Chapter 1341 (1/2)
The reach of Yggdrasil spread both up and down from Randidly’s meditating body. Above him, the thick brown trunk stretched upward like a solemn shrine to life. Stories and fables in looping golden script crossed the whole of the thick bark, adding rich, warm color to the central pillar of Yggdrasil. From the upper portions of the trunk, a thousand branches spread out in every direction. Each was carefully adorned in emerald leaves that rustled softly with an invisible wind as the image made its presence felt.
That rustling was a near-constant melody of a vital planet; it was the song of growth and stability. And in a way, it was the low hum of power that drove Yggdrasil to be as powerful an image as it was.
It was a thousand details that had slowly accumulated, steadily becoming potency.
As above, so below. While the top portion of the perfect reflection was brown and emerald, the bottom half was entirely golden. The tips of the roots digging down into the Earth beneath Randidly were only dimly golden, as though they had been quickly dipped into a canister of dirt and gold dust. But as more and more energy flowed upward through the root system, the brightness increased to a lustrous shine. Energy flowed upward through the World Tree, part of an endless cycle.
Of course, I had to hop off of Kharon in order to do this, but at least the Philosopher’s Key will get me back quickly… Randidly hummed to himself and continued his restorative meditation. His breathing was slow and even. Honestly, it was something of a stress relief that he was sitting on a cliff face while Kharon trooped forward away from him.
Congratulations! Your Skill the Golden Roots of Yggdrasil (L) has grown to Level 241!
After meeting with Han Yazhu and Mark Rowel in the hour or so before Kharon began to move, Randidly was thoroughly exhausted of his willingness to participate in social interaction. Honestly, he would have preferred another few extremely quick confrontations with the Illym inside fo the Dreamcatcher of the Long Night to those sorts of semi-political discussions, but he was the liege of Kharon. He controlled the Order Ducis and the Riders of the Baleful Court.
He wore a crown and had to act the role of King. Within his Kingdom, his was the final say.
Honestly, the discussions with Zone 7’s representative were thankfully brief; they simply wanted to establish a program to send a few of their best forgers to work in the refineries of Kharon for a few months at a time. Not to take Kharon’s secrets, but to give them exposure to the process of imbuing an image into metal at its very capable source.
Randidly was a little worried about too much exposure to his image, but he had been keeping track of the forgers of Kharon. Although there were similarities in their process to his, it wasn’t enough that Randidly was unwilling to let them teach Zone 7’s best people. This was a Skill that could be safely spread.
Mark Rowel, head of the Order Valorem, had made a request that seemed to squirm uncomfortably on Randidly’s desk like a slug.
“What we need is a definitive outline of the requirements to being a member of an Order,” Mark had insisted as the two faced each other across a flimsy wooden table. “We want our Orders to be seen as peacekeeping forces for the people. So giving concrete outlines of what is expected of each individual is for the best. As the Order Ducis is the current head of the Orders, I cannot believe that you already don’t have such directives, at least in regards to your own recruitment.”
The meeting had ended in dissatisfaction for both. Obviously, Randidly didn’t intend on making an outline of qualities that individuals in Orders should possess. And it seemed to Randidly that the only reason the Order Valorem wanted such requirements was to further legitimize and defend themselves after the embarrassment they had received at the football game.
Besides, Randidly didn’t agree with Mark Rowel’s read on what the Orders were. It was an organization type, not a type of organization. But he supposed that Tessa, the true creator of the Orders, was the actual authority on the subject. If she were to send a letter asking him to provide some support to people’s understanding of Orders, Randidly might consider it.
Even though Tessa essentially forced Randidly into this position in an attempt to corral his activities…
Sighing, Randidly banished those thoughts from his mind and continued to focus on recovering his mental energy. Leaves rustled and roots spread downward. The sun in the sky continued to slide steadily across the great blue dome. Green above, golden below, bridged by a thick trunk of brown covered in golden writ. The rustling of Yggdrasil’s leaves brought peace to Randidly’s heart. Mentally and physically, Randidly slowly came into alignment.
Congratulations! Your Skill the Glittering Leaves of Yggdrasil (L) has grown to Level 196!
Soon, Randidly felt good enough to produce the Philosopher’s Key and return to his island. Wrapped in thick silver mists and illuminated briefly by bolts of navy blue electricity, his island floated serenely in Kharon’s wake.
Very quickly, Randidly walked over to his sitting spot in the center of his island and made himself comfortable. He hadn’t seen Tessa at his birthday party, although Randidly wasn’t sure whether he should read into that fact very much. He honestly had no idea what Tessa had done since their brief interactions when Orders had been created. He was aware that she still lived in Franksburg, but that was basically it. He had been so busy with other threats and issues that she had just slipped his mind.
Which was, perhaps, why she had chosen not to come to his birthday in spite of his invitation. Because they had been drifting apart for a while and now that they had arrived at such different places, there was no need for them to reconnect.