Date: Unspecified Time: Unspecified Location: Myriad Realms, Lil. Red Storm realm, Seed World, Living Section "Is that it? Do you not feel any other changes?" Wyatt asked, recovering from his momentary daze. Learning that Dredre could now pluck a soul from the river of souls and revive it was more than impressive, but he was expecting something else.
"Changes? No, nothing." Dredre tilted her head, her pink pupils narrowing slightly as she focused inward, trying to sense any differences in her body. After a moment, she looked back at Wyatt, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of changes should I be looking for?"
"Like signs of you growing to become an Elder Pixie," Wyatt replied, watching her closely. He'd been betting on her ascending to Elder Pixie status—not becoming a god of death, though he wasn't exactly complaining. The latter was a game-changer.
He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of what her newfound connection to the river of souls meant for him—unlimited access to such a priceless resource. With Dredre's ability, she could help him mine the Breath of Erosion to his heart's content. With a virtually endless supply of the most potent and mythical refining agent in existence, his financial future was secure—as long as he had the strength to protect it.
Of course, he wasn't planning to trade it. The Breath of Erosion would be for his personal use, fueling his ambitions. With Dredre by his side, not only did he have a limitless source of this resource, but he also had the greatest medic the myriad realms could offer. One capable of reviving the dead.
Dredre processed his words, her face scrunching up in concentration before replying, "No, I don't sense any changes to hint that I will become an Elder Pixie." Soon added, "Wyatt, it's not that easy for a Pixie to become an Elder Pixie. Gaining a new ability is already a rare encounter, especially one that lets me revive creatures of the forest. Let us just be satisfied with that. "
Shaking his head, Wyatt's grin widened slightly as he watched her. She had no idea just how valuable she'd become. Her thoughts were confined to her tiny little forest, unaware that her newfound ability could plunge the entire myriad realms into chaos if word got out. The Infinity Library would be at the center of a war for control over her power.
Yet, here she was, blissfully content with using her abilities to ensure the creatures of her forest could live a death-free life.
"I'm satisfied if you're satisfied," Wyatt said with a gentle smile. Still, he couldn't shake the certainty that Dredre had grown in ways she hadn't fully realized. She could lie now, express anger, and face challenges with newfound bravery. Her control over her abilities had also significantly improved. But why hadn't she ascended to Elder Pixie status?
The thought nagged at him. Maybe she was in the middle of the transition. Or perhaps there were conditions she hadn't met yet. Wyatt's mind wandered back to something he'd read in a book from the Infinity Library—something about how pixies ascend to Elder Pixies to protect their friends and family. He distinctly remembered concluding, with Dredre's help, that someone had recently edited that specific detail into that copy of the book. He doubted it was part of Librarian Jr.'s grand conspiracy, but he couldn't help wondering if it was relevant.
Regardless, Wyatt had no intention of testing that theory. His plan had always been to help Dredre become braver so she could achieve her dream of exploring myriad realms. Now, she was well on her way. That was enough for him.
As for her newfound ability to revive the dead and mine Breath of Erosion from the river of souls? That was just an added bonus—one that came with potential far beyond anything either of them could have imagined.
"See? I told you the call of the river of souls wasn't something worth bothering the elders about," Dredre said, her tone light and triumphant as she flew over to nestle into Wyatt's hair. She tucked the incense stick away for later—it was better to save the limited stock for times when Wyatt wasn't around. Why waste it when she could revel in the fresh, natural fragrance emanating from him instead? It was far better than the sharp scent of burning incense.
"Wait," Wyatt said, his brows furrowing as her words sank in. "You don't plan to tell your elders about your new ability?"
Dredre's nonchalant attitude caught him off guard. He had spent hours wrecking his brain for a convincing excuse to dissuade her from revealing her connection to the river of souls to anyone, especially her tribe. The old Dredre would have agreed with him without a second thought. But this new Dredre—opinionated and independent—was a different story.
Wyatt had been prepared for an argument, but now it seemed she wasn't planning to share her secret at all. Still, he needed to be sure.
"Should I be? I don't think they'd care. And what if they end up worrying unnecessarily, like you did, just because I have a link to the river of souls?" Dredre said, her tiny pink brows furrowing in concern. She could already picture her tribesmen panicking at the mere mention of the term River of Souls. Deciding it wasn't worth the drama, she resolved to keep quiet about it to avoid stirring unnecessary worry.
"That's actually a good call," Wyatt replied, his tone firm. "I was going to ask you not to reveal or discuss your connection to the river of souls—or the abilities you've gained because of it—with anyone. It'll only bring trouble, for you and your tribe. There are plenty of beings out there who'd give anything to cheat death, and you... well, you're the ticket. It's better if you keep it to yourself." His gaze was steady, his warning laced with genuine concern.
Dredre tilted her head, considering his words before nodding. "Okay, I was planning to do that anyway," she said with a soft smile, reassured that her instincts were right. Wyatt had made an excellent point, and she felt better knowing they were on the same page.