Magi of Sinlung

Larin leaned against the wooden frame of the Great Tree's entrance, arms crossed as he watched his friends step inside. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to quiet awe. The impossible dimensions of the space, the glowing glyphs humming faintly against the walls, the winding staircases that disappeared into unseen heights—it was more than a building. It was something alive.

Ngieri broke the silence, tracing the bark down the wall with her hand. "This place… it is not just a construction," she whispered. "It breathes."

Oakenna, standing beside them with her normal serene face expression, nodded. "You are right. The Great Tree is both a home and a being of its own. It grows with Larin, as his Natural Spring deepens its connection to Sinlung."

Rinku whistled softly, folding her arms as she shot Larin a look. "So this thing is gonna just keep growing the stronger you get?"

Oakenna tilted her head slightly. "In a way. Though, growth isn't always physical."

Gwendon wasn't that interested in the magic itself but in the practical application of things. "How does it stack up in a fight? Any defenses? If this is where you're going to hole up, it better be secure."

Larin smirked. "You'll see."

He gestured towards the center of the room where a low table of smooth, carved wood sat waiting. "Come on, sit. We've got a lot to talk about."

They all watched as he preceded them, lying down on the cushions scattered all around the table. Oakenna stood at the entrance, a silent witness to the scene. Larin was convinced she still had much to learn from him just as the case was for him from her.

Ngieri slumped forward, elbows on her knees. "We've all had our hands full," she said. "Let's go one at a time. Gwendon, you go first."

Gwendon cracked his knuckles, his confidence radiating as always. "Alright. Not as dramatic as Larin's whole 'living inside a magic tree' thing, but I've been working with the Archives. Studying old combat techniques, learning how magic and martial arts used to blend before everything got bogged down by modern spell formulas. Turns out, there used to be a lot more freedom in how people fought, before the Empire forced everything into rigid structures."

Larin nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. I have been thinking a lot about that. Magic used to be, well … like a power of nature, not something tied to the strict rule and regulations."

Gwendon smiled. "Exactly. If we fight like them, we will lose. We need to be unpredictable."

Ngieri folded her arms. "I have spent some time at the old Dysno church-or what is left of it, now that we took it back. We made it into a grove, a healing place. But besides that, it is becoming this spiritual heart for Xiaxoans who will not let the Dysno remove our history. I have been busy making sure people find a place to reconnect."

Rinku snorted. "So you're running a cult now?"

Ngieri shot her a look. "It's not about worship. It's about preservation."

Larin could hear the weight in her voice. This wasn't just about a place of worship—it was about reclaiming something that had been stolen. They were all fighting their own battles.

Rinku leaned back, tapping her fingers against the table. "I've been at the Archive Tree too, but unlike Gwendon, I wasn't reading dusty scrolls. I was working on enchantments, trying to refine our weapons and armor. If we can't outnumber the Kirat, we need to hit ten times as hard."

Larin smirked. "That sounds like you."

Rinku shrugged. "Somebody has to make sure you don't die too quickly."

There was warmth in the teasing, a reminder that despite everything, despite the blood and death and war, they were still here. Still together.

Ngieri turned her gaze to Larin. "And you?"

Larin exhaled, leaning forward. "I've been learning."

Rinku scoffed. "Obviously."

Larin smiled, shaking his head. "No, I mean really learning. Understanding magic, not just casting it. You remember the conversation we had about Chaos Theory back at the first Natural Spring? I've been thinking about it more."

Gwendon raised an eyebrow. "That whole thing about how magic isn't just energy, but something alive? Like a system we're only scratching the surface of?"

Larin nodded. "Exactly. The way we use magic now-it's predictable. The Empire has turned it into equations and formulas, but magic doesn't work like that. It's more like… weather patterns. You can influence it, nudge it, but if you try to force it into a box, you lose most of its potential."

Ngieri frowned slightly. "So, what? You're saying magic should be chaos?"

Larin shook his head. "Not precisely. Consider it as a river. You can channel it, but if you try to govern it completely, it floods or dries up. You have to work with it, not against it."

Rinku folded her arms. "And exactly how does that help us win a war?

Larin let his breath out, running a hand through his hair. "Because the Kirat Empire does not understand it. They work by order. They found their magic on strict rules, rigid formations. If we tap into the deeper nature of magic, things they cannot predict. They are using crutches. We're using instinct."

Gwendon rubbed his chin. "That's, kind of terrifying."

Rinku grinned. "I like it."

Larin smiled. "I've been practicing. It's hard, but it works. I'm learning how to cast magic without relying on formulas, magic circles, not how we already know. Fire doesn't have to be summoned-it's already there. Water doesn't need to be shaped-it flows. It's all about seeing the connections between things."

Ngieri furrowed her brow. "Sounds like it would be exhausting."

Larin shrugged. "Yeah, at first. But the more I do it, the more natural it feels. With [Sinlung Resonance], it's not as bad as it could be."

Oakenna finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "It is dangerous knowledge. But necessary. You are beginning to step into something older than what is commonly known, yet something that the ancients themselves would never have assumed or trusted. The path forward will not be easy."

Larin nodded. "I know."

A brief silence settled over them.

Then Rinku clapped her hands together. "Alright, so we have an archive rat, a spiritual leader, an enchanter, and a madman. Sounds about right."

Gwendon smirked. "A functional team, I'd say."

Ngieri sighed. "We need a plan."

Larin exhaled. "We do. But first, there's something you all need to do."

They looked at him expectantly.

"You need to visit the first Natural Spring. The one where we met Cindris."

Rinku frowned. "Cindris?"

Before Larin could say a word, Oakenna spoke. "The first Dryad you met. She is the one who gave Larin the right to his Spring. And now, she offers that to all of you."

Ngieri's brows furrowed. "What does that even mean?"

Larin met her gaze. "It means you'll understand why all of this matters so much more than we thought."

The weight of his words settled over them.

Gwendon leaned back, exhaling sharply. "Guess we don't have a choice then, huh?"

Larin smirked. "Not if you want to keep up."

Rinku grinned. "Then let's do it."

Ngieri nodded. "Tomorrow."

Larin exhaled, feeling something settle in his chest. Tomorrow.