A Problem

Layla opens the door and we enter.

"The purple is from the Dragon's poison. Try to avoid it as much as possible. It'll get into your system through contact in just a few minutes." Liz says.

"Don't worry, if you get poisoned, I'll be able to cure it. As long as I do so quickly. But I can only do it a few times so don't get carried away." Treena says and I nod. Treena and Layla are leading me and Liz down a path. The grass on both sides are purple and emits a faint mist. Fortunately, both the mist and the purple color stop on the edge of the path. We walk in silence for a minute before Layla and Treena stop.

"Why'd we stop? Don't we still have a bit before the heart?" Liz asks and the two turn to us.

"The poison has spread to the path." Layla answers and points ahead. I look and see the path ahead is purple and emitting the same mist. It's now I also notice the purple color of the poison is darker.

"How is it on the path?" Liz asks and Treena sighs.

"The poison must've weakened the heart too much." Treena says and Layla groans.

"Well, now what? We can't walk through that and we're too far from the heart. And I doubt he could heal the heart while poisoned himself." Layla says and Treena groans. I start thinking of what to do when I notice something. Huh, the poison is just on the grass. The trees around us are normal, and the few that are poisoned are only purple on the base of their trunks. I smile and turn to the others.

"Is there any protection on the heart? Or any more doors?" I ask.

"No, the gate we passed can only be opened by a Dryad and has a barrier acting as a dome. Why do you ask?" Liz asks suspiciously.

"The poison hasn't spread up any trees. I could Blink to the braches and keep doing it until I get to the heart." I say.

"That's a good plan but you won't have the mana." Liz says. "You might've before but your fight with Layla drained you."

"My Katana will let me recover about a third of it." I say with a shrug and Liz sighs.

"That won't be enough. You'll need more than that to heal the heart." Liz answers.

"Here, this'll let you get there." Layla says reaching out and handing me her staff.

"Layla! What are doing!?" Treena asks shocked and surprised. She takes the staff from Lyala before I could react.

"It has a mana-recovering ability just like his Katana. If he takes it he could get to the heart. And he might be able to use it instead of his Blink spell." Layla answers.

"You think he'd be able to use it?"

"He does meet the conditions. It all depends on if the heart accepts." Layla answers with a shrug. I turn to Liz but before I can ask what's going on she shrugs. Treena looks at me before walking up to me and handing me the staff.

"If you can make this take shape as Layla did in your fight then I'll let you go on ahead with your plan. But if you can't we need to go back and come up with another." She says and I nod. I take the staff and Observe it, getting curious about its requirements.

Forest Guardian Staff Lvl 60, Mythical

This small wooden stick has been carved from a branch of the Forests Heart. The gem contained on top was also taken from the Forests Heart, specifically the core. This causes it to be able to channel the power of the forest but also only allows it to work within the forest. The staff is capable of creating shapes from the mana the forest creates. This allows it to turn into any weapon or tool as long as it remains in the forest. The damage it deals varies depending on the type of weapon. Requirements: Only those the forest accepts as a Guardian can wield it. Hidden Properties: The staff can recover half of the user's max mana twice a week.

This staff is no joke. No wonder Treena was so against letting me borrow it. I quickly think to myself.

"How do I make it take shape?" I ask Layla.

"Did you not just Observe it?" Liz asks confused, having seen me use the spell thanks to her Sensor abilities.

"I did, but it didn't say how to make it take shape." I answer.

"You need to focus on the staff and imagine what shapes you want to create. The staff will take care of the rest." Layla says and I nod. I focus on creating the sword that Layla used in our fight. I figured it would be the easiest since I've already seen what it looks like. After a few moments the gem lights up and the sword of green light appears.

"I don't believe it." Treena says in shock. She looks at me dumbfounded and turns to Liz who shrugs.

"What does the heart look like exactly?" I ask while making the sword disappear.

"It's a tree. It's much bigger than the others and you'll see an opening, almost like a cave entrance, on the trunk. Inside you'll find its Core. This is what you need to heal. It'll cure the rest of the poison on the tree and give us our full powers back so we'll be able to help." Treena answers and I nod.

"Then I'm off. Liz, I'll give you a call once I'm done." I say before running down the path. I find a tree close enough and in the poison and Blink to it.