Chapter 111
They Emerge
Hawkin
Brewer’s Reputation: 418
It had been a red oak which soaked up the trickling beer with the Aggravated Wild Growth attribute. Branches thick as rivers cast miles long shadows upon the woods. Above, they hid the rest of the tree. Frozen leaves fell from the terrible heights, beyond where mountains might reach.
In the early morning, where we saw the sun before the sleeping birds did, Abigail and I stirred awake. Though we camped upon one of the lowest branches of the colossal oak, the drop made my head ring. The northern Mist Hidden barrier was a hair-thin bioluminescent strand. The top of it swayed with the wind, so it sometimes seemed thicker along its way.
The wind at our height was sharp, so Abigail replenished our warmth and wind shield with a couple of Sheltering Attribute beers. We lay back upon a bedding made of compacted cloud. It was the foam of a beer, and it held our weight without wetting our clothes. Abigail lay back, and she snapped her fingers. Liquid tinkled everytime she snapped, and bottle by bottle, she was making headway on her puncheon shard quest.
I lay at her side. We ate berries off her navel.
As I took my pick from the bursting currants, I pinched the cones on a coil of hops. My fingers smelled like toasted pine needles and lemon zest. My gaze slipped to the Mist Hidden wall that sprayed the air when gusts of wind blew against it.
Then it was the sun that beat against the wilderness. It came up enough, suddenly, and instantly lay upon the canopy with a gentle early orange and blue. Sunlight showed us the green canopy of spring.
What was this excitement for spring that I felt? Ah, but all the flowers bloom in spring. Wild foods come out of the ground. Life becomes gentler on the bones.
And from deep within, I felt more driven to brew beer. What a perfect season for beer. And why not begin by brewing something to explore this coil? A beer, light on the malt, was the perfect brew to discover an ingredient.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
[Peacock hops. These colorful hops offer a minty, spicy aroma. Despite their flashy color, they are a mild flavoring hop and considered excellent among brewers!]
I poured Abigail the beer which brought my Grains Like Sand sub skill to level 120. She continued the soft pattern of softly snapping her fingers.
“How many do you have left?” I asked.
“Around four thousand. I’m looking forward to it.” She paused her brewing and lifted her silver boot. “The hops are excellent. Not the best beer style for them, though.”
“I picked the cleanest style I could so that I could better taste the hops. Get to know them better.”
We sipped and shared berries, and there were smiles between us. Our gazes wandered. Over the rim and foam of my beer, I saw a pulsing light in the forest. Abigail’s fingers landed upon my head and she spread them through my hair.
“Hmm?” I said.
“Do you think we’ll ever run out of things to talk about?”
“No.”
“Do you think we’ll ever get bored of each other?”
“No.”
I pointed at the pulsing light.
Abigail snaked her fingers through my hair. “I don’t want this to change.”
I turned to her. “I think things will change. Our feelings will strengthen. We’ll grow closer. That sounds like change right? …Abigail, look there.”
A monster firefly cleared the canopy and bobbed over the trees. Though it was morning, its body lit up lighthouse bright.
Abigail sat up. “Gah! How big do you think it is?”
“Hard to tell from way up here. Big as Thrush?”
“Bigger? Like a horse?”
“A horse? You think it’s that big?”
Lights sparkled in the forest.
Abigail hugged me tight. “Oh, Hawkin, it’s beginning! We did this!”
Below us, though the new green growth of spring caught my attention, there was still the unmistakable silver web of Honey Cocoon which covered the forest. In the distance, trees towered, and more were growing from the effects of Aggravated Wild Growth. Across the wilderness, more monster fireflies were emerging.
And in my ear, I treasured Abigail’s soft giggles. She squirmed in delight until it seemed she could no longer contain an excitement. She pushed me to my back and straddled me.
“Corylus said he’s working on a gift for you.”
“Me?”
“He wouldn’t tell me what it is.”
“We’ll have to see won’t we?”
She leaned. Her hair fell and grazed my cheeks. She braced her hands on my chest.
“Shall we?” she said.
“Breakfast first? Then we head off to the next libation location.”
“You sure you want to make the Mist Hidden wall permanent now that you’re gold? You won’t want to expand it? Now’s the time to consider that decision.”
“I’m sure.”