In the deepest part of the forest, a place untouched by the spreading corruption, was a hidden sanctuary. The mana in the air was so dense it was almost visible, and the trees here were ancient, their leaves glowing with a faint, otherworldly light. In the center of this sacred area stood a great stone table, and around it sat five figures. Each one radiated an incredible aura of power.
These were the Forest Guardians, the true rulers of this domain. They were ancient beings who had watched over the forest for millennia. Though they had humanoid forms, their features were not human. Their skin was like the bark of ancient trees, their eyes glowed with the light of the sun, and their hair flowed like living vines. To them, the queen had been nothing more than a caretaker, a child they had given a small part of their forest to manage.
