It’s late by the time they make it back to the rest stop. With the time taken to reach and open the Gate, then meander back at the Arch Druid’s pace, it’s past supper time — or at least that’s what Penny’s stomach says, and her watch agrees. She tries not to look impatient as the tall male Elf stops, once again, to examine a nearby tree. Fortunately, Angel’s and Lyric’s singing and music have made the rest of the day tolerable. The Elven Bard brought lutes with her, and the two have been entertaining the group as they walk.

“Tundo, you ability in quickly growing trees is admirable, but the plant is drawing too much nutrients.” The Arch Druid remarks in broken English.

“Is there a better way to slow down its growth once it reaches maturity?” the Fae queries. “At this rate, they’ll die in a few days or grow too big for the surrounding soil, won’t they?”

“They will,” the Arch Druid nods with a grim smile. “Come, feel this tree.”

The Fae does so, and they are quiet for a moment, eyes closed. “What are they doing?” Angel whispers.

“Talking to the tree,” the Arch Druid’s tall blonde aide answers.

“You can do that?” Angel’s eyes grow wide with wonder. The Elves smile and nod.

“Your enthusiasm is much more welcome than your father’s mischievous, and often pessimistic, nature,” Adam remarks with a smile.

“Come now, Uncle. Daddy’s not that bad!” Angel rolls her eyes.

“Do you know half of the trouble he would get into?” Adam smirks.

“I’ve heard a few stories from the other Sages,” Angel giggles, “but he runs his own company on Earth. I’d like to think he’s better now than when he was in his teens.”

“Well, his custom hormones sure helped with you,” Lyric remarks.

“You don’t think I’d have developed to be this pretty on my own?” Angel pouts.

“What are you talking about?” Penny turns away from watching the Druid and Fae ‘talk’ to the tree.

“Did you not tell her, my Little Songbird?” Lyric smiles knowingly.

“Penny knows I’m not completely female,” Angel admits, brushing the comment aside.

“Eva is not a quiet lover,” Penny smirks, leaving the blonde performer to blush.

“How long were they merely roommates before they became intimate?” Lyric queries.

“Weeks?” Penny muses.

“It took me three months to admit to Eva that I wasn’t born a girl,” Angel corrects her. There’s a pause as her best friend returns a disbelieving glance. “Look, it’s not my fault that wanting to see it after I admitted what I have between my legs led to something more!” Angel huffs.

“You are so adorable. Didn’t I warn you what would happen playing show and tell with the girl you’re crushing on?” Penny teases, leaving her blonde friend to blush more. “I’m just glad it worked out for you,” she pats her friend’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Penny. Eva is my world! I don’t know what I would do without her!” Angel sighs and leans against the dark-skinned woman.

“Which is why you are getting married,” Mélodie remarks. “You make an adorable couple.”

“I just hope you don’t mind me borrowing your wife to be my maid-of-honour,” Angel returns a coy smile.

“Your entertainment made our wedding night phenomenal, Child. I more than welcome the opportunity to return the favour,” Mélodie smiles.

“I have a smashing bachelorette party planned,” Penny grins.

“At my cousin’s club?” Mélodie queries.

“Is that how it works with Warlock broods? You don’t call her your sister?” Penny remarks more for the others than for herself.

“With her husband gone, I suppose you could call Ashanna a sister now, though cousin still fits better with the relationship we have,” Mélodie nods.

“Ashanna?” Angel queries.

“They share the same Master. She owns Temptations, the club that will host your party, Hun. Ashanna has assured me she’ll make the night memorable and I’ve barely had to organize anything. Which is good, it’s given me time to work with Marino Meadows in sorting out your reception.”

“I thought Mom was planning my reception,” Angel frowns.

“Your mom can’t do everything, Sugar. She needs some help as your grandparents are off to Europe on their cruise and won’t be back until a week before the wedding,” Penny remarks as she sits down now that they’ve reached the benches. “Wow, I can’t remember getting this much exercise since our honeymoon!”

“Darling, you jog every morning,” Mélodie reminds her.

“I’m sure that’s not the only exercise she gets either,” Angel teases her best friend.

“What exercise I get outside of my daily workout is none of your business, Young Lady,” Penny retorts playfully, causing the women to giggle.

“Why does the name Ashanna sound familiar?” Adam queries as he sits down beside Penny.

“Because her twin sister is someone I’d rather not meet again?” Penny ventures. Adam stiffens.

“Ashanna Rasmussen might be a Drow Witch, but she is not evil. Do not confuse her with the Black Widow, they are nothing alike,” Mélodie remarks, leaving Adam to frown. “I am not lying Arch Mage. My cousin does not have a mean bone in her body, she is nothing like the rest of her race.”

“If she’s a pacifist, why isn’t she involved in the magical community?” Adam objects.

“Until Penny and I killed her husband, Lady Rasmussen aligning with the Council of Magi would have been a death sentence, Arch Mage. Her late spouse sat on the Vampire Collective Elder Council. Openly defying him would have been unwise. She has remained neutral to keep herself and her daughter safe. Temptations also secretly serves as a paranormal safe house, she performs her part in the order of things.”

“And yet I’ve never heard of this woman or her club before,” Adam argues, visibly annoyed.

“Do you think you have that much influence on the magical community, Arch Mage? Do you honestly think everything that goes on in the world reaches the ears and sight of your Council?” Mélodie challenges.

“No, I’m not that naive,” Adam continues to frown. “I was hoping the schools would allow me to reach out to more of the community. Though you seem to be well connected.”

“I’ve made my own alliances throughout the years,” Mélodie smiles smugly.

“Yes, with families like the Villeneuve and Gallo. However have you managed to earn their trust when they refuse to deal with my Council?” Adam argues. “What have you offered them that I can’t?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Well, if you had made a better impression with Rose Montgomery when you first met, you’d have a better relationship with her connected family,” Mélodie scolds him.

“The convention-hopping Bard?” Adam scoffs.

“Considering how powerful of a Bard your ‘niece’ is, Arch Mage, you really need to stop dismissing the influence they hold on the magical community you hold so dear,” Mélodie chastises him.

“Uncle?” Angel turns to him. “Is that why you asked me to reach out to Rose?”

Adam slumps and sighs. “Yes, Sunflower. I met Rose years ago at a convention. I may have been a little…”

“Rude?” Mélodie interjects.

“I merely challenged her abilities to influence people when she had the crowd eating out of her hand,” Adam grumbles.

“Loud enough to cause some damage to her reputation within your community,” Mélodie snaps. “You are fortunate that she is a brilliant woman. Between her programming talents and her performing with Angel here, she has held her celebrity status — despite you nearly ruining her career.”

“Rose’s career was never at risk,” Adam argues.

“Do you not realize how many magically active people hide in the entertainment industry, Arch Mage?” Mélodie retorts. “People like Rose and myself have formed our own small collective of magically active friends. If you were not so full of yourself, you would realize that!”

“I… you’re right.” Adam admits sadly. “What can I do?”

“Your Adamarcus personality could benefit from taking it down a notch or two,” Mélodie suggests. “You have nearly exposed yourself more than once in debunking myths. How many have reached out to you when they realized the magic you display online was real?”

“That’s the purpose of my vlog,” Adam argues. “To catch the attention of magically active people and have them reach out to me. It’s time for the myriad of hidden magical cloisters to regroup and rejoin to form a cohesive community. My Council can offer them organization, structure, a place where they can be safe!”

“You’ll have to rebuild more of this realm if you want to offer a safe place for your people, Arch Mage,” Mélodie remarks.

“Which is why I am here,” The Arch Druid comments as he joins them. They all turn to him. “I was here millennia ago with our little Fae friend,” he pats Amethyst on the head. She looks at him fondly. “You need a safe place for your kind to live.”

“What’s the cost of your benevolence?” Adam narrows his eyes at the Elf. “Am I to believe you willingly do this out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Stop being so pessimistic, Arch Mage. Elves are not like Humans. We are not self-serving, selfish or need a motive to help others,” Yàviersulë frowns. “Can you not see the benefit that this realm serves your kind? You are rebuilding it to house your magical community, are you not?”

“What do you want, Arch Druid?” Adam pushes.

“Nothing more than what I asked of your grandfather,” Yàviersulë remarks. “An embassy here in your realm, half a dozen of my people on your Council as advisors.”

“I… I could do that,” Adam relaxes. “Will your people be returning to Earth as well?”

“Do you think it wise for Elvenkind to return to the Earth? Would it be safe for my people?” the Arch Druid asks as he examines a nearby tree.

“Considering that Fae hide themselves from humankind, I would say no,” Feren answers.

“I would agree with the Fae, most mystical and paranormal creatures live in a world outside of the mundane, hidden from society with illusions or in closed communities,” Mélodie remarks.

“Then, no. Elves will not return to the Earth. It’s clear that Humans are still too young of a race to willingly share their world with others,” the Arch Druid returns.

“You can’t just keep hiding in the Outer Planes,” Adam argues.

“Why not? What does your world offer us that we don’t have in the Outer Planes?” the Elf challenges. Adam shuffles his feet. “We have lived peacefully, with little conflict, and are far more advanced than the Humans we left behind. Give me one reason Elves need to return to the Earth?”

“We need you on Earth,” Feren pleads, Tundo nods. “We are losing the connection with our world. Nature is imbalanced; if we can’t find a solution to pollution and global warming, the Earth could die!”

“That is no longer my concern,” the Arch Druid dismisses them as he focuses on the tree in front of him. He holds up a finger that he doesn’t want to be disturbed. The Fae look at each other worriedly, and Amethyst offers them a sympathetic smile.

“Give him time, My Children. The Elves need a reason to return Home, we’ll find it, alright?” Amethyst assures them.

Veld looks thoughtful. “The elders used to tell us stories of the Voice of the Earth Mother. She was a beautiful blonde Elven Druid High Priestess with green eyes.”

The Arch Druid is currently transforming the tree in front of him. The trunk twists and turns, then branches flower. “Ooh, apples!” Feren licks her lips.

“Yes, I think we all need to eat,” the Elf remarks. Adam raises his hand. “Summoning food is a poor caster’s shortcut, Arch Mage. I want actual food that will sustain us.” Penny chuckles as Adam slumps his shoulders. “As for the Voice you speak of? My wife died at the hands of the Romans. Your world hasn’t seen a Druid of her calibre in centuries. I doubt it will any time soon,” he grumbles as he moves on to the next tree.

“I’m sorry you lost your soulmate, Arch Druid,” Amethyst offers him comfort. “Do you not think Gaia would find a new Voice on her own? Is your family truly the only one that could fill the task?”

“I don’t know,” the Arch Druid remarks as he transforms the next tree to grow pears. “Does the Earth need a Voice that badly?” he raises an eyebrow.

“It does,” she stresses.

“None of my people in Arvandor could fill such a roll,” he shakes his head. “I hope you are right when you believe Gaia will find a new champion. None of my family survived, I’m not here to save you.”

“I think Gaia has a surprise in store for all of us,” Amethyst smiles mischievously. He raises an eyebrow. “No, I’m not telling you.”

“Fae… always some secret you won’t reveal,” the Elf grumbles as he moves on to the third tree.

“Where is the fun if we tell you everything?” she chimes playfully, leaving him to chuckle. “I’ll tell you what we need when it is needed,” she grins.

“Of course you will,” he smiles as he works on a peach tree. “What’s this?” the Arch Druid suddenly steps back.

The trunk of the peach tree cracks and ribbons of purple energy from the nearby stream of essence seep into it. The bark darkens as the tree draws more energy from the ground, the surrounding grass browns as it dies. Amethyst pulls the tree and the affected clump of soil away before it kills the rest of the glade.

“Well, well, that is a wonderful discovery!” Mélodie smiles as she hops onto the now floating clump. She picks a slightly glowing purplish peach from the tree and bites into it. She moans as blood-like juice drips from her mouth.

“You made a Blood Fruit tree!” Penny beams. “Well, my wife won’t need anything else to eat with that.”

“Not on purpose,” the Arch Druid frowns as the Witch sucks up the juices happily.

“This realm tends to change certain foods,” Susan remarks. “I tried to transform a berry bush to make grapes and created a Manaberry bush when I channelled enough energy into it.”

“Really? May I see it?” Yàviersulë asks. Susan guides him to where she made the two Manaberry bushes. “Incredible!” he smiles. “The apple and pear seem normal enough, I wonder what happens if we grow a plum?” he almost seems to float excitedly to the next tree and focuses on it.

“Do plums have a magical equivalent?” Penny queries, munching on one of the Manaberries she swiped from the bush.

“We call them Spark Fruit on Arvandor,” he smiles. “They taste like a carbonated fruit drink and provide energy to magic and mundane alike.”

“Are they hard to grow?” Tundo probes as he watches the Elf.

“They won’t grow on Earth,” he remarks. “We only discovered these trees when we reached the High Heavens. The homeworld does not hold enough magical essence. There wasn’t enough when my kind walked the world. Magic most likely has dimmed rather than grown in our absence.”

“It sadly has diminished more than we would like,” Veld agrees in a sad tone.

The cherry tree they grew next was equally stimulating, with Penny comparing each cherry to a shot of espresso. She then had to explain coffee to the Arch Druid. Apparently it’s a plant that Elves never saw before they left the Earth, and not something they’ve sought where they live now.

“I’ll never get any sleep tonight!” Angel fidgets, digging into the supercharged fruit salad they made. “Can someone keep those cherry stones? I want to see if we can roast them and make coffee back home.”

While they’re eating, the Arch Druid speaks to three Pixies and they zip back to the Arvandor Gate. “What are you planning?” Adam flashes him a wary glance.

“Lírë left a Bardic Scout at the Gate, I’ve asked the Pixies to summon more Druids,” the Elf answers.

“Why?” Adam challenges.

“You need more Druids if you want to rebuild this realm,” Yàviersulë replies. “Tundo’s trees need to be re-balanced and you need a source of water nearby or this expanse,” he extends his arms, “will not live long enough to remain stable.” Adam frowns. “I asked you…”

“To allow half a dozen Druids on my council,” the Arch Mage finishes. “Yes, and I will uphold that request. I doubt my Council of Sages would argue. We really need your help in rebuilding the realm.”

“Why do I feel you do not trust me, Arch Mage?” the Elf challenges. “We are your kin, or have you forgotten your heritage?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I guess I’m no better than the rest of humanity who fears you intend to invade our world,” Adam admits guiltily. The Elf raises a finger. “Yes, you’ve already mentioned you have no interest in returning to the Earth. Seems I’m no different from any other narrow-minded Human.”

“There, now that you’ve exposed your fear, you can work on overcoming it,” Yàviersulë pats him on the shoulder.

“My distrust doesn’t bother you, does it?” Adam blinks and glances at him.

“Should it?” the Elf looks down at him. “I’m not a stranger to hateful Humans.”

“No, I guess you’re not,” Adam frowns and glances up at the expectant face. “No, Humans aren’t much better than the last time you were here, is that what you wanted to hear?”

“It’s what I expected,” the Arch Druid dismisses him and walks away.

Adam slumps his shoulders, and Penny pats him on the back. “Does he really hate our kind?” he mumbles.

“Give the Arch Druid time, Child,” Amethyst stresses. “You reminding him he lost his family to Human hatred hasn’t earned you any favours, but the Elves he places on your council may come around.”

“How long will that take?” Adam challenges. “Days? Weeks? Months?”

“More like years or decades,” Mélodie remarks, following the Elves. “Centuries if they’re anything like him…”

“That’s not what I wanted to hear…” Adam grumbles.