The Traveller

Chapter 52: A Forest Child

Me: Just.. how many chapters did we write together before the story split again?
philippaki : just enough :)

"Oneiro, how would you feel about seeing the world with a child's eyes even briefly?" Hearth asked once Karma was in bed for the night, the golden winged monster was drinking coffee as if it was alcohol.

"What does that entail?~" Oneiro said faintly, his words calm but his eyes practically dead to the world after spending an entire day with that creepy toy.

"Its actually made with my alchemy set, I just haven't made it often but it allows the drinker to have there body deaged to a set age for around twenty-four hours" Hearth explained.

"Sure, why not. It can't be any worse than the last day....~" Oneiro was truly done and a small part thought this could be interesting...after he had much more coffee.

"The potion will be done when Karma gets up, I suggest pulling off your clothes before you drink it. I'll make sure you have matching ones for whatever body shape you have" Hearth told him.

Oneiro thought that gave him plenty of time to relax, really needing it after his day and held his near industrial sized mug and filled it up with even more coffee.

Any other monster would have dusted from all this caffeine but to Oneiro it felt like a slight tickle to his magic system, very much needing this right now.

"I'll see you in the morning, and you don't have to rush the potion is good for years. I also asked you, as you really never had a time to be a child" Hearth said as he turned off the coffee bean roaster against the far wall, with that he left the room the only sound was of water heating for more coffee.

"Are Guardians ever allowed to be children?~" Oneiro said with a bitter undertone to his voice, even when he was formed he had a 'job' that gave him little time to just be a child.

He wasn't sure if he even knew how to be a child, the villagers and eating the apples wiping any chance of being able to ever have that sort of life.

But still, a day as a child with Karma. Even if it was only his body.

"I'll take it but not today. I doubt ill get such an opportunity anytime soon~" Oneiro muttered to himself as he downed his drink, needing time to think but could also see how this could also help Karma as well.

He spent the rest of the night in the library, reading books on Dreamtale and wistfully looking at pictures of young Guardians with the tree.

If only things could have been different but he still wouldn't change a thing, Karma truly worth it all.

The smell of pancakes was what finally brought him from his thoughts, which meant Hearth was up and maybe Karma.

Karma was sleepily stuffing bits of pancake into his mouth, for once not bringing his new toy to the table and instead cuddling with a bunny plushy in one arm while trying not to face plant into his food.

"Where is your bear?" Hearth asked curious as he placed another plate of pancakes on the table, he wondered if he was going find it in another funny place in there home. Last time had been in an empty bathroom wearing a tiny tuxedo of all things.

"Busy playing with my new toy." Karma sleepily mumbled near nonsensically, which could mean pretty much anything and it was very likely the bear would be once again found in a very weird place.

"I see" Hearth hummed, then turned when he realized Oneiro was there "Morning, grab a plate and your Coffee is almost ready"

Oneiro gave a quiet greeting and grabbed his meal, his mind still racing full of conflicting thoughts but seeing his child sleepily eat and look so carefree helped to quieten down all his worries.

He would be taking the potion..but first he was going to make sure Karma didn't face plant into their food..or drown in their milk.