"In other words keep your guard up. We might have something dangerous waiting for us in the mushroom part of the forest," I add. Everyone seems a bit more on edge after that. A few more hours pass and we finally make our way into the mushroom heart of this forest. 

   Entering into this part of the forest is unlike anywhere else I've seen before and feels truly fantastical. We see all of the mana spirits up ahead gathered around forming a large congregation almost. I would say that the sight of it was amazing if not for the fact that this almost feels like some kind of trap we're walking into. But the sound of the singing is greatest here as all of the spirits seem to be joining along in a form of celebration it would seem. 

   As we enter into the clearing at the center of the forest where all of the spirits have gathered we see the one who seems to have drawn them here the leading them in song. It is a little 2ft tall mushroom man who looks absolutely adorable wearing wooden bark armor and holding a stone spear. Father seems confused, "A Mushroom Dryad? I was told they all went extinct in this area." He seems to visibly relax almost as if he feels as if there is no danger. I would feel the same to an extent considering dryads in all the history books tend to be rather peaceful and helpful even.

   Then the singing stops and as silence fills the air the dryad looks towards us. He seems to lock eyes with me and I noticed that he slowly begins to smile as if he saw an old friend. He says in the cutest voice while trying to seem like a noble knight, "Welcome my lord to my humble home. I felt your presents when you entered the forest and I called forth all of your children. My name is Sir Redshroom and I am one of the last of the mushroom dryads of this forest. I have waited for a long time for you to come here your majesty. I hope my manners are no too outdated." 

   Everyone seems to confuse to step forward but then I can feel the voice in my head come back. He tells me, "You can trust him. He sees the power within us and recognizes who we are to the spirits."

   I look nervously around as everyone doesn't really know how to respond since they don't seem to know who he could be talking to. Father is about to say something when I cut him off, "Are you speaking to me?" Everyone gives me a look as they seem to be worried about what the hell I might be doing. Sir Redshroom confirms, "Yes your majesty. The power you have is familiar to my people. Our ancestors once told us about you in your past life. Your story of how you saved our kind was passed down through the generations. We were told that one day you may return and to keep it this place ready for you so you may retrieve what was once given to us to keep safe."

   I begin to step forward but father grabs me. He gives me a worried look but I return it with a smile to let him know that everything was going to be okay. I grab onto his hand and pull him forward with me. As I approach all of the mana spirits do their best to bow as if royalty was in front of them as they slowly move out of the way so that I can walk up to the large mushroom pedestal that the dryad was standing on.

   I look at the mushroom man and ask, "You say your ancestors told you about me..... What did they say?" 

   He gives a smile and holds out his hand for a shake and as I do I feel this connection to him and to the whole forest that wasn't there a moment ago. When I let go he begins to tell me an old myth of myself or rather of the voice in my head, "For eons our people were friends to the Father of Dragons who traveled the realms and beyond. He was a kind ally to us. When the Cataclysm of Worlds happen and all hope seems lost as many of us had fallen he remembered and came to our rescue. He fought our attackers and gives them a swift end. It is said that he then gathered our ancestors onto his mighty back and flew through the realms to this world where he had deemed it safe for us to start anew and re-establish our people. After the cataclysm had ended he returned the one final time to us and entrusted us with the protection of an item of great importance to him so that in his next a lot when we would meet him again we could return it to him. Though time has not been kind to my people the few of us that remain have sought to honor our promise. If you would allow me to return to you what was given it would bring me great pride to see my ancestors will fulfilled?"

   I looked at him and I could see behind his smile was pain. Though this was a moment of joy for him I could tell that his life has not been kind to him. I wondered, "Why are you so sad Sir Redshroom?" 

   The question confused him and everyone else but his smile faded and he sat down on the top of the mushroom and looked over all of the giant ones around us. He answered, "My home is so lonely now. Each one of these is mushroom you see here is a ancestor or family member of mine. This one I am standing on is my younger brother. Once our people were many but now after several attacks from brigands and wicked warlocks many of us have died and become one with the forest. Most of our young have yet to awaken to fill the void left by those who have now passed on. My own children have yet to awaken and my beloved is no longer with me as she has passed and become the great big mushroom behind me. There are only a few of us left here and they often go for long trips through the forest what the only occasionally one or two not returning. My people are dying out and I fear that all of them will be gone before my life ends."

   I pick him up and I give him a hug. I pat him on the back gently and reassure him, "It is okay noble dryad you need not fear any longer. From this day forward your people shall be safe. I will make sure of it."

   Hearing my words I can feel the tension throughout his body release and he begins to cry. He hugs me very tightly and I just comfort him. Father began to gently pat him on his mushroom capped head. 

   He was able to relate to him, "I too know the feeling of losing friends and family to war and cruelty noble knight. Sometimes the pain of loss that can become unbearable and threatens to swallow us whole. You are quite remarkable for being able to hold on for so long. I am certain that your people must be proud of you."

   The adorable looking mushroom man tried to give him a hug while in my arms which my father just gave him a pat on the back. Seeing this all of my friends came over to look at Sir Redshroom a bit closer now that they no longer see him as a threat and see him more as a cute mushroom man. I sit him back on the big mushroom he was standing on which I now know is his dead brother which kind of feels a bit sad to think about. He looks at me and says, "Please sir.... I would like to keep the promise I made to my people and ensure that our ancient agreement has been fulfilled."

   I give him a smile and a nod and he just raises a tiny little finger and the land behind him opens up revealing that hidden under the ground was a magically sealed case. With his magic he brings it over to him and sits it next to him.

   As he opens it up the Voice immediately recognizes the item in the box. It is a necklace that I also recognized from my old dreams. The Dragon God gave it to his true love as a sign that one day he would marry her and they would spend eternity loving each other. A promise that was broken when she was murdered by his subordinates. 

   For a moment my body is not my own and didn't moves under his control. He takes the necklace and looks over the beautiful rose gold and ruby encrusted creation he had spent over a year perfecting to give to her. He imbued it with some of his power so that she would never feel the effects of sickness, pain, and loneliness. As it was meant to remind her that no matter where she was he was always with her. I can feel the tears running down my face and I know that they are his........ but also mine. 

   Through my dreams I experienced his love for her and I too loved her. To know that it was not just a dream and to know that the pain I felt was also his made me feel the connection to him that I hadn't really had before.

   I hear my voice but I am not the one speaking the words, "Oh my sweet Yunasilla...................... How I miss you my love....." There is pain in his voice. A longing for sorrow that is very apparent and it seems to confuse everyone around us. They can tell it's not really me talking even if it sounds like it.

   He looks to Sir Redshroom and he gently pats him on the head, "You have made your ancestors proud this day noble knight. You have returned my heart to me and thus I will grant you your wish to the best of my current capabilities....... Yunasilla would have wanted that..... I may not be able to currently resurrect your fallen allies with the amount of power I have access to. Yet for those that yet live both awoken and sleeping I will grant you this boon."

   He takes all of the power from the necklace that he had stored in it and forms a small orb hovering just above the palm of my right hand. It pulses with a bright golden brilliance of light. I feel the power surge through me for a moment and it far surpasses my own. I watches the light changes color to white and breaks apart and tiny orbs fly in all directions around and over and through the forest. One hits Sir Redshroom and enveloped him in a brilliant white fire that doesn't seem to hurt him but instead seems to fill him with power. 

   When the aura fades the mushroom man asks, "What did you do?"

   The Voice answers, "The original archfey that all other fey creatures come from were created from those that were allowed to drink the blood of dragons that had fallen to gain a portion of their power. I used that connection to the ancient lineage of all fey and awoke in inside of you and your people that remain more power than you were capable of in your current states. I also put up a barrier to keep out any that would seek to if we cause harm here to you or your people throughout the entire forest. And those that would seek to harm you here already within the boundaries of the forest I executed immediately. The entire forest is safe for your people. Now the only ones capable of tearing down my barrier over this forest would have to be demigods or stronger if they hope to even put a dent in it. However those who mean you no harm or seek to help you will be able to pass in and out of the forest with ease........ I would go into more detail but my current control over this body of mine is wavering, and the young one will soon be back in control. He does not know what I do so please be patient with him. I wish you and your people only the best, oh noble knight and hero of this forest." 

   In an instant I fall to my knees feeling myself back in full control of my body instead of having a back seat to it all. I was starting to understand just what the voice in my head may have been going through this entire time with me always in control and him being the one in the back seat. Hayami and father tried to see if I was okay.

   Akira asked me very worried, "Hey are you alright? What was all that about and why did you start talking so strangely?" 

   As I sat down I replied, "I will tell you when we get back to town. Right now I feel very tired. That was something that never happened before so I need to rest for a moment."

   Hayami asked me in Japanese, "What just happened? You almost seemed possessed." I responded in Japanese, "Just my emo other half. I'm fine really. It's just a new experience and it really took the wind out of me regaining control." 

   Father seemed confused by hearing the language as he caught many of the similarities to demon speak in it but how it was completely different. He said nothing though I could see with the look on his face he wanted answers and quickly, but I clearly was not in any condition to go into a long discussion about it. Then Sir Redshroom approached and cast a healing spell on me to help restore my stamina to ease the feeling of fatigue that was overtaking me. He looked at me and said, "It would be an honor to escort you and your companions safely out of the forest after everything you've done for me."