The Governor of Nature

Cozy was hard at work. Her Love Magic was coursing through the hydra’s own mind, with a goal of pacifying its emotions within and keeping it subdued. She thought she was doing a pretty great job, while the other two were busy punching it in the face.

At least, she was, until vines sprouted out of the ground and dragged her to the floor.

“AGH-! HEY!”

Cozy grunted as she got dragged to the floor. Looking around, she noticed everyone else around her being dragged to the ground by these vines as well.

“Liana…?”

Teddie’s voice spoke out, looking over, she saw a woman in a pure white coming towards the group. She was beautiful and stunning, with a gorgeous set of flowers embroidered around her dress.

The issue is, Cozy had no idea who this person was.

“You know this person?” Cozy said to Teddie. “Why is she here?”

“We… We met her at the inn! Adelyn and I, it’s just… uh… I didn’t know she was here-” Teddie began to stumble over his words.

“That doesn’t answer the question of why she’s here!” Edward said back. “That would be important to know!”

“Uhhh… umm…” Teddie began to struggle on his words. As he tried to speak, Cozy felt the vines around her fall apart. Freeing her. The others also were released from their traps, without much hassle.

“If Teddie is here, I’d like to believe you didn’t attack my hydra for no reason,” Liana said. “He seems to appreciate animals as much as I do. I will let you explain yourself.”

They looked back to the hydra, which was still tied down. It was thrashing at the vines that grappled it and trying to escape.

“It sure doesn’t seem happy to see you if it’s yours,” Cozy said, walking towards the pure white girl.

“Yes, that is odd,” Liana said. “It’s normally not so hostile.”

“Well… we fought it because it attacked us as soon as we saw it,” Adelyn walked behind Cozy. “That thing is crazy fast, you know!”

Cozy knew that Adelyn wasn’t entirely being truthful. But she understood where she was coming from. Cozy figured that this lady was far more powerful than them if she was keeping such a beast as her pet. Might as well try and stay on her good side.

“Yes, you could say that. If your beast is this rabid, you probably shouldn’t have it running off on its own,” Cozy said. “You’re lucky we were the ones that found it.”

“I suppose so,” Liana sighed, turning her attention back to Cozy. Though, Cozy noticed that Teddie was heading towards the angry hydra head.

“Hey! Teddie” Adelyn said, noticing too. “Don’t come too close to it, it could be dangerous!”

Adelyn left Cozy’s side to chase after Teddie, but Cozy decided to focus on the lady of the hour. Luckily, Edward finally got back up and took off his mask, taking Adelyn’s place.

“So,” Cozy said. “It seems like you’ve met the other two but… who exactly are you? I don’t think Ed or I have met you yet.”

“Teddie didn’t speak about me? Ahh unfortunate, we had quite the fascinating concert. I am Liana, some might say I’m the guardian of the forest,” the lady replied. “The hydra is my pet.”

“Your pet has issues,” Ed said. “It wasn’t just us, it was terrorizing the entire city. People were freaking out.”

“Oh really?” Liana responded. “I don’t go into Verdant due to a few differences I have with the governor, I had no idea. Normally my boys are very well-behaved.”

“...hm,” Cozy thought for a moment. “Well, we subdued him for you. So, I hope you’re happy with that. You need to give him some further training, but…”

Cozy put her finger up.

“You said you had disagreements with the governor? Do you know him personally?”

“Yes, or well… I used to,” Liana said. “We are no longer on good terms. Teddie already asked about this, my word likely means nothing to him.”

Cozy figured that might be the case. However, then and now were likely totally different times. Especially with everything they’ve done.

“I’m sure he’ll listen to you if you prove what we did,” Cozy said. “We managed to pacify your raging beast throughout the city. If you bring that up to him, then he might listen especially if it was your raging beast.”

“Tch,” Liana seemed annoyed at the implication. “My beasts do not rage through cities like monsters.”

“Yet one just did, I think you ought to take a little, tiny bit of responsibility for that?” Cozy responded. “And since we were so kind to take care of this mess for you, I think you owe us a little favor.”

“You put the beast to sleep,” Liana responded. “We don’t even know if he will be calmed once he reawakens-”

As the two of them argued, a song began to fill the air. A quiet, soft, but familiar tune with notes that were pleasant to the ear. It was relaxing, as if it calmed the tension in the air immediately. Everyone turned to the sound, and saw the source. The hydra head was no longer raging, and it was instead relaxing… singing along too. The hydra’s notes matched Teddie’s exactly, as the harmony spread throughout the scene.

“There, there. It’s okay now. I’m sorry we had to fight, I hope we can be friends again,” Teddie said, patting the hydra on the cheek.

“What was the song you sang?” Liana said, looking at Teddie. “I’ve never heard that one in my life before… but it felt familiar.”

“Well… I used one of your songs,” Teddie said. “I just… changed a few things. It seemed to help calm him down a little bit.”

Liana seemed to pause for a moment. She looked at Teddie, then looked at Cozy again. Then she nodded.

“I’ll take you to see him,” Liana said.

***

“This place gives me goosebumps,” Adelyn said, seeming a little bit nervous.

“I hate this place too, don’t worry,” Liana responded. The group walked forwards past the large gate that protected the entrance of the massive steel prison in the center of the City of Nature. Even getting past the front gate, the atmosphere was hostile.

Dozens of guards lined up across the walls, making sure nothing gets in or out. Glowing plants sprawled across the walls for light seemed to be the only vegetation, as the courtyard itself was a dark brown dirt.

Cozy never really minded these kinds of places. She would likely have to deal with harsh environments when engaging in trade as a merchant, so it was no use getting bothered by the ambience.

They stepped in front of the main building, and a guard approached them.

“Care to explain why you’re here, ma’am?” he said.

“My name is Liana, I know your governor. I believe these four deserve a reward for their efforts as a result of their actions,” Liana said.

“Hah? These four kids? What exactly did they do to deserve the governor’s time?”

“They put a stop to the hydra,” Liana said. “I believe that is worth his time.”

The guard seemed to raise his eyebrow, still suspicious.

“Do you have any proof of such a claim?” The guard said. “We don’t just give out rewards for free-”

“No, Jathos. It’s fine, you can let her in,” a smooth, deep voice spoke behind the guard, and the door to the front of the prison opened. “It’s been a while, Liana.”

A tall man in a white suit stepped out of the door. He had a very relaxed smile, complemented by his unkempt green hair. His hands were placed together as a sign of authority.

“Hello, Custos,” Liana said.

“You’re the only person to not call me Governor, I miss those days.”

The atmosphere was cold. The group was brought into an office, and kindly ordered to have a seat. Liana and Custos stared directly at each other from the opposite sides of the grand table. The paintings of various beasts were laid about on the walls of the office, as a set of papers were stacked on Custos’ end. The rest of the kids awkwardly sat alongside Liana, as the tension between the two began to stretch thin.

“So!” Cozy clapped her hands. “We’re here to talk, right?”

Her voice broke through the silence that cursed the room until now. She figured that leading the conversation would do her well.

“I suppose you are, yes. I brought you all in for a reason, regardless,” Custos said, pulling out a paper. “You are the crew who supposedly defeated the hydra, yes?”

“Yes, obviously,” Cozy said. “Isn’t that right, guys?”

Adelyn, Edward, and Teddie all nodded in agreement.

“So,” Cozy continued. “Isn’t it fair for us to ask for a tiny little reward? Especially for such a big task?”

“I suppose you deserve some form of reward. What do you wish for?” Custos responded. At that moment, Cozy nudged Adelyn, as if urging her to speak.

“Oh, uh,” Adelyn spoke. “Well, if you didn’t know. There is a girl within the capital that I wish to meet. We’ve been separated, and I want to meet her again. I got her stuck in there… and put her in all of this mess, so I want to save her.”

“So,” Edward spoke up. “We want your approval to let us in the capital. At that point, we can get out of your hair.”

“Mmm,” Custos said, looking at the group of kids. “Can’t grant that to you, unfortunately.”

“““What?!”””

Cozy, Adelyn, and Edward all spoke up at the outrage. Though, Cozy signalled the other two to stand down. This was her territory.

“Why not?” Cozy asked. “That creature was NOT easy to take down, I’ll have you know. If it was terrorizing your city, then you ought to grant us this one favor at least.”

“I don’t think such an approval can be given out for such a relatively small task,” Custos said. “You cut off a small branch of a much bigger tree.”

How annoying, thought Cozy. All of that work just to be told no?

“What do you mean, a much bigger tree?” Cozy responded. “If we solve that, then can we get approval?”

“Perhaps, but you’d need to figure out a way to start. And I don’t necessarily believe four wandering children will have the solution. But someone else might,” Custos said, before looking towards Liana.

“Me?” Liana said. “Why are you looking at me?”

“Liana. The hydra is not the only one of your beasts that have been acting aggressive,” Custos says. “Do I need to mention the Burrows attacking those in the city? Or your groups of Cultivator Ants suddenly becoming aggressive? That endangers the balance we’ve brought about in Verdant already.”

“Those are herbivorous! They have very little reason to be attacking people like that! Hell, even the hydra is an omnivore, it’s not like it WANTS to attack people for food.”

“Yet here we are. Multiple incidents, and these animals can definitely be traced back to you, rather than the domesticated ones in the city. You need to do something about them, lest we have to imprison them.”

Liana seemed severely offended at the suggestion. She immediately blew off the idea in a quick fashion.

“I’m not letting you lock up my creatures, just because they’re a little bit aggressive. Do you know why I even bothered to come here in the first place?”

Liana proceeded to point at Teddie, and the boy was left in a bit of nervousness at being suddenly put into the spotlight.

“This boy knows a song that can calm the animals. I saw him use it on the hydra. I figured that if you were reasonable you could let the beasts you’ve forced into this trap go free once you use his magic to calm them down!”

“Uh… yeah. I do know a song…” Teddie weakly said. While this argument was going on, Cozy had gotten up from the table. It was a little bit disrespectful, but she thought better when she was standing.

“...hm,” Custos paused, but then shook his head. “Then what happens if they become feral again? This only seems like a temporary solution.”

“So you’re going to keep them locked up in here forever?” Liana said. “The Governor of Nature keeps animals trapped in a cage. How fitting!”

“It is necessary. If you don’t want them to be trapped in a cage then you ought to teach them to not attack humans! I keep as many animals as free as possible so we can work with them for a better Verdant. Do you not understand the definition of harmony?”

The atmosphere was getting more uncomfortable the more the two of them argued. Adelyn, Teddie, and Edward looked completely lost in this scenario. However, as it seemed to be heating up, Cozy raised her voice.

“Alright! I know you guys are arguing, but, there’s something on my mind,” Cozy said, before turning to Liana. “You know about the Cultivator Ants, yes? I presume they work on the plants?”

“...yes,” Liana seemed miffed at the interruption, but she answered. “They manage and adhere to the roots of the plants, providing them with nutrients and allowing them to blossom even further.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Cozy said. “The other thing—I noticed that it felt like the Hydra appeared suddenly out of the lake. As if it just formed spontaneously. However, such a beast would obviously need to get around, right? And that thing is massive.”

Cozy snapped her fingers.

“What does the hydra do to get around without causing mass panic?”

“...well,” Liana said. “I taught it to burrow through the ground, under the city. It has the ability to alter its own size, so it is unlikely to cause much alarm if it does that.”

“Bingo,” Cozy said, clapping her hands together. “With that confirmed I can now say, I have an idea on how to fix this.”