It was the middle of the day, and the sun was bearing down on the group of humans making their way through the forest. As they walked from one patch of shadow to another, their figures seemed to appear and disappear between the trees, almost as if they were dancing through a beautiful, carefully choreographed routine. The movements were so subtle that anyone who was not paying close attention might have missed the strange sight entirely. However, for the people who knew how to observe their surroundings, there was something almost mesmerizing about the way they navigated the forest. Arin barely paid attention to the sunlight, though, as his attention was focused entirely on the bend in the stream they had been following.
"Strange," Arin muttered as he slowed down and examined the trees surrounding the stream. Although the water had finally returned to its natural course, the forest was behaving in a way that he found difficult to understand. The trees appeared to be experiencing some kind of relief, almost as if a burden had been lifted from their shoulders, yet there was still an unmistakable sense of unrest among them. The absence of the stream had undoubtedly caused problems, since the trees had grown accustomed to its constant flow, but it should not have been enough to create such widespread commotion. Rain still fell from time to time, and while it could not entirely replace the missing water, it should have prevented the forest from becoming so distressed.
Arin tried to understand what he was sensing, but the feeling was difficult to put into words. It was not as though the trees possessed ordinary human emotions, nor did he feel that they were deliberately expressing anger or sadness. Instead, each tree seemed somehow out of place, as though the entire environment had been subjected to a strain that had gradually spread throughout the surrounding vegetation. Their condition reminded him of people who had endured a prolonged period of hardship and had only recently been given a chance to recover. Even with the water returning, however, the forest had not completely settled, suggesting that the original disturbance had involved something more significant than the interruption of the stream.
"What exactly is causing this behavior?" Arin asked the others, turning his attention away from the trees for a moment. As they continued walking, the group occasionally had to shield their eyes when sunlight slipped through gaps in the canopy and struck them directly. Such bright openings were unusual in the Black Forest, where the thick canopy normally blocked most of the sunlight from reaching the ground. The fact that so much light was now filtering through the branches was another detail that made Arin uneasy, since it suggested that the local environment had changed considerably. He could not yet determine whether the trees had changed their behavior because of the disturbance or whether their altered condition was itself a consequence of something else.
"That is a good question, but whatever it is, I am excited to see it," Bertho replied, sounding far more interested than concerned. For him, the situation presented an opportunity to discover something new about the forest, and the possibility of encountering an unusual natural phenomenon was enough to overcome most of his reservations. He had always appreciated the value of firsthand knowledge, particularly when it came to understanding the strange interactions between mana and the natural world. Although the forest's condition was clearly not normal, he was eager to learn what could have caused such a widespread reaction. Arin, on the other hand, was less interested in satisfying his curiosity than in ensuring that the disturbance did not develop into a more serious problem.
"I agree that something unusual is happening, but my skill tells me that we must be getting close to the source," Bill said, his expression becoming more serious. Like the others, he had chosen the Ranger class and acquired the Forest Steward skill, which had proven extremely useful when dealing with the forest's unnatural behavior. The skill did not simply help them recognize the presence of plants and animals; it also gave them a better understanding of the condition of the surrounding woodland. When the natural balance of an area was disrupted, the skill could help them recognize the signs and narrow down the location of the disturbance. Now that they were approaching its source, Bill could feel that the strange condition affecting the forest was becoming increasingly concentrated.
"Then let us keep moving," Arin replied, quickening his pace as he looked farther ahead. "I cannot sense any animals nearby, either, which makes this even stranger." The absence of nearby wildlife was another warning sign, since the Black Forest was normally full of creatures that had adapted to its dense vegetation and abundant resources. Even when the group could not see the animals directly, their presence usually left enough traces for experienced Rangers to recognize that they were nearby. This time, however, the surrounding area felt unusually empty, as though the creatures had deliberately avoided the place they were approaching. Arin did not like the implications, but he continued forward, determined to discover what had driven them away.
After a short while, the trees finally opened up, revealing a small lake roughly one hundred metres across. The water was so perfectly still that its surface resembled a polished mirror, reflecting the surrounding vegetation without even the slightest ripple to disturb the image. There were no visible signs of animals drinking at the shore, nor were there any obvious currents moving across the lake. Instead, the entire place seemed strangely quiet, creating a sharp contrast with the unrest Arin had sensed throughout the forest. Then his gaze settled on the single lotus blooming in the middle of the water, and he immediately understood why the area felt so unusual.
The lotus was in full bloom, its beautiful petals standing out against the still surface of the lake. Yet its appearance was only a small part of what made the plant remarkable, because the mana radiating from it was almost absurdly concentrated. Even without using a skill to examine it, Arin could tell that the lotus was releasing an enormous amount of mana into its surroundings. The plant seemed perfectly at home in the centre of the lake, and its delicate appearance gave no indication of the influence it exerted over the surrounding environment. "Well, I think we have found our culprit," Arin said, staring at the lotus with undisguised fascination.
"Yes, that should explain it," Tom replied after considering what they had discovered. "I take it the lotus stopped receiving water, and that caused it to go wild, which then affected the rest of the forest that thrives in its presence." His explanation made sense, particularly given the connection between the lotus and the surrounding vegetation. If the plant had been supplying the area with a special kind of mana, interrupting that supply could have caused far-reaching consequences. The forest might have adapted to the lotus's presence over a long period, making its refined mana an important part of the local ecosystem rather than merely an unusual resource.
"Yes, and no wonder the disturbance was so significant," Arin answered. "Let us identify that thing properly before we make any assumptions." He activated his skill and focused on the lotus, allowing the System to reveal the information associated with the unusual plant. The result appeared before him, confirming that their discovery was far more important than its modest appearance suggested. For a moment, Arin simply studied the description, paying particular attention to the requirements that allowed the lotus to survive and produce its unusual mana. The information explained not only why the forest had reacted so strongly, but also why they needed to be extremely careful about what they did next.
Stillwater Lotus (Rare) — A rare magical lotus that grows upon perfectly still lakes supplied by a constant source of flowing water. Its roots absorb mana dissolved within the water, filtering out impurities and gradually refining it into pure water-attributed mana. This refined mana is released from its petals into the surrounding air, enriching the environment and creating an area where water-aspected cultivation becomes easier. The lotus requires a continuous supply of flowing water to maintain its refining process, and its production decreases significantly if the water source weakens or becomes contaminated. Over time, a mature Stillwater Lotus can improve the quality of the surrounding mana, support the growth of other water-affinity plants, and establish a naturally purified environment. Its rarity comes not from its size or appearance, but from its ability to transform ordinary water into a steady source of refined water mana.
"Can we harvest it and plant it in our own forest?" Lilian asked, her interest immediately apparent as she finished reading the description. "We have a lake where it could thrive, don't we?" Her eyes remained fixed on the lotus, and it was obvious that she was already considering the possibilities its presence could offer the Sonnenbergs. A plant capable of continuously refining water mana would be a valuable addition to their forest, especially if they could establish the right conditions for it to grow. Rather than treating the lotus as a treasure that could simply be collected and sold, Lilian was interested in using it to improve the environment they had spent so much effort protecting.
Her reasoning also made the source of the forest's unrest much clearer. If the trees had become accustomed to receiving refined water mana from the lotus, the interruption of that supply would have affected them far more severely than the loss of ordinary flowing water alone. Even though rain continued to fall, it could not necessarily replace the particular quality of mana that the lotus had been producing. The trees might have depended on that refined mana for healthy growth, and its disappearance would have left them struggling to maintain their usual condition. With that understanding, Lilian could appreciate why the entire region had reacted so violently to a disturbance that had initially seemed relatively minor.
"That is possible, but first we need to determine whether it can survive inside our magic circle," Arin replied, looking at the lotus with an interest equal to Lilian's. He understood the value of the plant just as well as she did, but he was unwilling to assume that transporting it would be straightforward. The description clearly stated that the lotus required a constant source of flowing water, and its refining process depended on the conditions in which it had grown. Their lake might appear suitable, but that did not guarantee that the lotus would accept the change or continue producing its refined mana after being moved. Before they even considered harvesting it, they needed to understand how to preserve the conditions that kept it alive.
More importantly, Arin could not afford to damage the lotus or disrupt the forest any further. The Sonnenbergs had not come here simply to collect valuable resources at any cost; their task was to restore the natural balance of the region while ensuring that the mana stone mine could operate successfully. Destroying a plant that played such an important role in the local ecosystem would undermine everything they had been trying to accomplish. If the lotus died because they handled it carelessly, the forest could suffer another serious setback, and the consequences might extend far beyond the immediate area. Arin therefore regarded the plant's survival as a responsibility rather than an obstacle to acquiring a valuable treasure.
"Well, this is going to suck," Bertho said after thinking through the problem they were facing. His initial excitement about discovering something unusual had not disappeared, but the practical difficulties were becoming increasingly obvious. They had found a rare magical plant worth protecting, yet they could not simply uproot it and carry it away without understanding its needs. At the same time, leaving it where it was might not be a permanent solution if the surrounding water supply could not be maintained. Whatever they decided, the group would have to balance the value of the lotus against the risks of disturbing an already unstable environment.
"You don't say," Arin answered, frustration creeping into his voice. He had hoped that identifying the source of the disturbance would make their next steps easier, but the discovery had instead presented them with a new problem. The lotus was clearly valuable, and its connection to the surrounding forest meant that mishandling it could have consequences that none of them could easily predict. They could not ignore its importance, yet neither could they assume that its value justified taking unnecessary risks. For now, the most sensible approach was to learn more about the plant and ensure that they had a reliable plan before attempting anything that might put it in danger.
"All right, I am going to make contact with the lotus," Arin said, turning towards the others. "While I do that, I want the rest of you to think of a way to protect it, because this is a treasure worth quite a bit of money." He knew that understanding the lotus's condition would be easier if he could establish a connection with it, just as he had done when investigating the forest's earlier problems. However, he did not want to become so focused on that connection that the others neglected the practical challenges surrounding them. They needed to consider how to protect the plant, preserve its water supply, and prevent anyone else from interfering before they could decide whether it was safe to move.
"And if the mana stone mine were not under military control, I have no doubt that adventurers would already be flocking here to explore the forest," Arin added with a sigh. The discovery of a rare plant capable of refining mana would be more than enough to attract attention from adventurers and treasure hunters throughout Europe. Such individuals were often willing to travel considerable distances when the potential reward justified the danger, especially if a quest had been officially issued through an Adventurers Guild. With the mine currently under military supervision, however, the situation was more controlled than it would otherwise have been. Arin was grateful for that protection, because he knew how quickly a valuable discovery could turn into a disaster once too many people became involved.
A treasure of this quality would easily justify a quest worth at least ten thousand silver coins, and the Adventurers Guild had branches throughout Europe that could spread the news quickly. Once such a reward was announced, there would be no shortage of people eager to claim it, regardless of whether they understood the lotus's requirements. Most adventurers were skilled at fighting monsters and exploring dangerous areas, but that did not mean they possessed the knowledge needed to harvest a delicate magical plant. Even experienced gatherers might underestimate how much its survival depended on the uninterrupted flow of water and the conditions surrounding its roots. A careless attempt to collect it could therefore destroy the very treasure they had come to obtain.
The best-case scenario would be that someone recognised the lotus's importance and sold information about its location without disturbing it. Unfortunately, Arin considered that outcome unlikely, since many adventurers would see the plant itself as the reward rather than understand the value of preserving it. Someone might uproot it in excitement, believing that bringing the lotus back alive was simply a matter of keeping its roots intact. They could then discover too late that the journey had deprived it of the conditions required to survive, causing the plant to wither before it ever reached its destination. By the time they realised their mistake, the lotus could already be dead, leaving them with nothing more than a failed expedition and a valuable lesson learned too late.
For Arin, that possibility was unacceptable. The Stillwater Lotus was not merely an expensive plant that could be replaced if something went wrong; it was an integral part of the local environment, and its loss could cause the forest to suffer all over again. He had already witnessed how the interruption of its water supply had disturbed the surrounding trees and driven the local ecosystem into an abnormal state. He was not about to risk repeating that mistake simply because someone wanted to claim a rare treasure. As he prepared to establish contact with the lotus, he remained determined to find a solution that would allow them to protect the plant, preserve the forest, and make use of its extraordinary qualities without sacrificing the balance they had come to restore.