Summer, age 8.

``Nathan what's taking so long, we're here to see the cliff, don't stop at every weird plant on the way.'' [James]

``I know we are here to see the cliff, but can I just enjoy new things every once in a while? I mean look at this thing, it is fantastic!'' [Nathan]

It's a bush made from crystal. In the center of each amber leaf is a glowing cyan core with deep blue veins crawling through the leaves. I'm kneeling down in front of it.

``Do you not think it is incredible? How does a plant like this even work?'' [Nathan]

``Hurry up stupid, it's just a crystal plant they are all over the place. Look, there's crystal flowers over there, crystal grass over there, there's even a crystal tree over there. I don't get your fascination with them.'' [Andrew]

``You regularly rant about how to use some of these as medicine. Is it so weird that I like how they look?'' [Nathan]

``Yeah yeah, but these are all over the place.'' [Andrew]

``But they look weird.'' [Nathan]

``Would you two stop arguing all the time?'' [Tony]

``This is why I said we shouldn't bring girls, they just chat and chat and never shut up.'' [James]

``Hey! What's that supposed to mean!'' [Sarah]

``Why are you even getting mad, stupid?'' [Andrew]

``He thinks he's a girl'' [James]

``I AM a girl!'' [Sarah]

I let them tease and bicker while I watch the plant. It sways gently in the wind despite the leaves being rigid.

The branches look crystal, but they have a soft core and can bend to a certain degree. I can see a few have broken, probably from an animal, but it doesn't seem to have killed the plant. Despite it's seemingly simple structure, there must be some mechanics that keep the fluid inside from running out, like in a real plant. I wonder just how these evolved, and from what.

``Everyone, can we just calm down? And stop looking at the bush Nathan, we need to move.'' [Tony]

``Alright alright.'' [Nathan]

I get up and dust off my knee.

`` Let's go then.'' [Tony]

We continue our walk to the cliff. The shoreline changes some way south from the village, opposite direction from Bightkeep, turning into a more rocky landscape including a single large cliff. The view is rather good, and we are going to camp out tonight.

I am looking forward to the twilight view at dusk. I know I should be spending my time practicing my imprinting, my magic, and my martial art, but I just couldn't pass on this.

But it's a long trek. We've been walking for a few hours, and we're only half way.

We're carrying our backpacks with sleeping bags and sleeping pads, and tents. We also brought some food and water.

Just the basic camping gear, but it's rather heavy. We're only eight after all.

``How far is it?'' [James]

-And James whining about it isn't helping..

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``Twice as far as last time you asked.'' [Nathan]

``That's not helping Nathan.'' [Tony]

``Neither is his complaints.'' [Nathan]

``Since when were you so fast anyways?'' [Andrew]

``Since always.'' [Nathan]

``We always had to wait for you. Especially when we were climbing trees.'' [Andrew]

``It was not that bad.'' [Nathan]

``No it was.'' [Tony]

``Et tu Brutus?'' [Nathan]

``What?'' [Tony]

``Never mind. So what are you going to do about school? Andrew I heard you wanted to apprentice in Bightkeep.'' [Nathan]

``Yeah, I want to join my parents business, so I need to apprentice. I could have my parents teach me, but they already taught me a lot, and I wanted to be able to bring something to the business. Apprenticing under someone else is a good way of doing that, in return my parents will be taking my coming masters son as their apprentice.'' [Andrew]

``Sounds like a good idea, but then you won't be joining us in the Academy. Can't you apprentice afterwards?'' [Nathan]

``I don't really need the things they teach at the Academy. My master will teach me how to read and write, and how to use the magic I need to process the herbs. There's always people roaming the woods, and they often bring back more than enough herbs that I can buy cheaply. It was good enough for my parents, and it will be good enough for me.'' [Andrew]

``We will miss you at the academy though.'' [Nathan]

``No you won't. Mostly because I will be crashing you and Tony's place whenever I'm hungry.'' [Andrew]

``Tch.. As if we are going to feed you.'' [Tony]

``Oh I know, that's why I'll raid your pantry when you're sleeping stupid.'' [Andrew]

``Ah, but then we won't be seeing you.'' [Tony]

``I know, but you won't miss me.'' [Andrew]

``Fine, we get it, we will let you come over when you are hungry. James, you are coming with us to the academy right?'' [Nathan]

``Yeah, I'll be living in the dorms though. You're also going to the academy, right Sarah?'' [James]

He's been tip toeing around that questing a lot recently..

``I already said I'm going.'' [Sarah]

``Oh.. I didn't hear that..'' [James]

He tries to hide it, but he's smiling.

``You will be at different dorms though, James will be at the Air dorm, and Sarah will be at the Earth dorms.'' [Nathan]

``We should meet up though. Me and Nathan are going to share a cottage, so we you should all come over for dinner a few times a month.'' [Tony]

``Yeah, that sounds nice.'' [Andrew]

Andrew pretends like it's not really getting to him, but I know he hates that he won't be attending the academy with the rest of us. He was going to, but then his parents got him this apprenticeship.

I hope we manage to stay together though. They are all growing up to be really good people.

``So how far is it?'' [James]

God damn it James...

We walk for some time yet before we take a break.

``Alright, let's take a short break, Nathan go look at some plants or something so you don't strangle James, you have that look in your eye.'' [Tony]

``Fine.'' [Nathan]

I swear to god.. This freaking kid is getting on my nerves with his constant whining and ``are we there yet''.. Aren't birds supposed to have stamina?! How are you out of breath from a freaking light hike?!

Sigh..

Alright, so is there even anything worth looking at around here?

Mostly just normal trees, there's some crystal grass over there-

What do we have here?

There's a small clearing further into the woods. In the center stands a single flower on a small mound.

It's milky white pedals surround a golden center that glitters in the sunlight. At the tip of each of the six pedals is a silver point.

The pistil is crimson red, as are the razor-thin veins that streak down the pedals.

It's a crystal flower. The most beautiful I have seen yet.

Emphasized by the sunlight and the poetic solitude.

``Don't touch that.'' [Andrew]

I recoil with a jolt, realizing that I had unconsciously extended my hand towards the flower.

``The pedals are very sharp, and extremely brittle. The red liquid is very toxic, and sprays out when pedals snap off.'' [Andrew]

Deadly beautiful..

``I had hoped to bring it home. That is too bad.'' [Nathan]

``My parents have one in their garden, you can see it back home. It's called the ``bloodshot lily'' They have an antidote too.'' [Andrew]

``Why do they have one if it's toxic?'' [Nathan]

"The stalk is used to make tea. Apparently, all you have to do is put it into a hot cup of water, and it dissolves into a rather good brew. [Andrew]

``And all you have to do to get it is to risk your life..'' [Nathan]

``Guess that's why it's not very popular.'' [Andrew]

``Must be. Yet people still keep it.'' [Nathan]

``I always wondered why, doesn't make sense to me.'' [Andrew]

``There's probably a reason. We should get back to the others, James might have vented his whining enough for us to continue.'' [Nathan]

``It's only been ten minutes, stupid.'' [Andrew]

``You are right, what was I thinking..'' [Nathan]

I look up into his eyes with a smirk on my face, and we both start laughing.