A forest huge and vast lies before her as she approaches it she stops to look at it. She notices that the trees look peaceful but something about it can be unsettling. As she enters it there a figure appears before her.
"I'm Malenia. Blade of Miquella."
She yells. The figure walks closer as she notices its wearing a cloak and holding a wooden staff. He looks upon her as he speaks.
"What do you seek wanderer. What do you seek so far away from home."
Malenia looks upon him as she is warry but answer anyways.
"I seek the power of the Erden Tree. But I am not here to harm your forest or its inhabitants."
The cloaked figure looks calmy upon her as he asks.
"Why should I believe what you ask."
Malenia eyes flashed with amusement and a hint of danger.
"Because I could have slain you already, yet here I stand, asking nicely."
As the cloaked figure doesn't react. she gets annoyed by him as she adds.
"I have no quarrel with you or the forest. But if you don't let me pass I will burn this forest down to achieve my goal."
The cloaked figure laughs as he points into the forest.
"If the power you seek I'm not stopping but you have to pass the trials to reach the center of the forest and find what you seek. I'm only a observer and here to prevent you from entering. "
She nodded slowly, finally granted entrance into the forest. She takes a deep breath , her hand resting her sword hilt.
"Very well then. I shall prove myself worthy of seeking the Erden Tree power without causing harm to this sacred place or its guardian."
She starts walking deep into the forest as the cloaked man watches her despair deep into the forest.
As she walks she occasionally paused to admire the ancient trees or listen to the whispers of the wind, her respect evident in every step. After some time, she disappeared into the heart of the forest, her quest for the Erden Tree power begins in earnest now.
Her walk brings her to a clearing where her path is blocked by an enormous black tree unlike any she ever seen before. Its bark was twisted and weak-looking, almost sickly compared to the vibrant life surrounding it. She paused, her brow furrowing in confusion and concern.
"What is this..."
Her hand instinctively reached for her sword as she sensed something amiss with the tree. She took a cautious step forward.
"The tree seems... corrupted. This cannot be natural."
"Yet it stands in your path."
At the sound of the voice, she turned sharply, her hand still hovering over her sword hilt.
"The tree blocks my path completely."
She called back, her tone laced with frustration and curiosity. As she sees the cloaked figure reappear again looking at her.
"Tell me Guardian what manner of corruption is this? I have fought many dangers seeking the Erden power, but never something that seems so.... wrong."
She eyed the black tree warily, as she turns to the guardian asking.
"Is this part of your protection to prevent me from continuing my quest?"
The guardian looks at her as he speaks.
"I did no such thing. Yet this is your trial to pass, as I am only here to observe."
Her expression darkened with determination and a hint of annoyance at the sudden trial presented to her. She draws her sword slowly, the metallic ring echoing trough the forest.
"A trial you say? Very well. If this black tree stands as my obstacle, then i shall cut it down."
Her eyes gleamed with with fierce resolve under dim light filtering trough the branches above. She gets ready into a battle stance as preparing to strike the tree down in one strike.
" Observe closely guardian. I do not fail trials."
With a sudden burst of speed, Malenia launched herself at the twisted black tree. The sword sang trough the air as she swung it with incredible force, aiming to cut deep into the corrupted bark. The impact was deafening, and the tree shook violently. However, instead of splitting apart, the black bark seemed to absorb the blow. Malenia's eyes widened in shock as her sword sank deep into the tree but did not sever it.
"What's going on?"
She wonders why her attacks do not damage the tree at all. As she pulls her sword out, and tries again. She hears the Guardians voice again.
"Only violence will not solve all your problems. Sometimes you should try to observe things closer before you just attack it."
Panting heavily, she stared at her sword stuck in the black tree's trunk, her face flushed with frustration and confusion.
"Violence is not my only solution... But it is often the most direct path."
She muttered, pulling her sword free with a grunt. She stepped away from the black tree, examining the unscathed tree with a furrowed brow. Her gaze drift's to the Guardian, a hint of annoyance in her eyes.
"You implying there is another way?"
The Guardian looks upon her as he explains.
"Sometimes the solution is right in front of you. You only have to look close enough and you just might see it."
Malenia blinked, momentarily taken aback by your words. She turned her attention back to the black tree, really looking at it this time. Not as an obstacle to be overcome, but as something with a story to tell. The twisted branches seemed to reach out pleadingly. The sickly bark felt rough and cold under her fingertips. An unsettling realization dawned on her, this tree isn't corrupted... It's dying.
"It wishes for an end to its suffering."
As she looks closer, there is a branch that looks still normal. There is a small seed still hanging, her hand moves from the bark to the small branch holding the small seed. Her touch gentle instead of violent, plucking it from the branch gently. A strange warmth spread through her at the sight, a symbol of renewal amidst decay.
"So this is its wish... not destruction, but continuation. A fitting lesson for someone who only sees solutions trough force."
She turns to face the Guardian, holding the seed in her hand now.
"What should i do with this?"
Her voice was softer now, almost respectful. The Guardian points at the soil in front of the dying tree. Without hesitation, she found a small patch if soil near the base of the dying tree. Kneeling down, she carefully buried the seed, covering it with dirt pressing down gently. As she stood up, she felt an odd sense of peace washing over her.
"A new beginning from an ending."
She looked at the Guardian with newfound respect in her eyes, knowing she learned something new.
"You have taught me something today that my sword never could."
AS she steps away from the dying tree, she notices a green sprout pushed trough the soil. The ground shakes as the sprout start to grow fast. Rapid growth of the new tree was breathtaking, as it trunk twists around the dying tree, breaking it and pushing it apart. As the dying tree falls apart, a new passage appears.
"Incredible..."
She breathed out, genuinely impressed.
"The old makes way for the new... quite literally."
She stepped forward carefully, testing the newly cleared path. As she ventured deeper into the forest along the now cleared path. Malenia couldn't shake the strange sense of peace and understanding that had settled over her. She glanced back one last time at the spot where the old tree had been, now replaced by a thriving new sapling.
"Until we meet again, forest Guardian.. I will remember this day."
She murmured, before disappearing into the heart of the woods, her mission to seek the Erden Tree power tempered by lessons she learned and the trials that still stand in her way.