Chương 216: For now

"- and so, honored Gaia, after letting Glint get used to her new, expanded powers as well as seeing if there were any adverse effects, the director here suggested the plan with the auction. And here we are," Kite said, finishing his rather lengthy telling which had - due to the diamond-ranker's prompting and occasional questions - begun back at bronze rank when Kite had first discovered the seed beneath the astral space." Hmm…"

came the eventual response as Gaia the Eighth seemed to be pondering what she had been told." Curious indeed. The astral spaces of this world do indeed tend toward the odd and alien, even if they are often much less useful in nature. Given your telling, the tree seems to be something new to this world. Perhaps it wouldn't even be able to thrive anywhere else than in these purple sands you keep mentioning.

And with the ambient magic levels described, I am not surprised that the fruit will only work for silvers and below. But the tree itself… What potential does it hold, hmm?"

Despina seemed pleased as the diamond-ranked dragon continued with her musings, which Kite interpreted as a good thing." The Grove could stand to benefit from a collaboration around this new entity. As you can imagine, there is much we would like to learn from it. As do you and yours."

"Then you are most kind to consider it, honored Gaia. I do realize that, given the balance of our personal power, you are showing me and mine much consideration," Kite replied, trying to sound as polite and grateful as possible." Ah, little human. It would not do for the balance of this world if I just took all I wanted at a whim. No, harmony and coexistence has ever been my creed, as is that of my seedlings and the other members of the Grove.

There is a balance among those at the peak of power, but that is a matter far beyond you. At least at this moment," Gaia replied, sounding a bit amused." But that won't mean that we would not ask for anything in return for such an accord. Harmony does require a certain balance for all parties involved."

"Then what do you suggest, honored one?"" I would suggest this, little human; let me send one of my seedlings to you, to care and nurture this tree as well as help your people find out more about this curiosity of yours. She will have to be of silver rank, at least from what you've described of the levels of ambient magic, but that should suffice for the moment. I do believe that I even have one in mind. While Verdant Evergreen isn't of your kingdom, she currently has her tree planted relatively close to it.

And she would stand to gain much from such experience, both with the tree and… people. Her presence will mean that I too am present, at least in a sense, and that the space is under my protection. Note though, that the Grove will not fight your battles for you, little human. Only the astral space and our shared interests there are beneath our aegis.

In return, whatever is discovered about the tree will be shared between us, and we will also receive one of these fruits each harvest, however long it may be between them. Should there only grow a single fruit at a time from here on out, then we will instead gain one every other harvest. Does that sound agreeable?" Kite felt a good amount of relief as he heard Gaia's offer. While the fruits were valuable, the knowledge and protection alone this would bring would be worth it by far in his estimate.

At least for his peace of mind.

"It does, honored Gaia. I will agree to this accord."" As does the Grove and I, little human. Who knows? Perhaps I might one day be able to visit this space of yours myself. But until then, I will have to experience it through my seedlings. Despina has already given me such interesting perspectives on things through her life in the city. Truly, it is a joy to be alive even after all these years. Give Despina the location of your home, who will in turn make sure that Verdant Evergreen is made aware of her new task."

At the dragon's words, Kite thought he saw a flicker of resignation play across the dryad's face for a moment, but it was gone as fast as it had come." Of course, great Gaia. It shall be done," she instead replied reverently." Then the time for this connection draws to an end. But I do wish to extend an invitation for young Glint to visit the Grove in the future. I am sure that she would be a joy to behold for many of the old ones living atop my shell.

Should you ever wish to find the Grove, one of my seedlings can make sure to guide you. Farewell, young ones." With her parting words, the great spirit receded from the yellow flower, leaving Kite, Jarvan and Glint feeling as if they had suddenly come out from under the shadow of something vast.

"Now, as for meeting a venerable diamond-ranker, I would say that went pretty well," Jarvan eventually said in the silence that followed.

"Great Gaia is most kind and reasonable," Despina agreed.

"This young mistress will hope to meet her one day. If there are beings among this Grove who might appreciate me, I would be remiss not to give them the opportunity," Glint added with a toss of her head that sent the chains and other adornments in her horns jingling slightly.

"There does seem to be a few details which I would need to work out with Kite here, as well as another matter which I would like to broach with him in private," Despina added, turning to the other three.

"While it was most fascinating to meet you, Glint, and a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jarvan, I hope I'm not too rude in asking you to leave." For a moment, it did look as if Glint was about to protest, but a nudge through their bond from Kite and Jarvan - after a shared look with Kite - gently but firmly laying a hand on her arm, the carp-turned-draconian allowed herself to be led away.

It didn't take long for their auras to vanish among the trees as the obscuring effect of the plant took hold, whereafter the dryad turned to regard Kite.

"Before we go into the details and some logistics, I wanted to ask you something. About Glint."

"Please, go ahead, Mistress."

"Would you say that her… manners… are typical for your culture? This Hua-Xi?" Kite was a bit surprised by the line of questioning, but gave the matter some thought.

"In part," he eventually mused.

"But even among my home, Glint's way of acting is a bit extreme. It steadily grew over a few months after she gained the ability to assume her draconian form and really stepped into society. At least in our local culture. I meant no offense to you and yours," Kite quickly added as his looking into the Grove had made him realize that his definition of society was probably only one of many different structures around the world.

"None taken," Despina replied, waving the matter aside.

"I wanted to ask because I know little of the celestial carps. Would you mind telling me a bit more of Glint during the ranks?" Kite did so, summarizing their meeting at iron rank and the bond which Glint had then initiated, the hunt for the scales and her eventual ability of transformation. He even got into a proper telling of the waves she had started to make among the draconian families of Heavenward.

"Ah, I see then," Despina said, seeming relieved.

"Then it is as I surmised."

"Oh?"

"During my life, I have met plenty of bound familiars, Kite. I have even received the offer of being one myself, but chose to decline. Each magical being ascends their own way. Some just need to live their lives, growing stronger over time, while others need to devour certain things or satisfy other criteria. Becoming a familiar is a definite shortcut to that process, at least for those who would otherwise have a long, ponderous process ahead of them.

You essence-users advance relatively quickly, after all, especially active adventurers."

"So without our bond -""Glint might still be bronze rank, assuming she had been able to gather enough of those scales you mentioned. Now she's silver, but still seemed to require the scales for certain kinds of advancement. And she's silver at a much younger age than she otherwise would have. As I said, it's common among bound familiars who start out young to be a bit… eccentric, as they start coming into their own. A bit like if one of you humans had somehow been rushed into and through adolescence.

Body-wise you'd be much more advanced, in mental capacity too. But that doesn't mean you'd have the experience needed to temper and direct it. Many going the route of the bound familiar seems to have a phase or two like that. Be it mischief, vanity, gloominess or ferocity; no matter the trait, the expression often leans to the extreme."

"This… does explain a bit," Kite eventually said in agreement.

"That, together with how her first true literary experiences were traditional romances of my homeland. I honestly just assumed that this was just how she was, just allowed to really express herself unlike when she was restricted to her carp form."

"Well, this is how she is. At least for the moment. But in my experience, it tends to mellow out in time. Become a bit more balanced."

"That might be a day of mourning for some young masters of Heavenward then," Kite said with an amused smile.

"Anything you would have me do? To help her?" Despina looked thoughtfully to where Glint and Jarvan had disappeared to for a moment before shaking her head.

"Honestly, you seem kind and earnest enough. As does your family. Just have patience and let her find her way. I just wanted to ask and make sure. For Glint's sake." Turning to him more fully, the dryad changed the subject as she once more sat down in her chair.

"Now onto some other matter of logistics…" They spent a while with Kite explaining the geography of Hua-Xi and naming locations and landmarks which to use to find his home and the astral space. When they were done, Despina had the impromptu furniture retract back into the ground, but stopped just before she made to exit the copse of trees which shielded them from the surrounding park.

"Just… one more thing before we leave."

"Yes, Mistress?"

"The dryad that is to be sent to you. Verdant Evergreen. She is young. At least a lot younger than me. And she hasn't spent too much time around people."

"Oh? I would have assumed that, given what you've told me, that would be the norm for your kind."

"It is… It is…" Despina agreed.

"But in dear Evergreen's case, she might be a little bit more… prickly… than most. She will probably benefit quite a lot from working alongside others. So… please have patience with her. Even when she stings."

"Guildmaster, I have spoken with the group which just returned from Orchard. All things considered, this trip also went well. Better than the first few," Second Spring reported as she sat down in front of Walker's desk in the Convergence guildhall.

"Oh? That is most excellent news, Spring. Once you are silver yourself, you can probably take the lead on more than a few of these outings. From what I'm sensing from you, you're getting close now, aren't you?"

"Indeed. I should be along the eighth or ninth stages of bronze in most of my powers now," Spring said, straightening a bit in her seat in pride.

"Taking charge of some of our more far-reaching forays is indeed something I intend to see done. Among… other things." The look of sheer dedication and patience coming to an end which flashed through the younger woman's eyes at the end of her statement had Walker freeze for a moment, as it made him feel like the mouse which had, at long last, found himself cornered by the cat.

"It seems like there will indeed be a change in this old man's life soon," he thought to himself with an inward smile only ever so slightly tinged with fear, but any further reflection was interrupted as Spring produced a set of scrolls which she put on the desk between them, shattering the moment. For now. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What's this then?" Walker asked, causing the bonsai tree at his desk to reach out and hand him one.

"Information, rumors, notes from our members. Anything which they thought might be of interest, really. Orchard and its great number of smaller communities apparently has a lot going on, and I thought that since our groups will travel the roads extensively with their escort and delivery contracts, they might as well give us a lay of the proverbial land."

"Insightful of you, as always. Whatever would I do without you, Spring?" Walker asked, pouring over the contents while trying not to glance too much at the most sweet and meaningful smile he got in return.

"Well, while I ever appreciate the praise, guildmaster, I do realize that this does mean other considerations for us. These scrolls are for one outing alone…"

"Which means that there will soon be a lot of information coming to rest in this guildhall," Walker said, picking up on Spring's meaning.

"Especially given our influx of members since we managed to ward off the sect and Soul's subsequent endeavors in her arena. We already use the lower-ranked teams to monitor the smaller villages up north, looking for signs of undesirables setting up nearby. Heavens, Spring, it looks like we need to consider recruiting an archivist. Or three."

"Indeed. It's a good thing then, that the guild is at least doing well. Perhaps we could have some kind of more scholarly membership? Offering essences or cores, depending on the candidates? Then there's the question of where we should start looking-" Spring was interrupted by a soft knock at the door to Walker's office.

They had both felt the aura of one of the iron-rankers currently in the guildhall move outside, but as there was plenty of activity in the compound these days, neither had really paid that much attention to it before now. A pulse of Walker's aura welcomed the leonid man to enter, who gave them both a proper bow, hands cupped.

"Guildmaster. Hallmaster. There is a visitor here to see you."

"Which of us?" Spring asked, while Walker instead started questing outward with his aura to get a sense of this visitor.

"She said both of you, hall master Spring. She apparently knew that the both of you were here at the moment."

"Wait, how-" Spring was interrupted as Walker suddenly chuckled, having found what he was looking for.

"Of course she did. Please, send her in at once." Spring sent Walker a confused look, but only received his signature roguish grin in return which, to this day, still did warm, tingly things to her insides. But the truth of the matter was soon revealed as an iron-ranked human woman with jet-black hair and angular features entered the office. Wearing the robes and symbol of the goddess Knowledge.

"Guildmaster Walker. Hallmaster Spring," she greeted, giving them each a low bow.

"My name is Clarity of Wit, acolyte of the divine Knowledge. And my Lady has told me that I might find opportunity here with your guild." Visiting Vitesse as a silver-ranker had truly been a wondrous experience for Kite, as his long years of working contracts - bolstered by the increased income from Sage helping some fortunate manifestations along - meant that he could partake of most the city had to offer.

But during his last two days in Vitesse after selling the fruit and meeting with the dryad Despina and making an accord with her Grove, Kite got to experience a stark truth; there was having money while visiting Vitesse, and there was having money while visiting Vitesse. Exchanging one of the diamond-ranked coins for a wealth of the lower denominations had let him view some opportunities in a new light.

Sure, he was already pondering on how this new influx of money could best be spent for the guild and his interests, but there was also the matter of his friends and family. And, of course, himself.

"Thank you, honored botanist. Again, your gardens are truly a wonder to behold," he thanked the owner of an extensive series of greenhouses doubling as a store for all kinds of wondrous plants.

"Oh, why you are such a polite young man," the silver-ranked elf woman said in the manner Kite had come to associate with the elderly, which was quite at odds with her looks as she didn't seem to be perhaps more than ten years older than him. From what he had heard though, she was probably well over two hundred.

"Such an interest for flora too, at least for an active adventurer. This auntie of yours truly raised you right. Let us hope she likes what you have brought home to her."

"With your recommendations, I am quite sure that will be the case," Kite replied as he stored the last of the potted plants in a dimensional bag specially made to keep them healthy and thriving for days at a time. He was just about to turn and leave when his expanded vision revealed something in a particular shade of darkness which he had previously missed due to something as simple as not having caught the right angle.

"One moment, please," he told the botanist, before making his way over for a closer look. In the back of a planting tray, almost entirely hidden behind the thick leaves of a merrily flowering bush, Kite found what he had glimpsed; a pair of flowers. They stood on thick stems of dark green, and the flowers themselves looked akin to a pair of dahlias. At least that's what Kite thought they did, as the details were a bit hard to make out due to the fact that each looked more akin to a hole in the world.

"Ah, you've happened upon one of my experiments," the botanist said as she walked up to see what had caught Kite's interest.

"I had it in my mind to see if I could infuse flowers with all kinds of aspects. Plants are ever versatile like that, if you give them the right conditions and encouragement. For these, I used void quintessence. Striking results, but terribly expensive. And I haven't found much use for them. They do seem to thrive on just about anything though. Sunlight, darkness, plenty of water, just a little…

But during the years since I made them, I've not been able to find any seeds to see if they can self-proliferate, and the butterflies in here shuns them like they were Plague himself." Kite regarded the pair of void dahlias for a moment longer, coming to a decision.

"Then, good botanist, if you are willing to part with them, I have just the person in mind who would appreciate them just the way they are."

"Goin once… Twice… Thrice… Sold, to the anonymous buyer in booth 37!" Kite sat back in his chair with some mixed feelings as the dimension essence was carried away by the assistants of the auctioneer. The sale of essences and awakening stones were, unlike the grand auction, a quite common occurrence. And while there was still competition, the events were a lot more transactional for everyone involved. There was no public bickering and practically everyone participated anonymously, often even going by proxies.

"You got it, Kite, and yet you seem like you have just lost a battle," Jarvan remarked from his side. Glint wasn't with them today, the familiar having elected to do one more sweep through Vitesse's fashion districts before they would portal out late that evening. While they would have to make a day's stop in another decently sized city along the way to wait for a transfer, Glint didn't let one opportunity for pursuing fashion exclude another.

"It's just… So much money…"

"Kite, just two days ago you became the richest person I meet on a regular basis. You being able to go into an auction and coming out with a dimension essence is pretty impressive as a silver ranker who hasn't got the backing of an extended family. I know that you aim to use most of it for the guild and other such matters, but while spending it you should at least allow yourself to enjoy the power money brings! And buy your dear friend Jarvan - a man with a horde of poor, wanting children - an essence or three!"

"I thought that you were already set in that department?"

"Well, thanks to your earlier, generous business with me, they'll all get something. But I can't help but want to allow them some more options. Especially since Fantina does have us set up for a second wave sometime in the far future, once we're well into gold rank. A man has to plan for the future, no?" Kite couldn't help but smile at Jarvan's usual antics, no matter how genuine the greed in his eyes was.

"It does seem that I need to try and heed your advice a bit more, doesn't it? At least in regards to the part about enjoying myself," he said, perking up a bit as he did another once-over of the day's listing while the auctioneer below was introducing a trio of wolf essences for anyone wanting to make their very own pack.

"Perhaps being a bit more enthusiastic is the way to go. Some of the essences and stones here might even produce more of what I'm looking for, Fortune be willing. And with the sale of the purple sand essence I've carried around for the longest time, I do have some additional margins… That mirror essence could be a good lead. And that awakening stone of connections…" The auction carried on for a while, with Kite making several more purchases.

But when things were eventually dying down and the only items left in the listings were things of little interest to them, Kite sat back and offered up his glass of wine in a toast.

"Thank you, Jarvan. This was a most fruitful journey, and it was your idea after all."

"It was indeed," the director replied, clinking his glass to Kite's even though his gaze was distant.

"Getting back and feeling the pulse of this city again… Revel's riveting rack, Kite, I would lie if I say that I haven't missed it. But honestly? There are a lot of people back in Hua-Xi which I find myself missing a lot more, and by a good margin. So I stand by my words from a few nights ago in where I want life to go. Back here occasionally, yes. But there is plenty more which beckons as well." One long, mindful sip of wine later, Jarvan turned to look at Kite more directly as he continued.

"How about you then, Kite? You have all of these grand plans, and you invest a lot in the guild, yourself and your family. But where do you want to go from here, Kite? Aside from the obvious threat of a certain deity hiding behind the tapestries. I mean you, yourself. With your path, your interests, your relationships. Anything that is yours, really."

The question took Kite aback a bit in its sincerity, and it wasn't hard to imagine Jarvan - now exuding an almost ridiculous amount of fatherly sincerity - having asked the same thing of many of his children once they came of age.

"I…" Kite began, before he fell silent and really gave the matter some thought. This took several minutes, but neither of the two men seemed to mind, letting the auction die down in the hall beneath as people started milling back out. Eventually though, he felt content with what his introspections showed him, and spoke again.

"In part, director, what you have described is in a way me being a bit selfish and acting in my own interests. Back in Bastion, when I first came to know Peony and Sun, I even had a whole little impromptu speech about it. How me, acting in a way that changes things around me to better fit what I deem right, is fulfilling. Be it giving out essences to people who I'd like to have more power or founding the guild and championing its expansion, part of it was done for me as well.

The way the sects around Gilded were acting back at iron and bronze rank… Having had a hand in shifting their paths fills me with pride. That I, little Kite from Starberry Peak, made a real impact. And that I want to continue to do so, even if I want to be wise about it too. Just storming into every sect and dueling my way through their elders - while satisfactory - would not have the long-term effects I wanted." He paused for a while, swirling the remnants of his wine.

"So I honestly feel good doing a lot of this. Of feeling important, both to those close to me. Even though I try my best not to let it show too much, lest it goes to my head. The line between pride and folly is thin, after all. But I do get the point of your question, and I will have to ponder that some more. Because I surely want more than just to make an impact.

See Raven grow and experience things alongside her, spend time with my aunties, grow the compound into everything it could be, spar and climb towards the heavens along my friends, find contentment and bliss in the small moments between contracts and…" Seeing where Kite trailed off, Jarvan arched a single eyebrow.

"Dragonfly?"

"Why director, it's almost as if you've done this before," Kite replied, amused after his initial startle.

"A few," Jarvan replied with a wink.

"Don't misunderstand; contrary to my own most stable family union, I am both aware of and open to all the different solutions to relationships we essence-users employ. Our circumstances and opportunities do vary beyond the norm quite a lot. But I have been meaning to ask you; are you content with the current arrangement?"

"A good question, director," Kite said with a helpless smile.

"In a way, yes. Things are good. But I have pondered many a time where we would end up. And where I want us to end up. Your astute observation just brought it up more… directly, than I myself have done previously."

"Am I allowed to be completely frank for a moment, then?"

"Please, by all means."

"Good. Kite, you and Dragonfly have ostensibly remained quite casual, which is understandable. You were young- sorry, younger when you got involved with one another. Iron rank is dangerous, and so on. But so far it doesn't seem like either one of you have meandered towards anyone or anything else correct?"

"Yes."

"Even when you both have had both the time and opportunity to do so, should you have wished, over several years' time?"

"Yes."

"Purity's prunes, Kite, you two are basically living like most other married adventurer couples I've met already. You are free to live your life as you want, but perhaps it is at least time to take a proper look at what the two of you actually are and want to go, rather than continue to just go by the same agreement you originally made even though the rest of your lives clearly have evolved beyond it?" Kite sat, slightly stunned for a moment in the silence that followed.

"That was indeed… frank," he eventually said.

"Well I did ask. Even if I might have stretched my promise to Fantina to prod you gently," Jarvan admitted with some chagrin.

"It's just that the two of you seem to have this great life together, but that there is simply a part of it that neither of you have dared move to embrace even if it is right there and you are already living it. It would be a shame to see you miss out." Jarvan's most earnest, bordering on fatherly concern finally overwhelmed whatever self-restraint Kite had, and he started chuckling. This eventually came to grow into a full laugh, and Kite even allowed himself to just sit back in his chair and enjoy it.

"I get the feeling that I'm being laughed at, but not for the reason I think," Jarvan eventually remarked, an eyebrow raised.

"In that you are right, Jarvan," Kite eventually said as he collected himself.

"It was more due to the irony that I have once more been served my own medicine, as the saying goes. But I believe that you raise some fair points, in a way that leaves little room for self-deception. Dragonfly and I did start out quite good at actually talking about things, even more intimate or important ones. But you are right in that there is this one matter which we have both been deftly dancing around for quite some time now. And that I - for my own sake, if nothing less - might want to actually broach it.

Sooner, rather than later."

"Well, I am glad that my sage advice and life experience can go appreciated by someone these days," Jarvan replied jokingly, even if his smile was more content than smug, before it soured somewhat as he continued.

"Now if only my dear teenagers back home could just come to realize that…"