Page 266 of The Dryad Storm

This levity is a welcome change, smiles rare during the Shadowed times they’ve so recently been through, the two of them huddled in the Sublands during the worst of it, listening as violent explosions then storms battered the city above. And watching, with mounting horror, as the different groups around them threatened to tear each other apart, a faction of Subland Smaragdalfar fighting with Fyon’s faction over who should be allowed shelter there while Noilaan above fought to keep the entire Eastern Realm just for the Noi.

Olilly unwelcome both aboveground and below.

And then, Kirin was cruelly ripped away from her as his father returned him to Noilaan to attempt to force him to take up the cause of Noilaan for the Noi.

But now, as more and more people join with the Forest, everything is changing.An excited tension snaps between them as Kirin holds the beautiful lily out and Olilly eagerly accepts it, both of them so thoroughly lit up purple by the moonlight, her kindred Urisk color.

“You’ve joined us,” Olilly notes, heart fluttering, the two of them transformed by more than the moonlight, Olilly now wearing a Wyvernguard uniform, its fabric tinted purple by her burgeoning geomancy, a lavender amethyst stylus worn proudly at her side and more of her kindred purple stones adorning her wrists and ankles and neck.

Kirin’s gaze flits intently over her uniform. “I heard you joined the Wyvernguard’s Geomancer Division.”

Olilly nods. “We’re training with Dryad Fae and older Urisk geomancers and Earth Mage Dryad’kin,” she enthuses, “to rebuild Erthia’s cities and towns in a whole new way. In harmony with the Natural World.”

She details for him how her life has been filled with bright purpose these past few months, her division’s special project the creation of more towering islands rising from the Vo River to serve as great, spiraling marvels of vertical agriculture that will help meet the food needs of the East’s growing population.

The Wyvernguard now an Erthia force under Dryad Fae and Ung Li’s leadership, dedicated to the restoration of the Natural World.

“We’ve geo-crafted vertical landmasses throughout the city, as well,” she joyfully relays, gesturing toward a few she worked on with other Urisk and the magically brilliant botanist Yulan. “We’ve carved hundreds of small homes into many of them, interspersed with tree seedlings, crops, and other plant life.”

A delighted shiver courses through Olilly over what she and her fellow Dryad’khin have wrought so far, their magical efforts slowly turning Voloi’s tiered city into a weather-stabilizing forest that coexists, side by side, with Voloi’s dense population of mostly Dryad’khin.

Olilly’s love of food and cooking has lent itself seamlessly to her new passion for agriculture in harmony with the Forest. It’s been a challenge, increasing food production for so many on so little Unshadowed land, while rewilding more and more of the Shadowed East to help the Natural World restore itself... a challenge that’s demanded the effort of every Dryad’khin.

Luckily, there is an ever-growing number of Dryad’khin.

Like her.

And wonderful Kirin.

“And you?” she asks, curiosity fizzing through her. “What brought you to Voloi?”

A slight smile edges Kirin’s lips, even as his eyes take on a serious light. “I’ve just joined the Wyvernguard’s Agricultural Division.”

Surprise rays through Olilly, sunlight strong. She knows Kirin is conveying so much more than those calmly spoken words, revealing that he’s broken with his fathercompletely.

Forging a new path forward at the Wyvernguard.

Withher.

Kirin undoes the clasps of his cloak and lets its edges fall to the side.

Stunned, Olilly takes in his brand-new Wyvernguard uniform. Hers has morphed to purple due to her geomancy affinity for violet stone. His is the traditional sapphire, and imprinted, as is hers, with the new Noi design of IV rendered in shining onyx thread.

“How did you get your father to let you leave?” Olilly asks, dazed, having heard that Kirin and his father relocated north of Voloi, where a community of Noi who refuse to join with the Forest still live, all of them set on ridding the Eastern Realm of every non-Noi person.

Kirin’s jaw hardens as he glances toward the purple-shimmering Vo. He sets his dark gaze back on her, immovable decision in his eyes. “I love my father. But the way he thinks... it’s a terrible path forward, fueled by hate. Erthia can’t survive it, and it’s not what I want. It never was. My father’s way isn’t the future.” Kirin holds up his IV-marked palm. “Thisis the future.”

He pauses, as if all his words are suddenly caught in his throat, but Olilly can read the unspoken in the intensity firing in his eyes, her pulse tripping over itself.

“I’ve left home for good,” he announces, tone final. “I petitioned the Dryad’khin Conclave for entry into the Wyveryguard, and... as you can see, my request was granted.”

Olilly pulls in a wavering breath, her heart flooded with a sense of revolution and new beginnings.

“I... I remember the last time we were here together,” she stammers, needing to look away for a moment, but also needing to show him her heart. As she remembers the feel of Kirin’s lips on hers.

Before the upper half of the Vo Mountain Range exploded, mid-kiss.

His cheeks reddening, Kirin glances at the ground, the moon, the river, clearlyas flustered as she is and swept up in the same heated remembrance. But then, he seems to gather himself, his gaze meeting then firming on hers. “We never got a chance to finish that kiss,” he ventures, a slight tremor to his voice as fireworks in the shape of hundreds of Xishlon moons detonate over the river to a chorus of delighted cheers.

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