242 Adventure (1/2)
Instead, she looked pensive. Contemplative. Then, she put her hand over Li's, wrapping her palm over the seed as well. The shimmering light of the seed faded as their hands enclosed over it, leaving but a slight humming that echoed between their hands, as if the seed were a living, breathing creature.
”Thank you,” said Iona with a smile. ”There is so much that you give. So much in your heart that is generous and good. You give your time, your strength, and your commitment to those infinitely beneath you. You give that which is dearest to you. And you give it with no reservation, only wishing that what you give will nourish others and let them grow.”
”A side effect of attuning myself with my divinity,” said Li. ”As you said, forest spirits and guardians are naturally beings that seek to nourish and grow. I can understand what you mean now, and it is through your help as a Root that I can sit here and appreciate it without being a slave to it.”
Iona shook her head emphatically. ”No, you are mistaken.” She wrapped her fingers around Li's and raised their hands together. ”I told you – I am linked with you. In the time that I have felt who you are, delving into the very essence and color of you soul, of one thing, I am made clear of.
You have always had a good heart. Do not mistake the mistake of believing that who you are now is a product of your nature. As a man, you held a good heart smothered over by the circumstances of the world around you. As a deity, you simply now have the freedom to show the true colors of your heart.
If there is one thing I request, it is that you do not let the world outside tarnish this heart of yours.”
”You two very close,” said Tia from atop a seat of leaves, her eyes wary. She rested her chin on her hands, her head leaned forward in close inspection to make sure to keep Li under close surveillance.
The revelation of the shiny Celestial-tier seed evidently was not enough to really get her attention, but this was an emergency worthy of her full concern. ”But papa mine.” She crossed her arms and looked to Li for approval. ”Right, papa?”
”Of course,” said Li with a smile. He made sure the seed was nestled snugly into Iona's palm, and then let go of her hand. She closed her hand around the seed and closed her eyes, the light from the item flowing through her body.
”Come, Tia,” said Li. ”You've been sitting alone for too long. Let's go home now. It will be a big day tomorrow.”
”Adventure!” exclaimed Tia as she leaped almost ten meters from where she was to Li's shoulder, latching onto his back in her usual manner.
”We go together. We fight together,” nodded Tia happily. Her eyes shone with anticipation of the future. ”Boring days over now.”
”Don't get too excited now,” said Li. ”Papa will be making sure you do not misbehave, too.” He turned to Iona. ”Take care, Iona, of yourself and those under you. Use the Justicars as you see fit. Commune with me if ever there arises a situation out of your control. And I know what kind of person I am – I will not lose sight of that.”
”Of course,” said Iona as she finished integrating the seed into her being. Her figure began to flicker, the outlines of her body becoming faint as she began to dematerialize. ”I look forward to seeing the world you will shape.”
At noon the next day, Li stood outside of the doors of the farmer's guild, ready to leave the city and head out on his first proper adventure. He had quite a sizable pack on his back filled mostly with supplies for Tia and Old Thane because he was largely self-sufficient.
The top of the pack reached higher than Li's head, and Tia sat on top of the pack with her legs crossed, eyes wide as she looked around, enjoying the wonderful new vantage point to look at the world through.
Old Thane stood next to Li with his arms crossed, the end of his lengthy beard tied into a single braid. He did not wear his usual farmer's clothing, completely changing his image by wearing basilisk scale pants and worg skin coat.