"Our first lesson will cover the basics of meditation," Rasmodius explained as the two walked through the forest, "Magic involves discipline, a centered mind, heart, and soul, but most importantly a balance with oneself and the world surrounding them."

"Okay…"

"But in our case more often than not, it is a way to connect between the physical realm and the spiritual realm. But before we can do that, we must master the basics," Rasmodius pulled away some brush and motioned for Spencer to follow him.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace peaceful," He stopped before quickly turning around, "However, don't get to close to them."

"Them?" Spencer asked before suddenly a large, gelatinous creature leaped for him before getting struck down by Rasmodius's magic.

"The slimes."

"This is peaceful to you?!" Spencer quickly backed away from another slime, "This place is infested, how are we going to get anything done here?"

"You'll see."

Spencer rolled his eyes and continued to follow Rasmodius until he stopped, "We're here."

They were at some ancient ruins. Toppled columns and rubble littered the overgrown brick floor. The only thing still in one piece was a statue of a man, sitting, as if watching what was before him get reclaimed by nature.

"The slimes won't bother us here," Rasmodius explained, "I put a protection rune earlier this morning. It will last us throughout the day. Now," Rasmodius sat down, motioning for the farmer to do the same.

"Okay, right to this, huh?" Spencer slowly sat down.

"Don't be nervous," Rasmodius said gently, "Just sit up straight, close your eyes, and breathe."

Spencer adjusted himself so he was doing so, shutting his eyes tight.

"Relax."

"I am relaxed."

"Spencer."

"Fine! Fine," Spencer took a deep breath as he relaxed, "How do I know I'm doing it right?"

"When you're not talking," Rasmodius responded, slightly annoyed, "Don't worry about whether you're doing it right or not. Just focus your energy to what is around you. Let nature guide you, and listen not just with your ears, but with your mind."

Spencer opened his mouth, no doubt to make another snarky remark, but closed it, instead taking a deep breath in… then a deep breath out…. One in… one….

Snap

Spencers eyes shot open, "I heard something!"

"That can't be right! You just started!"

"No! I mean I heard something! In the brush!"

Snap snap

"You can't tell me you heard that! There's something here!"

"There should be no one around!"

Snap snap snap snap

Spencer pointed a hand at the direction of the noise.

The bushes shook and Rasmodius gasped, "Look out!" He conjured a purple fire in his hand and shot it, earning a high pitched scream from the brush.

"Ow ow owowowow!" A goblin, or THE goblin, ran out, holding his arm in pain."

"You!" Spencer shouted, quickly standing up.

"Please don't hurt me! I'm only doing what she told me to do!"

"Isadora?!" Rasmodius demanded, "What interest does she have in our business?"

"Wait wait wait hold on!" Spencer shouted, then pointed to the goblin, "I'll deal with you after this," he then pointed at Rasmodius, "You know the witch who attacked my chicken coop?!"

"We… well… we have some… history…" Rasmodius twiddled his thumbs nervously, "We were married."

"You were married," Spencer repeated, as if not believing it, "Alright fine! Whatever!"

The goblin sniffed as he held his arm, which had a real nasty burn on it.

"Here, let me see it," Spencer gently took his arm and looked at the burn, "Hm…"

"You're helping him? After he spied on us?"

"Shut up," Spencer lead the goblin to the lake in front of the ruins, "Do you have a name?"

"Yes, but no one has ever asked me what it was, I don't think I remember…" the goblin scratched his head, "Oh! Yes I do! It's Bric."

"Well, Bric, your arm doesn't look too bad, but it will get infected if we don't do something about it."

"Y-you're not going to use magic, are you?"

"Well, no… I don't think I have healing powers," He looked at Rasmodius, who only shrugged, "Doesn't matter." He and the goblin sat next to the lake. Spencer took a cloth from his backpack and dipped it in the water. Once he got it cleaned up, he wrapped the wound with gauze, "There we go."

"No one has ever done something like this to me before. Thank you! How can I repay you?"

"You can start with why my ex-wife had sent you to spy on us."

"No, you don't have to do that," Spencer glared at Rasmodius, "Don't listen to him."

"But-"

"Because you're the one the prophecy said would save the valley. She says you being here will throw everything off."

"That's not right! Isadora has no ties to the oncoming threat, why does she care?"

"Go home, Bric. I'll deal with him."

Bric nodded and ran off.

"Why did you let him go?!"

"Why are you so worked up all of the sudden?"

"I…" Rasmodius sighed in frustration, "It doesn't matter. Lets get back to meditation," Rasmodius walked up the steps to the ruin, "Come on!"

The summer air cooled, and the green leaves slowly faded, and everyone was buzzing about what would happen that night.

"I can't wait!" Emily exclaimed as she and Spencer walked through the doors of Pierres shop, "The moonlight jellies are coming around again! It's going to be so beautiful."

"Yeah…" Spencer said, almost wistfully.

"Are you okay, Spencer?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah! It's just, well… growing up I would have to leave at the end of the summer and return to the city. In a way it just feels… I don't know…" Spencer looked at the assortment of autumn seeds, "I'm afraid of waking up tomorrow and being back in that cramped apartment and I would have to go back to my accounting job."

Emily frowned, "Well… you don't, do you?" She smiled, "You're actually here, and you don't have to go back."

Before Spencer could say anything else the bell rang and the door slammed shut, "Ahem," Morris's voice rang throughout the store, "May I have your attention please? Jojamart is having a very special sale! Fifty percent off your full purchase!"

"Fifty percent?!" Pierre exclaimed.

Morris held up some small pieces of paper, "And of course don't forget to grab some coupons on your way over!"

Everyone in the store hurried out the door, leaving only Spencer, Emily and Pierre. Spencer only reacted the way he did best, not giving a shit and picking out some autumn seeds.

Morris frowned at this. He walked over with his hands behind his back, "Ahem," He cleared his throat, "Fifty percent off~."

"Clearly my silence isn't enough of a "Fuck off" for you, is it?"

"Spencer Spencer Spencer, I see you're a reasonable man. Maybe I can make you a better offer?"

"I can offer not putting you in a chokehold."

"I understand that Joja memberships can be a bit pricey, but for you I can work something out," Morris held up a slip of paper, "I can give you a seventy percent discount on the membership if you sign it right here."

Spencer slammed the seeds on the counter, "I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get Lewis to sell the Community Center!"

"How did you-"

"Listen, Morris," Spencer snatched the slip from Morris's hands, "I am not interested in buying this silly little membership today," He tore it in half, "Tomorrow," he tore it in half again, "Or any other day of the week," He tore it one more time and dropped the pieces onto the floor, "I don't want you coming near me and bothering me about this again, do you hear me? And keep your grubby little hands away from that community center!" He paid for the seeds, "Come on, Emily, let's go before the festival starts." He grabbed his bag and left the shop, leaving Morris standing there, fuming.

"You'll give in, Spencer. You'll see."

The town gathered on the beach, some at the edge of the pier for a better view. Spencer was talking with Shane and Emily when something, or someone, caught his attention from the east side of the beach.

"Uh, I'll talk to you guys later." He excused himself.

Rasmodius never really liked large gatherings. He always preferred to be by himself and observe from afar. Also… it doesn't really help if the entire village thinks you're some heartless monster.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Spencers voice came from next to him. Rasmodius looked over.

"Such a rare event isn't to be missed."

Spencer shrugged, "If you say so." He looked out across the ocean.

"This was your grandfathers' favorite sight to see," Rasmodius spoke once again, "Every year he would bring his family out to see them."

"I wonder why he never brought me out here."

"He was worried. This event was his favorite, but it also served a grim reminder of what his fate was. How much was on the line if he were to fail," Rasmodius looked out across the ocean as well, "He was afraid this would be tainted for you if you ever found out about the prophecy earlier, like it was tainted for him."

"I understand why he never wanted me to know. But… I don't know," Spencer turned around to look at Rasmodius, "It would've been nice to hear it from him."

Rasmodius smiled sadly, "I'm… sorry about how I bothered you about the prophecy when you first came here. I should've let you settled, and let you know so when you were ready."

"I'm sorry I was so difficult. After my grandfather passed, I was never able to come back, no matter how much I begged my parents, even if it was just once. I was so desperate for a change after spending so long as an accountant, I wasn't willing to change my mindset and listen."

"Well I suppose we should let bygones be bygones, then." Rasmodius pointed to the ocean, "Ah, here they come."

Sure enough a faint glow was seen in the horizon, and it was getting closer to the pier.

Spencer walked towards the small pier at the end of the beach, but stopped when he noticed Rasmodius wasn't following him, "Surely you can't see from all the way over there! Don't you want to go to the pier?"

"I'm fine where I am."

"Well alright, well I'm going to get a better look." Spencer walked across the beach and to the edge of the pier before sitting down.

Rasmodius stood in his little spot for a while, but for some reason just standing there wasn't enough for him. He looked around, seeing that the villagers were too preoccupied with the lunaloos, before joining Spencer on the dock. Spencer looked up at him and smiled, "Told you."

Unknown to either of them a pale green jelly swam over, stopping in front of Spencer. The farmer looked down, and slowly reached his hand down in the water. The jelly responded by swimming around his hand happily before gently nuzzling itself in his palm. Spencer chuckled, gently rubbing his thumb on the top of its head.

Rasmodius watched the farmer with a small, fond smile. He truly was something special.