Evelyn Strauss pushed open the café door, her expression somber. The usual warmth and comforting aroma of Kim’s Café greeted her, but today it did little to soothe her troubled mind. The quiet murmur of conversations filled the room, punctuated by the clinking of cups and the scraping of chairs on the wooden floor.

Spotting Kim and Emily at a corner table, Evelyn made her way over, her posture stiff with worry. She slid into a chair across from them, barely meeting their eyes.

“Hey, Evelyn,” Emily greeted gently, immediately sensing the tension in the air. “How did it go with Gavrin?”

Kim sat forward, her brows knitting together in concern. “Yeah, you look like you’ve got a lot on your mind. What did he say?”

Evelyn took a deep breath, rubbing her temples as if to ward off an impending headache. “Well, I spoke with him,” she began, her voice tight. “He was surprisingly open about it all. He told me about something he calls ‘Verdant Dominion.’ It’s this… this power he has to control and manipulate the plant life around Schoolville. Not just plants, though—he can sense almost everything that happens within the area it covers. He can feel where people are, what they’re doing, even changes in the land itself. It’s… unsettling, to say the least.”

Emily's eyes widened, her hand going to her mouth. “So he knows everything that happens around here?”

“Essentially, yes,” Evelyn replied, sighing heavily. “He said he uses it to protect the village and make sure everything is running smoothly. But the scope of it is... enormous. It’s like he’s got his own eyes and ears everywhere, even without his familiars.”

Kim leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Her gaze turned thoughtful as she considered this new information. “I can see why that would worry you,” she admitted, glancing at Emily before turning back to Evelyn. “It’s a lot of power for one person to have, especially when it covers something as large and vital as this village.”

“But he’s done so much good,” Emily argued, leaning forward. “I mean, think about it—thanks to him, we have food, shelter, safety. He’s never used his power to hurt anyone, right?”

Evelyn nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “No, not directly. But that’s what concerns me. What if something changes? What if he decides to use that power for something else? How much control does he really have? And how much do we really know about it?”

The conversation had begun to draw the attention of other patrons. A few heads turned in their direction, and murmurs started to ripple through the café. One of the nearby villagers, a tall, burly man named Derek, cleared his throat and spoke up.

“Evelyn’s got a point,” Derek said, his voice gruff but carrying a note of agreement. “We’ve put a lot of trust in Gavrin because of all he’s done for us. But how do we know it’ll always be that way? That kind of power could easily go to someone’s head.”

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“Or it could keep us all alive,” another voice interjected. It was Mara, a shopkeeper who was sitting at a table with a few friends. “Gavrin has been using his power to protect us from the start. We’re safer because of it. You’re worrying about a problem that doesn’t exist.”

“That we know of,” Evelyn shot back, her eyes flashing with concern. “We don’t know the full extent of what he can do. And we should know. This is our village too. We have a right to understand what kind of power is being used to watch over us.”

A middle-aged woman named Greta, who was sitting near the window, nodded in agreement with Evelyn. “Transparency is important. We’ve been relying on Gavrin for so much. What happens if he suddenly decides to withhold his support or use his abilities in ways we don’t agree with?”

“But he hasn’t done that,” Emily insisted, her voice rising slightly. “You’re all acting like he’s some kind of tyrant. He’s just trying to help. Without his Verdant Dominion, we might not have the food we need to survive, let alone the protection from bandits and monsters. His powers have been a blessing, not a curse.”

Kim raised her hand, motioning for calm. “Alright, everyone. Let’s keep this civil. I understand both sides here. Evelyn, I get your concern. This is a lot of power concentrated in one person. But Emily has a point too; Gavrin has used that power for the good of the village so far. The question is, how do we make sure that continues?”

More villagers had started to join the conversation, voicing their opinions. A younger man named Oliver spoke up from his seat near the door. “Maybe there needs to be some kind of oversight. Like, a council or something that works with Gavrin. So he’s not making all these decisions alone.”

“Ha!” Derek scoffed. “And you think Gavrin would go along with that? He’s used to working on his own, doing things his way. I don’t see him wanting to answer to a council.”

“He might, if it’s framed the right way,” Evelyn interjected, her tone firm. “He cares about this village. If we approach him with the idea that it’s for the good of everyone, he might be willing to have a discussion about it.”

Kim nodded thoughtfully. “That could work. Gavrin’s smart; he knows how important it is to have the village’s trust. And a council could help manage some of the responsibilities he’s taken on. It might even lighten his load.”

Emily bit her lip, glancing at Evelyn. “But what if he feels cornered? If we push him too hard, it could backfire. We don’t want to alienate him or make him feel like we don’t trust him.”

Evelyn sighed, rubbing her forehead. “I know, Emily. I don’t want that either. I’m not saying we demand anything. We start with a conversation, just like we did today. We express our concerns, and we talk about ways to ensure the village stays strong, with or without Gavrin’s constant watch.”

A silence settled over the café as everyone considered Evelyn's words. Kim leaned forward, her eyes meeting Evelyn’s. “Alright, Evelyn. If you’re willing to take this on, I’ll support you. But we do this carefully. We go to Gavrin with respect, acknowledging everything he’s done for us. This isn’t about taking away his power; it’s about finding a way for all of us to work together, openly.”

Evelyn nodded, feeling a mixture of apprehension and determination. “Agreed. We need to approach this as partners, not adversaries. I’ll talk to Gavrin again, but I’ll need the support of the village to make this work.”

“You’ve got it,” Emily said, giving Evelyn’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “We all want what’s best for Schoolville. If this is the next step, then we’ll take it together.”

The café filled with murmurs of agreement, though an undercurrent of unease remained. As the villagers continued to discuss, Evelyn felt a sliver of hope. This conversation wouldn’t solve everything, but it was a start. And perhaps, with Gavrin’s help, they could find a way to balance his power with the needs and trust of the village.