All thoughts of having a quick conversation regarding my discovery became lost the moment the tree settled into its new spot. Its bark and leaves briefly shimmered before small clouds appeared around its upper branches. This was followed by a gentle breeze seeming to rise up from those clouds as the air itself changed. It was a subtle shift, and if I hadn’t been running on high anxiety for so long, I wasn’t sure I would have fully noticed it, but it was a welcome change.

  I closed my eyes for a moment and just breathed in this new sensation. Inhaling deeply, each breath of air came with the slightest smell of vanilla, and each exhale took some of my built-up stress with it. My heart rate slowed to a pace I hadn’t forgotten was possible. The thoughts normally racing through my mind calmed slightly. I was able to just stand and relax, taking in the complete majesty of the tree that now stood in my yard. Now I understood why Mel had reacted the way he had. Something like this being lost to the many worlds of the Spiral was a travesty, and the return of it was something to celebrate.

  I had an idea, but first, I wanted Mel’s permission for this one since this prize was clearly directed at him. I looked around for the cloud man, only to spot him floating near the top of the tree. He was drifting back and forth between the small clouds. “Mel, how do you feel about the rest of the day just being a relaxing celebration?” I yelled loudly to him.

  “Yeah, a party would be great. This is certainly something deserving of one!” Mel called down to me, still floating back and forth. This was yet another new side to the man. I pushed away the thoughts about potential problems with the tree being an Arena prize. For once, we were just going to enjoy the happiness in something. We’d all spent far too long in a constant state of high stress. This was absolutely the kind of diversion we needed. The simulator could wait until tomorrow.

  Soon, Trolke had assembled several more picnic tables in the yard, and Rabyn had gone to work helping John prepare a meal. He’d offered some of his special stocks for it, agreeing that a worthy cause for the use. I cleared off the long disused firepit and got it started. I wasn’t sure I’d ever gotten around to using it the entire time I’d lived here. It was something you used with company, and I hadn’t really had that until now. All around me, my family and friends had gathered. They were sitting, talking, and, most of all, enjoying themselves as the sweet scent of the air continued to grow increasingly pleasant throughout the day.

  I took a seat next next Glorp and his family, with Sanquar perched nearby. These newcomers were the people I so far knew the least, and there was no better time to change that. “So, how are you guys and girls settling in? Do you like what you’ve seen of Earth?” I asked, smiling at them, as Alex joined us with a plate full of food. I was glad to see she took eating for two to heart, which made me remember I still hadn’t found a doctor for her yet. I’d see what Pryte could do tonight before I let it be pushed out of my mind again.

  “It’s pretty different than what we’re used to. Back on Mrasdentia, we didn’t really have this much space. I mean, where we’re sleeping is still kind of cramped, but you guys are working on that, but this whole outside, and the food, and everyone is so nice. Alex promised to read me a book tomorrow and everything,” one of Glorp’s sisters said.

  “Gorpila has been settling in very well. She and her older brother Glord just went on a small hiking trip with me this morning and quite enjoyed themselves,” Sanquar said. I understood what he was doing and greatly appreciated it. I would never have pulled their names out of my brain otherwise.

  “Yep, tomorrow we start Caste as Dust, and then we’re going to see if we can’t get that abandoned car you guys found working again, though I think that one is going to be a bigger challenge,” Alex said, smiling at the kids.

  “Where did you find the car?” I asked, curious as I hadn’t seen one around, but I’d also never done as much exploration of the forest as I thought I would when I moved out here. What had I even done in the years I’d been out here alone? Had I really let my life slip that far into monotony? I knew the answer, of course. It was part of why my knees had failed so spectacularly early on. I’d moved to the middle of nowhere and let myself slowly fade away. I looked around again at all the happy faces. I was glad that had changed, even if the cause of the change was so horrific.

  “There’s an old abandoned house a few miles away through the woods. I sometimes stay there during strong blizzards,” Sanquar answered. It made sense he’d know the area pretty well.

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  “How long had you been out here before I showed up?” I asked the birdman.

  “I’m not entirely sure, I didn’t fully track the years often. I was considering the possibility of moving on shortly before your arrival, though. Warmer climates had started to call to me, but I decided to watch you for a while, especially after you helped from the wolf attack,” Sanquar answered. I’d never actually known what had injured him. I’d just come across him in my yard, bloodied, his wing looking broken. I was shocked when, in just a few months, he was up and flying around again. In hindsight, I probably should have realized something was off then, but I just wasn’t any kind of ornithologist.

  “Were you on the Earth the entire time you were banished?” Elody asked, pulling a chair up next to us.

  “I’m not actually sure of that. Some of my early recollections of my time here are hazy,” Sanquar answered.

  “That is likely from whatever was done to your core. I’m sorry we haven’t found a way to help you yet,” Elody replied, her eyes studying Sanquar as they always seemed to do when she found something of interest.

  “The System’s quest is enough for now. The hope it has given me will see me through,” Sanquar said, bowing his head slightly before opening his beak and ripping into some of the meat on his plate.

  “Well, since you’re here Elody, might as well get some of my weird discoveries out the way,” I said.

  “Yes, I was surprised to see your return. I expected you to spend the day in your simulator,” she replied.

  “I was going to, but I discovered some interesting things in my class skills, and then, well, this tree was too important of an event to waste. We all deserve a nice night, and Mel looks on the verge of happy crying as far as I can tell, which is a strange sight on the man,” I said, glancing over to where Mel was rapidly talking to Timon, John, and Rabyn.

  “Oh, what was that?” She asked, her eyes moving to me, clearly intrigued by my statement. Before I could answer, I spotted Gorpila whisper something to Alex, and they both burst out laughing softly. I shook my head, confused about just what I had missed.

  “I seem to have the ability to awaken mana orbs. Is that something you’ve ever heard of?” I asked, watching her intently, not that I thought I could catch her in a lie if she tried. It was more to gauge her reaction to any potential danger.

  “I have not, though I can see how that would be plausible given what we know about dungeon cores,” she answered, the interest in her voice growing.

  “Yeah, that was about where I was as well. I started exploring my Path of the Soul, and I think I’m really starting to understand how I want to take this class now. What happens if I start placing awakened mana orbs or dungeon cores into devices I build?” I asked.

  “Well, you’ve seen some friendly dungeon cores working devices in the Archives, so it is entirely possible. I believe this will be a topic we should discuss with Traveler when they arrive. Unless you wish to pursue it already?” She asked. I did, but I wasn’t sure I would really have time to push it that far yet, anyway. Getting my core ready for Corey was the priority right now.

  “While I’m tempted, I doubt I have time to fully push down that path already. just a curiosity for the future,” I said, turning my head as a new melody started to blanket out across our party. I spotted Connie high up on one of the cloudtree’s branches, holding something similar to a flute to her lips and playing a hauntingly beautiful song. On a hunch, I looked back to Mel and found him bobbing along in rapt attention.

  “What happened to his world?” I asked, turning back to Elody.

  “It still exists, but all of its wonders were long since plundered. After the faction fell, it was basically sold off in pieces. I believe Mel was alive when it happened, and for him to find a piece of home so far away is something truly amazing, even if the repercussions of how this happened are worrying. I think it’s safe to push that worry out of our minds for now and just enjoy the moment. You were right in your idea,” Elody explained, smiling at me.

  The rest of the night was spent eating, drinking, and surprisingly dancing, but that was mostly by Glorp’s family and Maud, other than when she managed to drag John into it. Pryte had even promised me he would find someone to help with the pregnancy. All in all, the night was an amazing diversion and something I hoped we would find time to do more of in the future.

  The olkerfins are a people who have long been in the Spiral. They aren’t overly commonly found in newly integrated universes, but they shouldn’t be considered rare, either. Superficially, they resemble both humans and elves, but one of their distinct features setting them far apart from either species are their second set of eyes, naturally attuned to the mana flows of the universe. This has often made them prized recruits for any trading faction wishing to capitalize on their abilities.

  The Varied Peoples of the Spiral by Krrtck

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