Hawthgrove was easy to spot, once they made it over the ridge. The trees there were massive, driven to extreme growth from the residual energy of the Ether, standing so wide, that even Kevza’s whole class back at the guildhall would be hard-pressed to link arms around one. Rather than try to fight the changes magic had brought, the people of Hawthgrove chose instead to embrace it, burrowing into the wood to carve out small shops and homes, and then used the removed wood to build structures between the enormous roots or sell as an export.

            The massive trees held massive boughs as well, good and sturdy, and so rather than sprawl out into the deeper parts of the forest, when they elected to expand, they built upwards. Slinging thick ropes between branches to build bridges and platforms left them with an almost endless area to settle, burrowing between the boughs and growing with the trees, large pully systems set around to help move between levels.

            “Who goes there?” came a voice from one of the stations set suspended from a lower branch.

            “Guild officials from Faren,” Kevza called back. “Guild Master Fairgreene should be expecting us.”

            There was a moment of silence before a thick rope ladder dropped down, a young man sliding down its rungs with a grin.

            “From Faren, you say?” He chuckled, hopping off the last rung to land a few feet below. “Yes, we were told a group would be coming. Hawthgrove can be pretty tricky up in the higher levels, so I’ll be escorting you up to the Guild Master’s office.”

            “We appreciate it,” Danae said with a polite nod, nudging her horse to walk behind the guardsman.

            “Yeah,” Kevza smiled. “I swear, every time I get to come here, the layout’s changed again.”

            “That’s what happens when you’ve got to shift with the trees, although you'd think they wouldn't change that much,” the guardsman said with a chuckle. “My nan was having a fit that we had to build her some new porch steps because the base had finally grown enough to need them.”

            They chatted a bit more, the guard answering several of the twins’ questions as they stopped by the stables and left their horses below before gathering into one of the pullies to be hauled up.

            The guardsman was quick in leading them and also helpful in pointing out places that might be of interest to them, such as the depository and a market platform. Kevza nudged Danae and pointed to a small stall selling light lilies, receiving an elbow to the ribs in response.

            They had to move through a few more series of pullies, going up higher and higher into the massive boughs, to where the guild office had been carved out back at the beginning of Hawthgrove’s time. The higher the level, the older the place, and thus the more reputable its owner. That was just how things worked there.

            But at last, they found their way to a set of doors carved into the side of the largest, central trunk, tall and wide, under the carved wood reading “Hawthgrove Guild Hall” in deep, squared letters. Kevza could see the small outcroppings dotted above where the guild conducted its work, the branches sheared away from the openings in case of a mishap while studying any new magical components. 

            He followed the rest of his team inside, taking a deep lungful of the warm wood scent that permeated everywhere, paired with the softer scent of the white luminescent flowers resting in sconces along the walls.

            The guild banner hung on the far wall of the main room, and Kevza marveled with a quiet whistle when he saw how the wide expanse of floor merged seamlessly with the large circular desk in the center of the space, where dutiful guild members were working. Several halls branched off, some no doubt leading up to the offices and study halls above.

            “The Faren guild officers to see Master Fairgreene,” their guard said to a receptionist before bowing and departing.

            “I see, please, follow me,” the receptionist said with a soft smile, rising, and beckoning them to walk with her down one of the halls and through another set of beautifully carved doors. The office on the other side was adorned with a large balcony carved into the branch outside, as well as several tables and desks with various papers and maps laid out.

            “Guild Master Fairgreene is expecting you,” the young woman continued to smile from her place by the door, gesturing to a seating area on one side of the room. “She’s handing out assignments now, but she should be done soon. Please, make yourselves comfortable while you wait.”

            Their group dispersed, and Kevza leaned against the back of one of the sturdy tables, the others spreading out to find comfortable places to wait. After only a few minutes, the doors swung open again, and a short woman entered, her simple dark green and brown dress stark against her pale skin and vibrant red hair.

            “Thank you for your patience,” the new arrival said in a clear, strong voice as she settled behind the desk. “I am Guild Master Calen Fairgreene, pleased to make your acquaintances.”

            Pleasantries were quickly dealt with, and soon the woman was leaning back in her chair, her fingers steepled under her chin. “I must admit, it’s taken a fair bit out of my pride to have to call you here for help. Hawthgrove has always been able to hold its own, but with the recent breakthroughs taking more and more of my people out of commission, I’m afraid I lack the resources to do much else if we want to keep our civilians safe.”

            “We were given a report from Guild Master Marthak,” Danae said, pulling out the file. “Increased beast activity, extreme mutations, missing guardsmen- it sounds like an anomaly anyone would need help cleaning up.”

            “Yes, and there has unfortunately been another development since the time that report was made,” Fairgreene nodded, holding out a second file. “One of our scouts was out in the area and caught sight of some particularly concerning reactions happening around the meditation springs, which we believe to be connected to the matter.”

            “If an entity were to be siphoning energy off the springs, it could double its power in days,” Kevza hummed with a frown, flicking through the pages. 

            “Which was precisely my concern,” the Guild Master nodded. “I worry over the fact that my own have had such a hard time dealing with it, in spite of our familiarity with the forest. So, I took the liberty of calling in a favor for your team and another set of experts as well, just in case.”

At that point, the receptionist from earlier poked her head into the room.

            “They’re here, Master Fairgreene,” she said.

            “Excellent. Perfect timing,” the Guild Master said with a gesture. “Send them in.”

            Kevza turned, and his heart jumped into his throat as the door opened wide again to reveal the dark robes of three young, professional-looking Magi, and walking behind them was him. And it seemed the shock was mutual.

            The Magus did a double-take, his golden eyes widening slightly.

            “Kevza?”

            He froze at the sound of the other’s voice. The squeaking twinge of youth that Kevza had once teased him over had gone, leaving only a rich baritone in its wake. The roundness of his face had stretched to smooth dark planes of skin broken only by the gold stripe over his lower lip and a small scar hiding under the corner of his eye. His golden irises flecked with amber, sharp, and piercing. All in all, what little boyish awkwardness he’d once carried had been totally polished out to the near-flawless features of a handsome man. How much his old friend had changed…

            Kevza gulped before offering up a small, awkward wave. “Hi there, Natavali.”