4 Chapter 4 - Welcome to the Manor (2/2)
”This way then,” I said, gesturing to the garden.
It was lined with hedges, creating a barrier around the garden that you could feel as you passed through. The air was heavy with nature energy which would normally be a calming sensation to most people, but it was 'prickly' to me because of the clash of affinities. Thinking of that, I glanced over at Katye, who expression had changed.
”If you are feeling uncomfortable, we can leave, but it won't hurt you. Kiara and Yue have worked together to make a number of wards to draw in more nature mana into the air which is probably clashing slightly with your affinity, like it does mine,” I said.
”I'm not uncomfortable, but I do feel strange... like half of me is enjoying it while the other half feels like ants are crawling on my body.”
”It is probably because of your bloodline. Fairies are creatures of nature while chaos energy doesn't like the gentleness of this energy,” Yue said as she walked up to us, almost seeming to glide across the ground.
”As you may know, this is Ying Yue, the longest member of the manor, excluding Alice,” I introduced.
Yue gave a small bow and said, ”Please, call me Yue as everyone else does. Alice took me in when I was young and taught me everything I know. I look forward to working with you for a brighter future.”
”Thank you, Yue. I look forward to working with you as well,” Katye replied.
”Please, come and enjoy the garden. Kiara is tending to some of the more troublesome herbs at the moment, but I placed a kettle of tea to start warming. She should stop by for a break in a few minutes,” Yue said as she motioned for us to follow.
Past the hedges, the garden opened up to an unbelievable amount thanks to the work of some spatial formations that I did not understand. In fact, it was so large, it was truly hard to consider it a garden as it had its own stream that ran through it and a rocky cliffside that acted as the boundary in the back. There were true wonder in Katye's eyes this time as this was something truly magical. Herbs in a rainbow of colors were planted in fields in some kind of formation that strength the potenicy and speed of growth of the herb, but I simply found it pleasing to the eye.
Yue led us down the rocky path to a small platform that spanned the small stream where a table, two chairs, and a teapot on burner sat in the center. She touched a crystal that was inlayed in the center table and jestered with her other hand, causing two more chairs to appear. Katye made a sound of surprise and awe while caused Yue to smile while I stilfed a laugh. We sat down while Yue pulled out a teacup for everyone and poured us all a glass. I was happy to find it was a berry tea which she knew was my favorite.
”Better than the 'boiled leaf juice'?” she teased as she noticed my happy expression.
I chuckled and looked away as my face turned slightly red. She had bothered me a few months ago about why I never visited her in the garden, but what I didn't know was that she spilled a drop of true serum in my morning juice and I ended up complaining that she always made me drink tea. Unforntunately, I had used those words in describing why I didn't like her tea and it seemed to strike a nerve. Maybe it was my texan background, but only her fruit teas were ever sweet enough.
Kiara walked up a few minutes later, just as Yue had said, coming from the back fields. There was a light layer of sweat on her forehead, but she had on a radiant smile. Whenever she was in the garden, she was vibrant and practically glowing. The energy in the air was constantly being refined by her body which she would then re-infuse into the plants and so creates the this endless that increases her strength at a frightening level. After a year working in the garden, she had more mana and Gustavo and I combined in our three years of practice.
”Good afternoon, I'm Kiara,” she said as she brought her hands together in a praying fashion.
”Good afternoon, I'm Katye,” Katye replied, returning her greeting.
Kiara's smile grew slightly as she took her seat and took the cup Yue offered. We talked for awhile as Kiara and Yue talked about the garden and what all they were doing with everything. They were stockpiling different medices that would help ease the masses when the ward fell. Not everyone would need the same pill, so not only were they making pills, but also writing out the instruction guide that the doctors around the world would use to help everyone. It was only when the sun began to get low, did the conversation came to an end as Kiara needed to tend to a few more plants before dinner.
”I'll go with you to the training field,” Yue offered. ”Gustavo and Terri should still be over there... maybe you guys can play a real game of Riktony and show her something special.”
”Riktony, what's that?” Katye asked as we walked.
”A game Alice made to help teach everyone how to fight under stressful situation, even if it's easy,” Yue answered.
”It's only easy to you because you cheat,” I snapped.
”I don't cheat, Becca.”
”Do you not hack into the golem formation and deactivate them when you play?”
”If you study formations, you could easily do the same,” she replied with a light smile on her lips.
”Yeah, cracking Alice's formations is easy,” I said rolling my eyes which got a laugh from both the girls.