Zach walked outside and saw that the space inside the arch had been expanded.
The flowers on the side had become meadows full of color and life.
Silas had even been moved; he now sat near the entrance.
Zach felt Silas had benefited the most from Nature’s blessing.
Zach could faintly see some of his branches changing colors.
Zach waved but got no response.
‘Must be asleep as he evolves.’ Zach’s phone dinged.
[Zach, where the hell are you?
We have been waiting for almost 30 minutes.] He chuckled and adjusted his fit.
‘Time to aura form.’ He stepped out of the Sanctuary and saw two people walking and talking.
“Did he respond, Fred?” Fred groaned and ground his teeth.
“No, that asshat didn’t respond Blair.
He might not even be getting my messages; the signal has been shitty since we got here.”
Zach leaned next to the statue and waited for them to see him.
‘Nice to know the formation is doing its job of keeping people away.’ “Blair, maybe you should call him.
We both know that man won’t ignore you.” Fred looked up when Blair didn’t respond.
Fred saw Zach, dressed in his ambassador’s uniform, smugly smiling at him.
‘Thank goodness he’s ok, but damn it!
The smug bastard.’ Fred cleared his throat and walked up to him.
“You finally come out of your hole, you damn dirt muncher.
What’s with all this theatrics, huh?
I thought you said theater kids were weird and smelled off to you.
Now you dress like some fantasy rogue.”
Zach cut him off by giving him a hug.
“Thanks for showing up, Fred.
It means a lot to me.” Fred scoffed and hugged him back.
“Of course, man, what are bros for?
Now, can you actually start talking before our damsel starts freaking out?”
Zach let him go and looked at Blair.
“Well, I think first introductions and a tour are needed first.” He stepped back from them and took a bow.
“I am Zach Maddox, ambassador of the ALL of Nature.
I welcome you two as the first guests of Nature’s Sanctuary.” For added effects, he made the wind blow, and the trees around them glowed green and swayed.
He stood up and saw their shocked faces.
“Follow me and stick to the path.” He walked through the arch.
Fred and Blair turned to each other.
“Good, just making sure you also saw that just now,” Fred told Blair.
He looked at the trees, then back at Blair.
“Shall we go in?”
Blair nodded and limped with Fred’s help.
They froze when they saw the other side.
Fred stuttered.
“How, how is this possible?” He stuck his head out of the arch and back inside.
“It’s like we traveled to a different world.” Blair grabbed his arms.
“Fred, I need you to not lose your shit right now.” She smacked him.
“Zach will explain everything, so help me to the door over there.” Fred nodded and kept quiet.
Zach waited for them.
“Did you guys like the meadows?” Fred numbly nodded his head.
“The meadows were beautiful.
Maybe we could hurry up before Fred’s mind checks out.” Zach chuckled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
“Freddie, my old chap, if this was all it took to make your mind check out, then you are going to miss the best parts.”
Fred scoffed and helped Blair down the stairs.
“Ok, show off.
Let us into your secret base.” Zach reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to them.
It’s a temple to the ALL of Nature.”
The snarky comeback Fred was about to fire off turned into air as he saw the first floor.
Blair’s mouth hung agape as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
He gestured, and stone chairs appeared.
“Have a seat.
I will heal your ankle, Blair, so you can walk by yourself again.” They absent-mindedly sat down.
Zach knelt down and took off Blair’s shoe and sock.
She flinched when he touched her ankle.
“Sorry, just give me a second.”
He gestured with his hands, and a stream of water floated over from the waterfall.
He gently placed it around her ankle and sent energy.
The water softly glowed blue.
He stayed there for a few seconds before letting the water fall to the floor.
He stood back up and took Blair’s hand.
She tried to stop him but couldn’t.
“Zach!
My ankle!” She stopped what she was going to say when she didn’t feel any pain.
She looked between Zach and her foot before jumping.
Fred turned away but didn’t hear any bones breaking or screams.
He looked back and saw Blair smiling.
She turned to Fred.
“I race you to the bottom of the stairs!” Fred took after her, and Zach followed along.
Zach watched them explore and answered any questions they had about the place.
After an hour, they sat down in the cafeteria.
Zach let them pick fruit from the trees.
Once they were done eating, Fred turned to Zach.
“I hate to be the mood killer here, but Zach, can you explain all of this?
I mean, are you even human?
If so, how did you get your powers?
You mentioned being an ambassador for the ALL of Nature.
Who is that?
What does that even mean?”
Zach sighed and rubbed his head.
Blair reached over and held his hand.
She gave it a slight squeeze.
“Freddie, I am completely human.
I can’t go into too much detail, but just know I was chosen to be an ambassador.
The ALL of Nature is both a title and a level of existence.
They are quite literally Nature.
Everything that deals with Nature, they rule over, control, and embody.”
Their minds short-circuited.
Blair broke out of it first.
“The way you are describing them makes them sound like Gods.” Zach shook his head.
“I can totally see why you came to that conclusion.
I did the same thing as well, but let me assure you there is only one God.”
Fred spoke up.
“How do you know that for sure?” Zach leaned back.
“Because Nature told me.
I know that sounds insane, but it’s the truth.
You don’t need to believe me, I won’t force you to, nor am I trying to lure you in or anything.”
Fred rubbed his temples.
“Ok, ok.
You are the ambassador of nature.” Zach corrected him.
“Right, the ambassador of the ALL of Nature.
This place is a temple and base.”
Zach nodded.
“Yeah, if it helps, you can think of this place as an embassy.” Fred started pacing.
“An ambassador serves as a representative for said country or group.
In this case, you are the ambassador for the ALL of Nature?”
Zach nodded again and looked at Blair.
She shrugged her shoulders.
Fred stopped pacing and looked at Zach.
“My question is, what does the ALL of Nature want?
What is your objective, specifically, Zach?”
Zach let out a breath.
“Oh man, I thought you had a hard question for me.
My objective is simple: spread her influence and leave her mark in the universe.
I don’t need to be a priest, nor do I need to make a new religion.
I just need to get her name out there, that’s all.
Along the way, protect nature and help it grow.”
Fred’s eyes lit up.
Zach stopped him before he could even suggest anything.
“Not happening, Fred.
No report, no ghost posts, no publicity, and definitely no tours.
This place was just created.
I mean that literally, I built this place myself, and then it was blessed by the ALL of Nature herself.”
Fred deflated a little.
“How do you expect to spread her influence and name?” Zach grinned.
“The name of this place is called Nature’s Sanctuary.
I was thinking of starting a company.
We have plenty of products here to sell, and with that money, we can buy forests, islands, and land.
We can also help with the problem of poaching.”
Blair and Fred were shocked by Zach’s passionate speech.
“Zach, how?
There’s only three of us.” Zach turned and grinned.
“Who said it has to be?
Little birdie, you’ve seen what I can do.
This place and I are able to give people powers and even change people’s lives for the better.”
Zach let his hands fall.
“I want you two to be the first members of the sanctuary.
If you agree to join, I will be able to tell you a lot more information.” Fred and Blair glanced at each other.
Blair was the first one to agree.
“I will join you and your crazy ride, Zach.”
She smiled at him.
Zach scooped her up and twirled her.
He placed her back down and looked at Fred.
Fred saw them both looking at him.
“Oh, fine!
I will join too.
I won’t be part of any sacrifices, Zach.”
Zach laughed and hugged him.
“This is perfect!” He snapped his fingers, and tokens appeared.
They matched the tattoo on his left shoulder.
Carry these at all times.
You can change the form to a ring or something, without them, you won’t be able to find or get in here.”
They looked at them: Fred’s had transformed into a necklace, and Blair’s had changed into a ring.
“You guys could also have them tattooed like mine is, but fair warning, it is painful.” Fred asked him, “Are there any benefits?”
Zach smirked and snapped his fingers.