Once more, Kite and Jarvan found themselves at the elevated terrace of their hotel and looking out over Vitesse and its spires at sunset. This time though, Glint too had joined them and their privacy screen was up and running.
“The Grove…” Kite murmured, once more looking down at the small envelope which had been waiting for him along with his payment at the auction house the next day. Payment that he had been most grateful to leave to the auction house to safely deposit at one of the global banks, not wanting to carry such wealth around in a mere dimensional pouch.
The letter was a simple affair, but the moss green broken seal depicting a stylized tree still conveyed an odd sense of gravitas. Kite had already read its contents a few times; a most polite offer of a meeting to discuss further cooperation. Said meeting was in two days time at a specific fountain in one of Vitesse’s largest and most sprawling parks, which was a lot more public than Kite had previously expected. Still, given what their day of information gathering had told them, the choice was also pretty obvious.
“Still pondering whether or not to go?” Jarvan asked while swirling his wine in that little ritual whose importance he had so far tried - and failed - to properly impress upon Kite. “The information I could request through the adventure society was pretty clear.”
“Honestly, I do believe that I have already decided to attend,” Kite replied, taking a sip of his own wine. “It’s just that I felt so ignorant when I realized that I knew next to nothing of the coalitions of magical creatures.”
“It’s easy to forget when you spend almost all your time among essence-users. Present company notwithstanding,” Jarvan said, adding the last at a meaningful glance from Glint. “At least the Grove is known to be a benevolent bunch, if a bit distant from modern society. Apparently there are others who take… issue… with creatures choosing to become bonded familiars. And given that they could throw in diamond coins payment, this whole business probably has the blessing of Gaia the Eighth herself. The society even has her marked as an ally and sometimes benefactor.”
“What about you then, little Beauty?” Kite asked his familiar. “If I attend, do you want to come too? I believe that they would probably want to meet you and hear of your experiences after eating the fruit. And perhaps it would be nice to meet someone from a faction with so many inherently magical creatures.”
“I have considered it, my bond, and I agree. This young mistress should have nothing to fear from others of her ilk, distant relatives as we may be. This Gaia the Eighth is a dragon too, after all.”
“A verdant dragon,” Jarvan reminded her. “One who’s rumored to be the size of several city blocks. Apparently they are more similar to a tortoise in shape than many others of your kind.”
“A dragon nonetheless. As long as I may present myself properly, I will not object.”
“Then it is well and truly settled. Fortune has seen fit to bless us this far,” Kite replied, raising his half-empty glass. “Here’s to her kindness carrying us forward just a little bit longer.”
<hr>
It turned out that, much like the spires, the parks of Vitesse were deeply impressive even in wintertime. Archways of cultivated flowers created something close to tunnels across many of the stone or gravel pathways which meandered around the recreational areas, green even in the slight chill. And they saw frequent use as well, as Kite could feel hundreds of auras of varying ranks in just the park which was their destination; playing children, relaxing elderly people and some young adults who weren’t as circumspect as they might think with their amorous endeavors.
Overall, the area still evoked a sense of life and potential, but that did little to keep Kite from his other musings at the moment.
“Any last minute advice?” he asked Jarvan at his side as they drew closer, surrounded by their privacy screen like many others walking up and down the busy streets surrounding the park.
“For meeting a diamond-ranker? Well, first of all I doubt that you’ll be meeting her in person. But if that was the case, I honestly wouldn’t worry too much. If a diamond wanted something from you they were willing to take, you wouldn’t have it anymore. The auction house may pride themselves in their discretion and confidentiality, but that can only be kept due to diamond-rankers being polite enough to not pry. Or at least pretend that they don’t.”
“So… stay polite and respectful, as with most others?”
“Got it in one, Kite. I haven’t, to my knowledge, met any diamonds myself. There aren’t that many of them in the world after all, at least not on the grand scale of things. Politeness seldom hurts though, even if diamonds are known to often be more eccentric. But I suppose being on the height of power and fearing little in this world would allow one to be a lot more relaxed.”
Kite nodded to himself as they entered the park proper, joining the groups strolling long the pleasant paths. Given the buildings and spires towering above them, the greenery truly felt like an oasis in the busy city.
Fortunately though, it did not take long to find the fountain in question and as Kite saw the shape he realized this particular choice was no mere coincidence as he saw the massive sculpture in the middle. Rising from the waters was a sculpted creature that did indeed bear similarities to a tortoise, but with a distinctly draconic head and clawed feed visible in the water beneath. Its wide shell sprawled with sculpted greenery; trees, bushes of all sizes depicted in finely wrought stone. The water of the fountain flowed down from the top of the largest tree in the center of the great shell like a spray, before falling like rain upon the faux greenery below which then gathered and flowed down from the edge of the shell.
“Gaia the Eighth, mother of dryads and bringer of the blooming,” Kite read aloud from the plaque at its base.
“Then we don’t really need to question if we’re in the right place, do we?” Jarvan said, and the group dropped their privacy screen and joined the scattered groups of people who sat down at the edge of the wide fountain.
It was apparently a popular spot for children to splash into the waters and play as well, and from his fond smile it was easy to see Jarvan’s thoughts on the matter as he watched a small group leap and splash under the supervision of their guardians.
Kite was just about to ask him about homesickness when his attention was drawn by something else. A small bird with distinct and incredibly vibrant coloring had emerged from a nearby tree, its wings an indistinct blur as it zoomed towards them with great speed, enough so that Kite had trouble following its movement until it was suddenly hovering in front of its face.
The distinct look it gave him, along with the faint gold-ranked aura he could sense from the diminutive creature, told him enough as it did a little loop in front of him before turning and flying off at a speed which anyone could follow at a comfortable walk.
Taking a moment to steady himself, Kite gestured to his companions before they followed, leaving the well-kept paths and entering the copse of trees. Their avian guide had turned, hovering backwards while looking at them with its head turned this way and that, and it didn’t take long before it turned and zoomed away again in the blink of an eye.
“Wait, we-” Kite began, but another aura which revealed itself nearby caused him to falter. It was rich and potent, and much like Laevyeth’s it was also distinctly different from that of an essence user. Where those usually felt like a beacon of themselves, concepts of their personality and essences shown to the world, this spirit instead seemed to be more like a part of said world springing to vibrant life as it melded into the perception of the three silvers.
“Do not fret, young human. My friend has already done his part,” a melodic female voice called, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once for a moment before it too coalesced into a more coherent form when a woman emerged from a nearby tree.
Unlike uncle Walker’s teleportation through plants, which had the distinct look of him using the flora as an odd kind of gateway, this woman seemed to form from the wood itself; like a new branch which grew outward while new textures, patterns and colors sprang up to shape a lithe but tall humanoid, standing around two meters tall.
She was clearly gold rank and breathtakingly beautiful, but in an alien way with her skin seeming wrought from smooth, pale wood and hair like green ivy falling in long rivulets along her back. Given her looks, Kite was almost surprised to find her wearing clothes, but she wore the loose and silky pale green dress very well with a body sculpted much like that of a curvaceous human. And her eyes, like those of a deer, regarded the trio with curiosity even though it was clear that among them, Glint was the one which drew her interest the most.
“My oh my…” the gold-ranked being mused with a curious smile as she regarded the familiar, still in her draconian form while Glint did her very best to stand tall and proud in one of her favorite dresses. “Young dragon, it would seem like you have partaken of this most interesting fruit already. I have met one of your kind before, and those antlers… They surely aren’t part of your original form.”
Even though he could feel Glint’s spirit quivering slightly in the presence of the powerful being, Kite was impressed as she drew herself up a bit, raising her snout in challenge.
“I would claim that this young mistress wears them very well, earlier conventions or not.”
“Oh indeed, I meant no disrespect. They are fascinating,” the wooden woman said as she drew closer, tentatively reaching out a hand towards the nearest tip of one of the crystal antlers. “May I?”
“This young mistress would like to point out that wanting to touch before even introducing themselves might be considered a breach of decorum,” came Glint’s reply, and Kite winced internally. Not that he disagreed, but when faced with an unknown gold-ranker, the instinct to just acquiesce was surprisingly strong.
Fortunately, the woman took it in stride as she retracted her hand and took a few steps back.
“And in that, young dragon, you are completely correct. Allow me to correct this oversight, so that we may have a fruitful discussion of this most curious matter which you have brought into this city. I am called Despina the Bloom Shepherd, and I am dryad of the Grove, seeded by the first dryads of the great Gaia the Eighth herself.”
Hearing the name, Kite had to admit that he felt a jolt of surprise as he recognized it.
“Greetings, great Mistress. I am called Kite Flown in on Winds of Fortune, but please just refer to me as Kite,” he said while bowing deeply. “And if it isn’t too bold of me to ask, then I will note that I recognize this name of yours. You were the one who had assisted the auction house in examining the fruit, were you not?”
“An odd kind of name for these parts. While it is easy to see that you aren’t one of the locals, it hints of somewhere very far away,” Despina replied, touching upon his spirit more directly as she regarded him. “But you are correct in that I helped the auction house in this matter. They call upon me from time to time in regard to my intimate knowledge of plants and all things growing in nature.”
“And yet you were at the auction too, outbidding the rest?”
“Ah, yes. It is a perk, you see, for me and others with the requisite knowledge beyond even their appraisers. A reward for my knowledge and help, as it leaves me - and therefore the Grove - with a chance to become aware of plants and other things of interest before the auctions themselves. I assure you that the auction house is most pleased with the deal,” the dryad said, before regarding the others. “And your companions? Who might they be? I can feel the familiar bond between you and the young dragon of course, but that does not tell me of her name.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I am called Glint, as named by my bond before my ascension to a more coherent state. It still resonates with me, and I carry it with pride,” the shimmering draconian replied, giving a surprisingly good show of a Vitessian curtsy. Now when had she found the time to pick up that particular skill?
“And I am Jarvan LanCaire, branch director of the adventure society in Gilded, Hua-Xi. Kite’s homeland,” Jarvan explained, giving a formal bow of his own. “Know that the adventure society remains ever grateful of the fruitful collaborations our two organizations have had in the past.”
“Then I greet you both in turn, even if you’ll have to forgive my amusement, director. Calling the Grove an organization might be technically correct, but a vast gathering of magical beasts and similar beings does make for quite a bit more… organic structure,” Despina said before once more focusing on Glint. “As to you, young dragon, my intent was never to offend you. But with a touch I will be able to more properly sense your being and the changes it has no doubt gone through. You are a creature of native magic, after all, as are the rest of the Grove. So I ask again; may I?”
“Very well, this young mistress will acquiesce,” Glint said, even tilting her head a bit towards the dryad as she once more approached and laid a delicate finger on the tip of a crystal antler.
The pair stood still for a while, and beyond the slight rustling of Despina’s aura, Kite could feel nothing from the exchange beyond a slight sense of warmth through his bond with Glint.
“Fascinating, as I believe your scholars would say,” the dryad said, eyes half-lidded as she kept in contact with Glint. “A creature of the flowing water and roaring might, yet now also more. I sense the aspects of karma in the eddies of your magic, young dragon, the ebb and flow of connection. It’s still raw and new in a way, while at the same time having integrated smoothly enough to always seem to have been part of you. My, I believe that it would probably even breed true, should you desire offspring. Quite remarkable. I can just imagine plenty of creatures around the world who would crave something like this to make their heritage stronger.”
“Karma…” Kite murmured to himself as it made quite a lot of sense given the new manifestations of Glint’s powers. “That is amazing, little beauty. Such a concept. Is that what the fruit adds then, Mistress? To any compatible creature imbibing it?”
“No, I don’t believe so,” Despina replied, retracting her hand from Glint and stepping back. “From what I have sensed from the specimen you brought, it seems more akin to a catalyst; a spark to light the fires of change within a being, bringing forth something latent or unformed. Perhaps another of Glint’s kind would find the same changes brought upon them. But then they would have to imbibe it young, like Glint here. Silver is probably the last rank where its effects could take root and make the changes.”
Her statements brought Kite pause, in more ways than one as he tried to process the implication while also sorting through all the questions this gave rise to.
“And you could gather all of this so quickly? Glean its secrets?” he asked, awed.
“I am a creature of growing, verdant life, Kite. It is within my powers. They may not be as plentiful as those of an essence-user, but within their domain they are powerful indeed,” Despina replied with a smile. “And speaking of secrets, I have a question of my own; why did you open up the option for this meeting at all? I was pleased, to be sure, yet still curious.”
Kite was about to answer, but stopped and gave a pointed look to the trees and bushes around them, where the public park should just be a stone’s throw away, letting any silver and above in the area listen in. He should even be able to hear the frolickers and-
Seeing Kite start at the surprising lack of noise from beyond, Despina smiled.
“As I said, the verdant places are my domain. Unless a local diamond or very, very persistent gold has decided to listen in, I assure you that this place is most private.
“Heavens, I can’t even feel their aura. Perhaps the weakest hint if I focus,” Kite murmured, reaching out with his spirit which proved surprisingly hard as it tried to pass through the trees. Instead of enveloping a good distance around them, it was diffused and weakened very quickly; a wave turned a mere lapping against the shores.
“It’s almost like the mangroves I have seen during contracts with Gauntlet; a seemingly gentle diffusion. But potent.”
“An apt metaphor,” the dryad replied with a soft smile. As she spoke, Kite could sense a trickle of mana suffuse from her down into the ground, where roots and vines slowly emerged to weave themselves into simple chairs. “But with this little demonstration done, I do believe that I’m still waiting for an answer.”
The trio joined her in seating themselves, and Kite spent another moment to ponder his response. Falsehoods would be detected, so lies were off the table. But he did have some power in where to begin and what to highlight as he tested the waters.
“These fruits come from a tree inside a remote astral space. One believed to be mostly useless before it sprung from the ground. I came here to test the waters with the fruit. In part to acquire funds, true, but also to seek someone who might help me understand the tree further. What it is, how to care for it, how often these fruits will sprout, and other similar considerations. One of my family members is a herbalist and an alchemist, and while her plant essence helps somewhat, she herself would freely admit that she lacks the knowledge to really understand the tree within any reasonable timeframe.”
Despina regarded him for a short moment, before nodding. “Truthful and forthright, even earnest in your wish to care for the tree. I can appreciate that.”
“And when I learned more of your Grove, I thought it worth the chance to approach.”
“Even though we could just sweep in and take possession of this tree?”
“As could any gold-ranker who wished to, should they come to learn of it,” Kite replied with a shrug even while suppressing an inner tremble of worry. “And as I believe that, while the location is quite remote, its existence will probably come into light sooner or later, I might as well try to at least somewhat affect the outcome. So I come seeking help and collaboration. And, I suppose, protection. At least from those who would try and seize the tree and the astral space upon learning of it.”
At this, Despina leaned back in her chair and gave a show of giving his words some proper thought even though her swift mind had no doubt already considered options aplenty.
“You are fortunate then, young Kite, that it was us and not some of the other more nature-aspected gatherings which you made contact with. The Primal Council, for example, might not have cared much for your interests had they learned of this. But Gaia is patient and thoughtful. She cares for this world, even the cities and things wrought from the bones of nature. I, personally, do find your offer to be an interesting one. Had I not been firmly rooted here already, I might even have wanted to come myself. But alas, the older we get the longer it takes to relocate.”
“Well, Kite, I believe this is the time to say ‘I told you so’,” Jarvan said smugly, even if he too seemed to relax a bit at the dryad’s words.
“Do not count your heidels yet, director,” Despina replied, her smooth use of the idiom hinting at her long time of having lived among the people of Vitesse. “This kind of arrangement would lean in part on the protection of the Grove, and therefore also Gaia herself. As such, she will need to be consulted on the matter.”
“And how long would that take? Our stay in the city soon draws to an end,” Kite said, brow furrowed. “Perhaps we should arrange for means of contacting-”
“Oh, do not fret. It will take but a moment,” Despina interrupted. “A moment, but quite a lot of mana too.”
As if to punctuate her words, Kite, Glint and Jarvan could all feel a rush of magic surge from within the dryad’s body, coalescing between her thumb and forefinger in the form of a blindingly bright mote of white and green. The mote grew until it was the size of a walnut before it solidified into a deep brown seed which Despina pushed into the ground in the middle of the vague circle formed by the grown chairs. A much smaller surge of mana later, a trumpet-like yellow and blue flower stood between them, swaying gently on a tall, thin stem surrounded by plenty of long, narrow leaves.
The gold-ranked dryad even looked a bit weary as she sat back down in her chair, and silence reigned for a while as the other three looked at the flower curiously. And after a few seconds, its purpose was revealed as the hint of a presence could be felt from the plant. A vast, old presence, its power easily discernible even though it was also obvious that it was coming from far, far away.
“Little seedling, you call upon me again. But not from your tree. Come, reveal your spirit to me.”
The voice was low, as if echoed across a great distance. But someone powerful was definitely on the other side of whatever connection that had just been formed.
In response to the words, Despina leaned forwards and touched the bloom reverently while clearly baring her spirit more properly for the first time during their meeting.
“Ah, curiosity. You have found potential. Was it this fruit of which you spoke of, just an eyeblink ago?”
“I have, great Gaia. The fruit is a venture worth pursuing for us. And I also come before you with something more; the one who sold it. He has come seeking our collaboration in further understanding this new and most curious growth.”
“Oh? Is he here too? Then have him make himself known to me as well. Everything is so very dull through these temporary connections.”
“He is, great Gaia. But before you touch upon his spirit, I would urge some care, as he is but a silver-ranked human.”
“Little seedling, I have handled far, far more delicate things than that in my days,” the voice replied, seeming amused in the way of an elderly grandmother rolling her eyes at the well-meaning yet silly worries of a child. “Come, little human. I would know your spirit.”
Even after having seen Despina do it before, Kite cast the dryad a questioning look as he leaned forward. Only after a nod of confirmation did he follow suit, and projected his aura towards the flower as he touched one of the yellow fronds. The spiritual contact which followed was… odd. For a moment, it felt like his spirit brushed upon something vast yet distinct. It was like laying his hands upon a boulder jutting from the ground, only to realize that he could feel a whole mountain range in the distance from touching that small part of the whole. And that proverbial mountain range felt him in turn.
Kite had expected that even the briefest touch of a diamond-ranker’s spirit would be leagues beyond that of any gold which he had felt. As such, the gentle, subtle impression he got in return almost made him draw back in sheer surprise as it flowed over and through him without using the slightest amount of brute force.
“Ah, little human. A fleeting life, yet some of your kind are so earnest and vibrant,” the voice mused. “Who are you, young one? And what collaboration is it that you are seeking with the Grove?”
“Honored Gaia the Eighth,” Kite began, once more looking to Despina and receiving a nod in encouragement. “It is indeed I who have come into possession of the fruit of which Mistress Despina speaks, as well as the astral space holding the tree from which it has sprung. I reach out to you in search of collaboration; to understand and to nurture this wonder. Something which me and mine cannot do ourselves. And protection, from others of power who would seek to take it for themselves, should they come to learn of it.”
“I see… I see,” the voice replied, somehow conveying an expression of a great head nodding slowly and knowingly. “And little Despina would not have gone through the effort of creating a temporary medium like this had she not already thought this to be something worth considering. Then I would have you tell me of this tree, little human. Let us see if we can reach an accord.”
<hr>
Ametrine Dreams wreathed in Silk kept herself composed even through the urge to violently crumple the letter in her hands. Instead she read it once more, memorizing each word before idly reaching out and letting the shimmering smoke which surrounded her envelop it. The smoke briefly flashed upon contact before the paper crumbled to dust fine enough to elude even the diligent palace staff.
Her frustrations weren’t completely directed at the contents of said letter; confirmation of their initial accord and future collaboration with the cult of the Builder, as well as some actual plans of how to begin. Ametrine had already started her own plans on how to deal with it.
No, her frustrations were directed more towards the need to do so at all.
“To think that I, of all people, have yet to claw myself back to some leverage with the council. Me! They would be far, far behind our current schedule without my King, and yet one of them has the gall to try and supplant us? All of this time maneuvering could have been better spent on working towards our actual grand undertaking.”
Ametrine may be a priestess of Discord, but she had always prided herself on being able to be pragmatic as well. Their god’s purview could be directed and interpreted after all, guided away from themselves. And given their long, long project slowly turning the kingdom into their perfect seedbed, Ametrine had thought the others to be of similar mindset. But alas, such was the nature of the world, suffused by their god’s touch wherever people gathered. And, as always in the conflicts between their followers, Discord themselves remained silent.
Ametrine soon composed herself though, seated in her chambers while preparing other missives in response to the one she had just disintegrated.
“I have clawed my way all the way up here through strife and intrigue, fighting for every step with all the means available to me. Discord does ever wish for people to be strong, after all. Only the strong can survive in their garden,” part of Ametrine’s mind thought as she began to choose which of her people to assign to which task with the utmost care. “It seems like this will just be another test to prove my place. Oh Discord, bringer of strife and change. Your servant will prove herself yet again. This I swear before the heavens.”