“Hey, any chance you know where Bloom went off to?” Ben asked at the start of the day, getting a nod from Lux while her focus remained on playing with her son.
“He’s out helping in the fields right now.”
“What, like farming?”
“Ha, I suppose you could say that. You put the country in charge of your god crystals and they’re seeing some good use. We already had a handful of awakened dryads hired to look after them and since his magic is still new to him, getting him to help was a good way to add some experience to that power. We’ve been trying to set that up for all of the new great spirits, although since finding mortals with awakened versions of every obscure magic is going to be impossible, some of them are going to have to make do by interacting with those who hold the skills in their first tier state.”
“Alright, cool but darn,” He muttered, making the light spirit chuckle.
“If you need him for a bit then we can call him back for you. There’ll be no harm in giving him a break.”
“Ah, I need him for a bit more than just a break is all,” He explained, rubbing his head as he did. “We’re dropping Mora off today at a small dryad village to watch him while we take on the tower-”
“And you wanted him to help out around there? Maybe meet a few plant magic users?”
“Well, yeah but no. I did think it would be a good experience for him but my main concern was having someone with Mora while we’re away, just in case anything happens.”
“Isn’t that exactly what your babysitters are for?”
“Okay, again yeah but I was thinking more about something above their pay grade. Mora has made a whole lot of new spirits, I’m worried that word might make it back to his mother and make her try to see him while we aren’t around to deal with it.”
Vividus enjoyed seeing the results of her experiments and just because she’d abandoned the one he was helping to raise, didn’t mean she wouldn’t go back now that a new and exciting result had revealed itself. If such a thing were to happen then he wanted to be around for it and he knew Thera would want to be there too. Having another great spirit there could at least ease things for if she tried anything, either by being able to send for the other great spirits or even just being a distraction in and of himself thanks to his nature as both one of the combined spirits and as something that was once, at least in part, some of the life spirits she’d look after in the world.
The explanation brought both a thoughtful and concerned look to Lux’s face though, the great spirit thinking before she spoke.
“While I would doubt she’d go out of her way to find him, I suppose it’s not impossible either. I know she’s been working on her chimera project but she has her whims once something catches her interest. Still, even if Bloom might have benefited from some time around some more plant magic users, there’s is a better option. Let me grab Ogilt.”
“He’s not still here all of the time, is he?”
“A lot less, he goes out to hunt demons every now and then but he always winds up back here when he’s done. Still, even if he’s improved a bit he doesn’t have any real work in the world, he can spare a few days to watch his nephew and do some chores in the village to help out and if by some chance Vividus does come by, he can bring Mora back here in a snap and the rest of us can have some words with her.”
“Alright, fantastic, that works. Thanks, Lux.”
“Of course, I have to make sure I improve my impression with my first nephew after all.”
Walking through Stonewall once everyone was gathered, Thera didn’t comment on the looks they got going through the streets but it was clear all eyes were on Ben, a fact he himself was easily ignoring, even if it was obvious his standing in town had changed. Fear and awe were both openly displayed in equal parts but that was the choice he’d made, taking on the blame for everything and working to repair it, something he had known back when he’d done it.
But at least nobody decided to run me out of town as soon as I arrived. I’m pretty sure that counts as a win.
It wasn’t long until they were going to knock on that very person’s door, with Sachel answering when they did, looking curiously at the unexpected addition of Ogilt standing by their side.
“Hey Sachel, we’re just here to drop the kiddo off,” He said brightly. “Mind letting the others through first? I wanna talk to you just a bit.”
“Hmm? Yeah, go ahead.”
She stepped by for the other three to pass, giving Ben the chance to speak once they were alone.
“Myriad told me you helped cool things down a bit for us while we were away. Thank you, I won’t forget that, Sachel.”
“What, no, not at all!” She rushed to say. “You and Thera have both helped me out plenty, that was nothing and besides, most of it was Ceselee and Aso anyway.”
“And I’ll make sure I thank them too but here you are in front of me so let me just know if you ever need anything. Items, knowledge, wealth, whatever, I don’t want to be the sort who doesn’t pay off their debts.”
“Ben, there’s no debt. We’re friends, I wouldn’t just stand by and let you be run out of town.”
“...Well, we appreciate it, me and Thera both. Thanks.”
He didn’t like the thought of leaving a favour unpaid but if there was nothing she wanted then there was nothing he could do but keep an eye out for any time in the future he could make up for it but with all that needed saying said, he went through to the rest of the dryads, to say hello to Fontesh and his little apprentice before he’d need to take on a whole new tower.