Chapter Text
A figure from underneath shakes himself free from the hold of the earth, almost like he was uprooting himself from the grasp of the layers of dirt. Roots lay tangled around his limbs, restricting his movement as he slowly sits up.
His limbs ached. He slowly blinked his eyes open, accustoming himself to the light, before screwing them shut again as he felt a pounding headache forming. He sat like that for a few minutes, covered in dirt.
He blearily looked around at the dense coverage of trees surrounding him in every direction. Gaps within the thick canopy above bathed the floor in sunlight. The echo of songbirds pierced the eerie silence apart from the slow rustling of leaves.
A chill runs back down George's spine. He had a fleeting urge to push himself back within the warmth of the earth. But he quickly pushed that feeling back down as he stood up. Every root slowly untangles itself from George and shuffles back into the crevice in the ground, weaving themselves together to make the ground smooth, almost like there had never been a forest guardian that lay snuggled amongst them.
He knew he made the right choice in picking his spot this time. He searched far and wide for the loneliest and quietest corner for his slumber, where he was sure no one should dare disturb him.
Unlike last time when he had the misfortune of choosing a spot that would have been converted into a mass graveyard a few years later, where thousands of bodies were carelessly dumped out of sight to hide any remnant of the shameful war that took place. The fight between two kings who couldn't get over their hubris and sought nothing but the chance of power over the other, not sparing a second glance towards those who put their life on the line.
Needless to say, George wasn't happy when he opened his eyes and came face to face with a small human skull.
He made sure to pick his locations of slumber prudently from then on. George wasn't a fan of humans. They cared so much about things so little, growing so emotional over things that just wouldn't matter after a few years.
Perhaps it was the fact that he had been around for so long, witnessing the passing of people, kingdoms, and possessions over and over again that he just grew numb to it. A mere death of a person couldn't bother George now. People died all the time. They should just forget and move on as he does. But instead, he found people mourning the death of their lovers for decades after. He never understood how humans worked. He never did or would care about their petty affairs. The singular reason George woke up was to make sure no one messed with his forest. He was the guardian of the trees and the bees, and everything alike.
George couldn't control his urge to fall asleep in a slumber that could last for centuries. He can only feel it coming and delay its arrival, but it was always inevitable. Sometimes he would stay awake for only a few hours before he realized nothing much had changed from the time he last awoke.
It was always the same scene each time he awakes. The same kingdoms, the same power-hungry kings, and the same wars for the same reason. Very rarely did George find something amusing enough to keep him up for more than a few months.
Once, there was an empress, A merling who dominated all the other kingdoms and took control of half the continent and seas all on her own. The Great Empress Nihachu, they had called her. She was known for being compassionate and considerate towards everyone, even her own enemies. They would beg for her mercy on their knees at the mere sight of her, a reminder that her compassion did not interfere with her iron will to correct injustice.
George was her advisor. He enjoyed her company well enough. They were close friends.. However, Boredom seemed to seep into his blood, slowly but surely, making him grow drowsier and drowsier by the day. George didn't make an effort to suppress these feelings. After all, he would only be delaying the inevitable.
It was the longest he had ever stayed awake.
He stayed with The Empress for an entire year and a half, but his slumber after that had also been the longest he had been asleep. George only realized too late that the longer he pushed away his impending sleep, the more prolonged duration he slept for.
He had slept for half a millennia after Nihachu and woke up to find all traces of her Empire gone, only to be replaced by power-hungry fools.
That was eons ago.
George thought about Nihachu sometimes. He occasionally wishes that he had never left her. He regrets the fact that he walked out of the palace gates without a word, never turning his head back even once and going back on a promise. He sometimes wondered what would've happened if he stayed. But those things didn't matter anymore. They were just another memory for George.
Wallowing in the pitiful feelings of regret and remorse, the what should've beens and could've beens, it did nothing but make him feel sick with a feeling he couldn't describe.
George decided he would never indulge in his feelings of regrets, and avoid thinking of his past lives as it never really did him any good. He was better off staying in the present.
He hummed under his breath, he had to admit that he was curious about what history has devolved into now. He hoped his forest still remained intact, and that one town south of where he was had long been abandoned.
George walked through the trees, examining the different flora that seemed to be thriving in this secret abode. He canopies of trees bathing the forest floor in the limelight. Everything seemed to be in shape as it once was. He was glad his forest hadn't been trifled with. He decided to wander a bit more before deciding on his new resting place.
George walked through the thick foliage, the rustling of leaves and singing of birds echoed through the forest, creating a blissful song in his ears. As he trampled on, he got the feeling that he wasn't alone in this paradise he owned.
Something else was present here, something that didn't belong. He soon found out what disturbed the serenity.
The sound of distant hooves shattered George's tranquil state. An arrow whizzed past his ear and embedded itself in the tree behind him. George looked at it, annoyed.
Humans.
Boisterous laughter rang clear and loud, reverberating off the thick trunks of trees.
George knew it was probably a hunting procession. A silly pastime for elitist nobles who had nothing better to do
George hated the killing of animals. He thought it cruel and unnecessary for people to shoot down innocent creatures for the sake of leisure.
He narrowed his eyes as his ears twitched, He silently trodded along the fallen leaves towards the procession or whatever the disturbance was. He was going to put an end to it and made sure that this particular forest wouldn't be disturbed again. He was its guardian after all.
George knew the animal was coming toward him before he spotted it from the gap between the thick foliage. A tawny golden-brown fawn dashes through the trees toward George. Before it could get close to him, however, it stopped short, dropping to the ground, writhing.
An arrow stuck out the back of its head, Its hide now stained a dark red, as it lay in a pool of its blood. The sight of it made George sick and mad.
The anger festering inside George pushed him dangerously close to the edge. He ran towards the killer who rode his horse smiling at the success of his kill.
Vines spurt from the ground, shooting upwards and twisting around the man's ankles and wrists, holding him up. George motioned his hands out and slowly started pulling the vines holding the black-haired man who wore a look of terror as he suffered George's wrath. He screamed in surprise as George yanked him upwards, almost dislocating his shoulder.
“SAPNAP!” another voice rang behind him. George didn't bother. He wanted to make sure this hunter felt every ounce of pain he deserves. The echo of hooves followed the black-haired man's agonized yells.
A blazing white horse embellished with the most extravagant jewels only suited for a king, skids to a halt in front of Sapnap. The rider, who looked almost as obnoxious as his horse, jumped off the saddle and unsheathed his sword in the span of a few milliseconds.
He took a moment to comprehend what was happening. He looked between an ensnared Sapnap and George. It took him a moment to understand that the dirt-covered man possessed magical powers and was currently abusing them to torture his friend.
He wasted no time in slicing the vines in a single swing that held Sapnap up. Sapnap fell straight into the swampy pond under him with a big splash.
George huffed amusedly at the sight before switching his attention back to the ostentatiously dressed man, who to his surprise, was wheezing in laughter at the sight of his friend who looked more miserable now than moments prior.
George took in the man's appearance. Golden curls fell on his forehead which held the brightest, greenest eyes George had ever seen. His smile had a contagious charm to it. A Jade earring dangled from his ear, along with other small jewelry scattered on himself. He was dressed in a black, frilled shirt and embellished emerald robes that looked similar to the apparel only Royals wore.
George instantly felt slightly nervous. He didn't care for nobles or was necessarily scared of them, but he had enough sense to know that getting on the bad side of some of the most powerful people in the country wasn't necessarily a good idea.
The man, who was now out of his laughing fit, was staring George down as he did him. George suddenly felt conscious of the dirt dusting his body.
His ear twitched as he heard a twig snap and looked up past the strangers to a distance back in the foliage where he saw an arrow pointed straight at him. He raised his hand and a vine shot forward, past the emerald-eyed man who had been caught off guard once more.
Crack
The sound of the body of a man falling followed by a soft thump echoed across the forest. He paid no heed to the now-dead body which was nothing but litter on the forest floor.
The two men in front of him looked flabbergasted.
“How dare you- “
“Oh, I dare. You come into my forest and don't find a problem with slaughtering an innocent creature but instantly find a problem with me killing one of your guards who was too cowardly to face me upfront?”
Again the strangers fell silent, from shock or something else, George couldn't tell. They just stared at him like he was the mad one there.
“He was just doing his job protecting the king! You didn't have to kill him for that!” The drenched man exclaimed angrily, still soaking in the swampy pool. So the man in front of him was the King. He certainly looked way too young to be one. George was only slightly uneasy. He would've done anything to avenge that poor animal, even if it meant killing one of the king's men.
“He tried to kill me, I think I had a right to defend myself. I have better things to do than idly chat with pretentious fools who only care about fun and folly. Now kindly get the hell out of my forest before I strangle you both.”
Yeah, he just threatened a king and based on his luck, probably the most powerful one on the continent but he felt oddly good doing it.
Surprisingly, George's choice of wording didn't seem to faze the “King” at all. He looked at George curiously.
“I apologize for the hunting. I can assure you we won't choose this place as the location of our 'fun and folly’ from here on out. And, I can promise you no one will set foot in the forest here on out.” he stated, smiling, holding out his hand. George hesitantly took it on his own, scouring his face for any sort of ill intent but didn't find any.
“My name's Dream. That wet idiot is Sapnap. Again, I apologize for his incompetence.”
“I am NOT incompetent. Also, that's the first time I've heard you introduce yourself without your extravagant titles to somebody.”
George snorted. "Pretentious as I said before. And you can call me George.”
Dream laughed. George was glad he was at least good-humored. His dislike for him is lessened by a fraction.
"Tell me about it," Sapnap murmured under his breath.
“I heard that.” Dream rolled his eyes.
He turned his attention back to George.
“Anyway... So you just can manipulate vines?” Dream asks curiously, eyeing the fallen vines on the ground. George wasn't comfortable with discussing his powers, should someone take advantage of them. But with Dream, he felt like his intentions came from a place of genuine interest, rather than ill intent.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What are you doing in the forest anyway? Do you live here or something?” Sapnap asked, eyeing George's rather dirt-covered garb.
“What's it to you?” George snapped back.
“I must again intervene and apologize for Sapnap. As I said, he can be rather incompetent.”
“That's not surprising, I could tell."
“ We should get going. I have a kingdom to run. Should you need anything, don't hesitate to find us. Our Palace is just south of here.”
"You're mistaken, to the south lies a small village, I don't recall seeing a palace there," George said, confused. But then again, he had been asleep for goodness knows how long. But he couldn't take back what he said.
Dream and Sapnap look at each other
“Uhh No. Dream literally owns the palace south of here.” Sapnap stated, looking concerned at George.
“Can we prove it to you? How about you join us for dinner today? In the Palace to the south of here of course.” Dream suggested.
Why the hell was he asking George to dine with him when he just killed one of his men? George didn't have a good feeling about this in the slightest.
“Sorry, but that'll be a no." He rejected firmly.
"Ah, that's alright." There was a tone he couldn't quite place his finger on.
"But I shall say you are always welcome within our kingdom's walls, Don't hesitate to seek our help if you need anything."
Again. Why was he trying to be so hospitable when George just murdered someone?
Sapnap stood next to Dream, dripping wet with slimy pond water looking smug. George felt a glimmer of satisfaction from looking at the slimy algae clinging to his armor.
"Dream-" Sapnap started.
"Sapnap, Shut." Dream ordered. "It's the least we could do after you killed an innocent animal."
Sapnap looked outraged at Dream blaming him. He opened his mouth to retort back but George cut in.
"The least you could do is leave, for Heaven's sake." Honestly, all this confabulation was getting on George's nerves.
“Alright, alright, we'll be out of your hair now.” Said Dream, mounting his white stallion.
“C’mon Sapnap, Let's get out of here before he hangs us both,” said Dream, sending a smile toward George. He hit the reins and took off, Sapnap close behind, mumbling to himself.
“I‘m sorry I killed one of your men!” George yelled after them, finally giving in, feeling a slight pang of remorse after the King let him off the hook so easily when he murdered under his nose.
…
After that eventful afternoon, George made himself at home. He used the vines and a few broken tree trunks to build himself a shelter.
It looked like a cottage that went through a hurricane. But George didn't care, architecture was never his strong point. He settled himself comfortably enough in the little albeit comfy space, using moss and lichens to build himself a spongy mass to sit on. He grew a handful of tiny red mushrooms and blueberries for a snack.
The sun was setting now. George looked for the tallest tree and decided to climb it for a good view. He ended up getting stuck between two branches and had to use the help of his vines to get him out. He nestled himself in the tallest branch and looked over at the scene before him.
The forest spread for a mile on each side, The shade of pink from the setting sun glazed the forest in soft light. It reflected off the big lake set in the middle making it sparkle. George could see a herd of deer peacefully grazing near it, with no one to disturb them.
He let his eyelids flutter shut, feeling the breeze gently whip his hair around his forehead. He could feel his cheeks turn pink from the cool draft.
It was at this moment he remembered that living wasn't that bad.
Or how much he missed seeing the sun set and rise, the birds flying as they sang songs of happiness.
For the first time in eons, George considered staying awake for a few more days.
.
.
.
.