51 Rose (2/2)
\”Smells like [Restoration] in here,\” said Li.
Iona had folded her gloves and masks in a neat pile at the worktable. Everything had been cleaned. The table was scrubbed, the equipment was left to soak in purifying buckets overnight, and the cauldron snuffed out and the toxic water dumped away.
\”That was all they wanted today, yes,\” said Iona. She leaned against the table to look at Li. She looked healthier, her bones less visible against her skin. \”It is good to see you back.\”
\”Yeah, I kind of missed this place, even if it's only been a day.\” He nodded. \”l'll be busy tending to the fields tomorrow as well, so you'll have run of the place again. I kind of feel like a deadbeat boss, but know that I just need to make sure this first harvest goes well. Afterwards, I'll be here in-between harvests. And come to think of it, how did you get enough milk poppy flowers to make that many batches of restoration?\”
Iona held out her hand, and the orange flower of the milk poppy sprouted.
\”Right, I forgot about that.\” He looked at his own hand. He was behind on cultivating his forest spirit powers, but it wasn't out of his mind.
\”If I may ask, I did notice the astounding rate at which your fields grew, yes.\” She cocked her head. \”I am quite curious. What manner of seed did you use?\”
\”I was going to consult you about that. I don't actually know, but I'm sure you can read its life song. When I harvest the wheat and get the seeds, I'll need you to look into them and tell me the details.\”
She nodded. \”It would be my pleasure, O guardian.\”
He wagged a finger. \”Remember, no 'O guardianing'. Just Li.\”
\”Yes.\”
\”Yes what?\”
\”Yes…,\” She shook her head. \”I cannot bring myself to smear your status by using your name. Give me some time to adjust.\”
\”I understand.\” He took one more look around the stall. \”And thank you for managing everything while I wasn't here. Cleaning it all up too. I know I may have been harsh when we first met, but I wasn't exactly in balance back then.\”
She smiled. \”There is no need to explain. Your thanks is more than enough reward for me.\”
He gave her a nod. \”Remember to lock the place up. See you same time tomorrow. I know you don't need to read up on notes or anything, but make sure to catch up on making something stronger and more specific than [Restoration] tomorrow. I was thinking [Anti-Venom].\”
With that, he left, heading straight where he knew Old Thane would be: the fields.
--
Iona watched as Li's figure faded into the fields. She sighed as she pulled down the counter tarp, sealing the stall shut from the outside world. The stall was pitch-black now without any sunlight to come in, but she could still see clearly in the dark.
\”…Li,\” she practiced. She would need more time to get used to saying it.
What she couldn't see clearly was how long she would be using this name, how long until he became home in his divine body and started to feel the title of 'Guardian' more befitting than anything else.
At that point, this name, Li, would lose its warmth. It would be a relic – the faded image of a being who could thank her to truly appreciate her, not just to acknowledge how well she did her job.
She didn't know why – perhaps it was the humanity she had devoured festering within her – but she felt a deep sense of loss, as if gazing upon the beauty of a blooming rose, beautiful and bright, but destined to wilt and wither.
Except here, that rose was to never bloom again, its singular wonder forever to be lost to the cold hands of eternity.
--
As expected, Li found Old Thane by the fields again, his hand caressing the a stalk of wheat. They had grown taller but had yet to produce heads.
Zagan sat beside Old Thane, also staring at the wheat.
\”Am I interrupting something?\” said Li as he stood between them.
\”Not at all, lad,\” said Old Thane. \”I was merely talking about the merits working the earth with the demon here.\”
Zagan narrowed his eyes. \”It baffles me how you mortals chew on grass when the most savory feed of all lies within yourselves, in your innards and your terrors.\”
\”We've different stomachs, you see,\” said Old Thane, unfazed. \”Mighty interesting, aye, to learn about the demon folk. So many years spent fighting them, and yet none talking, hah!\”
\”Talk does seem to be pretty good at easing differences, although in this case, old man, I feel like you're pretty uniquely okay with him.\”
Old Thane raised a fist in the air. \”Of course! None do I respect more than those who granted me challenge upon the battlefield, and the demons were just that!\” He lowered his fist as he turned to Li with a smile. \”How'd it go, lad?\”
\”Great. We have full reign of the farm, basically.\” Li paused. He was back in the habit of glossing things over to Old Thane, but there was no reason to do that anymore. \”Actually, let's talk inside. I'll fill you in on all the details.\”