a creature that's very delicate and unique. While we can't really say what kind of creature she is, I can guarantee that as long as you want to work with something exotic, you will be delighted to work for her."

Mariane tilted her head cutely, her antennae flopping to the side. "Why can't you speak about it?"

Verdantia said. "Well… We are in Fortuna City, so there are quite a lot of unwanted ears."

Mariane exclaimed. "Ohhh! That's the problem? Then…" Mariane stood up and approached the far left wall, leaving a trail of powdery scales behind. Then, with enthusiasm, she smacked the wall. "Bam! Hearing is bad!" 

Cinderielle and Verdantia were about to facepalm, but suddenly, the entire room was covered with runes, and a powerful fluctuation filled the room. Mariane turned around and smiled. "Done! Now we can speak!"

Tempestria looked at their stunned expressions and laughed. "As I said, she is good."

"Good…" Verdantia muttered, feeling incredulous. "The aura fluctuation reminded me of some I've felt in my house… What level are you?"

Mariane smiled widely. "I am Level 28!"

Cinderielle spluttered. "Level WHAT!?"

Mariane's wings fluttered, startled at Cinderielle's shout. She asked, confused. "What's wrong?"

Tempestria smiled wryly. "I understand your feelings, Cinderielle."

The Fire Sylvan spluttered. "No, but with that Level. How does she even get captured?" 

Tempestria looked at the Fire Sylvan with compassion. "I've gone through exactly the same, Cinderielle. I understand it."

Verdantia coughed and changed her attitude. Regardless of Mariane's personality, a Level 28 was already a Second Cycle powerhouse. Her stats were on a completely different level. "Miss Mariane… You are 100% certain that nobody, including the creature in the middle, can't hear us, right?"

Mariane hummed. "You mean World Tree Fortuna? Well, while she is strong, this barrier should be enough to avoid her detection. After all, Fortuna is at a relatively low level, Level 26. Her stats are really high, though… Still, there is no problem."

Verdantia took a deep breath and said. "Mariane, do you want to work with a World Tree?" 

Mariane's black eyes seemed to be filled with stars as she excitedly answered. "YES!" But, right after answering, she became depressed. "But… Fortuna, or well, her representative named Eila Neoflora, won't let me near. Do you have a way?"

Verdantia shook her head. "I don't." Mariane sighed, feeling depressed. Verdantia felt that she had a good chance, so she continued casting the bait. "But, I know a World Tree that will even let you touch her." 

Mariane disappeared and reappeared before Verdantia, grabbing both of her hands. "Really!?" 

Only now did Cinderielle realize that she hadn't been distracted before; Mariane was just too fast for her to follow properly. Verdantia's heart skipped a beat. 'Thankfully, she is friendly. <Second Cycle> Creatures are really no joke.'

Verdantia answered Mariane's question. "Yes. I am not joking. However, you will need to live by the World Tree's side, and leaving will be a bit more limited."

Mariane's eyes flashed, and she smirked. "Oho~? So you want to hire me!" 

Feeling the change in atmosphere, Tempestria advised with a smile. "Don't let appearances deceive you, Verdantia." 

Verdantia's mind paused for a second and realized that she was actually trying to lure a Level 28 as if she were talking with a child. Not only that, but she also gave her important information just because Mariane looked harmless. 

Her eyes widened, and she looked at Mariane, who was now smirking. 'She has managed to lower my guard enough that even after hearing her level, I didn't give it enough importance.' 

Mariane giggled, but instead of sounding innocent, Verdantia could hear the cunningness behind that laugh. "What's wrong, little Life Sylvan? Tell me about everything~."

Cinderielle also noticed that something was wrong, but she didn't say anything because Verdantia's face was enough to tell everyone that she had realized something.

Taking a deep breath, Verdantia said. "Senior, we will never ask you to fight. We just want to create a concealing array or rune field to hide the World Tree's aura. Moreover, being in close contact with her will be beneficial for Senior. Not to mention, I am sure you will receive benefits you would never expect from others. The World Tree is young but gentle, accepting those who take care of her and repaying the debt a thousand-fold. Please, join our group!"

Mariane hummed, her wings buzzing and releasing a cloud of scales. "Tell me the truth~."

Tempestria's energy flowed and a gale pushed all the powder to the corner of the room. "Mariane, please hear her this time. What she said is the truth."

Mariane turned her head. "Most likely, but I like to be sure. I was captured because I was careless once. I don't want a second time to occur. It's quite a shame that a Level 28 like me was captured by a mere group of Level 10 bandits."

Tempestria sighed. "Didn't you exterminate all of them when I liberated you?"

Mariane snorted and turned around, walking to her seat. "And I am grateful about that. However, little Tempestria, what you are asking me is to become the enemy of a Level 26 World Tree and everyone behind them. Fortuna has grown to dominate this area. She has almost no competition. But, now, a new, wild World Tree appeared. If she becomes strong enough to become a public figure, it will be a direct declaration of war with Fortuna City." 

Tempestria promised. "You also have our support, and we've thought of several ways to avoid confrontation, at least until we are strong enough. That World Tree is different, Mariane. She is incredibly strong and is growing at a terrifying rate. She has reached Level 10 in less than two years. How many wild World Trees can do that?" 

Mariane rubbed her chin with one hand while her other three arms crossed in front of her body. "Hm. I'll give it a chance, little Tempestria. However, if I am not satisfied, I will leave. I can promise that I will not reveal anything. However, becoming a prisoner is not my style. Speaking of which, where is this new World Tree?" 

Cinderielle answered. "<Golden Sap Forest>." 

Mariane's antennae twitched. "Oh? No wonder the <Explorer Association> changed the Level limit of that area. They must've noticed that little World Tree's presence. Well, similar to the <Information Flower Garden>, the <Explorer Association> is completely neutral, so unless that World Tree provokes them, they won't reveal her existence to the world."

Cinderielle couldn't help but have a completely new perception of the mothkin. At first, she looked like a distracted and naive woman, but it seemed that when she became serious, her thoughts were deep and complex. 'Really, as Verena said, you can't underestimate anybody.'

Mariane used her four hands and clapped twice. "Okay. However, if you want to protect the World Tree, you must have gathered some people, right?"

Verdantia nodded. "We've created a new group in the Explorer association. We've been gathering a few people."

Mariane hummed. "How many?"

Verdantia shook her head. "There are very few still, around twelve other people: five beastkin, three Sylvans, and four humans. All of them are people that will follow me without a doubt. Levels are all between Level 11 and 15." 

Mariane was impressed. "Such a group gathered by a little Level 11 Sylvan? How?"

Verdantia shrugged. "Benefits. I am confident in keeping them around with the benefits I can provide. Other than that, character. I, or well, we've tested their character a few times, and while we can't be sure, their first impressions are good."

Mariane nodded. "Well, it's not bad. Okay, tell me the benefits."

Verdantia smiled. "I'll tell you one, and not the best benefit. I can help you open your Mental Palace stat."

Mariane's relaxed face was visibly tensed, and even with her inhuman countenance, the change in facial expression was apparent. "That claim is quite bold, little Sylvan."

Cinderielle was stunned. 'To think that such a cute woman can create such an impactful expression.'

Verdantia shrugged. "I gain nothing from deceiving a Level 28 senior." 

Mariane looked at Tempestria, and Tempestria smiled. "As I said, that darling is incredible."

Mariane sighed with a smile. "No wonder someone like you got hooked. I was stunned when you told me since you are quite a free person. You hate to be attached to places, right? After all, you-."

Tempestria coughed. "Enough. Will you come or not, Mariane?"

Mariane stood up and snorted. "After being told that, do you think I am stupid enough to miss the opportunity? Now, you'll bring me there even if you don't want to!" 

Then, her expression returned to the previous one, and she smiled prettily. "Let's go!" 

The three Sylvans didn't know if Mariane was acting or if she was really like this.