Returning to Creation
They left the Elemental Pole of Wood without any incident. That surprised Ivory at first. She had been certain something would attempt to attack her and the others. She thought about it and decided that it made sense.
Few there wanted to deal with her. They were either afraid of her because she had killed O the Flying Wood, or found her presence distasteful for the same reason.
And for those that might wish to strike against her, Kotomaro would keep them in check. The Dragon was not about risk attracting the attention of Heaven and possibly the Sidereals by acting. If Ivory was leaving Kotomaro was likely happy to see her gone.
She saw few elementals of note on her way out, though she thought she might have seen Ashen Leaf in the distance. She had entertained the thought, at the time, that the elemental was chasing the spider away.
She worked during the time they flew back towards Creation. There were the many projects that Darken Gray gave her, as well as her construct. She had the heart primed and had to start thinking of the body.
Fortunately, the wealth within the Elemental Pole offered her a bounty of materials to with which to start.
After five or six days they passed out of the endless canopy, above them the late day sun.
A sense of claustrophobia that Ivory had not even been aware of having, lifted as she saw the unfiltered sun and took a deep breath.
"Finally," she said softly.
She got up from her desk and ran through the pagoda, out into the covered garden, rich with growth. She climbed the pilot tower and entered the pilothouse where Darken Gray worked.
"Where are we?" she asked, looking out over the forest.
"Have you finished your report on Kotomaro's palace?"
"No, I'm tired of it. Where are we?"
"If you are not finished the report by the time the sun sets I will be displeased."
Ivory considered if she wanted to deal with a displeased Darken Gray, but supposed she had a few hours at least in which to make that decision. "Where are we?"
"The Middle Marches. We'll see if we can follow the purest form of the forest back to Creation, but apparently, that does not always work when leaving."
"Strange," Ivory said, though she did not care. She was looking out over the terrain below, looking for the amazing things that she had not had time for on her way to the Elemental Pole.
Part of her wanted to rush towards the south the Pole of Fire which would be her next destination. Part of her recalled that she was supposed to be more subtle in her journey.
It would be okay if she took her time.
Calibration was not that close.
She pointed. "Look, what's that?"
Off to their left, the sun reflected off something silver.
"Some variation of the forests, as produced by the Wyld. Perhaps it is a forest of metal."
"A forest of metal?" Ivory asked, gaze fixed on the far-off reflection.
Darken Gray said, "Well, let's go see."
"Can we?"
"This is an educational trip. I will take the opportunity to show you new things."
Ivory leaned over Darken Gray's shoulder as the pagoda banked gently and flew off in the direction of the silver flash.