Rianna: Mage in the Beastworld

The Garden

Papa Liam rose from our embrace, his gaze lingering on me before he turned to depart, his footsteps echoing softly against the earth. With a steadfast purpose, he made his way to where Mama Rose rested in her tent. For Papa Liam, she would always be a beacon of steadfast strength and unwavering support. As he approached her, his expression softened, his words carrying the weight of the news he bore.

"Rose, my love," he began, his voice a blend of reverence and solace, "it's about Rianna." He paused, watching as her expression quickly changed from relaxed to anxious at the mention of her only female cub. With measured breaths, he relayed the details of what had happened in the thicket, his words infused with pride and a touch of apprehension. Yet, beneath it all, there was an underlying certainty-the knowledge that Rose, with her boundless love for her cubs, would embrace this new chapter in Rianna's journey with open arms.

With a gentle gesture, Kairon beckoned me to follow him, leading me away from my small garden in the thicket and back to the village tents. When we reached his tent near the center of the village, he showed me to a somewhat secluded spot where his failed attempt at cultivating a garden lay shrouded in the shadows of disappointment. As we walked along the rows, I sensed a quiet sadness in Kairon's demeanor, an unspoken acknowledgment of the trials he had faced in his endeavors. The garden itself was rather well made. A large mound of soil, flattened out into three rings, surrounding a central well. There were bamboo planks that acted as steps in each of the four cardinal directions, and it seemed to be well maintained.

Upon reaching the center of the neglected patch of earth, Kairon paused, his gaze sweeping over the barren circlet with a mixture of regret and determination. There were a few weeds that had stubbornly grown from the soil, though not much else dared to take root. He lowered himself to the soil, scooping a small handful and sifting it with his hand. He spoke softly, his voice carrying the weight of past disappointments and yet tinged with a glimmer of hope.

"Rianna, this is where I had sought to build a place where I could grow all the medicinal plants we needed." he confessed, his words a testament to the vulnerability he shared with me. "But despite my best efforts, I found only barrenness here. I don't understand how these plants thrive in the wild and yet here they refuse to take root."

As I took in the sight before me, I felt a stirring of empathy within my heart, a recognition of the shared struggles we both faced in our pursuit of mastery over nature's many mysteries. Even in my past life, cultivating the land was a difficult task. Each plant had special needs, and even then there were plants that only skilled farmers would attempt to grow. With a reassuring touch to his lowered shoulder, I smiled and offered Kairon my support. First, I would need to figure out why each plant refused to take root.

Drawing upon my innate connection with the earth, I knelt beside Kairon, my fingers trailing over the parched soil with tender reverence. With a careful eye and a gentle touch, I assessed the underlying issues that had hindered Kairon's previous attempts.

"It seems the soil needs to be fed. It's starving." I observed, my voice carrying a hint of empathy as I pinpointed the root of the problem. "Without the right foods, the seeds struggle to survive." I could feel his questioning gaze on me, the lack of faith, even after witnessing what I could do.

With unwavering determination, I set to work, my hands moving with practiced precision as I enriched the soil with the vital nutrients it craved. I reached out with the tendrils of magic in my veins and gripped the weeds that had taken root. I advanced their cycle of life so their deaths would increase the nutrients in the soil. I also used a piece of my own life force to add what the soil lacked, I could sense the earth responding, its dormant vitality stirring beneath my touch.

"There," I exclaimed, satisfaction coloring my voice as I surveyed my efforts. My forehead had beads of sweat forming from overexerting my small body. "With a bit of care and attention, I believe this garden will thrive once more."

Gratitude flickered in Kairon's eyes as he regarded me, a silent acknowledgment of my wisdom and skill. The work was not yet over. Kairon and I went into the storehouse of medicinal plants he had kept and I helped to retrieve seeds and cuttings from each kind. We worked until the sun was nearly finished falling from the sky, coloring the world with it's red and purple hues. For the third time in one day, I knelt in the ground, infusing my magic with the soil and encouraging the garden to grow. Vibrant and healthy plants sprang from the soil, covering it with greenery and splashes of color from the various plants we had chosen. Finally finished, I laid down on my back to watch the clouds pass over me, smiling when Kairon's concerned face blocked my view.

Curiosity gleamed in Kairon's eyes as he studied me, a silent inquiry lingering unspoken. "Rianna," he began, his voice soft yet insistent, "the depth of your knowledge and skill... it surpasses what one might expect from someone your age. Tell me, where did you acquire such wisdom?"

I hesitated, feeling the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on me. "I... I've always felt a connection with the earth," I confessed, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

His brow furrowed with skepticism, prompting me to reveal more. "And just when did you discover what you could do with this.. connection?" he prodded, his curiosity undimmed.

Gathering my courage, I debated the pros and cons of telling this man everything. "I... I can't explain it fully," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

A moment of silence stretched between us, heavy with the weight of my vague answers. As Kairon absorbed my words, I saw a glimmer of acceptance dawn in his eyes. I suppose that was when I decided I could trust him. My voice quivered, my hands shook as I circled my thumbs and clasped my hands together, a nervous habit from my past life.

"I.. I remember my past life.. in a place different from here, a different world.. where I had already grown up.." I spat the words out as quickly as I could, shuffling my feet beneath me as if getting ready to run. I dared not look at Kairon until I felt his cold fingers gently touch and lift my chin, forcing me to stare into those fathomless deep pools of eyes he had.

"Since when could you remember your past self, child?" His eyes held mine captive probing for the truth.

"During the flood. It.. triggered something.. my death in my past life was by drowning. My fiance.. the person who was supposed to love me.. he.." I trailed off as tears welled in my eyes and my body shook. As young as I was now, I could not control my emotions well. Kairon patted my head, taking me by the hand and leading me to the healers tent where I could rest for a moment in privacy. He stayed, like a silent sentinel, guarding me from myself. His gaze had softened, something flashed behind those eyes that I couldn't quite catch. When I had calmed down enough to speak, Kairon simply placed his hand over mine reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Rianna. In return for helping me today, I shall help you in all you need. Whenever you feel up to it, feel free to come tend to this garden, make it your own. The rest.. we can deal with in time."