Hit. Another hit. The oak quarterstaff bent slightly around the tree and bounced back. Sirius used this momentum to rotate and smash the tree from the other side, thick iron cap hitting right in the middle of the trunk. The tree spewed even more wood splinters, covering thawing snow.

Tired, Sirius leaned on his staff, sweating profusely. Since the spring came, he was training with it for as long as he could, but the progress was slow. Out of breath, he took a gulp out of a small flask on his hip. Then another, and another, and another. Then he poured some water over himself, wiping the sticky sweat from his forehead.

"Damn, these metal caps sure are heavy. Maybe I should remove them for now?"

"No, if you want to leave them on in the end, you need to get used to their weight. Even now you are doing quite good for someone without any guidance." Said the Emissary from the tree to the side.

"Thank you! But I think I still could be faster."

"You are already quick enough."

"It is quick enough for a tree, but in combat it is not enough. Also I need more precision." Sirius inspected the dented tree. This whole area looked like beavers began munching on the wood, but left mid-way.

"Do you still want to use this staff for weaving?" She jumped from the branch, landing gracefully on the forest soil. She lifted the edges of her robe so as not to dirty them in mud.

"It would be great, but this thing is way too heavy to be precise. For now my only spell is called Hit-as-Hard-as-I-Can."

"How is progress with your research?"

"The World Tree saturated the plants around here with mana, so much more new plants began sprouting in these places. I managed to move them by replanting in gold-infused flowerpots."

"I am still quite unsure how you managed to get gold from Inquisitor."

"I am too, to be fair." Sirius stretched and began walking towards his hut. "Maybe because I promised to give the pots with plants to the Order and the gold was the only metal potent enough to store mana."

"Also, copper began rusting inside the last pot you gave him. It lost its power and the flower died mid-way."

"Oh, really? So that's what that green stuff is. I will remember."

"What about the alchemy? I still need to report about your progress."

"It is slow. I managed to incorporate vials with tinctures in the diagram, making it more compact."

"That's actually huge."

"It is, but it made the diagram one-time use. And some of them channel too much power through plant matter, charring it instantly." They arrived at the hut, and Sirius put his staff near the door. "Want some tea?"

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"I have to refuse. I need to go now. The Inquisitor arrives tomorrow, and I need to conclude a report, since you have nothing as important to demonstrate. Don't miss the sermon later this day, unlike last time."

"Will be there, I promise. Take care!"

"Farewell." She turned around and vanished behind the trees.

Sirius sighed. He still had a lot to research, but she was right, he had to gather his stuff and go to the village, not leaving the newly-upgraded quarterstaff behind. Not only he missed the last sermon due to the weather, he also had the duties of a healer to do. The walk was rather short, and soon he reached Rivervale. There was not a lot of things to do in the village, and people were already forgetting his incidents in the past.

"Who are you?" Shouted a guard from a distance, pointing a spear in Sirius' direction.

"It's a Sirius you idiot!" The second guard hit him in the back of the head, almost knocking the helmet off. "Hello there! Sorry about him, he is a newbie here."

"No problems, Captain Rody!" Waved Sirius while passing the gates. "It is my fault for getting lost so often."

"Don't be sorry, boy! It is thanks to you that our village grew so much in the last year. I wish you success!"

"Thank you!" Saluted Sirius in response.

Captain was right, the borders of Rivervale extended further and were made of stone to the west. Wooden huts got stone foundations and the workshops expanded, to allow more apprentices from the other villages that sprouted on the way to Ravenloft. Sirius strolled through the village, meeting familiar faces, happy to see him and not so much. Some were even confused, either forgetting that Sirius even existed, or stumped because the famous healer and researcher was just a boy in a green robe. Sirius came to a market square and unloaded his last batch of everlasting vials near the blacksmith's stall.

"Hello, Mister Brown! I brought another batch."

"Even more of them?" Said Corwel, while shaking Sirius' hand.

"Aren't they selling well to the church?"

"I think they began selling their own creations since... I believe a couple of weeks ago."

"Well, damn. Then these ones are not so useful anymore." Sirius lifted up a cover from a small wooden box, revealing two dozens of little vials.

"Oh wow... May I?" After receiving permission, Blacksmith lifted one of the vials. "And how much they can store?"

"Roughly a pot or two. I couldn't fit more storage, since it would crack when firing."

"You will eventually surpass me, I swear." He inspected a vial the size of a fist from all sides.

"What are you talking about!" Sirius shook his hands in front of him in denial. "It's just a pot, but smaller. You taught me that yourself."

"Fine, fine. Go to the church, Gregor was worried you won't come."

"That's why I am here! Bye!" Sirius said and hurried to the church, since people were already on their way.