Riku's mind raced, analyzing the situation with lightning speed. The fairies' focused chanting and the pulsating flower suggested a delicate and potentially volatile ritual. A direct confrontation with their numbers could be risky. A swift, targeted approach was needed.
His hand flashed, retrieving Igris's card. The crimson knight materialized instantly, his imposing form a stark contrast to the delicate beauty of the fairies. "Igris," Riku commanded in a low, urgent whisper, his gaze fixed on the adorned fairy Levi had identified as their leader. "Your priority target is the one hovering slightly above the others, the one with the ornate staff. Move swiftly, silently. Secure her. Place your blade gently at her neck, a clear threat, but do not harm her unless they initiate aggression. Return to my side with her immediately upon my signal."
He then turned to Levi, his voice equally urgent. "Levi, climb the tallest tree directly in front of the clearing. Position yourself where you have a clear line of sight but remain completely hidden within the foliage. Be ready to attack instantly if anything unusual happens – any sudden surge of magic, any aggressive movements from the other fairies. Otherwise, remain concealed and observe."
Riku's mind was already several steps ahead, anticipating potential complications. "Listen carefully," he continued, his voice barely a whisper. "If, for any reason, this goes wrong after we understand their purpose – if they become hostile – Igris will grab me, and we will move at maximum speed in the opposite direction of the village. The fairies will likely pursue. That's your cue. Use your ODM gear to reach the village immediately. If any fairies follow us, intercept them and eliminate them swiftly before they can complete their chanting or reach the village. Understood?"
Levi, his eyes wide as he absorbed Riku's rapid-fire instructions, could only nod in stunned admiration. The sheer speed of Riku's analysis and the intricate layers of his plan left him momentarily speechless. "Understood, Dola," he finally managed, a newfound respect gleaming in his eyes.
Riku had already considered multiple contingency plans – escape routes, diversionary tactics, even a potential full-scale engagement if necessary. But his primary goal was information, and minimal bloodshed.
"Alright, Igris," Riku commanded, his gaze locked on the adorned fairy. "Go."
Igris moved with a speed that defied his size. One moment he was beside Riku, the next he was a crimson blur, seemingly disappearing and reappearing in the blink of an eye directly behind the fairy leader. Before the other fairies could even register the sudden intrusion, Igris's massive hand had gently but firmly grasped the tiny fairy, his wickedly sharp blade resting against her delicate throat.
A collective gasp, a wave of startled cries and panicked fluttering, rippled through the gathered fairies. Their melodic chanting abruptly ceased, replaced by a chaotic surge of fear and confusion. The soft glow of the central flower seemed to dim momentarily, reflecting the sudden turmoil among its worshippers.
"Don't worry, fairies," Riku called out, his voice calm but carrying a firm authority. "We didn't come here to harm you in any way." He paused, his gaze sweeping over their startled faces. "But of course, if you do anything suspicious now, we will harm you."
Both Igris and Levi, concealed high in the branches of the tree, were momentarily dumbfounded. The language Riku had just spoken was completely alien to their ears, a series of melodic clicks and whistles they couldn't comprehend.
The fairy held captive by Igris, her delicate form trembling slightly, tilted her head, her large, multifaceted eyes fixed on Riku. In the same melodic clicks and whistles, she responded, "What are you after?"
"We only want to know what you are doing here," he replied in the same fluid, melodic tongue. "No more, and certainly no less. Answer truthfully, and we will let all of you go unharmed. Lie, or attempt any deception, and the consequences will be… unpleasant." He had no genuine interest in their purpose beyond fulfilling the System's objective of acquiring that information. The safety of his village and the acquisition of knowledge were his only concerns.
A wave of hushed whispers rippled through the remaining fairies, their delicate wings fluttering nervously. Their large, multifaceted eyes darted between Riku, the imposing figure of Igris holding their leader captive, and the silent, unseen presence of Levi in the trees above. The magical energy that had permeated the clearing moments before now felt brittle, charged with fear and uncertainty.
The captured fairy, despite her initial shock, quickly regained a measure of composure. Her violet eyes, large and luminous, fixed on Riku with an intense scrutiny. She seemed to be assessing his sincerity, weighing the threat posed by the silent giant holding her against the seemingly calm demeanor of the human speaking her language.
"Why do you speak our tongue?" she finally asked, her voice a melodic series of clicks and whistles, tinged with suspicion. "You are not of the Fey."
"I have my ways," Riku replied evenly, offering no further explanation. "Answer my question. What is the purpose of this gathering? What is the significance of the glowing flower?"
The fairy hesitated, her gaze flicking towards the pulsating flower as if seeking guidance. A silent communication seemed to pass between her and the other fairies, a subtle shift in their posture, a barely perceptible tremor in their wings.
"We are… nurturing the Bloom of Everlife," the captured fairy finally stated, her voice still carrying a note of apprehension. "It is a sacred flower, a source of potent magic and renewal for our kind. Once a year, under the convergence of the twin moons, we gather to channel our energies into it, ensuring its vitality and the continued prosperity of our groves."
Riku listened intently, his mind sifting through the information. A source of potent magic and renewal… the convergence of the twin moons… It sounded like a significant event, one that could potentially have far-reaching consequences.
"And what happens when this… nurturing is complete?" Riku pressed, his gaze unwavering.
The fairy hesitated again, her violet eyes clouding with a hint of concern. "Its bloom will release a wave of pure life energy, revitalizing the surrounding lands and replenishing our connection to the natural world. However…" Her voice trailed off, a note of unease creeping in.
"However?" Riku prompted, sensing her reluctance.
"However," the fairy continued, her gaze flickering towards the edge of the clearing, "the energy attracts… other things. Creatures drawn to potent magic. Sometimes… unwelcome visitors."
A chill ran down Riku's spine. Unwelcome visitors drawn to potent magic. In this world, that could mean anything from territorial beasts to entities of immense and terrifying power. The fairies' ritual, meant for renewal, could inadvertently draw danger to their doorstep, and potentially, to the vicinity of their village.
He glanced at Levi, still hidden in the branches above, and then at Igris, the silent giant holding the fairy leader captive. Their presence here might have inadvertently interrupted a delicate balance, or perhaps they had arrived just in time to witness the prelude to a greater threat.
"Tell me more about these… unwelcome visitors," Riku pressed, his voice firm. "What kind of creatures are drawn to this energy?" He needed to understand the potential danger, not just for the fairies, but for his own village as well. The answer to this question would dictate their next move.
The captured fairy, her voice gaining a fragile strength, elaborated on the nature of the "unwelcome visitors." "They are drawn by the raw life energy," she explained, her violet eyes wide with a primal fear. "Creatures of shadow and hunger. Beings that thrive on the very essence of life. They are normally dormant, dwelling in the deeper parts of the forest, but the Bloom's awakening… it stirs them. Makes them bold."
She spoke of shadowy beasts with insatiable appetites, their forms shifting and indistinct, capable of draining the life force from living beings with a mere touch. She described entities that whispered promises of power, preying on the desperation of weaker creatures, twisting them into monstrous servants. She spoke of a creeping darkness that suffocated the land, leaving behind only withered husks. The fairies, though attuned to the natural world, were fragile, their magic primarily focused on nurturing and healing, ill-suited for direct combat against such entities. This annual ritual, while vital for their survival, was also a period of great vulnerability.
Levi, perched high in the branches, listened intently, his usual dismissive attitude towards magical beings slowly eroding as the gravity of the situation became apparent. Igris remained a silent, imposing threat, his crimson eyes never leaving the captive fairy, his very presence a deterrent to any rash actions from the others. Both were poised to unleash their full power at Riku's command, ready to obliterate the delicate beings below if the situation turned hostile.
But Riku's mind was already formulating a different approach. Annihilation was a last resort, a blunt instrument that could have unforeseen consequences. He had the information he needed for the System's quest. Now, a more nuanced solution was required.
As the fairy finished her explanation, a subtle blue notification flickered in Riku's vision, confirming the completion of the quest objective. He now understood the purpose of the fairies' gathering and the potential danger it posed.
'Ten days,' Riku thought, calculating rapidly based on the fairy's description of the lunar convergence. 'It will take approximately ten days for the Bloom to fully awaken and release its energy. Ten days until these… shadow creatures are drawn to this location.' That was a critical timeframe.
"Alright," Riku said, his voice calm and authoritative, addressing the gathered fairies. "I want all of you to move fifty meters away from this clearing. Now."
A collective murmur of confusion rippled through the fairies. The captured leader tilted her head, her violet eyes questioning. "Why? What are you planning to do?"
"It's so that Igris and I can leave this area without being easily tracked," Riku stated, his gaze firm. "We have no further business here, but we need to ensure our departure doesn't lead any unwanted attention back to our… home." He deliberately kept his explanation vague, not wanting to reveal the existence or location of his village.
Suddenly, another fairy, smaller and more agitated than the others, cried out in their melodic tongue, "They're lying! They're going to take our leader hostage! They're going to steal the Bloom's energy!" Panic flared in her voice, spreading rapidly through the assembled fairies.
"That is not my intention," Riku said, his voice cutting through the rising alarm. "But you will obey my instructions, whether you agree with them or not. Igris," he gestured to the silent knight, "will ensure your compliance. Disobey, and you will face consequences you cannot imagine." He made no explicit mention of Levi, but the silent, unseen threat in the trees was a clear implication.
Despite their fear and confusion, the fairies, faced with the imposing reality of Igris and Riku's unwavering command, began to slowly, reluctantly, follow his instructions. With a collective flutter of wings and hushed whispers of protest, they retreated fifty meters from the clearing, their luminous forms creating an eerie glow in the surrounding darkness, their eyes still fixed warily on Riku and their captive leader. The clearing, once vibrant with their magical energy, now felt strangely empty, the pulsating Bloom of Everlife sitting unguarded in its center.