Submission (#1886) Approved

Quest: Resonance - Act 1
Act Type: Exploration
Word Count: 1115
Adult Elnin Present: n/a
Regional Affinity: Bellmoril
Claiming Regional Affinity for: Geki [ELN1114]
[Adventurer] Rank Unlock Mini-Requirement: Complete an act of exploration

One of the few places Geki was allowed to visit outside of Kyendi was Bellmori. And not even the whole Bellmoril region, but more specifically the botanical garden and the central library of the great autumn city. The beauty of the mild rainy season, hot chocolates and tales under the blanket could be smelled in the air. And the views. What a breathtaking landscape! Wherever Geki looked at, one of those thick, ancient trunk trees that fold into the most curious shapes adorned any available space with a splendid fan of leaves in reddish and golden tones. The little one planned to spend a few weeks studying the flora of the region, with the objective of learning the healing properties of those.

After leaving his humble luggage in the dormitory that was reserved for him at the academy, he made his way quickly to the botanical garden. Geki could not contain the excitement of being soon surrounded by more delicate autumn foliage. Such was his excitement, that he had only taken the justification to be able to carry out studies on the species preserved there, but he had forgotten all his research equipment. Geki noticed his mistake the moment he showed the documentation to the guard. The guard returned it and invited him in, and Geki soon found himself surrounded by a crimson forest. The flora of this region contrasted with that surrounding the temple where Geki lived in Kyendi, from moss green to crimson red, and the young kittom could feel in harmony in a place where his soul, of similar tones, resounded so much and so freely.

His small steps led him to a clearing, surrounded by tall, old trees. Geki raised his head and could not see the sky anymore. The ground around him was covered by the leaves that fell from those giant trees. How old would they be? Surely hundreds. Geki wanted to get close to them to try to feel their life energy. The monks had acclaimed him for being so sensitive, and therefore so proficient, in this art. However, the number of leaves at his feet almost passed his knees if he stood upright. It was definitely not a terrain where a kittom could advance without problems. Geki sighed and abandoned the initial idea of approaching the trees. However, he could not ignore the problem with the auburn leaves. This clearing was in the middle of one of the paths that form the immense botanical garden, obstructing it. And it would surely also serve as a den for any spirit or animal lurking in the shadows. With this new resolution in mind, and with only his hands, Geki began to make trips with his arms carrying leaves to the containers at the entrance. The first trip was the most difficult, as he had to stop and look at the map of the garden several times. He had arrived at that clearing without paying attention to his steps, and he was not very clear about where he was. Every time he returned to pick up another pile of leaves, Geki closed his eyes and tried to detect some evil presence among them, as a precaution. He never detected anything, but a brown frog jumped into his face. He ran back to the guard's cabin to describe in a hurried way the appearance of that frog, fearing that it might be poisonous. The guard reassured him that it was a harmless specimen, and then Geki relaxed. The guard asked him about his research, and Geki had no choice but to tell him what he was doing. The guard was astonished, and reassured him that the gardeners were totally efficient and that they had never had a problem of this kind. Geki was surprised and prepared to return to the clearing, when the guard's hand on his shoulder stopped him. The little boy raised his head somewhat in confusion.

"That clearing you are talking about, where is it? It doesn't sound familiar..." The guard asked him. Geki quickly took out the map and pointed out a spot in the middle of the "Scarlet Forest", as the inscription said. The guard took the map with a furrowed brow, and after a few seconds he shook his head. "Are you sure, son? I can assure you that in this forest there is not a single clearing, not one! There are only thousands and thousands of trees so tall and full of leaves that they dye the sky the color of the sunset and you never know what time is there. I recommend you not to visit that place, I don't even know how you found the way". It took Geki a few seconds to respond, stunned. "Isn't it part of the botanical garden?" he asked. "Not at all! Although unfortunately it is quite close, yes. It's a forest full of magic, I don't recommend you to come back if you don't master that subject, here only the great wizards come to study or meditate in that place. Please be careful".

Geki nodded and left the small guard's cabin. He may not have been an expert magician, graduated from the prestigious Il'durahn Academy. But he was the first young trainee priest accepted into one of the oldest spiritual arts temples in Eyrie in the last few hundred years. He closed his eyes and almost by heart, after so many trips, he walked again to the same clearing. On the last trip, before the frog jumped on him, there were still half of the leaves to be picked up. Now, however, there was no trace of them, and where before there was a little clearing, now it was occupied almost entirely by the trunk of a tree, which, like his companions, seemed to grow up to the sky. Geki had no doubt that this was the place. He did not need to approach the trunk of this tree to perceive a strong and pure spiritual energy. Geki put his hands together and bowed to the ancient spirit that resided in this maple tree. When he raised his head again, a dew drop fell from one of the leaves of this tree into his nose. Geki's mouth opened for a few seconds before he smiled and bowed a second time. Geki had studied the spirits too much to not doubt that he had received a small blessing from the spirit. He returned to his dormitory with a slight smile on his face. Could it be a blessing that would protect him from evil? Good luck? Will it last a day? A lifetime? Will it have already protected him from danger when he returned to the academy?