159 Roo (2/2)
”Hm?”
”The very first human life I consumed as a spirit was when I was at the brink of death, after my forest and my guardian had been destroyed utterly. I was fading, and yet one of our followers, a woman whom I had taught the ways of the forest since she was a shaky little child, gave her own life to me.
She wished me to live and placed a hope within me that I may be able to save their villages from the Elven expansion. At the time, I took her life without a single second thought, for there were no more thoughts to be had. Her single life was nothing compared to what I could do with it.
But when I inherited what was truly human about her – her will – I felt equal parts guilt and appreciation of her sacrifice. Those emotions channeled into that wonderfully brilliant and warm human emotion of hope, into a drive that furthered me to try as much as I could to restore the forests.”
”But alone, you never had the power. Not to mention that like you said before, taking in human souls made you far weaker.”
”That is true, yes, and when I found myself repelled by Elven machinery in the north and then by adventurers in the south no matter how much good I wished to spread, I realized how heavy the human heart could be. Just as it could push me so strongly with the purpose of hope, it could just as easily anchor me with despair.”
”And that's the state I found you in. Leading a quiet life knowing you can do nothing. Knowing that as the days pass, you lose more and more power to do anything in the first place.” Li could piece together now why she had been so drained of energy, her lethargic aura when he first met her, the filthy state of her room, the bottles – she was simply waiting for her life force to burn out so she could pass on.
”But you have no reason to despair anymore. In fact, with me here, you've said you've found hope again.”
”Certainly, yes I have, and the souls within me are at peace understanding that their wishes will be granted. You are immensely powerful, easily capable of changing this world into the goodness that it and all the lives it cares for deserves. So powerful that I myself am utterly useless in comparison.
The moment I met you, I understood that my purpose in this world had passed. All I can do now is to sacrifice my being and become your Root so that you may maintain who you are.”
”You're not dying, though,” said Li. ”You're just returning to what you were. You'll be just as alive, if not more so.”
”But I will not be who I am now. You do not understand because you have not lost your humanity yet, but when you become truly a divinity, you cease to be. You become a moving piece within a far greater whole. Certainly, you may be a larger and stronger piece than any, but still, you will still merely be a piece, an automaton.
When I was a spirit, I did not do anything out of my own will. I did it because I knew it had to be done, that it was my purpose. Dagda, the Guardian I once served, was even more removed than I was, acting solely to maintain the balance of life. There was no person there, no individual. All we did was for the balance of the world, no more, no less.
Only Morrigan ever overcame her divinity, and you have taken up her followers for yourself. I hope to see that you become like her as through the century I have lived, I have come to understand that human will, not mindless function, is needed to overcome the chaos of this world and its peoples.”
Li was aware of the implicit understanding that Iona was essentially killing herself for his sake. She was becoming a battery to regulate and manage his divine energy so that he could learn to merge his human will with his divine side so that he could become more than, as she had put it, a function. A process for this world.
”Your lessons were for that purpose, but situations have made it so that we can't continue them any longer.” Li did not stop Iona from offering her individuality for his cause. Not out of selfishness – if he had sensed even a shred of hesitation on her part, he would have stopped her. But this is what she wanted with every fiber of her being.
It would be an insult to her to stop her.
”Our lessons will not end, no,” said Iona. ”You may still commune with me here whenever you wish. I can regulate your divinity as you exercise it so that you may by the passing day become more and more familiar with it.”
Li nodded as he stood and walked up to his shrine's heart. He had heard Ivo approaching on time. He would be the sole witness to this Rooting ritual to spread the word among the farmers for Li did not wish for them to burden themselves any further for the day. Iona stepped to the other side of the heart and placed her palm on it.
Li reached out to put his hand on the heart as well, and it pulsed green with energy, criss crossing networks of shining power streaking throughout the shrine, reaching through the ribs, up the spine, and to the skull, lighting up the night.
Li could see Iona's face becoming far more lively. The dark circles under her eyes lightened and the sickly pallor of her skin faded away to reveal a healthy, almost tan shade. Her hair grew longer, wilder, reaching to her hips and burning with fiery crackles. The gauntness in her frame faded, and for once, she observed the mythical beauty inherent among dryads and forest spirits.
”Thank you,” said Li with a nod. He was not the type to unleash long speeches about particularly anything, and he knew that Iona would understand that his words were genuine.
Iona smiled, and it suited her far more than a disinterested scowl did. ”I did want to hear your thanks just once more. May this world be as thankful for you as I was.”