285: Blessing

Milo had gone from cleaning to repairing the sagging roof, using stone from the ground to create a support pillar in the corner, appearing to branch out on the roof. It didn’t fix things perfectly, but it looked far better.

Turning my attention back to the food, the stock was simmering away, and the dough had doubled in size already. Pulling the dough from the bowl, I formed it into three even balls.

“Crisplet, do you want to shape your roll for the offering?” I asked.

There was a burst of sparks as he made his way over, and I didn’t even get to ask Clacks before I saw her hopping across the counter to join us as well, though I wasn’t entirely sure what she could do with hers.

That thought was shattered only a moment later when she stuck her claws directly into the dough, leaving a clear outline of it.

“Perfect, Clacks,” I said with a laugh.

She just let off a couple of chirps before making her way back to the nest.

While I was distracted with that, Crisplet had managed to lift the dough using the same technique he used for floating puzzles, and was currently forming it into a very rough shape of himself.

For my own, I felt simple was best; it suited me, so I just formed it into a regular roll, and added a sprinkle of Nerelta seeds on top, placing all three rolls on a stone tray Milo had provided me with and slid the whole tray into the oven with Crisplet.

Going back to the stock, I added in the ingredients I had set aside, and left it to slowly simmer. Because I would be straining it all out this time, I didn’t bother removing the bones right now.

It took only another half an hour before both the rolls and the soup were ready, and after getting a larger pot along with a stone strainer made by Milo, I poured the soup through, taking out all the chunks, leaving just the liquid behind. I was just about to infuse it before Milo interrupted me.

“Trev, hold on,” he said.

I did as he said and waited as he pulled out a notebook, flicking through the pages.

“I was right, I took notes on this dish because it was one of the more interesting ones, but this doesn’t look the same. I noted it had a green tinge to it that made it look almost sickly.” He said.

“Green tinge?” I asked.

This was confusing because there was nothing in this soup that would be green normally except for the virfolium leaves, but there were so few of them, there would be no way it could turn the dish green.

“I think it might be best if you don’t infuse it all at once in case you’ve forgotten something.” Milo added.

I was fairly sure I had it right, and I used my essence memory to tell me this would stack the regeneration buffs, although he was correct that right now it wasn’t showing clear body.

Did I try it anyway?

I pulled out a third pot, pouring half the soup into it, where I then used Infuse on it, giving the regeneration the dominant flavour.

The commotion woke up Liane, who had been napping in the corner next to Lily, as she watched me split the liquid in two and infused one half.

I immediately checked the buffs and realised Milo was absolutely right; I was missing something.

[Uncommon] Blood Owl and Corn Soup.

• +4 Endurance
• +2 Perception
• +1 Wisdom
• Major Health Regeneration
• Fire Immunity

“You were right, I’m missing something,” I said.

I was sure this was everything. I was making the hare dish at the same time, and this was a simple regeneration soup.

“You’re missing the spider,” Liane said.

“I used a spider?” I asked, confused.

She shook her head, “No, not directly. You used the stock reduction essence of a spider, adding the poison resistance to it as well.”

Milo, who had been looking through his notes, was nodding now. “I remember now, the sickly green orb. You then said I’d likely need to convince them to taste it.”

Internally, I was kicking myself for messing up, and I really had no excuse for this one; it was a careless error. But I quickly went to my storage looking for a leaf bladed spider, which luckily I still had several.

Pulling it out, I used stock reduction and it turned into the sickly green ball, and after applying it to the soup, this half took on a green tinge, and it had a strong herbal smell.

Infusing it, I was happy to see exactly what I was expecting.

[Uncommon] Infused Blood Owl and Corn Soup.

• +5 Endurance
• +3 Perception
• +2 Wisdom
• Major Health Regeneration
• Minor Poison Resistance
• Clear Body (Passive)
• Fire Immunity

“It worked,” I said happily.

“And the other half?” Milo asked, pointing at the side that I failed.

I couldn’t help but frown, “No clear body on it.”

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Liane laughed from the side of the room, “Sure. but it’s still got powerful regeneration, I’d bet.”

I didn’t even answer, and my silence said it all to both of them.

“Trev, think of how many people you could help with even the wrong one,” Liane added.

“I... you’re right.” I was so focused on the clear body I had completely disregarded it.

Milo stood up, “Your rolls are ready too right? Let’s get back to the temple and get this over with. It’s likely going to be better that this mana pulse happens while most people are asleep.”

Liane just laughed.

“You think there will be another one?” I asked.

“Almost certainly with your track record, it’s starting to make sense why the god of storms severed his connection with the dragon; he didn’t get his offering, being interrupted at the temple,” Liane said, still laughing.

Milo had a serious look, however, before he pulled out yet another notebook and wrote something down, though he made no comment on it.

“Alright, let’s go,” he finally said, storing it away.

It wasn’t long before we were once again making the walk back to the temple. In my storage sat the three finished rolls, along with both strained soups. At this stage, it was completely dark on the streets, and there was no one around at all.

This, however, was contrasted by the fact there was a warm glow emanating from the entrance to the tree. It wasn’t as bright as earlier, but it clearly stood out, and you could see perfectly.

I was joined by everyone this time; even Gilain decided to come along after someone told him what had happened while I was cooking. Only Lily was hidden right now, though I knew she was still there and actively watching.

Out the front of the temple stood four green-robed individuals again, and like last time, one of them ran off as soon as they seemed to recognise the group.

“I guess he’s under orders to alert someone when he sees us?” I questioned.

Milo shrugged, “Most likely. I assume they went and got Lital earlier; they are probably doing the same now, or someone more senior after you essentially threw money at them to save Lukas.”

As we got closer, I couldn’t help but notice the group outside was growing larger, with two familiar faces in Lital and Amanda joining.

Several of the elders who had come to Lukas’s room were also present. They all seemed to be giving a respectable distance to a middle-aged looking man, clean-shaven with long brown hair that seemed to go past his shoulders, also wearing the green robe.

Had it not been for the fact he appeared to be standing in the centre as the others kept an arm’s length away, I wouldn’t have given him much thought.

My confusion was answered only a second later by Milo, “Head priest is there.”

“He looks so young,” I said in awe.

I heard a snort of laughter from Liane, “Perks of being the Head Priest to the god of life.”

“And an elf; they naturally live a long time,” Milo added.

Gilain perked up at that, “Oh, he’s from my homeland? I didn’t even know.”

The walk to them felt like it took an extra long time due to the number of eyes on us right now, but the Head Priest Prinae was already making his way towards us as everyone else stayed back at the entrance.

“Lord Ashmoon, it’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said in a soft tone.

I made my way to the front, with Crisplet close to my side.

“Please, just Trevor is fine,” I insisted.

A smile broke across the man’s face. “Very well, I am Prinae. I’d hoped you could spare some time for a conversation; however, I was informed that you had left in a rush after discovering your friend in a critical state.”

“Sorry about that, I had to prepare something to help him,” I said.

I wasn’t embarrassed I left; I had no regret. A meeting could wait after all.

Prinae let out a soft, almost melodic laugh. “Don’t be sorry. Caring for your friend and offering help are values we treasure here. I have come to request your permission to join you as you help your friend.”

I felt confused by this request. It was his temple; he could go where he wanted.

Liane spoke next to me. “You can, that’s fine, though we would like to get back to Lukas as soon as possible. I think the conversation can wait.”

Prinae just smiled and gestured behind him, but before we could start moving, Gilain stepped forward.

“Prince Prinae?” he asked.

There was no reaction from Prinae to this; the smile persisted. “That was once my title, yes, but I’ve long since left that in the past, I’m afraid.”

“I always wondered what happened with you. I thought you had died. You vanished from the history books. Already though, you’re far nicer than your brother.” Gilain laughed.

There was an undeniable smirk on Prinae’s face. “And younger looking too, I imagine, but please let us walk. We shouldn’t keep young Lukas waiting.”

As we moved, I noticed the group of priests moved out of the way. I saw Amanda at the back; clearly, there was a hierarchy here, and I imagine her being an acolyte was right at the bottom in this group.

“Excuse me, Prinae, could Amanda join us? She’s an old friend of both mine and Lukas, and another friendly face is always welcome,” I asked.

Amanda looked shocked, but Prinae just agreed and called her over.

Walking through the main hall, the breeze returned, which Prinae immediately noticed.

“Strange, isn’t it? The gods have not interacted with anyone in millennia, yet, in only a few months, I’ve felt the will to meet with you, and now a direct blessing as you enter,” he said.

“Blessing?” I questioned. This was the first I’d heard of that.

“Yes, that breeze you’re experiencing is usually the signal that a blessing has occurred,” he explained.

“I see. I have an offering to make after, but I feel it’s best I give the food to Lukas first,” I commented, looking up at the statue, noting the grain at its feet appeared to be waving in the wind.

Liane had stayed alongside as we walked and clearly wasn’t distracted by the blessing. “Head Priest, if it’s at all possible, could one of the elders let us know how much Trevor provided them for Lukas’s care? We don’t require it back, but we need to know for record keeping.”

Prinae let out a soft laugh again. “Yes, I heard about that; that won’t be a problem. We likely will not need even half of it either and will return anything that is not spent on his care. We don’t operate a profit-based healing service and have no intention to start.”

Standing in front of Lukas’s door, I couldn’t help but take a large breath. I wasn’t sure this would work, and the conversation about the mental toll this would take meant even if he was completely healed, this may still not be the friend I once knew.

There was a feeling of reassurance from behind me from Crisplet, and even Clacks let out a little chirp from the nest I was holding.

Steeling myself, however, I pushed my way inside the room. His situation had not changed yet, though I noticed there were already some fresh bandages over his wounds.

Amanda quickly made her way to the corner of the room, where Liane and Crisplet took watch as everyone else stood outside. Only one of the elders and Lital joined the room after us.

The elder started to explain, “We have already applied a poultice to his cuts and replaced his bandages using the ingredients we had on hand currently. Once the morning comes, we’ll send out runners to get the best ingredients we can and the magical attachment.”

“Thank you,” I said, pulling out the pot that contained my clear body soup, along with a bowl.

The elder looked on curiously before it clearly got the better of him. “Could I ask what that is exactly? I smell the herbal nature of it, but I am unfamiliar with it.”

Prinae gave him a look, but his question just made me think of Milo and the search for knowledge he’d have.

“This, at its core, is just a basic blood owl and corn soup, with the chunky ingredients strained off,” I said.

This seemed to confuse the elder. “I will say, we have kept the boy fed if that is your concern.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s not it. It has healing properties that I am hopeful will help him.”

There was silence as I poured the soup into the bowl and approached Lukas when I ran into a problem I had personally not considered. “Um, how exactly do you feed someone unconscious?”

Amanda stepped forward, letting out a sigh, bowing. “If I may, Head Priest, Elders.”

“Yes, by all means,” Prinae said, the smile still on his face.

Quickly, Amanda had taken the bowl from my hand and taken a seat next to Lukas’s bed, where she took out a very small spoon and started to spoon-feed him.

“You just feed him normally?” I asked.

It was Amanda who responded, “No, you need to do it very slowly. He will swallow on his own, but if there is too much, you run the risk he’ll choke.”

The room waited in silence as Amanda fed Lukas over a period of fifteen minutes before the first sign of anything happening.

A colour returned to his skin; his breathing went from shallow and raspy to steady, full breaths.

Prinae moved forward, pulling back one of the new bandages, muttering to himself, “Healed, incredible.”

He then turned to me, “Trevor, what exactly is in this healing soup of yours?”