I've been keeping busy as of late. I mean, between school work and working over the house. I've had no time to do anything else, but honestly, I'm happy. I'm enjoying taking care of the garden and studying all of the different magical arts. It's giving me something to do. The only problem I have is the amount of secrets I'm gathering. I know I can tell everyone about my garden if I wanted too, but I want to keep it to myself until I can show it off in all its glory. I know most of my secrets are probably going to be innocent ones like that, but it still makes me a nervous wreck.
Speaking of nervous wrecks, the guardians have been bugging for the last week. Apparently they decided to go ahead and change the temple and the entirety of the area surrounding it for 3 blocks into an academy. The area was already in use so it wasn't a matter of relocating people, but relocating buildings. Mine of course wasn't to be touched for a number of reasons, but the sheer size of the remodel has the guardians on edge. They want everything to be perfect. They're personally helping the moles and other construction dragons build the place. They've been putting in overtime into enchanting every inch of the place with enchantments to keep the students safe. They even asked me to go and put an extra oomph into the spells at night with my power too. I of course agreed to help, it wasn't that hard really, all I had to do was go through what was already enchanted and add more power to it. That's one of the things I like about magic here, once it's established, it won't ever weaken unless someone weakens it, which means it can be strengthened the same way. It always astounds the guardians at how strong I made the enchantments, especially the protection part of it. But I'm just glad I can help, it makes me feel better about the power I wield, it doesn't make it feel like such a selfish thing to have when I use it to help others. This academy was intended to help everyone, and it's doing it, before it's even done being made. At least for me anyway.
Aside from the construction, Volteer somehow caught wind that I could use more than just the eight elements and added his experiments into my curriculum. It scared me when he first brought it up, but his cheerful demeanor about it put me at ease. He had me run through everything I knew and wrote down literally everything. He even drew pictures while I was doing them too, it intrigued me with how detailed they were, He could basically be a camera. It didn't just profit him and his books though, I learned some new things too, Like advanced light magic spells. I didn't have enough time to study everything with Ignitus, so it was nice that I could still learn more now. He also gave me some ideas to try out and practice. He also wanted me to try and advance the spells already in existence. And apparently there are some lost arts out there that haven't been seen in years that he also wants me to try and rediscover. Wait a minute…. he loaded me down as a lab assistant didn't he….. damn…. *sigh* oh well. I always liked to learn anyway, might as well take advantage of it.
Spyro and Cynder have been doing really well too as of late. They've been helping out with the construction too and the work crew has really gotten to know them and have grown to like them. It was nice to see that not everyone is so bitter as to blame one for the mistakes of another. They should be fine for now, I should focus on getting myself situated before I try to help them anyway, can't do much if I'm having a mental breakdown.
Speaking of getting situated, the house finally told me her name, Susan. It's a lovely name if you ask me, but she feels that she rushed on choosing it for herself. She doesn't like to talk much now, but when I first got there she wouldn't stop, she had been alone for so long and loved to have someone to spend time with again. She has absolute control over everything in the building, she can move any and all furniture in there. She can also open and close every window and door and keep them closed if she wanted.She had absolute control, but she never once abused it. I asked her about it once and she told me, "I see no point in holding power over another, we have more strength when we share a bond, rather than bind someone to our will." She was right, I was here to protect her just as much as she was for me. If she tried to hold me in here, the first chance I had to get out, I would take it and never come back. However she did smack me with a door when I called her OLD and wise for her view on it. She definitely had a personality all her own, but she was nice. She helped me decorate too. She told me that there was a room at the back that was locked, that she couldn't open, that had some of the old furniture in it. So they're some antique china cabinets, chairs, tables, and end tables spread around the house now. With some suggestions from Susan, I got some rugs and curtains that looked fantastic. It was a really nice combination of my tastes and older style furniture. Mind you, Mahogany looks good with just about anything. Anyway. The really nice part was the garden. Susan was super proud of it too, she told me that it already reminded her of her old friend and she hopes we can surpass the old garden's glory. I already feel like we are well on track for that. The tree that came from my soul had already developed way faster than it was supposed to. Treevus's soul tree has been growing for centuries and it still looks like a small oak. Mine however, has already almost caught up from how much energy I've been pumping into it. Now these trees aren't like regular trees, they're made of crystal. Spirit gems to be more precise. They grow from the energy that Nature Dragons put into them and they in turn give energy to the garden around them and connect that garden to the dragon who created that particular soul tree. So no matter the distance, I'm connected to the garden and we share energy. The impressive part however, is what the tree can do when you want to add a plant to the garden. All I have to do is give the tree a seed of the plant I want to add and it will start growing it in the garden by itself. The tree had made a wonderful arrangement from what I have given it. The grass was soft beneath the paw, the bushes and other trees were all lush and healthy. I even added a miniature river and a couple of bridges. The tree is making the water flow somehow, but I'm not going to question it. I'll just appreciate that it's doing it. The soul tree has got its own little mini island that's all it's own. Literally nothing else besides it and the grass at its base. A bridge that leads to the main path around the garden and flowing crystal clear water all around it. It was literally the jewel of the garden. The tree isn't the only great thing in the garden of course, but everyday the soul tree looks better and better. I'm kinda glad I put illusion magic over the top of the house. I don't want anyone seeing it and trying to force their way in for whatever reason. I guess I'm getting an attachment to it. That's a good thing I guess, it is part of my soul after all.
Strange… Terridor and Treevus said they were coming by today, when are they going to get here? 'Sam, you have guests at the door.' 'Oh! What a coincidence, thank you Susan, I'll get the door.' 'You are most welcome.' She's nice to have around, anyway, best not keep them waiting! I leave my garden's main entrance and go straight across the entrance hall to open the front door.
I'm glad to see them "Terridor! Treevus! Good afternoon! Come in! Come in!"
Treevus gives me a light pat on my head, "Yes, yes it's nice to see you too. So how have ya been? Got anything growing in your garden yet?"
Oh ya, that's right I haven't shown him my garden yet, "uh, you could say that."
Then Terridor gives me a friendly smack on the back, "then let's see it, come on, we both have something to add to it!" They then both hold up a seed each.
Treevus starts walking to the entrance of the garden, "well, come along then. I want to give your garden a little boost." Oh if he knew.
He pushes the door open and freezes in his tracks. "..."
Oh oh, "uh Treevus, did I do something wrong?" "..."
Terridor steps up next to see what's up, "Treevus, what's wrong with you, you…. old…. tree…….." he freezes next to Treevus too.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin it, I just let the tree do it."
"What!?!?" Treevus's screen startled me and shook Terridor loose too. "What's to be sorry for, this place is gorgeous. My question is how? It looked like a plain courtyard from above. Now it looks likes the hidden garden of a king"
Terridor nodded his head in agreement, "Couldn't have said it better myself"
Treevus turns to look at me, "how did you do that? And what do you mean you let the tree do it?"
I chuckle a little nervously, "well the first one is an illusion i made to keep others from looking in on my garden from the air. The second one…. well that would be easier to just show you." I gesture toward the path leading deeper into the garden.
It's normally a short walk to the tree, but both of them kept stopping to admire the garden. Treevus was looking at all the plants with great interest, he was marveled by how they were all interacting with each other. Terridor on the other hand was admiring the terraforming I had done to shape the garden and make the cobblestone path and the many bridges that were spread around. He made several comments on the skill it took to make the bridges so intricate. It made me proud of the work I had put in. Then we got to the tree, as soon as it came into view Treevus almost lost it. I could have sworn that I had seen him prance like a kid a little while he was crossing the bridge.
"How in the name of the ancestors did you do this!? It looks so good, and in such a short time! It took me centuries to get to this stage." He says as he circles the tree, admiring every part of it. "It's got no noticeable cracks to it, it's almost flawless. By the ancestors..LOOK! A spirit bud!"
"Huh, that wasn't here this morning. What's so special about it?"
Treevus cuts in again, "Those are incredibly difficult to produce, it takes an enormous amount of energy to produce and it takes years to form. They can make any kind of spirit gem and if harvested right, can be used to make a growing gem cluster. Remarkable, you are a truly powerful dragon Sam… you should be proud." Why did he sound weird...
"I'm not proud of it…" I know I've been feeling better, but that is still weighing on me. "Why not!? You should be proud Sam, I'm proud, you have all this power and you choose to be humble and not abuse it. It does make me a little sad that you may surpass me soon and not even half the time, but that just means I get to enjoy teaching you and learning new things myself. I might even ask you for help in my garden, this all looks really good." Then his face takes on a look of concern, "how come you haven't shown anyone this yet?"
I freeze up a bit, but I respond, "I don't feel like it's good enough yet. I wanted to wait until it was done." I look to the side a bit to avoid their eyes.
Then Terridor clears his Throat, "you are much too hard on yourself Sam. It's a lovely garden, you should be proud. Now then, let's add these new ones in, if you'll have them that is." He holds up a pouch of seeds, "here are the seeds of that plant I brought you."
I smile a bit and look back toward them, "I would be more than happy to add something from my friends."
Treevus steps up with the flower he brought. It was a beautiful plant. It was small though and it looked very fragile. It looked almost glass like and the petals looked off, they were all a healthy green. "this one is quite rare, it very rarely grows and it's even more rare for one to survive. However, the blooms are beautiful, they reflect the element of the last dragon that came in contact with them. I only have a few myself, so please take care of it."
I smile, almost smugly, "I don't think that will be an issue." I gently take the plant from him and press it gently against the tree. It starts sinking in and when it's completely developed it dissolves.
I turn back to Treevus but he has a mortified look on his face, "What… did…. you just do! That is an endangered species! Why would you feed it to your tree!?"
What!? I'm gobstruck, "b...but, don't you have your tree add stuff to your garden like this?" I'm cowering a little from his yelling, I've never had him yell at me before.
Then his face scrunched up in confusion, "wait, this is what you meant. You literally give the plants to your tree and it disperses them for you. How? Why? Wait where will it show up? How long will it take to appear? I have so many questions right now."
"W..well it takes a few minutes, but look behind you." I point to a spot behind him across the bridge.
They both look over their shoulders to the new growth in the garden. They both have an awestruck look on their faces. Maybe 70 feet away, rising out of the ground, was a new set of plants with the new addition as the centerpiece. I've seen it happen a bunch while I was making the garden, but this time was a little different. This was a gift and the flower was unique. The color has changed too, or rather, is changing. It's got a chromatic kind of thing going on. Must be because I have multiple elements.
"Amazing…"
"Breathtaking…."
"What do you mean? My whole garden was formed like this, does yours not Treevus?"
"Goodness no, I would love it if it did, but I have to connect my plants to my soul tree myself."
Terridor turned to Treevus a little worried, "this doesn't mean something is wrong with him right?"
Treevus took a moment to think, "I don't think so, I think it just shows how truly special he is."
Like, I'm standing right here guys. I'm glad they aren't looking my way, I'm blushing a bit. 'Sam, Spyro and Cynder are here to see you.' 'Thank you Susan, can you let them in please. We'll meet them in the living room.'
I call out to Treevus and Terridor, "Spyro and Cynder are here, let's go see them."
Terridor raised an eyebrow, "why don't you invite them into the garden?"
I shake my head, "I'm not ready to show it off yet, besides they don't know about it yet. So I'll wait till it's ready, then I'll show them."
Treevus gives me a weird look, "This is already really good Sam. Anymore and you'll look more like a show off."
"I guess you're right, but that won't stop me from making constant improvements."
"I would hope not. Now, let's not keep your friends waiting"
Heh, I guess it only makes sense to let my friends in on my project. I wonder if they saw any exotic plants on their journey that would be nice to add.
Somewhere up north,
A mysterious figure is delivering a speech to a massive army of grublins,"Do not worry my people, we will take the city by this time next year. Until then, we prepare and practice our new found powers, while the people of Warfang get soft!" A bunch of chittering and other insect noises ring out in cheer to the end of the speech.
The figure turns away and heads into a nearby cave, "soon, soon I'll have my revenge… just you wait, dragons……."
