Master Of None

Sierra finally got the party moving outside the city. She wanted to make it to the tall platform on top of the spiritual cedar before the nocturnal monsters started to come out to hunt. "We are only a short distance away, stay focused so that we reach our destination safely." 

The party didn't take this lightly and fell in to formation easily. Walker followed up the rear while the others were behind Su. The path they traveled looked well worn and Walker assumed it was a common patrol route for the enforcers. 

The trees around them started to thin out and become mostly saplings with small fruit bushes around. The soil still teemed with life but every tendril appeared to be guided. "This is the start to the platform we are going to. Our farmers only guide the natural fruits and vegetables to grow here. They keep the tree seeds outside using their skills." 

Sierra said a quick introduction to the large garden they had entered. The saplings were also showing signs of fruit growing and Walker could only wonder what they were. The garden was focused around what the party could see was a fairly large tree. Thie tree itself had large white flowers and a red and pink hue to the leaves and the bark. The area around it was completely devoid of anything but a soft layer of dried flower petals and leaves. 

There were vine stairs that curved around the trunk and in to the foliage. "We are going to head up that way and meet master alchemist on top. She is accompanied by Miss Remey and a lunar priestess who will strengthen the moonlight." Sierra motioned for a few enforcers that were spread out nearby to ready themselves. She had an entire squad ready to defend the ceremony and those participating in it.

"I can hear you all from up here, hurry up!" Walker and Su looked up at the top of the tree and were unable to see anything that even looked Remey shaped. But they heard her voice clearly. 

"I'm going to get up there first!" Gil was running up the vine steps with Midnight on his heels. Walker and Su both smirked and started to run up the steps too. Onyx just coiled around Walker's shoulders more trying to hold on. 

The group seemed to climb forever as they weaved around the branches finding that the steps were becoming less and less. The vines that extended from the tree were soon just branches they hopped on to get to the next level. The only thing that stood out were the slight hand hold like twisted branches. 

When Walker finally broke the foliage barrier he found that the platform was one large flat guided vine weaving. "This must have taken years to make." He turned around and soon found that there were clear crystal and obsidian pedestals resting in the center. Many carved runes led toward them slightly emanating natural mana. 

"It actually only takes about fifty years to grow the spirit cedar properly. Our farmers have spent many decades perfecting this art." Trish was enjoying the amazed looks that the party had. 

"Ha! I thought that an arcane marksman would be faster at climbing some tree than a little dragon." Wade was already trying to tease Gil who was threateningly notching an arrow in his bow. "Yeah yeah, do that and you can say goodbye to our priestess helping you activate the leather from those bats in your new quiver." 

Gil protectively held his quiver and glared at Wade before walking over to give him a nudge. "You look pretty well, I thought you would still be resting." Walker was sure to greet Wade as well now that he was finally seeing him again after the injury and meeting the queen. 

"We do have the best healers around when it comes to natural mana. I also was requested to help create a new skill so I was pushed a little harder." Wade frowned slightly remembering the speed healing skills used on him. 

"You are all giving Wade attention and not me. Don't you want to know how my quest is going?" Remey had been the center of attention the past few days and she was missing her party quite a bit. She wanted their attention as well since she was finally the one shocking people instead of Walker. 

"Remey, it has been less exciting without you. Walker has been getting us in to all kinds of trouble. We have to go and defeat a glowing mole in the morning." Walker watched as Su threw him under the cart to Remey. 

"Hey now, you would have volunteered us right away if they had asked. Walker's reply was met with no answer at all Remey had already started to tell Su of the herbs she had learned while in the master alchemists' hanging garden.

"You're going under ground?" Trish heard this and came to give her own greetings now that the party had been able to see the platform and start to catch up. She appreciated the energy they brought since these ceremonies were often dull due to the low number of people present. 

"Yes, we will be master alchemist." Trish smiled even more since Walker had remembered to call her master alchemist outside of her own dwelling and hanging garden. She truly respected the young that would give the proper honors to elders in public.

"Well in that case I would like you to look for the glowing bell mushrooms I need for my night vision potions. They are very important for the enforcers and I make a large batch of a hundred once every other month. I will need at least ten mushrooms. I would be willing to trade the ten for a few of the potions." 

"You are going to make night vision potions!" Remey heard this as clear as day. 

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