Story Quote: "Madness wears many faces. Sometimes it smiles through the crown."
Beneath the glow of the Verdant Crown, Petalhaven bled.
Where once vines sang with life, now they pulsed with hunger. The roots that lined the streets moved when no wind blew. They drank deep from the earth, from the bodies buried beneath, from the veins of the forest itself.
And above it all sat King Lysander, hands trembling on the armrests of his living throne.
Amber sap oozed down his fingers, glinting in the light. His eyes were wide—too wide—and his smile too calm to belong to a man witnessing his people's suffering.
"Yes… yes, my beautiful children," he whispered to the floor. "Drink. Grow strong again. The soil must be rich, or the flowers won't bloom…"
Below his balcony, screams rose from the lower canopy. Entire homes were being dragged down by vines, their inhabitants trapped inside. Marines stationed nearby watched in uneasy silence, unsure whether to intervene or obey orders not to damage "government property."
Lysander's laughter broke the silence, sharp and manic.
"Don't you see? They feed the roots because the roots feed us!"
A courtier stumbled forward, pale and shaking.
"Y-Your Majesty, the people—your people—are dying!"
Lysander's head turned slowly.
"Then they should die beautifully."
Deep in the northern jungles, Kairo and his crew had taken refuge in the remains of an ancient Verdalian temple. The walls were carved with scenes of towering trees bowing to a crowned figure—perhaps a god, perhaps a man.
The rescued Verdalians huddled under blankets of woven moss, too weak to speak.
Kairo stood at the temple entrance, scanning the tree line.
"We can't stay here. The Marines will track us again by sunrise."
Aria adjusted her rifle's scope.
"Half of the kingdom's under lockdown. We won't last long running blind.""Then we don't run," Kairo said. "We move with purpose."
He turned to his crew, eyes steady.
"The roots—whatever's controlling them—are feeding on people. We find the source, we end it. But we also can't abandon those still enslaved in the southern port. That means we split up."
The crew's faces hardened. They'd been together since the East Blue, fought and bled as one. Splitting meant risk. It meant isolation. But it also meant trust.
Kairo stepped forward, drawing a rough map in the dirt with his blade tip.
"Kino, Jett—you take a team to the southern harbor. Free whoever's left and destroy the Marine supply line.Rumi, Mira—you head into the lower forest. The Verdalians said there's a place where the ground bleeds. Find it. I want to know what's causing this."
He looked to Aria last.
"You're with me. We're going to the palace."
Her brow furrowed.
"You think the king knows?""No," Kairo said quietly. "I think he's feeding it."
There was no argument—only nods. Each of them understood what was being asked.The next hours would test not just strength, but will.
Jett slung his hammer over his shoulder.
"Guess this is what pirates do, huh? Piss off gods and kings in the same day.""Just don't die trying to impress one," Rumi said, forcing a grin.
Mira knelt to a group of Verdalian children, offering them fruit. "We'll come back for you. Promise."
Kairo sheathed his sword, feeling the weight of command settle like a storm on his shoulders.
"The Marines think they can break us. The king thinks he owns this land. But we've faced monsters before. This one just happens to have roots."
They left the temple as the moon rose high, splitting into paths beneath the canopy's bleeding light.
High in the palace, Lysander's joy grew into delirium. The great root behind his throne pulsed faster now, veins of crimson snaking through its bark. He pressed his palm against it, whispering feverishly.
"Do you feel it? They're feeding you, my child. Every death, every drop, it's all for you. For us!"
The vine shuddered and a faint voice—neither human nor plant—seemed to whisper in reply.
Hungry… more… more…
Lysander laughed, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes! Yes, I'll give you more! I'll give you everything!"
A servant rushed in, breathless.
"Your Majesty! The Marines request an audience—they say the pirates have scattered!""Then send them to the roots," the king hissed. "Tell them to dig. Tell them to feed her!"
The servant hesitated. "F-Feed… her?"
Lysander's expression softened into bliss.
"My queen beneath the soil. The Verdant Mother. She wakes to bring us paradise again. And paradise demands a price."