Chapter 366 - Days MDLXXV - MDCXXX, Part VI

- Something else?! What now?! I need to know. Those are people, and you are making them die left and right. You make it as you care about us, but your actions speak louder. All you care for is that stupid war.

- I can't tell you, Peter, and it's not a lie. I do care. I gave you all a chance to turn your lives into something with a meaning, but there is a price to it, and some of you never wanted to pay that price.

- People who died when you send those monsters after us, were they also not paying? Or maybe sometimes your mind changes, and then you stop carrying, and start not giving a single shit?

The Great One took a deeper breath. 

- I'm sorry, Peter. I felt like I have no choice. You were fighting with each other over, and over, and over again. I know that is not a reason you are looking for, but I don't have a different one. I hope that one day I will pay the price for what I did. But that day has to come after we neutralize the problem.

- That day will come. I'm guaranteeing you this.

- Good. Are you ready now to talk about what we need to do?

- Yes, I am.

- Then listen, and let me finish because you won't like what I have to say. I know I promised you a portal back to earth, but if you open one before making the necessary preparations, you will very soon regret it.

- I know.

- I know that you know, but it doesn't matter if you can't stop it. They will come with arms to take everything, and they will have a thousand excuses to do it. To prevent them you need to be stronger. So what I want to propose to you is this. I'll send you, and your friend back to earth for as long as you want. When you come back, we will focus on opening a gate there, in a proper way. A way that you won't have to clash with anybody to keep the city in hands of your friends.

- And then what?

- Then you will get rid of more of those ghosts, and get even stronger. After that, we will have a very long conversation about what to do next. So, are you ready for that?

- No. I still have many questions I want answers to.

- Then ask.

- Where did you get the saplings? What is a seed, and where the gell did you get that?

- I got saplings from The Tree. The first one. I found it looking for answers, as I got freed. Each tree, except the first one, let's call it World Tree from now on, can produce fruit. The tree fas to be fully formulated, and then you can take the fruit, and consume it. You will be left with a seed and the tree itself will be gone.

- What does it give?

- A tremendous power, and we will use that, but not yet. Right now the ghosts are a better way.

- Why? There is one right outside this place.

- Because you didn't invest anything in the three outside. You need to invest first. The more you invest, and the bigger the tree, the more payback you will get.

- That's why you want me to kill the ghosts first...

- Yes.

- Ok. I'm willing to follow your plan, but...

- But?

- I have one thing I need you to do for me in exchange.

-As long as it's something I can do.

- You know that Ki'rai is like a family to me, but the truth is, she will never be a human being, and I'm afraid she will never feel fully accepted. She deserves that. She deserves love. I have no idea if it's possible for you, but I want you to at least try and bring here more people like her.

There was a long pause before an answer came.

- I'll look into what I can do. How about in the meantime you will get some rest? Tomorrow we will talk again, and start working.

- Ok - I nodded, and went outside.

I spend a few hours roaming around, and munching on some snacks while looking at the architecture. In my head, I was in a different place. I wasn't thinking about what I just found out. About the danger, and wars, and how screwed we were... I was seeing a bunch of lively lizards like my little Ki'rai, playing tag in the city. Laughing, having fun.

She deserved that, and maybe I could give it to her. This made me tear up, as I finally allowed the thoughts of what I have done to her to storm into my mind. I took everything from her and made it sound kile I was helping, but the thought was different.

It hit me like a truck, and my legs got all numb. I ended up on my knees, sobbing for few solid moments.

Eventually, the emotions passed, and I could finally get back on my feet. I was tired after. Everything that happened recently was just too overwhelming. I really needed some time to put it all together in my mind.

Part of me wanted to just rush to Will, and give him the good news, but that wasn't the correct decision. What I needed to do was find myself a spot, and sleep some. Then sort my thoughts. So I did just that. I found myself home and used the cube-shaped object like a couch. It morphed as soon as I lied on it, changing the shape to one that would work better with my body.

Even if it was a stone, it felt strangely great. It lost its sturdiness and became a more soft, jelly-like, substance. It felt great to sleep there, and I found out quickly just how tired I really was.

All I needed to do, was close my eyes, and the darkness just swallowed me.. I drifted away almost instantly.