<h4>Chapter 290: Magical Miss Dryad</h4>


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    His day started with an overexcited rm clock: a small human that was giggling to herself in happiness.


    "Josh, Josh, Josh! Wake up! Today''s the day!" The little one''s voice pulled him away from his dreams.


    "Is it the weekend?" He grumbled. She wouldn''t be this excited for school, right?


    "No! Today''s the school trip! Remember, you''re going with us, and it will be awesome! Hurry up and get dressed already!" She eximed with so much drive that it was almost unreal.


    "Fine, fine, fine. Just let me drink a couple of gallons of coffee and I''ll be right there." He sleepily mumbled while driving his body away from the warmth at his side.


    The woman he loved was asleep, her breathing serene and her face more beautiful than anything. The creases of worries were slowly disappearing as they settled in their new life. They were poor, but they had everything they needed.


    Her breathing indeed was serene…actually maybe a bit too much. He suddenly peered at her suspiciously. Yep, she was faking being asleep for sure! Without waiting, he reached for her delicate lips, using his tongue to pry them open tenderly.


    Before long, he was thoroughly exploring her mouth, invading until he tasted the sweetness that she had to offer. She was still pretending outwardly to be sleeping, but her tongue that intertwined around his betrayed her.


    Her breathing was bing rougher by the second. Driving his hand under the covers, he found a soft body eager for his touch. She was acting coy, but she was evidently getting in the mood for some fun. They probably had a few minutes before leaving, right?


    But the little one suddenly barged in, pointing to her sister: "You promised not to tempt him! What happened to you remaining asleep? Let him go, vixen! Anyway, c''mon Josh, we''re gonna bete!" She used.


    "I''ll have you know that I''m innocent! My sleeping face was enough to charm him. Your n backfired on you!" She shrugged, showing innocence but her huge smile and stifledughter didn''t fool anyone.


    She even whispered a low: "Why don''t we postpone this till tonight? Oh, conserve your energy because there won''t be any sleeping. ;)" She proposed while winking and pushing him toward the exit.


    Josh was dragged out by an excited little girl all the way to her school, where bright yellow buses awaited them orderly, akin to soldiers. There were a few teachers, many parents, and a shitload of hyper younglings.


    Oh, and the ride was a wonderful concerto of awful summer camp songs that were enough to turn even the happiest of man depressive. How did kids love these so much?! After a ride that was far too long, they finally arrived at their destination.


    That day they were visiting the city''s Botanical Garden. It felt like they were immersed in an entirely different new world. The gray and straight lines of the modern buildings were reced by colorful flowers and nts of all kinds.


    But, the best was seen a bitter when they arrived at the most outstanding attraction of the entireplex: the mosa?cultures. If taking care of nts was an art, this was simply godlike. The nts were carefully trimmed in incredible shapes.


    There were all kinds of unbelievable sculptures: peacocks, lions, goldfishes, horses, frogs, old fishermen, and even one gigantic one that represented Gaia herself with a fountaining out of her hand.


    "Wow!" That is all the little one said as her eyes sparkled brighter than diamond.


    "So, was I right that this ce is great? What do you think?" Josh teased her.


    "Wow!"


    "That''s it? Nothing else." He asked.


    "It''s just wow. It''s so amazing!" She happily eximed.


    She then spent a long while observing in great detail every single artwork. She would especially grin at the top of the food chain carnivores. How ironic that they were made of nts!


    The two looked likeplete tourists as they would point to every sculpture, judging them as if proud art critics.


    "This one is a green frog that used leaves to camouge itself here. It might just jump away at any moment!" Shemented.


    "Perhaps."


    "This one is a struggling vegan lion. He had a crazy owner and died of starvation only to be reincarnated as a nt. But even then, the proud spirit of the lion lives on!"


    "So that''s how it is. Such determination! How praiseworthy!"


    "This one is an old fisherman that stayed in ce so long that grass grew on him. As soon as he catches something, he''ll move as if nothing had ever happened."


    "Makes sense!"


    That''s when an olddy heartily chuckled at seeing the little one. She couldn''t help butment. "Don''t be too disappointed, little girl, but they really are all just nts. But, the secret ingredient is love. This is my husband''s garden, or used to be anyway."


    "Oh? Is he on vacation or something?" She thoughtlessly asked.


    "No…well yes. It''s a very long vacation. Perhaps I''ll join him soon…." Her mncholic tone and her reminiscing gaze were so pronounced. Even the little one understood that the man was dead. But then, she turned toward the olddy.


    "You''re actually wrong about something. Those are not just nts: it''s magic!" She reiterated.


    "What do you…?" The olddy seemed perplexed for a second.


    "I agree. It truly is magic. There isn''t any other term to describe it. You''ve done such a great job that it''s a magical garden, truly." Josh nodded with confidence.


    The olddy began crying, but it was tears of joy. "Magical. Magical. Yes, it really is. You''re right." She then gave them a beaming smile, one that was even more magical than the surrounding wonders.


    "Alright, we have to go back, or the teachers won''t be happy with us. Have a great day, miss dryad, and thank you for everything." Josh nodded to her before heading away.


    "Later, miss dryad!" The little one chimed in too.


    "M-miss dryad?" The olddy was astonished. Dryad?" Weren''t dryads usually beautiful? She was just an olddy!


    The olddy watched the two weirdos leave, her old heart suddenly thumping in her old body with renewed hope. She still looked forward to when her vacation woulde, but perhaps she could keep living a bit longer.


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    Dryad? Now that Josh thought about it, this term sure was nostalgic. He couldn''t help but wonder if this olddy had survived the transmigration. Perhaps she would meet true magical nts.


    Would the dryads measure up to their reputation on Earth? He would soon know...


    Creator''s Thought


    If presented with two choices: - A sculpture that someone put his heart and soul into creating. - A magical skill that one was given by the Tower for free. I''d say the first one is truly the magical one. It''s magical how much human effort can aplish. It is also what needs to be celebrated. Maybe I''m just old-fashioned...