Chapter 112. Dríade’s new form

I watched Zeldi leave in silence. The teasing minx knew exactly what she was doing and wasn't at all shy about it. Especially since Madu couldn't see.

"So. What's your plan for the day then?" Madu yawned and stretched. If on purpose or not she managed to pull the material of her top tight against her chest in the process.

Like a good gentleman I only gave her a quick gaze. Just enough to remember the sight.

"Probably find something that would allow me to carry everything to town." I replied quickly to cover and make it seem like I wasn't looking.

Though it was only an excuse the remaining wood from the barn remained and I hadn't found a use for it at all yet. I had an axe. How hard could making a cart of sorts be?

I knew the answer already but that wasn't going to stop me trying.

Madu cocked her head to the side in an adorable display that had her snakes trying to twist around to stay stable. "You don't have anything like that already? I would have thought that was standard for a farm, no?"

"Probably at some point." I said getting up and flashing Madu before I realized my blunder. Again saved by the fact she couldn't see.

My pants were still in my inventory so putting them on didn't take much. I still wanted to kick myself however.

"But due to certain circumstances Zeldi had to sell everything of value to keep herself alive. So anything you think we might have chances are we don't."

"Dam. What about just using your inventory? I know you have one." Madu changed tactics.

"I will be for Tarakona's eggs as they are the most valuable for trade but I don't have enough space in it for Zeldi's milk let alone your venom. So unless I want to make multiple trips I need some way of moving it all." And I'd probably need Voras to pad the inside of whatever I'm using so the bottles don't break.

...And something to pull it.

Asking Zeldi is definitely a no go so maybe I purchase a horse in town? Would have to be a mare as Zeldi would not accept a stallion even if it's a gelding after her previous experience.

What about a cow? I've known a few places that use them instead of horses. Their not as fast nore as durable but for the odd trip and a normal milk supply it would be great... If it produces milk around Tarakona.

Having a Dragon was great for security but having animals would complicate that dynamic. And I wasn't going to ask Tarakona to spend all her time in her room so I needed another plan.

[Good morning my love.]

Speak of the devil.

"Good morning Tarakona. Sleep well?" I ask towards my Dragon as she came into existence outside.

[For the most part. Zeldi and I were having bets on who you would come see after you were done with Voras. I presume she won since you didn't visit me.]

"No neither of you won. Voras wanted to cuddle for the night so I spent it all with her." I returned with a smile. There was something amusing about the girls betting like that.

"So Voras finally got your ass into bed. Took that girl long enough." The unmistakable voice of Dríade came from behind me.

The only problem was she looked completely different to the last time I'd seen her.

Gone were the curves she'd previously possessed and in its place was a brick house of a woman. Muscles dominated her body with glowing green veins that seemed to pulse the harder I looked at them. This only made her seem more like a goblin but I felt like saying that might have been a bad idea.

Her hair had remained the same colour but had been shortened dramatically to the point it was almost there just so she wasn't bald. She also had large leafs over her breasts and privates.

The last change was that instead of the beautiful orange and black wings she use to have, Dríade had twin tentacles on each side with some wicked spikes on the end coming out of her back.

It was so at odds with the clearly feminine voice she had.

In my surprise I forgot to answer the Dryad. Thankfully Madu was there.

"I'd know that voice anywhere. Une plante meurtrière (murderous plant). How are you Dríade? Kill anyone fun lately?"

Dríade returned the sassy look Madu sent her way even though the Gorgon couldn't see her. "Ah... You're here now Madu."

"And what were you expecting? A unicorn?" Madu hummed. "Or perhaps you wanted to be taken like Voras?"

"Do unicorns exist?" I interrupted as my curiosity got the better of me.

[Yes they do my love. Just don't go touching their horns. I don't know why but some people think that they're some holy relic or something, probably from the pure white they all seem to have on their bodies. In reality it's no different to Madu's fang, just a sharp tool for injecting poison into their prey. Though they're not so subtle about hiding it.]

Noted. Don't touch the horn.

"Knowing you? I'd almost expect you to make a unicorn body just to stab someone. Ou bien serais-tu devenu plus indulgent avec l'âge?.(Or perhaps you've got more lenient with age?)" Madu continued her insulting match like I hadn't said anything.

"And you still don't know how to talk with just one language. Does that ever get boring with no one understanding you?" Dríade let out a sigh before turning to me and ignoring Madu. "Can you change your trespassing to allow other Dryad's to come in please? I've found a few that are more than happy to move so long as I show them I can be a Grove mother."

"No problem." I said internally bringing up the requirements. "Is there anything you need prepared for them? Like do they need water or I don't know, bees? I'm sure there's some way to get a hive onto the farm."

For the first time in a while Dríade let out a chuckle. "While I appreciate the sentiment Clovek, Dryad's reproduce using our bodies not our flowers."

Ah. Yip really should have known that.

"Though a farm of some sort would be great if you don't mind. As much fun as my room would be I'm pretty sure most of them will like the real sun on their bodies since their trees will have the fake one and having something to do will stop them causing mischief."

That reminds me. I still haven't seen the inside of her room yet. I doubt she'd let me now but in the future? Would be interesting to see what a Dryad considers a perfect room.

"Any recommendations for a farm then?" I asked to cover for the fact my mind was wandering.

Dríade shrugged and her tentacles behind her followed the movement. "Whatever it is I'll make them share it with you, though I hope I won't have to order them in the first place. If all goes well they should see you as a guardian of the Grove mother and that will cement you as a valuable member of the Grove, it will also allow you to ask for anything from them without having to go through me."

"Wait a minute! You're allowing Dríade to be a Grove mother?!" Madu burst out having understood where the conversation was going.

"Uuuum. Yes." I shrugged not seeing the problem.

"And you know what that means right?!" Madu continued.

"Oh buzz off Madu. It's not like anything bad is going to happen." Dríade growled.

[It would be in her best interest if nothing that could threaten Clovek was to happen. Your concern is noted Madu but I can safely say Dríade won't do anything bad. If for no other reason than I will destroy her tree.]

"But if Clovek starts a Dryad's Grove right here you know what will happen right?" Madu turned to Tarakona through the door. "You know what will come?"

[And that won't get onto the farm because of Clovek's power. Not to mention that if anything does decide to threaten him because of the Grove it would be Dríade's job to get rid of it as their Grove mother.]

Madu seemed to consider that for a moment as Dríade herself pursed her lips.

[It would also help in Voras's quest to unite the Deeds. If the condition for the Dryad's trees safety is that they free other Livestock and bring them and the Deeds back here, there would be very little stopping them.]

Ah yes my unkillable army. Was definitely looking forward to that part.

"The village close to us will also grow." Dríade sighed like she didn't want it to happen. "With knowledge that so many Dryad's are in one place it will bring in traders from all over hoping to get our fruit. When they realize a successful Deed is also here that will only expedite the process."

"I'm missing something here." I piped in. "To my knowledge there is no downside to a Dryad's Grove. Dríade gets to be the Grove mother which seems like her dream, I get effectively some free farm hands that can produce fruit and only want safety for their trees."

"Something that my personal room almost guarantees." Dríade nodded.

"Exactly. Not to mention if they're all as murder hobo as Dríade herself is they act as our own security enforcement."

Tarakona scoffed but didn't say anything. Having a Dragon was just as effective.

"So why are you hesitant Madu?"

Madu let out a long sigh. "Because whenever a Grove mother starts to come into power there are inevitably people that want to take it. Dryad Groves are not something to be taken lightly Master Clovek. A single Grove can redirect Ley lines away from their original place just from their presence alone. I've heard stories of multiple Ley lines all converging on a previous Grove even after the Grove mother was killed."

A pressure formed in my head at the mention of Ley lines.

Get the Dryad's. Now!