Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss

For Thorn, Summerhold was unexpectedly… hot.

The heat filled everywhere, making sure that the window to their room in the city was wide open.

That was also another thing they hadn't expected in Summerhold. While the houses in Rainhold had been cramped and spacious, the houses of Summerhold were cramped and tiny.

He looked around the small but surprisingly comfortable room, a smile on his face. A pair of cots sat along the far walls, a small wooden table and chairs huddled near the center, and a single high window looked out over the streets.

Thorn lay sprawled across one of the cots, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling with a profound look of boredom on his face.

He'd spent the last two days of his journey here eating, and he'd recovered a significant portion of his strength. Not enough to actually fight a seasoned warrior, though.

He glanced to the side, where Elias was sitting at the table, carefully polishing his sword for the third time that morning. He turned, his eyes landing on Valen, who was by the window, silently scanning the city outside.

It had been two hours since they last saw Ren and Lilith, riding in the formation behind the Bishop's procession as he went back to the church.

They'd been separated at the gate, and after the people of the village had been checked thoroughly for signs of infection, they'd let them in.

Thorn had worried about Ren and Lilith, but the fact that they were included among the line of white cloaked Chosen in the procession was a good sign. It meant their stories worked and they were in.

"I'm bored." Thorn announced finally, his voice breaking the comfortable silence of the room.

Elias didn't look up. "You could always polish my sword when you're done staring at the ceiling."

Thorn frowned, sitting up with his elbow to stare at Elias. "What the fuck? Why would you put it like that?"

Elias opened his mouth, thought about it some more, and sighed. "Yeah. I take that back."

Valen raised an eyebrow at their interaction but said nothing.

Thorn sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the cot. "Actually, you know what? Maybe it's time we solved one of Ren's biggest problems before he even comes back."

Elias gave him a skeptical look. "You're going to kill yourself by fighting the Red Prophet?"

"No." Thorn grinned. "I'm going to find a way to kill a Tree of Power."

Even Valen turned his head slightly at that.

Elias set down his sword, frowning. "You can't just kill a Tree of Power. They're... I don't know. Eternal."

"We did. The Green Tree." Thorn shrugged. "Everything dies. You just have to figure out how."

Valen spoke quietly, his voice dry. "Do you even know where the Trees of Power came from?"

Thorn scratched his chin. "Nope. But that's the thing. Nobody does. No records. No history books. The Trees were just... always there."

Elias leaned back in his chair. "Yeah. Every major kingdom has one. Most religions worship or study them. Apparently, they're as old as the world itself."

"Which is exactly the problem." Thorn said, wagging a finger. "Nobody knows enough about them to even think of killing one."

He glanced at Elias.

"But," he continued, "Ren once mentioned something in passing. He has a method of killing a Tree of Power. But he can't get it here or now. That's apparently another journey that could take months."

"But he also said something that I think is relevant. He said if you wanted to destroy a Tree of Power... you'd need to sever it from its energy source."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly is that?"

Thorn shrugged again. "That's the mystery, isn't it?"

The three men sat in contemplative silence for a moment.

Valen finally spoke, still gazing out the window. "If a Tree of Power isn't drawing power from the world itself... then it's pulling from something beyond it."

Thorn tilted his head. "Another realm?"

"Possibly." Valen said. "Or something worse."

Elias shivered slightly. "I don't like the sound of that."

Thorn leaned forward, animated now. "Think about it. If a Tree can anchor itself across centuries without wilting, without dying, it has to be feeding off something infinite."

Elias muttered, "Which means cutting it off is impossible."

"Or," Thorn countered, "we just haven't found the right tool yet."

Valen didn't turn around, but his voice reached them clearly. "Even if you found a way, what would it matter? How would it help Ren if we can't use it?"

Thorn grinned wide. "If it's Ren, it doesn't matter. He'll find a way to use it, even if it means crossing into another world."

"And you think you're going to figure out how to kill the Red Tree... while sitting here?" Elias asked skeptically.

Thorn stretched his arms behind his head again. "Hey, miracles happen."

At that moment, Valen stiffened at the window.

"You two." He said sharply. "Come look at this."

Thorn and Elias exchanged glances, then hurried over to join him.

They crowded around the window, looking out onto the street below.

The city was in a state of collective confusion.

Messengers in green and white attire moved through the streets, unrolling scrolls and proclaiming loudly for all to hear.

"The Monarchy of Elnoria hereby severs all ties with the Creation Church!" One shouted.

Another voice echoed from farther down the street, slightly different but carrying the same message.

"The Church is no longer recognized as the Crown's divine protector! The King blames them for the fall of Rainhold and the spread of the plague!"

All around the messengers, crowds gathered. Some screamed in anger. Others cheered. A few fell to their knees, weeping.

Tension was crackling through the streets like dry lightning.

The people of Summerhold were realizing that the old order was breaking apart.

Thorn watched it all, a wild smile growing on his face.

"This..." He breathed. "This might be it."

Elias blinked. "This might be what?"

Thorn turned away from the window, pacing the room now, energized. "Don't you get it? If the King's cutting the Church off, then the Church is vulnerable. The Tree of Power they protect is vulnerable."

Valen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You're assuming the Tree cares about politics."

Thorn shook his head. "No. But the people do. Faith does. Belief feeds the Trees. Maybe not directly, but..." He snapped his fingers. "Without faith, the Tree weakens."

Elias frowned. "That's just a theory."

"Maybe." Thorn said, grinning wider. "But theories are all we've got."

He jabbed a finger toward the window. "Look out there. The Church is losing its grip. The people are losing faith. If we apply the same method to the Red Plague, we might be able to kill the Red Prophet and the Red Tree."

"That's a stretch and you know it." Elias said.

"I know." Thorn sighed, before lighting up. "But there's also something else we can do to help Ren and Lilith."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Simple." Thorn grinned darkly. "If there's too much peace, Ren and Lilith wouldn't easily be able to get into the rooms of records they want."

"And?"

"So, we bring a problem that will draw most Chosen out of the church." Thorn grabbed his cloak from the court, putting it on.

"Come on, boys. Let's stir up some chaos."