The Way Ahead

Chapter 61: Putting Down Roots

Chapter 61: Putting Down Roots

Inion stumbled as she touched back down to the ground by the campfire, the spell not exactly broken, but certainly ended. Its effects lingered, the moonlit clearing still luminous with the emerald glow of magic, emanating from every tree and blade of grass but also from the fairie lights, drifting through the air and occasionally extinguishing themselves.Visit for the best novel reading experience

Edwin was caught off-guard, but still was able to catch the otherworldly fey as she collapsed next to him, You didnt tell me you could sing.

A tired grin flitted across her face, Couldnt. Hmmm. Youre holding me, she tiredly teased Edwin, who rolled his eyes, And arent tossing me away when I say that. Are you finally willing to admit your feelings for me?

Let me think.... Ill admit youre tired and I know Id hate to be laying on the ground in your state, she tried to shift to be more in his lap, Dont push it, though, or I will drop you.

Inion stuck her tongue out at him, Youre no fun.

Singing, though? Was that a Skill?

I cant tell you. So yes, then. Why would a Singing skill need to be a secret? Even if it had some special evolution that needed to be secret, why the base Skill?

Well, it certainly was something. What did you even do?

I helped you with your home. Like you asked.

I dont believe thats all you did.

Inion turned and tried to snuggle further into Edwins arms, Mmmm never said it was.

So then what else did and youre asleep, he sighed, I didnt even know you did sleep

Mmdont. Mm mmmmide amakmmmm.

Edwin gingerly extricated himself from the exhausted naiad and picked up the sleeping figure, easily carrying her to the banks of her pond. His feet sunk into the bank as he deposited her on a bed of newly-grown moss.

For the next little while, Edwin sat by the mostly-dead campfire, poking its embers idly as he watched the emerald motes of light slowly fade away or drift into the dark treeline, vanishing from view.

As always, his thoughts eventually drifted towards, horror of all horrors, reliving every painful human interaction hed had pretty much ever, in reverse order. Tonight, he was stuck on his very recent conversation with Inion.

Why couldnt he be normal there? Yeah, yeah. Everyone had those memories of an awkward social situation that kept them up at night. He knew. But just a complete inability to do anything when he literally had an attractive girl who maybe liked him in his arms?

The rational side of his brain berated that line of thinking, though. She wasnt human and he couldnt forget that. She was nice to him, but that didnt mean she really cared about his feelings. She was probably just acting nice because she was nice, and just enjoyed messing with him.

Edwin buried his head in his hands. Why did people have to be so complicated? Why couldnt anyone actually be nice to him because they actually liked him instead of it just being their default? Everyone else always had such perfect little friend groups where theyd chat and usually let him somewhat join in not that he was ever invited to, or really be allowed to join in the conversation.

Even though he told himself it wasnt possible that everyone hated him, it could be so hard to actually feel that way. Not when hed be laughed at as he was trying to get something off his chest, or when his supposed friends would spend time with him only so long as none of their actual friends were available. Not when people would turn away from him or choose to avoid him when possible.

Even if he was just the second choice for his friends, being the second choice for everyone still just hurt, after a while. He couldnt help but shake the feeling that was what was happening here. Inion clearly was a fan of people in general, but she was also more or less trapped within the Verdant, or at least claimed to be. Did she only make their Bargain because it was either Edwin or nobody?

He sighed. Probably. At least he could pride himself in being better than nobody for a sociable fey, at least for the time being. Shed already shown she could leave whenever, so shed probably abandon him the moment someone more interesting came along. Just like everyone else.

With a sigh, Edwin took to his feet. There was no point in letting himself sit here in social misery for the entire night. He was alone, just the way he liked it. Who even needed friends? Just a bunch of exhausting individuals who demanded time and attention without offering pretty much anything in exchange.

He tossed a couple of logs on the fire before retiring to his bed, his last night in his little makeshift shelter. Upon seeing the tiny, bioluminescent mushrooms which had sprouted inside, he wasnt sure if he should be disgusted or delighted.

The inside of Edwins house was well, magical. There were faint motes of blue and green light floating through the space, illuminating the interior even in the absence of windows. Granted, the illumination was aided by the ceiling- the leafy boughs of some unfamiliar tree allowed golden sunlight to pierce in some places, though when Edwin looked for the corresponding holes in the foliage, he was unsuccessful.

Though the dirt floor was bare, it had been smoothed and compacted, providing a firm base for Edwin to later install actual flooring. The interior walls were much the same as the exterior, made of one mass of living wood.

Edwins alchemy corner had been split into two floors, interestingly, with wood in the approximate shape of stairs leading to an upper wooden platform, and the space below it having been slightly dug into the ground, with enough space that Edwin would be able to stand fully upright under the upper floor.

Nice taste. Inion nodded approvingly as she looked around the space.

Wait, what do you mean?

Well, its your home. Youre the one that the song was trying to make comfortable. This is apparently what you wanted?

I designed this?

Well, subconsciously.

Can I grow it, or change it somehow? How can I install a door?

Inion shrugged, Its alive, so it should still grow.

That doesnt answer my question.

Pity, she ran her hand along the walls, which Edwin realized were huh.

Its properly sized?

Whaddya mean?

The inside Edwin pointed at the walls, and ducked his head outside to confirm, its not bigger than the outside.

Inion stared at him, uncomprehendingly, And thats a surprise? Didnt you come from somewhere without magic?

Edwin nodded, Yeah, but since Ive been here, pretty much every building Ive seen has been, well, enormous on the inside, regardless of how big they are on the outside.

Thats unusual. She frowned, Every building?

Well, so far as Ive seen anyway, he dismissed her next question with a shrug, Not all by the same amount, but yeah.

Back in my day, Edwin chuckled and she shot him a glare, Not that Im that old. Back in my day there were some shrines like that which I saw, but they were all made by this one guy with a Skill that made whatever he made bigger on the inside. I think he called it Efficient Interior or Efficient Space or something like that. But you said this was common? Edwin nodded, which made her consider things, Weird.

Inion tapped her leg in thought, You said the Lirasian Empire controls who gets skills, right?

Had he mentioned that? Uh, more or less? They like, have an approved list of what makes a good Class, Skills and Paths and stuff.

She snapped her fingers, Thats gotta be it. Whoever it is figured out how to reliably get Efficient Space, or whatever, and now its standard fare for anyone building stuff. Thats gotta be insanely complicated though. Efficient Space had to have been fourth tier at least, and keeping track of that many possibilities? she shook her head, I do not envy whoever is responsible for that. Still, good for them! Reliable reproduction of Skills can be so useful. Its easy to get something going in a general direction, but replicating an exact effect across an entire civilization?

She eagerly turned on Edwin, Which brings us to you. Time to get to work!