"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Standing in front of Ashton was a tiny creature wearing a regal outfit. She's about ten inches tall and has blue butterfly wings that scatter golden specks of dust whenever it flutters.
Her skin was fair, her eyes were all green and antennas were protruding from her forehead. She's also wearing a golden crown as well as a bright scarlet dress that hugged the figures of her body.
This is Fairy Queen Natasha, the loyal subject and advisor he received from the system as a reward for helping the El-Tree with its rebirth.
[Fairy Queen Natasha]
Type: Direct Subordinate/Advisor
Description:
: She is born of the El-Tree, sworn by a duty to protect it and assist the Imperial Fey Bloodline. Natasha's life is linked with the El-Tree so whatever happens to it, happens to her as well.
: Non-Aggression Pact — one of Natasha's authorities. While in the presence of her and the El-Tree, no form of aggression shall transpire.
: Fairy Garden — Natasha can bless a plot of land, granting it a unique form of sentience, allowing her to give birth to her subordinates.
: Lost Paradise — At the expense of her own life, Natasha can rewind time up to a certain point. All who died will be revived once the spell was cast and everyone who's affected by this spell and is considered Natasha's ally will retain their memories before the rewind.
'Damn, she's one hell of a gift.' Ashton mused to himself.
He cleared his throat and dismissed the System's description.
"Welcome to this world, Fairy Queen Natasha. How do you feel?" He asked.
"Strange." She replied, looking around her with a curious yet calculating gaze. "This world feels familiar yet also unfamiliar to me."
"Do you remember anything from your past?"
"Only blurry snippets, which might as well be none at this point." She sighed, sounding a bit regretful. "It is of no importance to me anymore though. Whatever it was that happened back then, it already happened. It's no use clinging to it. Let bygones be bygones."
"...I see." Ashton nodded. Well, at least she had no lingering attachments. This should allow her to tend to her new life with all of her being.
Natasha looked behind her and saw the sapling of the El-Tree. Ashton saw how her eyes lost focus for a bit.
She flew towards it subconsciously. Right now, the sapling was even smaller at her, yet Natasha still worshipped it like its holiest thing in here. She touched it gently and the sapling leaned into her touch.
A smile appeared on her face before she withdrew her hand and flew back to where Ashton was.
"My deepest apologies, Your Majesty. I was unable to help myself when I saw the young sapling of the El-Tree."
"It's fine. I am aware that you're intrinsically linked to it so I don't blame you for reacting this way." He replied.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Natasha bowed to him again.
"I know that you don't recall much from your previous lives but I am curious, how do I help the El-Tree grow faster? Like, what do I need?" Ashton asked.
He asked because the System won't tell him. Yes, this is the first time that this has happened.
[El-Tree Sapling]
Type: Supreme World-Class Treasure
Description:
: A tree that possesses Innate Divinity. Worshipped by the Fey Race as their omnipotent god and benefactor. This tree is capable of many things, but most of its abilities are sealed right now due to it being a mere sapling still.
: Nature's Domain — a 500-meter field that naturally forms with the sapling at its core. Within this field, nature will surely thrive and life will always be abundant.
: Natural Filter — within the same field of Nature's Domain, the sapling could also filter all sorts of foul energies into something beneficial not only for its growth but also for the benefit of those around it.
: (Sealed)
Usually, at the end of the description for his Beneficiaries, he will see what are the available upgrades and enhancements for them. If he focused on it, the system will show him the resources he needed to complete each upgrade.
That's not what's happening here. There's nothing for him to see other than the path itself. The System didn't tell him what he needed to make those happen so he could only hope that Natasha could tell him something useful.
"Your Majesty, the growth of the El-Tree depends on the status of this world. The healthier this world is, the faster it will grow. Of course, supplements containing a dense amount of nutrition could be used to assist with its growth."
"The first method will be a little tricky to achieve while the other method could become expensive real quick." Ashton nodded to himself.
Well, good this he expected this much.
He wasn't surprised since he's already prepared for this kind of reply. After all, the El-Tree isn't simple. How can it be easy to nurture it to full maturity?
"Pardon me, Your Majesty. But something has been bothering me for quite some time now." Natasha said.
"What is it?" Ashton asked.
"I...I can sense some foul presence. It's putrid and repulsive. I wonder where it's coming from?"
"Ah, that..." Ashton understood what she was feeling. "That's because of the invaders."
Then, Ashton began telling her a simplified story of who the invaders were and their purpose. He also told her what he's been up to ever since and also revealed his intentions to her, all in one go.
"...and that's pretty much it."
"I see...so that's why I can only sense you. I initially thought some Feys survived but it turns out that you're the last one left." Natasha sounded somber.
"That's also why I said that making this world healthy would be tricky since it had been descrated by the invaders for a very long time. I am trying to help Humanity to reach its golden age so that we can eliminate the invaders once and for all."
Ashton didn't mind telling her all about this. From the System's description of Natasha, she's to be his advisor, thus she's entitled to information he knows if he wants her help.
"...this battle, this war...it might last for an eternity, Your Majesty."
"I don't mind." Ashton firmly replied. "I've sworn an oath to myself. If I have to wage this war all by myself, I would do so. I don't want them here. I don't want them to continue existing. I want them gone. And if achieving that means that I will die on this hill, then I welcome it with open arms. I don't want my life to be meaningless."
Natasha was stunned. It was only now that she truly felt the pride of an Emperor from Ashton.
Deep down, she initially held some reservations against him. It's mostly because of his impure blood and his youth. But after hearing his declaration and his goals, feeling the regal pressure of a ruler and the gair of an Emperor emanating from him, all of her doubts disappeared.
His Imperial Fey Bloodline thrummed within him in response to his ambitions. That's enough to force anyone, and yes even the Ancient Fey included, that he is indeed the successor of the Fey Emperor.
"I'm willing to lend you my aid, Your Majesty. Rest assured." Natasha said.
"Thank you. I appreciate that. But for the most part, you can just attend this place. I don't know if you've noticed it yet but this location is going to be really important later on. After all, the El-Tree Sapling's neighbor is a Dragon Vein."
Natasha scattered her senses for a bit and discovered that what Ashton said was indeed the truth. There is a Dragon Vein here.
"I see. Then, may I ask Your Majesty to give me some plot of land so I can give birth to my children?"
"Sure. This pocket dimension is pretty large. Just pick a spot and claim it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. And please, don't hesitate to look for me should you need another perspective. I'd always be here, tending to the El-Tree."
"I will." Ashton nodded and watched as Natasha flew towards a spot where she can establish a Fairy Garden.
Once she was out of sight, Ashton opened up his inventory to check the other item he received from the System.
[Verdant Veil of Discord]
Type: Territorial Defensive Formation
Description:
: A formation that distorts the visions of the Truth-Seeking Fiends.
: Dissonance — Distorts the visions received by those who have ill-intent to you and your territory.
: Plunder — Once Dissonance was triggered, you will receive the visions instead. The visions you will receive will be about them.
: Sacrificial Hex — the sacrifices your enemies needed to calculate your and your people's fate will be doubled.
Ashton's eyes started shining when he read the description of this new item. Now, this is something that he could truly use. He's confident that with this, the invaders will start laying off on their sneaky methods.
'I might as well install this as soon as I can.'
This is what Ashton thought before disappearing from the pocket dimension.
