“The optional objective kind of makes it sound like the Pulse Core is necessary to operate whatever mechanism moves the mirrors,” Nate said as they crossed from the Docklands into the Vapor Gardens sector. Wood and metal flooring gave way to soft soil and smooth glass cobblestones. Sturdy, low fences subdivided the fields by crop produced, and Nate marveled at the variations. Fuzzball was also particularly interested in the gardening methods used.
Nate pointed several segmented fields down the path. “I see more of those marshmelons, we should look into getting some for later. I have some ideas for a sweet drink.”
“Feel free to take as many as you like,” a deep resonant voice said. It seemed to come from everywhere. They all looked around for the source of the voice. “If you wish to see me directly, come to the Patina Cantina. There are signs. Also, the auroral carrots bloomed yesterday. They would go well with your marshmelons.”
Spring Jack’s eyes went wide at the mention of carrots, and he sprang along the road in search of them.
“Ellie, how do they tell the directions of this city? It can rotate more or less freely, so is there a point that they call the bow, like an airship?” Nate asked as he plucked a bright pink cauliflower-like plant labeled ‘craniflower.’ He sniffed it and it smelled like flipping through the pages of an old acid-washed book. He watched as it already began growing back, and plucked another before moving on.
“The Sand Markets are considered the bow, so we are on the port side. The starboard side is where the Smokestacks and the other Docklands are. The Temple of Air is at the stern.”
“Got it! Hey, all around voice man, how does the food produced here grow back so quickly?”
“That is my doing,” the voice answered. “You will see once you arrive.”
Spring Jack was running back toward them, arms full of long, thick carrots that were mostly black but had swirling lines of the reds, greens, and blues often found in auroras. One such carrot was partially eaten and sticking out from his mouth. His eyes, usually a jovial red, had turned darker with specks of glowing spots, like looking at a galaxy through a telescope.
“Are you feeling okay?” Zeff asked.
“I feel great! These taste incredible!”
“No need to yell,” Ellie said. “We’re right here.”
“Was I yelling? Maybe these mess with my hearing.” The aurora carrots fell to the ground as Spring Jack fell over.
“I warned him not to eat it raw,” the voice said. “The signs did as well, but he insisted, or perhaps more succinctly he ignored both me and the signs. Aurora carrots are particularly strong in the raw state. He’ll be okay in about an hour. We have some hammocks at the cantina where you can lay him down.”
“Not the first time this has happened.” Nate said as he gathered the aurora carrots.
“Certainly not,” the voice chuckled, “there are three others here already.”
Ellie unceremoniously picked up Spring Jack over her shoulder. “What do these carrots do, exactly?”
“In the raw form, they open all of your senses to the astral plane, allowing you to fully sense the realm from which our magic comes. It is, for most, overwhelming. He will not remember when he awakens,” the voice said.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
They saw the bright blue building long before reaching it. The Patina Cantina was surrounded by thick gardens. The structure appeared to be made of a metal that oxidized over time into a vibrant blue patina, windows of many shapes and sizes granting light to pass into the area. Fruit bearing trees grew within the wide open space encompassed by the cantina, and rows upon rows of shelving packed with fruits and vegetables lined the path into the center. Colorful hammocks had been placed between trees wherever they would fit.
Fuzzball saw the source of the voice first, a gasp drawing the others’ attention. In the center of the Patina Cantina, an enormous tree as thick as a redwood, but far shorter, grew out far reaching branches and long, small roots spread along through the soil. Of particular interest to Nate and company was that this tree had a face with a bushy moss beard and curled mossy mustache, each side of which housed a nest of happily chirping birds.
“I was wondering if Ents would be a thing here, and I guess they are,” Nate whispered to the rest. “Hi, my name is Nate.” He made introductions.
“My name is very long and difficult for people to say, so most people call me Larch.”
Nate smiled, nearly laughed as he took up a deadpan tone and British accent, “The Larch. The Larch.”
“Yes, that is me,” Larch said, not getting the reference.
“I bet Spring Jack would’ve gotten that bit. Flying Circus joke. Never mind. Nice to meet you!”
“Same to you,” Larch said as Zeff walked closer to look.
“We’ve never been here,” he said, “We usually never left the Docklands or the Sand Markets.”
“Fuzzball, you and I share several Sigil Stones,” Larch said.
Nate, who had also moved closer to Larch, gently bent down to touch one of the roots.
Larch. Adept Ranked Colossal Awakened Tree.
“Oh, I thought you may have been a transformed adventurer or something like Harold from Fallout 3. But you’re a regular tree who gained sentience?” Nate asked.
“As you have some time before your friend awakens, I see no harm in telling you my story.”
“Unfortunately, we have pressing business at the Temple of Air,” Ellie said.
“Right! But also, boo. I wanted to hear Larch’s story,” Nate pouted as he raided the shelves full to bulging with fresh produce. He picked up what looked to him like an uncooked bratwurst. “Savorstalk? Does this taste like sausage, or just look like it?”
“Depends on how it’s prepared,” Larch said.
Ellie grabbed Nate and began pulling him away, “No time.”
“We’ll be back,” Nate called out behind him. Fuzzball and Zeff followed behind them.
“I’ll send Jack along once he awakens.”
----------------------------------------
They ran through the rest of the Vesper Gardens, Nate having Quilly make notes asd they did so. The wooded barrier separating the gardens from the Purification Sector held aloft massive metal doors that stood open in the daylight. Industrial buildings rose high in the air, enormous coils of different metals swirling upward. Dark purple rods rose even higher into the sky, begging to be struck by errant lightning. Holes were aligned along the top 10 feet of each of the coils.
“Condensers?” Nate shouted as they continued running. The ambient volume coming from the buildings was nearly deafening.
“Pulls moisture for the whole city,” Zeff huffed.
“Why not just get people with water sigil stones?”
“Oh they probably do, but that would be terribly exhausting,” Fuzzball said as he nimbly leapt over a crossing wagon loaded with produce. Despite their mobility, the crowded streets were beginning to slow them down. Then, as they passed another intersection, one of the carts veered right at Nate, who leapt up instinctually to try to avoid being struck.
He was launched through one of the windows of a warehouse as the cart exploded. The chaotic screaming from the street became slightly muffled as he landed hard against one of many 25 foot tall cylindrical tanks full of collected water. He groaned as he sat up, blood running freely from several places where shrapnel had penetrated, Terry leaping out from him, teeth gnashing with rage.
“You alright?” Fuzzball said over chat.
“I’m fine, more or less! Is everyone okay?” Nate groaned as he began healing his wounds, grunting as he pulled out chunks of metal.
“Mage Hunters!” Ellie said as the sounds of combat erupted through the broken window.
Three heavily cloaked figures stepped from the shadows, the glass crunching under heavy boots.
“Hello, Nate.”